ERR-218, October 27, 2016
ERS explains the mechanics of two “shallow loss” insurance options offered to upland cotton producers under the 2014 Farm Act, provides estimates of their potential for reducing producers’ revenue risk, and examines enrollment levels.
SSSM-338, October 18, 2016
Later sugarbeet harvesting pace and increased crop outlook raises 2016/17 U.S. sugar production projections.
LDPM-268, October 18, 2016
The Livestock, Dairy, & Poultry Outlook for October 2016 analyzes economic impacts on animal product markets of month-to-month changes in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates Report.
ERR-217, October 18, 2016
ERS examines recent trends in adoption of precision agriculture technologies, the production practices and farm characteristics associated with adoption, and whether adoption is associated with greater profitability on U.S. corn farms.
AP-073, October 17, 2016
Examples from ERS's updated collection of 70 charts/maps, each with accompanying text, covering key statistics on farming, food spending and prices, food security, rural communities, interaction of agriculture and the environment, and more.
WHS-16J, October 14, 2016
The October 2016 outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.
RCS-16J, October 14, 2016
The October 2016 Rice Outlook report will contain updated U.S. and global rice market forecasts for 2016/17.
OCS-16J, October 14, 2016
U.S. soybean exports to get a boost from record harvest.
FDS-16j, October 14, 2016
The October 2016 Feed Outlook report contains projections for the 2015/16 and 2016/17 U.S. and global feed markets based on the most current World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
CWS-16J, October 14, 2016
The October 2016 Cotton and Wool Outlook report presents and discusses USDA's latest 2016/17 U.S. and world cotton supply and demand projections. The report also includes the latest U.S. textile and apparel trade data.
FTS-363, September 30, 2016
U.S. apple production to increase this fall, but lack of competing supplies from previous harvest likely to hold early-season prices strong. This large apple crop will coincide with smaller pear crop this fall.
ERR-216, September 28, 2016
Nutrient trading is a strategy in which polluters with high costs of reducing pollution can pay farmers to limit nutrient runoff into the Chesapeake Bay. But nutrient trading is more complex for livestock operations than for crop farms.
SSSM-337, September 16, 2016
Fewer projected imports in 2016/17 lower projected ending stocks. Higher estimated production in 2015/16 raises stocks heading into 2016/17.
RCS-161-01, September 16, 2016
Rice is Korea’s staple grain and most important crop. The U.S. was a key supplier of rice to this market in the 20th century and has supplied over a million tons since 2000. A tariff-rate quota now effectively precludes over-quota imports.
LDPM-267, September 16, 2016
The Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook for September 2016 analyzes economic impacts on animal product markets of month-to-month changes in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates report.
WHS-16I, September 14, 2016
The September 2016 outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.
RCS-16I, September 14, 2016
The September 2016 Rice Outlook Report will contain updated U.S. and global rice market forecasts for 2016/17 and any revisions to 2015/16.
OCS-16I, September 14, 2016
Record U.S. soybean use may not keep pace with big production gains.
FDS-16i, September 14, 2016
The September 2016 Feed Outlook report contains projections for the 2015/16 and 2016/17 U.S. and global feed markets based on the most current World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
CWS-16i, September 14, 2016
The September 2016 Cotton and Wool Outlook report presents and discusses USDA's latest 2016/17 U.S. and world cotton supply and demand projections. The report also includes the latest U.S. textile and apparel trade data.
ERR-215, September 07, 2016
An estimated 12.7 percent of U.S. households were food insecure in 2015, down from 14.0 percent in 2014. Food-insecure households are those that lack consistent access to adequate, healthful food.
AP-072, September 07, 2016
This is the statistical supplement for USDA’s annual report on households’ access to adequate food for active, healthy living.
Amber Waves, September 06, 2016
Soil health builds upon soil conservation by encouraging farmers to manage soil as a living ecosystem, in addition to reducing soil erosion. Healthy soils can have benefits to society and to farmers. USDA incentivizes farmers to adopt soil health practices through programs such as EQIP and CSP.
ERR-214, September 06, 2016
ERS examines potential impacts of the Margin Protection Program for Dairy Producers on average margins, risks, and supply responses for dairy farms of different sizes and regions and at different coverage levels.
ERR-213, August 31, 2016
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act increased SNAP benefits by 14 percent in April 2009. ERS examines how the additional benefits affected the food spending behavior of SNAP participants.
VGS-357, August 30, 2016
Dry Edible Peas Harvested Area at Record-High.
Amber Waves, August 25, 2016
In 2015-19, just over 2 percent of land in farms is expected to be sold in an arm’s-length transaction in which the buyer and seller are not related. Most land that will be sold to nonrelatives in the next 5 years was originally acquired in an arm’s-length transaction, suggesting that the supply of ...
EIB-161, August 25, 2016
Using data from a new survey, ERS examines U.S. farmland ownership and tenure, how land is acquired and transferred, the characteristics of land rental agreements, and landlord involvement in rented farmland operations.
AES-95, August 25, 2016
This report discusses August 2016 USDA forecasts for U.S. agricultural trade in FY2016 and 2017. Exports are forecast at $133.0 billion in 2017 and $127.0 billion in 2016; imports to reach $113.5 billion in FY2017.
Amber Waves, August 22, 2016
Modifying border processes and procedures in ways that make U.S.-Mexico agricultural trade more agile—thereby allowing agricultural products to cross the border more easily and quickly—is one approach to fostering further growth in this trade. This article explores several opportunities to facilitat...
EIB-160, August 22, 2016
To explore ways of facilitating border crossing and inspection for U.S.-Mexico agricultural trade, an ERS research team conducted about 80 interviews with experts from the private sector, government, and academia from both countries.
SSSM-336, August 18, 2016
Higher U.S. harvested area forecast for sugarcane and sugarbeets in 2016/17, raising projected U.S. sugar production.
LDPM-266, August 18, 2016
The Livestock, Dairy, & Poultry Outlook for August 2016 analyzes economic impacts on animal product markets of month-to-month changes in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates report.
WHS-16H, August 16, 2016
The August 2016 outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.
RCS-16H, August 16, 2016
The July 2016 Rice Outlook Report will contain updated U.S. and global rice markets forecasts for 2016/17 and any revisions to 2015/16.
OCS-16H, August 16, 2016
Record acreage and yields swell U.S. soybean production.
FDS-16h, August 16, 2016
The August 2016 Feed Outlook report contains projections for the 2015/16 and 2016/17 U.S. and global feed markets based on the most current World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
CWS-16H, August 16, 2016
The August 2016 Cotton and Wool Outlook report presents and discusses USDA's latest 2016/17 U.S. and world cotton supply and demand projections. The report also includes USDA's first survey-based cotton production estimates for 2016/17.
SSSM--335-01, August 11, 2016
ERS examines the U.S. trade remedy investigations on sugar imports from Mexico and considers how the recent “suspension agreement” restrictions on these imports change the outlook for the integrated U.S.-Mexico sweetener market.
EIB-159, August 11, 2016
The Renewable Fuel Standard, the shale energy revolution, and the Clean Power Plan to cut carbon emissions are among energy developments that have affected or could affect the agriculture sector as both consumer and producer of energy.
Amber Waves, August 01, 2016
Despite volatile farm-level milk prices over the last decade, fluctuations in retail prices for whole milk and Cheddar cheese have been comparatively moderate, with farm prices and retail prices tracking more closely for whole milk than for Cheddar cheese.
Amber Waves, August 01, 2016
The 2014 Farm Act revised the maximum income limitations (the income caps) that determine eligibility for most commodity and conservation programs and payments by replacing the separate limits on farm and nonfarm income specified in the 2008 Farm Act with a single total adjusted gross income cap of ...
ERR-212, August 01, 2016
Over multiple years, demand for crop insurance is driven more by farmers’ financial wealth than attitude toward risk, as wealthier farmers self-insure with savings while limited-resource farmers may use additional savings to buy insurance.
ERR-211, July 29, 2016
ERS examines demand for convenience foods in recent years and the mechanisms driving the demand, including changes in prices of convenience foods and in consumers’ income, the amount of hours worked by household heads, and advertising.
EIB-158, July 28, 2016
ERS analyzed food and food-related time use patterns by factors such as income level and participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).
EIB-157, July 27, 2016
Food spending and other key outcome measures in USDA’s comprehensive, detailed survey of household food acquisition and purchases (FoodAPS) are comparable to estimates from other key national surveys measuring specific variables.
EIB-156, July 27, 2016
Nearly all households acquire food at least once during the week; 87 percent visited supermarkets and 85 percent visited restaurants at least once. Households, SNAP and non-SNAP, acquired food at no cost on 22 percent of occasions.
SSSM-335, July 18, 2016
Higher U.S. harvested area forecast for sugarcane and sugarbeets in 2016/17, raising projected U.S. sugar production.
LDPM-265, July 18, 2016
The Livestock, Dairy, & Poultry Outlook for July 2016 analyzes economic impacts on animal product markets of month-to-month changes in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates report.
WHS-16G, July 14, 2016
The July 2016 outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.
RCS-16G, July 14, 2016
The July 2016 Rice Outlook report will contain updated U.S. and global rice market forecasts for 2016/17 and any revisions to 2015/16.
OCS-16G, July 14, 2016
Export related price strength spurs soybean planting.
FDS-16g, July 14, 2016
The July 2016 Feed Outlook report contains projections for the 2015/16 and 2016/17 U.S. and global feed markets based on the most current World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
CWS-16G, July 14, 2016
The July 2016 Cotton and Wool Outlook report presents and discusses USDA's latest 2016/17 U.S. and world cotton supply and demand projections. The report also presents recent highlights from China's cotton textile industry.
AES-94, July 12, 2016
The macroeconomic outlook underlying the 2016 USDA agricultural projections indicates a slowdown in global income growth and a stronger dollar, implying smaller projected gains in agricultural trade and declines in U.S. market share.
Amber Waves, July 05, 2016
Researchers linked ERS's food availability data with food intake survey data to break down national food and vegetable consumption trends by age, gender, education level, income, and race/ethnic background. They found that declines in fruit and vegetable consumption—driven by falling consumption of ...
Amber Waves, June 30, 2016
Food security for 76 low- and middle-income countries is expected to improve during 2016-26 as the number of food-insecure people falls by 59 percent. Over the same period, the share of the population that is food insecure is expected to drop from 17 to 6 percent.
GFA-27, June 30, 2016
The share of food-insecure people in the 76 low- and middle-income countries included in this report is projected to fall from 17 percent in 2016 to 6 percent in 2026. The number of food-insecure people is projected to fall by 59 percent.
FTS-362, June 30, 2016
Sweet cherry and prune crops are forecast down from last season. Anticipated price gains from reduced California peach supplies mitigated by large supplies in South Carolina and Georgia and lower prices for off-season imports this winter.
ERR-210, June 29, 2016
ERS examines the extent to which changes in oil prices could affect Brazil’s ethanol sector and the agricultural land-use decisions on production of sugarcane—Brazil's main ethanol feedstock—versus other crop and livestock activities.
LDPM-264-01, June 22, 2016
Since the late 2000s, India’s exports of beef—specifically water buffalo meat—have expanded rapidly, with India emerging as the world’s largest beef exporter in 2014. So far, Indian exports have not been competitive with U.S. beef exports.
EIB-155, June 21, 2016
ERS examines how using updated supermarket shrink-loss data in the agency’s Loss-Adjusted Food Availability series would affect estimates of U.S. fresh food items available for consumption.
EIB-154, June 20, 2016
Lower shipping costs have helped keep the U.S. competitive with South America in international markets, but that could change with recent reductions in export taxes, export restrictions, and transportation costs in Brazil and Argentina.
SSSM-334, June 16, 2016
The Sugar and Sweeteners Outlook for June 2016 reviews the sugar and sweetener market conditions for the United States and Mexico.
LDPM-264, June 16, 2016
The Livestock, Dairy, & Poultry Outlook for June 2016 analyzes economic impacts on animal product markets of month-to-month changes in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates report.
AES-93, June 15, 2016
Brazil’s corn exports are now concentrated in months traditionally dominated by Northern Hemisphere exporters, particularly the United States. Greater competition from Brazil could alter the seasonal pattern of U.S. corn exports and prices.
WHS-16F, June 14, 2016
The June 2016 outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.
RCS-16F, June 14, 2016
The June 2016 Rice Outlook report will contain updated U.S. and global rice markets forecasts for 2016/17 and any revisions to 2015/16.
OCS-16F, June 14, 2016
U.S. export demand for soybeans and soybean products stays firm.
FDS-16F, June 14, 2016
The June 2016 Feed Outlook report contains projections for the 2015/16 and 2016/17 U.S. and global feed markets based on the most current World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
CWS-16F, June 14, 2016
The June 2016 Cotton and Wool Outlook report presents and discusses USDA's latest 2016/17 U.S. and world cotton supply and demand projections. The report also highlights the recently announced Cotton Ginning Cost-Share program.
AP-071, June 07, 2016
USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS), in collaboration with USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), invites applications for a competitively awarded grant to establish a research center to administer the Research Innovation and Development Grants in Economics (RIDGE) Program. ERS anticipates that...
AES-92, May 26, 2016
This report discusses May 2016 USDA forecasts for U.S. agricultural trade in FY 2016. Exports are forecast at $124.5 billion in 2016; imports to reach record high.
Amber Waves, May 24, 2016
A recent ERS study of 17 commonly purchased organic foods found price premiums for the organic foods relative to their nonorganic counterparts in 2010 ranged from 7 percent for fresh spinach to 82 percent for milk.
ERR-209, May 24, 2016
Of 17 organic food products ERS analyzed, most retail price premiums fluctuated between 2004 and 2010, neither increasing nor decreasing steadily. Only three products–fresh spinach, canned beans, and coffee–showed steady premium decreases.
AP-070, May 17, 2016
The 2014-16 Eating & Health Module User's Guide (2016 Edition) provides detailed guidance to researchers on how to use the Module to measure time use and eating patterns.
Amber Waves, May 16, 2016
The share of rural children living below the official poverty line rose from 20.1 percent in 2003 to 26.7 percent in 2012, before declining to 23.7 percent in 2014. The cause of the net increase from 2003 to 2014 was not primarily a reduction in average family incomes in rural areas; rather, it was ...
SSSM-333, May 16, 2016
The Sugar and Sweeteners Outlook for May 2016 reviews the sugar and sweeteners market conditions for the United States and Mexico.
LDPM-263, May 16, 2016
The Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook for May 2016 analyzes animal product markets based on projections from USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates report for beef, pork, poultry, lamb, and dairy production and trade.
ERR-208, May 16, 2016
Rural child poverty rose between 2003 and 2014, increasing even in pre- and post-recession years. ERS looks at the effects of declining average incomes among rural families and rising rural income inequality.
WHS-16E, May 12, 2016
The May 2016 outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.
RCS-16E, May 12, 2016
The May 2016 Rice Outlook report will contain the first U.S. and global rice markets forecasts for 2016/17 and any revisions to 2015/16.
OCS-16E, May 12, 2016
Outlook for 2016/17 soybean prices strengthens as demand draws down stocks.
FDS-16E, May 12, 2016
The May 2016 Feed Outlook report contains the first projections for the 2016/17 U.S. and global feed markets based on the most current World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
CWS-16E, May 12, 2016
The May 2016 Cotton and Wool Outlook report presents and discusses USDA's initial 2016/17 U.S. and world cotton supply and demand projections. The report also highlights China's recent cotton reserve stocks sales.
EIB-153, May 11, 2016
ERS estimates the extent of food insecurity among Hispanic households in the United States and the adults in these households. In 2014, 22.4 percent of Hispanic households were food insecure, versus 14 percent of all U.S. households.
ERR-207, May 05, 2016
Since WIC households incur no cost for WIC-approved foods, they may be less sensitive to prices when using benefits than when paying out of pocket, an assumption this study addresses by analysis of cold cereal purchases.
Amber Waves, May 02, 2016
Global soybean and products trade is projected to rise rapidly over the next 10 years according to USDA Agricultural Projections to 2025. The primary factors driving this increase include population and income growth, which are behind the rising world demand for livestock products, as well ...
Amber Waves, May 02, 2016
Recent studies show that the effect of food store access on dietary quality may be limited. Most consumers—both low-income and higher income—consider store characteristics other than proximity in deciding where to shop, as they seek the products, prices, and other features they value.
VGS-356, April 29, 2016
U.S. production of commercial vegetables and dry pulses (including mushrooms, potatoes, and sweet potatoes) totaled 127 billion pounds in 2015, down less than 1 percent from 2014.
EIB-152, April 28, 2016
This report examines the distribution of WIC store types and dollar redemptions and compares the share of WIC versus SNAP redemptions at large stores in FY 2012 as a rough measure of WIC participants’ price sensitivity.
SSSM-332, April 18, 2016
The Sugar and Sweeteners Outlook for April 2016 reviews the sugar and sweeteners market conditions for the United States and Mexico.
LDPM-262, April 18, 2016
The Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook for April 2016 analyzes animal product markets based on projections from USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates Report for beef, pork, poultry, lamb, and dairy production and trade.
WHS-16D, April 14, 2016
The April 2016 outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.
RCS-16D, April 14, 2016
The April 2016 Rice Outlook report will contain U.S. and global rice markets forecasts for 2015/16 and any revisions to 2014/15.
OCS-16D, April 14, 2016
Outlook for soybean ending stocks tightens but still ample.
FDS-16d, April 14, 2016
The April 2016 Feed Outlook report contains projections for the 2015/16 U.S. and global feed markets based on the most current World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
CWS-16D, April 14, 2016
The April 2016 Cotton and Wool Outlook report presents and discusses USDA's 2015/16 U.S. and world cotton supply and demand projections. U.S. cotton planting intentions for 2016 are also discussed.
TB-1942, April 13, 2016
This report examines the methodology, characteristics, and statistical properties of food scanner data purchased by ERS. It provides an introduction to the data for new users and important considerations for advanced users.
Amber Waves, April 04, 2016
ERS research on India’s agricultural performance since 1980 suggests that increases in productivity have spread from the northern grain belt, led by accelerated growth in production of horticulture and animal products. Several policies are propelling India’s agricultural productivity, namely investm...
FTS-361, March 31, 2016
The current U.S. citrus crop is forecast down 12 percent from the 2014/15 season, with reduced supplies expected for most major citrus crops except for tangerine and mandarin production. Citrus grower prices fairly strong.
ERR-206, March 30, 2016
ERS drew on national dietary intake surveys to break down the ERS Loss-Adjusted Food Availability data and show food consumption by demographic characteristics for 63 commodities (who eats what food commodities and how much).
Amber Waves, March 28, 2016
ERS research shows that problems with adulterated and misbranded food imports persist, despite FDA’s deterrence and detection efforts. Fishery/seafood products, vegetable/vegetable products, and fruit/fruit products were the industries with the most shipments refused in 2005-13 and also in 1998-2004...
EIB-151, March 28, 2016
Of more than 140,000 FDA violations in food shipments for import in 2005-13, over half were for adulteration (safety, packaging integrity, or sanitation), and 41 percent for misbranding (e.g., misleading labels or those lacking English).
EIB-150, March 17, 2016
Spending for USDA’s 15 domestic food and nutrition programs totaled $104.1 billion in fiscal 2015, or about the same as the previous fiscal year. This was about 5 percent lower than the historical high of $109.2 billion set in FY 2013.
Amber Waves, March 16, 2016
U.S. agriculture is growing more concentrated as markets have fewer purchases, low trading volume, and low liquidity. This raises concerns about equity for producers and efficiency in market performance.
EIB-148, March 16, 2016
As U.S. agriculture becomes increasingly concentrated and markets become thinner (smaller number of ag product purchasers), increased producer-processor coordination could provide substantial efficiency gains despite some challenges.
SSSM-331, March 15, 2016
The Sugar and Sweeteners Outlook for March 2016 reviews the sugar and sweeteners market conditions for the United States and Mexico.
LDPM-261, March 15, 2016
The Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook for March 2016 analyzes economic impacts of events based on projections from USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates report for beef, pork, lamb, poultry, eggs, and dairy production and trade.
WHS-16C, March 11, 2016
The March 2016 outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.
RCS-16C, March 11, 2016
The March 2016 Rice Outlook report will contain U.S. and global rice markets forecasts for 2015/16 and any revisions to 2014/15.
OCS-16C, March 11, 2016
Import competition slows domestic soybean use.
FDS-16C, March 11, 2016
The March 2016 Feed Outlook report contains projections for the 2015/16 U.S. and global feed markets based on the most current World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
CWS-16C, March 11, 2016
The March 2016 Cotton and Wool Outlook report presents and discusses USDA's 2015/16 U.S. and world cotton supply and demand projections.
ERR-205, March 09, 2016
Dairy farmers faced a severe financial setback in 2009 as milk prices fell sharply and feed prices remained high, while the industry has undergone structural change. Recent legislation addresses the volatility in milk and feed prices.
Amber Waves, March 07, 2016
Data from USDA’s 2007 and 2012 Agricultural Censuses show that farmers who market food directly to consumers have a greater chance of remaining in business than similarly sized farms who market through traditional channels. While farmers who directly market to consumers are more likely to continue f...
EB-27, February 26, 2016
Many consumers may perceive fruit and vegetable recommendations in USDA's Dietary Guidelines for Americans as too expensive. ERS illustrates how a family of four can meet these recommendations on a limited budget.
AES-91, February 25, 2016
February 2016 USDA forecasts for U.S. agricultural trade in FY 2016 are discussed in this report. Exports are forecast at $125.0 billion in 2016; imports to reach record high.
EIB-149, February 24, 2016
ERS synthesizes production data on GE crop varieties, organic crops (which exclude GE seed), and conventionally grown non-GE crops, and considers coexistence practices and economic losses due to unintended presence of GE material.
OCE-2016-1, February 18, 2016
USDA's longrun projections for global agriculture reflect steady world economic growth and continued demand for biofuels, which combine to support increases in consumption, trade, and prices.
SSSM-330, February 16, 2016
The Sugar and Sweeteners Outlook for February 2016 reviews the sugar and sweeteners market conditions for the United States and Mexico.
LDPM-260, February 16, 2016
The Livestock, Dairy, & Poultry Outlook for February 2016 analyzes animal product markets based on projections from USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates Report for beef, pork, poultry, lamb, and dairy production and trade.
WHS-16B, February 11, 2016
The February 2016 outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.
RCS-16B, February 11, 2016
The February 2016 Rice Outlook Report will contain U.S. and global rice markets forecasts for 2015/16 and any revisions to 2014/15.
OCS-16B, February 11, 2016
Lackluster Soybean Meal Exports to Slow Soybean Crushing.
FDS-16b, February 11, 2016
The February 2016 Feed Outlook report contains projections for the 2015/16 U.S. and global feed markets based on the most current World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
CWS-16B, February 11, 2016
The February 2016 Cotton and Wool Outlook tables provide the latest fiber and textile product data.
Amber Waves, February 01, 2016
In response to two cantaloupe recalls, U.S. consumers reduced their purchases of cantaloupes when they thought the risk of eating cantaloupes might be fatal, but not when the threat was a less serious illness. This differentiated behavior indicates that—at least in these two food safety breaches—con...
RCS-16A-01, February 01, 2016
Imports make up about 80 percent of rice availability in Haiti, a major market for U.S. rice. Efforts are underway in Haiti to raise productivity, but it is still likely to rely on U.S. rice for a large share of its food supply.
LDPM-259-01, January 29, 2016
ERS examines how Japanese importers view U.S. beef vis-à-vis imports from Australia and other countries, how imports differ across beef products, and how market access reform might affect Japanese beef imports.
SSSM-329, January 19, 2016
The Sugar and Sweeteners Outlook for January 2016 reviews the sugar and sweeteners market conditions for the United States and Mexico.
LDPM-259, January 19, 2016
The Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook for January 2016 analyzes animal product markets based on projections from USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates Report for beef, pork, poultry, lamb, and dairy production and trade.
WHS-16a, January 14, 2016
The January 2016 outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.
RCS-16A, January 14, 2016
The January 2016 Rice Outlook Report contains U.S. and global rice markets forecasts for 2015/16 and any revisions to 2014/15.
OCS-16a, January 14, 2016
Record Soybean Crop, Slowing Use Keeps Stocks High.
FDS-16a, January 14, 2016
The January 2016 Feed Outlook report contains projections for the 2015/16 U.S. and global feed markets based on the most current World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
CWS-16a, January 14, 2016
The January 2016 Cotton and Wool Outlook tables provide the latest fiber and textile product data.
Amber Waves, January 12, 2016
The 2014 Farm Act provides eligible farmers new commodity support programs, including Agricultural Risk Coverage, Supplemental Coverage Option, and Price Loss Coverage. Findings reveal how various combinations of the programs affect producer revenues, producer well-being, and expected program costs.
ERR-204, January 12, 2016
ERS examines the underlying mechanics of the Agriculture Risk Coverage, the Price Loss Coverage, and the Supplemental Coverage Option programs to see how they affect producer revenues and risk as well as expected program costs.
EIB-147, December 21, 2015
U.S. farmers’ adoption of no till, strip till, cover crops and nutrient management varies by crop and region. In addition, many farmers are “partial” adopters, implementing conservation practices on some but not all acres of their farms.
SSSM-328, December 15, 2015
The Sugar and Sweeteners Outlook for December 2015 reviews the sugar and sweeteners market conditions for the United States and Mexico.
LDPM-258, December 15, 2015
The Livestock, Dairy, & Poultry Outlook for December 2015 analyzes animal product markets based on projections from USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates report for beef, pork, poultry, lamb, and dairy production and trade.
WHS-15L, December 11, 2015
The December 2015 outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.
RCS-15L, December 11, 2015
The December 2015 Rice Outlook report will contain U.S. and global rice markets forecasts for 2015/16 and any revisions for 2014/15.
OCS-15L, December 11, 2015
Soybean oil prices seen strengthening with tightening global vegetable oil stocks.
FDS-15L, December 11, 2015
The December 2015 Feed Outlook report contains projections for the 2015/16 U.S. and global feed markets based on the most current World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
CWS-15K, December 11, 2015
The December 2015 Cotton and Wool Outlook report presents USDA's latest U.S. cotton production estimates for 2015/16, and revises other 2015/16 and 2014/15 cotton supply and demand estimates.
ERR-203, December 10, 2015
Exerting the greatest effect on India’s agricultural productivity growth since 1980 were investments in public and private agricultural research and in irrigation infrastructure.
EIB-146, December 08, 2015
Most U.S. farms (99 percent) are family operations. Small family farms make up 90 percent of the U.S. farm count but produce 22 percent of farm output. Midsize and large-scale farms (9 percent of farms) produce 68 percent of farm output.
Amber Waves, December 07, 2015
USDA provides meal reimbursements to local school food authorities participating in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. ERS researchers found that per-meal costs were affected by the location of the school food authority, its size, and the balance between the number of lu...
AES-90, December 01, 2015
November 2015 USDA forecasts for U.S. agricultural trade in FY 2016 are discussed in this report. Exports are forecast at $131.5 billion in 2016; imports to reach record high.
EIB-145, November 30, 2015
Rural employment gains were significantly higher over the past year than in recent years, but employment remains below pre-recession levels. Rural areas still suffer population loss, higher poverty, and lower education than urban areas.
Amber Waves, November 25, 2015
Irrigation is widely viewed as an important adaptation to shifting production conditions under climate change. This analysis projects, however, that irrigated fieldcrop acreage will decline as a result of climate change over the 2020 to 2080 study period. Factors driving the shifting relative profit...
ERR-201, November 25, 2015
U.S. irrigated fieldcrop acreage, and water used, are projected to decline with long-term climate change, due to factors including changes in precipitation, shifts in surface-water availability, and temperature-stressed crop growth.
Amber Waves, November 24, 2015
Antibiotics are used widely in livestock production for control, prevention, and treatment of disease, and for “production purposes” such as growth promotion. The most recent estimates suggest that approximately 40 percent of finishing hogs in 2009 and up to about half of broilers in 2011 received a...
ERR-202, November 24, 2015
Suppliers of raw chicken to the National School Lunch Program had modestly better food safety performance on Salmonella spp. tests than chicken slaughter establishments supplying the commercial market.
ERR-200, November 24, 2015
How widespread is use of antibiotics in U.S. livestock? What would be the affect on farmer practices and profits, and on supplies and prices, if antibiotic use for productivity-enhancing purposes were limited?
FDS-15K-01, November 19, 2015
China’s commercial feed industry plays a critical role in supporting growth of the country’s livestock sector. The feed industry’s need for raw materials has been key to lowering China’s barriers to agricultural imports.
SSSM-327, November 17, 2015
The Sugar and Sweeteners Outlook for November 2015 reviews sugar and sweeteners market conditions for the United States and Mexico.
LDPM-257, November 17, 2015
The Livestock, Dairy, & Poultry Outlook for November 2015 analyzes animal product markets based on projections from USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates report for beef, pork, poultry, lamb, and dairy production and trade.
WHS-15k, November 13, 2015
The November 2015 outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.
RCS-15K, November 13, 2015
The November 2015 Rice Outlook report will contain U.S. and global rice markets forecasts for 2015/16 and any revisions for 2014/15.
OCS-15k, November 13, 2015
Abundant U.S. soybean stocks seen for 2015/16.
FDS-15K, November 13, 2015
The November 2015 Feed Outlook report contains projections for the 2015/16 U.S. and global feed markets based on the most current World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
ERR-199, November 10, 2015
Non-tariff measures (e.g., sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical barriers to trade) were found to be significant impediments to agriculture trade in selected commodities between the United States and the European Union.
ERR-198, November 10, 2015
Model results under three possible scenarios suggest the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership between the United States and the European Union could lead to higher ag exports for both, particularly for the United States.
ERR-196, November 05, 2015
Most schools serve fewer breakfasts than lunches, raising per-breakfast costs. Costs drop as more meals are served, but the effect is stronger for breakfasts. Balance in number of breakfasts vs. lunches served also affects per-meal costs.
Amber Waves, November 02, 2015
USDA survey data show that organic systems had lower yields and higher total economic costs than conventional systems. Organic corn and soybeans have been profitable, primarily due to the significant price premiums paid for certified organic crops that more than offset the additional economic costs....
ERR-197, October 29, 2015
U.S. consumers benefit from imports of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries during the winter and would benefit even further if wintertime prices were reduced to the amount they pay in the spring.
SSSM-326, October 16, 2015
The Sugar and Sweeteners Outlook for October 2015 reviews the sugar and sweeteners market conditions for the United States and Mexico.
LDPM-256, October 16, 2015
The Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook for October 2015 analyzes animal product markets based on projections from USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates report for beef, pork, poultry, lamb, and dairy production and trade.
WHS-15J, October 14, 2015
The October 2015 outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.
RCS-15J, October 14, 2015
The October 2015 Rice Outlook report will contain U.S. and global rice markets forecasts for 2015/16 and any revisions for 2014/15.
OCS-15J, October 14, 2015
Lower soybean carryover and production trims 2015/16 ending stocks outlook.
FDS-15J, October 14, 2015
The October 2015 Feed Outlook report contains projections for the 2014/15 and 2015/16 U.S. and global feed markets based on the most current World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
CWS-15J, October 14, 2015
The October 2015 Cotton and Wool Outlook report presents USDA's latest U.S. cotton production estimates for 2015/16, and revises other 2015/16 and 2014/15 cotton supply and demand estimates.
Amber Waves, October 05, 2015
The 1996 World Food Summit goal was to halve the number of food-insecure people by 2015.USDA’s Economic Research Service uses its International Food Security Assessment (IFSA) model to project food availability and access in 76 low- and middle-income countries. Results from the IFSA model are used h...
Amber Waves, October 05, 2015
In recent years, the share of children paying full price for their school lunches has fallen from 40 percent in fiscal 2008 to 28 percent in fiscal 2014, continuing a longer downward trend. A combination of reasons—both economic factors and policy changes—are affecting participation decisions in the...
Amber Waves, October 05, 2015
USDA’s release of the 2014 food security statistics marks the 20th year of consistent, scientifically-based, objective data on food adequacy in U.S. households. The 20-year anniversary provides an opportunity to review the history of the food security measure—how the measure was developed, tested, a...
FTS-360, September 30, 2015
The Fruit and Tree Nuts Outlook report analyzes supply-and-demand conditions in the U.S. fruit and tree nuts markets and provides projections on market conditions for 2015 apple, pear, cranberry, grape and peach crops as well as 2014/15 citrus crops, both fresh and processed markets. It incl...
ERR-195, September 29, 2015
Average distance travelled to a food store has a very small effect on purchases of healthy food, even in low-income, low-access areas. Unhealthy diets are more strongly associated with low income than with limited access to supermarkets.
SSSM-325, September 17, 2015
The Sugar and Sweeteners Outlook for September 2015 reviews the sugar and sweeteners market conditions for the United States and Mexico.
LDPM-255, September 17, 2015
The Livestock, Dairy, & Poultry Outlook for September 2015 analyzes animal product markets based on projections from USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates report for beef, pork, poultry, lamb, and dairy production and trade.
WHS-15i, September 15, 2015
The September 2015 outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.
RCS-15i, September 15, 2015
The September 2015 Rice Outlook report will contain U.S. and global rice markets forecasts for 2015/16 and any revisions for 2014/15.
OCS-15i, September 15, 2015
Lower U.S. beginning stocks of soybeans offsets higher crop.
FDS-15i, September 15, 2015
The September 2015 Feed Outlook report contains projections for the 2015/16 U.S. and global feed markets based on the most current World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
CWS-15l, September 15, 2015
The September 2015 Cotton and Wool Outlook report presents USDA's latest U.S. cotton production estimates for 2015/16, and revises other 2015/16 and 2014/15 cotton supply and demand estimates.
ERR-194, September 09, 2015
An estimated 14 percent of U.S. households were food insecure in 2014, essentially unchanged from 2013 but down from the 2011 high. Such households lack consistent access to adequate, healthful food.
AP-069, September 09, 2015
This is the statistical supplement for USDA’s annual report on households’ access to adequate food for active, healthy living.
Amber Waves, September 08, 2015
Since 1948, U.S. agricultural productivity has more than doubled, enabling farmers to feed more people with less land and labor. Output growth is attributed to the growth in total inputs used and in technology advancement, or total factor productivity (TFP). Agricultural output growth today is more ...
Amber Waves, September 08, 2015
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region accounts for a large and growing portion of the world’s import demand for several important agricultural commodities. This demand, driven by growing populations and rising incomes, has attracted more international suppliers into the MENA market, raising...
Amber Waves, September 08, 2015
Behavioral changes can improve diet quality, but big improvements would require Americans to change how they allocate their food budgets across food groups.
LDPM-254-01, September 03, 2015
ERS found that the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act, up for renewal in 2015, has improved the markets’ overall speed in absorbing new information and that it generally benefits livestock feeders, meatpackers, and—ultimately—consumers.
EIB-144, September 01, 2015
The U.S. has emerged as a major exporter of biofuels, yet it still imports biofuels in order to meet government mandates. Several other countries have emerged as major exporters, and some have taken steps to restrict biofuel trade.
ERR-193, August 27, 2015
A case study of pathogen-related recalls of cantaloupe in 2011 and 2012 suggests consumers’ food purchase responses take into account the relative risk severity of specific pathogens. Information from news media apparently plays a role.
AES-89, August 27, 2015
This report discusses August 2015 USDA forecasts for U.S. agricultural trade in FY 2015 and 2016. Exports are expected to fall $1 billion in 2016; imports to reach record high.
ERR-192, August 25, 2015
FNS estimates monthly SNAP participation rates; ERS has provided a complementary measure, estimating the proportion of the eligible population who participate at some time during the year. Each measure can be useful in assessing SNAP.
EIB-143, August 20, 2015
School meal programs are adjusting to stronger nutritional standards, but face challenges in maintaining paid lunch participation to meet revenue goals and to help avoid stigma toward children receiving free or reduced-price food.
SSSM-324, August 18, 2015
The Sugar and Sweeteners Outlook for August 2015 reviews the sugar and sweeteners market conditions for the United States and Mexico.
LDPM-254, August 18, 2015
The Livestock, Dairy, & Poultry Outlook for August 2015 analyzes animal product markets based on projections from USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates Report for beef, pork, poultry, lamb, and dairy production and trade.
WHS-15H, August 14, 2015
The August 2015 outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.
RCS-15H, August 14, 2015
The August 2015 Rice Outlook report will contain U.S. and global rice markets forecasts for 2015/16 and any revisions for 2014/15.
OCS-15H, August 14, 2015
Soybean stocks to rise with higher crop and dimmer export outlook.
FDS-15H, August 14, 2015
The August 2015 Feed Outlook report contains projections for the 2015/16 U.S. and global feed markets based on the most current World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
CWS-15H, August 14, 2015
The August 2015 Cotton and Wool Outlook report presents USDA's first survey-based U.S. cotton production estimates for 2015/16, and revises other 2015/16 and 2014/15 cotton supply and demand estimates.
ERR-190, August 10, 2015
ERS analysis of a Bangladesh household survey suggests that household-level food security assessments differ from individual-level assessments, with implications for identifying undernourished populations internationally.
Amber Waves, August 03, 2015
Data from USDA’s new FoodAPS survey reveal that SNAP participants and food-insecure households are less likely than higher income consumers to use their own vehicles for their primary food shopping, and more likely to use someone else's car, or to walk, bike, or take public transit.
Amber Waves, August 03, 2015
In December 2014, the United States announced that it would implement executive actions designed to ease the restrictions on trade, remittances, and travel with Cuba. This report explores the potential implications for U.S. agricultural exports. Establishment of a more normal economic relationship w...
ERR-189, July 27, 2015
With little growth in aggregate input use over the last six decades, the extraordinary performance of the U.S. farm sector was driven mainly by productivity growth, at an average annual rate of 1.42 percent. Is the growth sustainable?
ERR-188, July 27, 2015
Organic corn, soybean, and wheat production has higher total economic costs and lower yields than conventional production. However, price premiums paid to organic producers are an important factor offsetting the higher costs.
SSSM-323, July 16, 2015
The Sugar and Sweeteners Outlook for July 2015 reviews the sugar and sweeteners market conditions for the United States and Mexico. It also provides a summary of 2014 and 2015 maple syrup production.
LDPM-253, July 16, 2015
The Livestock, Dairy, & Poultry Outlook describes events and outlook based on projections from USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates report for beef, pork, poultry, and dairy production and trade.
WHS-15G, July 14, 2015
The July 2015 outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.
RCS-15G, July 14, 2015
The July 2015 Rice Outlook Report will contain U.S. and global rice market forecasts for 2015/16 and any revisions for 2014/15.
OCS-15G, July 14, 2015
The June 2015 Oil Crops Outlook analyzes the major changes and events in the world market for oilseeds and oilseed products.
FDS-15G, July 14, 2015
The July 2015 Feed Outlook report contains projections for the 2014/15 U.S. and global feed markets based on the most current World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
CWS-15G, July 14, 2015
The July 2015 Cotton and Wool Outlook report presents USDA's latest 2015/16 U.S. and world cotton supply and demand projections. Revisions to the 2014/15 cotton supply and demand estimates are also included.
AES-88, July 14, 2015
Growing populations and incomes in the Middle East and North Africa region are increasing food and feed demand which domestic production alone cannot meet. Opportunities will expand for U.S. exports – along with stiffer world competition.
EIB-142, July 07, 2015
In many States, there is a large disparity between the winning manufacturers’ bids for WIC contracts and the bids of the first runners-up, as each manufacturer’s bid involves a rebate to the State program that lowers the price to WIC.
Amber Waves, July 06, 2015
India is likely to remain an important player in global agriculture markets as an importer of vegetable oils and pulses, and an exporter of rice, cotton, and beef.
Amber Waves, July 06, 2015
Over 1 in 4 rural children are living in families that are poor. Counties with high vulnerability to child poverty, those with both low young adult education levels and high proportions of children in single-parent families, were generally the most hard-hit by the recession of the past decade and ex...
Amber Waves, July 06, 2015
Continued population loss in rural communities is caused as much by low in-migration as by high out-migration; in remote rural communities lacking natural amenities, return migrants make up a large share of total in-migration. Return migrants potentially play a critical role in rural areas in slowin...
FTS-359, June 30, 2015
Peach, cherry, and prune production forecast down from last season. The decline in peach output has only put little upward pressure on prices. Shipments of melons are up through June.
TB-1941, June 29, 2015
An improved modeling technique accounts for variation in food quality across income groups; the new calibrated model identifies the separate impacts of income, prices, and exchange rates on a country’s food consumption.
GFA-26, June 29, 2015
The number of food-insecure people in the 76 low- and middle-income countries in this report is projected to fall 9 percent from 2014, to 475 million in 2015. But over the longer term the number and population share are projected to rise.
EIB-141, June 25, 2015
ERS estimates that the value of U.S. foundation grants to benefit rural areas was 6-7 percent of total domestic grants in 2010. Since the rural population was 19 percent that year, this suggests an urban focus of foundation grants.
AES-87, June 17, 2015
Establishing more normal economic relations with Cuba could potentially generate growth in U.S.-Cuba trade, foster greater productivity in Cuba’s economy, and stimulate exports of meat, dairy products, rice, and other commodities to Cuba.
SSSM-322, June 16, 2015
The Sugar and Sweeteners Outlook for June 2015 reviews the sugar and sweeteners market conditions for the United States and Mexico.
LDPM-252, June 16, 2015
The Livestock, Dairy, & Poultry Outlook for June 2015 analyzes animal product markets based on projections from USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates report for beef, pork, poultry, lamb, and dairy production and trade.
WHS-15F, June 12, 2015
The June 2015 outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.
RCS-15F, June 12, 2015
The June 2015 Rice Outlook report will contain U.S. and global rice markets forecasts for 2015/16 and any revisions for 2014/15.
OCS-15F, June 12, 2015
Better demand outlook trims soybean ending stocks forecast.
FDS-15F, June 12, 2015
The June 2015 Feed Outlook report contains projections for the 2015/16 and 2014/15 U.S. and global feed markets based on the most current World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
CWS-15F, June 12, 2015
The June 2015 Cotton and Wool Outlook report presents USDA's latest 2015/16 U.S. and world cotton supply and demand projections. Revisions to the 2014/15 cotton supply and demand estimates are also included.
ERR-187, June 09, 2015
ERS examines effects of alternative policies to conventional export taxes on countries’ domestic and trade markets for agricultural products -- policies that are less market distorting and less welfare diminishing.
BIO-04, June 02, 2015
Sharply lower energy prices begun in late 2014 will benefit the agriculture sector mainly through lower transport and production costs. Energy price decreases are projected to lower production costs by about $5 billion in 2015 and in 2016.
Amber Waves, June 01, 2015
As agriculture adapts to climate change, crop genetic resources can be used to develop new plant varieties that are more tolerant of changing environmental conditions. The public sector plays an important role in collecting, conserving and distributing crop genetic resources, because private sector ...
Amber Waves, June 01, 2015
Federal investments in nutrition research more than doubled in inflation-adjusted dollars from 1985 to 2009, with more research being funded in the later years through competitive grants to non-Federal researchers than through Federal nutrition laboratories or land-grant universities.
AES-86, May 28, 2015
May 2015 USDA forecasts for U.S. agricultural trade in FY 2015 are discussed in this report. Exports to fall $12 billion in 2015; imports to reach record high.
TB-1940, May 27, 2015
In recent years, ERS has used a revised methodology for forecasting food price inflation, which captures price impacts at various stages of the food supply system and results in improved precision of the forecasts.
ERR-186, May 26, 2015
Targeting of SNAP benefits helps ensure the program effectively reaches those in need of assistance. ERS assesses how well the program is targeted to low-income households and indicates the data sources that result in optimal assessment.
ERR-185, May 21, 2015
The desire to raise children back home was among the most frequently cited reasons for returning to live in relatively remote rural areas. Most nonreturnees who considered returning cited limited career opportunities as the primary barrier.
SSSM-321, May 18, 2015
The Sugar and Sweeteners Outlook for May 2015 reviews the sugar and sweeteners market conditions for the United States and Mexico.
LDPM-251, May 18, 2015
The Livestock, Dairy, & Poultry Outlook for May 2015 analyzes economic impacts of events and outlook based on projections from USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates report for beef, pork, lamb, poultry, eggs, and dairy production and trade.
WHS-15E, May 14, 2015
The May 2015 outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.
RCS-15E, May 14, 2015
The May 2015 Rice Outlook Report will contain the first U.S. and global rice markets forecasts for 2015/16.
OCS-15E, May 14, 2015
Weaker prices for soybeans seen with ample stocks outlook.
FDS-15E, May 14, 2015
The May 2015 Feed Grains Outlook report contains estimates for the 2014/15 crop and initial projections for the 2015/16 U.S. and global feed markets based on the most current World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
CWS-15E, May 14, 2015
The May 2015 Cotton and Wool Outlook report highlights USDA's initial 2015/16 U.S. and world cotton supply and demand projections. Revisions to the 2014/15 cotton supply and demand estimates are also included.
EIB-140, May 12, 2015
Each year, 1 in 6 people in the United States is sickened by a foodborne illness acquired in the States. ERS provides an overview of recent estimates of the economic burden imposed annually by 15 leading foodborne pathogens.
Amber Waves, May 04, 2015
Widespread use of the glyphosate on major crops, particularly soybeans, has contributed to the evolution of weed resistance to this herbicide. Managing glyphosate resistance (by using other herbicides) is more cost-effective than ignoring resistance, and returns are greater when neighboring farmers...
Amber Waves, May 04, 2015
China's "new normal" presents opportunities and challenges for U.S. agricultural exports to China.
VGS-355, May 01, 2015
Total vegetables and pulses output volume rose 5 percent in 2014 despite ongoing drought and water shortages in California, where 40 percent of U.S. vegetables and pulses are grown.
ERR-184, April 30, 2015
Corn and soybean growers have an economic incentive to encourage neighbors to manage (rather than ignore) weed resistance to the herbicide glyphosate.
EIB-139, April 22, 2015
Climate change will likely increase demand for more stress-resistant crop varieties. ERS reviews technical, economic, and institutional factors that could determine the extent of crop genetic resource use to find and incorporate adaptive traits.
SSSM-320, April 15, 2015
The Sugar and Sweeteners Outlook for April 2015 reviews the sugar and sweeteners market conditions for the United States and Mexico and a summary of the U.S. honey market in 2014.
LDPM-250, April 15, 2015
The Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook for April 2015 analyzes economic impacts of events and outlook based on projections from USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates report for beef, pork, lamb, poultry, eggs, and dairy production and trade.
WHS-15D, April 13, 2015
The April 2015 outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.
RCS-15-D, April 13, 2015
The April 2015 outlook for both the U.S. and global rice markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.
OCS-15D, April 13, 2015
U.S. soybean stocks getting worked down by record demand.
FDS-15D, April 13, 2015
The April 2015 Feed Outlook report contains projections for the 2014/15 U.S. and global feed markets based on the most current World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.
CWS-15D, April 13, 2015
The April 2015 Cotton and Wool Outlook report presents and discusses USDA's 2014/15 U.S. and world cotton supply and demand projections. Information on world cotton producer support is highlighted.
Amber Waves, April 06, 2015
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)—implemented in 1994 by Canada, Mexico, and the United States—has resulted in expanded flows of intraregional agricultural trade and substantial levels of foreign direct investment in the processed food sector. A more integrated North American market in...
Amber Waves, April 06, 2015
USDA’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) directly affects participants’ health through improved diets and greater use of health care services. WIC also indirectly impacts food choices, diet, and health of non-participants through its effects on food stores...
CWS-15C-01, March 31, 2015
Managing China's unprecedented volume of cotton stockpiles will require difficult choices by Chinese authorities. China’s large role in world cotton markets means its recent policy changes could reduce world cotton prices significantly.
FTS-358, March 27, 2015
A fractional decline in domestic citrus production is forecast, but gains in mandarins' and lemons' production should place downward pressure on grower prices. Winter strawberry supplies are ample.
EIB-138, March 23, 2015
A new survey collected information from a national sample of households about where they shop for food, what they purchase, and the prices they pay. It samples SNAP participants, as well as nonparticipants in several income levels.
EIB-137, March 20, 2015
Federal expenditures for USDA’s domestic food and nutrition assistance programs totaled $103.6 billion in fiscal 2014, or 5 percent less than the previous fiscal year--the first decrease since 2000.
SSSM-319, March 16, 2015
The Sugar and Sweeteners Outlook for March 2015 reviews the sugar and sweeteners market conditions for the United States and Mexico.
LDPM-249, March 16, 2015
The Livestock, Dairy, & Poultry Outlook for March 2015 analyzes animal product markets based on projections from USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates report for beef, pork, poultry, lamb, and dairy production and trade.
WHS-15C, March 12, 2015
The March 2015 outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.
RCS-15C, March 12, 2015
The March 2015 outlook for both the U.S. and global rice markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.
OCS-15C, March 12, 2015
Soybean prices buoyed by slow start for Brazil.
FDS-15C, March 12, 2015
The March 2015 Feed Grains Outlook report contains projections for the 2014/15 U.S. and global feed markets based on the most current World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
CWS-15C, March 12, 2015
The March 2015 Cotton and Wool Outlook report presents and discusses USDA's 2014/15 U.S. and world cotton supply and demand projections.
Amber Waves, March 02, 2015
Tanzania’s geographic regions show great variation in diets. Maize dominates the diets in the surplus-maize-producing regions of the Southern Highlands and makes up a smaller share of calories in the maize-deficit regions of the north.
Amber Waves, March 02, 2015
To reduce consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, some policymakers and nutrition advocates argue that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits should not be allowed to be used for purchasing these beverages.
ERR-183, February 19, 2015
ERS findings suggest how and where funds for wetland protection and restoration might be targeted within States, regions, and across the United States to maximize environmental benefits relative to costs.
EIB-136, February 19, 2015
China is heavily importing land-intensive agricultural products such as oilseeds, oil, and cotton, and the United States has become the leading supplier of China's agricultural imports.
AES-85, February 19, 2015
February 2015 USDA forecasts for U.S. agricultural trade in FY 2015 are discussed in this report. Exports to fall $11 billion in 2015; imports to reach new record high.
EIB-135, February 18, 2015
ERS compares the cost of regional representative food baskets in Tanzania with per capita income to identify regions and income groups facing potential difficulties with access to food.
SSSM-318, February 17, 2015
The Sugar and Sweeteners Outlook for February 2015 reviews the sugar and sweetener market conditions for the United States and Mexico.
LDPM-248, February 17, 2015
The Livestock, Dairy, & Poultry Outlook for February 2015, describes developments and outlook based on projections from USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates report for beef, pork, lamb, poultry, eggs, and dairy production and trade.
WHS-15B, February 12, 2015
The February 2015 outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.
RCS-15B, February 12, 2015
The February 2015 outlook for both the U.S. and global rice markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.
OCS-15B, February 12, 2015
Improved soybean demand trims U.S. ending stocks outlook.
FDS-15B, February 12, 2015
The February 2015 Feed Grains Outlook report contains projections for the 2014/15 U.S. and global feed markets based on the most current World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
CWS-15B, February 12, 2015
The February 2015 Cotton and Wool Outlook tables provide the latest fiber and textile product data.
OCE-151, February 11, 2015
USDA’s 10-year food/farm sector projections cover major agricultural commodities, trade, and aggregate indicators of the U.S. farm sector, like farm income. Population and income growth are drivers of long-term demand for farm commodities.
Amber Waves, February 02, 2015
Fast-developing Vietnam is following in the footsteps of Japan and its model of export-oriented industrialization. Vietnamese agricultural imports are rising fast and appear to be following the historical growth pattern of Japan’s imports. Trade policy in both countries has protected agricultural ...
Amber Waves, February 02, 2015
USDA spends over $5 billion per year on conservation activities, mostly through voluntary programs that pay farmers and landowners to provide environmental services. Program design can use available information to reduce Government expenditures and encourage landowners to provide greater environmen...
Amber Waves, February 02, 2015
New calorie labeling laws requiring chain restaurants and other eating places to post the calorie content of their offerings on menus and menu boards are most likely to influence food choices when consumers learn new, surprising information.
WRS-15-01, February 02, 2015
In 20 years after NAFTA’s implementation, U.S. agricultural exports to Canada and Mexico increased from $8.9 billion to $39.5 billion, while U.S. agricultural imports from these trading partners rose from $7.4 billion to $39.4 billion.
AP-068, January 29, 2015
ERS details current economic information on local food producers, consumers, and policies, based on findings from several national surveys and a synthesis of recent literature.
EIB-134, January 27, 2015
As WIC matures, emerging issues include equity concerns, food cost management, changes in the WIC food packages, the program's lesser known effects, and the impact of economic conditions on participation.
ERR-182, January 26, 2015
ERS explores the structure and function of the U.S. nutrition research system, particularly changes in Federal support. Federal investments in nutrition research grew from 1985 to 2009 in real terms, but the portfolio of research changed.
SSSM-317-01, January 16, 2015
World sugar prices have an important effect on the U.S. sugar sector. This report presents a modeling framework for use in projecting world sugar prices, with detailed treatment of the role of Brazil in the world sugar and ethanol sectors.
SSSM-317, January 16, 2015
The Sugar and Sweeteners Outlook for January 2015 reviews the sugar and sweetener outlook for the United States and Mexico.
LDPM-247, January 16, 2015
The Livestock, Dairy, & Poultry Outlook for January 2015 analyzes animal product markets based on projections from USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report for beef, pork, poultry, lamb, and dairy production and trade.
WHS-15A, January 14, 2015
The January 2015 outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.
RCS-15A, January 14, 2015
The January 2015 outlook for both the U.S. and global rice markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.
OCS-15A, January 14, 2015
U.S. soybean shipments surge but new sales are slowing.
FDS-15A, January 14, 2015
The January 2015 Feed Grains Outlook report contains projections for the 2014/15 U.S. and global feed markets based on the most current World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
CWS-15A, January 14, 2015
The January 2015 Cotton and Wool Outlook tables provide the latest fiber and textile product data.
WHS-2015-1, January 06, 2015
Report reviews U.S. wheat production, use, and price by class of wheat for the 2013/14 marketing year.
ERR-181, January 05, 2015
Effective design of auctions for enrolling participants in Federal conservation programs could help meet program goals, reduce Government expenditures, and encourage landowners to provide greater environmental services.
ERR-180, December 22, 2014
Overall, ERS found that on Salmonella spp tests, suppliers of ground beef to the National School Lunch Program equaled or surpassed the food safety performance of suppliers of ground beef to general commercial markets.
EIB-133, December 22, 2014
Farming is still an industry of family businesses. Ninety-seven percent of farms are family farms, and they account for 85 percent of farm production. Small farms make up 90 percent of the farm count and operate half of the Nation's farmland. Most farm production, however, occurs on midsize and larg...
EIB-132, December 22, 2014
Most U.S. farms—97 percent in 2011—are family operations. Small family farms make up 90 percent of the count, though midsize and large-scale family farms produce 60 percent of value of production, per ERS’s latest Family Farm Report.
SSSM-316, December 16, 2014
The Sugar and Sweeteners Outlook for December 2014 reviews the sugar and sweetener outlook for the United States and Mexico.
