Newsroom

Previous Newsroom Items: March 2009

Spotlight
	U.S. Agriculture and the World Economic Crisis (Mar. 30, 2009) Weakening global demand and declining economic growth result in reduced export demand and lower commodity prices. These, in turn, reduce U.S. farm income and pressure farmland values downward. Get Podcast

New at ERS

	Public Ag Research: Changes in Funding (Mar. 31, 2009) ERS examines changes in funding levels and sources for U.S. public agricultural research, a decentralized system of Federal and State research institutions and partnerships. Get Report Summary

	Hog Sector: Manure Management (Mar. 31, 2009) Hog operations are growing in size and seeking to manage nutrients on a limited cropland base, and practices have changed over the last several years in response to environmental regulations. Get Report Summary

	NAFTA at 15 (Mar. 31, 2009) ERS looks at agricultural trade between the United States and its partners in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)—Canada and Mexico—following the dismantling of key trade barriers.

	Consequences of Higher Wheat Prices and Input Costs (Mar. 24, 2009) If farm-gate wheat prices continue to fall and input costs remain high, U.S. wheat producers may be unable to cover production costs and the sector may see further attrition of planted area.

	Alternative Definitions of “Farm” (Mar. 20, 2009) ERS evaluates several criteria for targeting Federal aid to farms more precisely and examines how these criteria would affect statistical coverage of the farm sector as well as program eligibility. Get Report Summary

	Supermarkets’ Food Loss (Mar. 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. Get Report Summary

	WIC Program and the Farm Sector (Mar. 19, 2009) ERS estimates the amount of farm revenue generated by food purchased with vouchers from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

	Cotton Use for China’s Textile Exports (Mar. 3, 2009) New information about efficiency and recycling in China’s textile industry has lowered earlier estimates of cotton needed to produce its textile exports, which are the world’s largest.