Soda and Nutrition Programs USDA policy forced New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's imposition of a 16-ounce maximum cup size for soft drinks. Although no economic group is immune to obesity, it disproportionately affects the poor due to education and, some argue, as a result of the higher cost of vitamin rich foods that are concurrently less nutrient dense. Ten months ago, USDA rejected NYC's request to bar federal food assistance benefits (SNAP) for sweetened drinks, arguing practical concerns that it would be "too large and too complex" to manage. However, beneficiaries are already banned from using benefits to purchase cigarettes and alcohol. Instead, some argue that limiting the foods the poor can purchase smacks of paternalism:...
Key Takeaways: President Trump announced $8 billion in additional agricultural assistance through the Harvest Fuel Relief Program, as USDA projects farm fuel and oil expenses will increase 28.8 percent in 2026. The package follows $12 billion in earlier relief, while government farm payments w...
Key Takeaways: A student group from the University of Chicago is protesting to bring back onion futures trading. Trading in onion futures was banned in 1958 following a spectacular bout of market manipulation that resulted in a corner of the physical market. The ban on onion futures led t...
Beef packer margins deteriorated to $141/head last week, down $55 from the prior week as fed cattle prices strengthened while the Choice cutout remained nearly unchanged. The cutout held near $373/cwt while fed cattle prices climbed $4/cwt to $224/cwt, narrowing processor profits. Despite the d...
From WPI Consulting
Weighing in on strategic realignment
WPI’s team was retained by the governing board of a U.S. industry organization to review a decision, reached by vote, to invest significant assets into the development and management of an export trading company. WPI’s team conducted a formal review of this decision and concluded that the current level of market saturation would limit the benefits of the investment. Based on WPI’s analysis and recommended actions, the board subsequently reversed its decision and undertook a strategic planning effort to identify more impactful investments. On behalf of numerous clients, WPI has not only assisted in identifying strategic paths but also advised their implementation.