Shon Ferguson
@shonferguson.bsky.social
Economist, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) @slu-econ.bsky.social. IntEcon/Env/Ag. Avid curler. Area editor, JAAEA. Just ATE (Ag Trade Env) Blog: shonferguson.substack.com Website: https://sites.google.com/view/shonferguson/home
I wrote a short piece on the impact of the European heat waves on food prices. While the heat waves and other disturbances this spring and summer have been unnerving, evidence from futures markets suggests that it won't be as bad as 2022. shonferguson.substack.com/p/heat-waves...
Heat waves, higher prices?
Evidence from European futures markets suggests this won't be another 2022 (so far)
shonferguson.substack.com
Total insanity www.cbc.ca/news/world/t...
Trump's new 50% tariff to hit even CUSMA-compliant goods | CBC News
U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that will impose tariffs of 50 per cent on a wide range of Canadian exports, a dramatic ramping up of his trade war against his northern neigh...
cbc.ca
Brexit was a mess by most measures. But it gave England a rare chance to rethink farm policy from scratch. It's one of the boldest agricultural reforms in Europe. Could the EU ever follow? My take in this week's Just ATE blog: shonferguson.substack.com/p/brexit-was...
Brexit Was for the Birds
Post-Brexit, England is ditching direct payments for "public money for public goods." Could this be an example for the EU to follow?
shonferguson.substack.com
Really happy to see this work, expertly led by Jader Velasquez, in print! Velásquez, J., and S.Ferguson. 2026. “From Meat to Plant-Based Products? The Enduring Impact of BSE on Beef Consumption.” Agricultural Economics 57(4), e70120. doi.org/10.1111/agec...
My latest post, on the EU's Fertiliser Action Plan open.substack.com/pub/shonferg...
When fertilizer prices spike
The EU has a plan. Will it work?
open.substack.com
My latest post on the EU CAP proposal for 2028-2034: How would capping payments affect EU farmers? shonferguson.substack.com/p/how-would-...
How would capping payments affect EU farmers?
Could fewer subsidies for large farms make small farms great again?
shonferguson.substack.com
Yikes, a EUR 750 registration fee seems pretty steep. wcere2026.org
WCERE 2026 The World Congress of Environmental and Resource Economists (WCERE) is a special five-day gathering of environmental economists from around the world. The 2026 edition will be held at the Nova SBE Campus in Carcavelos, Cascais, Portugal, from 29 June to 3 July.
The World Congress of Environmental and Resource Economists (WCERE) is the international conference of environmental and resource economists organised every four years by the World Council of environmental and Resource Economists Associations (WCEREA). The first WCERE dates back to 1998, and the most recent once was held in 2018 in Gothenburg, Sweden. Following a
wcere2026.org
My substack just passed the one year marker! When I started writing about the economics of agriculture, trade and the environment on Just ATE, I wasn't sure anyone would read it. The subscribers and followers who have shown up mean a lot. shonferguson.substack.com
shonferguson.substack.com
My latest post: Transitioning to biofuels doesn't protect you from oil price shocks, but electrification on a clean grid does. open.substack.com/pub/shonferg...
How can we decouple our energy markets from fossil fuel prices?
Electrification is the way, but only with a clean electricity mix.
open.substack.com
Applications are open for the PhD program in Environmental Economics here at SLU. Please spread the word! www.slu.se/en/about-slu...
PhD positions in Environmental Economics | slu.se
SLU - Science and Education for Sustainable Life
slu.se
Urea prices have shot up recently, almost double what they were in 2024. Not yet at the highs from 2022. Source: tradingeconomics.com/commodity/urea
We are looking for a 2-3 year postdoc in biodiversity economics for a joint project with top ecologists at the University of Helsinki. jobs.helsinki.fi/job/Helsinki...
Postdoctoral Researcher in Biodiversity Economics
Postdoctoral Researcher in Biodiversity Economics
jobs.helsinki.fi
My latest post: Making Middle Powers Great Again I argue that the Cairns Group offers a useful template for cooperation among “middle powers”. A nice historical example from agricultural trade! shonferguson.substack.com/p/making-mid...
