ERS Data and Analysis Can Shed More
Light on Current Events
In the News |
Some Wisconsin Dairy Farmers Trying Novel Sales Practice (Associated Press, September 16, 2007) |
From ERS |
Profits, Costs, and the Changing Structure of Dairy Farming. U.S. dairy production is consolidating into fewer but larger farms. Although small dairy farms realize higher revenue per hundredweight of milk sold, the cost advantages of larger size allow large farms to be profitable, on average. Survey evidence, as well as the financial data, suggests that consolidation is likely to continue.
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In the News |
Strengthen Food Stamp Program, Columnist Urges (Salt Lake Tribune and Augusta, Ga. Chronicle, September 15, 2007) |
From ERS |
Food Assistance: How Strong Is the Safety Net? The Food Stamp Program increases food expenditures beyond what households would spend without the program, and beyond what they would spend if the benefit were given as cash. The Food Stamp Program is particularly helpful during economic downturns for households with stronger ties to the workforce.
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In the News |
Seed Giants Team Up to Create Corn to Fight Weeds and Insects (Wall Street Journal, September 15) |
From ERS |
U.S. Farmers Increase Adoption of Genetically Engineered Crops and Favor Multiple Traits. U.S. farmers have rapidly adopted genetically engineered (GE) soybeans, cotton, and corn with herbicide tolerance (HT) and/or insect resistance (Bt) traits. A trend in recent years is the rapid adoption of crop varieties that include more than one trait (stacked traits). ERS research shows that U.S. farmers are benefiting economically from adopting these GE crops through higher yields, lower pesticide costs, and savings in management time.
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In the News |
Global Wheat Stocks Down, Prices Record High (Bloomberg, Associated Press, September 13, 2007) |
From ERS |
Wheat Outlook (September 14). U.S. 2007/08 wheat ending stocks are projected at 362 million bushels, down 42 million bushels from August, reflecting lower imports and increased use. The world wheat production forecast for 2007/08 declined 4.2 million tons. Reduced production this month and record nominal prices in several markets are expected to dampen prospects for world wheat use and trade. World wheat ending stocks for 2007/08 are projected to be the lowest since 1977/78.
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In the News |
Report Says Farmers Should Reduce Erosion and Fertilizer Runoff to Receive Subsidies (Des Moines Register, September 11; Reuters September 10, 2007) |
From ERS |
Can Commodity Program Payments Encourage Better Nutrient Management? Since 1985, farmers’ and ranchers’ eligibility for commodity program payments and other Federal, agriculture-related payments has been contingent on their meeting certain soil and wetland conservation standards. Could extending the “conservation compliance” requirement to cover nutrient management be as effective as soil erosion results?
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In the News |
Survey Looks at Farmers’ Health Coverage (Omaha World-Herald, September 7, 2007) |
From ERS |
Health Insurance Coverage. In 2006, 15.8 percent of the U.S. population had no form of health insurance. For members of farm operator households, the figure was 13.8 percent. As with the general population, the most common source of health insurance for members of farm households is employment-based. Farmers are almost as likely as the general U.S. population to receive their health insurance through an outside employer.
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In the News |
Consumers Swallowing Higher Food Prices (USA Today, September 7, 2007) |
From ERS |
Analysis and Forecasts of the CPI for Food. In 2007, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all food is projected to increase 3.5 to 4.5 percent, as retailers pass on higher commodity and energy costs to consumers in the form of moderately higher retail prices. ERS produces monthly forecasts of food price indexes for.
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In the News |
Senator Harkin’s Bill Would Limit Farm Subsidies (Congress Daily, September 6, 2007) |
From ERS |
Effects of Reducing Income Cap on Eligibility for Farm Program Payments. ERS recently estimated that a reduction in the income cap for farm payments to $200,000 would affect a larger number of farm households than the current cap of $2.5 million but still only a small share of recipients. In addition, farm households with adjusted gross income over $200,000, estimated from Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) data, reported average farm income of $271,749 and average net worth of $1.86 million.
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In the News |
Revenue-Based Subsidy Plan Called Better for Many Farmers (Des Moines Register, September 2, 2007) |
From ERS |
Managing Risk With Revenue Insurance. Revenue insurance may do a better job of stabilizing farm income and may protect more farms than other risk management tools. Crop revenue insurance offers farmers a way to manage revenue variability that results from both yield and price risks.
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previous economics behind the headlines
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