Newsroom

Previous Newsroom Items: February 2011

In the News

	USDA Outreach: Hispanic and Women Farmers (Feb. 25, 2011) USDA has established a streamlined process to resolve claims of Hispanic and women farmers and ranchers who assert they experienced discrimination when seeking USDA farm loans. See press release in English and in Spanish, and see USDA blog site for English posting and Spanish posting.

Spotlight

	Mapping the Trends in Rural America (Feb. 18, 2011) A web-based interactive mapping tool can display a broad range of data at the county level to visualize how social and economic conditions vary in rural areas across the United States. Users can create and download maps and download data for spreadsheets. Get press release

	Amber Waves, March (Feb. 14, 2011) Featured in the March issue: • Calorie labeling in restaurants • Developing countries' income growth and U.S. export potential • Higher carbon prices could spur use of methane digesters • Introducing the Atlas of Rural America Get podcast interview

	Agricultural Outlook Forum 2011: Feb. 24-25 Former President Bill Clinton and U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (Ag Committee Chair) are featured speakers at this year’s Outlook Forum. Sessions cover topical issues including risk management, trade, rural communities, conservation, nutrition and diet, renewable energy, and sustainability. Program at a glance

New From ERS

	Dissecting the Food Dollar (Feb. 24, 2011) A new and expanded ERS food dollar series provides a more detailed answer to the question of where our food dollars go (e.g., the farm share and the share among the various supply chain industry groups). Get Report Summary

	Farm Income, Farm Household Income Forecast Up in 2011 (Feb. 14, 2011) For 2011, net farm income is forecast at $94.7 billion, up 19.8 percent from the 2010 forecast, despite a $20-billion jump in production expenses. Average family farm household income is also forecast to rise.

	10-Year Ag Baseline Projections (Feb. 14, 2011) Long-term agricultural baseline projections to 2020 cover major commodities, trade, farm income, and food prices. Projections assume specific conditions for U.S. and global economic conditions, weather, and policy.

	Update: Agricultural Contracting (Feb. 14, 2011) ERS explores the use of agricultural contracts, which account for 40 percent of the value of U.S. agricultural output. The report provides detailed analysis of contract use in production of hogs and poultry, major field crops, and peanuts and tobacco. Get Report Summary

	Rising Commodity Prices and CRP Enrollment (Feb. 11, 2011) ERS explores how increased commodity prices might influence enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Recent commodity prices are generally higher than when most CRP contracts were accepted, making land retirement less attractive unless CRP rental rates rise. Get Report Summary

	Climate Change Policy: Methane Digesters on Livestock Farms (Feb. 7, 2010) Methane digester systems capture methane from manure storage facilities for use as fuel to generate electricity or heat. ERS estimated the number and type of hog and dairy operations that would find it profitable to use a digester. Get Report Summary and companion Economic Brief

	Financial Profile: Vegetable and Melon Farms (Feb. 3, 2011) ERS examines the financial condition of specialized U.S. vegetable and melon farms in the 2000s (those for which these crops account for at least half of the farms’ sales). The report analyzes the financial picture by region and by farm sales class.

	The Cost of Fruits and Vegetables (Feb. 1, 2011) ERS used retail scanner data to estimate the average prices of 153 fresh and processed fruits and vegetables. The report includes estimates of the cost of meeting the recommendations of USDA’s recently released 2010 Dietary Guidelines. Get Report Summary
Also New