Recent News Stories Use ERS
Data and Analysis
Strong Exports Lift Agriculture Sector
New York Times – August 31, 2010
Even as the broader economy falters amid signs of a weakening recovery, the nation’s agriculture sector is going strong, bolstered in part by a surge in exports, according to federal [ERS] estimates of farm trade and income….
One Bright Spot in the Economy – Farming
Des Moines Register – August 31, 2010
Farming is turning out to be one of the few bright spots in the economy. The Agriculture Department [ERS] says that net farm income will rise 24 percent this year, thanks to higher returns for livestock producers and in row crops such as soybeans and cotton.
Japan’s Beef Imports May Drop 9.6% by 2020 as Population Slides, USDA Says
Bloomberg News, Business Week – August 30, 2010
Imports may drop to 613,000 metric tons in 2020 (1.35 billion pounds), down 9.6 percent from an estimated 678,000 tons this year, if the country’s population change follows U.S. Census Bureau projections, the USDA’s Economic Research Service said today in a special report on its website.
Eating Locally, Thinking Globally
New York Times (letter) – August 27, 2010
A recent Department of Agriculture study [ERS] reported that 28 percent of food energy use comes from households while much of the rest — 57.6 percent — comes from the processing, packaging, transportation, wholesale and retail, and food service energy use that locavores are seeking to avoid.
USDA Says Food Cost Rise Lowest Since 1992
Des Moines Register – August 27, 2010
While commodity prices have risen (particularly corn, which is up 22 percent in the last six weeks) food inflation will be the lowest since 1992, the USDA [ERS] said in its forecast for 2010 food prices.
USDA Sees Tame Food-Price Inflation
Wall Street Journal – August 26, 2010
The USDA now forecasts that the consumer-price index for food will climb between 0.5% and 1.5% this year, which would be the smallest increase since 1992… The economy is weaker than what I thought in July," said Ephraim Leibtag, the USDA [ERS] economist responsible for the forecast….
Egg Prices Increasing in Outbreak Aftermath
Des Moines Register – August 25, 2010
Although the recalled eggs amount to a relatively small part of total production, disruptions in supplies can have a big effect on prices, since eggs can't be frozen or stored for long periods, said David Harvey, an Agriculture Department [ERS] economist. But he doesn't think the recall will have a major impact on prices and consumption long term, so long as the outbreak is connected to a few farms.
What Defines a Family Farm?
AgWeek – August 24, 2010
USDA’s Economic Research Service has released “Structure and Finances of U.S. Farms: Family Farm Report, 2010 Edition.” It sorts family farms by three annual sales categories… the report points out that 98 percent of U.S. farms are family operations and even the largest farms are predominantly family run.
Huge Farm Crop Will Help, Not Guarantee Minnesota Economic Recovery
Twin Cities (MN) Daily Planet – August 19, 2010
Heading into this year, USDA's Economic Research Service had forecast net farm income of $63 billion for American farmers this year, an 11.8 percent recovery from 2009 and its weak farm commodity prices….
What U.S. Citydwellers Really Spend on Food and Drink
Grist Magazine – August 18, 2010
…we spend only 5.7 percent of our incomes on food consume at home, USDA [ERS] data reports – the lowest rate of any country in the world, and that figure even includes money spent on alcohol and tobacco.
I Can’t Believe It’s Corn!
San Francisco Chronicle – August 12, 2010
According to the USDA Agricultural Projections to 2018 (February 2009, USDA, Economic Research Service), corn farming and yields are projected to increase, resulting in record corn production. This increase is attributed to expanding livestock herds (the majority of corn production goes towards livestock feed) and industrial corn use.
The Question of Chinese Corn Demand
Top Producer - August 9, 2010
Chinese corn production is being outstripped by its demand for meat, milk and eggs. In addition, although still less than half its feed needs, China’s industrial uses are growing rapidly, according to Fred Gale, USDA economist….
Floods From Pakistan to Korea May Strain Aid as Food Costs Soar
Blooomberg News, Business Week – August 6, 2010
In Asia, Afghanistan and North Korea are the most susceptible to shortages of food, the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a July report. “Afghanistan and North Korea are the region’s most vulnerable countries,” the report titled “Food Security Assessment, 2010-20,” said.
Why Grassfed Beef Has Problems in the U.S.
Perishable News – August 6, 2010
Demand for "grass-fed beef" - beef from cattle exclusively grazed on pastures and ranges, often qualifying as natural or organic product - is rapidly increasing in the US, and now makes up three per cent of the US beef market, according to … the US Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service.
Sacramento-Area Farms Market Directly to Consumers More than in Any Other Area Studied
San Francisco Examiner – August 5, 2010
The full report, “Comparing the Structure, Size, and Performance of Local and Mainstream Food Supply Chains,” is available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Hardesty’s research is part of a larger study that examined how locally grown food is supplied to consumers in five metropolitan areas. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service funded and coordinated the research.
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