New from ERS—May 2004
Rural
Cooperatives Workshop
This workshop June 16-17 will cover cooperative
ventures, including what determines their success
or failure, what the advantages and disadvantages
are relative to other businesses, and what are
their implications for national policy regarding
rural development. (posted on June 2, 2004)
Farm
policy, farm households, and the rural economy
Farm programs have their origins in the 1930s.
Although farms, farm households, and rural communities
are vastly different now, commodity-based support
programs continue to play the central role in
U.S. agricultural policy. This new briefing room
analyzes whether current policies most effectively
target the needs of an evolving farm and rural
economy. (posted on May 12, 2004)
EU
adds 10 new members
On May 1, 2004, 10 more countries joined the European
Union (EU)-Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Cyprus,
and Malta. This is the largest expansion in the
history of the EU and will bring profound changes
to Europe. ERS has analyzed the impacts of expansion
on Central and East European countries, the enlarged
EU, and U.S. trade with the region. (posted
on May 7, 2004)
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