In the News
|
Mexico seeks postponement
tariff-free trade in corn and beans (Dow
Jones, June 30, 2005) |
| From ERS |
U.S.-Mexico
Corn Trade During the NAFTA Era. From 1998
to 2002, the United States also exported to
Mexico substantial quantities of white corn,
used to make tortillas, but these exports have
since diminished, possibly due to Mexican Government
support for domestically produced white corn.
Mexico’s large flour companies are increasing
their role in tortilla production, not only
in Mexico but also in the United States. |
|
In the News |
Organic food sector’s
growth could stall under stricter standards
(Associated Press, June 25, 2005) |
| From ERS |
Organic
Agriculture Gaining Ground. Organic agriculture
is expanding rapidly in the United States, as
consumer interest continues to gather momentum
and new organic production and marketing systems
evolve. In the wake of USDA's implementation
of national organic standards in October 2002,
continued growth in the industry is expected. |
|
In the News |
WTO rules Japan’s
barriers to U.S. apple shipments illegal (Wires,
June 23, 2005) |
| From ERS |
Global
Trade Patterns in Fruits and Vegetables.
International trade in fruits and vegetables
has expanded at a higher rate than trade in
other agricultural commodities, particularly
since the 1980s, and the variety of commodities
has expanded. The European Union, the North
American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) area,
and Asia have remained as the major destinations
and sources of supply. |
|
In the News |
Nation’s capital
operates summer food program (Washington
Post, June 21, 2005) |
| From ERS |
Feeding
Low-Income Children when School Is Out—The
Summer Food Service Program. The U.S. Department
of Agriculture, through the Summer Food Service
Program (SFSP), funds meals for children in
low-income areas when school is out of session.
ERS sponsored the first comprehensive study
of SFSP in over a decade. |
|
In the News |
Thousands of meatpacking
jobs lost since 2003 (Associated Press, June
21, 2005) |
| From ERS |
Consolidation
in U.S. Meatpacking. By locating among a
network of large producers, and by forming long-term
relationships with producers, slaughter plants
may reduce the risks associated with building
and operating plants. |
|
In the News |
U.S. and Japanese
ag chiefs to confer on beef trade and bse (Wires,
June 14-15, 2005) |
| From ERS |
International
Trade and Food Safety: Economic Theory and Case
Studies. Food safety regulations and the
perception of risk vary among countries. This
can lead to persistent trade frictions and even
reduce food trade, or it could generate increased
dialogue between countries, resulting in improved
food safety systems. |
|
In the News |
Fertilizer, manure
causing pollution in lakes (Associated Press,
June 14, 2005) |
| From ERS |
"Dead
zone" in the Gulf: Addressing Agriculture’s
Contribution. Two-thirds of the nitrogen
in the Mississippi River comes from use of fertilizer
and manure on agricultural lands. ERS analyzed
the cost effectiveness of two approaches to
reducing pollution fro agricultural nitrogen. |
|
In the News |
Aquaculture and its
limitations (New York Times, June 6, 2005) |
| From ERS |
U.S.
Seafood Market Shifts to Aquaculture. Aquaculture
production is expanding in the United States
and accounts for a growing share of U.S. seafood
consumption as well. Aquaculture has a number
of advantages over wild harvest, but there are
also possible disadvantages, including environmental
impacts. |
|
In the News |
USDA to hold meeting
on Convervation Reserve’s future (Reuters,
June 3, 2005) |
| From ERS |
The
Conservation Reserve Program: Economic Implications
for Rural America. ERS estimated the impact
of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) on
economic trends in rural counties with high
levels of CRP enrollment. High enrollment levels
appear to have affected farm-related businesses
over the long run, but growth in other nonfarm
businesses moderated the impact on total employment. |
|
In the News |
Shortages of organic
milk reported (Washington Post, June 1, 2005) |
| From ERS |
U.S.
Organic Farming in 2000-2001: Adoption of Certified
Systems. 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. Organic dairy sales in mainstream supermarkets
are increasing 36 percent annually. |
|
| |
In the News |
African leaders hold
food summit (Associated Press, June 1, 2005) |
| From ERS |
Food
Security Assessment, GFA 16. Just over 1
billion people in the 70 low-income countries
ERS studied are estimated to have consumed less
than the recommended nutritional requirements
in 2004. This marks an increase from more than
830 million in 2003. |
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