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Shon Ferguson

@shonferguson.bsky.social
287 followers 268 following 132 posts

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: sites.google.com/view/shonferguson/…

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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
I feel like Adobe Reader has become a lot more brazen in trying to get me to pay for services, compared to other apps. Time to switch pdf reader.
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
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...
shonferguson.substack.com
Heat waves, higher prices?
Evidence from European futures markets suggests this won't be another 2022 (so far)
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Total insanity www.cbc.ca/news/world/t...
cbc.ca
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...
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
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...
shonferguson.substack.com
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?
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
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...
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
My latest post, on the EU's Fertiliser Action Plan open.substack.com/pub/shonferg...
open.substack.com
When fertilizer prices spike
The EU has a plan. Will it work?
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
My latest post on the EU CAP proposal for 2028-2034: How would capping payments affect EU farmers? shonferguson.substack.com/p/how-would-...
shonferguson.substack.com
How would capping payments affect EU farmers?
Could fewer subsidies for large farms make small farms great again?
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
One legume to rule them all. My latest post: shonferguson.substack.com/p/why-does-t...
shonferguson.substack.com
Why does the EU import so many soybeans?
How Brazil's soy boom created a global protein imbalance.
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 11/04/2026
Yikes, a EUR 750 registration fee seems pretty steep. wcere2026.org
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
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
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
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
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...
open.substack.com
How can we decouple our energy markets from fossil fuel prices?
Electrification is the way, but only with a clean electricity mix.
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
Applications are open for the PhD program in Environmental Economics here at SLU. Please spread the word! www.slu.se/en/about-slu...
slu.se
PhD positions in Environmental Economics | slu.se
SLU - Science and Education for Sustainable Life
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
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
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
My latest post! open.substack.com/pub/shonferg...
open.substack.com
CBAM's Growing Pains
Uncertainty over a potential carve-out for fertilizer imports under the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism is creating trade policy uncertainty that helps no one, least of all EU farmers.
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
"God's finger"
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
My latest post: open.substack.com/pub/shonferg...
open.substack.com
Why Farmers Oppose (Some) Trade Agreements
Economic policies can help, but they can't solve everything
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Reposted by Shon Ferguson
Lassi Ahlvik @ahlviklassi.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
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...
jobs.helsinki.fi
Postdoctoral Researcher in Biodiversity Economics
Postdoctoral Researcher in Biodiversity Economics
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
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...
shonferguson.substack.com
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”.
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
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...
open.substack.com
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.
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Reposted by Shon Ferguson
Alan Matthews @alanmatthews.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
Excellent overview of the strength of Europe's farm lobby in this Politico article by Bartosz Brzezinski today www.politico.eu/article/euro...
politico.eu
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.
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
My thoughts on the year ahead. Lots happening in the US and the EU to keep an eye on. open.substack.com/pub/shonferg...
open.substack.com
Agricultural, Trade, and Environmental Policy Developments to Watch in 2026
Thoughts on the year ahead. Can it really be more eventful than 2025?
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
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...
open.substack.com
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.
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 15/11/2025
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.
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
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...
open.substack.com
Will the EU Deforestation Regulation reduce deforestation?
How trade diversion could undermine the EU's efforts, and what to do about it.
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Reposted by Shon Ferguson
ClimateFran @climatefran.bsky.social · 03/11/2025
🚨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
recruit.ucdavis.edu
Postdoctoral Scholar - Environmental Science & Policy
University of California, Davis is hiring. Apply now!
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
I never realized that I asked so many excellent and nuanced questions until I started using ChatGPT.
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
My latest substack post: Do farm animal welfare regulations hurt competitiveness? open.substack.com/pub/shonferg...
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 14/10/2025
My latest post: "Preventing Panic: Why Better Food Data Means Stronger Food Security" open.substack.com/pub/shonferg...
open.substack.com
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.
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 06/10/2025
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
ft.com
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
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
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...
open.substack.com
Are Agricultural Global Value Chains in Trouble?
Some are feeling the pain, but reports of their death are greatly exaggerated.