Making Middle Powers Great Again
Recent trade deals highlight a shift toward diversification. The Cairns Group offers a useful template for cooperation among “middle powers”.
shonferguson.substack.com
My latest post: How will farmers react to higher payments for small farms? The 2028-2034 CAP proposal incentivises a shift toward smaller farms, at least on paper. I explain why it could be a problem. open.substack.com/pub/shonferg...
How will farmers react to higher payments for small farms?
The 2028-2034 CAP proposal incentivises a shift toward smaller farms, at least on paper. Here's why it could be a problem.
open.substack.com
Excellent overview of the strength of Europe's farm lobby in this Politico article by Bartosz Brzezinski today www.politico.eu/article/euro...
Europe’s farmers lost the Mercosur battle. They’re still ahead.
Europe’s farmers are a minority. You wouldn’t know it from the political power they wield.
politico.eu
My thoughts on the year ahead. Lots happening in the US and the EU to keep an eye on. open.substack.com/pub/shonferg...
Agricultural, Trade, and Environmental Policy Developments to Watch in 2026
Thoughts on the year ahead. Can it really be more eventful than 2025?
open.substack.com
This week’s post looks at what students should think about when choosing a Master’s in Economics at an applied science university such as SLU. Please feel free to share with your students! open.substack.com/pub/shonferg...
Thinking About a Master’s in Agricultural or Environmental Economics in Europe?
A guide to choosing the right economics program at Europe’s applied science universities.
open.substack.com
Lots of companies surely happy about the removed Trump tariffs on several food products, including coffee. A "wait and see" approach to location decisions in ag GVCs has definitely paid off in this case.
Shon Ferguson@shonferguson.bsky.social · 10mo agoMy latest post discusses the consequences of recent U.S. trade policy on global value chains in the agri-food sector. open.substack.com/pub/shonferg...
My latest post: Will the EU Deforestation Regulation actually reduce deforestation? How trade diversion could undermine the EU's efforts, and what to do about it. open.substack.com/pub/shonferg...
Will the EU Deforestation Regulation reduce deforestation?
How trade diversion could undermine the EU's efforts, and what to do about it.
open.substack.com
🚨The Moore Lab at UC Davis is hiring!🚨 Post-doc for a project with @adamsobel.bsky.social on the valuation of climate information for adaptation Could be a good fit for an environmental economist or a climate scientist - flexible start date and location Apply by Dec 1st: recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF07346
Postdoctoral Scholar - Environmental Science & Policy
University of California, Davis is hiring. Apply now!
recruit.ucdavis.edu
I never realized that I asked so many excellent and nuanced questions until I started using ChatGPT.
My latest substack post: Do farm animal welfare regulations hurt competitiveness? open.substack.com/pub/shonferg...
My latest post: "Preventing Panic: Why Better Food Data Means Stronger Food Security" open.substack.com/pub/shonferg...
Preventing Panic: Why Better Food Data Means Stronger Food Security
In a future crisis, could the mere perception of food shortages trigger hoarding, creating real shortages for some people, even if supplies are actually sufficient? We’ve seen this before.
open.substack.com
I hoped that weight loss drugs would reduce the demand for meat. Unfortunately, they seem to have the opposite effect. Billionaire beef baron says US not producing enough to satisfy protein craze www.ft.com/content/5fad... via @ft
Billionaire beef baron says US not producing enough to satisfy protein craze
JBS’s Wesley Batista says strong US demand is pushing country towards imports despite Trump’s tariffs
ft.com
My latest post discusses the consequences of recent U.S. trade policy on global value chains in the agri-food sector. open.substack.com/pub/shonferg...
Are Agricultural Global Value Chains in Trouble?
Some are feeling the pain, but reports of their death are greatly exaggerated.
open.substack.com
Very happy to share the published version of this paper, which is open access. "The impact of animal welfare regulations on pork trade: evidence from European countries" (with Anna Wallenbeck, Sigrid Agenäs, and Helena Hansson) doi.org/10.1016/j.fo...
Redirecting
doi.org