LDPM-246, December 16, 2014
The Livestock, Dairy, & Poultry Outlook for December 2014 describes events and outlook based on projections from USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates Report for beef, pork, lamb, poultry, eggs, and dairy production and trade.
WHS-14L, December 12, 2014
The December 2014 outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.
RCS-14L, December 12, 2014
The December 2014 outlook for both the U.S. and global rice markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.
OCS-14L, December 12, 2014
Strong soybean exports support prices.
FDS-14L, December 12, 2014
The December 2014 Feed Grains Outlook report contains projections for the 2014/15 U.S. and global feed markets based on the most current World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
CWS-14K, December 12, 2014
The December 2014 report presents and discusses USDA's 2014/15 U.S. and world cotton supply and demand projections, including USDA's latest estimate of the 2014 U.S. cotton crop.
LDPM-245-01, December 02, 2014
The EU is one of the world’s largest producers and consumers of beef, pork, and poultry, but EU tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) policies continue to limit imports of U.S. meats.
ERR-179, December 02, 2014
As chain restaurants phase in calorie menu labeling, even consumers who discriminate between high- and low-calorie items can better weigh the healthfulness of restaurant foods and make finer adjustments in their food choices.
AES-84, December 02, 2014
December 2014 USDA forecasts for U.S. agricultural trade in FY 2015 are discussed in this report. Exports to fall $9 billion in 2015; imports to reach new record.
Amber Waves, December 01, 2014
If agricultural productivity growth slows in future years, how will global agricultural output, consumption, land use, and prices adjust? To address this question, ERS researchers recently used the agency’s global agricultural and energy economic model—the Future Agricultural Resources Model (FARM)...
Amber Waves, December 01, 2014
Despite falling unemployment rates, the prevalence of food insecurity among U.S. households remained relatively stable from the end of the Great Recession (2007-09) through 2013. Higher general inflation, combined with higher relative food prices, offset the effect of lower unemployment.
EIB-131, December 01, 2014
The study compares distances to outlets for obtaining healthy, affordable food in tribal areas to those for the general U.S. population, with implications for improving the health of tribal populations.
ERR-178, November 20, 2014
ERS examines the effects of time-use behaviors, sociodemographic characteristics, labor force participation, and prices on fast-food purchasing patterns in the United States before and after the 2007-09 recession.
ERR-177, November 18, 2014
In regions of India affected the most by a dramatic surge in global food prices several years ago, households coped by sacrificing diet diversity as well as expenditures on medical expenses and durable goods.
SSSM-315, November 17, 2014
Ending 2015 fiscal year U.S. sugar stocks forecast to decline compared with fiscal year 2014.
LDPM-245, November 17, 2014
The Livestock, Dairy, & Poultry Outlook for November 2014 describes events and outlook based on projections from USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates Report for beef, pork, poultry, and dairy production and trade.
WHS-14K, November 13, 2014
The November 2014 outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.
RCS-14K, November 13, 2014
The November 2014 outlook for both the U.S. and global rice markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.
OCS-14K, November 13, 2014
Robust soybean meal exports propel strong domestic use of soybeans.
FDS-14K, November 13, 2014
The November 2014 Feed Grains Outlook report contains projections for the 2014/15 U.S. and global feed markets based on the most current World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
EB-26, November 06, 2014
While urban employment now exceeds pre-recession levels, rural employment remains well below its 2007 peak. Median income in real terms has fallen in both rural and urban areas since 2007, with the drop in rural incomes slightly greater.
Amber Waves, November 03, 2014
Participants in USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) value nutrition as much as other consumers, but their attempts to balance nutrition goals with competing constraints—time, distance to grocery stores, and money—may make it harder for SNAP shoppers to make healthy choices.
Amber Waves, November 03, 2014
In 2010, heat stress is estimated to have lowered annual milk production for the average dairy by about $39,000, totaling $1.2 billion in lost production for the entire U.S. diary sector. Additional heat stress from climate change is expected to lower milk production for the average dairy by 0.60-1....
ERR-176, October 28, 2014
The proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership is expected to increase the value of intraregional agricultural trade by about 6 percent in 2025, and increase U.S. agricultural exports to the region by 5 percent, compared with the baseline.
EIB-130, October 28, 2014
Vietnam’s agricultural trade gains from TPP may be limited. The United States and Japan are expected to be the primary markets for agricultural export growth. Vietnam’s consumer-oriented sectors provide the largest areas for import growth.
EIB-129, October 28, 2014
The proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership would increase agricultural exports to Japan from TPP partners, especially in the rice, beef, and dairy sectors, but would have only a marginal impact on Japan's agricultural production.
Amber Waves, October 20, 2014
Growth in Federal Crop Insurance (FCI) has generally been attributed to the increase in crop insurance premium subsidies. While ERS research results show the lower costs had only small effects on acreage enrollment, those already enrolled showed an adoption of higher levels of coverage. Results sug...
SSSM-314, October 17, 2014
Ending 2015 fiscal year U.S. sugar stocks predicted to rise.
LDPM-244, October 17, 2014
The Livestock, Dairy, & Poultry Outlook for October 2014 describes events and outlook based on projections from USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) Report for beef, pork, poultry, and dairy production and trade.
WHS-14J, October 15, 2014
The October 2014 outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Uses Estimates report.
RCS-14J, October 15, 2014
The October 2014 outlook for both the U.S. and global rice markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates report.
OCS-14J, October 15, 2014
Soybean prices depressed by historically high supply.
FDS-14J, October 15, 2014
The October 2014 Feed Grains Outlook report contains projections for the 2014/15 U.S. and global feed markets based on the most current World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
CWS-14J, October 15, 2014
The October 2014 report presents and discusses USDA's 2014/15 U.S. and world cotton supply and demand projections, including USDA's latest estimate of the 2014 U.S. cotton crop.
Amber Waves, October 06, 2014
Rural counties as a whole saw a higher rate of employment decline than urban areas in the recession, and rural employment growth has lagged well behind metro growth in the recovery. See October Amber Waves.
VGS-354, September 30, 2014
Despite the decrease in domestic production of fresh-market vegetables, both producer and consumer prices are down as import volumes fill the gaps.
ERR-175, September 30, 2014
In 2010, heat stress lowered annual milk production for the average dairy by about $39,000, or $1.2 billion for the sector. In 2030, additional heat stress from climate change may lower milk production by an estimated 0.6 to 1.35 percent.
FTS-357-01, September 29, 2014
ERS analyzes seasonal patterns in grower prices for several major U.S. fresh fruits markets. Strawberries, grapes, and peaches all have distinct seasonal price patterns. In several cases, the timing of high and low prices has shifted.
FTS-357, September 26, 2014
Abundant apple supplies will move to markets in the 2014/15 marketing year, putting downward pressure on U.S. apple prices. The 2014 U.S. pear crop is forecast 9 percent smaller than a year ago.
ERR-174, September 18, 2014
ERS examines hypothetical economic and agricultural sector responses to changes in key drivers of supply and demand in the future—agricultural productivity, population, and per capita income.
SSSM-313, September 17, 2014
Commerce Department announces an affirmative preliminary determination in its countervailing duty investigation of sugar imports from Mexico.
LDPM-243, September 17, 2014
The Livestock, Dairy, & Poultry Outlook for August 2014 describes events and outlook based on projections from USDA's World Agricultural Supply Demand Estimates (WASDE) report for beef, pork, poultry, and dairy production and trade.
EIB-128, September 17, 2014
In 2010, the average operating and ownership costs per bushel varied between low- and high-cost corn producers but not among producers with different enterprise sizes. Organic production returns exceeded those for conventional production.
WHS-14I, September 15, 2014
The September 2014 outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Uses Estimates report.
RCS-14i, September 15, 2014
The September 2014 outlook for both the U.S. and global rice markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Uses Estimates report.
OCS-14I, September 15, 2014
Record soybean yields to raise season-ending stocks to 8-year high.
FDS-14I, September 15, 2014
The September 2014 Feed Outlook report contains projections for the 2014/15 U.S. and global feed markets based on the most current World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
CWS-14I, September 15, 2014
The September 2014 report presents and discusses USDA's 2014/15 U.S. and world cotton supply and demand projections, including USDA's latest estimate of the 2014 U.S. cotton crop.
Amber Waves, September 08, 2014
Additionality measures the extent to which conservation program payments actually encourage adoption of practices that farmers would not otherwise adopt. Estimates of additionality are high for some practices, particularly installation of soil conservation structures (e.g., terraces) and buffers (e....
Amber Waves, September 08, 2014
Consumers who value health are more likely to use nutrition information when eating out. Those who engage in healthy eating behaviors at home—such as consulting Nutrition Facts labels on grocery store foods or keeping dark green vegetables in their refrigerators, freezers, or pantry shelves—are more...
ERR-173, September 03, 2014
USDA annual food security statistics indicate that an estimated 14.3 percent of U.S. households were food insecure in 2013 – i.e., lacking consistent access to adequate, healthful food for household members.
AP-066, September 03, 2014
This is the statistical supplement for USDA’s annual report on households’ access to adequate food for active, healthy living.
AP-067, September 02, 2014
Examples from ERS's updated collection of 70 charts/maps, each with accompanying text, covering key statistics on farming, food spending and prices, food security, rural communities, interaction of agriculture and the environment, and more.
AES-83, August 28, 2014
August 2014 USDA forecasts for U.S. agricultural trade in FY 2014 and 2015 are discussed in this report. Record-high imports and exports expected in 2014. Exports to fall 7 percent in 2015; imports to reach new record.
ERR-172, August 25, 2014
National nonfarm employment fell by 6.3 percent from its peak in January 2008 to its nadir in February 2010. Nonmetro employment recovered just 0.2 percent from the fourth quarter 2010 to 2013, versus 3.6 percent in metro areas.
ERR-171, August 19, 2014
ERS examines two possible strategies for containing WIC program costs–inducing small vendors to lower prices, and eliminating the vendors in each vendor peer group (organized by size and geographic location) who have the highest prices.
SSSM-312, August 18, 2014
Lower predicted sugar imports from Mexico lead to low U.S. sugar supply forecast for 2015.
LDPM-242, August 18, 2014
The Livestock, Dairy, & Poultry Outlook for August 2014 describes events and outlook based on projections from USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates Report for beef, pork, poultry, and dairy production and trade.
WHS-14H, August 14, 2014
The August 2014 outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Uses Estimates report.
RCS-14h, August 14, 2014
The August 2014 outlook for both the U.S. and global rice markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates report.
OCS-14H, August 14, 2014
U.S. soybean yields rise with favorable weather.
FDS-14H, August 14, 2014
The August 2014 Feed Grains Outlook report contains projections for the 2014/15 U.S. and global feed markets based on the most current World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
CWS-14H, August 14, 2014
The August 2014 report presents and discusses USDA's 2014/15 U.S. and world cotton supply and demand projections, including USDA's first survey-based estimate of the 2014 U.S. cotton crop.
Amber Waves, August 04, 2014
Contract broiler growers earn average household incomes that substantially exceed those of all farm and all U.S. households. Contract growers’ incomes cover a wider range than the incomes of all farm and all U.S. households. The range of income reflects, in part, the risks of contract production; wh...
Amber Waves, August 04, 2014
Lower levels of agricultural land and labor productivity help explain the relatively poor performance of Sub-Saharan Africa’s farm sector. Read about it in the August issue of Amber Waves Magazine.
ERR-170, July 28, 2014
“Additionality,” achieved when a voluntary payment to farmers causes a change in conservation practice leading to an improvement in environmental quality, varies by type of practice.
SSSM-311, July 17, 2014
The USDA predicts a tightening sugar market for 2014/15.
LDPM-241, July 17, 2014
The Livestock, Dairy, & Poultry Outlook for July 2014 describes events and outlook based on projections from USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates Report for beef, pork, poultry, and dairy production and trade.
WHS-14G, July 15, 2014
The July 2014 outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Uses Estimates report.
RCS-14G, July 15, 2014
The July 2014 outlook for both the U.S. and global rice markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates report.
OCS-14G, July 15, 2014
Soybean price outlook dampened by prospects for record production.
FDS-14G, July 15, 2014
The July 2014 Feed Grains Outlook report contains projections for the 2014/15 U.S. and global feed markets based on the most current World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
CWS-14G, July 15, 2014
The July 2014 report presents and discusses USDA's 2014/15 U.S. and world cotton supply and demand projections, including the revised forecast for 2014 U.S. cotton plantings. In addition, revisions to 2013/14 estimates will be highlighted.
Amber Waves, July 07, 2014
Organic program provisions in the 2014 Farm Act cover a broad set of objectives—assisting with organic certification costs, expanding organic research and data collection, improving technical assistance and crop insurance, strengthening enforcement of organic regulations, and expanding market opport...
Amber Waves, July 07, 2014
Runoff from agricultural activity and other nonpoint sources contributes to adverse environmental conditions in the Chesapeake Bay, interfering with fish and shellfish production and compromising recreational opportunities. In order to meet Environmental Protection Agency goals for the Chesapeake Ba...
Amber Waves, July 07, 2014
The Agricultural Act of 2014 maintains SNAP’s basic eligibility guidelines and includes provisions designed to encourage SNAP recipients to choose healthy foods and to build the skills needed to increase their employment options. Other provisions aim to improve the food environment at schools and in...
Amber Waves, July 07, 2014
The new Farm Act continues a shift toward closer links between commodity programs and Federal crop insurance, involving complex trade-offs for producers. Read about it in the July issue of Amber Waves magazine.
ERR-169, July 07, 2014
Increases to premium subsidies can induce farmers to enroll more land in the crop insurance program, but they primarily encourage them to adopt higher levels of coverage on land already enrolled. Effects vary by region and crop type.
ERR-168, July 07, 2014
ERS reports the rates at which inspection of fruit and vegetable imports into the United States result in phytosanitary treatments at the border, and finds little evidence that phytosanitary regulations affect imports significantly.
GFA-25, June 30, 2014
The food-insecure population of 76 low- and middle-income countries is projected to fall 9 percent to 490 million in 2014. The food-insecure share of the population is projected to rise from 13.9 percent in 2014 to 14.6 percent in 2024.
EIB-127, June 27, 2014
The Affordable Care Act will require posted nutrition information in many eating venues. ERS examines demographic traits and dietary habits of U.S. consumers of away-from-home food, establishing a baseline before the law is implemented.
ERR-167, June 20, 2014
The association of food insecurity with household characteristics and national economic conditions over 2001-12 provides insight into why food insecurity remained at about the same level in 2012 as shortly after the recession.
EIB-126, June 19, 2014
The broiler industry relies greatly on production contracts, with payment based on performance relative to other producers. Productivity improvements reflect developments in genetics, feed formulations, and housing technologies.
SSSM-310, June 18, 2014
The USDA forecasts more sugar from Mexico for 2013/14 and for 2014/15.
LDPM-240, June 18, 2014
The Livestock, Dairy, & Poultry Outlook for June 2014 describes events and outlook based on projections from USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates Report for beef, pork, poultry, and dairy production and trade.
WHS-14F, June 13, 2014
The June 2014 outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Uses Estimates report.
RCS-14F, June 13, 2014
The June 2014 outlook for both the U.S. and global rice markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates report.
OCS-14F, June 13, 2014
Tight U.S. soybean stocks support prices in advance of new-crop supplies.
FDS-14F, June 13, 2014
The June 2014 Feed Grains Outlook report contains projections for the 2013/14 U.S. and global feed markets based on the most current World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
CWS-14F, June 13, 2014
The June 2014 report updates USDA's 2014/15 projections and 2013/14 estimates for U.S. and world cotton supply and demand. Relevant fiber data tables and charts are also included.
ERR-166, June 04, 2014
ERS researchers use data on agriculture in the Chesapeake Bay watershed to assess the effectiveness of different policies for achieving nutrient and sediment reduction goals, ranging from voluntary financial incentives to regulation.
Amber Waves, June 02, 2014
ERS estimates that 31 percent, or 133 billion pounds, of food available for consumption in U.S. grocery stores, restaurants, and homes went uneaten in 2010. Greater awareness of the amount of food loss—and where and why it occurs—may help spur public and private responses.
Amber Waves, June 02, 2014
The Agricultural Act of 2014 continues the trend of assisting beginning farmers, and includes increased funding for beginning farmer development. Read about it in the June issue of Amber Waves magazine.
AES-82, May 29, 2014
The May 2014 quarterly USDA forecasts for agricultural trade in the United States in FY 2014 are presented and discussed in this report.
EIB-125, May 27, 2014
Double-cropping (about 2 percent of total cropland) intensifies production without expanding cropland acres. Use of double-cropping varies by crop, region, and climate, and responds year-to-year to changes in commodity prices and weather.
TB-1938, May 21, 2014
ERS’s new Quarterly Food-Away-from-Home Prices (QFAFHP) data show substantial variation in prices across U.S. regions and food establishment types, with implications for analyses of food purchasing behavior and dietary outcomes.
AP-064, May 20, 2014
The USDA seeks to fund a Center that will use behavioral and experimental economics to conduct research on how policies and programs can influence the provision of ecosystem services from agricultural lands.
EIB-124, May 16, 2014
Pesticide use on 21 selected crops more than tripled from 1960 to 1981, but has since declined from 632 million pounds to 516 million pounds in 2008, partly due to more efficient active ingredients, Integrated Pest Management, and GE seeds.
SSSM-309, May 15, 2014
The USDA predicts tight market conditions for U.S. sugar in 2014/15.
LDPM-239, May 15, 2014
The Livestock, Dairy, & Poultry Outlook for May 2014 describes events and outlook based on projections from USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates Report for beef, pork, poultry, and dairy production and trade.
WHS-14E, May 13, 2014
The May 2014 outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Uses Estimates report.
RCS-14E, May 13, 2014
The May 2014 outlook for both the U.S. and global rice markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates report.
OCS-14E, May 13, 2014
Global oilseed supplies seen surging with a record U.S. soybean crop.
FDS-14E, May 13, 2014
The May 2014 Feed Grains Outlook report contains projections for the 2013/14 U.S. and global feed markets based on the most current World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
CWS-14E, May 13, 2014
The May 2014 USDA initial 2014/15 projections for U.S. and world cotton supply and demand are presented and discussed in this report. Relevant fiber data tables and charts are also included.
Amber Waves, May 05, 2014
When ERS researchers examined the types of vegetables and vegetable-containing foods eaten by Americans, they found that instead of eating vegetables in their simple, unadorned state, Americans often eat vegetables prepared in ways that add calories and sodium and remove dietary fiber.
Amber Waves, May 05, 2014
The Agricultural Act of 2014 continues a strong overall commitment to conservation, with an emphasis on working land conservation. Many conservation programs are consolidated into new programs or merged into existing programs. Crop insurance premium subsidies are re-linked to Conservation Compliance...
AP-063, May 01, 2014
ERS in partnership with USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service is inviting proposals to establish the USDA Center for Behavioral Economics and Healthy Food Choice Research. The USDA Center will apply behavioral economics to food choice behaviors, including consumer, food industry, and retailer behaviors,...
ERR-165, April 29, 2014
An ERS econometric model shows that supply-and-demand factors specific to the wheat market largely accounted for observed price variation in 2008. In contrast, speculation by index traders had comparatively little influence on prices.
EIB-123, April 29, 2014
Small acreage does not necessarily translate into low farm sales. About 17 percent (50,000) of farms with 10 or fewer acres had gross sales of at least $10,000 in 2007, and approximately 6,000 had sales of more than $250,000 that year.
FDS-14D-01, April 28, 2014
The pace of growth in China’s corn yield is a key determinant of its future corn imports. Yields are growing, but more slowly than U.S. yields. Trends suggest China’s corn consumption, driven by feed demand, will outpace production growth.
SSSM-308, April 15, 2014
The April 2014 outlook for both the U.S. and global sugar and sweeteners markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates report.
LDPM-238, April 15, 2014
The Livestock, Dairy, & Poultry Outlook for April 2014 describes events and outlook based on projections from USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates Report for beef, pork, poultry, and dairy production and trade.
WHS-14D, April 11, 2014
The April 2014 outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Uses Estimates report.
RCS-14D, April 11, 2014
The April 2014 outlook for both the U.S. and global rice markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates report.
OCS-14D, April 11, 2014
Record 2014 soybean acreage heralds upsurge for currently tight stocks.
FDS-14D, April 11, 2014
The April 2014 Feed Grains Outlook report contains projections for the 2013/14 U.S. and global feed markets based on the most current World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
CWS-14D, April 11, 2014
The April 2014 USDA projections for U.S. and world cotton supply and demand are presented and discussed in this report. Relevant fiber data tables and charts are also included.
Amber Waves, April 08, 2014
Debt owed by U.S. farm businesses rose 39 percent between 1992 and 2011, after adjusting for inflation. Despite rising debts, financial leverage—measured as debt relative to the value of assets—declined over this period for the typical farm business. Debt use and financial leverage varies widely, bu...
EIB-122, April 08, 2014
While farm business debt use varies widely, large farms, farms with younger operators, and dairy and poultry farms have the highest levels of debt use.
Amber Waves, April 07, 2014
USDA anticipates that China’s soybean and corn imports will continue to rise, with soybean imports meeting nearly all soybean meal demand and imports accounting for about 10 percent of corn supplies by 2023. Meat imports are also projected to rise, but remain a small share of consumption.
SSSM-307, March 14, 2014
The March 2014 outlook for both the U.S. and Mexico sugar and sweeteners markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates report.
LDPM-237, March 14, 2014
The Livestock, Dairy, & Poultry Outlook for March 2014 describes events and outlook based on projections from USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates Report for beef, pork, poultry, and dairy production and trade.
ERR-164, March 14, 2014
ERS research shows that food security improved in Chhattisgarh, India, in response to food aid distribution reforms.
WHS-14C, March 12, 2014
The March 2014 outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Uses Estimates report.
RCS-14C, March 12, 2014
The March 2014 outlook for both the U.S. and global rice markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates report.
OCS-14C, March 12, 2014
U.S. soybean exports stay firm despite gains in Brazil shipments.
FDS-14C, March 12, 2014
The March 2014 Feed Grains Outlook report contains projections for the 2013/14 U.S. and global feed markets based on the most current World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
CWS-14C, March 12, 2014
The March 2014 USDA projections for U.S. and world cotton supply and demand are presented and discussed in this report. Relevant fiber data tables and charts are also included.
Amber Waves, March 04, 2014
Farmers planted about 170 million acres of GE crops in 2013.
Amber Waves, March 04, 2014
Between 2005 and 2010, Americans experienced large changes in employment and income that affected their food expenditures and intake. Once demographic characteristics unrelated to the Great Recession are controlled for, food-away-from-home (FAFH) calories among working-age adults declined about 15 p...
Amber Waves, March 04, 2014
Family farms represent 97.6 percent of all U.S. farms, and are responsible for 85 percent of U.S. farm production.
Amber Waves, March 03, 2014
India passed the National Food Security Act in 2013 to implement reforms in the distribution of subsidized food modeled after reforms made earlier in the State of Chhattisgarh. There have been significant gains in food security in Chhattisgarh, but impacts at the national level are uncertain.
ERR-163, March 03, 2014
Researchers from University of Kentucky and ERS find use of USDA's LGM-Dairy insurance reduces producers' risk but has little effect on the size of the average margin and only a modest potential to induce greater milk supplies.
ERR-162, February 20, 2014
Farmer adoption of GE crops is associated with time savings, lower insecticide use, and more conservation tillage. Consumer acceptance of GE ingredients varies across countries, product characteristics, and level of information.
EIB-121, February 20, 2014
In the United States, 31 percent—or 133 billion pounds—of the 430 billion pounds of the available food supply at retail and consumer levels went uneaten in 2010.
Errata: On June 27, 2014, Tables 2, 3, and 5 were updated to correct some incorrect values. The errors did not affect su...
EIB-120, February 20, 2014
Federal expenditures for USDA’s domestic food and nutrition assistance programs totaled $108.9 billion in fiscal 2013, or 2 percent more than the previous fiscal year--the smallest annual increase in percentage terms since 2000.
AES-81, February 20, 2014
The February 2014 quarterly USDA forecasts for agricultural trade in the United States in FY 2014 are presented and discussed in this report.
SSSM-306, February 14, 2014
The February 2014 outlook for both the U.S. and global sugar and sweeteners markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates report.
LDPM-236, February 14, 2014
The Livestock, Dairy, & Poultry Outlook for February 2014 describes events and outlook based on projections from USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates Report for beef, pork, poultry, and dairy production and trade.
OCE-141, February 13, 2014
USDA's longrun projections for global agriculture reflect steady world economic growth and continued demand for biofuels, which combine to support increases in consumption, trade, and prices.
WHS-14B, February 12, 2014
The February 2014 outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Uses Estimates report.
RCS-14B, February 12, 2014
The February 2014 outlook for both the U.S. and global rice markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates report.
OCS-14B, February 12, 2014
Strong demand for U.S. soybeans will soon shift quickly to Brazil.
FDS-14B, February 12, 2014
The February 2014 Feed Grains Outlook report contains projections for the 2013/14 U.S. and global feed markets based on the most current World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
CWS-14B, February 12, 2014
The Cotton and Wool Outlook tables provide the latest fiber and textile product data.
Errata: On February 26, 2014, Table 7, Table 8, and Table 9 were revised with corrected data for October and November 2013.
Amber Waves, February 03, 2014
Despite progress and large outlays on food subsidies, India still accounts for the largest share of the world’s food insecure population. The new National Food Security Act increases the households eligible for subsidized food grains, but questions remain on the impact the legislation.
Amber Waves, February 03, 2014
U.S. hog farm numbers dropped by 70 percent over 1991-2009 while hog inventories remained stable. The result has been an industry with larger hog enterprises, increased specialization in a single phase of production, greater reliance on purchased rather than homegrown feed, and greater use of produc...
Amber Waves, February 03, 2014
USDA’s food and nutrition assistance programs—many of which were conceived half a century ago—are still some of the Federal Government’s most important means of fighting poverty and improving the economic well-being of needy Americans.
TB-1937, January 16, 2014
ERS presents updated estimates of cross-price elasticities, or responses of consumers to product price changes, using data for nine major food and nonfood consumption categories across 144 countries.
SSSM-305, January 16, 2014
The January 2014 outlook for both the U.S. and global sugar and sweeteners markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates report.
LDPM-235, January 16, 2014
The Livestock, Dairy, & Poultry Outlook for January 2014 describes events and outlook based on projections from USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates Report for beef, pork, poultry, and dairy production and trade.
ERR-161, January 16, 2014
Survey data show diet quality improvements from 2005 to 2010 among working-age adults, with changes in intake of calories, saturated fat, cholesterol, and fiber, and fewer meals outside the home.
WHS-14A, January 14, 2014
The January 2014 outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Uses Estimates report.
RCS-14A, January 14, 2014
The January 2014 outlook for both the U.S. and global rice markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Uses Estimates report.
OCS-14A, January 14, 2014
The January 2014 Oil Crops Outlook analyzes the major changes and events in the world market for oilseeds and oilseed products.
FDS-14A, January 14, 2014
The January 2014 Feed Grains Outlook report contains projections for the 2013/14 U.S. and global feed markets based on the most current World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
CWS-14A, January 14, 2014
The Cotton and Wool Outlook tables provide the latest fiber and textile product data.
FTS-356-01, December 30, 2013
Imports of fresh fruits complement domestic production and contribute to the year-round availability of fresh fruit in the U.S. market. Imports also help lower domestic prices and smooth out price fluctuations.
FDS-13L-01, December 30, 2013
From 2005 to 2011, there were growing discrepancies between expiring futures prices and cash prices for wheat, corn, and soybeans--a problem known as non-convergence. Changes to futures contracts have improved convergence since 2011.
Amber Waves, December 16, 2013
In Amber Waves: The availability of processing facilities can be a critical bottleneck in local sourcing and marketing of meat and poultry.
Amber Waves, December 16, 2013
Energy Development’s Impacts on Rural Employment Growth.
SSSM-304, December 16, 2013
The Sugar and Sweetener Outlook for December 2013 reviews the sugar and sweetener outlook for the United States and Mexico, emphasizing changes made in the December 2013 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report and recent Feedstock Flexibility Program (FFP) developments. Also to...
LDPM-234, December 16, 2013
Exports and Demand Dynamics Provide Price Support.
WHS-13L, December 12, 2013
The outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in the World Agricultural Supply and Uses Estimates report.
RCS-13L, December 12, 2013
India's 2013/14 Production Forecast Reduced.
OCS-13L, December 12, 2013
An Abundance of U.S. Soybean Supplies Propels 2013/14 Exports.
FDS-13L, December 12, 2013
Imports Bump Up Feed Grain Supplies as Ethanol and Exports Boost Use and Stocks Slip.
CWS-13J, December 12, 2013
The latest USDA projections for U.S. and world cotton supply and demand.
EIB-119, December 02, 2013
Most WIC State agencies are currently paying lower net prices for infant formula (adjusting for inflation) than under the previous contracts they negotiated with manufacturers – allaying earlier concerns about rising prices.
AES-80, December 02, 2013
U.S. agricultural exports to fall 3 percent in fiscal 2014. Imports to rise 5 percent to record high.
ERR-160, November 26, 2013
The transmission of fuel prices to wholesale produce prices depends not only on distance from farm to sales point, but also on the transportation method, import shares and seasonality issues, and perishability.
ERR-159, November 21, 2013
Production of wind power, corn-based ethanol, and unconventionally extracted natural gas more than doubled overall from 2000 to 2010. ERS looks at the contribution these emerging-energy industries have made to local economies.
Amber Waves, November 18, 2013
Overall food security in 76 countries showed significant improvement over the past decade, with the number and share of food-insecure people declining sharply. In some countries, however, consumption of fat and protein fell short of the nutritional target, and many people in the lowest income groups...
Amber Waves, November 18, 2013
An analysis of the effect of SNAP participation on diet quality yielded mixed results, showing that participants had slightly lower overall diet quality than low-income nonparticipants but better nutritional outcomes for some dietary components.
SSSM-303, November 15, 2013
The Sugar and Sweetener Outlook for Nov. 2013 reviews the sugar and sweetener outlook for the United States and Mexico, emphasizing changes made in the November 2013 WASDE report and recent policy-related USDA events concerning sugar forfeitures, the Feedstock Flexibility Program (FFP), and sugar e...
LDPM-233, November 15, 2013
Lower Feed Grain Prices Improve Margins.
WHS-13K, November 13, 2013
The outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets are analyzed based on the latest projections contained in the World Agricultural Supply and Uses Estimates report
RCS-13K, November 13, 2013
The 2013/14 rough-rice season-average price forecasts were raised for all rice and by class.
OCS-13K, November 13, 2013
U.S. Soybean Exports Forecast Boosted by Strong Sales, Improved Crop.
FDS-13K, November 13, 2013
Market analysis of domestic and international feed grain markets.
LDPM-231-01, November 08, 2013
The United States is the world’s second largest broiler meat exporter, and exports are a valuable source of income for the industry. ERS examines factors affecting the growth in broiler meat exports, focusing on several major markets.
ERR-157, November 07, 2013
More households tended to receive benefits from both SNAP and Unemployment Insurance during the recent recession, but joint participation varied by household’s education level and their annual income relative to the poverty level.
EB-24, November 07, 2013
Since 2011, net job growth in nonmetro areas has been near zero while metro employment has grown 1.4 percent annually. Meanwhile, the first recorded period of nonmetro population loss occurred between 2010 and 2012.
EB-25, November 07, 2013
Veterans possess education and skill levels that position them to contribute economically to rural communities. ERS presents a social and demographic profile of veterans residing in rural areas.
Amber Waves, October 24, 2013
As China expanded support for agriculture, it relied on raising price supports to maintain net returns to farmers. China became the largest market for U.S. ag. exports as rising prices eroded the competitiveness of Chinese commodities.
WHS-13I-01, October 23, 2013
Afghanistan’s milling industry has been slow to rebuild, due to highly variable domestic wheat supplies and competition from imported flour, largely from Pakistan where wheat producers and flour millers receive Government support.
ERR-158, October 23, 2013
With most hogs now grown on very large operations and with productivity-enhancing technologies widespread, the slowdown in hog farm productivity growth after 2004 suggests that the era of dramatic productivity gains may be over.
EIB-118, September 30, 2013
ERS examines estimates of the cost of foodborne illness, focusing on factors that result in different estimates. Factors include the number of pathogens included in estimates and the method of assigning monetary value to the impacts.
SSSM-301, September 18, 2013
The Sugar and Sweetener Outlook for September 2013 reviews the sugar and sweetener outlook for the United States and Mexico, emphasizing changes made in the September 2013 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report. This edition reviews recent policy actions on the FFP, marketing allotmen...
LDPM-231, September 18, 2013
Corn-Belt Dryness Tweaks Meat Sectors
ERR-156, September 18, 2013
Linking Texas SNAP records to a national survey of U.S. households, ERS estimates detailed SNAP “access” rates (analogous to participation rates) among eligible individuals across various demographic and geographic groupings in the State.
WHS-13I, September 16, 2013
The outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets are analyzed based on the latest projections contained in the World Agricultural Supply and Uses Estimates report.
RCS-13I, September 16, 2013
The September 2013 Rice Situation & Outlook report will contain projections for the 2013/14 U.S. and global rice markets. The report is done 12 times a year and relies on the most current World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
OCS-13I, September 16, 2013
Each month,the Oil Crops Outlook analyzes the major changes and events in the world market for oilseeds and oilseed products.
FDS-13I, September 16, 2013
A 0.9-bushel increase in the projected U.S. corn yield for 2013/14 boosts corn production by 80 million bushels.
CWS-13I, September 16, 2013
The latest USDA projections for U.S. and world cotton supply and demand.
AP-062, September 16, 2013
This collection of nine charts and maps presents essential information on the farm sector, food spending and prices, food security, rural communities, and the interaction of agriculture and natural resources.
EIB-117, September 06, 2013
Most farm households have at least one family member working at an off-farm job, and farm operators and spouses are more likely than workers in general to hold management and professional positions.
ERR-155, September 04, 2013
An estimated 14.5 percent of U.S. households were food insecure some time in 2012, essentially unchanged from 2011. The share included 5.7 percent with very low food security.
AP-061, September 04, 2013
This is the statistical supplement for USDA’s annual report on households’ access to adequate food for active, healthy living.
Amber Waves, September 03, 2013
Over the past 3 decades, U.S. crop production has been shifting to larger farms for most crops and in most States. But family farms still dominate U.S. crop production, accounting for 87 percent of the value of U.S. crop production in 2011.
Amber Waves, September 03, 2013
ERS research found that offering school lunches with a healthier mix of vegetables was associated with higher consumption of healthier vegetables, but also higher food costs. "Nudging" students can increase acceptance of healthier foods.
EIB-116, August 30, 2013
Wheat, the third-largest U.S. crop in volume and value, has distinct varieties grown in different regions or seasons. ERS looks at the variation in growers’ production costs, yields, practices, and profitability across the United States.
AES-79, August 29, 2013
U.S. agricultural exports in fiscal 2014 are forecast down from the previous year's record-high. Exports are expected to fall $5 billion to $135 billion. Imports in fiscal 2014 are expected reach a record $113 billion.
ERR-154, August 27, 2013
In schools already meeting new daily nutrition standards for fruits and vegetables as of 2005, students ate more of these foods than where the standards were not met. But many students did not eat any of the offered fruits and vegetables.
SSSM-300, August 16, 2013
The Sugar and Sweetener Outlook for August 2013 reviews the sugar and sweetener outlook for the United States and Mexico, emphasizing changes made in the August 2013 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report. This edition will include a chapter on the recent exchange of Commodity Credit ...
LDPM-230, August 16, 2013
2013 meat and poultry forecast increases year over year.
Amber Waves, August 14, 2013
From 2005 to 2010, expiring corn, soybeans, and wheat futures contracts routinely settled at prices significantly higher than their cash market counterparts. Findings show that the observed non-convergence was an unintended consequence of market design rather than speculative trading.
WHS-13H, August 14, 2013
The outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets are analyzed based on the latest projections contained in the World Agricultural Supply and Uses Estimates report.
RCS-13H, August 14, 2013
U.S. 2012/13 export forecast lowered 2.0 million cwt
OCS-13H, August 14, 2013
Rising competition, smaller crop gains seen limiting U.S. soybean demand.
FDS-13H, August 14, 2013
Market analysis of domestic and international feed grain markets.
CWS-13H, August 14, 2013
The latest USDA projections for U.S. and world cotton supply and demand.
Amber Waves, August 05, 2013
According to USDA’s baseline projections, developing country demand for agricultural products is expected to increase faster than their production in 2013-22. Thus, these countries will account for 92 percent of the total increase in world meat imports, 92 percent of the increase in world grains an...
ERR-153, August 05, 2013
China’s expanding program of domestic agricultural support has raised concerns among trading partners, and China could exceed WTO limits in coming years if the level and range of price support continues to increase.
ERR-152, August 05, 2013
Crop production and land have shifted to larger operations. ERS details the changes by region and commodity sector, and evaluates driving factors such as technologies, business organization and finances, land attributes, and policy.
EIB-115, August 05, 2013
Recent non-convergence in grain markets occurred because storage rates were misaligned; the exchange-set storage rate of the delivery instrument was too low relative to the true price of storage.
ERR-151, August 02, 2013
Food security of SNAP recipients worsened from 2009 to 2011 as inflation reduced the value of SNAP benefits, eroding improvement that followed the 2009 increase in SNAP benefits mandated by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
FTS-356, July 26, 2013
Lighter cherry supplies in California and Washington State are supporting upward pressure on 2013 domestic cherry prices. Mix of hot and cold weather hindered early-season peach production from its full potential.
FDS-13G-01, July 26, 2013
Weather during the growing season is critical for corn and soybean yields. Models for U.S. corn and soybean yields provide estimates of the effects of weather on yields for those crops.
SSSM-299, July 17, 2013
The Sugar and Sweeteners Outlook for July 2013 reviews the sugar and sweetener outlook for the United States and Mexico, emphasizing changes made in the July 2013 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report. This edition will include a chapter on the recent exchange of CCC sugar for re-exp...
LDPM-229, July 17, 2013
Meat and poultry higher in second half 2013.
WHS-13G, July 15, 2013
The outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets are analyzed based on the latest projections contained in the World Agricultural Supply and Uses Estimates report.
RCS-13G, July 15, 2013
The U.S. 2013/14 rice export forecast lowered to 95.0 million cwt.
OCS-13G, July 15, 2013
Soybean acreage expansion, better yields are seen swelling 2013/14 stocks.
FDS-13G, July 15, 2013
This month’s projected 2013/14 feed grain supplies are slightly lower, reflecting a reduction in harvested acres for corn.
CWS-13G, July 15, 2013
The latest USDA projections for U.S. and world cotton supply and demand.
AP-060, July 02, 2013
The ERS publishing process ensures that products meet the objectives of high-quality and timely economic analysis, transparent explanation of methods, objective interpretation of results, and effective communication to the intended audience. This document outlines the peer review and clearance proce...
Amber Waves, July 01, 2013
Since USDA conservation programs are voluntary, farmers base their participation decisions on local conditions, among other factors, and those decisions are influenced by the level of local drought risk. This is a form of climate adaptation.
Amber Waves, July 01, 2013
Food companies included voluntary health- or nutrition-related claims on more than 40 percent of new foods and beverages in 2010 – attributes such as low in fat, high in fiber, gluten-free, and sodium-free.
GFA-24, June 27, 2013
The share of the population that is food insecure in 76 low- and middle-income countries is expected to decline from 21 percent in 2012 to 20 percent in 2013. Key determinants of food security are food production and import capacity.
EIB-114, June 26, 2013
Over half of secondary school students consume competitive foods on a typical day; most choices would not meet nutrition standards. Foodservices in affluent districts obtain more revenue from competitive foods.
EB-23, June 20, 2013
Rural household Internet and broadband subscription rates generally fall below urban rates, but rural areas gained broadband subscribers faster in 2009-10.
SSSM-298, June 18, 2013
The Sugar and Sweetener Outlook for June 2013 reviews the sugar and sweetener outlook for the United States and Mexico, emphasizing changes made in the June 2013 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report. This edition will include a chapter on U.S. added sugars consumption, both ...
LDPM-228, June 18, 2013
Livestock Imports Lower Into 2014.
ERR-150, June 18, 2013
Consumer demand for local local meat has risen in recent years. Farmers contend that limited processing capacity restricts supply, while processors often lack the consistent business required to make a profit.
WHS-13F, June 14, 2013
The outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets are analyzed based on the latest projections contained in the World Agricultural Supply and Uses Estimates report.
RCS-13F, June 14, 2013
The U.S. 2013/14 rice crop is projected at 189.5 million cwt.
OCS-13-F, June 14, 2013
Strong soybean meal prices buoy U.S. processors.
FDS-13F, June 14, 2013
Rains have delayed planting the 2013 corn crop resulting in a projected yield decline of 1.5 bushels per acre to 156.5 bushels per acre.
CWS-13F, June 14, 2013
The latest USDA projections for U.S. and world cotton supply and demand.
EIB-113, May 30, 2013
In 2011, nearly 21 percent of households with children were food insecure. ERS describes the extent and severity of child food insecurity by household characteristics.
AES-78, May 30, 2013
Record U.S. agricultural exports are forecast for fiscal 2013, up $3.7 billion from the year before to $139.5 billion. Imports are also projected to be at a record high, up $7.6 billion from fiscal 2012 to $111 billion.
SSSM-297-01, May 29, 2013
Brazil is the world’s leading sugar producer and, over the long term, world sugar prices are determined by production costs in Center/South Brazil, as well as the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Brazilian real .
ERR-149, May 29, 2013
Americans consumed progressively less fluid milk, on average, for over six decades. Since at least the 1970s, differences in intake frequency between older and younger generations have contributed to the per capita decline in intake.
Amber Waves, May 20, 2013
U.S. corn and wheat acreage is expected to increase in 2013, soybean acreage is expected to stay mostly unchanged, and rice and cotton acreage will likely decline. Acreage shifts in recent years reflect growing domestic and foreign demand for U.S. corn and soybeans and increased global competition i...
SSSM-297, May 16, 2013
The Sugar and Sweeteners Outlook for May 2013 reviews the sugar and sweetener outlook for the United States and Mexico, emphasizing changes made in the May 2013 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report and new forecasts for 2013/14. Also included is a chapter on sugar supply and...
LDPM-227, May 16, 2013
Pork and poultry production forecast higher in 2014, beef lower.
WHS-13E, May 14, 2013
The outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets are analyzed based on the latest projections contained in the World Agricultural Supply and Uses Estimates report.
RCS-13E, May 14, 2013
The U.S. 2013/14 rice crop is projected at 189.5 million cwt.
OCS-13E, May 14, 2013
Oilseed Production Gains for 2013/14 Could Outpace Global Consumption.
FDS-13E, May 14, 2013
May 2013 Feed Outlook report
CWS-13E, May 14, 2013
The latest USDA projections for U.S. and world cotton supply and demand.
EIB-112, May 13, 2013
Farmers have adapted to rising energy prices and evolving policies by adjusting their use of energy-based agricultural inputs, altering energy-intensive production practices, and growing more energy-feedstock crops.
Amber Waves, May 06, 2013
Disability has emerged as one of the strongest known factors in household food security. ERS found that a third of U.S. households with an adult unable to work due to disability were food insecure in 2009-10.
Amber Waves, May 06, 2013
Agricultural research has been a driver of higher productivity in Sub-Saharan African agriculture. But despite making gradual gains since the 1980s, productivity growth in the region remains well below that of other developing countries.
ERR-148, April 30, 2013
Farms in more drought-prone areas are more likely to offer land to the Conservation Reserve Program or participate in other conservation programs. If climate change increases drought risk, farmer interest in these programs will likely grow.
EIB-111, April 29, 2013
The number of women farm operators has tripled in the last three decades. From 1982 to 2007, the number of female-operated farms increased by184,000, while male-operated farms declined by 220,800.
ERR-147, April 24, 2013
ERS examined survey data to determine if the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) changes the diet quality of program participants, and to compare the diet quality of low-income adult participants and nonparticipants in SNAP.
SSSM-296, April 16, 2013
The Sugar and Sweetener Outlook for April 2013 reviews the sugar and sweetener outlook for the United States and Mexico, emphasizing changes made in the April 2013 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report. Also included are chapters on: (1) the U.S. honey outlook and (2) impreci...
LDPM-226, April 16, 2013
Lower corn prices may boost expansion for livestock.
ERR-146, April 16, 2013
By buying lower price products, households can withstand price and income changes without reducing overall fluid milk consumption. Demand for organic milk responds more to swings in income and food prices than does conventional milk demand.
WHS-13D, April 12, 2013
The outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets are analyzed based on the latest projections contained in the World Agricultural Supply and Uses Estimates report.
RCS-13D, April 12, 2013
The U.S. 2012/13 domestic and residual use forecast lowered to 120.0 million cwt.
OCS-13D, April 12, 2013
Prices ease after USDA reports larger than expected soybean stocks.
FDS-13D, April 12, 2013
Lower than expected March 1 corn stocks roil markets, lower price, and raise ending stocks.
CWS-13D, April 12, 2013
The latest USDA projections for U.S. and world cotton supply and demand.
Amber Waves, April 09, 2013
The U.S has embarked on negotiations to create a Trans-Pacific Partnership and a comprehensive trans-Atlantic agreement with the EU that will liberalize and promote trade. The U.S. horticulture industry has an interest in the outcome of both negotiations, as fruit and vegetable trade continues to be...
LDPM-21801, April 04, 2013
U.S. beef markets are undergoing rapid change as alternative production systems evolve in response to consumer demands and compete with conventional grain-fed beef production.
EIB-110, April 04, 2013
ERS updated the farm typology to reflect commodity price inflation and a shift in production toward larger farms. The revised typology (now measuring by gross cash farm income) slightly increases the share of farms classified as small.
Amber Waves, April 01, 2013
Farm households that also operate nonfarm businesses have accounted for about 18 percent of U.S. farm households since the 1990s. In 2007, farmer-owned nonfarm businesses employed over 800,000 nonfarm workers and contributed an estimated $55 billion to their local communities’ gross county product.
VGS-353, March 29, 2013
According to the California Processing Tomato Report, National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA, California tomato processors intend to contract 2.8 percent more processing tomatoes in 2013 than the previous year.
FTS-355, March 29, 2013
Total U.S. citrus production reduced in 2012/13 due to warm, dry winter. Forecast production at 11.4 million tons. The domestic all-orange crop is forecast 4 percent less than previous season at 8.7 million tons.
EIB-109, March 15, 2013
In FY 2012, about 1 in 4 Americans participated in at least one of USDA's 15 food and nutrition assistance programs. Expenditures for these programs totaled $106.7 billion, 3 percent more than the previous fiscal year.
SSSM-295, March 14, 2013
The Sugar and Sweetener Outlook for March 2013 reviews the sugar and sweetener outlook for the United States and Mexico, emphasizing changes made in the March 2013 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report. Also included is a special chapter on methodology of projecting USDA ener...
LDPM-225, March 14, 2013
Export Markets Evolve, but Dynamic Year for Total Red Meat and Poultry Exports Not Expected.
WHS-13c, March 12, 2013
The outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets are analyzed based on the latest projections contained in the World Agricultural Supply and Uses Estimates report.
RCS-13c, March 12, 2013
The U.S. 2012/13 rice export forecast was raised based on a stronger than expected sales to Iran and Latin America.
OCS-13C, March 12, 2013
Moderating soybean meal and oil prices herald declining production.
FDS-13c, March 12, 2013
Record-low exports and strong imports are reflected in a 100-million-bushel increase in feed and residual use for corn.
CWS-13c, March 12, 2013
The latest USDA projections for U.S. and world cotton supply and demand.
Amber Waves, March 04, 2013
ERS recently updated several national measures of food access, providing estimates of the number of individuals and geographic areas with limited access to healthful and affordable food. Between 2006 and 2010, the number of low-income individuals living more than 1 mile from a supermarket increased,...
Amber Waves, February 21, 2013
The elements common to many reform proposals--eliminating tax preferences, restructuring capital gains and dividend rates, lowering marginal rates, and reducing the number of tax brackets--could affect the well-being of farm households.
Amber Waves, February 21, 2013
Adaptive behaviors such as adjusting crop choices and production practices may help farmers mitigate the negative effects of climate change and enable some producers to capitalize on new opportunities.
Amber Waves, February 21, 2013
The growth rates of both production and consumption of rice in the Southeast Asia region have been slowing. Still, the large surplus of production over regional demand in Southeast Asia is likely to continue to expand for the next decade.
Amber Waves, February 21, 2013
In grocery stores, Americans underspend on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and overspend on refined grains, fats, and sugars/sweets, compared with dietary guidance Away-from-home foods are even less consistent with dietary guidance.
AES-77, February 21, 2013
Fiscal 2013 U.S. agricultural exports are forecast at a record $142 billion, $6.2 billion above 2012 exports. U.S. imports are forecast at a record $112.5 billion, $9.1 billion higher than in fiscal 2012.
ERR-145, February 20, 2013
Is weak agricultural growth in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) due to poor natural resources? This study finds that other factors--economic, technological, and political--underlie agricultural productivity gains experienced by some SSA countries.
EIB-108, February 20, 2013
New food products introduced with voluntary health- and nutrition-related claims accounted for 43.1 percent of all new U.S. food product introductions in 2010, up from 25.2 percent in 2001 and 34.6 percent in 1989.
SSSM-294, February 14, 2013
The Sugar and Sweeteners Outlook for February 2013 reviews the sugar and sweetener outlook for the United States and Mexico, emphasizing changes made in the February 2013 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report. Also included is a special chapter on USDA long term projections o...
LDPM-224, February 14, 2013
Cattle herd rebuilding thrown a curve, drought to determine inventory dynamics in 2013.
WHS-13b, February 12, 2013
The outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets are analyzed based on the latest projections contained in the World Agricultural Supply and Uses Estimates report.
RCS-13B, February 12, 2013
The U.S. 2012/13 import forecast raised based on a stronger than expected pace of purchases through November. Vietnam's prices continue to fall.
OCS-13B, February 12, 2013
Each month,the Oil Crops Outlook analyzes the major changes and events in the world market for oilseeds and oilseed products.
FDS-13B, February 12, 2013
Market analysis of domestic and international feed grain markets.
CWS-13b, February 12, 2013
The latest USDA projections for U.S. and world cotton supply and demand are included, along with U.S. textile trade. The selected tables were only updated in February; tables 3-5 will be included again in March.
OCE-131, February 11, 2013
USDA's longrun projections for global agriculture reflect steady world economic growth and continued demand for biofuels, which combine to support increases in consumption, trade, and prices.
WHS-13A-01, February 04, 2013
The three major grain-producing countries of the former Soviet Union--Kazakhstan, Russia, and Ukraine--have become a large grain-exporting region. This report examines the causes and provides the 10-year outlook for the region's exports.
EIB-107, February 04, 2013
Key elements of proposed tax reform, reducing accelerated deductions for capital purchases and raising capital gains tax rates, could increase tax liabilities for many farmers. Other elements could reduce tax liabilities.
EB-22, January 30, 2013
In 2011, beginning farms and ranches accounted for 22 percent of the 2 million U.S. family farms and 10 percent of the value of agricultural production by family farms. How do beginning farmers and ranchers compare to established ones?
SSSM-293, January 17, 2013
The Sugar and Sweetener Outlook for January 2013 reviews the sugar and sweetener outlook for the United States and Mexico, emphasizing changes made in the January 2013 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report.
LDPM-223, January 17, 2013
With the new year continues the same drought as well and its continued negative impacts on the cattle sector.
WHS-13A, January 15, 2013
The outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets are analyzed based on the latest projections contained in the World Agricultural Supply and Uses Estimates report
RCS-13a, January 15, 2013
The U.S. 2012/13 rice crop estimates was slightly based on a higher yield reported by NASS. In the global market, export forecasts were raised for both 2012 and 2013 largely based on larger exports from India and Vietnam.
OCS-13A, January 15, 2013
Each month, the Oil Crops Outlook analyzes the major changes and events in the world market for oilseeds and oilseed products.
FDS-13A, January 15, 2013
Market analysis of domestic and international feed grain markets
EIB-106, January 15, 2013
Heightened use of hydropower increases competition between local energy and agriculture sectors for scarce supplies of water. Although this may raise cotton prices locally, it has minimal effect on global prices.
CWS-13a, January 15, 2013
The Cotton and Wool tables analyze the changes for the cotton and wool products.
ERR-144, January 10, 2013
Disability is an important risk factor for household food insecurity. One in three U.S. households that include an adult unable to work due to disability is food insecure.
TB-1936, December 31, 2012
The study assesses the extent to which USDA’s measurement of household food security would be improved by one or more of five potential technical enhancements recommended by the National Academies' Committee on National Statistics.
RCS-12l-01, December 31, 2012
Southeast Asia dominates the world’s rice trade as the leading source of rice exports and the second-largest importing region. This region’s rice surplus of exports over imports has grown steadily over the past decade and the USDA projects that it will remain large over the next decade.
EIB-105, December 27, 2012
Americans are consuming more of their daily caloric intake away from home, primarily from table-service and fast-food restaurants.
EIB-104, December 20, 2012
Fewer U.S. farms produced cotton in 2007 than in 1997. The average farm was larger, and the share of production had shifted to the Southwest. Cotton farms varied – e.g., in production practices and commodity diversification.
VGS-352, December 18, 2012
The 2012 U.S. dry bean crop is expected to reach 31.8 million cwt, an increase of almost 60 percent from low production levels of 2011.
FTS-354, December 18, 2012
Forecast total citrus production to remain stable in 2012/13 at 11.75 million tons. United States all-orange forecast harvest remains unchanged from last season at 9.01 million tons, with declines in Florida navel production negated by gains in Florida Valencia production. Tangerines are forecast 2...
SSSM-292, December 17, 2012
The Sugar and Sweetener Outlook reviews the sugar and sweetener outlook for the United States and Mexico, emphasizing changes made in the most recent month’s of the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report.
LDPM-222, December 17, 2012
Smaller Dairy Herd Expected in 2013.
WHS-12L, December 13, 2012
The outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets are analyzed based on the latest projections contained in the World Agricultural Supply and Uses Estimates report.
FDS-12L, December 13, 2012
Market analysis of domestic and international feed grain markets.
EB-21, December 13, 2012
This update in the annual series focuses on U.S. recovery from the 2007-09 recession, with recovery slower in nonmetro than in metro areas. As of July 2012, nonmetro employment, e.g., remained more than 3 percent below its 2007 peak.
RCS-12L, December 12, 2012
The outlook for both the U.S. and global rice markets are analyzed based on the latest projections contained in the World Agricultural Supply and Use Estimates report.
OCS-12L, December 12, 2012
ERS -- working closely with the World Agricultural Outlook Board, the Foreign Agricultural Service, and other USDA agencies -- conducts market analysis and provides short- and long-term projections of U.S. and world agricultural production, consumption, and trade.
