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The U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has issued guidelines
for the peer review of important scientific information before it is
disseminated by the Federal Government. OMB published its "Final Information
Quality Bulletin for Peer Review" in the Federal Register on January
14, 2005, at 70 FR 2664-2677.  The
Bulletin provides specific requirements for peer reviews of highly influential
scientific assessments and influential scientific information that are
disseminated by Federal agencies, including posting the agenda and plans
for such peer reviews on agency websites.
ERS Agenda for Peer Reviews of Highly Influential Scientific Assessments
At this time, ERS has no agenda of forthcoming highly influential scientific
assessments to post on its website in accordance with OMB's
Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review.
ERS Agenda for Peer Reviews of Influential Scientific Information
ERS's economists and social scientists conduct research to inform public
and private decisionmaking on economic and policy issues involving food,
farming, natural resources, and rural development. The agency’s
research program is aimed at the information needs of USDA, other public
policy officials, and the research community. ERS information and analysis
is also used by the media, trade associations, public interest groups,
and the general public. ERS disseminates economic information and
research results through an array of outlets.
ERS has two types of report series that could contain potentially influential
scientific information: ERS research reports; and Outlook Special
Reports. The
peer review process varies for each series. All reports in each series
are included in ERS’s peer review agenda for potentially influential
scientific information.
- ERS research reports—Division management submits ERS
research reports, including Economic Briefs, Economic
Information Bulletins,
and Economic Research Reports, to the ERS Peer Review Council to develop
the peer review plan and coordinate the peer review process. Each report
submitted to the Peer Review Council is reviewed by a minimum of two academic
economists/subject specialists, two economists from ERS, and subject specialists
from USDA agencies potentially affected by the research. All reviews
are double blind (the reviewers do not know the identity of the report author(s)
and the author(s) do not know the names of the reviewers). Review criteria are detailed in request letters sent to each reviewer.
- Outlook Special Reports—Outlook Special Reports deliver
time-sensitive information related to the forces shaping commodity markets
and trade. These reports provide analysis of commodity market conditions,
production, supply, and use, both domestically and internationally. Outlook
Special Reports are reviewed by ERS staff, external commodity and market
specialists, and subject experts on the World Agricultural Outlook Board.
Cleared manuscripts are posted on the ERS website. For a complete list, see the ERS Publication Catalog listing.
In accordance with OMB's Final Information
Quality Bulletin for Peer Review ,
ERS’s Peer Review Agenda for potentially influential scientific information
is reported below. The agenda is updated quarterly.
ERS Peer Review Agenda for Potentially Influential
Scientific Information
(Under review as of September 30, 2009) |
| Working Title |
Description |
Peer Review Plan |
| A Stochastic Analysis of the Effects of Ethanol Demand on the U.S. Agricultural
Sector |
Economic Research Report |
|
| Measuring Farm Household Well-Being: Consumption is a More Informative Measure for Self-Employed Households |
Economic Information Bulletin |
|
| Animal Welfare Laws and International Trade |
Economic Information Bulletin |
|
| Characteristics, Costs and Issues with Organic Dairy Farming |
Economic Research Report |
|
| The Evolving U.S. Organic Sector: Farm to Market Trends Between 1997 and 2007 |
Economic Information Bulletin |
|
| Structural Change and Adjustment to Policy Reform: the Post-buyout Experience of Peanuts and Tobacco |
Economic Information Bulletin |
|
| Benefits and Tradeoffs of the Renewable Fuel Standard: An Economy-Wide Assessment of Economic Impacts |
Economic Research Report |
|
| U.S. Organic Food Market: Some Demand Perspectives |
Economic Research Report |
|
| Global Economic and Land-Use Implications of Biofuel Production: The Case of Ethanol at the Medium Term |
Economic Research Report |
|
| Achieving Economic and Equity Goals in Working Lands Conservation Programs |
Economic Information Bulletin |
|
| Schools That Meet USDA Total Fat Requirements for School Lunches |
Economic Information Bulletin |
|
| Crop Revenue Variability: Implications for Commodity Program Design |
Economic Research Report |
|
| Rising Infant Formula Costs to the WIC Program: Recent Trends in Rebates and Wholesales Prices |
Economic Research Report |
|
| Contracting in the Organic Supply Chain: 2004 and 2007 |
Economic Information Bulletin |
|
| Small Farms in the United States |
Economic Information Bulletin |
|
| China Is Using More Corn for Industrial Products |
Outlook Special Report |
|
| Peanut Outlook: Impacts of the 2008-09 Foodborne Illness Outbreak Linked to Salmonella in Peanuts |
Outlook Special Report |
|
See completed peer reviews
Contact
For information on ERS's agenda and plans for peer reviews of highly
influential scientific assessments and influential scientific information,
contact:
Elise Golan
Economic Research Service
1800 M Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20036
email: egolan@ers.usda.gov
phone: (202) 694-5424
USDA Resources
The USDA website provides more information on:
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