USDA is increasing the amount of healthy foods, including perishable fruits and vegetables, that stores must stock in order to become an approved retailer accepting SNAP or food stamp benefits. The goal is noble, but the desired outcome attracts some healthy skepticism. Activists Needlessly Cost Taxpayers Activists groups so effectively mislead consumers with their junk science that governments have to then spend money on new studies to ensure an accurate record. Anti-glyphosate groups last year charged that the herbicide can be found in the breast milk of lactating mothers. One group, calling itself Moms Across America but in fact just a shill that opposes GMOs and Monsanto, issued a report that it had found glyphosate in three out...
What You Need to Know Today: Chinese purchases of U.S. soybeans continued to accelerate, with USDA reporting another 558 KMT sold to China and 236 KMT to unknown destinations. Combined with sales announced Wednesday and Thursday, the latest purchases bring the three-day total to approximately...
As fall begins, wild migratory birds are starting their seasonal migration. That has the industry and government officials worried about the potential spread, again, of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Some members of Congress have called for the United States to be prepared for a pote...
From WPI Consulting
Forecasting developments in production agriculture
On behalf of a private U.S. agricultural technology provider, WPI’s team generated an econometric model to forecast the movement of concentrated corn production north and west from the traditional U.S. Corn Belt. WPI’s model has subsequently provided quantitative support to a multi-million-dollar investment into short-season corn variety development. WPI’s methodology included a series of interviews with regional grain elevators and seed consultants. Emphasizing outreach and communication with stakeholders who possess intimate sectoral knowledge – on-the-ground insights – is a regular component of WPI’s methodologies, made possible by WPI’s ever-growing network of industry contacts.