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ERS reports and studies can provide context to breaking
stories on food, agriculture, natural resources, and rural
development.
In the News
Planters fight Monsanto over seed fees (Memphis Commercial
Appeal, Tenn. 9/26/04)
From ERS
Have
Seed Industry Changes Affected Research Effort? Crop
variety research and development (R&D)
over the past 30 years has moved from being
predominantly public to predominantly private.
Meanwhile private sector firms have evolved
from small operations to large integrated
enterprises. Greater protection of intellectual
property rights for crop-seed innovations
has spurred private investment and may increasingly
stimulate private R&D, even on crops
like soybeans where farmers have often saved
part of the current crop for use as seed
the following year. Still, ERS analysis shows
that consolidation in the private seed industry
may have dampened the intensity of private
research on crop biotechnology, at least
for corn, cotton, and soybeans.
In the News
Analysts say hog producers expanding due to increasing
profits (Reuters, 9/24/04)
From ERS
Economic and Structural
Relationships in U.S. Hog Production. Rapid
change in the size and ownership structure of U.S.
hog production has created new and varied challenges
for the industry and for policymakers. This report
describes an industry becoming increasingly concentrated
among fewer and larger farms, and becoming more economically
efficient. However, key concerns include the increasing
market control and power concentrated among packers
and large hog operations, and the manure management
problem posed by an increasing concentration of hog
manure on fewer operations.
In the News
Little space for record corn crop (Dow
Jones, 9/23/04)
From ERS
Feed
Outlook. The feed grains production
forecast increased this month because of
larger forecasts for corn and sorghum crops.
While corn harvest will not be completed
for some time, current indications are
that both yield and production will set
records. As a result of the increased corn
production, total feed grains production
will also set a record. In 2003/04, corn
exports were reduced because of the slower-than-expected
pace at the end of the marketing year.
In the News
Junk food sales to be banned at New Jersey
schools (Associated Press, 9/23/04)
Money is driving school soda sales (Washington
Post, 9/26/04)
From ERS
Food
Assistance Research Brief—Competitive
Foods: Soft Drinks vs. Milk.
"Competitive foods"—those available
in schools in addition to USDA-provided school meals—have
lower nutritional quality than school meals. This
report reviews current information on the impact
of competitive foods in school meal programs and
presents a case study on competition between milk
and soft drinks.
In the News
Mexico poised to export more poultry (Reuters,
8/24/04)
From ERS
U.S.-Mexico
Broiler Trade: A Bird's Eye View.
ERS examines the potential economic impact
on the U.S. broiler market if Mexico ships
fresh, chilled, and frozen poultry to the
United States. Sanitary requirements and
regulations governing the U.S.-Mexico broiler
trade are among the issues considered.
In the News
Report to Congress on greenhouse gases and
global warming (New York Times, 8/26/04)
From ERS
Economics
of Sequestering Carbon in the U.S. Agricultural
Sector. Atmospheric concentrations
of greenhouse gases can be reduced by withdrawing
carbon from the atmosphere and sequestering
it in soils and biomass. ERS analyzes the
performance of alternative incentive designs
and payment levels if farmers were paid to
adopt land uses and management practices
that raise soil carbon levels.
In the News
Illness in Ohio traced to foodborne disease
(Associated Press, 8/19/04)
From ERS
Economics
of Foodborne Disease. Foodborne diseases
are caused by ingesting bacteria, fungi,
parasites, or viruses through contaminated
food or water, or through person-to-person
contact. ERS has estimated the annual U.S.
economic costs incurred for the major bacterial
pathogens to help policymakers identify the
magnitude of the societal impact of foodborne
disease.
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