Previous Newsroom Items: February 2007

Changing Face of the U.S. Grain System (Feb. 28, 2007)
Specialty grains coming onto the market (e.g., fiber-enriched wheat) are requiring adjustments in the marketing system, including information documentation and management, in order to preserve their added value or prevent accidental commingling with standard grains.
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Valuing Counter-Cyclical Payments (Feb. 22, 2007)
Counter-cyclical payments supplement incomes of eligible producers enrolled in commodity programs. ERS developed a computer program that improved upon USDA’s method of estimating payment rates and that producers and forecasters can use.
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Baseline Projections (Feb. 14, 2007)
Long-term baseline projections (to 2016) include major agricultural commodities, trade, farm income, and food prices. The projections assume specific conditions for the economy, weather, global situation, and policy.

2007 Farm Income Forecast (Feb. 14, 2007)
Net farm income and farm operator household income are forecast up in 2007. ERS provides a comprehensive forecast of earnings and expenses.

FANRP: Fiscal 2006 Activities (Feb. 13, 2007)
The Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program has supported research on a wide range of policy-relevant food assistance and nutrition topics.

Hurricanes’ Effect on Food Stamp Program (Feb. 7, 2007)
ERS estimates that the 2005 hurricanes increased total food stamp benefits by over $1 billion, most going to people in the five Gulf Coast States.
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Amber Waves, February (Feb. 1, 2007)
• A weaker dollar: the impacts on ag exports
• Off-farm work spurs technology adoption, and….
• What if fruit/vegetable planting restrictions in farm programs were relaxed? (includes podcast interview)

Components of Farm Economic Performance (Feb. 1, 2007)
ERS examines the relationship between off-farm work, farmers’ technology choices, and the economic performance of farms and farm households.
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