June 19 2018 04:43 PM

Experts Provide Leading Insight and Knowledge for Dairy and Horticulture Sectors

The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoard’s Dairyman.

Two thought leaders for the dairy and horticulture sectors have joined the RaboResearch Food and Agribusiness team of industry analysts. Mary Ledman is global sector strategist for dairy, and David Magaña is senior analyst for horticulture.

Rabobank’s RaboResearch Food and Agribusiness group is a global team of more than 90 analysts who monitor and evaluate global market events that affect agriculture worldwide.

The international team works to collect key insights into commodity markets; conducts in-depth analysis of the factors that drive sector success (or failure); and examines the megatrends that ultimately influence clients’ business strategies. The analysts are internationally respected experts in sectors from protein to produce, inputs to oilseeds.

“The hiring of Mary and David reinforces Rabobank’s commitment to having the best people in place to cover every sector and commodity,” says Pablo Sherwell, head of RaboResearch North America. “Their industry knowledge helps Rabobank clients make business decisions, capitalize on new opportunities and prepare for risks.”

Mary Ledman, Dairy Markets and Policy Expert
Based in a Chicago office, Ledman directs a team of ten analysts around the globe, all focused on dairy. She has more than 30 years’ experience in production agriculture, food processing, government service, agricultural policy, dairy risk management, and milk and dairy product price forecasting with organizations including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Kraft Foods, Keough Ledman Associates and the Daily Dairy Report.

Her passion for the industry traces back to her days growing up on a dairy farm in southwest Wisconsin. Ledman earned her master’s degree in agricultural economics from Texas A&M University and is a past recipient of a Fulbright-Hays scholarship to conduct comparative research on U.S. and European dairy policies.

David Magaña, Analyst for Fruits and Vegetables
Located in Fresno, California, Magaña is responsible for covering and analyzing the North American fresh fruit and vegetable markets. Prior to joining Rabobank, he served as deputy director of economic research for FIRA – Banco de Mexico, an agricultural bank in Latin America. For the past decade, his research experience has included agricultural market integration under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), consumer trends, food security, food price dynamics and other related topics.

After earning his bachelor’s degree from Universidad Autonoma Chapingo, Magaña received his master’s degree and Ph.D. in agricultural economics from Texas A&M University.