CWS-12i, December 12, 2012
The latest USDA projections for U.S. and world cotton supply and demand are presented and discussed in this report. Relevant fiber data tables and charts are also provided.
Amber Waves, December 05, 2012
Concentrated poverty has increased in the U.S. over the last decade, particularly in nonmetropolitan areas and in areas with distinct racial/ethnic minority populations. Deteriorating economic conditions, namely rising unemployment, have driven the increase in nonmetro concentrated poverty.
Amber Waves, December 03, 2012
The largest agricultural input firms are responsible for a large and growing share of global agricultural research and development (R&D;). See the December issue of ERS’s Amber Waves magazine.
Amber Waves, December 03, 2012
Replacing calorie-dense snack foods with fruits and vegetables can be one step in addressing childhood obesity and does not have to compromise a family’s food budget.
Amber Waves, December 03, 2012
U.S. agriculture entered the most recent recession better positioned than most U.S. industries, was less affected by the recession than most other U.S. industries, and is likely to continue to do well in the years ahead.
AES-76, November 29, 2012
Fiscal 2013 agricultural exports are forecast at a record $145 billion, up $9.2 billion above 2012 exports. Imports at record $115 billion.
ERR-143, November 28, 2012
ERS updates data on spatial access to affordable, healthy food, measuring distance to the nearest supermarkets for the U.S. population and considering factors like vehicle ownership and income level of households and areas.
ERR-142, November 27, 2012
Using the example of Indian mangoes, ERS finds that irradiation and other regulatory costs appear low relative to other logistical and marketing costs for fresh produce entering the U.S. market and sold in niche outlets.
LDPM-221, November 16, 2012
Meat production is trimmed in 2013.
EIB-103, November 16, 2012
A number of Farm Act proposals call for ending the direct payment program. ERS analysis suggests that for the majority of farms receiving direct payments, this would not result in substantial decline in financial well-being.
SSSM-291, November 15, 2012
The Sugar and Sweetener Outlook reviews the sugar and sweetener outlook for the United States and Mexico, emphasizing changes made in the most recent month’s of the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report.
WHS-12K, November 14, 2012
The outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets are analyzed based on the latest projections contained in the World Agricultural Supply and Uses Estimates report.
FDS-12K, November 14, 2012
Market analysis of domestic and international feed grain markets.
EB-20, November 14, 2012
Nitrogen is a critical input in agriculture, and corn is the largest user of nitrogen. An examination of nitrogen management on corn cropland indicates that corn producers appear to be applying less excess nitrogen.
RCS-12K, November 13, 2012
The outlook for both the U.S. and global rice markets are analyzed based on the latest projections contained in the World Agricultural Supply and Uses Estimates report.
OCS-12-k, November 13, 2012
ERS -- working closely with the World Agricultural Outlook Board, the Foreign Agricultural Service, and other USDA agencies -- conducts market analysis and provides short- and long-term projections of U.S. and world agricultural production, consumption, and trade.
EIB-102, November 08, 2012
Americans have a long way to go in conforming to dietary guidelines when purchasing food for home; they buy too few fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and choose foods with too many fats and added sugars.
EIB-101, October 31, 2012
Nearly a third of U.S. farm households generate income by engaging in business ventures independent of commodity production, creating $26.7 billion in household income in 2007, from both on- and off-farm enterprises.
CWS-12h01, October 23, 2012
Uzbekistan is the third largest cotton supplier for world markets and accounts for two-thirds of Central Asia’s output. ERS examines the role of government policies in future prospects for cotton production and exports.
LDPM-220, October 17, 2012
Ample supplies of pork and poultry moderate prices.
SSSM-290, October 16, 2012
The Sugar and Sweetener Outlook reviews the sugar and sweetener outlook for the the United States and Mexico, emphasizing changes made in the most recent month’s of the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report.
WHS-12J, October 15, 2012
The outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets are analyzed based on the latest projections contained in the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.
FDS-12J, October 15, 2012
Market analysis of domestic and international feed grain markets.
RCS-12J, October 12, 2012
The outlook for both the U.S. and global rice markets are analyzed based on the latest projections contained in the World Agricultural Supply and Uses Estimates report.
OCS-12J, October 12, 2012
ERS--working closely with the World Agricultural Outlook Board, the Foreign Agricultural Service, and other USDA agencies--conducts market analysis and provides short- and long-term projections of U.S. and world agricultural production, consumption, and trade.
CWS-12h, October 12, 2012
The latest USDA projections for U.S. and world cotton supply and demand are presented and discussed in this report. Relevant fiber data tables and charts are also provided.
VGS-351, September 27, 2012
Use of chickpeas (garbanzo beans) has increased in the United States as consumption of food such as humus expands. I n 2012, a record 196,900 acres were planted with Washington, Idaho, and California leading producers in the previous year.
FTS-353, September 27, 2012
Multiple spring freezes and summer’s high temperatures and dry conditions hampered progress of many fruit crops across the country, affecting growing regions or areas at different magnitude levels. Forecast smaller U.S. apple, pear, and grape crops this year will likely boost their prices during th...
EIB-100, September 21, 2012
ERS examines the relationship between economic conditions and participation across USDA’s five largest nutrition assistance programs, and describes how changes in policies and other factors affect participation.
EB-19, September 21, 2012
Eight-page brief examines the funding and performance of agricultural R&D; to assess the evolving--and complementary--roles of the public and private sectors in the U.S. agricultural research system.
Amber Waves, September 20, 2012
Factors in consumer response to price changes include income, size of the price change, availability of substitutes, and expected length of price changes. See this and other features in September Amber Waves.
Amber Waves, September 20, 2012
Economic growth and population gains in developing countries and production of biofuels will continue to be a leading source of demand in the agricultural sector.
Amber Waves, September 20, 2012
For many countries in the region, low yields and lagging labor productivity in agriculture present opportunities for improvement.
Amber Waves, September 20, 2012
Rural development efforts that create and maintain a broad portfolio of wealth may be central to sustainable rural prosperity.
Amber Waves, September 20, 2012
Farm real estate values increased considerably in recent years, with some States experiencing double-digit growth.
Amber Waves, September 20, 2012
Total factor productivity-–a key measure of agricultural productivity-–is showing rapid growth globally, led by improvement in China and Brazil. See this and other features in the September Amber Waves.
AP-059, September 19, 2012
Our Nation relies on the flow of objective, credible statistics to support the decisions of governments, businesses, households, and other organizations. Any loss of trust in the integrity of the Federal statistical system and its products can foster uncertainty about the validity of measures our Na...
LDPM-219, September 18, 2012
Impacts of high feed prices shake out across markets.
SSSM-289, September 17, 2012
The Sugar and Sweetener Outlook reviews the sugar and sweetener outlook for the United States and Mexico, emphasizing changes made in the most recent month's edition of the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report.
WHS-12i, September 14, 2012
The outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets are analyzed based on the latest projections contained in the World Agricultural Supply and Uses Estimates report.
FDS-12i, September 14, 2012
Market analysis of domestic and international feed grain markets.
RCS-12i, September 13, 2012
The outlook for both the U.S. and global rice markets is analyzed based on the latest projections contained in the World Agricultural Supply and Uses Estimates report.
OCS-12i, September 13, 2012
ERS--working closely with the World Agricultural Outlook Board, the Foreign Agricultural Service, and other USDA agencies--conducts market analysis and provides short- and long-term projections of U.S. and world agricultural production, consumption, and trade.
CWS-12g, September 13, 2012
The latest USDA projections for U.S. and world cotton supply and demand are presented and discussed in this report. Relevant fiber data tables and charts also are provided.
ERR-141, September 05, 2012
The overall percentage of food-insecure U.S. households in 2011 was essentially unchanged from 2010. ERS monitors food security in an annual survey.
AP-058, September 05, 2012
This Supplement contains statistics that complement those provided in the Economic Research Report, Household Food Security in the United States in 2011 (ERR-141). The Research Report provides the primary national statistics on household food security, food spending, and use of Federal food and nutr...
EIB-99, September 04, 2012
Agriculture accounts for 80-90 percent of U.S. consumptive water use. ERS draws on findings from several national surveys and current literature to assess water resource use and conservation measures within the irrigated crop sector.
ERR-140, August 31, 2012
ERS examines the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of census tracts that have been identified as food deserts–areas where residents have limited access to healthy, affordable food.
AES-75, August 30, 2012
This outlook report offers, on a quarterly basis, the U.S. agricultural import and export outlook, as well as the year-to-date value and volume of U.S. agricultural exports and imports, by commodity and region.
ERR-139, August 23, 2012
Food away from home (FAFH) comprises nearly half of all U.S. consumer food expenditures. Hence, policies designed to influence nutritional outcomes would be incomplete if they did not address the role of FAFH. However, because of data limitations, most studies of the response of food demand to polic...
EIB-98, August 22, 2012
The 2012 edition provides resource-and environment-related information including farmland area, productivity, irrigation, pesticide use, adoption of genetically engineered crops, fertilizer use, conservation practices, and land retirement.
LDPM-218, August 16, 2012
Drought-motivated increases in cow slaughter and feeder cattle movements have adversely affected all cattle and beef prices and plans to increase the national cow herd.
TB-1934, August 15, 2012
The ERS Eating and Health Module, a supplement to the American Time Use Survey (ATUS), included questions on height and weight so that respondents’ Body Mass Index (BMI—a measure of body fat based on height and weight) could be calculated and
analyzed with ATUS time-use data in obesity research. Som...
SSSM-288, August 15, 2012
The Sugar and Sweetener Outlook reviews the sugar and sweetener outlook for the United States and Mexico, emphasizing changes made in the most recent month’s edition of the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report.
WHS-12H, August 14, 2012
The outlook for both the U.S. and global wheat markets are analyzed based on the latest projections contained in the World Agricultural Supply and Uses Estimates report.
FDS-12H, August 14, 2012
Market analysis of domestic and international feed grain markets.
RCS-12h, August 13, 2012
The outlook for both the U.S. and global rice markets are analyzed based on the latest projections contained in the World Agricultural Supply and Uses Estimates report.
OCS-12h, August 13, 2012
ERS -- working closely with the World Agricultural Outlook Board, the Foreign
Agricultural Service, and other USDA agencies -- conducts market analysis and
provides short- and long-term projections of U.S. and world agricultural production,
consumption, and trade
CWS-12f, August 13, 2012
The latest USDA projections for U.S. and world cotton supply and demand are presented and discussed in this report. Relevant fiber data tables and charts also are provided.
FDS-12G-01, August 09, 2012
ERs reviews China’s emergence as an export market for U.S.-produced DDGS, the primary co-product from corn-based ethanol production, and analyzes how Chinese trade policies and the costs of alternative feed affect demand.
ERR-138, August 09, 2012
Focusing on two agricultural subsectors—commodity foods and manufactured foods—ERS quantifies the extent to which RTAs have expanded trade between member countries and altered trade between member and nonmember countries.
TB-1933, July 18, 2012
This report documents the updated version of the Partial Equilibrium Agricultural
Trade Simulation (PEATSim) model developed by USDA’s Economic Research Service.
PEATSim is a global model, covering 31 commodities and 27 countries/regions. The
model, consistent with economic theory, provides a flexib...
LDPM-217, July 17, 2012
Beef/Cattle: Following on the heels of last year’s drought, this year’s lack of adequate rainfall over more than half of the United States has resulted in rapidly deteriorating crop and pasture conditions that have driven corn prices higher and cattle prices lower.
SSSM-287, July 16, 2012
The Sugar and Sweetener Outlook reviews the sugar and sweetener outlook for the United States and Mexico, emphasizing changes made in the most recent month’s edition of the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report.
WHS-12G, July 13, 2012
Projected U.S. wheat supplies for 2012/13 are raised 5 million bushels, with higher
estimated beginning stocks more than offsetting lower forecast production. Beginning stocks
were reported in the June 29 Grain Stocks report 15 million bushels above last month’s
projection. Feed and residual disa...
FDS-12G, July 13, 2012
U.S. feed grain supplies for 2012/13 are projected sharply lower this month with lower
production for corn on lower yields. Extremely hot weather and drought result in a 20-
bushel-per-acre decline in the projected corn yield to 146 bushels per acre reducing
projected production to 13.0 billion bush...
RCS-12G, July 12, 2012
There were several major revisions to the 2012/13 U.S. rice balance sheet this month. On the supply side, the 2012/13 carryin was increased 5.0 million cwt to 34.5 million cwt. A higher area estimate raised the 2012/13 production forecast 8.0 million cwt to 191.0 million cwt. In contrast, 2012/13 im...
OCS-12G, July 12, 2012
ERS--working closely with the World Agricultural Outlook Board, the Foreign Agricultural Service, and other USDA agencies--conducts market analysis and provides short- and long-term projections of U.S. and world agricultural production, consumption, and trade.
CWS-12e, July 12, 2012
The latest USDA projections for U.S. and world cotton supply and demand are presented and discussed in this report. Relevant fiber data tables and charts also are provided.
GFA-23, July 09, 2012
ERS assesses food security in 76 developing countries, including estimates for 2012 and projections for the next decade - latest report in an annual series. Key determinants of food security: food production and import capacity.
ERR-137, July 09, 2012
ERS focuses on the effects of Brazil’s science and technology investments and other public policies on the country’s growth in agricultural production – 77 percent between 1985 and 2006 – and its emergence as a major agricultural exporter.
ERR-136, July 06, 2012
ERS models the farm sector’s ability to adapt to a changing climate with current practices and technology, and explores economic and environmental implications of adaptation under a range of climate change scenarios.
FDS-12F-01, July 03, 2012
An early corn harvest—before the August 31 end of the previous marketing year—creates an overlap of supply-and-use data between the old and new marketing years that can alter the patterns of corn use and ending stocks, with implications for official USDA projections and estimates.
VGS-350, June 28, 2012
Prices at the point of first sale remain low for most fresh-market vegetables and
consumer prices also fell in the first 5 months of 2012. Volumes are strong as mild
winter and early spring temperatures allowed early planting in many areas. Per capita use
of fresh-market vegetables fell less than 1 ...
FTS-352, June 28, 2012
This season’s Southern Hemisphere blueberry shipments to the United States (primarily from Chile) have already ended and sourcing has now transitioned to domestic production. Current domestic pricing for fresh blueberries is above last year’s, caused by an early finish to Chilean shipments this wint...
EIB-97, June 20, 2012
ERS examines food consumption patterns in Indonesia and measures the growth of modern food retail chains, packaged food purchases, and food imports in the world’s fourth-most-populous country.
LDPM-216-01, June 19, 2012
ERS evaluates slaughter and processing capacity for local meat production, and the options available to livestock producers selling to local markets. Local demand is still a small share of total demand.
SSSM-286, June 18, 2012
U.S. deliveries of total sweeteners for human food and beverage use for 2011 are estimated at 20.381 million tons, almost the same as the deliveries in 2010 of 20.387 million tons. Refined sugar deliveries increased by 1.6 percent, while corn sweetener deliveries fell by 1.7 percent. Within the corn...
LDPM-216, June 18, 2012
Beef/Cattle: Producers are beginning to market calves and beef cows at increasing
levels as pasture and range conditions begin to deteriorate. Projected cattle feeding
margins are increasingly negative at current price levels. Packer margins are currently
positive, but declining byproduct values are...
WHS-12F, June 14, 2012
Projected U.S. wheat supplies for 2012/13 are lowered 51 million bushels with reduced carryin
and lower forecast winter wheat production. Beginning stocks are lowered 40 million bushels
with a 10-million-bushel increase in food use and a 30-million-bushel increase in exports for
2011/12. The increas...
FDS-12F, June 14, 2012
The 2012/13 U.S. corn balance sheet is unchanged this month. Corn ethanol use
for 2011/12 is projected up 50 million bushels this month to 5,050 million as recent
ethanol production data have been stronger than expected. While slowing from its
peak in December 2011, ethanol production and use has be...
RCS-12F, June 13, 2012
There were several revisions this month to both the 2011/12 and 2012/13 U.S. rice
balance sheets. For 2011/12, total exports were raised 4.0 million cwt to 101.0 million,
with milled rice accounting for all of the increase. On the 2011/12 supply side, imports
were lowered 0.5 million cwt to 20.0 ...
OCS-12F, June 13, 2012
Export shipments of U.S. soybeans for 2011/12 are forecast up 20 million bushels this month to 1.335 billion. And the 2011/12 soybean crush is forecast 15 million bushels higher this month to 1.66 billion based on higher demand for soybean meal. Higher soybean demand would further reduce U.S. season...
CWS-12d, June 13, 2012
The latest U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) projections for 2012/13 indicate that
world cotton stocks are expected to rise for the third consecutive season, reaching a new
record. Global ending stocks are currently projected at 74.5 million bales for 2012/13,
nearly 11 percent or 7.2 million ba...
Amber Waves, June 05, 2012
Adding SNAP benefits to family income reduces the poverty rate and leads to even greater reductions in depth and severity of poverty, particularly among children. The antipoverty effect of SNAP was especially strong in 2009, when the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act increased SNAP benefits lev...
Amber Waves, June 05, 2012
Policymakers are considering changes to U.S. immigration law that would affect the market for hired farm labor--including mandatory use of an Internet-based employment eligibility verification system and an expanded guestworker program for nonimmigrant, foreign-born agricultural workers.
Amber Waves, June 05, 2012
Although USDA’s WASDE report is viewed by commodity market observers as an important benchmark, the rise of private forecasting services has led some to question the usefulness of USDA’s role in commodity market reporting. ERS model results show that markets place substantial value on the situation ...
Amber Waves, June 05, 2012
Private sector firms becoming leaders in developing new innovations in agriculture.
AES-74, May 31, 2012
This outlook report offers, on a quarterly basis, the U.S. agricultural import and export outlook, as well as the year-to-date value and volume of U.S. agricultural exports and imports, by commodity and region.
ERR-133, May 30, 2012
Focusing on India, which has the world’s largest food-insecure population, ERS analyzes a large household data set used by India’s government to track household food security.
WRS-1201, May 22, 2012
U.S. agriculture was better positioned than most U.S. industries entering the recession, was less affected by the recession than most other U.S. industries, and is well positioned to continue to do well in the years ahead.
ERR-135, May 22, 2012
ERS examines potential impacts on agriculture of large shifts in the supply of foreign-born labor that might result in the event of substantial changes in U.S. immigration laws or policies.
OCS-12e, May 17, 2012
Using a long-term yield trend of 43.9 bushels per acre and an estimated harvested area
of 73 million acres, the U.S. soybean crop for 2012 is projected up 5 percent to 3.205
billion bushels. Fast early shipments are forecast to raise U.S. soybean exports for
2012/13 to a record 1.505 billion bushels...
LDPM-215, May 16, 2012
Improved soil moisture conditions have improved the outlook for corn and
wheat. Despite positive profit margins in other cattle and beef sectors, cattle feeders
continue to endure negative profit margins.
ERR-134, May 16, 2012
A number of rural development initiatives have targeted farm-related activities (e.g., agritourism, energy production). ERS examines the characteristics of farms and farm households involved in such activities.
EIB-96, May 16, 2012
How food items are priced (by calorie, by weight, or by average amount consumed) has a large effect on which foods are determined to be more expensive.
SSSM-285, May 15, 2012
Projected U.S. sugar supply for fiscal year (FY) 2013 is down 2.4 percent from FY 2012, as lower imports more than offset higher production and beginning stocks. Higher beet sugar production reflects higher area and trend yields, while cane sugar production is nearly unchanged from a year earlier. ...
WHS-12e, May 14, 2012
The 2012/13 outlook for U.S. wheat is for larger supplies and use, but lower prices. All wheat production is projected at 2,245 million bushels, up 12 percent from last year’s weather-reduced crop and the highest since 2008/09.
FDS-12e, May 14, 2012
As of May 6, 71 percent of the U.S. corn crop had been planted, compared with an
average of 47 percent in 2007-11 and 32 percent in 2011/12. As of the same date, 32
percent of the expected crop had emerged, compared with an average of 13 percent in
2007-11 and 6 percent last year. Early planting boo...
RCS-12e, May 11, 2012
The total supplies of U.S. rice in 2012/13 are projected at 239.0 million hundred weight (cwt), a decline of 6 percent from a year earlier and the smallest since 2000/01. A big decline in carryin and a slightly smaller crop are projected to more than offset higher imports.
SSSM-270, May 08, 2012
The two primary determinants of U.S. sugar supply and use over the long-term projection period are the sugar and
energy provisions of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Act) and reliance on sugar
imports from Mexico to maintain a balance in the U.S. sugar market.
EIB-95, April 18, 2012
ERS examined recent reductions in the trans fat content of new food products, the use and market success of “no trans fats” package claims, and whether manufacturers are substituting healthful ingredients for trans fats.
SSSM-284, April 16, 2012
On March 30, 2012, the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) published Prospective Plantings, with forecasts included for planted-area intentions for the 2012/13 U.S. sugarbeet crop. Planted area is forecast at 1.241 million acres. While this amount is less than a percentage point above la...
LPDM-214, April 16, 2012
While prospects for pastures and a corn crop have improved over
conditions in 2011, events have combined with high retail beef prices to pressure cattle
and wholesale beef prices lower.
WHS-12d, April 12, 2012
USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), in its March 31 Prospective Plantings, reported that all-wheat planted area for 2012 is forecast at 55.9 million acres, up 3 percent from the 2011 all-wheat planted area.
FDS-12d, April 12, 2012
The U.S. feed grain balance sheet is unchanged from last month. The quarterly Stocks
Report confirmed continued tight feed grain supplies as of March 1. The Prospective
Plantings report pegged 2012 intended plantings of corn at 95.9 million acres, an
increase of 3.9 million acres from 2011.
CWS-12b, April 12, 2012
The latest U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) cotton forecast for 2011/12 projects global cotton consumption to decrease for the second consecutive season. With recent high cotton prices that encouraged fiber substitution and the global economic uncertainty facing consumers, world mill use is pr...
RCS-12d, April 11, 2012
The first survey-based indication of 2012/13 U.S. rice plantings peg area at 2.56 million acres, down 5 percent from a year earlier and the smallest since 1987/88. Medium-grain accounts for all of the indicated decline. Growers indicated smaller plantings in all reported States except Louisiana and ...
OCS-12d, April 11, 2012
USDA’s Prospective Plantings report in March indicated that U.S. farmers intend to reduce the acreage sown to soybeans this year by 1.4 percent to 73.9 million acres as expected returns for corn were more attractive. Also, growers intend this spring to increase U.S. sunflowerseed acreage by 17 perce...
ERR-132, April 09, 2012
ERS calculated the anti-poverty effects of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP – formerly called Food Stamps) using three measures: prevalence, depth, and severity of poverty.
Get Report Summary and blog posting
VGS-349, March 30, 2012
Fresh-market vegetable supplies remain strong, pushing prices lower for most crops.
Market impacts from an early-year freeze in parts of Florida were minimal as production
was still largely in southern parts of the State. In 2011 (the first year of data availability)
organic fresh vegetable exports ...
FTS-351, March 30, 2012
USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its March citrus production forecast for marketing year 2011/12 on March 9. Total U.S. citrus production is forecast at 11.6 million tons, down less than 1 percent from 2010/11 and less than 1 percent below the initial October citrus fo...
EIB-93, March 19, 2012
ERS reports trends in USDA’s food and nutrition assistance programs through fiscal 2011. Federal expenditures for these programs totaled $103.3 billion in fiscal 2011, 8 percent above the previous fiscal year.
LDPM-213, March 15, 2012
Beef cow slaughter may be declining, and heifer retention to replace cows
may be in early stages. Cattle feeding margins are improving for the short term, but
packers are likely still seeing red. Retail prices may also be encountering some
consumer resistance.
SSSM-283, March 14, 2012
Based on revised analysis of data from the Comite Nacional Para El Desarrollo Sustentable de la Cana de Azucar (CNDSCA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) made corrections to its Mexico 2010/11 sugar supply and sweetener use from last month. Sugar for human consumption is estimated at 3.950 ...
ERR-131, March 14, 2012
No wealth creation strategy will work in all contexts. Rural communities able to identify strategies best suited to their existing wealth endowments and local priorities are likely in the best position to create wealth.
EIB-94, March 14, 2012
If direct payment programs, which are now subject to environmental compliance, are reduced or eliminated, what would be some impacts of applying environmental compliance provisions to crop insurance?
WHS-12c, March 13, 2012
U.S. wheat ending stocks for 2011/12 are projected 20 million bushels lower this month as lower food use is more than offset by higher exports.
FDS-12c, March 13, 2012
World 2011/12 coarse grain production and use are projected higher this month, but the increase in consumption is larger, trimming prospects for ending stocks. Brazil’s corn production and exports are increased based on higher area for second-crop corn.
Forecast EU corn feed use is increased, offset...
RCS-12c, March 12, 2012
This month, USDA made several small revisions to the U.S. 2011/12 rice balance sheet. On the supply side, total imports were raised 1.0 million hundredweight (cwt) to 20.0 million cwt, up 5 percent from a year earlier and the first year-to-year increase since 2007/08.
OCS-12c, March 12, 2012
Based on shrinking prospects for South American crops, USDA’s forecast of the 2011/12-average soybean price received by U.S. farmers fell to $11.40-$12.60 per bushel from $11.10-$12.30 last month. Similarly, USDA raised its forecast of the season-average price for soybean meal to $310-$340 per short...
CWS-12a, March 12, 2012
U.S. net textile and apparel fiber imports decreased in calendar year 2011 as a result of the sluggish U.S. economy. Total fiber product imports reached 17.2 billion raw-fiber-equivalent pounds in 2011, 7 percent below 2010 and the second lowest since 2004. Meanwhile, fiber product exports rose fo...
Amber Waves, March 01, 2012
Declining and persistently weak economic conditions have played a major role in the SNAP's growth over the past decade, as have policy changes to SNAP that improved accessibility, expanded eligibility, and raised benefit levels.
Amber Waves, March 01, 2012
The ACRE program relies on State- and farm-level revenue payment triggers to provide producers with an alternative to price-based and direct payment commodity programs. Switching from a State-level trigger to one closer to the farm level would generally increase expected payments, but the impact wou...
Amber Waves, March 01, 2012
Because farm program designs and purposes vary, producers may participate in, and receive benefits from, multiple programs on the same farm, increasing the potential for overlap.
Amber Waves, March 01, 2012
As agricultural production has shifted to farms with larger sales, so, too, has the distribution of commodity-related program payments. Unless the design of commodity programs changes substantially, current payment trends are likely to continue.
Amber Waves, March 01, 2012
Growth in per capita income averaged about $600 higher in DRA-funded nonmetro counties in 2002-07 than in similarly distressed counties outside the region, mainly due to increased health and social services sector earnings and increased medical transfer payments.
AES-73, February 23, 2012
Fiscal 2012 agricultural exports are forecast at $131 billion, down $1 billion from the November forecast and $6.4 billion below fiscal 2011. Compared to last year, grain and feed exports are forecast down $3.9 billion with wheat, corn, rice, and feeds all lowered, due to competition especially from...
EIB-92, February 22, 2012
In the last few years, U.S. farmland values have been supported by strong farm earnings, helping the farm sector withstand the residential housing downturn. Regarding ownership, non-operating landowners play a significant role.
LDPM-212, February 15, 2012
Increased replacement-heifer inventories may not be sufficient for cow
herd expansion in the face of the large numbers of cows being slaughtered. La Niña
remains in place and could adversely affect any expansion plans. Continued negative
profit margins for cattle feeders and meat packers, along with...
SSSM-282, February 14, 2012
The Comite Nacional Para El Desarrollo Sustentable de la Cana de Azucar (CNDSCA)
in Mexico recently published revised supply and use data for 2010/11 and the Secretariat
of the Economy (Economia) released full marketing year data for sugar exports and
imports. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (...
EB-18, February 14, 2012
Markets for farm-based environmental services are designed to allow farmers to sell “credits” for environmental improvements in water quality, carbon sequestration, wetlands restoration, and other areas. These markets use an environmental baseline to help determine whether proposed improvements qual...
WHS-12b, February 13, 2012
U. S. wheat ending stocks for 2011/12 are projected lower this month. Exports are raised 25 million bushels supported by the stronger-than-expected pace of sales and shipments, particularly for competitively priced feed-quality wheat.
OCE-121, February 13, 2012
This report provides longrun (10-year) projections for the agricultural sector through 2021. Projections cover agricultural commodities, agricultural trade, and aggregate indicators of the sector, such as farm income and food prices.
FDS-12b, February 13, 2012
U.S. 2011/12 corn exports are increased 50 million bushels this month to 1.7 billion as
lower production prospects in Argentina reduce competition in global markets. U.S.
corn supplies are projected up slightly due to increased imports, but the larger increase in
exports leaves ending stocks down. G...
RCS-12b, February 10, 2012
There were no U.S. supply-side revisions this month. The total 2011/12 U.S. rice supply remains forecast at 252.5 million cwt, 15 percent below the year-earlier record. The U.S.
rice crop remains estimated at 185.0 million cwt, down 24 percent from the year-earlier
record. Beginning stocks of all-...
OCS-12b, February 10, 2012
Despite a dimmer outlook for South American soybean production, U.S. exports for
2011/12 are expected to be unchanged at 1.275 billion bushels as an anticipated
upswing in sales may only narrow a large gap with last year’s pace of shipments.
Domestic processing margins for soybeans have not apprecia...
LDPM-21101, February 07, 2012
ERS analyzes factors contributing to volatility in China’s pork market, including policy, disease, environment, food safety, and production cost issues, all of which influence China’s demand for imported pork.
EIB-91, February 06, 2012
A long-term shift in production toward larger farms has affected the distribution of commodity-related Federal program payments and Federal crop insurance, with the share of payments going to larger farms increasing.
LDPM-211, January 19, 2012
Beef/Cattle: Recent rains have provided some relief in the drought-affected Southern
United States, but La Niña is expected to continue her influence into 2012. Despite the
drought-induced sell-off of cattle in the South and record-high feed prices, prices for all
cattle have held up well in 2011. H...
SSSM-281, January 18, 2012
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) projects 2011/12 sugar production in
Mexico at 5.000 million metric tons (mt), a decrease of 330,000 mt from last month’s
projection. The forecast is based on lower than expected harvest progress through
January 7, 2012 and consequent implications for the...
WHS-12a, January 17, 2012
U.S. wheat ending stocks for 2011/12 are projected slightly lower this month as
reductions in expected domestic use mostly offset higher projected exports. Food use is
projected 5 million bushels lower based on flour production data recently reported by the
North American Millers’ Association for Ju...
FDS-12a, January 17, 2012
The National Agricultural Statistics Service's Crop Production 2011 Summary and
January Grain Stocks reports revealed larger than expected corn supplies this month.
Feed grain production for 2011/12 is estimated at 323.5 million tons, up 0.4 million from
last month as higher estimated corn productio...
RCS-12a, January 13, 2012
This month, the 2011/12 U.S. rice crop estimate was lowered 3.1 million cwt to 185.0 million cwt, down 24 percent from the year-earlier record and the smallest U.S. rice crop since 1998/99. Production estimates were lowered for both long-grain and combined
medium- and short-grain rice.
OCS-12a, January 13, 2012
The final estimate of the 2011 U.S. soybean crop was 3.056 billion bushels based on a
harvested acreage of 73.6 million acres and an average yield of 41.5 bushels per acre.
USDA lowered its 2011/12 forecast of soybean exports by 25 million bushels this
month to 1.275 billion while soybean crushing i...
TB-1932, January 05, 2012
This research evaluates the econometric approaches employed by USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) to contribute to the dairy sector forecasts published in the monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report. To generate the estimates, a quarterly model of the U.S. dairy ind...
WHS-11L-01, January 04, 2012
Given expected increases in demand, imports are likely to grow in coming years even if Afghanistan’s rapid post-1990 production growth is sustained, suggesting growing dependence on supplies from Pakistan and other countries.
ERR-130, December 30, 2011
ERS quantifies investment trends by for-profit companies in food manufacturing, biofuels, and agricultural input R&D; and explores how the trends are affected by changes in industry structure.
EIB-90, December 30, 2011
Meeting growing global demand for food, fiber, and biofuel requires robust investment in agricultural research and development (R&D;) from both public and private sectors. This report highlights the major findings of a study examining global R&D; spending by private industry in seven agricultural inpu...
ERR-129, December 29, 2011
ERS analyzes the relationship between private label (store brand) and national brand product prices and promotions for two major U.S. grocery store chains during the 2007-09 recession and the year following the recession.
EIB-89, December 19, 2011
ERS complies the only accounting of all major uses of public and private land in the United States. The report compares national and regional trends in land use with earlier estimates.
LDPM-210, December 15, 2011
Disproportionally large cow slaughter has kept average dressed weights
lower during most of 2011 than if steers had constituted half or more of beef slaughter, as they typically do. Packer margins and high feed and feeder cattle prices are exerting downward pressure on fed cattle prices.
AIS-91, December 14, 2011
Net farm income is forecast at $100.9 billion in 2011, up 28 percent from 2010 and 50 percent higher than the 10-year average of $67.4 billion for 2001-2010. Net cash income at $109.8 billion would be a nominal record, 19 percent above the prior record attained in 2010. Net value added is expected t...
WHS-11lt, December 13, 2011
U.S. wheat ending stocks for 2011/12 are projected 50 million bushels higher with reduced prospects for exports this month. Exports are lowered 50 million bushels with reductions projected for hard red winter, soft red winter, and white wheat.
RCS-11L, December 12, 2011
There were no revisions this month to the U.S. supply and use balance sheet. Total
supplies U.S. rice remain forecast at 255.5 million cwt, 14 percent below the year-earlier
record. The 2011/12 crop remains forecast at 188.1 million cwt, down almost 23
percent from the year-earlier record.
OCS-11l, December 12, 2011
Based on higher competition and uniformly disappointing sales, USDA lowered its 2011/12 forecast of U.S. soybean exports by 25 million bushels this month to 1.3 billion.
Amber Waves, December 09, 2011
The NAFTA governments are seeking more open trading relationships with non-NAFTA countries, such as China, Colombia, Panama, Japan, and South Korea, as well as increased commerce within the North American free-trade area.
EIB-88, December 02, 2011
Using survey and census data, ERS examines how changes in farm input use, business arrangements, structure, and production practices since the 1980s combined to expand output without increasing the total use of inputs.
Amber Waves, December 01, 2011
Brazil's ethanol industry has been aided by increased capacity to produce sugarcane as an ethanol feedstock, supportive government policies, and efficiency improvements. Other factors, however, may affect its ability to fill growing world demand for ethanol.
Amber Waves, December 01, 2011
Changing production practices, including adoption of labor-saving innovations, have contributed to and been affected by increases in both agricultural productivity and the concentration of production.
Amber Waves, December 01, 2011
ERS research conducted over the past two decades provides a number of lessons that can help identify efficient and effective means of implementing the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2010.
Amber Waves, December 01, 2011
Local food marketing channels vary with farm size, with smaller farms dominating direct-to-consumer sales and larger farms dominating sales through grocers and other intermediaries.
EIB-87, November 22, 2011
ERS offers a conceptual framework for identifying overlap in farm safety net programs, including how to define and measure overlap. The study also suggests a direction for further analysis.
LDPM-209-01, November 21, 2011
The report describes the many uses for animal byproducts—both inedible and edible—and estimates the volume of production of beef and pork variety meats in the United States in addition to the proportion of value added to the live animal from the byproducts. The value added to U.S. meat trade and the...
LDPM-209, November 16, 2011
Beef/Cattle: Drought continues to dominate non-fed slaughter, despite recent rains that provided temporary relief and promoted emergence of winter wheat in the Southern
Plains.
EIB-86, November 09, 2011
ERS presents an overview of Americans' eating and other food-related time-use patterns, including grocery shopping, meal preparation, and teenagers' time-use patterns in relation to school meals.
BIO-03, November 08, 2011
This report provides an overview of how the Renewable Identification Number (RIN) market works to ensure compliance with the Renewable Fuel Standard provision of the Energy Independence and Security Act, as well as how RIN prices are determined and which factors influence their prices.
ERR-128, November 04, 2011
ERS explores farmers’ use of both direct-to-consumer marketing (such as farmers markets) and intermediated channels (such as grocers and restaurants) to sell food to consumers in their local areas.
LDPM-208, October 18, 2011
Drought-induced cow-herd liquidation has reduced average dressed weights and resulted in relatively more ground products but fewer middle cuts. Wheat pasture could be priced at a premium this winter. Cattle feeding margins remain negative despite higher fed cattle prices.
FDS-11I01, October 13, 2011
Corn-based dry-mill ethanol production and its coproducts – notably distillers' dried grains with soluble (DDGS) – have surged in recent years. The report estimates the potential substitution of DDGS for corn and soybean meal in livestock feeding and the impact of substitution upon the U.S. feed com...
CWS-11h, October 13, 2011
The latest U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) cotton projections for 2011/12 indicate that the gap between foreign consumption and production is projected to decrease significantly this season and fall below 5 million bales for the first time since
2004/05 (fig. 1).
EIB-84, October 12, 2011
ERS examines the effect of the 2008 Farm Act provision eliminating direct and countercyclical payments and average crop revenue election payments to farms with 10 or fewer base acres.
EIB-82, October 03, 2011
ERS documents the extent of food safety audits in meat and poultry processing plants and examines the association between the use of audits and the plants’ size, business structure, and application of food safety technology
EIB-85, September 26, 2011
As incomes rise in China, consumers are demanding greater quality, convenience, and safety in food. Recent changes in China’s food market landscape warrant a new assessment of its food demand.
EIB-83, September 23, 2011
ERS finds that there is a heightened realism among Americans about their own diets, and examines how perceptions of diet quality vary with food expenditures, household food availability, and eating patterns.
ERR-127, September 22, 2011
Nitrogen is an important agricultural input that is critical for crop production. However, the introduction of large amounts of nitrogen into the environment has a number of undesirable impacts on water, terrestrial, and atmospheric resources. This report explores the use of nitrogen in U.S. agricul...
LDPM--207, September 16, 2011
Beef/Cattle: Drought conditions continue to result in Southern cows going to slaughter
and Southern calves going to feedlots. Also resulting from the drought, corn, and hay
prices are increasing as cow and fed cattle prices slip. Despite deteriorating feed-fed
cattle price relationships, feeder catt...
SSSM-277, September 15, 2011
On September 12, 2011, the USDA released its latest U.S. and Mexico sugar supply and use estimates for fiscal year (FY) 2011 and projections for FY 2012 in the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report. For FY 2011, the USDA increased its estimate of tariff-rate quota (TRQ) short...
ERR-126, September 15, 2011
The Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) program bases commodity support on aggregate State-level and individual farm-level revenue variability. ERS examines expected effects if the trigger were changed to a national, Crop Reporting District, or county level.
EIB-81, September 14, 2011
In the past decade, hog production has increasingly become consolidated, with larger operations producing a greater volume of hog manure on smaller areas. With less cropland for spreading the manure, hog farmers may be compensating through more effective manure management. The authors use data from ...
ERR-125, September 07, 2011
An estimated 85.5 percent of American households were food secure throughout the entire year in 2010, meaning that they had access at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members. The remaining households (14.5 percent) were food insecure at least some time during t...
AP-057, September 07, 2011
This Supplement provides statistics that complement those in the Economic Research Report Household Food Security in the United States in 2010 (ERR-125). The Research Report provides the primary national statistics on household food security, food spending, and use of Federal food and nutrition assi...
Amber Waves, September 01, 2011
In exchange for exclusive sales arrangements, manufacturers provide large rebates to States for formula purchased through the program. Winning a WIC contract significantly increases a manufacturer's market share.
Amber Waves, September 01, 2011
Federal farm programs, crop prices, and new technology may encourage farmers to extend crop production into native grasslands. A recent ERS study found that farm programs had a minor effect on conversions of grasslands to crop production.
Amber Waves, September 01, 2011
Agriculture is the single largest source of nitrogen compounds that can help or harm ecosystems. A range of policy instruments could be used to address different facets of nitrogen management and specific environmental problems.
Amber Waves, September 01, 2011
Afghanistan is particularly vulnerable to food and fuel price shocks, which, in 2007/08, led to an increase in household food insecurity.
Amber Waves, September 01, 2011
Food prices jumped in 2010-11, the second price spike within 3 years. Longer term financial, agricultural, and demographic trends, exacerbated by short-term production shortfalls, set up conditions for the increases.
Amber Waves, September 01, 2011
Faced with falling incomes and economic uncertainty, many Americans economized on their food purchases during the 2007-09 recession, particularly on food away from home.
VGS-346, August 25, 2011
The farm value of all mushroom (Agaricus and others) sales during the 2010/11 crop
year (July-June) reached a new high of $1 billion, up 8 percent from a year earlier. Partly
reflecting modest gains in the economy, mushroom sales volume rose 9 percent to 862
million pounds, the second highest level ...
EIB-80, August 24, 2011
The adoption of precision agriculture, which encompasses a suite of farm-level information technologies, can improve the efficiency of input use and reduce environmental harm from the overapplication of inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides. Still, the adoption of precision agricultural technolo...
LDPM-206-01, August 22, 2011
This report characterizes Mexican feeder-calf and fed cattle production systems in the context of the imports of Mexican feeder cattle into the United States. The increase in cattle feeding in Mexico will increasingly affect U.S. feeder cattle imports and U.S. beef exports to Mexico in ambiguous way...
ERR-124, August 18, 2011
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is the major purchaser of infant formula in the United States. To reduce cost to the WIC program, each State awards a sole-source contract to a formula manufacturer to provide its product to WIC participants in the Sta...
ERR-123, August 18, 2011
ERS looks at direct and indirect impacts of higher energy prices on the agricultural and rural sectors, with scenarios developed for specific energy price changes.
EIB-79, August 18, 2011
ERS examines how the farm sector reacted to increased demand for corn needed to fuel a 9-billion-gallon rise in ethanol production in the past decade. In the United States, corn is the primary ethanol feedstock.
SSSM-276, August 16, 2011
The FY 2012 TRQ for raw cane sugar is set at 1,231,497 short tons, raw value (STRV), or 1,117,195 metric tons, raw value (MTRV), the minimum to which the United States is committed under the World Trade Organization (WTO) Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture.
FTS-348, July 29, 2011
The index of prices received by fruit and tree nut growers in June, at 157 (1990-92=100), rose 9 percent from the May index and increased 18 percent above the June 2010 index. Year-to-year price increases in June for process grapefruit and fresh-market apples, grapes, peaches, pears, and strawberrie...
FTS-347-01, July 25, 2011
This report uses data from USDA’s 2007 Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) and other sources to examine trends in the U.S. apple sector and compare production and marketing characteristics under organic and conventional farming systems.
EB-17, July 25, 2011
By 2050, global agricultural demand is projected to grow by 70-100 percent due to population growth, energy demands, and higher incomes in developing countries. Meeting this demand from existing agricultural resources will require raising global agricultural total factor productivity (TFP) by a simi...
GFA-22, July 15, 2011
ERS assesses the food security situation in 77 developing countries, including estimates for 2011 and projections for the next decade. The report is the latest in an annual series.
ERR-122, July 12, 2011
Modern grocery retailing has been expanding rapidly in developing countries, with implications for food demand, farmers’ income, and trade.
ERR-121, July 12, 2011
Using a nationally representative household survey from Afghanistan, ERS analyzes the impact of increases in wheat flour prices before and during the 2007/08 global food price crisis.
ERR-120, June 30, 2011
ERS examined how quickly landowners were converting grasslands to cropland in the Northern Plains and the role of crop insurance and other farm programs in their decisions.
ERR-118, June 30, 2011
ERS estimates the effect of prices of various foods on children’s Body Mass Index (BMI), using price variation across time and geographic areas.
WRS-1103, June 28, 2011
The report describes the factors that have contributed to the large and rapid increase in agricultural prices during the past year. The report focuses particularly on food commodity prices—which have risen 60 percent since June 2010.
EIB-78, June 27, 2011
Although healthy foods can be affordable, individuals may have an economic incentive to consume a less healthful diet if less healthy foods are relatively cheaper. ERS examines whether healthy foods generally cost more than less healthy options and whether price differences vary across the country....
BIO-02, June 27, 2011
This report profiles and analyzes Brazil’s ethanol industry, providing information on the policy environment that enabled the development of feedstock and processing sectors, and discusses the various opportunities and challenges to face the industry over the next decade.
ERR-119, June 23, 2011
The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) began funding rural development projects in economically distressed counties in the Mississippi River Delta region in 2002. To assess the initial economic outcomes of DRA funding, we compared nonmetropolitan DRA counties with similar counties elsewhere in the same...
CWS-11d-01, June 17, 2011
This report identifies the factors contributing to the cycles in Brazil’s cotton production and exports that have made the country both an important market for U.S. cotton exports and now a competitor with U.S. cotton producers since 1990.
Amber Waves, June 16, 2011
Irradiation is an alternative treatment for foodborne pests on imported fruit and vegetables, but it requires labeling and large investments in facilities and some consumers remain wary of the process.
Amber Waves, June 16, 2011
Increased use of the tax code for policy goals has boosted incomes of rural taxpayers, who tend to have lower incomes and higher poverty than urban taxpayers.
Amber Waves, June 16, 2011
Though standard economic approaches may be difficult to apply to evaluations of some benefits of public investments in agricultural research, economic reasoning can provide qualitative analysis even when benefits are difficult to quantify.
Amber Waves, June 16, 2011
Findings show FTAs increased trade among member countries, suggesting the large number of FTAs that do not include the U.S. may be eroding the U.S. presence in foreign markets.
SSSM-274, June 14, 2011
On May 19, 2011, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the World Production, Supply and Distribution (PSD) for centrifugal sugar. World exports are projected to increase 3.1 million metric tons raw value (MTRV) to 55.7 million MTRV in 2011/12. Significant export growth is expected in Br...
Amber Waves, June 13, 2011
Food spending by low-income households increased and their food security improved as a result of the increase in SNAP benefit levels authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
EIB-77, May 26, 2011
ERS analyzes tobacco producers’ adjustments in production, investment, labor requirements, and contracting practices following elimination of tobacco quotas and tobacco price supports.
GFA-21-01, May 25, 2011
Rising global food commodity prices have again focused attention on agriculture and food security. This report is an update to the July 2010 report, Food Security Assessment, 2010-20; it reviews the impact of high global food commodity prices on food security in 2010 in 70 lower income countries usi...
SSSM-273, May 16, 2011
The Sugar and Sweetener Team of the Economic Research Service (ERS) makes
calendar year estimates of total and per capita sweetener deliveries that are available for food
and beverage consumption by U.S. consumers. U.S. sweetener deliveries for 2010 were 131.9 pounds
per capita, up slightly fro...
AP-056, May 16, 2011
Under the Program of Research on the Economics of Invasive Species Management (PREISM), ERS conducts intramural research and funds extramural research to support the economic basis of decisionmaking concerning invasive species issues, policies, and programs. The report, Program of Research on the Ec...
WRS-1102, May 12, 2011
This report discusses Eurozone sovereign debt problems that began in 2010 and their potential consequences for the European Union (EU) and U.S. agriculture.
EIB-76, May 05, 2011
ERS examines the effects of current Federal tax provisions regarding low- and moderate-income households in rural America, focusing on the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC).
EIB-75, May 04, 2011
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides supplemental foods to low-income women, infants, and children at nutritional risk. Since October 2009, WIC packages have included a fixed-value voucher for purchasing fruits and vegetables. Although this shoul...
ERR-117, May 03, 2011
Over 42 million meals—31.2 million lunches and 11 million breakfasts—were served on a typical school day in fiscal year 2009 to children through USDA’s National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. School food authorities (SFAs) operate local school feeding programs and deliver the meals to t...
LDPM-202-1, April 26, 2011
This report outlines the tendency for fed cattle from the Southern Plains to typically sell at a premium over cattle from the Northern Central Plains, describing the nuances in regional production and marketing practices that underlie the price relationship referred to as “the North-South spread.”
ERR-116, April 26, 2011
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 increased benefit levels for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program) and expanded SNAP eligibility for jobless adults without children. One goal of the program changes was to improve the food se...
RCS-11d-01, April 21, 2011
This report examines how the structure of the U.S. rice industry has evolved over the past two decades, including a reduction in the number of farms, increased average farm size, and the shifting concentration of rice production away from higher-cost production regions. The authors analyze the econo...
ERR-115, April 15, 2011
ERS examines possible impacts of recently implemented free trade agreements (FTAs) where the United States is not a partner, and potential effects of pending U.S. agreements with Korea, Colombia, and Panama.
ERR-113, April 12, 2011
ERS looks at the how reciprocal trade agreements affect trade between member and nonmember countries, as well as among member countries, in the world agricultural marketplace.
SSSM-272, April 01, 2011
LMC International provides estimates of world sugar and high fructose syrup (HFS) costs of production. The data go
back to 1979/80 and extend through 2009/10. Field, factory, and administrative costs are detailed for 35 beet
producing countries and for 61 cane producing countries. HFS production c...
WRS-1101, March 31, 2011
This report is the last in USDA’s series of Congressionally mandated biennial reports on the impacts of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) on U.S. agriculture and the rural economy. The report responds to a mandate in the North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act of 1993.
...
EIB-74, March 31, 2011
Measures of countries’ support to their farm sectors can be highly contested in trade negotiations. ERS presents a framework for analyzing differences between the two key systems (WTO and OECD) used to measure support levels.
EIB-73, March 28, 2011
The beef cow-calf industry is characterized by large numbers of small farms, although large farms account for most of the production. Operators of beef cow-calf farms have varying goals for their cattle enterprises.
EIB-6-8, March 23, 2011
ERS reports trends in USDA’s food and nutrition assistance programs through fiscal 2010. Federal expenditures for these programs totaled $94.8 billion in fiscal 2010, 20 percent above fiscal 2009
TB-1929, March 22, 2011
In a 2003 report, International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns, ERS economists estimated income and price elasticities of demand for broad consumption categories and food categories across 114 countries using 1996 International Comparison Program (ICP) data. This report updates that analysis ...
SSSM-271, March 15, 2011
Analysis of competitiveness in global sugar/sweetener markets is complicated by the fact that markets are generally
characterized by domestic and trade-related policy distortions that make it difficult to discern the underlying
competitive position of individual market participants.
Amber Waves, March 14, 2011
Currently, methane digesters’ costs often exceed their benefits to livestock producers, but higher prices in voluntary, regional, or national carbon markets could make them profitable for many operations.
Amber Waves, March 14, 2011
According to USDA long-term projections, continued income growth will make developing countries the main source of the projected increases in global food demand and trade.
Amber Waves, March 14, 2011
A 2010 Federal law will require U.S. chain restaurants to display calorie information on their menus and menu boards. Will consumers use this information to make healthier food choices?
ERR-114, February 24, 2011
A new and expanded ERS food dollar series provides a more detailed answer to the question of where our food dollars go (e.g., the farm share and the share among the various supply chain industry groups)
ERR-112, February 24, 2011
The extent to which cost changes pass through a vertically organized production process depends on the value added by each producer in the chain as well as a number of other organizational and marketing factors at each stage of production. Using 36 years of monthly Bureau of Labor Statistics price i...
OCE-111, February 14, 2011
This report provides longrun (10-year) projections for the agricultural sector through 2020. Projections cover agricultural commodities, agricultural trade, and aggregate indicators of the sector, such as farm income and food prices.
EIB-72, February 14, 2011
ERS examines the effects of current Federal tax provisions regarding low- and moderate-income households in rural America, focusing on the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC).
ERR-110, February 11, 2011
This report considers how increased commodity prices might influence enrollment in and benefits from the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) using two complementary models: a likely-to-bid model that uses National Resources Inventory data to simulate offers to the general signup portion of the CRP an...
VGS-342-02, February 10, 2011
This report highlights the anticipated consequences of the 2008 Farm Act’s Planting Transferability Pilot Program (PTPP) on processing (pickling) cucumber plantings. PTPP allows program crop growers in seven Upper Midwestern States to reduce base acres and plant select vegetables for processing on t...
AP-054, February 10, 2011
The House Report 111-181 accompanying H.R. 2997, the 2010 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, requested the USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Economist, to conduct a study of land-use...
ERR-111, February 07, 2011
Methane digesters—biogas recovery systems that use methane from manure to generate electricity—have not been widely adopted in the United States because costs have exceeded benefits to operators. Burning methane in a digester reduces greenhouse gas emissions from manure management. A policy or progr...
EB-16, February 07, 2011
Biogas recovery systems collect methane from manure and burn it to generate electricity or heat. Burning methane reduces its global warming potential, thereby reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Climate change mitigation policies that effectively put a price on GHG emissions could allow livesto...
AP-055, February 04, 2011
The Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program (FANRP) of the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) invites applications to conduct research that focuses on USDA’s domestic food assistance and nutrition programs. The three priority research areas are (1) Food Assistance and the Macroeconomy, (2) ...
VGS-342-01, February 03, 2011
This report presents a financial snapshot of the U.S. vegetable and melon farms by region and farm size over three 3-year periods (1999-2007).
EIB-71, February 01, 2011
ERS used retail scanner data to estimate the average prices of 153 fresh and processed fruits and vegetables. The report includes estimates of the cost of meeting the recommendations of USDA’s recently released 2010 Dietary Guidelines
AP--053, January 28, 2011
This report summarizes ERS's Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program (FANRP) activities and accomplishments in fiscal 2010, including newly awarded projects and recent publications. FANRP supports intramural and extramural research on a wide range of policy-relevant food assistance and nutrit...
SSSM-269, January 18, 2011
In the World Agricultural Demand and Supply Estimates (WASDE) released on January 12,
2011, projected U.S. sugar supply for fiscal year (FY) 2011 is decreased 88,000 short tons,
raw value (STRV) from last month. Cane sugar production in Florida is reduced 100,000
STRV to 1.6 million STRV, based o...
TB-1927, January 03, 2011
The Food Availability (per capita) Data System developed by USDA’s Economic Research Service tracks annual food and nutrient availability for many commodities. The Food Availability data series in this system overstates actual consumption, so ERS has included an additional series, the Loss-Adjusted ...
ERR-109, December 28, 2010
Despite the health benefits of participation, many eligible households do not participate in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). While roughly half of infants born in the United States receive WIC benefits, USDA statistics indicate that eligible pregnan...
FTS-345-01, December 16, 2010
This report provides an overview of performance, advantages, and challenges of the Peruvian fruits and vegetables export industry. Three commodity case studies—asparagus, processed artichokes, and table grapes—highlight different degrees of competition with U.S. industries and impacts on U.S. grower...
AIS-90, December 15, 2010
Net farm income is forecast at $81.6 billion in 2010, up 31 percent from 2009 and 26
percent higher than the 10-year average of $64.8 billion for 2000 to 2009. Net cash
income at $92.5 billion would be a nominal record, 2.3 percent above the prior record
attained in 2008. Net value added is expected...
TB-1928, December 13, 2010
This report examines retail purchase data for 12 dairy products and margarine from the Nielsen 2007 Homescan retail data. Selected demographic and socioeconomic variables included in the Nielsen data are analyzed for their effects on aggregate demand and expenditure elasticities for the selected pro...
EIB-69, December 13, 2010
Contracting is widespread in the organic sector. ERS summarizes survey data on contracting in that sector, addressing the extent of contracting, the rationale for using contracts, and contract design for select commodities.
