We value excellence and delivering the highest-value product for our clients. That’s why we prioritize a deep understanding of our clients’ objectives, and unmatched technical chops.
Our technical approach starts with expert listening. We work hard to understand all aspects of our client’s objectives: target audience, pain points, and broader goals. Working closely with our clients, we tailor the project scope to fit their needs.
We then apply rigorous economic modeling that integrates physical, biological, and geospatial data. Our integrated economic modeling approach allows us to clearly measure outcomes, from the field to the regional economy. No matter how complicated the underlying economic analysis, our results are always explained in a simple, intuitive way.
Select modeling capabilities
Water Risk and Climate Risk Indices
Leveraging geospatial (GIS) and market data with biophysical and economic models, we develop indices that help clients understand the magnitude of water and climate risks affecting their agricultural assets.
SWAP Model
The Statewide Agricultural Production model (SWAP-RTS) simulates California agricultural output by analyzing water supplies and market conditions, helping stakeholders understand economic forces and policy conditions in a $47 billion industry.
Econometrics
In contrast to a trend analysis of crop prices, econometric models can quantify the effect of specific structural market changes, such as trade agreements or the value of the U.S. dollar, on expected crop returns.
Commodity market models
Our crop-specific market models evaluate the effect of shocks to the agricultural economy, considering both domestic and export markets. Examples include the effect of tariffs, growth in consumer demand in export countries, or competition from producers in other regions.
Farm financials
We develop farm financial models to quantify financial impacts, regulatory costs, and return on investment. Examples include evaluating the cost of new laws or court decisions, and the ultimate impact on farm profitability.
Economic multiplier models
We link our modeling framework to the broader economy through input-output models, enabling us to clearly illustrate the relationship between agricultural production and measures of economic activity including employment, incomes, and the regional tax base.
Selected professional papers
Selected reports and conference presentations
California Agriculture Regulatory Impact Analysis
Duncan MacEwan, Jay Noel, Richard Howitt, Lynn Hamilton, Mike McCullough, Jennifer Scheer
Presented at the 2016 American Agricultural Economics Association Annual Meeting. (2016).
