Recent News Stories Use ERS
Data and Analysis
Hoosier Farm Profits Wither From Recession
Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette – September 28, 2009
The nation’s net farm income for 2009 is expected to fall 38 percent from last year’s near-record level, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service…The recession dampened demand for many agricultural products, said Mitch Morehart, an agricultural economist at the USDA’s Economic Research Service….
Consumers Get Break on Food Prices
Fresno Bee – September 26, 2009
"It's one of the small pieces of good news over the last year: Having a recession really takes the pressure off prices," said Ephraim Leibtag, an economist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service….
Farmers’ Earnings Take Big Drop as Food Prices Dip
USA Today – September 22, 2009
The U.S. Department of Agriculture [ERS] forecasts farm income of $49.1 billion in 2009 when adjusted for inflation. That would be a 39% drop from 2008, a record year when U.S. farmers earned $80.4 billion after expenses…. The price drop has hit every sector of farming, but hog and dairy farmers have seen the sharpest declines. Both had benefited from exports to emerging markets abroad and were hurt by the global recession, says Mitch Morehart, an agricultural economist with the USDA. Meanwhile, he says, expenses remained high.
Scary Times for Pumpkin Growers in New England
Associated Press - September 21, 2009
There's sufficient supply elsewhere to compensate for problems in New England, said Gary Lucier, an agricultural economist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. "Every year something happens with the pumpkin crop, someplace," Lucier said….
Boston-Area Grocery Prices Declined Last Month for the First Time Since April 2003
Patriot-Ledger (Boston) – September 17, 2009
… Ephraim Leibtag, a senior economist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, said the decline in Boston food prices mirrors nationwide trends – although the national average started dropping earlier in the summer. He expects that food prices took longer to drop in the Boston area because the local economy, in general, is healthier here than in many parts of the country.
N.C. Agricultural Exports Rise 51%
Charlotte Business Journal – September 17, 2009
North Carolina ranked 13th in the nation for agricultural-export value during the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service.
Broadband Access: We Have To Bridge the Digital Divide
Farm and Dairy – September 17, 2009
The USDA’s Economic Research Service estimates that while 55 percent of U.S. adults had broadband access at home in 2008, only 41 percent of rural households had broadband access.
U.S. Farmers on Verge of Giant Corn Harvest
Associated Press, dailies - September 16, 2009
Ephraim Leibtag, senior economist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's economics research service, agreed. "The effect of corn changes on retail prices is pretty mild and at this point we don't see anyone predicting a major swing in corn prices," Leibtag said. "If there isn't a major swing there is no major impact and the effect will be pretty negligible for the consumer."
Can a Soda Tax Really Curb Obesity?
Forbes Online – September 16, 2009
An ERS report on potential impacts of taxing snack foods was among the studies discussed by a September 16 Forbes Online in an article examining whether a soda tax could actually curb obesity. The article noted that the ERS report had concluded that consumers of snack foods are not affected by small changes in price.
Farmers Fret Over Next Season
Lincoln Courier – September 15, 2009
The U.S. Department of Agriculture projects the nation’s farm income will shrink 38 percent in 2009 to $54 billion thanks to a perfect economic storm.
Why “Out There” in Pa. They Resent Us ‘in Here’ [Philadelphia]
Philadelphia Daily News – September 14, 2009
According to the USDA's Economic Research Service, the poverty rate in the state's urban areas is 11.5 percent. It's higher - 12.4 percent - in rural areas, while Philly's 23 percent tops this unfortunate list.
Scant Selling Helps as Cotton Rises Above Prior Three-Week Highs
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal (online) - September 14, 2009
Looking back at the 2008-09 marketing year ended July 31, USDA's Economic Research Service says cotton used by U.S. consumers fell about 12 percent from prior crop year and was the lowest in seven seasons.
Milk Prices Expected To Keep Nudging Higher
Ag Weekly – September 10, 2009
The USDA’s Economic Research Service, in its latest Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook report, says [milk prices] should rise from the levels forecast in July.
Oregon Farm Production Value Up, but Outpaced by Producer Costs
Western Farmer-Stockman – September 10, 2009
… A new U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service report shows only a marginal increase from 2007, and mirrors a 12% decline in net income from the average of the last five years….
Here’s Your Guide to the Many Types of Rice
Orlando Sentinel – September 9, 2009
"More than 80 percent of the rice consumed in the U.S. is produced in the U.S.," USDA economist Nathan Childs said. Most imports come from Thailand (jasmine) followed by India and Pakistan (basmati), he said.
Recession Catches Up With Rural America
Drovers - September 9, 2009
The 2009 edition of “Rural America at a Glance,” an annual bulletin series from the USDA’s Economic Research service, describes economic trends in rural communities. Initially, the report notes, effects of the current recession were mitigated in non-metro areas by high commodity prices….
Small Town Has a Way of Luring Former Residents Back
Las Vegas Sun – September 7, 2009
The Economic Research Service of the U.S. Agriculture Department has tracked the trend and now is trying to figure out why people return to their hometowns, senior geographer John Cromartie said....
U.S. Agricultural Trade Holds Up in Tough Economic times
Truth About Trade & Technology - September 4, 2009
The latest outlook for U.S. agricultural trade from the Economic Research Service and the Foreign Agricultural Service of USDA indicates that U.S. agricultural trade has survived in good condition the worldwide economic recession….
The State of the Farm
Forbes – September 3, 2009
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (ERS) forecasts that the American farm's profits will drop precariously this year….
USDA: Farm Profits Plummet
Capital Press – September 3, 2009
…the USDA Economic Research Service projected net farm income for the year will be $54 billion, down $33.2 billion from 2008….
Prices: Pressure on Wallets Eases a Bit
Union Leader (NH) – September 2, 2009
Retail food prices have largely subsided, resulting in low-to-moderate food price inflation this year, due to lower energy and commodity costs, according to the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture…
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