FDS-10k-01, December 09, 2010
Growth in corn dry-mill ethanol production has surged in the past several years, simultaneously creating a coproduct—distillers’ grains (DDGS). Many in the U.S. feed industry were concerned about the size of this new feed source and whether it could be used entirely by the feed industry, but they al...
AP--052, December 09, 2010
The Economic Research Service conducts research to estimate the market effects of climate change and adaptation in the agricultural sector and to assess the implications of alternative climate and energy policies. A fact sheet outlines the agency’s program of work.
Amber Waves, December 01, 2010
Nearly half of the Nation’s nonmetropolitan counties lost population through net outmigration between 1988 and 2008, but the underlying causes and potential policy solutions vary widely.
Amber Waves, December 01, 2010
“Thin” markets such as the global rice trade, where only a small share of global production is traded, may exhibit price volatility and large annual variations in trade levels.
Amber Waves, December 01, 2010
Reduction in the supply of workers that could make agricultural labor more expensive for the U.S. fruit and vegetable industry may impact industry competitiveness, but the effects would vary by commodity.
Amber Waves, December 01, 2010
Local foods are reaching consumers through an expanding array of supply chain arrangements and marketing outlets. They may be sold in supermarkets; small specialty stores or regional chains; restaurants, schools, or hospitals; or a variety of direct-to-consumer outlets.
Amber Waves, December 01, 2010
Local foods remain a small portion of U.S. agriculture. But as interest in local food systems has increased, so has the desire to understand how local food markets affect farmers, consumers, and communities
VGS-341-01, December 01, 2010
This report examines the significance of dry bean trade to the member countries of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), provides a detailed understanding of supply, demand, and policy in the U.S. and Mexican dry bean sectors, and considers the outlook for these industries.
AP-051, November 24, 2010
This report summarizes research findings from the Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Innovation and Development Grants in Economics Program (RIDGE), formerly known as the Small Grants Program. The Economic Research Service created the program in 1998 to stimulate new and innovative research on f...
LDPM-196-01, November 18, 2010
This report characterizes Mexican beef cow-calf production systems in the context of the many issues affecting Mexican beef and cattle markets, including geo-climatic factors, disease and pest challenges, patterns of landownership, changes in export regions, and changes in domestic consumption as th...
ERR-107, November 12, 2010
Over a third of U.S. nonmetropolitan counties lost at least 10 percent of their population through net outmigration during the past two decades. ERS compares characteristics of such counties with other nonmetro counties.
ERR-106, November 12, 2010
Over a third of U.S. nonmetropolitan counties lost at least 10 percent of their population through net outmigration during the past two decades. ERS compares characteristics of such counties with other nonmetro counties.
ERR-108, November 10, 2010
The percentage of U.S. households that were food insecure in 2009 was 14.7 percent. Though that level is essentially unchanged from 2008, the levels in both years are the highest recorded since monitoring began in 1995
AP-050, November 10, 2010
The Senate Report 111-039 accompanying S. 1406, the 2010 Agriculture Appropriations Bill, requested that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS) prepare and publish a report regarding consumer perceptions of canned fruits and vegetables. In the absence of consumer...
AIS-89, November 10, 2010
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act makes significant changes to Federal regulation of the U.S. over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives market, with the goals of improving market transparency and reducing systemic default risk. This article reviews some important features of the...
EIB-70, November 02, 2010
ERS summarizes U.S. trends in the use of reduced-tillage practices on cropland planted to eight major crops--barley, corn, cotton, oats, rice, sorghum, soybeans, and wheat -- from 2000 to 2007, and provides estimates of acreage under no-till in 2009.
ERR-105, October 22, 2010
ERS compares prices for a wide range of foods in traditional retail food stores and nontraditional discount stores. Findings show nontraditional retailers offer lower prices than traditional stores, even controlling for brand and package size.
ERR-102, October 21, 2010
ERS examines economic effects of increased biofuels in transportation fuels, called for in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Effects are measured by gross domestic product, household income, price of energy fuels, and agricultural output and trade.
FTS-344-01, October 04, 2010
This report analyzes the remarkable growth in China’s apple juice concentrate exports since the 1990s and the factors behind the growth. The industry is a prime example of how capital investment and government policies bring China’s labor-intensive agricultural products into the world market in the ...
ERR-104, October 04, 2010
Compared with meals and snacks prepared at home, food prepared away from home increases caloric intake of children, especially older children. Among older children, food away from home also lowers their daily diet quality.
ERR-103, October 01, 2010
USDA’s Economic Research Service uses the Food Assistance National Input-Output Multiplier (FANIOM) model to represent and measure linkages between USDA’s domestic food assistance programs, agriculture, and the U.S. economy. This report describes the data sources and the underlying assumptions and s...
ERR-101, September 17, 2010
ERS analyzes the distribution, by crop and region, of potential farm payments and risk reduction in the revenue-based Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) program. The report focuses on corn, soybeans, wheat, and cotton.
EIB-68, September 13, 2010
Rural America At A Glance, 2010 Edition highlights the most recent indicators of social and economic conditions in rural areas for use in developing policies and programs to assist rural areas. The 2010 edition focuses on the U.S. rural economy, including employment trends, poverty, and demographics...
EB-15, September 07, 2010
Agriculture could play a prominent role in U.S. efforts to address climate change if farms and ranches undertake activities that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or take greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere. These activities may include shifting to conservation tillage, reducing the amount of...
Amber Waves, September 01, 2010
The rate of growth in global agricultural productivity has accelerated in recent decades and accounts for an increasing share of expanding agricultural production.
Amber Waves, September 01, 2010
The continuing shift in production away from small commercial farms to larger farms is driven by financial pressures and aging operators.
Amber Waves, September 01, 2010
Rising production costs and growing ethanol use in Brazil, combined with policy-induced production swings among Asian countries, are the main sources of higher and more volatile world sugar prices.
Amber Waves, September 01, 2010
ERS researchers found that a 20-percent tax on caloric sweetened beverages could reduce consumption, calorie intake, and body weight even after accounting for increased consumption of alternative beverages.
Amber Waves, September 01, 2010
Global food security improved between 2009 and 2010, as the effects of food price spikes and the global economic downturn moderated, but projections point to deteriorating food security over the next 10 years, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Amber Waves, September 01, 2010
Population growth, higher per capita food expenditures, and greater reliance on energy-using technologies boosted food-related energy consumption in 1997 to 2002.
...
LDPM-194-01, August 30, 2010
This report provides a broad overview of the beef market in Japan, including consumer’s preferences, domestic production practices, domestic and trade policies, and market outlook.
WHS-10H01, August 25, 2010
This report provides the results of ERS research on the economic consequences of ending the USDA Karnal bunt certification program for U.S. exports to countries that ban import of wheat from countries known to have the disease. USDA currently issues certificates that U.S. wheat shipments are from ar...
LDPM-193-01, August 12, 2010
Cheese production and markets have emerged as important elements of the dairy industry over the past three decades. Supply-and-use analysis shows an upward trend in total cheese consumption over the past three decades. Nielsen 2005 retail Homescan data were used to analyze cheese consumption by loca...
EIB-67, July 26, 2010
ERS provides comprehensive information including number and size of U.S. farms, characteristics of operators, finances of farm businesses and households, and geographic distribution of farms.
EIB-66, July 26, 2010
Most U.S. farms—98 percent in 2007—are family operations, and even the largest farms are predominantly family run. Large-scale family farms and nonfamily farms account for 12 percent of U.S farms but 84 percent of the value of production. In contrast, small family farms make up most of the U.S. farm...
GFA-21, July 08, 2010
Food security in 70 developing countries is estimated to have improved between 2009 and 2010, due in part to economic recovery in many of these countries. Over the next decade, the overall number of food-insecure people is projected to decline slightly.
ERR-100, July 02, 2010
ERS analyzes the effects of a hypothetical tax on caloric sweetened sodas, fruit drinks, sports and energy drinks, and powdered mixes. What choices would consumers make, and what would it mean for their calorie intake?
ERR-99, June 21, 2010
A series of coordinated case studies compares the structure, size, and performance of local food supply chains with those of mainstream supply chains in delivering locally produced food to consumers.
ERR-98, June 11, 2010
The 2002 and 2008 Farm Acts increased funding for conservation programs that provide financial assistance to farmers to implement conservation practices on working farmland. Along with seeking cost-effective environmental benefits, these programs have a goal of spreading conservation funding equitab...
ERR-96, June 03, 2010
ERS compares the potential effectiveness of coupons versus price discounts in encouraging fruit and vegetable consumption among participants in Federal food and nutrition assistance programs.
Amber Waves, June 01, 2010
Organic agriculture has established a foothold in many U.S. farm sectors, but the overall use of organic practices lags behind that of many other countries. Emerging issues in the sector include dampened consumer demand resulting from the weaker economy and competition from new labels like the “loca...
Amber Waves, June 01, 2010
Reductions in maximum CRP acres mandated by the 2008 Farm Act, along with relatively high agricultural commodity prices, could lead to reduced overall environmental benefits and higher program costs. Alternative enrollment policies and practices could increase benefits per enrolled acre and lower pr...
Amber Waves, June 01, 2010
The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 mandates a tripling in U.S. biofuel use to 36 billion gallons by 2022. Achieving this goal will depend on rapid expansion in cellulosic biofuels, and U.S. agriculture, as a leading source of the Nation’s biomass, will play a significant role in this e...
Amber Waves, June 01, 2010
The next decade is likely to see a major shift in global wheat production and trade. USDA projects that wheat exports by Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan will increase by 50 percent by 2019, and the region could lead the world in wheat exports by the end of the period.
WRS-10-01, May 17, 2010
This report evaluates the impact of Indonesia’s transition from a food-first focus to an export-oriented development strategy on its agricultural production, productivity growth, consumer food demand, and lifestyle. Shifting production and consumption patterns have led to improving agricultural trad...
ERR-97, May 17, 2010
A series of coordinated case studies compares the structure, size, and performance of local food supply chains with those of mainstream supply chains in delivering locally produced food to consumers.
BIO-01-01, May 14, 2010
This report assesses the short-term outlook for production of next-generation biofuels and the near-term challenges facing the sector. Next-generation U.S. biofuel capacity should reach about 88 million gallons in 2010, thanks in large measure to one plant becoming commercially operational in 2010, ...
ERR-95, May 07, 2010
Evaluation of publicly funded research can help provide accountability and prioritize programs. In addition, Federal intramural research planning generally involves an institutional assessment of the appropriate Federal role, if any, and whether the research should be left to others, such as univers...
AP-048, May 07, 2010
The Economic Research Service (ERS) of USDA is accepting proposals for fiscal year 2010 for economic research in three broad areas related to U.S. agricultural participation in proposed greenhouse gas markets. The research should focus on the economics of agricultural activities and practices, inclu...
WHS-10d01, May 03, 2010
This report analyzes the role imports have played in stabilizing Afghan wheat prices by mitigating the effects of shortfalls in domestic production and assesses whether Afghanistan’s internal wheat markets are sufficiently connected with international markets to cope with volatility in domestic outp...
EIB-65, April 30, 2010
This report uses analysis of the geographic distribution of Federal funding to discuss potential tradeoffs for distressed rural areas when shifting from one form of rural development assistance to another, particularly when shifting to greater use of Government-guaranteed loans. The study also uses...
TB-1926, April 22, 2010
The Quarterly Food-at-Home Price Database (QFAHPD) was developed to provide market-level food prices that can be used to study how prices affect food choices, intake, and health outcomes. This report presents a detailed description of the methodology used to construct the QFAHPD. The database, const...
SSSM-260-01, April 22, 2010
This report describes and analyses the current situation and outlook for supply, demand, and trade of sugar by India, the world’s second largest sugar producer. A decline in sugar production has shifted India from net exporter to net importer during 2009/10, contributing to a runup in global sugar p...
FTS-341-01, April 21, 2010
This report reviews Japanese government programs to support domestic fruit production and how these policies affect fruit consumption in one of the largest markets for U.S. fruits. Production targets and subsidies aim to bolster the supply of domestic fruit, while phytosanitary measures and tariffs ...
AP-047, April 05, 2010
The Eating & Health (EH) Module of the American Time Use Survey (ATUS) collects additional data to analyze relationships among time use patterns and eating patterns, nutrition, and obesity; food and nutrition assistance programs; and grocery shopping and meal preparation. This User’s Guide provides ...
TB-1925, March 19, 2010
This report presents a simple methodology for calculating cross-price elasticities across countries, using the Frisch own-price elasticity. Cross-price elasticities are calculated for 9 major consumption categories from the 1996 International Comparison Program data across 114 countries. The consump...
EIB-6-7, March 19, 2010
This report examines trends in USDA’s food and nutrition assistance programs through fiscal 2009. It also discusses a recent ERS report that examines the prevalence, severity, and characteristics of food insecurity in households with children.
AP-046, March 12, 2010
The Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program (FANRP) of USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS), in collaboration with the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), invites proposals for a competitive grant to establish and fund a center for behavioral economics and child nutrition research. The c...
AP-045, March 12, 2010
The Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program (FANRP) of USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) and the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) announce the availability of funds and a request for applications for planning grants to promote new research in methods to improve children’s eating h...
ERR-94, March 10, 2010
Energy is an important input in growing, processing, packaging, distributing, storing, preparing, serving, and disposing of food. Analysis using the two most recent U.S. benchmark input-output accounts and a national energy data system shows that in the United States, use of energy along the food ch...
Amber Waves, March 01, 2010
The rates of employment loss and unemployment in the recent recession are about the same in metro and nonmetro areas, but based on previous recessions, nonmetro employment may recover more slowly. As in past recessions, manufacturing-dependent nonmetro counties felt the effects of the recessions so...
Amber Waves, March 01, 2010
Consumers responded to the FDA's September 2006 warnings to avoid eating spinach because of possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7. While spinach expenditures fell, consumers turned to other leafy greens as substitutes. The longer term drop in retail expenditures on fresh spinach products was a...
Amber Waves, March 01, 2010
Declining demand for organic products in response to the economic downturn has slowed the rapid growth in organic milk production. Economic forces, primarily lower production costs, may be pushing organic dairies to be more like conventional dairies in terms of size, location, and the types of tech...
Amber Waves, March 01, 2010
A small percentage of U.S. households live in “food deserts,” where access to a supermarket or large grocery store is a problem. Low-income residents of these neighborhoods and those who lack transportation tend to rely more on smaller neighborhood stores that may not carry healthy foods or offer th...
Amber Waves, March 01, 2010
ERS maintains the only time-series data on U.S. food availability in the country. The data help in monitoring the potential for the food supply to meet the nutritional needs of Americans and in examining consumption trends. A look at 100 years of American eating reveals the technological, political...
ERR-92, February 19, 2010
In 1996, the safety net for poor households with children fundamentally changed when Federal legislation replaced Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). This study investigates participation in, and benefits received from, AFDC/TANF and fo...
ERR-93, February 18, 2010
WIC provides participating infants with free infant formula. This study estimated that between 57 and 68 percent of all infant formula sold in the United States was purchased through WIC, based on 2004-06 data, and that formula costs to the WIC program have increased. Typically, WIC State agencies r...
EIB-63, February 18, 2010
ERS documents the changing distribution and character of small farms as ag production becomes more concentrated. Commercially oriented small farms, those accounting for most small-farm production, continue to decline in number in the face of large-farm competition.
ERR-90, February 16, 2010
Consumption data show that for the average adult, meals away from home have an impact on daily caloric intake and diet quality.
ERR-91, February 12, 2010
ERS presents, for the first time, estimates of farm households’ consumption expenditures and compares them to consumption estimates for all U.S. households. Consumption can complement indicators of household income in assessing economic well-being.
AP-044, February 12, 2010
he Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program (FANRP) of the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) announces the availability of funds and a request for applications to conduct research that focuses on USDA’s domestic food assistance and nutrition programs. The three priority research areas are (...
OCE-2010-1, February 11, 2010
This report provides longrun (10-year) projections for the agricultural sector through 2019. Projections cover agricultural commodities, agricultural trade, and aggregate indicators of the sector, such as farm income and food prices.
SSSM-258, February 10, 2010
In the February 2010 World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE), projected fiscal year (FY) 2010 production for Mexico is reduced 200,000 metric tons, raw value (MTRV) from last month based on weather-reduced sugar yields to date. Exports are reduced by the same amount. Projected FY 2010 ...
OCS-10a-01, February 01, 2010
The 2009 foodborne illness outbreak linked to Salmonella in peanut products resulted in one of the largest food safety recalls ever in the United States. The source of the outbreak handled a small share of the U.S. peanut supply, but the scope of the recalls was magnified because the peanut products...
ERR-84, December 29, 2009
ERS applied requirements of the new Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) program to eligible crops from 1996 to 2008 and analyzed whether farmers would have benefited more from ACRE than from the programs available during that time
AIS-88, December 22, 2009
All three measures of U.S. farm income are projected to decline in 2009—net farm income is projected to decline by 34.5 percent, net cash income by 28.4 percent, and net value added by 20 percent. Considerable uncertainty surrounds the forecasts of farm assets, debt, and equity in 2009, given the vo...
AP-043, December 18, 2009
The Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program (FANRP) of the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) announces the availability of funds and a request for applications to conduct research on operational issues of USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly called the Food Stam...
ERR-89, December 17, 2009
ERS examines the performance of India’s agricultural marketing system and analyzes economywide implications of improved marketing efficiency that might stem from future reforms.
FDS-09k-01, December 14, 2009
China’s corn imports are minimal, even though it is using a growing proportion of its corn to produce starch, ethanol, and other industrial products. The corn-processing industry’s growth was encouraged by Chinese government policy, but the industry now has excess capacity. Many of the corn-based in...
AP-041, December 09, 2009
Changes in the American public’s food consumption and purchases in recent decades, together with advances in medical knowledge of dietary effects on health, have heightened awareness of the importance of understanding what people eat and where and why they eat it. Most U.S. consumers have diets that...
EIB-62, December 07, 2009
Beginning, limited-resource, and socially disadvantaged farmers make up as much as 40 percent of all U.S. farms. Some Federal conservation programs contain provisions that encourage participation by such “targeted” farmers and the 2008 Farm Act furthered these efforts. This report compares the natur...
AP-042, December 07, 2009
This report summarizes ERS's Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program (FANRP) activities and accomplishments in fiscal 2009, including newly awarded projects and recent publications. FANRP supports intramural and extramural research on a wide range of policy-relevant food assistance and nutrit...
ERR-87, December 02, 2009
Concerns about child obesity have raised questions about the quality of meals served in the National School Lunch Program. Local, State, and Federal policymakers responded to these concerns beginning in the mid-1990s by instituting a range of policies and standards to improve the quality of U.S. Dep...
Amber Waves, December 01, 2009
The global economic downturn is expected to reduce import capacity in many lower income countries, adversely affecting their food security. The number of food-insecure people in the 70 developing countries studied by ERS is estimated to increase 2 percent in 2009, after growing 11 percent in 2008.
...
Amber Waves, December 01, 2009
The recent economic downturn has brought a sharp increase in the number of Americans who report having difficulty meeting their food needs. In fact, in 2008, the number and percentage of U.S. households classified as "food insecure" reached the highest level recorded since Federal monitoring of food...
Amber Waves, December 01, 2009
Income volatility among U.S. households is higher today than 40 years ago, especially among households with the lowest incomes. Income volatility has mixed effects on participation in nutrition assistance programs, with some households not applying when eligible and others leaving while still eligib...
Amber Waves, December 01, 2009
Farm legislation in the early 2000s eliminated longstanding supply controls and geographic restrictions on the production of peanuts and tobacco. The ensuing consolidation produced fewer but larger farms for each crop that are more efficient and responsive to market developments.
Amber Waves, December 01, 2009
The capital structure of U.S. farms has changed over the last two decades. Fewer farms have outstanding debts than in the past, but debt carried is concentrated among fewer and larger farms.
Amber Waves, December 01, 2009
Recent increases in inflation-adjusted crop prices have sparked renewed interest in the potential for continued increases in crop yields. Investment in scientific research is key for boosting corn yields, making productivity, environmental, and bioenergy goals easier to attain.
ERR-86, November 18, 2009
The Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 established specific targets for the production of biofuel in the United States. Until advanced technologies become commercially viable, meeting these targets will increase demand for traditional agricultural commodities used to produce ethanol...
ERR-88, November 17, 2009
The livestock industry uses information on meat prices at different stages in the marketing system to make production decisions. When grocery stores began using electronic scanners to capture prices paid for meat, it was assumed that the livestock industry could capitalize on having these point-of-s...
ERR-83, November 16, 2009
Eighty-five percent of American households were food secure throughout the entire year in 2008, meaning that they had access at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members. The remaining households (14.6 percent) were food insecure at least some time during the yea...
EIB-60, November 16, 2009
ERS identifies market forces that have affected the peanut and tobacco industries following the end of longstanding system protections – in 2002 for peanuts and 2004 for tobacco.
AIS-87, November 16, 2009
Income and wealth for farm businesses have changed noticeably this decade. Debt levels have been rising, asset levels have outpaced debt despite a recent fall in land prices, and equity has more than doubled for farm businesses. However, recent declines in farm income and falling land prices have ra...
ERR-82, November 02, 2009
ERS addresses size, regional differences, and pasture use in organic milk production. Economic forces have pressured organic dairies to operate more like their conventional counterparts and take advantage of economies of size.
ERR-85, October 29, 2009
Self-selection by more food-needy households into the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly called the Food Stamp Program) makes it difficult to observe positive effects of the program in survey data. This study investigates self-selection and ameliorative program effects by exam...
EIB-61, October 23, 2009
From 2000 to 2007, food spending by middle- and low-income households grew more slowly than food prices, and national prevalence of very low food insecurity (food intakes reduced) rose from 3.1 percent in 2000 to 4.1 in 2007.
SSS-256, October 05, 2009
The Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, as amended by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, requires that sugar marketing allotments be in effect in fiscal year (FY) 2010. The act requires that the Overall Allotment Quantity (OAQ) be set at no less
than 85 percent of the estimated quanti...
EIB-58, September 30, 2009
Organic foods now occupy prominent shelf space in the produce and dairy aisles of most mainstream U.S. food retailers. The marketing boom has pushed retail sales of organic foods up to $21.1 billion in 2008 from $3.6 billion in 1997. U.S. organic-industry growth is evident in an expanding number of ...
AP-040, September 30, 2009
This report summarizes research findings from the Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Innovation and Development Grants in Economics Program (RIDGE), formerly known as the Small Grants Program. The Economic Research Service created the program in 1998 to stimulate new and innovative research on f...
EB-14, September 23, 2009
Agricultural Land Tenure and Carbon Offsets examines the potential role that land ownership might play in determining the agricultural sector’s involvement in carbon sequestration programs. By estimating the carbon sequestration potential of agricultural producers who own most of the land they opera...
EIB-56, September 21, 2009
New report describes the prevalence and severity of food insecurity in households with children as of 2007, the trends since 1999, and characteristics of households affected by food insecurity.
ERR-81, September 16, 2009
ERS examines the characteristics and scope of agricultural and wildlife smuggling, its responsiveness to economic incentives, and regulations and other efforts to reduce its risks.
ERR-80, September 09, 2009
This report analyzes recent structural changes in the world cotton industry and develops a statistical model that reflects current drivers of U.S. cotton prices. Legislative changes in 2008 authorized USDA to resume publishing cotton price forecasts for the first time in nearly 80 years. Systematic ...
EIB-59, September 04, 2009
Update of an annual series, the 2009 edition of Rural America At A Glance deals with effects of the major recession on rural America. Initially, effects of the recession were mitigated in nonmetro areas by high commodity prices throughout much of 2008, but as the recession deepened, prices fell. Bot...
Amber Waves, September 01, 2009
The large gains in the scale of the U.S. ethanol industry over the past decade were achieved by “picking the low-hanging fruit” on both the supply and demand sides of the market. Achieving further large-scale gains will depend on whether the industry can overcome challenges in producing ethanol thro...
Amber Waves, September 01, 2009
Investment in rural broadband Internet access seems to lead to a more competitive rural economy and rural economic growth, helping create a rural digital economy. A comparison of the economic growth of counties with broadband access in 2000 with that of otherwise similar counties without broadband s...
Amber Waves, September 01, 2009
If baby boomers follow migration patterns similar to those of their predecessors, the rural population age 55-75 will increase by 30 percent between 2010 and 2020. Local economic development strategies aimed at attracting more jobs will likely have little effect on the migration decisions of baby bo...
Amber Waves, September 01, 2009
Rural households have higher rates of mortality, disability, and chronic disease than urban households, and less access to affordable, nearby, high-quality health care. Adoption of new health information technologies, promoted by a $19 billion allocation in the 2009 economic stimulus package, holds ...
WRS-09-05, August 20, 2009
The global economic crisis that started in late 2008 has led to a sharp curtailment of international trade, including a short-term decline in the value of global agricultural trade of around 20 percent. After slowing, global agricultural trade will continue to grow in the future. The crisis is leadi...
VGS-333-01, August 19, 2009
Growth over time in the demand for fresh vegetables for at-home consumption may slow because of differences in the behavior of younger and older birth cohorts. A birth cohort includes people born in the same year and is similar in concept to a generation. People born around the same point in history...
ERR-78, August 17, 2009
Broadband access is necessary to fully utilize Internet potential, and rural areas without broadband access may be disadvantaged. ERS examines recent growth in broadband access in rural areas and the impacts of broadband on their economies.
EIB-57, August 17, 2009
ERS examines available research on health status trends of farm and rural households, their health care coverage and expenditures, and access to health care resources in rural and urban areas.
ERR-79, August 10, 2009
If baby boomers follow past migration patterns, the nonmetro population age 55-75 will increase by 30 percent between now and 2020, with some rural communities affected more than others.
FAU-125, August 06, 2009
Using import data from the U.S. Census Bureau, this study examines patterns of U.S. food imports for fiscal years 1998-2007. Results indicate faster import growth trends for consumer-ready foods, such as fruit, vegetables, meats, seafood, and processed food products. Although the United States impor...
FDS-09G-01, August 05, 2009
The past 5 years have seen large increases in trading of corn, soybean, and wheat futures contracts by nontraditional traders, a trend that coincided with historic price increases for these commodities. These events have raised questions about whether changes in the composition of traders participat...
ERR-77, July 30, 2009
Developing countries, particularly those that depend heavily on a small number of agricultural exports, are vulnerable to domestic and international shocks. These countries often have difficulty achieving sustained economic growth. This analysis uses Malawi, a country that earns most of its foreign ...
ERR-76, July 15, 2009
ERS addresses the two main reasons for incomplete transmission of exchange rate changes to a country’s domestic agricultural prices: namely, restrictive trade policies and poor market conditions.
ERR-75, July 10, 2009
Both Government regulations and private-sector-determined actions have resulted in the current level of safety in meat and poultry products. Focusing on process control, ERS examines the relative contributions of regulations and management-determined initiatives.
AP-038, July 09, 2009
The Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program (FANRP) announces the recompetition of the grants that fund partner institutions in the Research Innovation and Development Grants in Economics (RIDGE) Program. ERS invites applications from university-based institutions for competitive grant awards...
EIB-52, July 07, 2009
Food imports from China more than tripled in value from 2001 to 2008. ERS indicates the types of foods imported, analyzes FDA refusals of shipments, and describes China’s food safety regulation.
GFA-20, June 30, 2009
Food security in 70 developing countries is projected to deteriorate over the next decade, according to USDA’s Economic Research Service. After rising nearly 11 percent from 2007 to 2008, the number of food-insecure people in the developing countries analyzed by ERS researchers is estimated to rise ...
CWS-09D01, June 25, 2009
Price volatility in 2008 generated interest in underlying cotton cash and futures markets and highlighted the importance of market participants’ expectations about basis changes over time in production, marketing, and hedging decisions. This analysis examines trends in average U.S. cotton basis and ...
AP-037, June 25, 2009
The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 directed the U.S. Department of Agriculture to evaluate the role of animal manure as a source of fertilizer, and its other uses. About 5 percent of all U.S. cropland is currently fertilized with livestock manure, and corn accounts for over half of the a...
AP-036, June 25, 2009
This report fills a request for a study of food deserts—areas with limited access to affordable and nutritious food—from the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. The report summarizes findings of a national-level assessment of the extent and characteristics of food deserts, analysis of the co...
FTS-337-01, June 03, 2009
Specialized fruit and tree nut farms represent a substantial segment of the U.S. fruit and tree nut industry. By nature of the commodities produced and the markets targeted, these specialized farms require substantial investments in production inputs. Using data from USDA’s Agricultural Resource and...
EIB-55, June 03, 2009
Consumer demand for organic products has widened over the last decade. While new producers have emerged to help meet demand, market participants report that a supply squeeze is constraining growth for both individual firms and the organic sector overall. Partly in response to shortages in organic su...
Amber Waves, June 01, 2009
Market-based reforms helped lift Chinese agriculture out of decades of poverty and stagnation, but vestiges of the planned economy remain. China’s policymakers are experimenting with incremental reforms and market intervention as they encounter agricultural problems. Pressure from global markets cou...
Amber Waves, June 01, 2009
The financial sector turbulence originating in the United States has had a ripple effect worldwide, curbing economic growth in nearly every country. Slower growth and weaker currencies in emerging markets have reduced U.S. competitiveness and agricultural exports in the short term. At the same time...
Amber Waves, June 01, 2009
Policies designed to improve the diet quality and health of Americans are likely to have only marginal effects on consumers’ food choices. However, policies targeted directly at consumers such as nutrition information and education programs, along with labeling regulations, can spur the reformulatio...
Amber Waves, June 01, 2009
The Federal estate tax affects relatively few estates and accounts for only a small share of total Federal tax receipts. Though special provisions have been enacted to limit the impact of the tax on farmers and small business owners, these groups are still more likely than the general public to owe ...
WRS-0904, May 15, 2009
During the 2000s, Russian agricultural imports have grown considerably, from $7 billion in 2000 to $33 billion in 2008. This import growth has made Russia the second largest agricultural importer among emerging markets, after China. The main reasons for the import rise are macroeconomic—high growth ...
EIB-54, May 15, 2009
Significant changes in Federal individual income and estate tax policies over the last 10 years have reduced average tax rates for farm households
EIB-53, May 15, 2009
Beginning farmers and ranchers accounted for 10 percent of the sector’s total value of production in 2007. ERS provides an overview of their characteristics and the farm businesses they operate.
RCS-09D-01, May 07, 2009
Global rice prices rose to record highs in the spring of 2008, with trading prices tripling from November 2007 to late April 2008. The price increase was not due to crop failure or a particularly tight global rice supply situation. Instead, trade restrictions by major suppliers, panic buying by seve...
ERR-73, April 16, 2009
The mission of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is to safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, and children through age 4 who are at nutritional risk. WIC provides nutritious foods to supplement diets, nutrition education, and referrals to h...
ERR-72, April 07, 2009
ERS examines the economic effects of two theoretical scenarios in which commodity support is determined by shortfalls in farm revenue, unlike current price-based programs or yield-based assistance.
EIB-51, April 07, 2009
ERS provides an overview of issues in China’s agricultural development and the policy responses, and assesses the effects of policies on China’s growing role in international markets.
FDS-09D-01, April 01, 2009
The byproducts of making ethanol, sweeteners, syrups, and oils used to be considered less valuable than the primary products. But the increased livestock-feed market for such byproducts in the past few years has switched that perception to one of the ethanol industry making grain-based “co-products”...
EIB-6-6, April 01, 2009
Federal expenditures for USDA’s food assistance programs totaled $60.7 billion in fiscal 2008, 11 percent more than in the previous fiscal year—the largest percentage increase in 16 years. Fiscal 2008 marked the eighth consecutive year in which food assistance expenditures exceeded the previous hist...
EIB-48, April 01, 2009
This book contains a sampling of recent ERS research illustrating the breadth of the Agency's research on current policy issues: from biofuels to food consumption to land conservation to patterns of trade for agricultural products.
EB-13, April 01, 2009
One of the most worrisome aspects of the growing tide of obesity in the United States is the high rate of overweight among children. Over one in five young children, ages 2 to 5, are at risk of being overweight. The number of children at risk of being overweight has grown in the past two decades, as...
WRS-09-03, March 31, 2009
Implementation of the agricultural provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has drawn to a close. In 2008, the last of NAFTA’s transitional restrictions governing U.S.-Mexico and Canada-Mexico agricultural trade were removed, concluding a 14-year project in which the member coun...
EIB-50, March 31, 2009
In recent years, structural changes in the hog sector, including increased farm size and regional shifts in production, have altered manure management practices. Also, changes to the Clean Water Act, State regulations, and increasing local conflicts over air quality issues, including odor, have infl...
EIB-45, March 31, 2009
Over the years, proposals have recommended shifting the focus of public agricultural research from applied to basic research, and giving higher priority to peer-reviewed, competitively funded grants. The public agricultural research system in the United States is a Federal-State partnership, with mo...
WRS--09-02, March 30, 2009
The world economic crisis that began in 2008 has major consequences for U.S. agriculture. The weakening of global demand because of emerging recessions and declining economic growth result in reduced export demand and lower agricultural commodity prices, compared with those in 2008. These, in turn, ...
WHS-09C01, March 24, 2009
The recent historic rise in farm input costs and wheat prices has had economic effects on the U.S. wheat sector. A cumulative distribution of forecasted production costs for wheat farms shows that current high (but falling) wheat prices will allow a greater share of producers to cover their producti...
EIB-46, March 24, 2009
The Food Stamp Program reduces benefits to households as their earnings rise. This reduction is affected by household participation in other Government assistance programs (cross-program effects) and by the wide variation in State-specific reduction rates for earnings in Temporary Assistance for Nee...
EIB-49, March 20, 2009
Meeting agricultural policy and statistical goals requires a definition of U.S. agriculture’s basic unit, the farm. However, these goals can be at odds with one another. USDA defines “farm” very broadly to comprehensively measure agricultural activity. Consequently, most establishments classified as...
EIB-44, March 20, 2009
Using new national estimates of supermarket food loss, ERS updates each fresh fruit, vegetable, meat, and poultry commodity in its Loss-Adjusted Food Availability data series.
CWS-08i-01, March 03, 2009
New information about the role of recycling in the textile industry and updated estimates of efficiency in spinning lower estimates of the volume of cotton fiber exported by China in the form of textiles from those of an earlier study. China’s textile industry not only meets domestic demand of the w...
Amber Waves, March 01, 2009
With over 30 million children served each school day, USDA-sponsored school meals provide an important opportunity to improve diet and health. Schools can exert considerable control over the food choices they offer and the manner in which they are presented. Understanding how simple rules of thumb ...
Amber Waves, March 01, 2009
Strong domestic and global demand, coupled with tight supplies and low inventories, contributed to record fertilizer prices in early 2008. Softening global fertilizer demand, disruptions in U.S. farmer application of fertilizers, an increase in fertilizer imports, and tighter credit for purchasing i...
Amber Waves, March 01, 2009
Between 2006 and 2008, feed costs nearly doubled and are expected to result in lower meat and dairy production in 2009. Feed prices have declined since mid-2008 and are expected to be lower in 2009, but the biological timeline of livestock production means meat producers are limited in what they can...
Amber Waves, March 01, 2009
The rapid increase in crop prices between 2006 and mid-2008, while unprecedented in magnitude, was not unique. Two other periods of major rapid runups in prices occurred in 1971-74 and 1994-96. Each price surge resulted from a combination of factors, including depreciation of the U.S. dollar, stron...
Amber Waves, March 01, 2009
Federal mandates for biofuel production promote expanded crop acreage which can shift cropping patterns and affect livestock production due to higher prices for corn and other grain crops. An increase in the extent and intensity of input use and agricultural land in production increases the potentia...
EB-12, March 01, 2009
In fiscal 2008, the $4.6 billion of food purchased with vouchers from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) generated $1.3 billion in farm revenue. Because WIC participants would have purchased some of these foods with their own money in the absence of the...
EIB-47, February 27, 2009
Six-page brochure presents information and data on broadband availability and use, and the relationship of broadband to rural businesses and to key services for rural residents.
AP-034, February 26, 2009
Under the Program of Research on the Economics of Invasive Species Management (PREISM), ERS conducts intramural research and funds extramural research to support the economic basis of decisionmaking concerning invasive species issues, policies, and programs. The report, Program of Research on the Ec...
AR-33, February 13, 2009
U.S. prices of fertilizer nutrients began to rise steadily in 2002 and increased sharply to historic highs in 2008 due to the combined effects of a number of domestic and global long- and shortrun supply and demand factors. From 2007 to 2008, spring nitrogen prices increased by a third, phosphate pr...
TB-1924, February 12, 2009
The Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) develops and publishes estimates and forecasts of three primary measures of income and returns for the U.S. farm economy: (1) net value added, or total value of the farm sector’s production of goods and services less purchase...
OCE-2009-1, February 12, 2009
This report provides longrun (10-year) projections for the agricultural sector through 2018. Projections cover agricultural commodities, agricultural trade, and aggregate indicators of the sector, such as farm income and food prices.
AP-033, February 11, 2009
The Eating & Health (EH) Module of the American Time Use Survey (ATUS) collects data to analyze relationships among time use patterns and eating patterns, nutrition, and obesity; food and nutrition assistance programs; and grocery shopping and meal preparation. This User’s Guide provides detailed gu...
LDPM-175-01, February 10, 2009
U.S. imports and exports of red meats—beef, pork, lamb, and mutton—have expanded rapidly over the last several decades, linking livestock sectors of the United States to those of several major trading partners. Factors driving this trade growth include not only rising incomes, but also the preferenc...
ERR-71, February 05, 2009
The aging of Japan’s population only partially explains the downward trend in orange consumption, and the negative trend could continue.
EIB-43, January 23, 2009
ERS details the nature, causes, and effects of structural changes in U.S. livestock production as it shifts to larger, more specialized, and more tightly integrated enterprises.
ERR-70, January 09, 2009
ERS study found that a 10-percent reduction in prices would encourage low-income Americans to raise consumption of fruit by 2.1-5.2 percent and vegetables by 2.1-4.9 percent.
AP-031, January 02, 2009
Among the many responsibilities of USDA are implementing the Food Stamp Program and other food and nutrition assistance programs; managing Federal forest land; implementing standards of humane care and treatment of animals; providing incentives for adopting wildlife habitat enhancements and other co...
WRS-0901, January 01, 2009
Colombia's sugarcane-based ethanol industry, after operating for only 3 years, is the second most developed in the Western Hemisphere. Most Colombian ethanol plants are energy self-sufficient and even generate surplus power that is sold to the national electric grid. Colombia's sugarcane-based ethan...
ERR-69, December 30, 2008
Researchers use Nielsen Homescan data, which provide detailed food-purchase information from a panel of U.S. households, to address a variety of important research topics. However, some question the credibility of the data since the data are self-recorded and the recording process is time-consuming....
EIB-42, December 30, 2008
ERS documents the growing importance of very large farms in agricultural production. While a large majority of U.S. farms are small, those with annual sales above $1 million account for roughly half of agricultural sales.
ERR-67, December 29, 2008
Using nationally representative surveys from the United States and Canada, ERS compares rates of food insecurity in economic and demographic subgroups of the two countries.
EIB-41, December 18, 2008
The Food Stamp Program is designed to provide low-income families with increased food purchasing power to obtain a nutritionally adequate diet. As in most other Federal Government assistance programs, benefits are adjusted in response to rising prices—in this case, rising food prices. The current me...
ERR-68, December 15, 2008
ERS describes an experiment in a college cafeteria to assess how various payment options and menu selection methods affect food choices.
AP-030, December 03, 2008
This report summarizes ERS's Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program (FANRP) activities and accomplishments in fiscal 2008, including newly awarded projects and recent publications. FANRP supports intramural and extramural research on a wide range of policy-relevant food assistance and nutrit...
Amber Waves, November 01, 2008
Government intervention in agricultural markets may be warranted under circumstances where markets fail to allocate resources efficiently.
Amber Waves, November 01, 2008
Low-income households that receive maximum food assistance benefits usually can afford a healthy diet; others may have more difficulty.
Amber Waves, November 01, 2008
Even as farmers enjoy record high commodity prices and income, they face an array of risks, including high production costs and greater price volatility. Rising crop prices mean increased Federal crop insurance program payments but reduce the likelihood commodity program payments based on fixed pric...
Amber Waves, November 01, 2008
Prices for food commodities have increased sharply over the past 2 years. Rising food demand in developing countries has outpaced a general slowdown in production growth of major food commodities and demand for global stockholding has fallen. Other factors behind higher food prices are increased ene...
EIB-40, October 31, 2008
Rural America At A Glance, 2008 Edition highlights the most recent indicators of social and economic conditions in rural areas for use in developing policies and programs to assist rural areas. The 2008 edition focuses on employment, poverty, population change, and demographic characteristics of non...
VGS-329-01, October 27, 2008
Rapid growth in the organic foods market has placed great pressure on farmers and handlers in the U.S. organic sector. Handlers are firms that produce, process, and distribute organic food. As the middlemen in the supply chain, organic handlers have been unable at times to provide as much of their f...
TB-1922, September 19, 2008
This report describes data and methodologies that the Economic Research Service has used to apply monetary values to changes in soil erosion. Values and methodology are clearly described so that analysts can apply the data to specific soil conservation projects. ERS has used the values to estimate s...
EB-11, September 19, 2008
Programs and policies to minimize the threat of, or mitigate the damages from, invasive species work best if designed in concert with each other. Whether program emphasis should be on prevention or control depends on the biological characteristics and size of the invasive species population, ecologi...
AP-032, September 12, 2008
In response to Senate Report 110-134, accompanying S. 1859, the 2008 the Agriculture Appropriations Bill, ERS researchers published a report about consumer perceptions and consumption of canned fruits and vegetables using USDA’s food consumption survey data, Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Expe...
VGS-328-01, September 09, 2008
Vegetable and melon production requires a substantial investment in production inputs. Using data from USDA’s Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS), this article presents and explores the major expense components of specialized U.S. and regional vegetable and melon farms during 1998-2006. T...
EIB-39, September 09, 2008
This report examines U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) data on refusals of food offered for importation into the United States from 1998 to 2004. Although the data do not necessarily reflect the distribution of risk in foods, the study found that import refusals highlight food safety problems ...
LDPM-170-01, September 04, 2008
Animal and poultry disease outbreaks often lead to new or amended policies and regulations. The economic effects induced by these policies can be much greater and much longer lasting than the immediate effect of the disease outbreak alone. Using Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) as an example, ...
ERR-64, September 02, 2008
U.S. farmers and ranchers produce a wide variety of commodities for food, fuel, and fiber in response to market signals. Farms also contain significant amounts of natural resources that can provide a host of environmental services, including cleaner air and water, flood control, and improved wildlif...
Amber Waves, September 01, 2008
Recent reports of high rates of obesity and overweight among children have focused attention on the nutritional quality of school lunches. But this attention has raised another fundamental question: can schools meet the program’s nutrition goals while covering costs, especially in times of rising fo...
Amber Waves, September 01, 2008
Farmers and other landowners typically under-provide environmental services such as clean air and water, carbon sequestration, and improved wildlife habitat. Markets for environmental services could increase farmer investments in environmental stewardship, thereby expanding the supply of environment...
Amber Waves, September 01, 2008
Increasing agricultural imports benefits U.S. consumers, but shipments can transport harmful foreign pests and diseases. The United States and other nations use a number of approaches to reduce risks to agriculture and the environment from pests and diseases entering through trade. Economic analys...
Amber Waves, September 01, 2008
Income disparity within and among developing countries explains how there can be obesity in the midst of under-nutrition. Rising incomes, urbanization, global integration, and more supermarkets have contributed to increased consumption of convenient, high-calorie foods among the higher income popul...
ERR-65, August 29, 2008
To better understand how information about potential health hazards influences food demand, this case study examines consumers’ responses to newspaper articles on avian influenza, informally referred to as bird flu. The focus here is on the response to bird flu information in Italy as news about hig...
ERR-63, August 11, 2008
ERS examines changes on consumers’ use of nutrition labels on food items between 1995-96 and 2005-06 and finds that use has declined for most components of labels.
ERR-62, August 11, 2008
Using a consumer demand model, ERS illustrates how both long-term health objectives and immediate visceral influences (e.g., time pressure) influence food choices.
AP-029, July 31, 2008
This report summarizes research findings from the Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Innovation and Development Grants in Economics Program (RIDGE), formerly known as the Small Grants Program. The Economic Research Service created the program in 1998 to stimulate new and innovative research on f...
WRS-0801, July 23, 2008
World market prices for major food commodities such as grains and vegetable oils have risen sharply to historic highs of more than 60 percent above levels just 2 years ago. Many factors have contributed to the runup in food commodity prices. Some factors reflect trends of slower growth in production...
ERR-61, July 18, 2008
The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is the Nation’s second largest food and nutrition assistance program. In 2006, it operated in over 101,000 public and nonprofit private schools and provided over 28 million low-cost or free lunches to children on a typical school day at a Federal cost of $8 b...
ERR-59, July 16, 2008
ERS examines the implications and potential impacts of the first major reform of the 2005 reform of the European Union’s sugar policy, the first major reform of the policy since 1968.
ERR-60, July 11, 2008
ERS examines the size, importance, and composition of the hired farmworker force, updating information published in 2000. These workers make up a third of the farm labor
EIB-37, July 09, 2008
Investment in India’s agriculture sector has been sluggish since the early 1990s, but the policy environment has grown more investor friendly and private investment appears to be responding.
GFA-19, July 03, 2008
The number of food insecure people in the 70 lower income countries covered in this report rose between 2006 and 2007, from 849 million to 982 million. Food insecure people are those consuming less than the nutritional target of 2,100 calories per day. The food security situation of these countries ...
EIB-38, June 30, 2008
ERS describes the boiler industry’s organization, use of production contracts, animal housing features, enterprise cost structures, and farm household finances.
Amber Waves, June 01, 2008
The use of different definitions of rural by Federal agencies reflects the multidimensional qualities of rural America.
Amber Waves, June 01, 2008
Despite strong criticism of the WTO, its membership continues to grow as countries seek the benefits of expanding trade.
Amber Waves, June 01, 2008
Food stamp benefits do not increase obesity for most program participants, but there is a potential link for some subgroups.
Amber Waves, June 01, 2008
Though China continues to be a major player in global food exports, growing resource constraints and environmental costs could mean an end to “easy” growth for Chinese agriculture.
ERR-58, May 30, 2008
Acreage for dry peas and lentils has increased since passage of the 2002 Farm Act. ERS examines the role of the Act’s marketing loans in the increase, and the trade impacts.
EIB-6-5, May 30, 2008
Federal expenditures for USDA’s food assistance programs totaled almost $54.3 billion in fiscal 2007, over 2 percent more than in the previous fiscal year. This rise marked the seventh consecutive year in which food assistance expenditures increased and the fifth consecutive year in which they excee...
ERR-57, May 28, 2008
As more is learned about the impacts of foreign animal-disease outbreaks, questions arise regarding the efficacy of existing animal disease-impact models for capturing the array of effects across many economic sectors and time. Previous models lacked adequate treatment of either the economic compone...
SSSM-252, May 27, 2008
At the end of March 2008, the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) projected
sugar beet acreage intentions for the 2008 crop year at 1.132 million acres, about 10.9
percent lower than 2007 crop year area planted. Assuming normal sucrose levels and
continued improvement in productivity,...
AP-028, May 21, 2008
The Eating & Health (EH) Module of the American Time Use Survey (ATUS) collects data to analyze relationships among time use patterns and eating patterns, nutrition, and obesity; food and nutrition assistance programs; and grocery shopping and meal preparation. This User’s Guide provides detailed gu...
EIB-36, May 06, 2008
ERS surveyed certified organic manufacturers, processors, and distributors in the United States to collect information on basic characteristics of the sector, as well as its marketing and procurement practices.
FAU-124, April 18, 2008
U.S. agricultural trade generates employment, income, and purchasing power in both the farm and nonfarm sectors. Each farm export dollar earned stimulated another $1.65 in business activity in calendar year 2006. The $71.0 billion of agricultural exports in 2006 produced an additional $117.2 billion...
Amber Waves, April 01, 2008
Companies have devised a number of strategies to lower costs and stand out from the competition.
Amber Waves, April 01, 2008
Improvements to certification programs and traceability programs have helped expand beef exports from Argentina and Uruguay.
Amber Waves, April 01, 2008
Technological innovation and shifts to larger, more specialized hog operations have led to increases in productivity, reduced production costs, and lower hog prices.
Amber Waves, April 01, 2008
With more than half of hired farmworkers lacking legal authorization to work in the U.S., legislative reforms of immigration policies could affect some parts of the agricultural sector.
EIB-35, April 01, 2008
Over half of all transactions for U.S. farm products involved commodities bought and sold in open markets. But formal contractual arrangements cover a growing share of production.
EIB-33, March 28, 2008
ERS investigates trends in U.S. food consumption from 1970 to 2005. Results suggest many Americans still fall short of Federal dietary recommendations for whole grains, lower fat dairy products, and fruits and vegetables.
EIB-34, March 21, 2008
Results from reviewed studies indicate that for most Food Stamp Program participants, use of food stamp benefits does not result in an increase in Body Mass Index or the likelihood of being overweight or obese.
ERR-56, March 17, 2008
Globalization and income growth are resulting in increasing similarities worldwide in food purchasing patterns and food delivery mechanisms.
AP-027, March 17, 2008
ERS's Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program is now accepting proposals for grants and cooperative agreements for fiscal 2008. The three priority research areas are (1) Food Choices: Economic Determinants and Consequences, (2) Economic Incentives in Food Assistance Programs, and (3) Food Ass...
FTS-330-01, March 12, 2008
Japan is a large market for U.S. orange exports, and most of Japan’s orange consumption is supplied by U.S. exports. Orange consumption and imports grew until 1994, but have declined since. Demographic shifts are linked to changing orange consumption: older birth cohorts eat more oranges, and younge...
ERR-55, March 12, 2008
Evidence suggest that a wide class of unprepared fresh fruits and vegetables—those that have not been combined with labor-saving attributes—display declining prices along with prices of commonly consumed dessert and snack foods
AP-026, March 10, 2008
Under the Program of Research on the Economics of Invasive Species Management (PREISM), ERS supports and conducts research to improve the economic basis of decisionmaking concerning invasive issues, policies, and programs. Program themes have included international dimensions of invasive species pre...
AP-025, March 04, 2008
ERS's Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program (FANRP) supports intramural and extramural research on a wide range of policy-relevant food assistance and nutrition topics. The three perennial program themes are (1) diet and nutritional outcomes, (2) food program targeting and delivery, and (3)...
OCE-2008-1, February 12, 2008
This report provides longrun (10-year) projections for the agricultural sector through 2017. Projections cover agricultural commodities, agricultural trade, and aggregate indicators of the sector, such as farm income and food prices.
TB-1918, February 11, 2008
The objective of this research is to extend and generalize the equilibrium displacement methodology by combining it with mathematical programming methods and existing knowledge of farm sector relationships to develop sectoral adjustment models that can operate in pure competition, monopoly/monopsony...
Amber Waves, February 01, 2008
Average earnings are lower in nonmetro areas than in metro areas, even after accounting for differences in the individual characteristics of nonmetro earners. The nonmetro-metro earnings gap is greater for workers with more education and more experience. For nonmetro households, lower earnings may b...
Amber Waves, February 01, 2008
U.S. and international trends in food spending, food consumption, and food delivery systems. Across countries and income levels worldwide, consumers are choosing to spend their additional income on some combination of increased quality, convenience, and variety of foods. Food delivery and consumptio...
Amber Waves, February 01, 2008
Recent hikes in oil prices have raised serious concerns in low-income countries, both because of the financial burden of the higher energy import bill and potential constraints on imports of necessities like food and raw materials. Higher oil prices also have sparked energy security concerns worldwi...
Amber Waves, February 01, 2008
Ethanol's impact on retail food prices depends on how long the increased demand for corn drives up farm corn prices and the extent to which higher corn prices are passed through to retail. ERS research traces the effect of higher corn prices on U.S. retail food prices by analyzing data on price tre...
AP-024-2, February 01, 2008
ERS has a broad range of research on how agricultural markets and natural resources might be affected by the increased demand for bioenergy. ERS research on bioenergy encompasses all aspects of the ERS research mission, including economic and policy issues involving food, farming, natural resources,...
AP-024, February 01, 2008
ERS has a broad range of research on how agricultural markets and natural resources are and will be affected by the increased production of bioenergy. Planned ERS research on bioenergy encompasses all aspects of the ERS research mission, including economic and policy issues involving food, farming, ...
SSSM-251, January 29, 2008
USDA requires accurate, unbiased sugar production forecasts for making the Department’s monthly market forecast used to mange the domestic sugar program. Sugar production forecasts from sugar beet and sugarcane processors are compiled by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) for publication in the World Agr...
AP-023, January 23, 2008
The Economic Research Service has a broad range of research on how agricultural markets and natural resources might be affected by the increased demand for bioenergy. ERS research on bioenergy encompasses all aspects of the ERS research mission, including economic and policy issues involving food, f...
AP-022, January 23, 2008
The Farm Security Act of 2002, which governs Federal farm programs for 2002-07, was signed into law on May 13, 2002. This publication presents an overview of the Act and a side-by-side comparison of 1996-2001 farm legislation and the 2002 Act. For selected programs, information is provided to additi...
SB-974, January 07, 2008
These reports examine how production costs vary among producers of different commodities. These reports include details on production practices and input use levels (i.e., the 'technology set'), as well as farm operator and structural characteristics that underlie the cost and return estimates. The ...
ERR-54, January 07, 2008
Households have a number of needs and wants that all compete for scarce resources. Given this situation, are low-income households, in particular, generally willing and able to budget for healthful foods like fruits and vegetables, or are other goods and services, including other foods, more of a pr...
ERR-53, December 31, 2007
Farm-based recreation provides an important niche market for farmers, but limited empirical information is available on the topic. Access to two USDA databases, the 2004 Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) and the 2000 National Survey on Recreation and the Environment, provided researcher...
ERR-52, December 27, 2007
ERS examines the economic factors that underlie the dramatic decline in number of hog operations over the past 15 years and the increasing concentration of production on large, specialized hog farms.
EIB-32, December 27, 2007
Once dominated by small, owner-operated crop-hog farms, hog ownership is increasingly concentrated. Traditional farrow-to-finish operations are being replaced by operations specializing in a single production phase.
MP-1598, December 06, 2007
Since 1998, Congress has provided funds to ERS to study and evaluate the Nation’s domestic food and nutrition assistance programs. ERS has become the premier source of food and nutrition assistance research in the United States, sponsoring over 600 publications on a wide range of topics related to f...
FTS-330, November 28, 2007
The index of prices received by fruit and nut growers dropped below last year’s indices in June and has remained lower each month through October. Fresh orange, grapefruit, and apple grower prices were lower for September and October 2007 compared with the same time last year, but fresh lemon prices...
ERR-51, November 27, 2007
ERS compared consumption of refined and whole grains with recommendations of the 2005 Dietary Guidelines, considering the consumers’ social, economic, and demographic characteristics.
