The Economic Perspective 8/22/2025

The Latest Trending Economic, Environmental and Infrastructure News Curated for You by The Balmoral Group

The Balmoral Group provides practical, professional and precise Economics, Data Analytics, and Engineering Consulting services and is part of a globally integrated team.

Happy Friday! 

It is our economic analyst interns' last week at The Balmoral Group! We are so proud of all the hard work they have put in this summer and wish them success in their future endeavors. This week's articles explore the opening of oyster harvesting in Apalachicola Bay (Florida), federal funding for ferry service improvements around the United States, and protected farmland in Florida, among more! This week's data visualization covers trade tariffs on imported goods to the United States.

Please feel free to forward this to anyone you think would be interested. If you’d like to view previous editions please click here, or to subscribe please click here! Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!

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Florida to Reopen Oyster Harvesting in Apalachicola Bay

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) proposed a new management framework for commercial and recreational oyster harvest in Apalachicola Bay at their August meeting. Due to high levels of oyster abundance in the bay, FWC staff want to reopen the oyster fishery while promoting reef recovery and sustainable harvest practices. The harvest season is set for January 1, 2026 through February 28, 2026 and then will continue with their normal October - February season. FWC will require commercial harvesters to obtain a Commercial Apalachicola Bay Endorsement and recreational harvesters will need an Apalachicola Bay Recreational Opportunity Permit, and both parties will adhere to the new reporting requirements that FWC will lay out soon. Read more here. 

$175 Million in Funding Announced for Ferry Service Improvements

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced $175 million in funding for 35 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa, under the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Ferry Boat Program. Washington State is currently allocated the highest portion of funding at nearly $40 million, just ahead of Alaska which will receive $38.5 million. Florida is slated for $1.2 million. Find the whole breakdown here. Projects eligible for funding include the construction, acquisition and operation of ferry boats, terminals, and maintenance facilities. This aims to improve general ferry service, increase mobility, and provide more cost-effective travel options for communities across the country. Read more here. 

540 Acres of Florida Farmland Announced Under Protection

The preservation of farmland located in Flagler and Putnam counties was announced under the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (FDACS) Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, which was established in 2001. To date, the program has preserved over 216,000 acres of agricultural land, and the newest preservation announcement is through a rural lands protection easement on Singleton Family Farms. The farm is located within the Florida Wildlife Corridor and is enrolled in FDACS Best Management Practices program, further supporting their case for conservation. Easements purchased through this program aim to prevent future development to allow for the continued production of key agricultural goods in Florida. Read more here. Image source: FDACS. 

ROVs to Assist USACE Underwater Inspections

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) oversees and examines hundreds of locks and dams through costly and dangerous processes that can also be disruptive to material flows. In an effort to increase the safety and cost-effectiveness of these processes, the U.S. Army Research and Development Center (ERDC) is testing how remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) could be used in the field. ROVs would eliminate the need to deploy scuba divers into potentially dangerous situations by pre-mapping the area and allowing teams to strategize above the water instead of under it. ROVs are equipped with high-resolution cameras and fidelity sensors that enable them to collect data from all directions. They have already been used to document environmental conditions around dredging operations, and these continuing insights may be used to further inform data collection approaches. Read more here. Image source: USACE.

John Deere Lays Off Workers as Demand Decreases

The farming equipment company John Deere announced that it will lay off 238 employees across three manufacturing facilities in Illinois and Iowa due to decreased demand and lower order volumes for its machinery. John Deere reported significantly lower demand and profits in its third-quarter earnings, citing a downturn in the agriculture sector. The decline is a result of high input costs, low output prices, and farmers' reluctance to spend due to current uncertainty in the trade market. The soon-to-be laid off workers will continue to receive income payments and benefits up to six months from their release date. Read more here.

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Data Visualization of the Week

United States Trade Tariffs on Imports

United States trade tariffs went into effect August 7^th, and the map below describes the Effective Tariff Rate (ETR) that each country is currently facing. The tariffs can be separated into two groups: reciprocal/country-level or sector-specific. The ETR is then calculated as a weighted average of the tariff rates applied to 2024 US imports from that country, relative to the total value of US imports from the same country. New tariff rates were applied to 66 countries, the 27-member European Union, Taiwan, and the Falkland Islands. Some of the sectors that have been heavily tariffed include aluminum, steel, and semi-finished copper products at 50%. Read more here. Image source: Center for Global Development.