New from ERS—November 2004
Soybean rust:
an economic assessment
Analysis by ERS earlier this year indicates that
while soybean producers and consumers would realize
some new costs as a result of soybean rust, the
U.S. farm sector as a whole would be minimally
affected. Availability of substitute crops and
products, as well as technological savvy to mitigate
losses, helps explain the resilience. (November
10, 2004)
See background
statistics on soybeans and the industry.
Farm business and household
survey data
New web-based data tool lets you draw on voluminous
data from USDA’s Agricultural Resources Management
Survey (ARMS). Select the data to answer questions
on U.S. agricultural structure, financial health,
and production technology, and build your own tables
and charts. (November 9, 2004)
Profiles
of America: new demographic data tool
Use this interactive tool to create and manipulate
maps, tables, and charts that display demographic
trends and other indicators of the economic well-being
of rural and urban communities. (November 2,
2004)
Decentralizing
Federal farm programs: a consideration
Can farm programs be better tailored to State and
local circumstances? Devolution—the transfer
of control over Federal funds to States—is
one way of adapting national policies to diverse
local preferences and program delivery costs. (November
3, 2004)
See Research
Brief.
How contract sales
are transforming ag markets
Contracts are now the primary sales method for many
livestock commodities and major crops (e.g., sugar
beets, fruit, and processing tomatoes). Demand for
specific product attributes is making contracts
the choice over traditional spot markets. (November
3, 2004)
See Research
Brief.
“Decoupled”
farm support: some impacts on the farm sector
ERS examined the U.S. experience with decoupled
farm income support—i.e., not linked to current
commodity prices or production levels—and
how it has influenced farm household spending and
investment. (November 3, 2004)
See Amber
Waves article. |