ERR-50, November 26, 2007
ERS compared consumption of refined and whole grains with recommendations of the 2005 Dietary Guidelines, considering the consumers’ social, economic, and demographic characteristics.
ERR-66, November 17, 2007
Eighty-nine percent of American households were food secure throughout the entire year in 2007, meaning that they had access at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members. The remaining households (11.1 percent) were food insecure at least some time during the yea...
ERR-49, November 14, 2007
Eighty-nine percent of American households were food secure throughout the entire year in 2006, meaning that they had access at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members. The remaining households (10.9 percent) were food insecure at least some time during the yea...
CWS-07I-01, November 06, 2007
USDA has developed a new approach for estimating cotton consumption in China based on textile import and export data, supplementing the traditional methodology that uses yarn production data from China’s National Bureau of Statistics. This analysis suggests USDA’s historical estimates of China’s cot...
Amber Waves, November 01, 2007
Both crop production and government commodity payments have become more concentrated on larger farms, raising questions about the role of payments in changes in concentration growth. Concentration of cropland since 1987 grew much more rapidly in areas with relatively high initial payments per acre. ...
Amber Waves, November 01, 2007
Global biofuel production tripled between 2000 and 2007, but still accounts for less than 3 percent of global transportation fuel supply. Increased demand for biofuels has contributed to higher world food and feed prices. Biofuels will likely be part of a portfolio of solutions to high energy prices...
Amber Waves, November 01, 2007
A payment program that integrates characteristics of conservation and commodity programs could simultaneously support working farms and ranches while improving environmental quality, with some tradeoffs. If policymakers structure payments to focus on environmental gain, income support benefits would...
Amber Waves, November 01, 2007
The economics behind food labeling provides insight into the dynamics of voluntary and mandatory food labeling and the influence labeling has on consumers' food choices.
ERR-44, October 30, 2007
Could a single program support farm income and encourage environmentally sound farm practices? ERS looks at some hypothetical program scenarios.
LDPM-15902, October 05, 2007
In 2003, outbreaks of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus had a major negative impact on the global poultry industry. Initially, import demand for both uncooked and cooked poultry declined substantially, due to consumers’ fear of contracting avian influenza by eating poultry meat...
EIB-31, October 01, 2007
Rural America At A Glance, 2007 highlights the most recent indicators of social and economic conditions in rural areas for use in developing policies and programs to assist rural areas. The brochure provides information on key rural conditions and trends for use by public and private decisionmakers ...
EIB-29-8, September 27, 2007
Currently, the effects of the Food Stamp Program on the food choices and diet quality of participants are the subject of much debate. Improved evaluation of the nutrition and health effects of the program would be of use to program and policy officials, but most of the existing research is limited b...
EIB-29-7, September 27, 2007
With obesity the most prevalent nutrition problem facing Americans at all economic levels, promoting diets that provide adequate nutrition without too many calories has become an important objective for the Food Stamp Program. Findings from behavioral economics suggest innovative, low-cost ways to i...
EIB-29-6, September 27, 2007
The Food Stamp Nutrition Education (FSNE) component of the Food Stamp Program is intended to improve the food choices, diet quality, and health of program participants. This brief discusses the FSNE program, how it operates, and how it has grown over time. The brief also considers the challenges of ...
EIB-29-5, September 27, 2007
This brief examines how consumers respond to food prices and how consumers’ response to price influences their purchases of particular foods, using examples drawn from previous ERS research. Implications of the findings for the use of price interventions to improve food choices are considered.
EIB-29-4, September 27, 2007
The Food Stamp Program provides benefits that low-income households can use to purchase food in grocery stores. The rise in obesity has raised the question of whether food stamp participants would purchase more healthy foods, such as fruits and vegetables, if food stamp benefits were higher. This re...
EIB-29-3, September 27, 2007
The cost of “enough food,” estimated from the amount that low- and medium-income households in a geographic area report needing to spend to just meet their food needs, differs substantially across States and among metropolitan areas. In areas with high food costs, many food-stamp recipients are like...
EIB-29-2, September 27, 2007
Significant regional differences in food prices affect how far food stamp benefits can go toward enhancing the diet of low-income consumers in a given region. In regions where average food prices exceed the national average, food stamp benefits may not provide the same level of coverage as the same ...
EIB-29-1, September 27, 2007
The increased food purchasing power offered by the Food Stamp Program can promote food security and improve the overall economic well-being of low-income households. Now, as Americans struggle with obesity and other diet-related health problems, there is interest in whether the program can be more e...
EIB-29, September 27, 2007
Eight economic information bulletins compile evidence to address the question of whether the Food Stamp Program could do more to encourage healthful food choices.
LDPM-15901, September 24, 2007
Argentina and Uruguay (A/U) are significant beef exporters and among the world’s greatest consumers of beef on a per capita basis. Between 13 and 20 percent of U.S. beef imports, on a tonnage basis, come from these two countries annually, and it is mostly grass-fed beef. Currently, only 10-20 percen...
ERR-48, September 21, 2007
ERS investigated the extent to which overweight and obesity have increased over time among food food and nutrition assistance recipients compared with nonrecipient groups.
EIB-28, September 13, 2007
Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O157 is a significant cause of foodborne illness in the United States. ERS estimated the economic cost of illness due to this pathogen—$405.2 million (in 2003 dollars)—using the most recent estimate (1997) of the annual number of STEC O157 cases by the Centers fo...
FTS-32801, September 10, 2007
U.S. imports of fresh fruit and vegetables have increased substantially, particularly since the 1990s. Dominant suppliers are the North American Free Trade Agreement region for fresh vegetables, the Southern Hemisphere countries for off-season fresh fruit, and equatorial countries for bananas. The s...
ERR-47, September 04, 2007
ERS examines economic factors in the dramatic decline in the number of dairy farms over the past 15 years and the increasing concentration in the industry.
ERR-46, September 04, 2007
Rising incomes in emerging markets are propelling U.S. export growth, while consumer demand for diversified products is a primary driver of import growth.
EIB-27, September 04, 2007
Could a single program support farm income and encourage environmentally sound farm practices? ERS looks at some hypothetical program scenarios.
EB-9, September 04, 2007
Innovation and changes in technology have been a driving force for gains in productivity growth in U.S. agriculture. USDA's Economic Research Service has developed annual indexes of agricultural inputs, outputs, and total factor productivity (TFP) for 1948 through 2004. American agriculture relies a...
EB-10, September 04, 2007
Over the last several decades, the U.S. agricultural sector has sustained impressive productivity growth. The Nation's agricultural research system, including Federal-State public research as well as private-sector research, has been a key driver of this growth. Economic analysis finds strong and co...
Amber Waves, September 03, 2007
Dairy production is shifting to larger farms; small dairy farms are exiting, and more expect to leave in the next decade. Average production costs per hundredweight of milk produced fall sharply with herd size. Large dairy farms earn substantial profits, while most smaller operations experience econ...
Amber Waves, September 03, 2007
ERS researchers compared household-level retail food purchases of three types of beef products before and after the 2003 U.S. government announcements of finding two North American cows infected with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) to see if consumers reduced their purchases of those products...
Amber Waves, September 03, 2007
After years of slow growth of U.S. agricultural exports, rising food demand in emerging markets, a weakening dollar, and closer integration with NAFTA partners have recently sparked a renewal of export demand. Import growth has been unusually strong as a result of regional integration (NAFTA), consu...
Amber Waves, September 03, 2007
A large expansion in ethanol production is underway in the United States, spurred by high oil prices and energy policies. Although corn is the primary feedstock used to produce ethanol in the United States, market adjustments to the ethanol expansion extend well beyond the corn sector to supply and...
WRS-0703, August 22, 2007
U.S. exports of soybeans and cotton to China have boomed in recent years, but the undervalued exchange rate for the Chinese yuan keeps prices of most other U.S. food and agricultural products more expensive than Chinese products. On average, Chinese retail food prices are about a fourth of U.S. pric...
WRS-0702, August 06, 2007
The volatile and upward trend in U.S. natural gas prices from 2000-06 has led to a 17-percent decline in the Nation’s annual aggregate supply of ammonia. During the period, U.S. ammonia production declined 44 percent, while U.S. ammonia imports increased 115 percent. Also, the share of U.S.-produced...
AP-023-2, August 01, 2007
ERS has a broad range of research on how agricultural markets and natural resources might be affected by the increased demand for bioenergy. ERS research on bioenergy encompasses all aspects of the ERS research mission, including economic and policy issues involving food, farming, natural resources,...
SSS-249-01, July 17, 2007
This report on the U.S. sugar sector places into context the challenges facing sugar producers, users, and policymakers in the United States, including description and analysis of farm-level production of U.S. sugar crops, cane and beet sugar processing and refining industries, imports and exports o...
AP-021, July 16, 2007
Under the Program of Research on the Economics of Invasive Species Management (PREISM), ERS supports and conducts research to improve the economic basis of decisionmaking concerning invasive issues, policies, and programs. Program themes have included international dimensions of invasive species pre...
FAU-123, June 29, 2007
U.S. agricultural exports reached a record in fiscal 2006 at $68.7 billion, some $6.2 billion higher than the record set in fiscal 2005. California, Iowa, Texas, and Illinois continued their reign as top exporting States, while Minnesota dropped to seventh position behind Nebraska and Kansas. North ...
GFA-18, June 28, 2007
The number of hungry people in the 70 lower income countries covered in this report rose between 2005 and 2006, from 804 million to 849 million. However, the food distribution gap—an indicator of food access—declined, which means that, although more people are vulnerable to food insecurity, the inte...
SSSM-249, June 04, 2007
Rising ethanol demand in global markets is driving the growth of Brazil’s
sugar/ethanol complex with new investments in infrastructure and technology. The
recent rise in crude oil prices, paired with a global effort for renewable energy
development and a growing domestic demand for ethanol have b...
Amber Waves, June 01, 2007
Food security-consistent access to enough food for active healthy living-is strongly associated with income, but household circumstances and State-level policies and economic conditions also matter. Health problems are more prevalent among members of food-insecure households than among otherwise si...
Amber Waves, June 01, 2007
This article reviews the 2006 foodborne illness outbreak associated with spinach. It discusses the voluntary Food and Drug Administration guidelines (Good Agricultural Practices) for minimizing microbial contamination of fresh produce and the benefits and costs to farmers of adopting these guideline...
Amber Waves, June 01, 2007
Less than half of all farms-43 percent in 2005-receive farm program payments. Large family farms represent 8 percent of all farms but they receive 58 percent of commodity program payments going to farms. Two-thirds of recipient farms receive less than $10,000 in payments, accounting for only 7 perce...
Amber Waves, June 01, 2007
The prevalence of obesity and diet-related illnesses is rising, despite evidence that Americans are aware of the positive effects of a balanced diet and exercise. Standard tools of economics can only go so far in explaining these trends, but findings from behavioral economics can shed light on sever...
ERR-43, June 01, 2007
The increasing presence of nontraditional grocery retailers such as supercenters is generating new cost-cutting and differentiation strategies among traditional food retailers.
EIB-26, June 01, 2007
American farms encompass a wide range of sizes, ownership structures, and business types, but most farms are still family farms. Family farms account for 98 percent of farms and 85 percent of production. Although most farms are small and own most of the farmland, production has shifted to very large...
EIB-24, June 01, 2007
U.S. farms are diverse, ranging from small retirement and residential farms to enterprises with annual sales in the millions. Nevertheless, most U.S. farms—98 percent in 2004—are family farms. Even the largest farms tend to be family farms. Large-scale family farms and nonfamily farms account for 10...
ERR-42, May 31, 2007
The increasing presence of nontraditional grocery retailers such as supercenters is generating new cost-cutting and differentiation strategies among traditional food retailers.
EIB-25, May 31, 2007
ERS provides information on the composition, location, employment, education, and other characteristics of households that experienced very low food security.
LDPM-155-01, May 22, 2007
Consumer interest in organic milk has burgeoned, resulting in rapid growth in retail sales of organic milk. New analysis of scanner data from 2004 finds that most purchasers of organic milk are White, high income, and well educated. The data indicate that organic milk purchased carries the USDA orga...
FDS-07D01, May 18, 2007
A large expansion in ethanol production is underway in the United States. Cellulosic sources of feedstocks for ethanol production hold some promise for the future, but the primary feedstock in the United States currently is corn. Market adjustments to this increased demand extend well beyond the cor...
TBS-262-01, May 11, 2007
U.S. tobacco product manufacturers use foreign-produced leaf in items such as cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and pipe tobacco. Imports peaked in the mid-1990s but remain at historically high levels. The popularity of generic cigarettes, which use cheaper imported leaf, along with increases in ...
ERR-40, May 04, 2007
The relationship of household characteristics and time resources to the amount of time spent preparing food is relevant for the design of food assistance programs.
ERR-41, May 03, 2007
The pronounced market cycles and declines in per capita consumption of India’s major food staples, as well as budgetary concerns, are creating pressure for Indian policymakers to adjust longstanding policies.
Amber Waves, May 01, 2007
This article examines the possible market impacts of the ongoing expansion of the U.S. ethanol sector. To meet the sector's growing demand for corn, some U.S. corn is likely to be diverted from exports and feed. In the future, corn may cease to be the main feedstock for U.S. ethanol production if ce...
Amber Waves, May 01, 2007
Rural communities have changed dramatically since 1990 due to increased population from urban areas, shifts in age and ethnic composition, and economic and industrial restructuring. Increasing competition from abroad and sectoral shifts in employment present new challenges and opportunities in the ...
Amber Waves, May 01, 2007
The Food Stamp Program has changed over time from primarily focusing on getting a sufficient quantity of food to an increased emphasis on also choosing healthful foods with high nutritional quality. Proposed strategies for improving diets of Food Stamp Program participants include restricting the t...
Amber Waves, May 01, 2007
Food-assistance programs provide a safety net to help U.S. households purchase sufficient food. These programs, particularly the Food Stamp Program, increase food spending and household income. In 2004, adding food stamp benefits to recipients' incomes raised 9 percent of recipients out of poverty...
Amber Waves, May 01, 2007
This article describes the policy shift in the 2002 Farm Bill toward increased funding of conservation policies, and shifting conservation priorities. The share of conservation funds allocated to working lands (land used for crop production or grazing) will increase, a modest increase in retirement ...
Amber Waves, May 01, 2007
Environmental credit trading is a market-based approach to complying with regulations with the potential to achieve pollution abatement goals at least cost to society. Agriculture can contribute to credit trading programs by generating pollution-reduction credits through the adoption of environment...
Amber Waves, May 01, 2007
A recent World Trade Organization challenge to U.S. commodity programs has created pressure to eliminate fruit and vegetable planting restrictions on farms that plant program crops. If planting restrictions were relaxed, overall market effects would likely be limited, with the greatest effects in C...
Amber Waves, May 01, 2007
This Amber Waves article analyzes how crop revenue insurance offers farmers a way to manage revenue variability that results from yield and price risks. Revenue insurance has become a major part of the subsidized Federal crop insurance program but there are difficulties in using single-commodity and...
AP-024-1, May 01, 2007
The tremendous expansion of bioenergy production raises several key questions: Where will ethanol producers get the corn needed to increase their output? How will increased demand for biodiesel affect soybean markets? What will be the impact on livestock production of increased use of crops for ener...
Amber Waves, April 01, 2007
Nonmetro America is less ethnically diverse and older than the rest of the country, though demographic trends indicate some changes lie ahead. Nonmetro populations will continue to be older than metro populations because a greater proportion of retirees are moving to nonmetro counties than metro cou...
Amber Waves, April 01, 2007
The Food Stamp Program has changed over time from primarily focusing on getting a sufficient quantity of food to an increased emphasis on also choosing healthful foods with high nutritional quality. Proposed strategies for improving diets of Food Stamp Program participants include restricting the t...
Amber Waves, April 01, 2007
The creative class thesis-that towns need to attract engineers, architects, artists, and people in other creative occupations to compete in today's economy-may be particularly relevant to rural communities, which tend to lose much of their talent when young adults leave for college, the Armed Forces...
Amber Waves, April 01, 2007
Farming, like other businesses, exhibits high turnover, with many thousands of existing farms going out of business each year. As in other industries, new farm businesses enter at a high rate and new entrants subsequently exit at high rates, irrespective of the size of the farm or the age of the ope...
TB-1916, March 30, 2007
The Regional Environment and Agriculture Programming Model (REAP), facilitates scenario—or "what if"—analyses by showing how changes in technology, commodity supply or demand, or farm, resource, environmental, or trade policy could affect a host of performance indicators important to decisionmakers ...
FDS-07C01, March 30, 2007
The U.S. feed grain sector, largest of the major U.S. field crops, faces unprecedented demand conditions. The size and speed of the expanding use of corn by the ethanol industry is raising widespread issues throughout U.S. agriculture. Debate is ongoing over the use of grain for fuel instead of for ...
CWS-07B01, March 30, 2007
U.S. cotton growers, like producers of other agricultural commodities in recent years, have confronted pressures from market forces and the impacts of policy developments, both domestic and international. Most notably, the ending of the Multifiber Arrangement (MFA) sent a ripple effect throughout th...
WRS-0701, March 29, 2007
Implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is drawing to a close. In 2008, the last of NAFTA’s transitional restrictions governing U.S.-Mexico and Canada-Mexico agricultural trade will be removed, concluding a 14-year project in which the member countries systematically disman...
AP-020, March 16, 2007
ERS's Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program is now accepting proposals for grants and cooperative agreements for Fiscal 2007. The three priority research areas are (1) Food Choices: Economic Determinants and Consequences, (2) Economic Incentives in Food Assistance Programs, and (3) Food Ass...
ERR-38, March 13, 2007
ERS uses data from the coffee industry to examine to what extent changes in commodity costs affect manufacturer and retail prices.
EIB-23, March 13, 2007
Using data from the most recent Consumer Expenditure Survey, ERS presents information on nationwide urban food expenditure patterns by select demographic and socioeconomic characteristics.
VGS-31901, March 06, 2007
Carrots are one of the most popular vegetables in the United States and fresh-market carrot consumption has been increasing over the past few decades. Using a combination of ACNielsen Homescan panel data and USDA’s Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals, this article examines where and how...
AP-023-1, March 01, 2007
The tremendous expansion of bioenergy production raises several key questions: Where will ethanol producers get the corn needed to increase their output? How will increased demand for biodiesel affect soybean markets? What will be the impact on livestock production of increased use of crops for ener...
ERR-35, February 28, 2007
Specialty grains coming onto the market (e.g., fiber-enriched wheat) are requiring adjustments in the marketing system, including information documentation and management, in order to preserve their added value or prevent accidental commingling with standard grains.
ERR-39, February 22, 2007
Counter-cyclical payments supplement incomes of eligible producers enrolled in commodity programs. ERS developed a computer program that improved upon USDA’s method of estimating payment rates and that producers and forecasters can use.
OCE-2007-1, February 14, 2007
This report provides longrun (10-year) projections for the agricultural sector through 2016. Projections cover agricultural commodities, agricultural trade, and aggregate indicators of the sector, such as farm income and food prices.
EIB-6-4, February 13, 2007
Federal expenditures for USDA’s food assistance programs totaled almost $53 billion in fiscal 2006, a 4-percent increase over the previous fiscal year. This was the sixth consecutive year in which food assistance expenditures increased and the fourth consecutive year in which they exceeded the previ...
ERR-37, February 07, 2007
In fall 2005, Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma devastated areas along much of the Gulf Coast resulting in large increases in food stamp caseloads and benefits issued. In November 2005, the number of people receiving food stamps reached a record 29.7 million, or about 4 million more participants t...
Amber Waves, February 01, 2007
Off-farm income has risen steadily over recent decades. Small-farm households are more likely to devote time to off-farm employment than larger farms. New technologies enhance options for trading onfarm work for off-farm employment. Farm households with higher off-farm income are more likely to ad...
Amber Waves, February 01, 2007
The depreciation of the U.S. dollar has increased the competitive advantage of U.S. agriculture and stimulated export demand for U.S. agricultural products. Strong economic growth in developing countries also has contributed to strong U.S. agricultural export performance. Despite depreciating again...
Amber Waves, February 01, 2007
A recent World Trade Organization challenge to U.S. commodity programs has created pressure to eliminate fruit and vegetable planting restrictions on farms that plant program crops. If planting restrictions were relaxed, overall market effects would likely be limited, with the greatest effects in C...
ERR-36, February 01, 2007
ERS examines the relationship between off-farm work, farmers’ technology choices, and the economic performance of farms and farm households.
AP-019, January 30, 2007
ERS's Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program (FANRP) supports intramural and extramural research on a wide range of policy-relevant food assistance and nutrition topics. The three perennial program themes are (1) diet and nutritional outcomes, (2) food program targeting and delivery, and (3)...
ERR-32, January 04, 2007
As incomes rise in China, consumers are demanding greater quality, convenience, and safety in food. Recent changes in China’s food market landscape warrant a new assessment of its food demand.
ERR-34, December 29, 2006
ERS examines retail purchases of beef and beef products for evidence of response to the 2003 government announcements of finding cows infected with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE).
ERR-33, December 29, 2006
This report focuses on retail food market dynamics and how they affect food price variation across store formats. The differences in prices across store formats are especially noteworthy when compared with standard measures of food price inflation over time. Over the past 20 years, annual food price...
EIB-21, December 29, 2006
Rural Employment At A Glance is a six-page brochure that highlights the most recent indicators of employment and unemployment in rural areas. It documents changes and differences in metro and nonmetro employment growth, unemployment, earnings per job, and occupational mix, as well as differences acr...
LDPM-15001, December 27, 2006
Organic poultry and egg markets in the United States are expanding rapidly. Statistics for the sector, especially the number of organic broilers, also signal expanding domestic supply. This report examines trends in markets, animal numbers, and prices for organic poultry and eggs. Price comparisons ...
RCS-200601, December 08, 2006
U.S. rice farming is a high-cost, large-scale production operation that depends on the global market for about half its annual sales. Government payments per acre are high compared with other program crops, as is the share of the sector’s income accounted for by payments. While domestic demand for r...
ERR-31, November 20, 2006
To help Americans meet nutritional requirements while staying within caloric recommendations, the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans encourage consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole-grain products, and fat-free or low-fat milk or milk products. This report provides one view of the potential imp...
ERR-29, November 15, 2006
Eighty-nine percent of American households were food secure throughout the entire year in 2005, meaning that they had access, at all times, to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members. The remaining households were food insecure at least some time during that year. The preva...
EIB-20, November 15, 2006
States differ in the extent to which their residents are food secure—meaning that they have consistent access to enough food for active, healthy living. The prevalence of food security in a State depends not only on the characteristics of households in the State, such as their income, employment, an...
ERR-28, November 14, 2006
Current dynamics in world dairy markets and the potential for global and domestic trade policy reform are bringing the U.S. dairy sector to a new crossroads as it faces competitive forces from outside its borders. Those forces—demand for new products by consumers in industrialized countries, changes...
ERR-30, November 08, 2006
Participants in U.S. farm programs are restricted from planting and harvesting wild rice, fruit, and most vegetables (nonprogram crops) on acreage historically used for program crops (known as base acreage). However, a recent World Trade Organization challenge to U.S. programs has created pressure t...
Amber Waves, November 01, 2006
Rising global income and Brazil's ready availability of land, water, and labor has allowed Brazil to increase crop and meat production and expand exports. However, the long-term growth of Brazilian agriculture could slow due to supply side factors. Furthermore, continued growth in domestic food de...
Amber Waves, November 01, 2006
This Amber Waves article analyzes how crop revenue insurance offers farmers a way to manage revenue variability that results from yield and price risks. Revenue insurance has become a major part of the subsidized Federal crop insurance program but there are difficulties in using single-commodity and...
Amber Waves, November 01, 2006
Adverse publicity about contaminated food incidents has prompted improved food safety programs in China for both the domestic and export market. This article reviews the challenges for Chinese food safety and government programs to improve standards. Only a small portion of Chinese production for ...
Amber Waves, November 01, 2006
The prevalence of poverty has historically been greater in nonmetro than metro areas since poverty rates were first officially recorded. However, adjusting the official poverty measure for cost-of-living differences reverses the rankings of metro and nonmetro poverty. Such a reversal would have im...
ERR-27, October 23, 2006
Processing plants in eight major food industries were highly productive before being acquired and they significantly improved their labor productivity afterward, Economic Research Service and U.S. Census Bureau researchers found in their analysis of Census data. The industries are meat packing, meat...
EIB-19, October 17, 2006
Whether eating out or buying carry-out, Americans are consuming more and more of their calories from full-service and fast-food restaurant fare. The share of daily caloric intake from food purchased and/or eaten away from home increased from 18 percent to 32 percent between the late 1970s and the mi...
WRS-0602, September 15, 2006
Canada has become the United States’ most important trading partner. Canada is a large exporter to the United States of critical raw materials—including natural gas, petroleum, and wood products—and a substantial importer of finished industrial and consumer goods. Canada’s agricultural trade continu...
ERR-26, September 15, 2006
Economic Research Reports present original economic analysis, findings, and implications primarily for public and private decisionmakers’ staff and researchers. The prevalence of poverty has been greater in nonmetro areas than in metro areas in every year since the 1960s when poverty rates were firs...
EIB-6-3, September 15, 2006
USDA expenditures for its 15 food assistance programs totaled $27.7 billion during the first half of fiscal 2006 (October 2005-March 2006), a 7-percent increase over the first half of fiscal 2005. Five programs—the Food Stamp Program; the National School Lunch Program; the Special Supplemental Nutri...
LDPM-146-01, September 08, 2006
Uncertainty continues to shape the forecasts for animal products markets in 2006. Potential and actual animal disease outbreaks, consumer sensitivities, volatile exchange rates, and growing competition from producers in other countries cloud U.S. trade prospects for major meats. Loss of U.S. trade m...
Amber Waves, September 01, 2006
Economic forces and policy changes encourage producers to shift less productive, or 'marginal,' cropland in and out of production. Because marginal lands are also environmentally sensitive along several dimensions, cropland shifts have environmental, as well as economic, effects. Thus, agricultural ...
Amber Waves, September 01, 2006
For the past 5 years, World Trade Organization (WTO) members have struggled to negotiate a new agreement in the Doha Development Round. In launching a new round of trade negotiations, WTO members recognized the contribution of the multilateral trading system to economic growth and development and pl...
Amber Waves, September 01, 2006
Income fluctuations cause low-income families to cycle in and out of eligibility for food assistance programs. Twenty-eight percent of U.S. households with children experienced at least one monthly income change in the late 1990s that put them above or below the eligibility criteria for many progra...
Amber Waves, September 01, 2006
Food-assistance programs provide a safety net to help U.S. households purchase sufficient food. These programs, particularly the Food Stamp Program, increase food spending and household income. In 2004, adding food stamp benefits to recipients' incomes raised 9 percent of recipients out of poverty...
ERR-25, August 31, 2006
This report examines evidence on the relationship between agricultural land-use changes, soil productivity, and indicators of environmental sensitivity. If cropland that shifts in and out of production is less productive and more environmentally sensitive than other cropland, policy-induced changes ...
ERR-22, August 29, 2006
Over half of all infant formula sold in the United States is purchased through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Typically, WIC State agencies obtain substantial discounts in the form of rebates from infant formula manufacturers for each can of formul...
EIB-18, August 29, 2006
Rural America At A Glance, 2006 Edition highlights the most recent indicators of social and economic conditions in rural areas for use in developing policies and programs to assist rural areas. The brochure provides information on key rural conditions and trends for use by public and private decisio...
ERR-20, August 25, 2006
Low-income households that participate in the Food Stamp Program can achieve a healthy diet if they use the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) as a guide for their food shopping. Most studies measuring the degree to which low-income households follow the TFP have compared total household food expenditures—for ...
EIB-17, August 25, 2006
The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) serves more than 29 million children each day, but there is little information on the characteristics of those children. This study reports new estimates of NSLP participant characteristics using two national surveys: the 2001 Panel of the Survey of Income an...
ERR-24, August 15, 2006
ERS estimates the share of retail food prices farmers earn on two commodity groups—fruits and vegetables. While the farm share has been shrinking, the decrease is less than previously believed.
ERR-23, August 15, 2006
Income volatility challenges the effectiveness of the safety net that USDA food assistance programs provide low-income families. This study examines income volatility among households with children and the implications of volatility for eligibility in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). The re...
TBS-26001, August 04, 2006
This study focuses on factors that led to changes in the estimated residual returns to management and risk from tobacco production in 2003-04. Residual returns per acre for flue-cured tobacco declined less than those for burley tobacco in 2004 because yield increases for flue-cured tobacco helped to...
LDPM-14501, July 24, 2006
Over time, shifts in consumer demands, in the location and structure of milk production, in industry concentration, in international markets, and in trade agreements have dramatically altered the U.S. dairy industry and changed the context for dairy policies and the sector as a whole. In the future,...
EIB-16, July 21, 2006
These chapters describe trends in resources used in and affected by agricultural production, as well as the economic conditions and policies that influence agricultural resource use and its environmental impacts. Each of the 28 chapters provides a concise overview of a specific topic with links to s...
Amber Waves, July 01, 2006
Environmental credit trading is a market-based approach to complying with regulations with the potential to achieve pollution abatement goals at least cost to society. Agriculture can contribute to credit trading programs by generating pollution-reduction credits through the adoption of environment...
Amber Waves, July 01, 2006
Agricultural production practices have generated a variety of substances that enter the atmosphere and have the potential of creating health and environmental problems. The air in some farming communities can be as impaired by pollutants such as ozone and particulates as air in urban areas. Two ch...
Amber Waves, July 01, 2006
This article addresses an unintended consequences of high levels of enrollment in the CRP, that of farmland retirement's impact of rural growth. To examine this issue, this article examines the local socioeconomic changes that accompanied CRP enrollment in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and discus...
Amber Waves, July 01, 2006
All sizes and types of farms have adopted conservation practices and installed conservation structures. Programs that support a wide range of alternative conservation practices are more likely to match the wide range of interests of farmers. Recent ERS research suggests that farms and farm househo...
Amber Waves, July 01, 2006
Due to the influence and interactions of many factors, evaluation of conservation programs is a data-intensive and technically challenging process. This article provides an overview of the steps necessary for evaluating the success of conservation program. These steps must address two questions: 1...
Amber Waves, July 01, 2006
This article describes the policy shift in the 2002 Farm Bill toward increased funding of conservation policies, and shifting conservation priorities. The share of conservation funds allocated to working lands (land used for crop production or grazing) will increase, a modest increase in retirement ...
FAU-11401, June 30, 2006
U.S. agricultural exports reached a new record in fiscal 2005 at $62.4 billion, but only $1 million higher than the record set in fiscal 2004. While California and Iowa continued their reign as top exporting states, Texas regained its third place position ahead of Illinois; Indiana moved back into t...
ERR-21, June 30, 2006
The rate at which U.S. farms go out of business, or exit farming, is about 9 or 10 percent per year, comparable to exit rates for nonfarm small businesses in the United States. U.S. farms have not disappeared because the rate of entry into farming is nearly as high as the exit rate. The relatively s...
EIB-15, June 28, 2006
In recent U.S. farm policy debates, several “whole-farm revenue” programs have been proposed as a new form of safety net that would be available to all U.S. farms. A whole-farm program is based on revenues from all farming activities added together and is not linked to the production of particular c...
LDPM-14301, June 09, 2006
The first confirmed cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Canada and the United States had significant effects on trade and prices of U.S. cattle and beef. However, these incidents occurred during a period of low U.S. beef supplies, near-record beef prices, and strong domestic demand fo...
Amber Waves, June 01, 2006
Budget constraints force policymakers to choose which programs to fund, even when human health and safety are at risk. The principle of weighing costs and benefits can help policymakers determine which programs will save the most lives or lead to the largest improvements in health and well-being. Th...
Amber Waves, June 01, 2006
This article assesses the causes and impacts of the rapid spread of modern retail outlets in the developing Asia-Pacific region. These modern outlets are contributing to food-system modernization and efficiency, lower food costs, and higher food quality and safety standards. Enhanced food-system di...
Amber Waves, June 01, 2006
All sizes and types of farms have adopted conservation practices and installed conservation structures. Programs that support a wide range of alternative conservation practices are more likely to match the wide range of interests of farmers. Recent ERS research suggests that farms and farm househo...
Amber Waves, June 01, 2006
Hispanics increasingly meet labor demand arising from
industry restructuring.
GFA-17, May 31, 2006
In 2005, 777 million people were food insecure in 70 lower income countries studied in this report. On average, there has been a slight decline in the number of hungry people from 688 million in 1992-94 to 639 million in 2002-04. Both Asia and the Commonwealth of Independent States experienced a 30-...
ERR-19, May 31, 2006
Many of the Nation’s conservation programs use an index approach to prioritize environmental and cost objectives. In an index, objectives are weighted by relative importance. This report provides empirical evidence on the cost and environmental benefit tradeoffs of different weighting schemes in USD...
EIB-14, May 31, 2006
This publication presents the results of the latest (2002) inventory of U.S. major land uses, drawing on data from the Census, public land management and conservation agencies, and other sources. The data are synthesized by State to calculate the use of several broad classes and subclasses of agricu...
SSSM-246, May 30, 2006
Mexico has been a significant producer, consumer, and exporter of sugar. Figure
M1 shows trends and relationships between these variables since 1960. Sugar
production has been steadily growing since 1960. Yearly production growth
averaged 66,000 metric tons (mt) from 1960-74, and it averaged 81,0...
EIB-13, May 15, 2006
American farms vary widely in size and other characteristics, but farming is still an industry of family businesses. Ninety-eight percent of farms are family farms, and they account for 86 percent of farm production. Very small farms are growing in number, and small family farms continue to own most...
EIB-12, May 15, 2006
Most farms in the United States—98 percent in 2003—are family farms. They are organized as proprietorships, partnerships, or family corporations. Even the largest farms tend to be family farms. Very large family farms account for a small share of farms but a large—and growing—share of farm sales. Sm...
VGS-314, April 20, 2006
In 2005, per capita use (also known as disappearance or consumption) of all vegetables and melons declined 1 percent to 444 pounds. Disappearance of all vegetables and melons
totaled 131 billion pounds in 2005, compared with 120 billion pounds a decade earlier. Per capita use of fresh market vegetab...
EB-8, April 20, 2006
USDA’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides supplemental foods to participants, in most cases through vouchers for retail purchase of foods designated as approved by the program. WIC food packages were initially designed to include foods rich in nutr...
ERR-17, April 19, 2006
This report reviews recent developments in India's oilseed sector and assesses the implications of current and potential future policy reforms for the oilseed sector. Extensive policy intervention continues to affect oilseed production, trade, and processing in India. Findings suggest that India's c...
EIB-11, April 19, 2006
Ten years after the first generation of genetically engineered (GE) varieties became commercially available, adoption of these varieties by U.S. farmers is widespread for major crops. Driven by farmers' expectations of higher yields, savings in management time, and lower pesticide costs, the adoptio...
VGS-31301, April 17, 2006
This report describes the economic characteristics of the U.S. fruit and vegetable industry, providing supply, demand, and policy background for an industry that accounts for nearly a third of U.S. crop cash receipts and a fifth of U.S. agricultural exports.
OCS-200601, April 04, 2006
This report addresses key domestic and international market and policy developments that have affected the U.S. soybean sector in recent years. It provides an analysis of the competition between crops for domestic farmland and the international supply and demand for soybean products. Also covered ar...
ERR-18, April 03, 2006
ERS examines and evaluates, as a case study, USDA's coordinated framework for soybean rust surveillance, reporting, prediction, and management.
Amber Waves, April 01, 2006
This article examines the possible market impacts of the ongoing expansion of the U.S. ethanol sector. To meet the sector's growing demand for corn, some of the corn produced in the United States is likely to be diverted from exports. In the future, corn may cease to be the main feedstock for U.S. e...
Amber Waves, April 01, 2006
In the last decade, animal disease outbreaks have repeatedly disrupted meat trade. The economic effects of disease-related trade bans and consumption changes on an individual country depend on the size of its meat trade relative to domestic production or consumption as well as consumers' perception...
Amber Waves, April 01, 2006
Higher energy costs have led agricultural producers to substitute more expensive fuels with less expensive fuels, shift to less energy-intensive crops, and employ energy-conserving production practices where possible. Energy price increases will have the biggest impact on farmers where energy repre...
Amber Waves, April 01, 2006
Using information, individuals can make sound decisions that allow them to adjust their actions to the situation at-hand. Farmers facing a potential pest infection, such as soybean rust, can use publicly provided information about the likelihood of infection to make better decisions about the amoun...
AP-018, March 17, 2006
ERS's Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program accepted proposals for grants and cooperative agreements for fiscal 2006. The three priority research areas were (1) Economic Incentives in Food Assistance Programs, (2) Food Assistance as a Safety Net, and (3) Food Choices, Obesity, and Human Cap...
EB-7, March 14, 2006
ERS measures economic well-being, measured by the income and wealth, of the average farm household
EB-6, March 14, 2006
Crop production is shifting to much larger farms. Since government commodity payments reflect production volumes for program commodities, payments are also shifting to larger farms. In turn, the operators of very large farms have substantially higher household incomes than other farm households, and...
EB-5, March 14, 2006
A multitude of design decisions influence the performance of voluntary conservation programs. This Economic Brief is one of a set of five exploring the implications of decisions policymakers and program managers must make about who is eligible to receive payments, how much can be received, for what ...
EB-4, March 14, 2006
A multitude of design decisions influence the performance of voluntary conservation programs. This Economic Brief is one of a set of five exploring the implications of decisions policymakers and program managers must make about who is eligible to receive payments, how much can be received, for what ...
EB-3, March 14, 2006
A multitude of design decisions influence the performance of voluntary conservation programs. This Economic Brief is one of a set of five exploring the implications of decisions policymakers and program managers must make about who is eligible to receive payments, how much can be received, for what ...
EB-2, March 14, 2006
A multitude of design decisions influence the performance of voluntary conservation programs. This Economic Brief is one of a set of five exploring the implications of decisions policymakers and program managers must make about who is eligible to receive payments, how much can be received, for what ...
EB-1, March 14, 2006
A multitude of design decisions influence the performance of voluntary conservation programs. This Economic Brief is one of a set of five exploring the implications of decisions policymakers and program managers must make about who is eligible to receive payments, how much can be received, for what ...
ERR-15, March 02, 2006
This report examines the use of intellectual property rights in Federal technology transfer, focusing primarily on the Agricultural Research Service (ARS). ARS uses patenting and licensing when a technology requires additional development by a private sector partner to yield a marketable product. Li...
ERR-16, February 22, 2006
This report examines issues related to modeling complex policy regimes that affect international dairy markets using a partial equilibrium, multiple-commodity, multiregion model of agricultural policy and trade. Average bound tariffs for dairy remain among the highest of all agricultural commodities...
EIB-6-2, February 15, 2006
One in five Americans participates in at least one of USDA's food and nutrition assistance programs during the year. In fiscal 2005, an estimated 55 percent of USDA's budget supported the programs that provide children and low-income people with access to food, a healthful diet, and nutrition educat...
FTS-32001, February 14, 2006
China has raised its profile in global fruit and vegetable markets, with the value of its exports during 2002-04 more than double the value from a decade earlier. Most of China's exports are processed fruits and vegetables that do not yet pose a serious challenge to U.S. exports. However, China's fr...
OCE-2006-1, February 10, 2006
This report, released by the Office of the Chief Economist, provides long-run (10-year) baseline projections for the agricultural sector through 2015. Projections cover agricultural commodities, agricultural trade, and aggregate indicators of the sector, such as farm income and food prices.
EIB-7, February 06, 2006
Corn production costs per bushel vary considerably among U.S. producers, depending on yields, farm location, tillage practices, irrigation, previous field usage, enterprise size, and weather. In 2001, the operating and ownership costs per bushel for corn ranged from an average of $1.08 for the 25 pe...
Amber Waves, February 01, 2006
With its roots in the Great Depression and expansion during the 1970s after the Government’s declared war on poverty, the Food Stamp Program was designed to provide a nutritional safety net for low-income households while boosting demand for domestic agricultural products.
Amber Waves, February 01, 2006
Farm production is shifting from smaller to larger family farms and from spot (or cash) markets to contracts. Technological developments may underlie much of the shift to larger farms, but expanded use of production and marketing contracts supports that shift by reducing financial risks for farm op...
Amber Waves, February 01, 2006
The Amber Waves article, “The World Bids Farewell to the Multifiber Arrangement,” reviews the genesis and implications of the Multifibre Arrangement (MFA) in the context of the recent removal of the textile import quotas by the United States, the European Union, and Canada. The implica...
Amber Waves, February 01, 2006
The article compares EU-15 and US policies regarding organic agriculture, and compares the farm sector and retail markets in the two regions.
Amber Waves, February 01, 2006
Environmental credit trading is a market-based approach to complying with regulations with the potential to achieve pollution abatement goals at least cost to society. Agriculture can contribute to credit trading programs by generating pollution-reduction credits through the adoption of environment...
ERR-14, February 01, 2006
This report examines the business, operator, and household characteristics of farms that have adopted certain conservation-compatible practices, with and without financial assistance from government conservation programs. The analysis finds that attributes of the farm operator and household and char...
SSSM-245, January 31, 2006
The European Union’s (EU-25) sugar program has been scheduled for reform every five years for the last 40 years. However, its success in making sugar one of the most profitable crops in many EU countries has succeeded in delaying reform proposals until recently.
WRS-0601, January 11, 2006
China has substantially boosted lending to farmers and agribusinesses in recent years. The balance of loans to farmers doubled between 2001 and 2005. Loans for agribusinesses and rural infrastructure rose as well. Rural credit cooperatives and banks that lend to agriculture are being reformed and co...
FTS-31901, January 11, 2006
Strong economic growth is projected to lead to continued expansion of Indian apple demand, but the high cost of domestic and imported apples compared with other Indian fruit is likely to limit consumption to higher income consumers. U.S. apples have accounted for the largest share of Indian imports,...
AP-017, January 11, 2006
ERS's Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program (FANRP) supports intramural and extramural research on a wide range of policy-relevant food assistance and nutrition topics. The three perennial program themes are (1) diet and nutritional outcomes, (2) food program targeting and delivery, and (3)...
EIB-9, January 04, 2006
Marketing and production contracts covered 39 percent of the value of U.S. agricultural production in 2003, up from 36 percent in 2001 and a substantial increase over estimated values of 28 percent for 1991 and 11 percent in 1969. Large farms are far more likely to contract than small farms; in fact...
WHS-05K01, December 29, 2005
U.S. wheat plantings are about 30 percent lower than in the early 1980s. Wheat demand fell with changing consumer preferences and strong competition in export markets. Low returns led to the substitution of competing crops for wheat, particularly on the Plains. Farms depending on wheat sales for ove...
EIB-8, December 28, 2005
Rural Hispanics at a Glance provides the latest information from the 2000 Census and other Federal data sources about Hispanics living in nonmetro counties. This six-page brochure highlights growth and geographic dispersion, demographic characteristics, and the most recent indicators of social and e...
VGS-312, December 16, 2005
With total 2005 potato production down 7.5 percent, the January-October price received by growers/shippers/packers for fresh-market potatoes averaged $9.27 per cwt, 25 percent above the average received during the first 10 months of 2004. By contrast, prices for
processing potatoes (which largely mo...
ERR-13, December 09, 2005
Empirical analysis of mergers and acquisitions in eight important food industries suggests that workers in acquired plants realized modest increases in employment and wages relative to other workers. Results also show that mergers and acquisitions reduced the likelihood of plant closures while high ...
Amber Waves, November 01, 2005
This Amber Waves articles addresses how global dairy markets have changed and asks the question whether dairy policies stand in the way of the industry taking advantage of new market opportunities.
Amber Waves, November 01, 2005
Recent Federal tax legislation has reduced income tax rates for both individuals and businesses and cut the number of farm estates that owe Federal estate taxes. Commercial farmers are the primary beneficiaries of the reduced business and estate taxes.
Amber Waves, November 01, 2005
Good schools and a well-educated labor force benefit both workers and their communities. But rural areas often face special challenges in their efforts to raise school quality and educational attainment.
Amber Waves, November 01, 2005
Just 20 years ago, traditional grocery stores claimed nearly 90 percent of Americans' at-home food purchases. Today, their share has dropped to 69 percent. Led by retail giants Wal-Mart, Costco, and Target, nontraditional food stores have managed to grab market share by enticing consumers with a fo...
ERR-10, October 31, 2005
ERS examined the relationship between employment trends and industrial and occupational shifts in rural America. Among the findings: The share of low-skill jobs in the rural employment mix fell by 2.2 percentage points between 1990 and 2000, to 42.2 percent, slower than the 5-percentage-point drop i...
OCS-05I01, October 26, 2005
Like producers of other agricultural commodities, U.S. peanut growers in recent years have confronted pressures from market forces and the impacts of policy developments, both domestic and international. Most notably, peanut policy was transformed in 2002 by the elimination of a decades-old marketin...
FTS-31801, October 26, 2005
The World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled in June 2005 that Japan's phytosanitary protocol related to fire blight for imports of U.S. apples was not justified and was in breach of Japan's WTO commitments. In August 2005, Japan issued a new phytosanitary protocol that complies with the WTO ruling. Wit...
ERR-11, October 14, 2005
Eighty-eight percent of American households were food secure throughout the entire year in 2004, meaning that they had access, at all times, to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members. The remaining households were food insecure at least some time during that year. The prev...
LDPM-13502, October 07, 2005
Beef is a highly consumed meat in the United States, averaging 67 pounds per person per year. Findings based on the 1994-96 and 1998 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII) indicate that most beef was eaten at home. Annual beef consumption per person was highest in the Midwest (73 p...
EIB-6-1, October 04, 2005
USDA expenditures for its 15 food assistance programs totaled $25.9 billion during the first half of fiscal 2005 (October 2004-March 2005), an 11-percent increase over the first half of fiscal 2004. Five programs—the Food Stamp Program, the National School Lunch Program, the Special Supplemental Nut...
TBS-25901, September 30, 2005
U.S. tobacco product manufacturers use foreign-produced leaf in items such as cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and pipe tobacco. Imports peaked in the mid-1990s, but remain at historically high levels. The popularity of generic cigarettes-which use cheaper imported leaf-and increases in domestic...
EIB-5, September 29, 2005
Food Dynamics provides the most up-to-date information on consumer behavior and retail food market conditions.
EIB-4, September 22, 2005
Rural America At A Glance, 2005 is a six-page brochure that highlights the most recent indicators of social and economic conditions in rural areas for use in developing policies and programs to assist rural areas. The brochure is the fourth in a series of reports that uses current social and economi...
ERR-12, September 19, 2005
The 2002 Farm Act provided farmland owners the opportunity to update commodity program base acres and payment yields used for calculating selected program benefits. Findings in this report suggest that farmland owners responded to economic incentives in these decisions, selecting those options for d...
LDPM-13501, September 16, 2005
This study focuses on fed cattle markets to compare the mandatory price reporting system developed by USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service in 2001 with the previous voluntary reporting system. The study also evaluates whether the mandatory system has improved the amount and quality of information a...
Amber Waves, September 01, 2005
Agricultural production practices have generated a variety of substances that enter the atmosphere and have the potential of creating health and environmental problems. Two challenges for reducing air emissions from agriculture are potential inter-relationships with water quality, and a lack of inf...
Amber Waves, September 01, 2005
Recreation and tourism development contributes to rural well-being, increasing local employment, wage levels, and income; reducing poverty; and improving education and health. But recreation and tourism development is not without drawbacks, including higher housing costs.
Amber Waves, September 01, 2005
Fifty years ago, half of all U.S. farm families were poor. Today, however, farm poverty is at its lowest level in the Nation's history due to the availability of remunerative off-farm employment coupled with onfarm gains in labor productivity.
Amber Waves, September 01, 2005
The Asia-Pacific food system faces the challenge of rapid urbanization and concentration of food demand, while food-producing areas remain geographically dispersed. Sustaining growth in urban food demand requires streamlining domestic supply chains or negotiating trade agreements to open domestic ma...
ERR-9, September 01, 2005
Animal waste from confined animal feeding operations is a potential source of air and water quality degradation. Pollution from animal waste poses challenges to farmers and to resource managers because it can affect multiple resources while environmental laws typically focus only on a single resourc...
LDPM-13401, August 24, 2005
This report provides a detailed description and analysis of Japan’s policies that support its milk producers and regulate dairy markets. Domestic supply controls boost the milk price, and government subsidies for producing manufacturing milk, for environmental improvements, and for hazard insurance ...
SSSM-243-01, August 19, 2005
U.S. consumption of sugars added to food items increased by 23 percent between 1985 and 1999. Although USDA data have documented the overall growth trend, not much has been inferred from USDA survey data. This article helps fill a gap by reporting findings for sweetener consumption by income and dem...
WRS-0505, August 12, 2005
Organic farmland and sales are rapidly growing worldwide, and the two largest markets are in the European Union (EU) and the United States. The two regions have adopted different policy approaches to organic agriculture. Many EU countries have "green payments" available for transitioning and continu...
ERR-7, August 09, 2005
Recreation and tourism development generally increases local employment, wage levels, and income in rural areas. Drawbacks include higher housing costs. Local effects vary significantly, depending on the type of recreation area.
LDPM-13301, August 03, 2005
Disease outbreaks and related trade restrictions that affected U.S. animal product markets and exports in 2003 continued to constrain markets in 2004. U.S. cattle and beef markets were most affected. Pork, dairy, and lamb markets did not face any direct disease issues but both U.S. and international...
ERR-8, July 20, 2005
Over 60 percent of China's consumers live on farms. Consequently, a large share of the agricultural commodities produced in China is consumed on farms by the rural population. This study of rural food consumption patterns in China finds that rural households rely on self-produced commodities, especi...
FAU-10201, July 08, 2005
U.S. agricultural exports reached a record $62.2 billion in fiscal 2004, boosted in part by a declining U.S. dollar. Illinois moved ahead of Texas to rank third among U.S. agricultural exporting States after California and Iowa, as fiscal 2004 U.S. agricultural exports continued to expand. Arkansas ...
ERR-5, June 03, 2005
The 2002 Farm Bill sharply increased conservation funding and earmarked most of the increase for working-land payment programs (WLPPs). The design and implementation of WLPPs will largely determine the extent to which environmental goals are achieved and whether they are achieved cost effectively. T...
CWS-05D01, June 02, 2005
India's prospects are changing now that the Multifiber Arrangement (MFA) no longer governs world textile trade. Decades of industrial policies that were both inward-oriented and biased toward small-scale production continue to influence India's textile trade prospects. While the recent introduction ...
Amber Waves, June 01, 2005
In 1995, 80 percent of eligible U.S. farm acreage was enrolled in crop insurance. Still, Congress has continued to pass ad hoc disaster assistance measures in reaction to drought and other adverse events. Since 2000, four such programs have been authorized, covering 6 crop years for a total cost of ...
Amber Waves, June 01, 2005
The list of policies that could potentially help Americans turn the corner on obesity and overweight is as long as the list of factors that influence an individual’s diet and lifestyle choices. The list of unintended consequences stemming from obesity policy is probably longer.
Amber Waves, June 01, 2005
The agricultural economies of Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. are increasingly behaving as if they form one market. Not only is U.S. agricultural trade with Canada and Mexico on a clear upward trend, but firms are reorganizing their activities around continental markets for both inputs and outputs.
Amber Waves, June 01, 2005
The 2005 Dietary Guidelines encourage all Americans over age 2 to eat roughly half of their recommended 5 to 10 daily servings of grains, depending on calorie needs. The goal of this new recommendation is to improve Americans' health by raising awareness of whole grains and their role in nutritious ...
EIB-3, June 01, 2005
The structure of farms, farm households, and the rural communities in which they exist has evolved markedly over the last century. Historical data on a range of farm structure variables—including the value of agricultural production, commodity specialization, farming-dependent counties, and off-farm...
VGS-30801, May 27, 2005
Price premiums for organic products have contributed to growth in certified organic farmland and, ultimately, market expansion. Fresh produce has long been an important component of the organic food sector, and a significant contributor to the organic industry's growth over the last decade. This art...
LDPM-13101, May 26, 2005
The beef, pork, and poultry industries of Mexico, Canada, and the United States have tended to become more economically integrated over the past two decades. Sanitary barriers, which are designed to protect people and animals from diseases, are some of the most significant barriers to fuller integra...
EIB-2, May 24, 2005
Crop genetic resources are the basis of agricultural production. However, crop genetic resources are largely public goods, so private incentives for genetic resource conservation may fall short of achieving public objectives. Within the U.S. germplasm system, certain crop collections lack sufficient...
ERR-6, May 20, 2005
Nonreciprocal trade preference programs originated in the 1970s as an effort by high-income developed countries to provide tariff concessions for low-income countries. This study analyzes detailed trade and tariff data for the United States and the European Union (the two largest nonreciprocal prefe...
TBS-25801, May 13, 2005
Average net returns per acre were estimated to be negative for burley and flue-cured tobacco in 2003. Total economic costs for burley and flue-cured tobacco production likely rose in 2003 from 2002 due to higher costs for energy, labor, and quota rental rates. Cost estimates are computed using produ...
LDPM-13001, May 12, 2005
Pork ranks third in annual U.S. meat consumption, behind beef and chicken, averaging 51 pounds per person. The Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII) indicates that most pork is consumed at home. Pork consumption is highest in the Midwest, followed by the South, the Northeast, and ...
WRS-0504, May 06, 2005
China's agricultural imports more than doubled between 2002 and 2004 due to surging demand for basic commodities, a more open trade regime, and tighter commodity supplies in the Chinese domestic market. U.S. agricultural exports to China jumped to a record $5.5 billion in 2004 due to dramatic growth...
GFA-16, April 28, 2005
Just over 1 billion people in the 70 low-income countries studied in this report are estimated to have consumed less than the recommended nutritional requirements in 2004. This marks an increase from more than 830 million in 2003. Over the coming decade, food security is projected to improve most si...
AER-815, April 28, 2005
Investigates the relative importance of preserving different amenities conserved by farmland protection programs. Examines farmland protection program enabling legislation in the 48 contiguous States, and implementation of these programs in five Northeastern States.
ERR-4, April 27, 2005
Americans spent about 46 percent of their total food budget on food away from home in 2002, up from 27 percent in 1962. Such foods tend to be less nutritious and higher in calories than foods prepared at home, and some studies have linked eating away from home to overweight and obesity in adults and...
WRS-0503, April 15, 2005
Countercyclical assistance is the common thread among recent agricultural policy innovations of the United States, Mexico, and Canada. In other areas, the three countries are pursuing distinct agricultural policies, reflecting differing national objectives and economic contexts.
CWS-05C-01, April 15, 2005
The phaseout of the Multifiber Arrangement (MFA) and other forces are reshaping world textile and cotton markets. The elimination of the MFA is helping reduce clothing prices in the United States and the EU and effecting a shift in industrial demand for cotton to China, India, and Pakistan. At the s...
EIB-1, April 06, 2005
Recent data on the demographic, social, and economic characteristics of rural children include comparison of metro and nonmetro poverty rates and participation in food assistance programs, as well as the geographic distribution of child poverty.