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 24/09/2025
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...
doi.org
Redirecting
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 13/09/2025
This is a neat idea. www.bbc.com/travel/artic...
bbc.com
Yoga in barns, sound baths in fields: How farms became healing hubs
Facing financial and ecological pressures, UK farmers are diversifying into wellness, transforming barns, meadows and woodlands into unexpected sanctuaries.
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 04/09/2025
My latest post discusses an EU trade policy announcement from the summer that could have important implications. open.substack.com/pub/shonferg...
open.substack.com
Why carbon pricing relief for EU exporters is a big deal
Is the proposed plan for export rebates a clever move, or are we heading for a WTO showdown?
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 03/09/2025
🚨 New paper accepted at Food Policy! 🚨🥳 "The Impact of Animal Welfare Regulations on Pork Trade: Evidence from European Countries" with Anna Wallenbeck, Sigrid Agenäs, and Helena Hansson. 2024 WP link: publications.slu.se?file=publ/sh...
publications.slu.se
The Impact of Animal Welfare Regulations on Pork Trade: Evidence from European Countries
We analyse the impact of stricter national animal welfare (AW) regulations on imports and exports of pork between 13 European countries during the pe
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 14/08/2025
Instead of the usual analysis of ag/env/trade policy, this week's post aims to give readers some insights into academic life. I hope economists/non-economists find it amusing/useful. open.substack.com/pub/shonferg...
open.substack.com
What Academic Economists Actually Do All Day
Teaching. Research. Outreach. It takes a lot of people skills.
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 15/07/2025
My latest post discusses the potential trade and spatial implications of Canada's regulated system of dairy production, supply management. TL/DR: Canada's production per person is extremely uniform compared to U.S.; homogenized, you might say. shonferguson.substack.com/p/will-the-c...
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Reposted by Shon Ferguson
Richard Waite @waiterich.bsky.social · 15/07/2025
Interesting and sobering update after Denmark passed a groundbreaking agriculture / nature / climate policy last year:
politico.eu
Can Denmark sell green agriculture to a skeptical EU?
As Copenhagen takes the helm of the Council, its bold climate credentials face the hard grind of EU politics — and a bloc more interested in competitiveness than carbon cuts.
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 13/07/2025
Amid the new tariff threats on the EU, my post is still relevant.
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 30/06/2025
Just finished grading 17 Bachelor's theses and 7 Master's theses. Definitely ready for a summer break.
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Reposted by Shon Ferguson
Ryan Katz-Rosene, PhD @ryankatzrosene.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
Woah! Such an important study published in Nature today! Quick thread with some of their key figures! 🧵
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 28/06/2025
Fun Fact: Season 2 of The Bridge begins with a tanker colliding with the Öresund Bridge under mysterious circumstances. Looking back, that episode was ominously prescient.
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
This reference guide, provided by the library at @lunduniversity.bsky.social, is an excellent resource, especially for how to cite Swedish government documents: libguides.lub.lu.se/apa_short
libguides.lub.lu.se
LibGuides: Reference guide for APA 7th edition: Introduction
Reference guide for APA 7th edition intended for students at the department of Biology and CEC, Lund University. NB! If you access the guide using a smartphone, the text will open below the menu.
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
My latest post discusses the concentration of Sweden's goods trade via one bridge open.substack.com/pub/shonferg...
open.substack.com
The Öresund Bridge: Success Story and Strategic Pinch Point?
It's not only a marvel of engineering made famous by the hit Nordic noir crime television series - it's also vital economic and trade link.
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
The Swedish government just announced a new grant program to support farmers in investing in measures to reduce ammonia emissions. 100 million SEK per year in 2025, 2026, and 2027. A potentially important step in reducing GHG emissions in agriculture. www.atl.nu/nytt-stod-ti...
atl.nu
Nytt stöd till bönder – ska få ned utsläpp
Bönder ska från och med i år och fram till 2027 kunna ansöka om stöd från Jordbruksverket för att få ned utsläppen.
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
Excellent @slu-econ.bsky.social seminar by Ricardo Guzman,visiting us from Aix-Marseille.
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Reposted by Shon Ferguson
Konrad Burchardi @konradburchardi.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
💥Research Assistant Positions💥 1. Ingvild Almås, Timo Boppart, Thor Berger, Hannes Malmberg, and I are looking for a research assistant to work on a project which investigates Sweden's spectacular economic growth during the late 19th century using establishment-level data.
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 30/05/2025
Turned out that none of the students in my class had even heard of the movie "Office Space". What the heck!
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
My latest post explores some of the key economic questions surrounding food system preparedness. Dig in! open.substack.com/pub/shonferg...
open.substack.com
Building resilience on a budget
Here are some of the economic questions about food system preparedness. Stay tuned for the answers.
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 27/05/2025
Hear, hear www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
cbc.ca
King says 'strong and free' Canada is a force for good in historic throne speech | CBC News
King Charles delivered a historic speech from the throne Tuesday and he used that platform to praise Canada as a force for good that will remain "strong and free" as its relationships with longtime pa...
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Shon Ferguson @shonferguson.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
www.rferl.org/a/eu-lawmake...
rferl.org
EU Lawmakers Increase Pressure By Targeting Fertilizers From Russia And Belarus
The European Union on May 22 took a major step forward in ending imports of Russian and Belarusian nitrogen-based fertilizer products into the bloc by approving a schedule of increases in duties aimed...
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