Second thoughts in policymaking are usually better than no thought at all. If it is meant to be, it will. Almost two years ago European politicians agreed to end the selling of automobiles with internal combustion engines (ICE), and to slash the use of fertilizer (N-P-K) and pesticides in crop production. Now a few but powerful member states are having second thoughts about the ICE ban. No doubt it is tied to the number of workers employed in the industry. But if the ICE ban falls on concerns about jobs, doesn’t that mean making large reductions in fertilizer and pesticide use are at risk on food security rounds? After all, there has already been a proposed revision to previous limits on the number of livestock units...
A federal appeals court paused a USITC ruling against President Trump’s use of Section 122 to impose 10-percent global tariffs. A bipartisan group of 80 House members asked USTR to investigate specialty crop imports from Mexico for unfair trade practices. India notified the WT...
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.