Amber Waves, April 01, 2005
The new Federal recommendations in the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans would require the typical American to eat almost twice the amount of fruits and vegetables he is now consuming and to choose a more varied mix of these healthy foods. With this in mind, nutritionists and produce marketers ...
Amber Waves, April 01, 2005
Rural communities have changed dramatically since 1990 due to increased population from urban areas, shifts in age and ethnic composition, and economic and industrial restructuring. Increasing competition from abroad and sectoral shifts in employment present new challenges and opportunities in the ...
Amber Waves, April 01, 2005
This article documents the evolution of the North American greenhouse tomato industry in all three countries—the United states, Canada, and Mexico.
Amber Waves, April 01, 2005
Retirement and succession planning are of considerable importance to farm households and there are good reasons to believe that they are affected by savings and retirement policies in ways that are different from the rest of the Nation's households. This article examines how farmers save for retire...
ERR-3, April 01, 2005
Consolidation and structural changes in the food industry have had profound impacts on firms, employees, and communities in many parts of the United States. Over 1972-92, eight important food industries underwent a structural transformation in which the number of plants declined by about one-third a...
ERR-2, April 01, 2005
The North American greenhouse tomato industry has grown rapidly since the early 1990s and now plays a major role in the fresh tomato industry. ERS looked at consumption and price trends, competition from Mexico and Canada, and the rising industry’s effect on the entire fresh field tomato sector.
ERR-1, March 23, 2005
This report analyzes consumer demand and nutritional issues associated with nonalcoholic beverages purchased for at-home use by looking at demographic variables such as household size, household income, education level, and region. The beverages include milk, carbonated soft drinks, bottled water, f...
TB-1913, March 18, 2005
As part of a broader ERS assessment of the costs of manure management, a regional modeling framework was developed to evaluate the effect of Federal guidelines for farmland application of manure on the costs of hauling and spreading manure. This report presents technical details of the regional mode...
AP-016, March 18, 2005
ERS's Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program accepted proposals for grants and cooperative agreements for fiscal 2005. The three priority research areas were (1) Strengthening Economic Incentives in Food Assistance Programs, (2) Food Assistance as a Safety Net, and (3) Food Choices, Diet Qua...
AIB-797, March 09, 2005
This report presents comprehensive information on family and nonfamily farms and important trends in farming, operator household income, farm performance, and contracting. Most farms are family farms. Even the largest farms tend to be family farms. Small family farms account for most of the farms in...
WRS-0502, February 22, 2005
In the 11 years since implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the agricultural sectors of Canada, Mexico, and the United States have become much more integrated. U.S. feedstuffs have facilitated a marked increase in Mexican meat production and consumption, and the importan...
FANRR-28-6, February 16, 2005
Expenditures for USDA's 15 food assistance programs totaled $46 billion in fiscal 2004 (October 1, 2003, to September 30, 2004), marking the second consecutive year in which spending exceeded the previous record high. The fiscal 2004 spending level represented a 10-percent increase from the previous...
FANRR-44, February 14, 2005
This study compared consumption patterns of WIC children with those of three different comparison groups: eligible nonparticipating children living in non-WIC households, eligible nonparticipating children living in WIC households, and children living in households whose income is too high to be eli...
FANRR-26-11, February 14, 2005
This study compared consumption patterns of WIC children with those of three different comparison groups: eligible nonparticipating children living in non-WIC households, eligible nonparticipating children living in WIC households, and children living in households whose income is too high to be eli...
AIB-796-5, February 14, 2005
The Nutrition and Health Characteristics of Low-Income Populations study examined several eating behaviors for children and adults using 1988-94 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES-III) data. This summary focuses on the nutritional biochemistry blood tests and bone density measu...
AIB-796-4, February 14, 2005
The Nutrition and Health Characteristics of Low-Income Populations study examined several eating behaviors for children and adults using 1988-94 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES-III) data. The measures provide a baseline to monitor eating behaviors of Americans, focusing on t...
AIB-796-3, February 14, 2005
The Nutrition and Health Characteristics of Low-Income Populations study examined several measures of body weight status for children and adults using 1988-94 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data. The measures provide a baseline to monitor the weight status of Americans, fo...
AIB-796-2, February 14, 2005
The Nutrition and Health Characteristics of Low-Income Populations study examined longrun average, or "usual" intakes of 10 key nutrients and dietary components: energy intake, vitamin C, iron, zinc, calcium, total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, and fiber. Results were estimated for partic...
AIB-796-1, February 14, 2005
The Healthy Eating Index measures how well American diets conform to recommended healthy eating patterns, looking at 10 dietary components. The Nutrition and Health Characteristics of Low-Income Populations study examined the Healthy Eating Index using 1988-94 National Health and Nutrition Examinati...
AIB-796, February 14, 2005
The five summaries in the Nutrition and Health Characteristics of Low-Income Populations series highlight key findings of the multi-volume Nutrition and Health Outcomes Study. The summaries examine the nutritional and health status of: Food Stamp Program (FSP) participants; Special Supplemental Nutr...
OCE-2005-1, February 11, 2005
This report provides longrun (10-year) baseline projections for the agricultural sector through 2014. Projections cover agricultural commodities, agricultural trade, and aggregate indicators of the sector, such as farm income and food prices.
WRS-0501, February 02, 2005
In 2004, China entered a new era in its approach to agricultural policy, as it began to subsidize rather than tax agriculture. China introduced direct subsidies to farmers, began to phase out its centuries-old agricultural tax, subsidized seed and machinery purchases, and increased spending on rural...
Amber Waves, February 01, 2005
This Amber Waves feature provides a description of the economic factors that contributed to the development of U.S.-Canada hog trade.
Amber Waves, February 01, 2005
Do farm program payments boost the vitality of rural communities? ERS research finds that natural amenities - temperate climate, a mix of forest and open space, lakes - are highly correlated with population and employment growth, and these amenities are relatively scarce in agricultural areas with ...
Amber Waves, February 01, 2005
An economist looks at the increasing problem of American obesity: prices, preferences, the value of time, and technology. Is there a role for government intervention?
Amber Waves, February 01, 2005
This article describes how consumer driven changes in global food supply chains, including the growth in private label sales and expansion of multinational retailers and manufacturers in the developing countries, together with existing multilateral trade rules, tend to favor local manufacture of cer...
AIB-794, February 01, 2005
This report describes how consumer preferences are driving changes in global food supply chains, including growth in private label sales and expansion of multinational retailers and manufacturers in developing countries.
AER-840, February 01, 2005
This report examines global food trade patterns and the role of WTO market access rules in shaping the composition of global food trade.
FDS-05a01, January 28, 2005
The 2002 Farm Act provides for counter-cyclical payments when prices are below specified levels. Producers and policy analysts have a need to forecast counter-cyclical payments to plan for these program benefits/outlays. A futures price forecasting model provides forecasts of the counter-cyclical pa...
AP-015, January 28, 2005
ERS's Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program (FANRP) supports intramural and extramural research on a wide range of policy-relevant food assistance and nutrition topics. The three perennial program themes are (1) diet and nutritional outcomes, (2) food program targeting and delivery, and (3)...
AIB-795, January 12, 2005
This six-page brochure provides the latest information on transportation in rural America. The effects of deregulation, devolution of Federal transportation responsibilities to the States, increased Federal funding, and heightened security concerns are discussed in the context of each of the individ...
FANRR-41, January 11, 2005
Food prices within States affect average monthly costs of State food benefits packages provided by the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) more than variations in WIC caseload composition do. In addition, cost-containment practices by State WIC agencies prov...
FANRR--39-2, January 03, 2005
This report develops an economic model that provides the theoretical framework for the econometric analyses presented in the report’s companion volume, WIC and the Retail Price of Infant Formula (FANRR-39-1). The model examines supermarket retail prices for infant formula in a local market area, and...
EFAN-04014-2, December 30, 2004
Data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES-III), conducted in 1988-94, were used to compare the nutrition and health characteristics of participants and nonparticipants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). This resear...
AER-839, December 15, 2004
Whether the poor pay more for food than other income groups is an important question in food price policy research. Stores serving low-income shoppers differ in important ways from stores that receive less of their revenues from Food Stamp redemptions. Stores with more revenues from Food Stamps are ...
WHS-04K01, December 14, 2004
This article provides background on the forces that led to the expansion of hard white wheat (HWW) production, its milling and baking qualities that make it particularly suited for certain products, the adaptation of the marketing system to preserve its identity, and the prospects for HWW's producti...
FANRR-43, December 13, 2004
This report summarizes research findings for the Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Small Grants Program. This report includes summaries of the research projects that were awarded 1-year grants in summer and fall 2002. The projects focus on food assistance and child well-being, food insecurity a...
FANRR-19-3, December 09, 2004
This report provides a comprehensive review and synthesis of published research on the impact of USDA's domestic food and nutrition assistance programs on participants' nutrition and health outcomes. The outcome measures reviewed include food expenditures, household nutrient availability, dietary in...
FANRR-19-4, December 07, 2004
This report provides a summary of a comprehensive review and synthesis of published research on the impact of USDA's domestic food and nutrition assistance programs on participants' nutrition and health outcomes. The outcome measures reviewed include food expenditures, household nutrient availabilit...
EFAN-04013, December 03, 2004
This study analyzes the relationship between Food Stamp Program (FSP) caseloads and the macroeconomy using annual State-level panel data for 1980-99. It is the first study to link the time-series properties of the data to an interpretation of public assistance program policy. A longrun relationship ...
VGS-305-01, December 01, 2004
Using the example of recent hepatitis A outbreaks in the United States associated with green onions from Mexico, this report examines the economics of food safety. It reviews the incentives to adopt additional food safety practices and the economic impact of an outbreak on green onion growers in Mex...
EFAN-04014-4, December 01, 2004
Data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES-III), conducted in 1988-94, were used to compare the nutrition and health characteristics of the Nation's older adults—men and women ages 60 years and older. Three groups of older adults were compared based on household inc...
EFAN-04014-3, December 01, 2004
Data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES-III), conducted in 1988-94, were used to compare the nutrition and health characteristics of the Nation's school-age children—boys and girls ages 5-18. Three groups of children were compared based on household income: incom...
EFAN-04014-1, December 01, 2004
Data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES-III), conducted in 1988-94, were used to compare the nutrition and health characteristics of participants and nonparticipants in the Food Stamp Program (FSP). FSP participants were compared with two groups of nonparticipant...
LDPM-12501, November 24, 2004
About 8 percent of the hogs slaughtered in the United States in 2004 will originate in Canada—many more than 10 years ago. Canadian hogs have flowed into the United States in response to significant structural changes in the U.S. pork industry, concurrent with policy changes in Canada. This, combine...
EFAN-3008-3, November 18, 2004
This study investigated the feasibility of linking administrative data from multiple USDA food assistance and nutrition programs. This report contains findings from Phase II of the study, which collected and linked 2000-02 administrative data on clients of the Food Stamp Program (FSP) and the Specia...
EFAN-03013-3, November 17, 2004
The Food Stamp Program Access Study was motivated by a desire to learn whether and how the administrative policies and practices of local food stamp offices influence the chances of eligible households participating in the program. This report examines the participation decisions of potentially elig...
EFAN-03008, November 17, 2004
This study investigated the feasibility of linking administrative data from multiple USDA food assistance and nutrition programs. To determine the potential for record linkage, Phase I of the study gathered information in 26 States on the characteristics and content of administrative databases for t...
EFAN-04012, November 12, 2004
Quality control (QC) reviews of Food Stamp Program (FSP) cases show that error rates across States range from less than 5 percent to more than 25 percent when both overpayment and underpayment error are combined. This study uses QC data for 1997-2001 and a Markov probability framework to characteriz...
AIB-792-7, November 12, 2004
Rising income, higher educational attainment, improved diet and health knowledge, more frequent eating out, and a growing population that will become older and more diverse in race and ethnicity are all shaping U.S. agricultural consumption. These effects are analyzed using data from the 1994-96 and...
AIB-792-6, November 12, 2004
National data on the diets of U.S. children and adolescents indicate they are consuming more fat and saturated fat than recommended while their intakes of fruits and vegetables fall well below recommended levels.
AIB-792-5, November 12, 2004
Both public and private organizations have noted that Americans generally eat less fruits and vegetables than is recommended in the Food Guide Pyramid. For example, the Produce for Better Health Foundation found that only 38 percent of Americans consume the recommended number of servings of vegetabl...
AIB-792-4, November 12, 2004
Many Americans do not consume the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables. Almost half of Americans think eating more fruits and vegetables would make their diets healthier, so why don't they? One argument is that fruits and vegetables are expensive, especially when purchased fresh. According to...
AIB-792-3, November 12, 2004
The USDA encourages people to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables through the Food Guide Pyramid and participation in the National 5-A-Day Partnership. A varied diet helps ensure a complete mix of nutrients, and a lack of variety in vegetable consumption has been further linked to the incidence o...
AIB-792-2, November 12, 2004
For good health, USDA urges American consumers to eat more fruits and vegetables-5 to 9 servings per day-and to choose a healthier, more varied mix of these foods. The variety of produce available to Americans has blossomed in recent years, but are consumers responding? The first step in determining...
AIB-792-1, November 12, 2004
Nutritionists recommend a variety of vegetables, including regular servings of deep-yellow and dark-green vegetables prepared with limited amounts of fats and sugars. In contrast, the most popular vegetable choice of most Americans is fried potatoes.
TB-257-02, November 08, 2004
Tobacco farms are becoming fewer in number and U.S. tobacco acreage has declined since the 1950s. This article provides a snapshot of tobacco farm characteristics as of 2002. The number of farms growing tobacco in the United States dropped from 512,000 in 1954 to 56,977 in 2002, with 37,013 classifi...
AER-835, November 08, 2004
This study addresses changes in the organization of the U.S. pork industry, most notably marketing contracts between packers and producers, by exploring their function in addressing pork quality concerns. A number of developments brought quality concerns to the forefront. These include health concer...
WHS-04I01, November 05, 2004
This report provides a detailed description and analysis of policies used by Japan to support its wheat and barley producers. Domestic policies include direct payments for production, subsidies to plant wheat and barley on diverted rice paddies, subsidized hazard insurance, and subsidies to increase...
AIB-792, November 04, 2004
Contrary to assumptions that fruits and vegetables are expensive, especially when purchased fresh, a consumer can meet daily recommendation of three servings of fruits and four servings of vegetables for 64 cents.
SB-974-8, November 03, 2004
Sugarbeet production and costs varied considerably across farms and regions in the United States on both a per-acre and a per-ton basis, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture survey of farmers in 2000. This report summarizes production and financial information related to the 2000 sugarbeet ...
Amber Waves, November 01, 2004
In the 1990s, the rural economy slightly outpaced the national decline in low-skill job share, reflecting rural America’s participation in an increasingly skill-intensive national economy. The long-term decline in rural low-skill jobs stemmed first from a steep decline in farm employment and ...
Amber Waves, November 01, 2004
"U.S. Peanut Sector Adapts to Major Policy Changes" examines the experience of the peanut sector following the 2002 Farm Act's elimination of the marketing quota system, and identifies factors affecting the transition to a more market-oriented system. Although peanut prices and acreage declined fol...
Amber Waves, November 01, 2004
The Feature "Farmland Retirement's Impact on Rural Growth" addresses an unintended consequences of high levels of enrollment in the CRP, that of farmland retirement's impact of rural growth. To examine this issue, this article examines the local socioeconomic changes that accompanied CRP enrollment...
Amber Waves, November 01, 2004
U.S. farms vary greatly in size, specialty, and household characteristics. U.S. regions differ markedly in natural resource endowments. And States themselves are widely divergent in terms of their preferences as to how funds from agricultural programs should be spent. Given this diversity, can the ...
AER-837, November 01, 2004
Demand for specific product attributes is making contracts the choice over traditional spot markets for many livestock commodities and some major crops—e.g., sugar beets, fruit, tomatoes.
AER-836, November 01, 2004
Diverse needs and preferences across the United States provide justification for the devolution, or decentralization, of many Federal Government programs to the State or local level. The move toward devolution, however, has not been evidenced in U.S. agricultural policy, despite significant differen...
OCS-04J01, October 29, 2004
Rapid demand growth for soybeans and soybean products has outstripped supply in China over the past two decades. Liberalization in production and trade policies has facilitated the country's booming soybean imports, though some recent policy changes have disrupted imports. Despite short-term disrupt...
AER-838, October 29, 2004
This report analyzes the U.S. experience with decoupled payments in the Production Flexibility Contracts program from 1996 to 2002. The studies in this report consider the effects of decoupled payments on recipient households, and assess land, labor, risk management, and capital market conditions th...
AIB-791, October 28, 2004
This report uses data from the USDA's 1994-96 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals and the 1994-96 Diet and Health Knowledge Survey to ascertain whether economic factors help explain weight differences among adults. Weight differs among demographic subgroups, and differences in specific ...
FANRR-42, October 26, 2004
Eighty-nine percent of American households were food secure throughout the entire year in 2003, meaning that they had access, at all times, to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members. The remaining households were food insecure at least some time during that year. The preva...
TB-25701, October 20, 2004
U.S. consumers spent $86.7 billion on tobacco products in 2003, about $1.5 billion less than in 2002. Expenditures are declining as lower consumption (mainly cigarettes) outweighs higher costs facing tobacco product users. For cigarettes, a larger part of the consumer's dollar went to taxes and manu...
FANRR-28-5, October 19, 2004
Expenditures for USDA's 15 food assistance programs totaled $23.3 billion during the first half of fiscal 2004 (October 1, 2003, to March 31, 2004), an 11-percent increase over the first half of fiscal 2003. If this trend continues during the second half of fiscal 2004, expenditures for the entire f...
WRS-0408, October 12, 2004
China's rapid economic growth has been driven by high rates of investment, gains in productivity, and liberalized foreign trade and investment. China's growth is likely to continue, but the Chinese economy faces some possibly unsustainable pressures.
WRS-04-0502, October 12, 2004
This report examines the prospects for grain exports by the transition economies of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the Newly Independent States (NIS) that export through the Black Sea, the largest being Russia and Ukraine. If productivity growth in the region is high, annual grain exports by B...
AER-834, October 08, 2004
This report estimates the impact that high levels of enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) have had on economic trends in rural counties since the program’s inception in 1985 until today. The results of a growth model and quasi-experimental control group analysis indicate no discernib...
AIB-793, September 30, 2004
Rural America At A Glance, 2004 is a six-page brochure that highlights the most recent indicators of social and economic conditions in rural areas for use in developing policies and programs to assist rural areas. The brochure is the third in a series of reports that uses current social and economic...
EFAN-04011, September 15, 2004
This paper evaluates factors affecting the decision by families that leave the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program to participate in the Food Stamp Program (FSP). Linked Illinois State-level administrative data are combined with Census data and data from the Illinois Families Stud...
EFAN-04010, September 10, 2004
This report provides a compendium of 128 survey questions used in previous research to assess dietary knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors for low-income populations over the age of 18. The short questions or sets of questions on nine topics, including fruits and vegetables; grains, legumes, and fibe...
Amber Waves, September 01, 2004
Overall, the impact of food aid in reducing hunger has fallen short of its potential and, in some cases, has negatively affected the economies of the recipient countries. A more important problem lies in the fact that there is no coordination among donors to establish guidelines for distribution and...
Amber Waves, September 01, 2004
Each month, USDA’s WIC program provides infant formula at no cost to almost 2 million nutritionally at-risk infants in low-income households. But while WIC’s infant formula is free to WIC participants, “there’s no such thing as a free lunch.” Infant formula is no exception to this elementary lesson ...
Amber Waves, September 01, 2004
In 2003 and 2004, the European Union adopted major reforms to its agricultural policy. The changes will have important implications for the way the EU supports its farm sector, for its obligations under current WTO agreements, and for its position in ongoing WTO agricultural negotiations.
Amber Waves, September 01, 2004
Many factors must be accounted for to determine the portion of environmental enhancements directly attributable to program incentive-induced changes in farmers’ practices. Still, carefully designed survey and monitoring programs encompassing each of those relationships in a coordinated fashion make ...
WRS-0407, August 25, 2004
The European Union continued to reform its Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in 2003-04, building on the reforms of 1992 and 1999. The centerpiece of the latest reforms is the introduction of a single farm payment (SFP), which is paid to EU farmers based on historical payments unrelated to current pr...
AIB-747, August 13, 2004
These reports synthesize economic analyses of the complex relationships in food markets of interest to officials responsible for public policy, decisionmakers in the industry, and researchers. Topics addressed so far include the economizing practices of low-income households in making food purchases...
RDRR-100, July 20, 2004
This publication provides the most recent information on poverty trends and demographic characteristics of the rural poor. The rate of poverty is not only an important social indicator of the well-being of the least well off, but it is also widely used as an input in shaping Federal policies and tar...
AIB-790, July 20, 2004
This analysis uses ACNielsen Homescan data on 1999 household food purchases from all types of retail outlets to estimate an annual retail price per pound and per serving for 69 forms of fruits and 85 forms of vegetables. Among the forms we priced, more than half were estimated to cost 25 cents or le...
OCS-04G01, July 15, 2004
This report examines the experience of the peanut sector following the 2002 Farm Act's elimination of the marketing quota system, and identifies factors affecting the transition to a more market-oriented system. Although peanut prices and acreage declined following passage of the 2002 Farm Act, it a...
FDS-04F-01, July 13, 2004
Structural change has been occurring throughout the feed grains sector and has affected commodity markets and price forecasting relationships. Structural changes that have affected feed grains stem from government policy such as the 1996 Farm Act, international trade agreements such as NAFTA, and ch...
EFAN-04008, July 13, 2004
This study develops estimates of the efficacy of school nutrition programs in improving a broad range of dietary outcomes by comparing the nutritional status of students and their families during the school year with the status when school is out. The study finds evidence that children who have a Sc...
VGS-303-01, July 01, 2004
The European Union (EU) participates in regional and preferential trading arrangements more than any other country or region. Over 70 percent of EU fruit and vegetable imports are from countries benefiting from preferential treatment for some portion of that trade. The most valuable preferences are ...
LDPM-120-01, July 01, 2004
Disease outbreaks and related trade restrictions have slowed previously expected high growth in many U.S. animal product exports, with U.S. beef exports most affected. This report discusses how animal diseases and disease-related trade restrictions have influenced trade in animal products in the pas...
FAU--90-01, June 28, 2004
Iowa and Texas now rank second and third, respectively, among U.S. agricultural exporting States after California, as fiscal 2003 U.S. agricultural exports expanded. Exports of soybeans, cotton, wheat, live animals and meat, and tree nuts grew. Higher prices, strong growth, and a weaker U.S. dollar ...
EFAN-04-009, June 28, 2004
To raise participation in the Food Stamp Program (FSP) by low-income, elderly individuals, USDA implemented the Elderly Nutrition Demonstration in six States (Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Maine, Michigan, and North Carolina) in 2002. Each of the demonstrations is organized around one of three stra...
TB-25601, June 21, 2004
Both the gross value and the cash costs per acre for tobacco were lower in 2002 than in 2001, with the gross value of production falling more than the decline in cash costs. Consequently, net returns per acre were lower for burley and flue-cured. Lower gross production value was due primarily to yie...
EFAN-04007, June 11, 2004
WIC provides supplemental food, nutrition education, and social service referrals to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children younger than age 5. WIC has come under increased scrutiny as it has expanded rapidly, and some have suggested new directions for the pr...
EFAN-04006-2, June 08, 2004
The higher income of households with working mothers is related to lower participation in
USDA’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women,Infants,and Children (WIC) and
School Breakfast and Food Stamp Programs. In contrast,children of working mothers are more
likely to participate in the Nat...
EFAN-04006-1, June 08, 2004
Compared with children of nonworking mothers, children of full-time working mothers have
lower overall HEI (Healthy Eating Index) scores, lower intake of iron and fiber, and higher
intake of soda and fried potatoes, even after taking into account differences in maternal and
other family characterist...
EFAN-04006, June 02, 2004
A majority of U.S. women with children are now employed outside the home. This ERS-funded study by Abt Associates Inc. used mid-1990s data to explore the effects of mothers’ work on their children’s nutrition. Findings include the following: Children of full-time working mothers have lower overall H...
EFAN-04005-2, June 02, 2004
This report is a followup to a proposal to create a national database that links State data from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) with Medicaid and vital records data. The linked information would create new opportunities for Federal and State program...
Amber Waves, June 01, 2004
Hispanics are among the most urbanized ethnic/racial groups in America, with 9 out of 10 Hispanics living in a metro area. In the past two decades, however, Hispanics have become the most rapidly growing group in nonmetropolitan America.
Amber Waves, June 01, 2004
With the 1985 Food Security Act, farmers are required to engage in conservation activities in order to receive government payments. This article focuses on the soil erosion impacts of "conservation compliance," which requires producers to apply and maintain conservation systems on highly erodible (...
Amber Waves, June 01, 2004
In 2003, USDA spent $41.7 billion on 15 food assistance programs aimed at improving the nutrition and well-being of needy Americans. The Food Stamp Program, the largest of the programs, served over 21 million people, and 16.4 million school children received free or reduced-price lunches from the N...
Amber Waves, June 01, 2004
The Amber Waves article presents findings from "Where Demographics Will Take the Food System," first released at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum Ministerial Meetings in Bangkok, Thailand. For the intermediate term, population growth and other demographic changes such as urbanization are...
WRS-0406, June 01, 2004
International trade in fruits and vegetables has expanded at a higher rate than trade in other agricultural commodities, particularly since the 1980s. Not only has world trade in fruits and vegetables gained prominence, but the variety of commodities has expanded. Over the years, three regions—the E...
SB-978, June 01, 2004
The U.S. dairy industry underwent dramatic restructuring during the last 50 or so years. Key structural features of the dairy industry are the quantity of milk produced and the location, number, size, and organization of dairy farms. The questions of where, how much, and by whom milk is produced are...
FANRR-39-1, June 01, 2004
Rebates from infant formula manufacturers to State agencies that administer the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) support over one-quarter of all WIC participants. However, concerns have been raised that WIC and its infant formula rebate program may signif...
EFAN-04005-3, June 01, 2004
This report is a followup to an initiative to establish a central website to collect data from States on the National School Lunch and the School Breakfast Programs. A central website could be used by researchers and program administrators to compare and analyze data across State and local areas for...
EFAN--04005-1, June 01, 2004
This report is a followup to a proposal to link the Current Population Survey (CPS) to State Food Stamp Program (FSP) administrative data. A linked CPS-FSP file would create new opportunities to explore dynamic program participation patterns of FSP participants and eligible nonparticipants. The repo...
EFAN-04005, June 01, 2004
Investments in new and improved data resources have the potential to improve the usefulness and cost-effectiveness of research on Federal food assistance and nutrition programs. Data development initiatives in this series of reports address research and program information needs for the Food Stamp P...
RDRR-99, May 28, 2004
Since 1980, the nonmetro Hispanic population in the United States has doubled and is now the most rapidly growing demographic group in rural and small-town America. By 2000, half of all nonmetro Hispanics lived outside traditional settlement areas of the Southwest. Many Hispanics in counties that ha...
AER-832, May 28, 2004
Since 1985, U.S. agricultural producers have been required to practice soil conservation on highly erodible cropland and conserve wetlands as a condition of farm program eligibility. This report discusses the general characteristics of compliance incentives, evaluates their effectiveness in reducing...
AER-833, May 24, 2004
This report analyzes fruit and vegetable expenditures by low-income households and higher income households, and compares the sensitivity of both groups' purchases to changes in income. On average, low-income households spent $3.59 per capita per week on fruits and vegetables in 2000 while higher in...
GFA-15, May 20, 2004
Just over 900 million people in the 70 low-income countries studied in this report are estimated to have consumed less than the recommended nutritional requirements in 2003. This marks a decline from more than 1 billion in 2002. Although food security is expected to improve in all regions over the c...
WHS-04D-01, May 17, 2004
The last 10 years have been a period of volatility for wheat production and trade in China. This report provides an overview of current wheat production and consumption trends in China, including factors that contributed to slumping imports in recent years. It projects that China will regain its sta...
TB-1911, May 14, 2004
A national survey of meat slaughter and processing plants indicates that market forces, in conjunction with regulation, have worked to promote the use of more sophisticated food safety technologies.
FDS-04C01, May 13, 2004
Many analysts see signs that China's corn market is reaching the turning point in a decade-long cycle. China curtailed corn exports in calendar year 2004 and may begin to import corn during marketing year 2004/05. Reduced Chinese exports are also driving U.S. prices higher. Higher prices and increas...
EFAN-04004, May 13, 2004
Since the mid-1970s, the prevalence of obesity and overweight has increased dramatically in the United States. The prevalence of overweight has tripled among children and adolescents, and nearly two out of three adult Americans are either overweight or obese. Although high health, social, and econom...
EFAN-03013-2, May 12, 2004
Many food stamp-eligible nonparticipants are aware of the Food Stamp Program (FSP) and how to apply but do not realize that they are eligible. Nearly all eligible nonparticipating households surveyed in 2000 and 2001 knew of the FSP, but less than half thought they were eligible. Most nonparticipant...
FANRR-40, May 11, 2004
Moving recipients of public assistance into jobs is a goal of the current system for providing public assistance to low-income households. Using scenario analysis with a computable general equilibrium model, ERS researchers examined some of the labor market impacts of the "welfare-to-work" provision...
EFAN-04003, May 11, 2004
This study examines the experiences of four States (Arizona, Louisiana, Missouri, and Ohio) that use the simplified reporting option of the Food Stamp Program; Arizona also uses the transitional benefit option. With simplified reporting, States lengthen the certification period for most food stamp r...
LDPM-11801, May 10, 2004
Livestock and meat prices vary more in the short run than costs of production, processing, and marketing. ERS research shows that month-to-month changes in livestock and meat prices are driven by dynamic adjustment. It takes time for prices to adjust, and they tend to adjust more rapidly when they a...
EFAN-03013, May 05, 2004
The plummeting food stamp caseload of the late 1990s fixed policymakers’ and analysts’ attention on the policies and practices of local food stamp offices as possible barriers to participation. With funding from USDA’s Economic Research Service, Abt Associates Inc. and Health Systems Research, Inc.,...
FDS-04D-01, May 01, 2004
Although the growing U.S.-Mexico corn trade has changed significantly since the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994, it retains many of its pre-trade-liberalization characteristics. The majority of U.S. corn exports to Mexico still consists of yellow corn, which is prim...
FTS-30901, April 30, 2004
Cuban citrus is a major commercial crop and foreign exchange earner. The 1990s saw an industry collapse and a shift from fresh oranges to processed citrus products and grapefruit production. If commercial relationships with the United States were restored, Cuba's citrus industry would likely look to...
OCS-04D02, April 27, 2004
American soybean producers and the research, regulatory, and extension institutions supporting them are preparing for the potential wind-borne entry of Asian soybean rust into the United States. This report examines how the economic impacts of soybean rust establishment will depend on the timing, lo...
WRS-040501, April 22, 2004
This is part of a series of reports on the integration of the transition economies of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the Newly Independent States (NIS) into global commodity markets. This report analyzes the likely impacts of European Union (EU) enlargement on production and trade in the CEE c...
OCS-04D01, April 13, 2004
South American soybean production, combined with the U.S. soybean stocks-to-use ratio, provides a strong basis for forecasting U.S. soybean prices. South American soybean production accounts for much of the global structural change that has altered the relationships among U.S. soybean production, us...
EFAN-04-002, April 13, 2004
The Federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Food Stamp Program (FSP) are the largest means-tested transfer programs for low-income, working parents in the United States. This study examines how these two programs interact, particularly with regard to the impact of the EITC on participation i...
FTS-30902, April 09, 2004
Cuba's tropical fruit industry primarily caters to domestic markets with fresh fruits that are Cuban diet staples. Plantains and bananas account for over 70 percent of production. Tropical fruit production fell with Cuba's collapsing economy in the early 1990s. With ideal climate and land resources,...
Amber Waves, April 01, 2004
In May 2004, eight Central and Eastern European countries (Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania), plus Cyprus and Malta, will join the European Union (EU). This enlargement of the EU, the largest in its history, will bring profound changes.
Amber Waves, April 01, 2004
Agricultural producers can benefit economically by voluntarily adopting environmentally beneficial practices. An efficient farm would minimize unnecessary applications of pesticides and fertilizer, enhancing the bottom line as well as minimizing environmental impacts. But additional incentives may e...
Amber Waves, April 01, 2004
Though food safety and food safety innovations are desirable, meat processors face special challenges that weaken their incentives to invest in food safety improvements. Some restaurant chains and large retailers are setting and enforcing safety standards and creating markets for food safety. As a ...
Amber Waves, April 01, 2004
Food traceability is not only newsworthy, but investment worthy, too. Food producers have voluntarily built traceability systems to track the grain in a cereal box to the farm and the apples in a vat of apple juice to the orchard. However, traceability is just one element of any supply-management or...
VGS-301-01, April 01, 2004
The popularity of farmers' markets in the United States has grown concurrently with organic production and consumer interest in locally and organically produced foods. This research describes the significance of farmers' markets as market outlets for many organic farmers, and recent shifts in relati...
AER-831, April 01, 2004
Recent industry innovations improving the safety of the Nation's meat supply include new pathogen tests, high-tech equipment, supply chain management systems, and surveillance networks.
TB-1909, March 31, 2004
Atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases can be reduced by withdrawing carbon from the atmosphere and sequestering it in soils and biomass. This report analyzes the performance of alternative incentive designs and payment levels if farmers were paid to adopt land uses and management practices ...
SB-974-7, March 31, 2004
The average cost of producing a hundred pounds (cwt) of rice was $6.00 for U.S. producers surveyed in 2000, ranging from about $2 per cwt to more than $10. Producers in the lowest quartile of production costs averaged $3.99 per cwt compared with $8.94 for producers in the highest quartile. Regional ...
AIB-788, March 30, 2004
The report finds that bankruptcy has played only a small role in the overall decline in farm numbers over the last 70 years. Most of the decline in farm numbers occurred between the 1940s and 1970s, when bankruptcy filings were at relatively low levels. Farm numbers have even risen when bankruptcies...
TB-1908, March 26, 2004
Financial risk permeates nearly all farm business ventures. In some instances, private and public tools used to manage financial risks in agriculture may influence farmers' production decisions. These decisions, in turn, can influence environmental quality. This bulletin synthesizes several research...
AP-014, March 19, 2004
ERS's Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program accepted proposals for grants and cooperative agreements for fiscal 2004. The three priority research areas were (1) Strengthening Economic Incentives in Food Assistance Programs, (2) Food Assistance as a Safety Net, and (3) Obesity, Diet Quality,...
EFAN-04-001, March 18, 2004
This report uses data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics to examine the prevalence of and changes in food security between 1997 and 1999 among individual families with children younger than 13. About half of the families that were food insecure in 1997 became food secure by 1999, with the rest ...
AER-830, March 18, 2004
This investigation into the traceability baseline in the United States finds that private sector food firms have developed a substantial capacity to trace.
AIB-751-02, March 14, 2004
Concern among policymakers that the Federal estate tax might force the liquidation of some family farms has resulted in the enactment of a variety of special provisions over the years. Providing relief to farmers and other small business owners was the primary impetus for the 1997 changes to Federal...
TB-1910, March 04, 2004
This report examines the economic effects of the principal programs authorized under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 that influence the U.S. dairy sector. The analytical results presented in this study were used as input to a broader study mandated by Congress, which required an e...
AIB-789-7, February 28, 2004
This research summarizes three case studies of how trade in seafood products can be affected by food safety concerns.
AIB-789-6, February 28, 2004
This research brief discusses regulations intended to control mycotoxins in the food supply, and examines their implications for international trade.
AIB-789-5, February 28, 2004
This report examines how U.S. and other nations responded to foodborne illness outbreaks traced to internationally-traded food.
AIB-789-4, February 28, 2004
This research summarizes three case studies of how trade in meat and poultry products can be affected by food safety concerns.
AIB-789-3, February 28, 2004
This research brief examines the conceptual relationships between food safety and international trade, and discusses ways to resolve safety-related trade disputes.
AIB-789-2, February 28, 2004
This research brief examines the conceptual relationships between food safety and international trade.
AIB-789-1, February 28, 2004
This research brief presents some of the highlights of the ERS report, "International Trade and Food Safety: Economic Theory and Case Studies."
AIB-789, February 28, 2004
Expanding food trade has brought into sharper relief the divergence among countries' food safety regulations and standards. Differences in food safety regulations and standards can cause frictions and even disputes that interrupt international food trade. Countries are, however, tackling food safety...
WRS-0404, February 27, 2004
This report provides information and analysis on a wide range of topics relating to agriculture in the United States and European Union (EU), including comparisons of farm structure, production, agricultural productivity, risk management, environmental, commodity policy, trade, and food consumption,...
AP-013, February 26, 2004
ERS's Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program (FANRP) supports intramural and extramural research on a wide range of policy-relevant food assistance and nutrition topics. The three perennial program themes are (1) diet and nutritional outcomes, (2) food program targeting and delivery, and (3)...
SB-974-6, February 25, 2004
Total costs of producing milk in 2000 ranged from an average of $11.58 per hundredweight (cwt) of milk sold in the Fruitful Rim-West region to $18.23 per cwt in the Eastern Uplands. Milk producers in the West had a significant cost advantage over producers in other regions in 2000 because their oper...
FANRR-28-4, February 25, 2004
USDA's domestic food assistance programs affect the daily lives of millions of people. About 1 in 5 Americans is estimated to participate in at least 1 of 15 food assistance programs at some point during the year. Expenditures for USDA's 15 food assistance programs increased 9.4 percent in fiscal ye...
TB-2003-01, February 12, 2004
U.S. imports (arrivals) of foreign-grown tobacco leaf and stems slipped from 587 million pounds in 2001/02 (July-June) to 580 million pounds during 2002/03 (July-June). Cigar and unstemmed flue-cured imports advanced. Burley, stemmed flue-cured, and stems arrivals slipped. During the same period, im...
FAU-85-01, February 10, 2004
U.S. agricultural exports rose to $53 billion in calendar year 2002, an increase of $30 billion in nominal dollars since 1976. In real terms, the average rate of export growth was 1.7 percent per year. U.S. export gains occurred mainly in high-value products (HVPs); bulk exports rose slightly, but s...
WAOB-2004-1, February 09, 2004
This report provides long-run (10-year) baseline projections for the agricultural sector through 2013. Projections cover agricultural commodities, agricultural trade, and aggregate indicators of the sector, such as farm income and food prices.
WRS-04-03, February 02, 2004
Poultry meat is the fastest growing component of global meat demand, and India, the world's second largest developing country, is experiencing rapid growth in its poultry sector. In India, poultry sector growth is being driven by rising incomes and a rapidly expanding middle class, together with the...
Amber Waves, February 01, 2004
U.S. agricultural imports may soon exceed exports, giving the U.S. a trade deficit for the first time since 1959. Although exports continue to rise, importing are increasing at nearly twice the pace. US consumers are buying horticultural products-vegetables, fruits, juices, nuts, and cut flowers-a...
Amber Waves, February 01, 2004
The middle class of the India-the worlds second most populous nation is growing ever wealthier and seek greater diversity in food products. Indian producers are responding with only partial success. Trade liberalization has brought increased imports of some products, but agriculture, despite subsi...
Amber Waves, February 01, 2004
This article discusses how rural high poverty counties differ across racial and demographic lines. Comparisons are made among and between high poverty counties populated by African Americans, Hispanics, Whites, and Native Americans.
Amber Waves, February 01, 2004
The unprecedented growth in U.S. agricultural productivity over the past 70 years owes much to a series of biological innovations embodied in major crop seeds, in particular, cotton, corn, soybeans, and wheat. These innovations are the result of the investment of considerable time and money into pla...
Amber Waves, February 01, 2004
Rural America faces many opportunities and challenges in the 21st century. Changing migration patterns, increased educational attainment, and industrial restructuring have important implications for rural residents, particularly the almost 4.1 million African-Americans or Blacks (the largest minori...
AIB-786, February 01, 2004
Unprecedented growth in crop yields and agricultural total factor productivity over the past 70 years owes much to biological innovation embodied in seeds, beginning with the development of hybrid crops in the United States in the early part of the 20th century, continuing with the Green Revolution ...
RDRR-98, January 29, 2004
This report provides the latest information from the 2000 Census and other Federal sources on the education characteristics of rural workers and counties. It documents the steady rise in rural adult educational attainment in the 1990s and the increasing importance of education to rural workers and p...
WRS-04-02, January 23, 2004
This report examines the economic rationale behind the various claims about the effects of mandatory country-of-origin labeling, thereby identifying the most likely outcomes. Profits motivate firms to innovate and introduce thousands of new food products each year to satisfy consumers' demand. Yet, ...
AER-829, January 23, 2004
Population trends and rising incomes are expected to sustain growth in spending for food at full-service and fast food restaurants.
VGS-300-01, January 20, 2004
U.S. fresh-market spinach consumption has been increasing over the past few decades. Basic knowledge of the distribution of spinach consumption across different market channels, geographic regions, and population groups has been very limited in the past. Using data from USDA's 1994-96 and 1998 Conti...
WRS-0401, January 08, 2004
This report examines the impacts of sanitary and phytosanitary measures that can affect patterns of trade in horticultural products by increasing the costs of imports or prohibiting them entirely. World Trade Organization members agreed in 1995 to rules to prevent the protectionist use of such measu...
VGS-300, December 18, 2003
Total potato production for the 2003 crop year is forecast at 457 million cwt—down less than 1 percent from 2002. Despite the slight drop in production, however, U.S. grower prices for all potatoes have averaged 19 percent below a year ago and 14 percent below 2
years ago for the September - Novembe...
EFAN--03013-1, December 09, 2003
A survey of State food stamp offices shows that many policies and practices recommended by USDA in 1999 to improve accessibility to the Food Stamp Program (FSP) were widely operational by the year 2000. For example, in the surveyed areas, food stamp outreach campaigns were fairly widespread, food st...
WRS-0302, December 03, 2003
Analysis of world meat production reveals poultry as the fastest growing livestock sector in many middle-income countries, including Egypt. While income growth fuels rising demand for meat, other factors often determine how that demand will be satisfied. Domestic and trade policies, as well as resou...
EFAN-03-012, November 25, 2003
This study examines how employment characteristics of low-income households influence Food Stamp Program (FSP) participation. The relationship between employment and FSP participation is of special interest because, although more low-income working families are eligible to participate, many do not. ...
EFAN-03-011, November 21, 2003
Monthly income and earnings of households that are eligible to participate in the Food Stamp Program (FSP), but that do not participate, vary substantially more than income and earnings of participant households. In particular, many nonparticipant households have had a short-term drop in income. Oth...
FANRR-38, November 19, 2003
This report summarizes research findings from the Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Small Grants Program. The Economic Research Service created the program in 1998 to stimulate new and innovative research on food assistance and nutrition issues and to broaden the participation of social science...
EFAN-03-010, November 18, 2003
Policymakers and program administrators have become increasingly concerned about declines in participation in the Food Stamp Program (FSP) and other work supports. As a result, interest has grown in identifying promising strategies for improving low-income families' access to these programs and bene...
FANRR-37, November 10, 2003
This report summarizes research findings from the Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Small Grants Program. The Economic Research Service created the program in 1998 to stimulate new and innovative research on food assistance and nutrition issues and to broaden the participation of social science...
TB-1905, November 07, 2003
The gross-output multifactor productivity index for U.S. food manufacturing grew 0.19 percent per year between 1975 and 1997. This productivity growth is low when compared with an estimate of 1.25 percent per year for the whole manufacturing sector. Low investment in research and development (R&D;) c...
OCS-090301, November 07, 2003
India is the world's leading importer of edible oils and is likely to remain an important source of global import demand for the foreseeable future. Income and population growth and key changes in trade policy are important contributors to India's increasing consumption and imports. This report eval...
AER-828, November 07, 2003
This report examines the conceptual relationships between food safety and international trade and analyzes empirical examples from the meat and poultry, produce, food and animal feed crop, and seafood sectors.
TB-1906, November 03, 2003
This study estimates the size and distribution of benefits from adopting Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton, herbicide-tolerant cotton, and herbicide-tolerant soybeans in 1997. The stakeholders considered are U.S. farmers, U.S. consumers, biotechnology developers, germplasm suppliers, and producers ...
Amber Waves, November 01, 2003
With the passage of the 2002 Farm Act, policymakers have substantially increased conservation funding and made changes in program emphasis. The goals are to expand the amount of U.S. land and the number of farmers covered by conservation programs.
Amber Waves, November 01, 2003
When consumers are made aware that food products are biotech, how will they react? As the largest market for U.S. producers, American consumers will render the ultimate verdict on the future of agricultural biotechnology in the United States.
Amber Waves, November 01, 2003
Changing U.S. demographics—more mature consumers, greater ethnic diversity, and larger incomes—are driving changes in consumer demand for food products. These changing preferences, along with technological advances and other changes in the economy, offer agribusiness companies new challenges and opp...
Amber Waves, November 01, 2003
Global food trade is expanding, providing consumers with access to a wider year-round variety of foods at lower prices. Trade expansion, however, has brought into sharper focus the divergence among countries’ food safety regulations and standards.
FANRR-35, October 30, 2003
Eighty-nine percent of American households were food secure throughout the entire year 2002, meaning that they had access, at all times, to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members. The remaining households were food insecure at least some time during that year. The prevalen...
EFAN-03009, October 07, 2003
About 61 percent of school districts used direct certification in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) in the 2001-02 school year, the same share as in 1996. Direct certification increased the number of children certified for free meals by about 400,000 and slightly increased overall NSLP partic...
TB-1904, October 06, 2003
This report analyzes expenditures on major consumption categories including food and different food subcategories across 114 countries. It also presents estimated expenditure responsiveness or elasticities with price and income changes for each of the major consumption categories and food subcategor...
FANRR-28-3, September 30, 2003
Domestic food assistance programs account for over half of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) outlays. Each year, about 1 in 5 Americans is served by 1 or more of the 15 food assistance programs aimed at improving the nutrition, well-being, and food security of needy Americans. The Economic...
FANRR-26-10, September 30, 2003
Food pantries and emergency kitchens play an important role in feeding America's low-income and needy populations. These organizations are part of the Emergency Food Assistance System (EFAS), a network run largely by private organizations with some Federal support. This issues brief summarizes findi...
AIB-784, September 30, 2003
Economic change and market dynamics have fundamentally altered the structure and performance of agricultural markets in the United States, Canada, and Mexico within the last 25 years. Many factors have helped shape the current North American food and fiber system, including technological change, dom...
AER-826, September 24, 2003
Although earnings generally increased in rural areas in the 1990s, Hispanic population growth led to lower wages for at least one segment of the rural population—workers with a high school degree (skilled workers), particularly men in this skill group. Using data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis...
AER-825, September 23, 2003
Retail consolidation, technological change in production and marketing, and growing consumer demand have altered the traditional market relationships between producers, wholesalers, and retailers.
SSSM-237-01, September 08, 2003
This article analyzes the effects of imports of sugar-containing products on the level of sugar deliveries to U.S. industrial end users of sugar. The article accomplishes three objectives: 1) reviews trends in domestic sugar deliveries; 2) shows estimates of how much sugar has entered the United Sta...
FANRR-34, September 08, 2003
America’s most important resource is its children. Many of this Nation’s children are served by one or more of USDA’s domestic food assistance programs. ERS' Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program created the Food Assistance Research Briefs series to provide concise and timely insights from ...
RDRR-97-1, September 02, 2003
Rural America At A Glance is a six-page brochure that highlights the most recent indicators of social and economic conditions in rural areas for use in developing policies and programs to assist rural areas. This brochure is the second in a series of reports that uses current social and economic dat...
FANRR-36, September 02, 2003
This study examines dynamics in poverty and food insufficiency using newly available longitudinal data from the 1993 panel of the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) and the follow-on Survey of Program Dynamics (SPD). The study uses these data to characterize the incidence and dynamics...
FANRR-33, September 02, 2003
In 2000, 8.8 million children received food stamps, making the Food Stamp Program a crucial component of the social safety net. Despite its importance, little research has examined the effect of food stamps on children's overall well-being. Using the Current Population Survey from 1989 to 2001, we c...
Amber Waves, September 01, 2003
With congressional reauthorization of welfare legislation scheduled for 2003, ERS addresses two questions to inform the policy debate surrounding reauthorization: What have we learned from empirical studies about rural-urban differences in welfare reform effects on program participation, employment,...
Amber Waves, September 01, 2003
In USDA's food assistance programs, taxpayer dollars are the inputs. The outputs are the programs' goals: to provide needy persons with access to a more nutritious diet, to improve the eating habits of the Nation's children, and to help America' farmers by providing an outlet for the distribution of...
Amber Waves, September 01, 2003
To make crops more resistant to pests and diseases and to improve food supply quality, quantity, and variety, modern plant breeders continually seek genetic resources from outside the stocks with which they routinely work. Since no nation has within its borders the desired spectrum of genetic resour...
Amber Waves, September 01, 2003
The growth of supermarkets, restaurants, other retail food stores, food processing and marketing industries signals the advent of a consumer-driven food sector in China. The rapid changes underway in the country's food sector are opening new market channels for food exports to China and upgrading Ch...
Amber Waves, September 01, 2003
This Amber Waves article summarizes an ERS report on cost-containment practices in the WIC program, with an emphasis on case studies conducted in six states. This research was funded by the FANRP program, and was conducted by Abt Associates.
Amber Waves, September 01, 2003
This article outlines the relevance of production costs - both operating and total (including capital costs) - in farmers' decisions about production levels and mix, and about exit from the sector.
Amber Waves, September 01, 2003
This Amber Waves article examines the differences in poverty between U.S. metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas during the 1990s.
Amber Waves, September 01, 2003
The article describes the U.S. strategy in the area of agricultural trade reform. The strategy contains two distinct but reinforcing elements: (1) multilateralism, in which the United States actively participates in the agricultural trade negotiations at the World Trade Organization; and (2) region...
Amber Waves, September 01, 2003
This feature in USDA's Amber Waves magazine addresses the confluence of events that are creating the impetus for change in the U.S. tobacco program. This program has been in existence since the 1930s, but producer, health, and other interests are lobbying for change. The article not only provides ...
AIB-785, September 01, 2003
Meat trade flows among countries and world regions are determined largely by differences among countries in their resource base, their preferences for meat types and cuts, the extent and character of barriers to trade, and the industry structure. Future growth of meat trade depends on further libera...
FANRR-34-14, August 21, 2003
Getting kids to eat more fruits and vegetables can be a significant challenge. A recent ERS study found one program was very successful in achieving the difficult objective. Many elementary and secondary students who ate free snacks of fresh and dried fruits and fresh vegetables as part of USDA's Fr...
FANRR-32, August 11, 2003
During a typical month in 2001, food pantries served about 12.5 million people, and emergency kitchens served about 1.1 million people. Food pantries and emergency kitchens play an important role in feeding America's low-income and needy populations. These organizations are part of the Emergency Foo...
EFAN-03007, August 06, 2003
During a typical month in 2001, food pantries served about 12.5 million people, and emergency kitchens served about 1.1 million people. Food pantries and emergency kitchens play an important role in feeding America's low-income and needy populations. These organizations are part of the Emergency Foo...
FTS-30501, August 01, 2003
U.S. per capita consumption of oranges has grown slowly since the 1960s, although the orange remains the number one fruit consumed (total fresh and processed uses). Consumption patterns appear to vary by demographic and economic characteristics. Northeast consumers show the strongest preference for ...
FAU-79-01, July 25, 2003
As U.S. per capita consumption of food grew from an average 1,800 pounds per year in the early 1980s to more than 2,000 pounds in recent years, the import share of U.S. consumed food climbed from 8 percent to more than 11 percent. The import shares of U.S. consumption of animal products and food cro...
FANRR-34-9, July 15, 2003
The Family Child Care Homes Legislative Changes Study found that family child care homes in the Child and Adult Care Food Program serve fewer children but more of the children are from low-income families. Prior to the tiered reimbursement system, which started in 1997, 21 percent of the children se...
FANRR-34-8, July 15, 2003
The two-tiered meal reimbursement system instituted in 1997 within the child care homes portion of the Child and Adult Care Food Program added new duties for sponsoring organizations. This report examines how these new duties have affected the sponsoring organizations' administrative tasks.
FANRR-34-7, July 15, 2003
"Competitive foods"—those available in schools in addition to USDA-provided school meals—have lower nutritional quality than school meals. This report reviews current information on the impact of competitive foods in school meal programs and presents a case study on competition between milk and soft...
FANRR-34-6, July 15, 2003
With child obesity soaring and the juvenile incidence of diabetes and hypertension also on the rise in the United States, there is strong policy interest in the potential of USDA school meals to promote healthy diets and weights. It has been argued, however, that improving the nutritional quality of...
FANRR-34-5, July 15, 2003
This report examines how schools can foster an environment that encourages healthy food choices by participants in the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program. Environmental factors that are considered to be important in affecting those choices include (1) the nutritional qual...
FANRR-34-4, July 15, 2003
Nutritionally balanced National School Lunch Program (NSLP) meals are available in almost all public and many private schools. Any child at a participating school may purchase a lunch through the NSLP; over half of the 25 million NSLP lunches served on an average school day in 2001 were given to chi...
FANRR-34-3, July 15, 2003
The number of participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) has increased dramatically since the program began in 1974. The increase in the number of participants has been largely the result of increased congressional funding as well as cost-contai...
FANRR-34-2, July 15, 2003
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) promotes breastfeeding as the preferred method for feeding infants. The breastfeeding rates among women participating in WIC, although improving, continue to be significantly lower than the Healthy People 2010 target. ...
FANRR-34-13, July 15, 2003
Household food security, defined as access at all times to enough food for active healthy living, is taken for granted by most American children. However, some parents do have difficulty at times getting enough food for themselves and, more rarely, for their children. This brief examines the extent ...
FANRR-34-12, July 15, 2003
This research brief estimates the impact of specific USDA child-nutrition programs on production, value added, and jobs on U.S. farms, looking at the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and a combined group of school program...
FANRR-34-11, July 15, 2003
The rapid increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children is one of the most serious public health concerns in the United States today. Although most of USDA's child nutrition programs were established in response to documented problems of underconsumption and undernutrition among t...
FANRR-34-10, July 15, 2003
The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is the major Federal resource available to provide children from low-income families with nutritious meals when school is not in session. Small in comparison with the National School Lunch Program, which served 15.5 million children in 2001, the SFSP served 2.1...
FANRR-34-1, July 15, 2003
To ensure the best use of available funds and to provide benefits to all eligible individuals, State agencies responsible for carrying out the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) have implemented one or more cost-containment practices. At the request of Cong...
FAU-78-01, June 30, 2003
Fiscal 2002 U.S. agricultural exports rose slightly from 2001. Most of the gain occurred in soybeans, feed grains, and wheat, as prices of those commodities increased. As a result, soybean and feed grain or wheat exporting States, such as Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Indiana, increased expo...
RDRR-96, June 25, 2003
While the greater incidence of poverty in nonmetro relative to metro areas is well documented, there is little research as to whether it is deeper or more severe in nonmetro areas. This report examines metro-nonmetro differences in U.S. poverty rates, using data from Current Population Surveys (1991...
