If ever there were evidence of the shortage of science degrees in America, consumers' anxiety over the content delivered by the food system would be exhibit A. The latest example comes courtesy of NPR, which highlighted the "Real Food for Kids" campaign in Fairfax County, Virginia. For background, out of more than 3,000 counties in the United States, Fairfax ranks second in the number of bachelor's degrees and fourth in the number of advanced degrees. A parent named Ryan Lonnett is quoted in the story and is exemplary of the ignorance underlying the "real" food campaign. When presented with the food ingredient "disodium inosinate," he reacts by saying, "Since I don't know what it is, I'd rather not put it in my body."Apparently just sayi...
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
Accountability and a comprehensive approach to export programming
WPI’s team helped construct a strategic approach to develop, implement, and track promotional activities in 8 key regions across the globe for an agricultural export association. With continued progress measurement and strategic advisory services from WPI, the association has seen its ROI from investments in promotional programming increase by 44 percent over the past 5 years. Not only does this type of holistic approach to organizational strategy provide measurable results to track and analyze, it fosters top-down and bottom-up organizational accountability.