Actually if Dak did jump in to help NW, that still wouldn't prove anything. There has been a few people who have already said they don't know or have any connection with NW and would still gladly help them out. Dak could also do this.
Food prices will go to $100 soon. Since i have played they have always started low and then went higher as demand went up. When most of the big states are all troops in the first weeks, food consumption is low.
The market will balance itself out soon.