EFAN-03008-2, June 23, 2003
Administrative data from USDA's food assistance and nutrition programs (FANPs) provide statistics on the number and characteristics of program participants. However, policymakers and researchers often want more information than these administrative data provide about participation in multiple progra...
EFAN-03008-1, June 23, 2003
Administrative data from USDA's food assistance and nutrition programs (FANPs) provide statistics on the number and characteristics of program participants. However, policymakers and researchers often want more information than these administrative data provide about participation in multiple progra...
VGS-297, June 20, 2003
Per capita consumption of all vegetables and melons (on a fresh-equivalent basis) is expected to increase 1 percent to 445 pounds in 2003--up about 6 pounds from 2002. Gains are expected to be spread across fresh and processing items, led by potatoes,
tomatoes, and sweet corn. In 2002, per capita ve...
AER-823, June 20, 2003
As rising populations and incomes increase pressure on land and other resources around the world, agricultural productivity plays an increasingly important role in improving food supplies and food security. This report explores the extent to which land quality and land degradation affect agricultura...
AER-824, June 19, 2003
Nutrients from livestock and poultry manure are key sources of water pollution. Ever-growing numbers of animals per farm and per acre have increased the risk of water pollution. New Clean Water Act regulations compel the largest confined animal producers to meet nutrient application standards when a...
TB-254-01, June 11, 2003
This article discusses the recent increase in tobacco contracting and the benefits of contracting. It also compares contract tobacco prices with auction market prices. The article "Contracting in Tobacco? Contracts Revisited" is the second article by this author discussing tobacco contracts.
LDPM-10801, June 05, 2003
This article provides a current national picture of interstate movements of cattle, hogs, and sheep. A better understanding of livestock shipping patterns helps in characterizing the livestock sectors, estimating the economic effects of major disease outbreak, and assessing marketing issues.
FANRR-31, May 26, 2003
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides both nutrition education and supplemental foods containing nutrients determined by nutritional research to be lacking in the diets of pregnant, breastfeeding, and post-partum women, infants, and children. Stat...
WRS-03-01, May 22, 2003
India has the world's largest pulse sector, but despite liberal import policies, imports have remained a small share of supplies and per capita consumption has declined. This report describes the market for crops such as chickpeas, pigeon peas, black matpe, mung beans, lentils, and dry peas in that ...
EFAN-03-006, April 28, 2003
Almost all schools participating in USDA's Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program (FVPP) consider the program to be very successful and would like the pilot to continue. The Nutrition Title of the 2002 Farm Act provided $6 million to the FVPP for the 2002-03 school year to improve fruit and vegetable con...
FANRR-30, April 25, 2003
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, through the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), funds meals for children in low-income areas when school is not in session. USDA's Economic Research Service recently sponsored the first comprehensive study of the SFSP in more than a decade. The nationally represen...
AER-817, April 08, 2003
This study evaluates the costs of sanitation and process control in producing meat and poultry. The study shows that the costs of sanitation and process control as required by the Pathogen Reduction/Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (PR/HACCP) rule of 1996 raised wholesale meat and poultry ...
AIB-781, April 07, 2003
In 1914, when the Cooperative Extension Service was founded, about 30 percent of U.S. workers were in agriculture-related occupations; by the late 1990s, that share had declined to about 1 percent. The Extension System ("Extension") has changed along with its audience. The number of full-time-equiva...
TB-1903, April 04, 2003
Consumers' willingness to pay for food products decreases when the food label indicates that a food product is produced with the aid of modern biotechnology. This bulletin presents empirical evidence on consumers' willingness to pay for biotech foods based on the presence or absence of labels advisi...
TB-1901, April 04, 2003
This study characterizes factors associated with macronutrient excess or inadequacy among U.S. adults.
Amber Waves, April 01, 2003
Two massive recalls of ground beef and turkey luncheon meats linked to foodborne illnesses in the Midwest and Northeast in the fall of 2002 put food safety concerns back in the headlines. These unusually large recalls are part of an increasing number of meat and poultry recalls over the past several...
Amber Waves, April 01, 2003
Beyond our bustling cities, America's farmlands are ostensibly a Norman Rockwell picture of calm and stability. Red barns, majestic silos, rustic farmhouses, and pastures of grazing livestock are reassuring images that recall a seemingly simpler age. Yet just beyond the old-fashioned barn door are t...
Amber Waves, April 01, 2003
Methyl bromide, a widely used fumigant in agriculture, is one of a number of chemicals-including refrigerants such as freon-being phased out of use worldwide under the Montreal Protocol signed by the U.S. and 182 other countries. The Protocol is an international treaty aimed at reducing or eliminati...
Amber Waves, April 01, 2003
At the beginning of the 21st century, rural America comprises 2,305 counties, contains 80 percent of the Nation's land, and is home to 56 million people.
AIB-780, April 01, 2003
U.S. farmland managed under organic systems expanded rapidly throughout the 1990s, and that pace has continued as farmers strive to meet consumer demand in both local and national markets. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) implemented national organic standards on organic production and proc...
VGS-295-01, March 31, 2003
U.S. mushroom consumption has been increasing over the past several decades. Basic knowledge of the distribution of mushroom consumption across different market channels, geographic regions, and population groups has been very limited in the past. Using data from USDA's 1994-96 and 1998 Continuing S...
LDPM-105-01, March 26, 2003
This report provides a detailed description and analysis of policies used by Japan to support its hog producers. Domestic policies include regional deficiency payment programs offering compensation to farmers when market prices fall below specified targets and subsidized hazard insurance. At the bor...
EFAN-03001, March 26, 2003
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, through the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), funds meals for children in low-income areas when school is not in session. The first comprehensive study of the SFSP since 1986 found that, in fiscal year 2001, more than 4,000 local sponsors provided about 130 mill...
RCS-0303-01, March 18, 2003
This report provides a detailed description and analysis of policies used by Japan to support its rice producers. Domestic policies include a program offering compensation to farmers when market prices fall below specified targets, subsidized hazard insurance, and subsidies to increase the size of f...
AP-012, March 13, 2003
ERS's Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program accepted proposals for grants and cooperative agreements for fiscal 2003. The three priority research areas were (1) Program Design and Operations, (2) Food Assistance as a Safety Net, and (3) Obesity, Diet Quality, and Health Outcomes. This publi...
EFAN-03-003, March 06, 2003
This report presents the results of a study of about 900 nonwelfare families who left the Food Stamp Program (FSP) in South Carolina between October 1998 and March 2000. Nonwelfare families were defined as families who did not receive any benefits under the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TA...
EFAN-03-002, March 06, 2003
This report presents the findings of a study of able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) in South Carolina who left the Food Stamp Program (FSP) between October 1998 and March 2000. Under 1996 welfare reform legislation, ABAWDs are limited to 3 months of food stamp benefits in a 36-month perio...
AIB-782, March 03, 2003
This report documents the problem of water scarcity in parts of northern China and describes China's agricultural water management policies as well as reforms underway to encourage water conservation.
AH-722, February 28, 2003
This report identifies trends in land, water, and biological resources and commercial input use, reports on the condition of natural resources used in the agricultural sector, and describes and assesses public policies that affect conservation and environmental quality in agriculture. Combining data...
TB-2002-02, February 26, 2003
U.S. imports (arrivals) of foreign-grown leaf and stems surged from 468 million pounds in 2000/01 (July-June) to 587 million pounds during 2001/02 (July/June), a gain of 25 percent. Stemmed flue-cured, burley, and stems accounted for the gain. During the same period, imports for consumption of leaf ...
VGS-295, February 25, 2003
Planted area for spring-season onions is expected to decline 12 percent to 34,400 acres. Plantings are down in three of the four reporting States with Texas (down 23 percent) expecting the largest decline. Although area planted is forecast lower, production could exceed the short 2002 crop of 9.7 mi...
EFAN-03005, February 25, 2003
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides both nutrition education and supplemental foods for pregnant, breastfeeding, and post-partum women, infants, and children. These supplemental foods contain nutrients that nutritional research has found may oth...
FANRR-28-2, February 24, 2003
About half of USDA's budget supports 15 domestic food assistance programs that serve an estimated 1 in 5 Americans at some point during the year. The goals of these programs are to provide needy persons with access to a more nutritious diet, to improve the eating habits of the Nation's children, and...
AP-011, February 24, 2003
ERS's Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program (FANRP) supports intramural and extramural research on a wide range of policy-relevant food assistance and nutrition topics. The three perennial program themes are (1) diet and nutritional outcomes, (2) food program targeting and delivery, and (3)...
WAOB-2003-1, February 10, 2003
This report provides long-run (10-year) baseline projections for the agricultural sector through 2012. Projections cover agricultural commodities, agricultural trade, and aggregate indicators of the sector, such as farm income and food prices.
TB-2002-01, February 05, 2003
Cash costs per acre to produce burley tobacco in 2001 were estimated to be unchanged from the previous year, while flue-cured tobacco cash costs per acre declined slightly. Current cost estimates are based on annual updates, since the last tobacco surveys were conducted in 1995 for burley tobacco an...
Amber Waves, February 03, 2003
Although decoupled payments do not distort price incentives for producers, they can still alter production decisions because payments increase farm operators' income, and the expectation of fixed, future payments increases their wealth. Increased income and wealth from decoupled payments, as from an...
Amber Waves, February 03, 2003
Ever-growing numbers of livestock and poultry per farm and per acre have increased the risk of water pollution, with manure being disposed of in ways not adequately addressed in the original regulations. In 2001, the EPA proposed new regulations that would compel operations with the largest number o...
Amber Waves, February 03, 2003
In 2001, nearly 9 out of 10 U.S. households were food secure throughout the entire year. However, 11.5 million households (10.7 percent of all U.S. households) were food insecure at some time during the year--they did not have access at all times to enough food for active, healthy living.
Amber Waves, February 03, 2003
At the beginning of the 21st century, some rural areas have shared in the economic progress of the Nation, while others have not. The opportunities and challenges facing rural America are as varied as rural America itself.
GFA-14, February 03, 2003
This report projects food gaps in 70 low-income developing countries and presents findings for North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the New Independent States of the former Soviet Union.
AER-820, February 03, 2003
This report analyzes how U.S. consumption of food commodities is projected to rise through 2020. The study uses date from USDA's food intake survey to project the consumption, through 2020, of 25 food groups and 22 commodity groups.
AER-822, February 01, 2003
Decoupled payments are lump-sum income transfers to farm operators that do not depend on current production, factor use, or commodity prices. Such payments are not currently constrained by global trade rules, but many countries argue that they distort production and trade and that their use should b...
AER-821, February 01, 2003
Over the next two decades, U.S. food expenditures will continue to rise. This study examines how projected food expenditures will be affected by demographic changes, population growth, increasing per capita income levels, and other factors.
AER-818, February 01, 2003
Rapid change in the size and ownership structure of U.S. hog production has created new and varied challenges for the industry. This report describes an industry becoming increasingly concentrated among fewer and larger farms, and becoming more economically efficient. These changes have not come wit...
RA-174, January 14, 2003
This issue discusses a number of topics concerning rural America, including rural population loss and migration, recreation counties and their rapid growth, U.S.-China trade, federal funding in rural America, rural land ownership, rural infrastructure, and rural employment growth. Updates on rural c...
RDRR-95, December 30, 2002
An analysis of on-the-job computer use shows that such use is more common in metro areas than in nonmetro areas. A substantial wage premium, 10 to 11 percent, is associated with using a computer on the job, even after other job and worker characteristics are taken into account. However, this wage pr...
FDS-1202-01, December 12, 2002
A decline in China's corn exports was expected to be a main effect of that country's accession to the World Trade Organization in December 2001. Instead, China's corn exports continued at a near-record pace during 2002. China has canceled direct export subsidies, but other policies have replaced the...
OCS-1102-01, December 09, 2002
This report provides a detailed description and analysis of policies used by Japan to support its oilseed producers and processors. Domestic policies include compensation to farmers when market prices fall below specified targets and subsidized hazard insurance. The government provides strong incent...
LDPM-102-01, December 06, 2002
This study examines sanitary requirements and regulations currently governing the U.S.-Mexico broiler trade. A sensitivity analysis, using a cost-minimization mathematical programming model, detects minimal economic impact on the U.S. broiler market if Mexico is allowed to ship fresh, chilled, and f...
AIB-778, November 14, 2002
The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (2002 Farm Act), which governs agricultural programs through 2007, was signed into law in May 2002. This report presents an initial evaluation of the new legislation's effects on agricultural commodity markets, based on sectorwide model simulations ...
VGS-293-01, November 07, 2002
This publication provides a detailed description and analysis of policies used by Japan to support its vegetable producers and to regulate vegetable markets. Domestic policies include compensation to farmers when market prices fall below a moving average of historical prices, subsidies to make farms...
FANRR-29, October 21, 2002
Eighty-nine percent of American households were food secure throughout the entire year 2001. The rest were food insecure at least some time during the year, meaning they did not always have access to enough food for active, healthy lives for all household members because they lacked sufficient money...
FANRR-27, October 01, 2002
The mission of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is to safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutrition risk. WIC provides nutritious foods to supplement diets, nutrition education, and referrals to healt...
FANRR-26-9, October 01, 2002
The costs of USDA's three largest food assistance programs—food stamps, school means and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)—are easier to measure than the benefits of those programs. In 2000, the three programs' direct costs were $28 billion. As shown i...
FANRR-26-8, October 01, 2002
The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 dramatically altered the welfare system. Among the changes: work-related requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) and tighter limitations on their participation in the Food Stamp Program. The Economic ...
FANRR-26-7, October 01, 2002
This issues brief examines the link between unemployment and food stamps, with an emphasis on the potential magnitude of economic and policy changes on food stamp caseloads. We find that a 1-percentage-point increase in the unemployment rate leads to about 700,000 more food stamp recipients in the f...
FANRR-26, October 01, 2002
Nearly 1 in 6 Americans is served by 1 or more of the 15 domestic food assistance programs administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture at some point during the year. In 2001, food assistance programs accounted for about half of total USDA outlays. ERS's Food Assistance and Nutrition Research ...
FANRR-19-2, October 01, 2002
This is the second of four reports completed by Abt Associates Inc., under the contract "The Nutrition and Health Outcome Study." This report is an evaluation of various data sources for their potential for analyzing the impacts of USDA's food assistance and nutrition programs. Data sources are eval...
FANRR-16-2, October 01, 2002
Findings of the first comprehensive government study of the Emergency Food Assistance System (EFAS) suggest that public and private food assistance may work in tandem to provide more comprehensive food assistance than either provides by itself. Five major types of organizations (emergency kitchens, ...
EFAN-01008, October 01, 2002
Findings of the first comprehensive government study of the Emergency Food Assistance System (EFAS) suggest that public and private food assistance may work in tandem to provide more comprehensive food assistance than either provides by itself. Five major types of organizations (emergency kitchens, ...
EFAN-02016, September 20, 2002
Twenty percent of U.S. households classified as food insecure had midrange or high incomes, according to responses to the 1995-97 Current Population Survey. This study investigates the extent to which these households were food insecure and what proportion of them may have been incorrectly identifie...
RDRR-94-1, September 13, 2002
Rural America At A Glance is a six-page brochure that highlights the most recent indicators of social and economic conditions in rural areas for use in developing policies and programs to assist rural areas. This brochure is the first in a series of reports that uses current social and economic data...
SSSM-234-01, September 05, 2002
This report provides a detailed description and analysis of policies used by Japan to support its sugar producers and to regulate sweetener markets. Domestic policies include price floors for cane and beet farmers; subsidies to sugar refiners to compensate for the high cost of domestic sugarcane and...
FANRR-28-1, September 02, 2002
Nearly 1 in 6 Americans is served by 1 or more of the 15 domestic food assistance programs administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) at some point during the year. These programs provide needy persons with access to a more nutritious diet, provide opportunities to improve the eating ...
AIB-777, September 01, 2002
Economic research on recent growth patterns in the U.S. organic sector, by market category, and a description of the marketing channels for major organic commodity groups. A summary of various research, regulatory, and other ongoing programs on organic agriculture in the U.S. Department of Agricultu...
VGS-292, August 22, 2002
The first estimate for the 2002 dry edible bean crop indicates a 39-percent increase from a year ago. Harvested area and per-acre yields are both expected to increase. U.S. dry edible
bean growers reacted to depleted stocks and the highest prices in a decade by increasing area for harvest to 1.69 mi...
EFAN-02015, August 22, 2002
This report describes and assesses a 30-day household food security scale that can be applied specifically to Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement (CPS-FSS) data. In the analysis described here, a 30-day scale was originally developed for use in the analysis of the 1995 CPS data. This ...
VGS-292-01, August 14, 2002
This report examines China's sharply increased exports of fresh and frozen vegetables to Japan in the 1990s. The fast growth of Chinese frozen vegetable exports to Japan, however, does not yet pose a serious challenge to the position of U.S. frozen vegetables in Japan. Japan's frozen vegetable impor...
FAU-66-02, August 02, 2002
Fiscal 2001 U.S. agricultural exports rose $2 billion from fiscal 2000, despite the general economic slump. By State, performance was mixed for the various commodities, with some rising and others falling from 2000. Soybeans and products continued to be the largest export commodity group, accounting...
FANRR-26-6, August 01, 2002
The Food Stamp Program (FSP) provides assistance to more households during recessions and to fewer households during times of economic expansion. These changes in FSP expenditures can have stabilizing effects on the economy, stimulating economic activity during recessions and slowing demand during e...
FANRR-26-5, August 01, 2002
Although Federal programs provide most food assistance in the U.S., many households rely on private, nonprofit, charitable organizations that provide emergency food in their communities. This issue brief reports findings from the first comprehensive government study of these organizations.
AER-811, August 01, 2002
The U.S. Food Marketing System, 2002 provides a detailed overview of the structure, performance, information systems, new technology, and foreign direct investment of the food manufacturing, wholesaling, grocery retailing, and food service sectors, including a comprehensive set of appendix tables co...
WRS-0201, July 30, 2002
This report assesses the impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) on U.S. agriculture and trade. It also contains sections on investment, employment, the environment, and transportation, as well as detailed commodity assessments of the impact of NAFTA on trade.
SB-974-5, July 15, 2002
The average cost of producing a bushel of wheat was $3.97 for producers surveyed in 1998, ranging from about $1.25 to more than $6 per bushel. The cost of producing wheat generally declined as farm size increased. Regional differences in production practices and growing conditions were major influen...
FAU-66-01, July 03, 2002
The import share of U.S. food consumption held steady at 8.8 percent from 1998 to
2000. Import share in 2000 is an average of the 12.3 percent share of U.S. consumption
of food crops and crop products and the 4.2 percent share of animal products, including
fish and shellfish. These import shares ...
FDS-0602-01, July 02, 2002
This report examines events and policy changes in the livestock sectors of the European Union during the 1990s and their impacts on trade in feedstuffs. Lower grain prices and a declining euro together with several animal disease epidemics resulted in significant increases in the feeding of grains a...
FANRR-17, July 01, 2002
All States in a recent study undertook at least one "re-engineering" activity in their Food Stamp Programs (FSPs) as a result of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1966 (PRWORA). In addition, 35 States implemented changes in 3 or more re-engineering categories, wh...
EFAN-02014-2, July 01, 2002
The Iowa Food Stamp Leavers survey was conducted to evaluate the status of people who had left the Iowa Food Stamp Program in 1997. This report describes the sample design, location strategies, data collection methodologies, and weighting procedures used in conducting the survey and preparing the da...
EFAN-02014-1, July 01, 2002
Enrollment in Iowa's Food Stamp Program (FSP) sharply decreased in the last years of the 1990s, following significant changes in social assistance programs in the State, passage of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, and a period of good economic conditions. ...
EFAN-02-013, July 01, 2002
This report provides a toolkit of standardized measurement tools for assessing various aspects of community food security. It includes a general guide to community assessment and focused materials for examining six basic assessment components related to community food security. These include guides ...
EFAN-01-009, July 01, 2002
All States in a recent study undertook at least one "re-engineering" activity in their Food Stamp Programs (FSPs) as a result of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA). In addition, 35 States implemented changes in 3 or more re-engineering categories, wh...
AER-813, July 01, 2002
The purpose of the report is to determine the potential for increased grain exports from Russia and Ukraine. The report reviews the evidence on the productivity of agricultural production, and explores some of the causes of inefficient practices. Results of the analyses show that implementing instit...
AER-812, July 01, 2002
Agricultural policy is rooted in the 1930's notion that providing transfers of money to the farm sector translates into increased economic well-being of farm families. This report shows that neither change in income for the farm sector nor for any particular group of farm business can be presumed to...
EFAN-02007, June 27, 2002
Most State agencies are now using electronic benefits transfer (EBT) systems to issue food stamp benefits. To promote operational efficiency, some States have received waivers of certain rules governing EBT use. An exploratory study was conducted to ascertain the effects of these waivers on food sta...
LDPM-9601, June 25, 2002
This report examines changes in the livestock, dairy, and poultry industry in 2001 and provides initial assessments of 2002 based on forecasts from the June 2002 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates. In 2001, U.S. red meat and poultry production stabilized as lower beef production was part...
EFAN-02010, June 19, 2002
This report complements prior reports on measuring household food security in the United States. It explores key technical issues related to Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement data, focusing especially on the August 1998 and April 1999 surveys. These technical issues include the esti...
EFAN-02-012, June 12, 2002
This report explores factors that influence Food Stamp Program (FSP) participation among the elderly and identifies ways to improve their participation based on findings from focus groups of senior FSP participants and nonparticipants, community-based organizations, and staff from local food stamp o...
FANRR-26-4, June 03, 2002
The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act dramatically altered the social safety net for poor Americans, including the 7 million people living in poverty in nonmetro areas. This issue brief examines evidence from recent research about rural-urban differences in welfare refo...
FANRR-26-3, June 03, 2002
This issue brief explains the role of the standard deduction in the food stamp benefit formula and analyzes options for changing the level of the standard deduction.
FANRR-16-1, June 03, 2002
Findings of the first comprehensive government study of the Emergency Food Assistance System (EFAS) suggest that public and private food assistance may work in tandem to provide more comprehensive food assistance than either provides by itself. Five major types of organizations (emergency kitchens, ...
EFAN-02011, June 03, 2002
This report provides estimates of the prevalence of food insecurity and hunger in U.S. households in 1998 and 1999 and trends since 1995 based on nationally representative data in the Food Security Supplement to the Current Population Survey (CPS). The report also provides estimates of the prevalenc...
FANRR-18, May 20, 2002
Changes in food assistance policy can have impacts on economic activity and household income across the economy. Using a Computable General Equilibrium model focusing on food assistance, we found that both a hypothetical cut in food stamp benefits and a hypothetical cash-out of the Food Stamp Progra...
AER-804, May 17, 2002
This report examines changes in hamburger preparation behavior, the reasons for the changes, the medical costs saved as a result of the changes, and the implications for future food safety education.
FANRR-26-2, May 16, 2002
This issues brief assesses progress toward the U.S. Government's Healthy People 2010 objective of reducing the prevalence rate of food insecurity in the Nation to half of its 1995 level by 2010. It describes methods used to measure and monitor food security, trends in food insecurity and hunger from...
FANRR-24, May 15, 2002
The introduction of tiered meal reimbursement rates in the family child care homes portion of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) concentrated benefits more intensely on low-income children, as intended. Tiering added to sponsoring organizations' administrative duties, reduced the number o...
TB-1900, May 07, 2002
Bank Market Structure and Local Employment Growth examines the relationship between measures of local bank market structure (such as the level of geographic regulation, market concentration, nonlocal bank ownership, nonlocal control of local bank deposits, and bank market concentration) and job grow...
AER-807, May 02, 2002
The report examines the role of contracts and vertical integration in reducing transaction costs. The report further explores benefits from new methods of vertical coordination and the implications for future research.
AER-810, May 01, 2002
This report uses USDA survey data to examine the extent to which US farmers have adopted bioengineered crops, factors affecting adoption of these crops, and the impacts of bioengineered crops on input use and farm-level net returns.
AIB-774, April 22, 2002
Corn production uses over 25 percent of the Nation's cropland and more than 40 percent of the commercial fertilizer applied to crops. Thus, corn farmers' choices of soil, nutrient, and water management systems can have a major impact not only on their own profitability, but also on the environment. ...
TB-1898, April 19, 2002
The economic well-being of the U.S. population with incomes below 130 percent of the official poverty guideline is of special interest to policymakers and food assistance program administrators. For example, the Food Stamp Program uses gross income below this level as one of several criteria for det...
VGS-290, April 18, 2002
According to preliminary ERS estimates, per capita vegetable and melon use (consumption) declined 1 percent in 2001 to 448 pounds. Fresh-market use (excluding potatoes) was unchanged at 173 pounds while freezing (down 1 percent) and canning (down 3 percent) use were lower. Per capita use of potatoes...
FANRR-20, April 18, 2002
This report summarizes research findings from the Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Small Grants Program. The Economic Research Service created the program in 1998 to stimulate new and innovative research on food assistance and nutrition issues and to broaden the participation of social science...
AER-809, April 18, 2002
The economic development of South Korea is often considered a model for developing countries. We use 1975 and 1990 data in a general equilibrium framework with a highly disaggregated sector specification to evaluate the opportunity cost of its agricultural protection. We show that although agricultu...
FANRR-23, April 15, 2002
Most State agencies are now using electronic benefits transfer (EBT) systems to issue food stamp benefits. To promote operational efficiency, some States have received waivers of certain rules governing EBT use. An exploratory study was conducted to ascertain the effects of these waivers on food sta...
SB-947-4, April 11, 2002
Average soybean production costs ranged from $2.13 per bushel for producers in the lowest cost quartile to $6.00 per bushel for those in the highest cost quartile. Heartland, West, and Northern Crescent producers had lower soybean production costs per bushel than Mississippi Portal and Southeast pro...
TB-1899, April 01, 2002
This bulletin provides an alternative approach for computing retail-farm price margins. Current published estimates of retail-farm price margins are calculated assuming that food markets are comprised of identical firms producing, in fixed-factor proportions, a homogeneous set of final food products...
MP-1583, April 01, 2002
The report examines the historical USDA funding levels of 1890 institutions; discusses the outcomes of these investments and potential measurable indicators of these outcomes; and outlines a conceptual model for estimating returns to investment in education tailored to particularities of the 1890's.
GFA-13, April 01, 2002
The Food Security Assessment report provides food gap and hunger projections for 67 potentially food insecure countries in North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and NIS.
FANRR-26-1, April 01, 2002
A 1995 study of the family child care homes portion of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) found that nearly 80 percent of children served came from middle and higher income families. To refocus the program on low-income children, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunities Reconcil...
FANRR-25, April 01, 2002
The capacity to accurately measure the food security status of children in household surveys is one important tool for monitoring food insecurity and hunger at the most severe levels in U.S. households and for assessing programs designed to prevent or ameliorate these conditions. USDA has developed ...
EFAN-02-006, April 01, 2002
The introduction of tiered reimbursement rates in 1997 did not substantially affect the food and nutrient composition of meals offered by Tier 2 providers in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996 mandated a...
EFAN-02-005, April 01, 2002
Within the family child care home portion of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), low-income children increased from 21 to 39 percent of all participating children between 1995 and 1999. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunities Reconciliation Act of 1996 mandated a tiered reimbur...
EFAN-02-004, April 01, 2002
Family child care providers who participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) receive reimbursement for qualifying meals served to children in their care. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 mandated a two-tiered reimbursement structure designed...
EFAN-02-003, April 01, 2002
Sponsors of family child care homes in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) took on additional responsibilities as a result of the tiered reimbursement structure introduced in 1997. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 mandated a tiered reimbursement s...
AIB-775, April 01, 2002
Assessment of issues that will affect China's future trends in consumption, production, import, and export of food and agricultural commodities. A series of 13 articles cover China's food consumption, marketing, international trade, agricultural policy, transportation infrastructure, regional divers...
EFAN-02-009, March 14, 2002
This report examines the level of plate waste in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and information on strategies to reduce it. Strategies examined include using the offer vs. serve provision for meal service, rescheduling lunch hours, improving the quality of food, tailoring serving sizes to ...
EFAN-02002, March 13, 2002
The introduction of tiered reimbursement rates in 1997 reduced the number of family child care homes participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) in 1998 and 1999. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 mandated a tiered reimbursement structure ...
AIS-78-01, March 11, 2002
Interest rates on agricultural loans are determined by factors primarily outside of the agriculture sector in national and international credit markets. This report discusses the macroeconomic factors behind the fall in agricultural interest rates in 2001 and the farm interest rate outlook for 2002....
AP-010, March 08, 2002
ERS's Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program accepted proposals for grants and cooperative agreements for fiscal 2002. The five priority research areas were (1) Program Design and Operations, (2) Food Assistance as a Safety Net, (3) Obesity, (4) Eating Patterns, Diet Quality, and Health Outc...
FANRR-22, March 01, 2002
The introduction of tiered reimbursement rates in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) concentrated program benefits more intensely on low-income children, as intended. Tiering reduced the number of family child care homes participating in the program, but did not alter the number or nutrit...
FANRR-21, March 01, 2002
The latest in a series of annual statistical reports on the prevalence of food security, food insecurity, and hunger in U.S. households, based on the September 2000 Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement. This year's report, in addition to statistics on food security, includes informatio...
EFAN-02008, March 01, 2002
This report provides the results of a study on the effects of changes in the economy and recent policy changes on trends in food stamp caseloads during 1987-99 and seeks to account for the sharp decline in caseloads after 1994. The study analyzed food stamp receipt among different types of household...
AER-806, March 01, 2002
The report examines how economic reform in the transition countries of the former Soviet bloc has transformed the volume and mix of these countries' agricultural production, consumption, and trade. The report concludes that output decline has been an inevitable part of market reform and that the mai...
WAOB-2002-1, February 21, 2002
This report provides long-run (10-year) baseline projections for the agricultural sector through 2011. Projections cover agricultural commodities, agricultural trade, and aggregate indicators of the sector, such as farm income and food prices.
FANRR-19-1, February 01, 2002
This is the first of four reports in the "Nutrition and Health Outcome Study," which assesses the effects of USDA's food assistance and nutrition programs on nutrition and health outcomes. This report reviews the research designs available to evaluators for assessing the effect of USDA's food assist...
AP-009, January 03, 2002
ERS's Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program (FANRP) supports intramural and extramural research on a wide range of policy-relevant food assistance and nutrition topics. The three perennial program themes are (1) diet and nutritional outcomes, (2) food program targeting and delivery, and (3)...
AER-798, January 01, 2002
The report examines the restructuring of the livestock sectors in five countries: Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, and Romania. All five countries experienced a decline in both animal inventories and meat output during the early years of transition away from a centrally planned economy. The study i...
WRS-013, December 28, 2001
This report identifies key factors underlying the agricultural productivity growth and enhanced international competitiveness of Brazil and Argentina in the past decade. Economic and policy reforms, infrastructure development, and enhanced use of agricultural inputs that drove output growth during t...
RDRR-93, December 28, 2001
This report measures the amount of Black migration from and to the nonmetropolitan parts of the South from 1965-70 to 1990-95. Data are shown for 1990-95 for two key characteristics of the migrants--education and income. Comparisons are also made with the non-Black population, and population trends ...
VGS-288, December 14, 2001
The November 2001 estimate of U.S. fall-season potato production is 401 million hundredweight (cwt). When added to the winter, spring, and summer potato crops, this places total production for the 2001 crop year at 442 million cwt, 14 percent below a year ago. In response to reduced production, U.S....
LDPM-8901, December 07, 2001
New negotiations on trade in agriculture were recently initiated by the World Trade Organization. The negotiations focus on extending the gains to world trade achieved in the 1994 Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture (URAA), which limited the use of tariffs and non-tariff barriers, export subsidie...
TB-1897, December 04, 2001
The gross soybean processing margin (the gross return per bushel of soybeans processed) is the main decision variable that processors use in deciding when and if to make binding commitments to process soybeans on future dates. Understanding how processors choose processing margins for future process...
EFAN-01-013, December 01, 2001
This report describes a study design permitting a scientifically defensible evaluation of the impact of the School Breakfast Program (SBP) on learning and cognitive development among children. Following presentation of a literature review and conceptual framework of the SBP-learning relationship, fo...
EFAN-01-012, December 01, 2001
This report identifies and assesses methods used to detect and prevent fraud and abuse among staff and participants of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The report summarizes the relevant WIC regulations; describes basic controls or practices widely u...
EFAN-01-011, December 01, 2001
This report identifies and assesses methods used to detect and prevent fraud and abuse among staff and participants of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The report summarizes the relevant WIC regulations; describes basic controls or practices widely u...
EFAN-01-010, December 01, 2001
This report describes 10 potential data development initiatives, each of which holds promise for improving the quality or reducing the cost of data resources in USDA's three major food assistance programs. The initiatives reflect the research needs of all three of the largest Federal food assistance...
TBS-250-01, November 29, 2001
Since the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) was signed in November 1998, the cigarette industry has been forced to raise prices to cover the costs associated with the settlement. The agreement between the attorneys general from 46 States and the major cigarette companies was intended primarily to re...
SB-974-3, November 16, 2001
Differences in regional conditions were the chief influence on variations in cow-calf production costs across the United States. Cow-calf operators in the West and Southern Plains have significant cost advantages over operators in other regions because, with a longer grazing season, their herds requ...
WRS-012, November 08, 2001
The Chinese grain sector faces pressure from both external competition and internal shifts in consumer preferences that could reshape the industry. The report focuses on the long-term expectations for China's agriculture in the face of continued growth and openness to trade.
AER-805, November 06, 2001
This report provides original estimates of private sector agricultural research and development efforts in Asia during the 1990s. The report examines seven Asia countries (India, Pakistan, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and China). The examination provides an assessment of the trend...
SB-974-2, October 26, 2001
Producing a pound of cotton cost U.S. farmers 38 cents in operating costs and another 35 cents in overhead costs in 1997, the latest survey year. Individual farm costs ranged from 18 cents to $1.97 per pound for operating costs and from 28 cents to $2.96 per pound for total costs. The Prairie Gatewa...
RDRR-92, October 15, 2001
During 1995-97, 3.4 million workers were displaced from their jobs, of whom 500,000 (15 percent) were nonmetro workers. This report examines the displaced workers' experience in metro and nonmetro areas using survey and administrative data. Although nonmetro workers were less likely to be displaced ...
LDPM-8701, October 03, 2001
This report examines changes in the livestock industry in 2000 and provides initial assessments of 2001 based on forecasts from the August 2001 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates. Strong economic growth in the United States in 2000 boosted the demand for high quality cuts of red meats, t...
EFAN-02-001, October 01, 2001
This final report responds to Congress's request for a study on the number of suppliers of infant formula in each State or major marketing area and comparison of the costs of formula that is included in USDA's WIC program versus that of other formula.
SB-973, September 08, 2001
This report provides land use estimates for major land uses in the United States, by State for 1997.
VGS-285-01, August 30, 2001
This article discusses issues affecting U.S. trade in fruits and vegetables that are likely to be considered during upcoming trade negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO). Tariff reductions, tariff-rate quotas, export subsidies, and domestic support are discussed, as are the impacts of an...
SB-974-1, August 30, 2001
The production costs for a bushel of corn ranged from an average of $1.19 per bushel for those farmers in the lowest quartile to $3.67 per bushel for corn farmers in the highest quartile, ranked by production costs per bushel. Producers with high corn production costs per bushel tended to have both ...
AIB-772, August 30, 2001
Intellectual property protection, globalization, and pressure on public budgets in many industrialized countries have shifted the balance of plant breeding activity from the public to the private sector. Several economic factors influence the relative shares of public versus private sector plant bre...
TB-1896, August 24, 2001
This report expands aggregate lifecycle expenditure analysis by separating generational or cohort effects from aging effects. This is important since different generations or age groups may exhibit expenditure patterns that are the result of higher incomes and/or different tastes and preferences. Ig...
FANRR-11-2, August 24, 2001
The Second Food Security Measurement and Research Conference (February 23-24, 1999) was co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service and Economic Research Service and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Center for Health Statistics. The confe...
VGS-285, August 21, 2001
This summer (largely July-September 2001), fresh-market vegetable and melon area for harvest is forecast to rise 2 percent from a year ago. Increased acreage is a reflection of stronger grower prices since last summer. California, accounting for 50 percent of this year’s summer-season area, increase...
EFAN-01-007, August 20, 2001
The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 more than doubled funding to States for USDA's Food Stamp Employment and Training Program. The law required States to spend at least 80 percent of the funding on services that can fulfill the work requirements imposed by welfare reform legislation in 1996 on able-bodi...
FANRR-15, August 16, 2001
The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 more than doubled funding to States for USDA's Food Stamp Employment and Training Program. The law required States to spend at least 80 percent of the funding on services that can fulfill the work requirements imposed by welfare reform legislation in 1996 on able-bodi...
AIB-773, August 15, 2001
Average per-person total food expenditures, adjusted for inflation, declined about 7 percent between 1990 and 1998, from $2,189 to $2,037. This decline resulted primarily from the average at-home food expenditures per person declining by about 6 percent and the away-from-home food expenditures decli...
WHS-0701-01, August 01, 2001
Congress is considering new farm legislation to replace the expiring Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996. As background for these deliberations, this report provides information on supply, demand, and prices in the U.S. wheat sector and examines alternative policy choices.
RCS-0601-01, August 01, 2001
This report provides background information for addressing policy issues facing the U.S. rice industry as Congress debates provisions of new farm legislation. The report includes an examination of the structure of the U.S. rice sector and the global rice market to provide a backdrop for discussion o...
OCS-0701-01, August 01, 2001
Congress is considering new farm legislation to replace the expiring Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996. As background for these deliberations, this report provides information on supply, demand, and prices in the U.S. soybean sector. Domestic policy effects on U.S. exports and t...
CWS-0601-01, August 01, 2001
Since passage of the 1996 farm legislation, U.S. cotton production and demand have nearly equaled each other, keeping stocks virtually unchanged. However, U.S. cotton producers have experienced deteriorating product prices coupled with declining yields during this period. Farm prices for upland cott...
AER-803, June 30, 2001
Land development in the United States is following two routes: expansion of urban areas and large-lot development (greater than 1 acre per house) in rural areas. Urban expansion claimed more than 1 million acres per year between 1960 and 1990, yet is not seen as a threat to most farming, although it...
AIB-764, June 18, 2001
For the southern Africa region, both a grain stocking program and an import insurance program would have reduced food supply variability more than historical food aid during 1970-95. The stocking program and the import insurance program would have been less expensive than food aid from a donor point...
AIB-771, June 15, 2001
Census of agriculture data were used to estimate manure nutrient production and the capacity of cropland and pastureland to assimilate nutrients. Most farms (78 percent for nitrogen and 69 percent for phosphorus) have adequate land on which it is physically feasible to apply the manure produced onfa...
AIB-770, June 15, 2001
Farmers have been developing organic farming systems in the United States for decades. State and private institutions also began emerging during this period to set organic farming standards and provide third-party verification of label claims, and legislation requiring national standards was passed ...
AIB-765-9, June 13, 2001
This report reviews the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the region and the possible implications for the economic and agricultural sectors.
AIB-765-8, June 13, 2001
The Climate Change and Food Security report offers a synthesis of ERS research on the potential impacts of global warming on developing countries in the Tropics and discusses how future climate change research could contribute to food security policies in the region.
AIB-765-10, June 13, 2001
This Food Security briefing paper describes ERS research on sustained growth in agricultural productivity and the role of research and development on world's ability to produce more food for the growing population.
AIB-765-11, June 12, 2001
This Food Security briefing paper describes ERS research on biotechnology in improving agricultural productivity and the role of research institutions to facilitate access to biotechnology in developing countries to produce more food for their growing population.
SB-972, June 06, 2001
Average yearly expenditures on food in urban households remained constant between 1997 and 1998. In 1998, the typical household spent $1,773 per person versus $1,767 the previous year. Of this amount, $1,094 was spent on food consumed at home and $679 on food consumed away from home. In 1997, slight...
WRS-01-1, May 30, 2001
Higher income, urbanization, other demographic shifts, improved transportation, and consumer perceptions regarding quality and safety are changing global food consumption patterns. Shifts in food consumption have led to increased trade and changes in the composition of world agricultural trade. Give...
AIB-769, May 25, 2001
This report describes a farm typology developed by the Economic Research Service (ERS), which categorizes farms into more homogeneous groups than classifications based on sales volume alone, producing a more effective policy development tool. The typology is used to describe U.S. farm structure.
AIB-768, May 25, 2001
Family farms vary widely in size and other characteristics, ranging from very small retirement and residential farms to establishments with sales in the millions of dollars. The farm typology developed by the Economic Research Service (ERS) categorizes farms into groups based primarily on occupation...
TB-1895, May 21, 2001
This study provides estimates of the growth and relative levels of agricultural productivity for the 48 contiguous States for the period 1960 to 1996. For the full 1960-96 period, every State exhibits a positive and generally substantial average annual rate of productivity growth. There is considera...
AER-802, May 15, 2001
Agricultural trade barriers and producer subsidies inflict real costs, both on the countries that use these policies and on their trade partners. This report quantifies the costs of global agricultural distortions and the potential benefits of their full elimination. The report concludes that elimin...
AIB-767, May 01, 2001
This report investigates how retail consolidation, changes in technology, and increased consumer demand for convenience, product diversity, and year-round availability have all influenced shipper-retailer relations in the lettuce and fresh-cut vegetable industries.
AIB-766, May 01, 2001
Feeding low levels of antimicrobial drugs to livestock affects food safety, human health, and livestock production costs and returns. This report examines the economics of antimicrobial resistance in livestock and the economic implications of banning the use of growth-enhancing antimicrobial drugs i...
EFAN-01-006, April 26, 2001
This interim report responds to Congress's request for a study on the number of suppliers of infant formula in each State or major marketing area and comparison of the costs of formula that is included in the USDA's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) versus...
AIB-765-7, April 26, 2001
This issue paper provides an update of recent trends in food security in the United States and discusses related policy and programmatic factors.
AIB-765-6, April 26, 2001
This issue paper describes need for, and development of, a direct measure for monitoring U.S. food security using household survey methods. A conceptual framework for the household food security measure is described, and measurement methods are outlined.
AIB-765-5, April 26, 2001
This issue paper discusses how agricultural trade liberalization will affect low-income, food-insecure countries. Most countries and regions show modest reductions in food insecurity from liberalization due to domestic supply response that reacts to high prices.
AIB-765-4, April 26, 2001
This briefing paper examines the effectiveness of food aid in reducing transitory and emergency food insecurity. Global demand for food aid is outpacing supply and any improvement in food aid distribution systems could improve food security of the lower income countries.
AIB-765-3, April 26, 2001
This issue brief describes ERS research on international differences in the quality of natural resources and their effects on agricultural productivity and food security.
AIB-765-2, April 26, 2001
This briefing paper examines the effects of income distribution on food security, particularly within countries that have a very uneven distribution of purchasing power. The analysis showed that for the 67 countries, food needs in year 2000 doubled when income inequality was taken into account.
AIB-765-1, April 25, 2001
This briefing paper covers 67 low-income countries in five regions. Sub-Saharan Africa is identified as the most vulnerable region: with only 25 percent of the population in the 67 countries, its nutritional needs account for 65 percent of the total for all countries.
TB-1892, April 24, 2001
This report analyzes farmers' choice of crop insurance contracts and tests for the presence of asymmetric information in the market for multiple yield and revenue insurance products. Farmers' risk characteristics, their level of income, and the cost of insurance significantly affect their choices of...
AIB-765, April 23, 2001
Included here are a number of short multidisciplinary issue papers that address how food security in the United States and throughout the world is affected by issues like trade liberalization, income distribution, and natural resources. ERS research shows that more than 800 million people are hungry...
FANRR-14, April 20, 2001
This report develops an accounting tool for measuring how the average benefit amount in the U.S. Food Stamp Program is affected by each major component of the rules that determine the benefit level. This tool is used to compare the benefits received by different subpopulations, distinguished by pove...
AER-800, April 16, 2001
This report analyzes the effects of the current Federal tax code on farming. It is the first study that applies the ERS farm typology to tax data. The study was initiated by the USDA National Commission on Small Farms and also evaluates tax proposals to assist beginning farmers. Investment, manageme...
AP-008, April 06, 2001
ERS's Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program accepted proposals for grants and cooperative agreements for fiscal 2001. The five priority research areas were (1) Workforce Attachment, Income Volatility, and Administrative Costs, (2) Food Assistance as a Safety Net, (3) Targeting High Needs Su...
TB-1893, April 02, 2001
The 1996 Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture was a step toward free trade. The Agreement lifts bans and quotas on imports, but allows their conversion into tariff-rate quotas (TRQs), which function like quotas. At present, many of the 1,300 TRQs increased market access to imports, but some have p...
MP-1570, April 02, 2001
Because each Federal agency uses a different valuation method to estimate the costs of illness, it is difficult to compare programs across agencies. As a first step toward generating a consensus on the current state of knowledge and deciding on a common approach, several agencies planned this confer...
AER-801, April 02, 2001
Over the next several years, crop prices are projected to be below to slightly above commodity loan rates. As a result, marketing loan benefits to farmers, in the form of loan deficiency payments and marketing loan gains from the commodity loan program, are likely to continue to be sizeable. The lev...
FANRR-12, April 01, 2001
Empirical studies have shown that food stamp participants spend a higher proportion of their benefit on food than they would with an equivalent amount of cash. Our study demonstrates that this result can be explained by the decisionmaking behavior of multi-adult households. Multi-adult households sp...
AER-799, April 01, 2001
This report examines how product liability law treats personal injuries attributed to microbially contaminated foods. The risk of lawsuits stemming from microbial foodborne illness and the resulting court-awarded compensation may create economic incentives for firms to produce safer food. It is not ...
AIB-763, March 19, 2001
Consolidation in the agricultural biotechnology industry can both enhance and dampen market competition. This report examines the causes and consequences of industry consolidation and its effect on market efficiency. In some cases, concentration realizes economies of scale, which can improve market ...
AIB-762, March 19, 2001
This report analyzes the economic aspects of several key areas--agricultural research policy, industry structure, production and marketing, consumer issues, and future world food demand--where agricultural biotechnology is dramatically affecting the public policy agenda.
AP-007, March 07, 2001
ERS's Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program (FANRP) supports intramural and extramural research on a wide range of policy-relevant food assistance and nutrition topics. The three perennial program themes are (1) diet and nutritional outcomes, (2) food program targeting and delivery, and (3)...
FANRR-13, March 01, 2001
A minimum of $3.6 billion would be saved if breastfeeding were increased from current levels (64 percent in-hospital, 29 percent at 6 months) to those recommended by the U.S. Surgeon General (75 and 50 percent). This figure is likely an underestimation of the total savings because it represents cost...
FANRR-11-1, February 28, 2001
This is Volume 1 of a two-volume set and contains abbreviated proceedings of all presentations made at the Second Food Security Measurement and Research Conference held on February 23-24, 1999. The conference was cosponsored by USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service and Economic Research Service and HHS’...
AIB-761, February 28, 2001
Over the past 125 years, a complex system of both public and private pricing institutions has evolved to deal with milk production, assembly, and distribution. The pricing of milk in the United States is part market-determined, and part publicly administered through a wide variety of pricing regulat...
GFA-12, February 26, 2001
USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS) projects that average per capita food consumption for 67 low-income countries will increase in the next decade. ERS also projects that the number of people failing to meet their nutritional requirements will decline from 774 million in 2000 to 694 million in 20...
TB-1889, February 23, 2001
This report is an empirical inquiry into how poverty is changed by the macroeconomy. The analysis suggests low real wage rates and not the unemployment rate are the most important determinant of poverty in the long run. Changes in output and unemployment primarily affect cyclical or shortrun poverty...
WAOB-2001-1, February 22, 2001
This report provides long-run (10-year) baseline projections for the agricultural sector through 2010. Projections cover agricultural commodities, agricultural trade, and aggregate indicators of the sector, such as farm income and food prices.
EFAN-01-005, February 01, 2001
The William F. Goodling Child Nutrition Act of 1998 directed ERS to conduct a study to assess the impacts of WIC (USDA's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) cost-containment practices. This Interim Report presents results from the first year of the study, includi...
AER-797, January 25, 2001
Agricultural trade barriers and producer subsidies inflict real costs, both on the countries that use these policies and on their trade partners. Trade barriers lower demand for trade partners’ products, domestic subsidies can induce an oversupply of agricultural products which depresses world price...
AER-796, January 25, 2001
High protection for agricultural commodities in the form of tariffs continues to be the major factor restricting world trade. The large differences in average tariffs across countries make it possible for farmers in one country to benefit from tariff protection while farmers in other countries lose ...
AER-795, January 25, 2001
In the past year, trade practices between fresh produce shippers and food retailers gained national attention. Shippers are concerned that recent retail consolidation has led to market power and the growing incidence of fees and services. Retailers argue that these new trade practices reflect their ...
AER-794, January 25, 2001
Agri-environmental policy is at a crossroads. Over the past 20 years, a wide range of policies addressing the environmental implications of agricultural production have been implemented at the Federal level. Those policies have played an important role in reducing soil erosion, protecting and restor...
AER-793, January 25, 2001
Federal intervention in food labeling is often proposed with the aim of achieving a social goal such as improving human health and safety, mitigating environmental hazards, averting international trade disputes, or supporting domestic agricultural and food manufacturing industries. Economic theory s...
EFAN-01-003, January 01, 2001
This report summarizes the results of a longitudinal microsimulation model known as MATH STEWARD that was used to explore how state welfare reform and economic changes between 1992 and 1998 might have affected the Food Stamp Program and how an economic recession might affect food stamp outcomes. Sli...
EFAN-01-002, January 01, 2001
This study examined the situation of food stamp recipients in Illinois who left the Food Stamp Program in 1997. About half of all leavers were employed in any given month after exiting the program, and many worked in low-wage jobs. Nearly half of all leavers returned to the program, and more than ha...
AER-792, January 01, 2001
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Area Studies Project was designed to characterize the extent of adoption of nutrient, pest, soil, and water management practices and to assess the factors that affect adoption for a wide range of management strategies across different natural resource regions. The ...
FANRR-10, December 01, 2000
The Economic Research Service Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program (FANRP) offers a Small Grants Program designed to stimulate new and innovative research on food assistance and nutrition issues and to broaden the participation of social science scholars in these issues. ERS created partne...
EFAN-01-001, December 01, 2000
This study examined the situation of adults in Arizona who left the Food Stamp Program in 1997. Adults with dependents or a disability who did not receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) at any time during the 12 months preceding their food stamp exit showed the highest degree of self...
AER-790, November 28, 2000
An average of 875,000 persons 15 years of age and older did hired farmwork each week as their primary job in 1998. An additional 63,000 people did hired farmwork each week as their secondary job. Hired farmworkers were more likely than the typical U.S. wage and salary worker to be male, Hispanic, yo...
AER-791, November 16, 2000
The level and distribution of the costs and benefits of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulatory program for meat and poultry change dramatically once economywide effects are included in the analysis. Using a Social Accounting Matrix Model, we find that reduced premature dea...
AER-789, November 03, 2000
Public health policies intended to reduce the incidence of smoking-related disease adversely affect thousands of tobacco farmers, manufacturers, and other businesses that produce, distribute, and sell tobacco products. This report assesses the likely impacts of declining tobacco demand, and identifi...
AER-787, November 02, 2000
Cost function analyses using data from the U.S. Bureau of the Census reveal substantial scale economies in chicken and turkey slaughter. These economies show no evidence of diminishing as plant size increases, are much greater than those realized in cattle and hog slaughter, and have resulted in a h...
MP-1566, October 30, 2000
ERS sponsored a workshop, Technological and Structural Change in the Transportation Sector: Effects on U.S. Food and Agricultural Trade, March 17-18, 1999, in Washington, DC. The program's objectives were to raise awareness within ERS about the role and importance of transportation in U.S. food and ...
AH-720, October 27, 2000
The U.S. dairy industry faces a changing government policy environment in the year 2000. Milk producers are struggling, and will continue to struggle, to adjust to markets that are more dependent on the forces of supply and demand. Data from the 1993-95 Farm Costs and Returns Surveys and the 1996 Ag...
AER-788, October 02, 2000
Discussions in the public arena have raised fundamental questions about the ultimate goals of farm policy and the need for establishing a safety net for farm households. This report examines four scenarios for government assistance to agriculture based on the concept of ensuring some minimum standar...
EFAN-01-004, October 01, 2000
The executive summary and three accompanying volumes of this report describe the design of a national study of USDA's Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). The SFSP was created in 1975 to provide children from low-income families with nutritious meals when school is not in session. On a typical summer...
TB-1888, September 21, 2000
The 1996 Farm Act gives farmers almost complete planting flexibility, allowing producers to respond to price changes to a greater extent than they had under previous legislation. This study measures supply responsiveness for major field crops to changes in their own prices and in prices for competin...
SB-969, September 20, 2000
This report presents information on nutrient and pest management practices, crop residue management, and other general crop management practices in use on U.S. farms. The public has expressed concerns about the possible undesirable effects of contemporary agricultural practices on human health and n...
FANRR-9, September 15, 2000
Participants in the Food Stamp Program have higher intake of meats, added sugars, and total fats, according to a regression analysis. However, food stamp use does not significantly change intake of fruits, vegetables, grains, or dairy products. Participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Prog...
FANRR-8, September 08, 2000
This report provides the most recent data on the food security of American households. Preliminary estimates indicate that 89.9 percent of American households were food secure in 1999, up 0.6 percentage point from 1995. Some 31 million Americans were food insecure--they did not have assured access a...
TB-1887, September 05, 2000
A methodology for estimating a demand system from household survey data is developed and applied to the 1987-88 Nationwide Food Consumption Survey data. The empirical results are sets of estimated demand elasticities for households segmented with different income levels. In addition, we apply these ...
AIB-759, September 01, 2000
The Economic Research Service (ERS) developed a farm typology which categorizes farms into more homogeneous groups than do classifications based on sales volume alone, producing a more effective policy development tool. The typology is used to describe U.S. farms.
AIB-758, August 31, 2000
Mergers, acquisitions, and internal growth among grocery retailers, largely since 1996, have increased the share of grocery store sales accounted for by the largest 4, 8, and 20 food retailers nationwide. Similar consolidation is occurring among food wholesalers. At the same time, new packaged and b...
AIB-757, August 31, 2000
The Federal Government began allowing food manufacturers to irradiate raw meat and meat products to control pathogenic microorganisms in February 2000. Consumer acceptance of irradiated foods could affect public health because many foodborne illnesses occur when consumers handle or eat meat or poult...
FANRR-6, August 04, 2000
The social safety nets in Mexico and the United States rely heavily on food assistance programs to ensure food security and access to safe and nutritious foods. To achieve these general goals, both countries' programs are exclusively paid for out of internal funds and both target low-income househol...
AIB-760, August 01, 2000
ERS recently constructed a new set of regions depicting geographic specialization in production of U.S. farm commodities. ERS will use the new regions to display results of its analyses in a broad array of venues from briefings to publications, our web site, and journal articles. This pamphlet intro...
AH-719, July 01, 2000
About 34 percent of U.S. farms in 1997 used hired labor, and 12 percent used contract labor. Hired labor costs averaged 12 percent of total farm production expenses in 1997, but amounted to as much as 44 percent of production expenses for horticultural specialty crop producers, 40 percent for fruit ...
FANRR-7, June 26, 2000
The Food Stamp Program saw an unprecedented decline in participation from 27.5 million participants in 1994 to 18.2 million participants in 1999. A strong economy and changes in social welfare programs drove this change. An econometric model with State-level data calculated that 35 percent of the ca...
TB-1886, June 12, 2000
The restructuring of commercial banking has heightened interest in its economic consequences both for the economy as a whole and for those most likely to bear adverse consequences: small businesses, small banks, and rural areas. Most previous research on bank restructuring focuses on changes in bank...
TB-1884, June 12, 2000
We investigate sources of output growth and supply response in rice, wheat, corn, and soybeans, the four most important crops in China’s grain sector, during 1978-97. Using a growth accounting methodology, we found large total factor productivity (TFP) contributions to growth in grain production imm...
TB-1885, June 08, 2000
Forecasting retail food prices has become increasingly important to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This is due to the changing structure of food and agricultural economies and the important signals the forecasts provide to farmers, processors, wholesalers, consumers, and policymakers. Th...
SB-968, June 07, 2000
Wheat growers' choice of production practices and geographic location were the major determinants of their costs of production, according to the findings of a 1994 survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. One-fourth of surveyed farms reported using some form of conservation tillage, e...
AER-786, May 01, 2000
Adoption of genetically engineered crops with traits for pest management has risen dramatically since their commercial introduction in the mid-1990's. The farm-level impacts of such crops on pesticide use, yields, and net returns vary with the crop and technology examined. Adoption of herbicide-tole...
WRS-99-1A, April 14, 2000
This is the second part of ERS’s report on the effects of the North American Free Trade
Agreement (NAFTA) on U.S. agriculture. The first part, WRS-99-1, was published in August
1999 and contains the following sections: Developments in Trade, Policies, and Dispute
Resolution; Employment in U.S. Agric...
FANRR-5, April 01, 2000
After controlling for self-selection bias, participation in the WIC program (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) has a significant positive effect on children's intakes of iron, folate, and vitamin B-6. Iron is one of five nutrients targeted by the program, the o...
AIB-756, March 22, 2000
The pesticide methyl bromide is being phased out internationally under the Montreal Protocol. Methyl bromide has been used for over 50 years to control insect, nematodes, pathogens, and weeds. It is used for soil fumigation before planting many fruits, vegetables, ornamentals, and agricultural nurse...
WRS-99-4, March 16, 2000
China’s economic growth is slowing, primarily due to
reduced domestic consumer demand. Growth in China’s
gross domestic product dropped to 7.1 percent in 1999, the
slowest since 1983. Exports, which had risen 21 percent in
1997 and an astonishing 15.5 percent a year on average
during 1980-97, c...
TB-1882, March 14, 2000
This report documents an applied general equilibrium model of the United States. The model features explicit treatment of Federal, State, and local taxes and is segmented into 10 distinct subregions. These subregions engage in inter- and intraregional trade, as well as international trade. Each regi...
WRS-99-3, March 07, 2000
This report brings together background information for assessing the impacts of the 1997-99 financial crises on agriculture. It tells
the story of the crises, how they affect the crisis countries’ agriculture and trade, and how U.S. agricultural trade is affected.
WRS-99-3, March 01, 2000
This report focuses on the macroeconomic and financial linkages
to agriculture of the international financial crises that
occurred in 1997 through early 1999. Particularly, it discusses
what brought the affected countries to crisis, how the crisis-led
macroeconomic linkages affected agriculture, and...
TB-1883, March 01, 2000
Forecasting food prices is an important component of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's short-term outlook and long-term baseline forecasting activities. A food price-forecasting model is developed by applying an inverse demand system, in which prices are functions of quantities of food use and in...
AP-006, March 01, 2000
ERS's Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program accepted proposals for grants and cooperative agreements for fiscal 2000. The four priority research areas were (1) Reaching Underserved Populations, (2) Food Programs as a Safety Net and Client Well-Being, (3) Child Nutrition, and (4) Behavioral ...
WAOB-001, February 23, 2000
This report provides long-run baseline projections for the agricultural sector through 2009. Projections cover agricultural commodities, agricultural trade, and aggregate indicators of the sector, such as farm income and food prices. The projections are based on specific assumptions regarding macroe...
FANRR-4, February 08, 2000
Collecting unsold food discarded at farmers’ markets has the potential to allow nonprofit food recovery and gleaning organizations to distribute significant quantities of wholesome, unsold fruits and vegetables to needy families. Donations of this unsold produce by the participants at these markets ...
TB-1881, February 01, 2000
Recent trends in mergers and acquisitions in the U.S. food sector--food manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers--raise concerns about market power. In the presence of market power, farmers may receive lower than competitive farm prices, and consumers may pay higher than competitive retail prices. ...
RDRR-90, February 01, 2000
The older population in the United States has been growing and aging rapidly, with the fastest growing segment being the oldest old--those age 85 and older. This segment of the older population increased 37 percent between 1980 and 1990, compared with a 17-percent increase in the total population of...
AGES-001E, January 20, 2000
Industrial hemp has been the focus of official interest in several States. However, hemp and marijuana are different varieties of Cannabis sativa, which is classified as a controlled substance in the United States. With Canada now allowing hemp production, questions have been raised about the demand...
AP-005, January 03, 2000
ERS's Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program (FANRP) supports intramural and extramural research on a wide range of policy-relevant food assistance and nutrition topics. The three perennial program themes are (1) diet and nutritional outcomes, (2) food program targeting and delivery, and (3)...
TB-1880, December 22, 1999
This report provides a new economic approach and methodology for analyzing nutritional quality change in manufacturers’ food product offerings and food products purchased using a case study of five food product categories in the mid-1990’s. Two approaches were used to analyze nutritional quality cha...
RDRR-91, December 09, 1999
USDA's Section 502 Single Family Direct Loan Housing Program provides subsidized housing loans to low- and moderate-income rural residents who do not own adequate housing and cannot obtain a home mortgage from other sources. Typical recent borrowers from the program are under 40, have children, have...
GFA-11, December 07, 1999
Broad trends in food production and prices indicate a decline in the share of people who do not have access to adequate food levels. However, the overall figures mask variation in food security among regions, countries, and income groups within countries. In 1999, per capita food consumption in 67 l...
AER-784, December 01, 1999
An examination of five approaches economists and health policy analysts have developed for evaluating policy affecting health and safety: cost-of-illness, willingness-to-pay, cost-effectiveness analysis, risk-risk analysis, and health-health analysis. Also examines the theoretical basis and empirica...
AER-782, November 30, 1999
Water quality is a major environmental issue. Pollution from nonpoint sources is the single largest remaining source of water quality impairments in the United States. Agriculture is a major source of several nonpoint-source pollutants, including nutrients, sediment, pesticides, and salts. Agricultu...
AIB-755, November 01, 1999
While the 1999 drought has had severe financial impacts on agricultural producers in the drought regions, its impact on U.S. agricultural production has been limited. The drought will reduce commodity receipts relative to 1998 by an estimated $1.29 billion. Estimated farm net income losses, includin...
AER-783, November 01, 1999
State trading enterprises are far more prevalent in agriculture than in other industries. STEs account for significant shares of world trade in grains, dairy products, and sugar. Attempts to measure the impacts of STEs and their activities on international agricultural trade have just begun. This re...
FANRR-3, October 31, 1999
The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 established a two-tier structure of meal reimbursement rates for family child care homes participating in USDA's Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and mandated a study of the effects of that change on program partici...
WRS-992, October 01, 1999
Provision for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) was integral to the agreements that established the European Union (EU) and the CAP has been among the most important EU policies administered and funded in common. Revisions or " reforms " of the CAP have been numerous,in response to dramatic chang...
FANRR-1, October 01, 1999
ERS research findings suggest that the more a mother knows about health and nutrition the better is the overall quality of her children's diet, for preschoolers more so than older children. We also found that a mother's years of schooling, smoking status, race, and ethnicity influence her children's...
AH-717, October 01, 1999
This report describes the use of pest management practices, including integrated pest management (IPM), for major field crops and selected fruits and vegetables. The data came chiefly from the 1996 Agricultural Resource Management Study (ARMS) developed by USDA. Because different pest classes may do...
AER-781, October 01, 1999
Climate, topography, and water area are highly related to rural county population change over the past 25 years. A natural amenities index, derived and discussed here, captures much of this relationship. Average 1970-96 population change in nonmetropolitan counties was 1 percent among counties low o...
FANRR-2, September 30, 1999
Although most households in the United States are food secure, during the period 1996-98 some 10 million U.S. households (9.7 percent of total) were food insecure--that is, they did not always have access to enough food to meet basic needs. Included among these were 3.5 percent of households in whic...
AIB-754, September 01, 1999
Food insecurity in many low-income, developing countries is projected to intensify unless steps are taken to reverse the performance trend of key contributing factors: agricultural productivity, foreign exchange earnings, and population growth. For the poorest countries, an increase in agricultural ...
WRS-99-1, August 02, 1999
NAFTA is best viewed as a continuing process of economic integration among the three member countries: Canada, Mexico,
and the United States. As NAFTA begins its sixth year, it is clear that the agreement has significantly affected all three countries.
At the end of 1998, U.S. agricultural exports t...
TB-1878, August 02, 1999
Annual models for U.S. farm prices for corn and wheat are developed based on market factors as well as government agricultural commodity programs. The pricing relationships utilize a stocks-to-use modeling framework to capture the effects of market supply and demand factors on price determination. T...
AIB-753, August 02, 1999
Rural areas in the United States stand to benefit from new highway funding legislation, especially the South. The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) authorizes sharply increased funding for major roads and is the single largest public works bill in U.S. history. Over a 6-year pe...
TB-1877, August 01, 1999
An input-output model is used to analyze price pass-through effects of a minimum wage increase on prices of the food and kindred products and food-service industries. These sectors employ a disproportionate share of minimum wage workers, but results suggest a $0.50 increase in the present minimum wa...
AER-779, July 02, 1999
Recent studies show that average diets differ considerably from Food Guide Pyramid recommendations. The gap between current consumption and recommendations is particularly large for caloric sweeteners, fats and oils, fruits, and certain vegetables, notably dark-green leafy and deep-yellow vegetables...
AIB-752, July 01, 1999
For U.S. agriculture to continue along a sustainable path of economic development, further production increases must be generated by technologies that are both profitable and more environmentally benign. In this context, we assess the role of these green or sustainable technologies in steering agric...
AH-715, July 01, 1999
Government programs that are designed to improve health by changing diets focus on information: education, public information campaigns, and regulation of advertising and labeling. Research from several social science disciplines offers insights for public dissemination and regulation of nutrition i...
AER-780, June 01, 1999
TEST
AER-778, May 13, 1999
The range of environmental problems confronting agriculture has expanded in recent years. As the largest program designed to mitigate the negative environmental effects of agriculture, the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) has broadened its initial focus on reductions in soil erosion to consider ot...
AIB-750, May 01, 1999
Individual chapters in this book provide different perspectives on the nutrition problem in the United States: what are the economic costs associated with unhealthy eating patterns; how do dietary patterns compare with dietary recommendations; how do national income and prices, advertising, health c...
BLA-133, April 30, 1999
This annotated bibliography summarizes studies of the rural economic development implications of highway investment. Primary emphasis is on research dealing with rural areas, but some urban studies are also cited. Topics covered include the aggregate economic effects of highway investment, the effec...
SB-965, April 02, 1999
This annual bestseller presents historical data on food consumption, prices, and expenditures by commodity and commodity group, supply and use, prices, total expenditures, and U.S. income and population. Includes 29 charts dealing with food consumption trends, from changes in per capita consumption,...
TB-1874, April 01, 1999
In early 1996, the peak in the current cycle of cattle inventories coincided with a long list of negative factors--negative returns at the farm and feedlot, record-high feed grain prices, a severe drought in 1995-96, widening farm-retail price spreads, a low farmers' share of the consumers' Choice b...
AIB-751-01, April 01, 1999
The Food and Rural Economics Division of ERS designed the following series of policy-oriented, timely publications to provide background and analysis for decision makers and others.
AER-777, April 01, 1999
This report compares current changes in vertical coordination in the U.S. pork industry with past changes in the U.S. broiler industry. Recent changes in the structure of the U.S. pork industry reflect, in many ways, past changes in the broiler industry. Production contracts and vertical integration...
TB-1876, March 01, 1999
Technical trade barriers are increasingly important in the international trade of agricultural products. Designing technical trade measures that can satisfy the growing demand for food safety, product differentiation, environmental amenities, and product information at the lowest cost to the consume...
AIB-748, March 01, 1999
This study provides a comprehensive view of the organization, management, and financial performance of U.S. broiler farms. Using data from USDA's Agricultural Resource Management Study (ARMS, formerly known as the Farm Costs and Returns Survey), we examine farm size, financial structure, household i...
AER-785, March 01, 1999
Meatpacking consolidated rapidly in the last two decades: slaughter plants became much larger, and concentration increased as smaller firms left the industry. We use establishment-based data from the U.S. Census Bureau to describe consolidation and to identify the roles of scale economies and techno...
AER-776, March 01, 1999
Establishments in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan locations are surprisingly similar in their adoption of new technologies, worker skill requirements, use of government programs and technical assistance, exports, and sources of financing, according to the results of a nationwide survey of 3,909 man...
AER-775, March 01, 1999
USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) finances about 13.5 percent of its budget outlays through user fees for overtime and unscheduled meat and poultry inspections. This report surveys the application of user-fees for financing meat and poultry inspection programs in other countries; revi...
AER-774, March 01, 1999
The risks confronted by grain and cotton farmers are of particular interest, given the changing role of the Government after passage of the 1996 Farm Act. With the shift toward less government intervention in the post-1996 Farm Act environment, a more sophisticated understanding of risk and risk man...
AER-773, March 01, 1999
The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) dramatically transformed and continues to transform the food assistance landscape in the United States. The Act cut more funds from the Food Stamp Program than it did from any other program, through reductions in be...
AP-004, February 24, 1999
ERS's Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program accepted proposals for grants and cooperative agreements for fiscal 1999. The five priority research areas were (1) The Food Stamp Program as a Safety Net, (2) Better Serving the Working Poor, (3) WIC Program Research, (4) Child Nutrition Issues, ...
WAOB-99-1, February 17, 1999
This report provides long-run baseline projections for the agricultural sector through 2008. Projections cover agricultural commodities, agricultural trade, and aggregate indicators of the sector, such as farm income and food prices. The baseline assumes no shocks and is based on specific assumption...
TB-1873, February 01, 1999
Generic advertising raised fluid milk sales about 6.0 percent, or 18.1 billion pounds, between September 1984 and September 1997. Sales of cheese rose by about 6.8 million pounds (milk equivalent) in the same period because of increased generic advertising. An assessment of 15 cents per hundredweigh...
TB-1872, February 01, 1999
The results of this study indicate that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has not systematically overestimated or underestimated the food costs incurred by the general population. True-cost-of-food indexes calculated for the general population tend to be the same as or slightly lower then the CPI excep...
AIB-749, January 01, 1999
The increasing popularity of dining out over the past two decades has raised the proportion of nutrients obtained from away-from-home food sources. Between 1977 and 1995, home foods significantly improved their nutritional quality, more so than away-from-home foods, which typically contained more of...
WRS-98-4, December 01, 1998
The Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations continued
the process of reducing trade barriers achieved in
seven previous rounds of negotiations. Among the Uruguay
Round’s most significant accomplishments were the adoption
of new rules governing agricultural trade policy, the
establishment of...
GFA-10, December 01, 1998
Broad trends in food production and prices indicate a decline in the share of people who do not have access to adequate food levels. However, the overall figures mask variation in food security among regions, countries, and income groups within countries. In 1998, per capita food consumption in 66 l...
AIB-746, December 01, 1998
National average statistics related to farm production mask the diversity in the Nation's 2 million farms and the people who operate them. Farms in the United States differ not only by size (sales and acres) and type of production, but also by organizational characteristics (land ownership, legal or...
AER-772, December 01, 1998
Most American diets do not meet Federal Food Guide Pyramid dietary recommendations. On average, people consume too many servings of added fats and sugars and too few servings of fruits, vegetables, dairy products, lean meats, and foods made from whole grains--compared with a reference set of Food Gu...
AP-003, November 20, 1998
ERS's Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program (FANRP) supports intramural and extramural research on a wide range of policy-relevant food assistance and nutrition topics. The three perennial program themes are (1) diet and nutritional outcomes, (2) food program targeting and delivery, and (3)...
WRS-98-1, November 10, 1998
An FTAA that eliminates tariffs among the 34 Western Hemisphere
countries would benefit the U.S. agricultural sector and the U.S.
economy as a whole--if the United States were part of the
arrangement. If the other Western Hemisphere countries formed an
FTAA without the United States, the impact on t...
AER-771, November 02, 1998
Regional trade agreements (RTA's) have become a fixture in the global trade arena. Their advocates contend that RTA's can serve as building blocks for multilateral trade liberalization. Their opponents argue that these trade pacts will divert trade from more efficient nonmember producing countries. ...
AER-769, October 21, 1998
The rapid expansion of the population age 60 and older has a number of economic implications. The people in this group, about 18 percent of the population, account for about 30 percent of all health care expenditures. They use hospitals at nearly three times the rate of younger persons, average seve...
TB-1869, October 20, 1998
This bulletin reports empirical findings on the determinants of food insecurity in the United States, using data from the 1989-91 Continuing Survey of Food Intake by Individuals and the 1992 Survey of Income and Program Participation. Descriptive statistics on food insufficiency status (a proxy meas...
AIB-745, October 01, 1998
Please also see Regional Trade Agreements and U.S. Agriculture. This report summarizes the implications of regionalism for the United States, focusing on the effects of major RTA's on U.S. agriculture. Regional trade agreements (RTA's) have become a fixture in the global trade arena. Their advocates...
AIB-736, October 01, 1998
About the Survey
The ERS Rural Manufacturing Survey is a nationwide study of local factors affecting the ability of manufacturers to compete in today's increasingly international economy. Telephone interviews were conducted with 2,844 rural and 1,065 urban establishments with 10 or more e...
SB-943, September 22, 1998
Foreign persons owned 14.3 million acres of U.S. agricultural land (forest land and farmland) as of December 31, 1997. This is slightly more than 1 percent of all privately held agricultural land and 0.63 percent of all land in the United States.
These and other findings in this report are base...
AIB-744, September 01, 1998
Educating low-income women about the advantages of breastfeeding their babies increases the number who breastfeed. This report summarizes the results of four projects that focused primarily on promoting breastfeeding, which is considered to be the most healthful and beneficial feeding method for mos...
AER-770, September 01, 1998
With environmental and energy source concerns on the rise, using agricultural fats and oils as fuel in diesel engines has captured increasing attention. Substituting petroleum diesel with biodiesel may reduce air emissions, increase the domestic supply of fuel, and create new markets for farmers. U....
AER-766, September 01, 1998
USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) purchases food products for distribution through several of the Department's food assistance programs. This report describes FSA purchase methods and compares them to procurement strategies used by other Federal agencies and by private sector firms. It summarizes the...
AER-765, September 01, 1998
Society has recently increased the value it places on the services that wetlands provide, including water quality improvements, flood control, wildlife habitat, and recreation. However, owners of wetlands are often unable to profit from these services because the benefits created are freely enjoyed ...
AIB-724, August 21, 1998
The Food and Rural Economics Division of ERS designed the following series of policy-oriented, timely publications to provide background and analysis for decisionmakers and others. The Federal Government is heavily involved in both public and private finance in the rural and agricultural sectors. Su...
AIB-743, August 03, 1998
New food product introductions fell sharply in 1996. The number of new plants, consumer advertising expenditures, and common stock prices reached new highs in 1996, as did the number of mergers in the foodservice industry. Profitability from food manufacturing and retailing was higher due to strong ...
AIB-742, August 03, 1998
Even though farming accounts for only about 1 percent of the total national workforce, it is at the core of the food and fiber system. The system is one of the largest sectors in the U.S. economy, and is comprised of industries related to farming, including feed, seed, fertilizer, machinery, food pr...
AER-767, August 01, 1998
This report provides baseline projections for international supply, demand, and trade for major agricultural commodities to 2007. It is a companion report to USDA Agricultural Baseline Projections, providing the foreign country details supporting those projections. Projections of strong global econo...
AER-764, July 31, 1998
Under the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, most farmers will pay less Federal income tax, and farm families will find it easier to transfer the family farm across generations. The new law--the tax portion of 1997 legislation to balance the Federal budget by 2002--emerges from years of debate on proposal...
AIB-741, July 20, 1998
Many rural communities have benefited from the attraction of retirees in recent years. With the baby boom generation beginning to make retirement decisions, many other rural communities might consider economic development strategies based on attracting
and retaining retirees. This report reviews the...
WRS-98-3, July 01, 1998
The Asian financial crisis is pressuring China’s economic
growth this year. China’s labor-intensive export goods are
meeting stiff competition from other Asian economies. After
averaging 11 percent annually during the past 5 years,
China’s GDP is expected to drop below the 8-percent target
set by th...
TB-1859, July 01, 1998
This report uses standard econometric methods to identify important factors in financial performance of dairy farm businesses. On a per-unit-of-returns basis, factors found most important in explaining the variation in net returns per hundredweight of milk sold were cow's productivity, and per-cow f...
WRS-98-2, June 11, 1998
Economic reform in the transition economies of Central and Eastern Europe and the New Independent States (NIS) of the former USSR has initially reduced both agricultural output and productivity. The livestock industry has been particularly hurt. The main way by which agricultural output can rebound...
TB-1866, May 12, 1998
A comprehensive model is developed to measure the extent that nutrition knowledge and diet-health awareness, among other factors, influence an individual's Healthy Eating Index (HEI), USDA's measure of overall diet quality. This is the first study that rigorously attempts to examine variation in the...
AP-002, April 06, 1998
ERS's Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program accepted proposals for grants and cooperative agreements for fiscal 1998. The three priority research areas were (1) Dietary and Nutrition Outcomes, (2) Food Program Targeting and Delivery, (3) Program Forecasting and Budget Analysis. This publica...
AER-762, April 01, 1998
Examines demographic and employment characteristics of the 906,000 persons 15 years of age and older who did hired farmwork in 1996. Approximately 906,000 persons 15 years of age and older were employed as hired farmworkers each week in 1996. An additional 72,000 persons were hired as farmworkers ea...
AER-760, March 01, 1998
Foreign direct investment (FDI) has become the leading means for U.S. processed food companies to participate in international markets. Affiliates of U.S.-owned food processing companies had $30 billion in sales throughout the Western Hemisphere in 1995, nearly 4 times the level of processed food ex...
WAOB-98-1, February 02, 1998
This report provides long-run baseline projections for the agricultural sector through 2007. Projections cover agricultural commodities, agricultural trade, and aggregate indicators of the sector, such as farm income and food prices. The baseline assumes no shocks and is based on specific assumption...
TB-1865, February 01, 1998
This report documents the modeling framework (European Simulation Model, ESIM) used to analyze the 1992 CAP reform and discusses possible effects of EU enlargement. Potential accession of a number of eastern and central European countries into the European Union (EU) seems destined to lead to furthe...
AIB-739, January 26, 1998
Farm operators and their families suffered 72 percent of the 673 work-related farm fatalities in 1992 and a third of the 64,813 nonfatal farming injuries. Hired farmworkers endured 44,383 nonfatal and less than a third of fatal work-related injuries.
AIB-740, January 01, 1998
Increased productivity is a key to a healthy and thriving economy. Consequently, the trend in productivity, economywide, is one of the most closely watched of our common economic performance indicators. Agriculture, in particular, has been a very successful sector of the U.S. economy in terms of pro...
AER-758, January 01, 1998
Growth of U.S. agriculture is dependent on increases in productivity, three-fourths of which is accounted for by public investment in agricultural research and development (R&D;) and infrastructure, according to this research. Productivity growth in U.S. agriculture benefits consumers by putting down...
WRS-97-5, December 01, 1997
The EU’s system of tariff-rate quotas (TRQs)1 that are notified
under the Uruguay Round will have only a limited
impact on the level of EU imports. EU agricultural imports
under its Uruguay Round TRQs are estimated to increase
almost $1 billion by 2000/01, the final year of URAA
implementation, repr...
TB-1860, December 01, 1997
Generic advertising raised fluid milk sales an estimated 1.4 billion pounds, or 5.9 percent, during September 1995-August 1996. Assessments of 15 and 20 cents per hundredweight of milk sold commercially by producers and processors, respectively, provided funds for such advertising, as well as for re...
AER-759, December 01, 1997
Low-income households may face higher food prices for three reasons: (1) on average, low-income households may spend less in supermarkets--which typically offer the lowest prices and greatest range of brands, package sizes, and quality choices; (2) low-income households are less likely to live in su...
GFA-9, November 24, 1997
The world's resources are adequate to produce enough food for its population for at least the next few decades. The available food, however, is not distributed evenly. In 66 low-income countries, food availability (production plus commercial imports) is projected to increase more slowly than the pop...
AIB-737, October 01, 1997
Factors related to local and regional economic growth are attractiveness to retirees, right-to-work laws, excellent high school completion rates, good public education expenditures, and access to transportation networks. These were associated with improved county earnings in 1979-89, according to a ...
AER-389, October 01, 1997
Commodity program provisions of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 are summarized. Price support, loan level, disaster payment, program acreage, and other provisions of the legislation are discussed for wheat and feed grains, cotton, rice, peanuts, soybeans, sugar, dairy products, and wool and moh...
SB-940, September 22, 1997
U.S. cotton marketing patterns have been changing. The recent changes include cost-cutting transportation arrangements and innovative merchandising techniques. These trends are described in this report.
WRS-97-2, September 03, 1997
Even at this relatively early stage in its implementation, the
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) among the United
States, Mexico, and Canada has had a positive effect overall on
U.S. agriculture, reinforcing the trend toward greater
integration of markets in North America. The competi...
AER-757, September 01, 1997
The U.S. dairy industry, many segments of which supported dairy policy changes in the 1996 Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act, is much different than it was 20 or even 10 years ago. This report provides a historical overview of the industry, more detailed examinations of the fluid milk m...
AER-753, August 19, 1997
Net benefits to consumers are not a certainty, but the "industrialization" of the U.S. pork industry could lead to lower prices and larger supplies of higher quality pork products because of lower onfarm production costs, more efficient processing, and greater control over hog quality characteristic...
IUS-7, July 01, 1997
An estimated $110 billion worth of agricultural and forestry products were used as raw materials in the manufacture of industrial (nonfood, nonfeed) products in 1992. Wood and paper products accounted for $96 billion, more than 87 percent of the total. Other fibrous materials, animal products, natur...
AH-712, July 01, 1997
This report identifies trends in land, water, and commercial input use, reports on the condition of natural resources used in the agricultural sector, and describes and assesses public policies that affect conservation and environmental quality in agriculture. Combining data and information, this re...
AER-756, July 01, 1997
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune reaction that can cause acute neuro-muscular paralysis. Of an estimated 2,628 to 9,575 new U.S. cases with GBS annually, 526 to 3,830 are triggered by infection with Campylobacter, the most frequently isolated cause of foodborne diarrhea. Estimated tota...
AER-755, July 01, 1997
USDA is now requiring all Federally inspected meat and poultry processing and slaughter plants to implement a new system called Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) to reduce potentially harmful microbial pathogens in the food supply. This report finds that the benefits of the new reg...
AER-754, July 01, 1997
This report examines geographic changes in U.S. livestock production during 1969-92 from the standpoint of industry concentration and structure. Farm numbers declined 30 percent from 1969 to 1992, but hog and dairy operations were down 70 percent, farms producing eggs dropped 85 percent, and broiler...
WRS-973, June 02, 1997
International Agriculture and Trade Reports are published five times yearly by the Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
TB-1862, June 01, 1997
ERS uses different economic models to estimate the impact of higher input prices on consumer food prices. This technical bulletin compares three ERS models. In the first two models (referred to as shortrun models), neither consumers nor food producers respond to market prices. In the third model (a ...
AER-752, June 01, 1997
Nitrates in drinking water, which may come from nitrogen fertilizers applied to crops, are a
potential health risk. This report evaluates the potential benefits of reducing human exposure to
nitrates in the drinking water supply. In a survey, respondents were asked a series of questions
about their ...
AER-751, June 01, 1997
Commercial farms represent only 27 percent of farms in the United States, yet produce just over 75 percent of the value of agricultural products. These commercial farm businesses vary greatly by size, commodities produced, financial status, and operator demographics. Overall financial performance sh...
TB-1858, May 01, 1997
This report quantifies the potential impact of China's and Taiwan's accession to the World Trade Organization on U.S. and world agricultural trade by means of a 12-region, 14-sector computable general equilibrium model for world trade and production. Integrating China and Taiwan into the global trad...
MP-1542, May 01, 1997
The Third National IPM Symposium/Workshop took place in Washington, D.C., from February 27 through March 1, 1996. More than 600 participants from around the country attended the symposium/workshop reflecting a wide spectrum of professional interests including scientists (social, biological, and envi...
AER-750, May 01, 1997
This report provides baseline projections for international supply, demand, and trade for major agricultural commodities to 2005. It is a companion report to Agricultural Baseline Projections to 2005, Reflecting the 1996 Farm Act (WAOB-97-1), providing the foreign country detail supporting those pro...
WAOB-97-1, April 23, 1997
This report provides long-run baseline projections for the agricultural sector through 2005 that incorporate provisions of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (1996 Farm Act). The baseline assumes that the new farm legislation remains in effect through 2005. Projections cover ...
AIB-731, April 15, 1997
The number of new food processing plants rose sharply in 1995. Profitability from food manufacturing and retailing operations (excluding interest expense) continued to increase, reflecting strong sales, wage and producer price stability, and streamlining of operations. The number of mergers and leve...
AER-742, April 02, 1997
International commerce in processed foods substantially exceeds the value of unprocessed agricultural commodities and is expanding more rapidly. International trade in processed foods has been the most rapidly growing portion of world food and agricultural trade during the past decade. Even more sig...
AIB-733, April 01, 1997
Small U.S. farms and those run by socially disadvantaged minority operators tend not to purchase insurance or to participate in insurance-type programs operated by USDA. This report traces the lack of use of such risk management measures to several characteristics of such farmers, who include female...
AER-749, April 01, 1997
In response to a mandate in the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996, this report provides information on the major financial institutions and Federal programs active in rural America, the performance of rural financial markets, and the costs and benefits of proposals to expand the...
AIB-734, March 01, 1997
The Federal Medicare program provides subsidized health insurance for one in every seven Americans. Medicare covers a higher proportion of rural than urban residents because rural residents are more likely to be elderly or disabled persons entitled to benefits. The rapid growth of Medicare expenditu...
AER-748, February 26, 1997
HIRED FARMWORKERS continue to earn less than all wage and salary workers, but the wage gap has narrowed. The median weekly earnings for hired farmworkers in 1994 were $238, an increase of 19 percent (5 percent when adjusted for inflation) from 1990; median weekly earnings for all wage and sal...
TB-1854, February 01, 1997
This report develops a method, called trade-share accounting (TSA), that establishes the relationship between trade structure and market share. U.S. market shares are commonly used as measures of export performance in international markets and are frequently cited statistics in USDA publications. A ...
AIB-732, February 01, 1997
Between 1980 and the mid-1990's, the earnings of American women and men became more equal. The narrowing of the earnings gap reflects a number of changes in women's life experiences (delayed marriage and childbearing, increased labor force participation, greater educational equity with men), as well...
AIB-728, January 17, 1997
In 1993, the 2.1 million farms in the contiguous United States operated an average of 436 acres and produced an average of $73,700 in agricultural products, as measured by gross sales. Characteristics of individual farms--including their level of production--varied widely, however. Most production o...
AER-746, December 31, 1996
Recent USDA surveys point out several shortcomings in children's diets. The share of calories from total and saturated fat averaged 4 and 3 percentage points above the recommendations. The sodium intake averaged 23 percent above the 2,400 milligrams recommended by some authorities. These dietary pro...
AIB-730, December 23, 1996
China's demand for grain is likely to outpace domestic supplies in the next 10 years, according to ERS projections. By the year 2005, China will become a net importer of 32 million metric tons of grain annually. In the last two decades, China's grain trade has expanded dramatically, both as a buyer ...
AER-745, December 03, 1996
The costs of cleaning barley beyond the current level of cleanliness would outweigh the potential benefits. There is little commercial interest in the cleaning of barley moving into domestic malting and feed barley markets. The export market demand is primarily for feed barley.
AER-747, December 01, 1996
Contracts are an integral part of the production and marketing of selected livestock commodities, such as broilers, turkeys, eggs, and milk. Such crops as fruit, vegetables, and sugar beets and cane are mostly produced under contracts. In the past, farm receipts were assumed to be distributed across...
AER-744, November 29, 1996
Property rights arise out of law, custom, and the operation of private markets, with important implications for how land and other natural resources are used and conserved. Over the past several years, debate about the nature and scope of property rights has combined with budget concerns and reautho...
WRS-96-S3S, October 29, 1996
FSU gross agricultural output will continue to fall in 1996, but at a
significantly lower rate than in 1995, due to a rebound in grain output. Increased grain production and continued reduction in feed use, caused by further contractions in the region's largest livestock producing countries, are e...
IUS-6, October 16, 1996
With U.S. farmers now facing few restrictions on what they can plant, industrial crops will need to stay competitive—economically and agronomically—with other crops to ensure their continued viability. The 1996 Farm Act, which provides expanded planting flexibility, makes expected market returns and...
WRS-0925, September 25, 1996
Trade in agricultural products is expected to grow rapidly over the next decade
both within the North American market and between North America and the rest of
the world. Trade liberalization under the North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA) will continue to bolster the economic forces that are...
WRS-96-3, September 25, 1996
Trade in agricultural products is expected to grow rapidly over the next decade both within the North American market and between North America and the rest of the world. Trade liberalization under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) will continue to bolster the economic forces that ar...
AER-737, September 23, 1996
Overall, the costs of delivering cleaner soybeans on a universal basis exceed domestic benefits. The cost of cleaning export soybeans beyond current levels at the least net-cost locations (both river elevators and inland subterminals), at minimum, exceeds domestic benefits by $26 million per year. H...
AIB-720, September 11, 1996
If recent trends in the U.S. food industry continue, food production may be increasingly dominated by firms exercising control over several stages of food production, according to From Farmers to Consumers: Vertical Coordination in the Food Industry, a new report from USDA's Economic Research Servic...
AER-734, September 11, 1996
In fiscal 1995, more than 60 percent of U.S. farm exports, worth a record $33 billion, went to Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum members. Bulk exports showed the most dramatic growth, benefiting greatly from China's conversion from a net grain exporter into a major net importer. Chines...
AER-736, September 02, 1996
Cleaning is not the solution to the soybean cleanliness issue. The costs of additional cleaning of all export soybeans to remove foreign material (FM) beyond the current level would, at minimum, exceed the domestic and international benefits by $20 million per year even if cleaning occurs at the lea...
AIB-729, September 01, 1996
This report provides an item-by-item description and explanation of the new Act, which will guide agricultural programs from 1996-2000. Signed into law in April, the act makes significant changes in long-standing U.S. agricultural policies. Major changes in U.S. commodity programs are included in th...
SB-930, August 01, 1996
Conservation tillage was used on more than 99 million acres in 1994, about 35 percent of U.S. planted crop area. Five years earlier, the total conservation-tilled acreage was 72 million. Besides conserving soil, crop residue management practices also cut production costs on many farms, according to ...
AIB-726, August 01, 1996
The Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996, a milestone in U.S. agricultural policy, provides new farm sector law for 1996-2002, fundamentally redesigning income support programs and discontinuing supply management programs for producers of many commodities. This bulletin provides a ...
AER-741, August 01, 1996
Microbial pathogens in food cause an estimated 6.5-33 million cases of human illness and up to 9,000 deaths in the United States each year. Over 40 different foodborne microbial pathogens, including fungi, viruses, parasites, and bacteria, are believed to cause human illnesses. For six bacterial pat...
AER-731, August 01, 1996
Rural minorities lag behind rural Whites and urban minorities on many crucial economic and social measures. This report examines rural Black, Hispanic, Native American, and Asian and Pacific Islander populations and their economic well-being in the 1980's, an economically difficult decade for rural ...
AER-739, July 01, 1996
The United States produces nearly 20 percent of the world's cotton and ranks second to China as the largest producing country. While over 80 countries produce cotton, the United States, China, India, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan (former Soviet republic) produce about 74 percent of the total world cotton...
WRS-96-2, June 28, 1996
As the country enters the first year of the Ninth 5-Year Plan (1996-2000), China's economic policymakers have reiterated their
commitment to continued reform. Although economic growth and
price inflation in 1995 remained in double digits, the economy
performed much closer to initial targets tha...
AER-740, June 01, 1996
Early evaluations of the effects of climate change on agriculture, which did not account for economic adjustments or consider the broader economic and environmental implications of such changes, overestimated the negative effects of climate change. This report, which highlights ERS research, focuses...
AER-738, May 01, 1996
Many trade and environment issues will confront agriculture over the next several years. This report provides an economic framework to better understand these issues and discusses prior empirical inquiries and findings. Four primary issues are addressed: (1) how will environmental policies affect ag...
AER-735, May 01, 1996
Empirical studies indicate high economic returns from the public's investment in agricultural research. Yet, even as society is placing broader demands on the research system, taxpayer support for public agricultural research is unlikely to increase. Stronger ownership rights for intellectual proper...
AER-730, May 01, 1996
Approximately 352,000 farm operators, generally running very small farms, were identified as retired according to the 1993 Farm Costs and Returns Survey (FCRS). Although retired farmers operated 17 percent of all farms, they produced only 2 percent of the value of production. The information present...
MP-1532, December 01, 1995
The proceedings from the January 9-10, 1995 conference in Washington, DC, held by members of Regional Research Project NE-165, a group of more than 70 economists at land grant universities and government agencies conducting research on the food system. Topics covered include human foodborne disease,...
SB-925, November 01, 1995
This report is fifth in an ERS series summarizing CRP participation. Finds that more than 36 million acres were enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in signup periods 1-12, held during 1986-92. This acreage includes over 23 million commodity program base acres and nearly 2.5 million tr...
IUS-5, September 01, 1995
Research and market demand are opening new opportunities for agriculturally based industrial materials. If biodiesel is approved as a certified technology for the Urban Bus Retrofit Rebuild Program, U.S. transit operations would be able to use it to meet air-quality regulations without any change in...
AIB-709, July 03, 1995
On both a volume and value basis, the United States is the world's largest spice importer and consumer, with both imports and consumption on an uptrend for the past 10 years. While the United States imports more than 40 separate spices, seven of these (vanilla beans, black and white pepper, capsicum...
AER-721, July 01, 1995
Studies conducted since the late 1970's have estimated the net energy value of corn ethanol. However, variations in data and assumptions used among the studies have resulted in a wide range of estimates. This study identifies the factors causing this wide variation and develops a more consistent est...
WRS-95-3, June 30, 1995
U.S. agricultural exports to China are expected to increase in 1995 because of rising cotton, corn, soybean oil, and other agricultural product sales. U.S. exports for 1994 totaled more than $1 billion, up sharply from $376 million in 1993. China's 1994 agricultural trade (imports and exports) rose...
WRS-95-2, June 12, 1995
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which liberalizes trade among the United States, Canada, and Mexico, started its second year on January 1, 1995. The agricultural provisions of NAFTA call for the elimination of tariffs and non-tariff barriers among the members over 15 years, which s...
AER-716, June 01, 1995
Since 1985, the United States has heavily supported agricultural exports with an array of programs. A central issue related to those programs is how best to support farm exports, and farm income, with lower price subsidies under the Uruguay Round Agreement of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Tra...
AER-703, June 01, 1995
Recent studies suggest that possible global increases in temperature and changes in precipitation patterns during the next century will affect world agriculture. Because of the ability of farmers to adapt , however, these changes are not likely to imperil world food production. Nevertheless, world p...
AIB-716, May 01, 1995
Agricultural chemicals and sediment from cropland may reduce the quality of America's surface and ground water resources. The Clean Water Act stipulates that individual States are responsible for controlling agricultural nonpoint source pollution. Most State plans rely chiefly on education and techn...
AER-715, May 01, 1995
This report address considerations in the 1995 farm bill debate for oilseeds, including market conditions, policy proposals, trade agreements, and the interactions between policy and markets for selected commodities. International trade agreements and greater acreage flexibility have improved the ou...
AER-707, May 01, 1995
This report address considerations in the 1995 farm bill debate for milk, fruits, vegetables, and specialty crops, including market conditions, policy proposals, and the interactions between policy and markets for selected commodities. Federal marketing orders and Federal research and promotion prog...
AER-714, April 03, 1995
Policy issues likely to be considered in 1995 farm legislation are discussed, including planting flexibility, acreage idling under the acreage reduction program and conservation reserve program, and the malting barley assessment, as well as policy options to address these issues. Feed grains are the...
AER-713, April 03, 1995
This report address considerations in the 1995 farm bill debate for rice, including market conditions, policy proposals, trade agreements, and the interactions between policy and markets for selected commodities. U.S. rice sector income has shown steady growth in recent years, reaching $2.1 billion ...
AER-712, April 03, 1995
This report address considerations in the 1995 farm bill debate for wheat, including market conditions, policy proposals, trade agreements, and the interactions between policy and markets for selected commodities. Surplus wheat stocks disappeared under the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade ...
AER-711, April 03, 1995
This report address considerations in the 1995 farm bill debate for sugar, including market conditions, policy proposals, trade agreements, and the interactions between policy and markets for selected commodities. Current U.S. sugar price support programs have their origin in 1981 legislation. The p...
AER-709, April 03, 1995
This report address considerations in the 1995 farm bill debate for tobacco, including market conditions, policy proposals, trade agreements, and the interactions between policy and markets for selected commodities. U.S. tobacco production is likely to decline by the end of the 1990s. Accelerated an...
AER-708, April 03, 1995
This report address considerations in the 1995 farm bill debate for honey, including market conditions, policy proposals, and the interactions between policy and markets for selected commodities. The U.S. Government has supported the price of honey since 1950 by providing market price stability to h...
AER-706, April 03, 1995
This report address considerations in the 1995 farm bill debate for cotton, including market conditions, policy proposals, trade agreements, and the interactions between policy and markets for selected commodities. The Food Security Act of 1985, and subsequent cotton marketing loan modifications, ar...
AER-705, April 03, 1995
This report address considerations in the 1995 farm bill debate for dairy, including market conditions, policy proposals, trade agreements, and the interactions between policy and markets for selected commodities. The U.S. dairy industry is heavily influenced by public dairy policies and programs. T...
AIB-710, February 01, 1995
The diversity of rural America and the changes it has undergone in the last half century have resulted in a wide variety of economic conditions and needs. This full-color report documents changes in rural employment, population, and well-being for six categories of rural counties: those that depend ...
AER: AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIC REPORT-701, January 02, 1995
Concerns about the impact of farm production on the quality of the Nation's drinking and recreational water resources have risen over the past 10 years. Because point sources of pollution were controlled first, agricultural nonpoint sources have become the Nation's largest remaining single water-qua...
RDRR-89, December 01, 1994
Describes an expanded and revised version of ERS' 1979 classification of nonmetro counties, commonly called the ERS typology. The classification has been widely used by researchers, policy analysts, and public officials as a source of information about the economic and social diversity characterizin...
IUS-4, December 01, 1994
Market conditions and research increase industrial use of agricultural materials. Industrial uses of corn in 1994/95 are forecast up 12 percent from 1993/94. Most of the increase is expected to be used to make ethanol. Corn also is used to produce sorbitol, a polyol widely used in personal-care prod...
AH-705, December 01, 1994
This report identifies trends in land, water, and commercial input use, reports on the condition of natural resources used in the agricultural sector, and describes and assesses public policies that affect conservation and environmental quality in agriculture. Combining data and information, this re...
AER-699, September 09, 1994
Restricting or eliminating the use of atrazine in the Midwest would have important economic consequences for farmers and consumers. Atrazine is an important herbicide in the production of corn and other crops in the United States. Since atrazine is such an important herbicide, mandatory changes in a...
AIB-664, September 01, 1994
ERS has prepared a series of 2-page issue fact sheets which streamline research topics, graphically present the latest USDA data and analyses, and target the most important agricultural issues you'll face in this decade. Rural economy issues covered in this volume deal with financial market interven...
IUS-3, June 01, 1994
Strong economic growth and environmental regulation boost industrial uses of agricultural materials. One use of cornstarch is in the production of citric acid, the main acidifier (by volume) used by the food and pharmaceutical industries. About 15 percent of the plasticizers produced in the United S...
AER-687, May 01, 1994
The development of agricultural biotechnology offers the opportunity to increase crop production, lower farming costs, improve food quality and safety, and enhance environmental quality. This report describes the economic, scientific, and social factors that will influence the future of biotechnolog...
SB-869, April 01, 1994
Presents tobacco statistics for the United States and by State, going back in some cases to 1935. The data cover tobacco product output, consumption, trade leaf acreage, yield, production, price, and value by type and State, and supply and disappearance of leaf by type of tobacco.
IUS-2, December 01, 1993
U.S. agriculture likely will have excess capacity for the foreseeable future. However, technological breakthroughs, heightened environmental awareness, and tougher environmental regulations are creating opportunities to use this capacity to produce industrial products. Although cornstarch dominates ...
IUS-1, June 01, 1993
Recent scientific advances are reducing the costs of producing and processing renewable resources into industrial products. These include advances that make agricultural production techniques more environmentally benign. And the advances in processing engineering—especially in destructive distillati...
AER-671, June 01, 1993
The portion of U.S. agricultural production covered by government income support payments has declined over the span of the last two 5-year farm acts. Consequently, nongovernmental supply and demand factors (market forces) are becoming more important in influencing farmers' production decisions. Thi...
AER-667, May 03, 1993
Expanded ethanol production could increase U.S. farm income by as much as $1 billion (1.4 percent) by 2000. Because corn is the primary feedstock for ethanol, growers in the Corn Belt would benefit most from improved ethanol technology and heightened demand. Coproducts from the conversion process (c...
TB-1808, September 01, 1992
Reviews practical approaches and theoretical foundations for estimating the economic value of changes in water quality to recreation, navigation, reservoirs, municipal water treatment and use, and roadside drainage ditches.
AH-697, June 01, 1992
This handbook is a compilation of weights, measures, and conversion factors used for agricultural commodities and their products. Several of the conversion factors and values shown in this handbook can be applied to many commodities. Some factors and values relate to specific commodities or products...
AIB-624, June 03, 1991
The Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-624) establishes a comprehensive framework within which the Secretary of Agriculture will administer agricultural and food programs from 1991 to 1995. This report describes provisions of the 1990 Act as amended by the Omnibus Budge...
AGES-9128, June 03, 1991
This report opens with a look at the legislative authority for commodity support programs. However, the main body of this report is devoted to program provisions for 1961-90 commodities: rye, dry edible beans, oil crops (cottonseed, flaxseed, peanuts, soybeans, and tung nuts), tobacco, sugar beets a...
AGES-9048, July 02, 1990
The U.S. sheep inventory declined from 49 million head in 1942 to 9 million in 1989. Lamb imports have also declined and, in relation to U.S. production, are not seen as a major cause of the sheep industry's problems. Production has declined despite positive returns to producers. Government payments...
AGES-9033, May 01, 1990
Lawmakers authorized several new export programs under the Food Security Act of 1985 in an attempt to increase agricultural exports. U.S. agricultural exports began to recover in fiscal 1987 and, in fiscal 1989, climbed to $39.6 billion, their highest level since 1981. Since 1986, U.S. agricultural ...
AIB-592, March 01, 1990
This report address considerations in the 1990 farm bill debate for soybeans and peanuts, including market conditions, policy proposals, trade agreements, and the interactions between policy and markets for selected commodities. Soybean acreage and production declined in the 1980s, reflecting effect...
AIB-591, March 01, 1990
This report provides an overview of the cotton, wool, and mohair sectors and addresses considerations in the 1990 farm bill debate, including market conditions, policy proposals, trade agreements, and the interactions between policy and markets for selected commodities. Cotton acreage, production, a...
AGES-9020, March 01, 1990
This report address considerations in the 1990 farm bill debate for dairy, including market conditions, policy proposals, and the interactions between policy and markets for selected commodities. The U.S. dairy industry is primarily a domestic industry with both imports and exports hovering around 2...
AGES-9010, March 01, 1990
This report opens with a look at legislation which provided the foundation for commodity support programs and highlights legislation which revised and supplemented the basic structure of these programs. However, the main body of this report is devoted to program provisions for 1961-90 crops of corn,...
AGES-9006, February 01, 1990
This report address considerations in the 1990 farm bill debate for sugar, including market conditions, policy proposals, trade agreements, and the interactions between policy and markets for selected commodities. The sugar support program and rapid adoption of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) played...
AER-626, February 01, 1990
The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) will boost net farm income and improve environmental quality over the life of the program (1986-99). These gains will come at the cost of somewhat higher food prices and Government administrative expenses, and potential downturns in farm input industries and ot...
AGES-8967, December 01, 1989
This report address considerations in the 1990 farm bill debate for grain sorghum, including market conditions, policy proposals, trade agreements, and the interactions between policy and markets for selected commodities. U.S. sorghum acreage and use have trended down slightly since the early 1970s....
AGES-8965, December 01, 1989
This report address considerations in the 1990 farm bill debate for barley, including market conditions, policy proposals, trade agreements, and the interactions between policy and markets for selected commodities. Barley is the third leading feed grain grown in the United States. Production is conc...
AGES-8949, November 01, 1989
This report address considerations in the 1990 farm bill debate for rice, including market conditions, policy proposals, trade agreements, and the interactions between policy and markets for selected commodities. Rice ranks ninth among major U.S. field crops in terms of value of production. All U.S....
AGES-8956, October 02, 1989
This report address considerations in the 1990 farm bill debate for wheat, including market conditions, policy proposals, trade agreements, and the interactions between policy and markets for selected commodities. Surplus wheat stocks declined under the 1985 Food Security Act as exports expanded due...
AGES-8948, October 02, 1989
This report address considerations in the 1990 farm bill debate for tobacco, including market conditions, policy proposals, trade agreements, and the interactions between policy and markets for selected commodities. Tobacco is grown in 21 States on about 137,000 farms. Several types and kinds are gr...
AGES-8947, September 01, 1989
This report address considerations in the 1990 farm bill debate for corn, including market conditions, policy proposals, trade agreements, and the interactions between policy and markets for selected commodities. Corn is the leading U.S. crop, both in volume and in value. In 1987, farmers planted ab...
AGES-8946, September 01, 1989
This report address considerations in the 1990 farm bill debate for oats, including market conditions, policy proposals, trade agreements, and the interactions between policy and markets for selected commodities. Oats acreage has trended downward since the 1950s. Domestic production has not met dome...
AGES-8942, September 01, 1989
This report address considerations in the 1990 farm bill debate for cotton, including market conditions, policy proposals, trade agreements, and the interactions between policy and markets for selected commodities. Government programs since the 1930s have supported prices and attempted to adjust cot...
AGES-8923, August 01, 1989
The U.S. proposal to eliminate domestic farm subsidies worldwide, presented to the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade negotiations in 1987, is a significant break with past policies. Trade liberalization has been a U.S. goal since the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act of 1934,...
TB-1762, June 01, 1989
ERS estimated the installation and operating costs for two types of irradiation: an electron beam system or a Cobalt-60 gamma ray system. The capital costs of food irradiation equipment depend primarily on the irradiation source, food product, plant volume, and facility design. Economics of scale we...
AER-607, March 01, 1989
Expansion of the U.S. ethanol industry hinges largely on extension of the Federal fuel excise tax exemption and corn prices. This report examines production costs and the relative competitiveness of the ethanol industry. The report evaluates structural characteristics of the industry, including econ...
AER-606, February 03, 1989
The Conservation Reserve Program, a land retirement program designed to remove from production 40 to 45 million acres of highly erodible cropland, may generate an estimated $3.5 to $4 billion in water quality benefits. Potential benefits include lower water treatment costs, lower sediment removal co...
AIB-559, January 02, 1989
Ethanol produced from grain is viewed by many as a way to reduce energy imports, levels of carbon monoxide in the air, and surplus grain stocks. Federal and State governments helped to establish the fuel ethanol industry by providing direct payments, tax exemptions, and loan guarantees. Future Polic...
AER-585, April 29, 1988
Federally supported ethanol use is one alternative for meeting environmental, energy security, and agricultural objectives. Additional expansion of the industry depends on a continuation of current favorable conditions, including extension of the Federal gasoline tax exemption. Under current conditi...
AER-575, August 03, 1987
An information system for the food sector that integrates measures of prices, quantities, and values provides more information about many developments in the food sector than a system that separately measures prices, quantities, or values. This system allows greater understanding of the sources of f...
AIB-498, April 01, 1986
The Food Security Act of 1985 (P.L. 99-198) establishes a comprehensive framework within which the Secretary of Agriculture will administer agriculture and food programs from 1986 through 1990. This report describes the Act's provisions for dairy, wool and mohair, wheat, feed grains, cotton, rice, p...
RDRR-49, September 18, 1985
Effective rural development planning depends on facts and analysis based, not on national rural averages, but on the diverse social and economic structure of rural America. Programs tailored to particular types of rural economies may be more effective than a generalized program. This study identifie...
AER-530, July 01, 1985
This review prepared for 1985 farm legislation provides an historical overview of U.S. farm policies, an evaluation of the performance of current commodity programs, a description of the general economic setting in which the legislation will operate, and a discussion of possible alternative policy t...
AER-526, January 01, 1985
If the agricultural legislation expiring in 1985 is not replaced, farm price and income supports will revert from the programs provided for in the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 and subsequent legislation to the programs provided for in the permanent support statutes. Reverting to the permanent su...
AIB-485, December 03, 1984
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's concern with price-support and adjustment legislation is carried out under a series of interrelated laws passed by Congress from 1933 to 1984. Beginning with the major proposals of the 1920s for handling and marketing farm surpluses, this history records the esta...
AP-039, April 29, 1983
Weak domestic demand, the first drop in exports in more than a decade, and large farm surpluses placed significant downward pressure on commodity prices and farm incomes and created the potential for large government outlays. The payment-in-kind (PIK) program was designed to idle substantial acreage...
AGES-811228, January 01, 1982
Commodity program provisions of the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 are summarized. Price support, loan level, disaster payment, program acreage, and other provisions of the legislation are discussed for wheat, feed grains, cotton, rice, peanuts, soybeans, sugar, dairy, and wool and mohair. The fol...
AER-382, March 01, 1978
The quota system of regulating the production, importation, and marketing of sugar in the United States through 1974 was an outgrowth of Government regulation of the sugar trade dating from colonial times. Similar systems have developed in most other countries, particularly those which import sugar....