ERS Data and Analysis Can Shed More
Light on Current Events
In the News
|
Crop Income Likely
Stronger in 2007, Says USDA Chief Economist
(Wires, November 30, 2006) |
| From ERS |
Agricultural
Income and Finance Situation and Outlook.
U.S. farms are expected to contribute $107.6
billion in net value added to the U.S. economy
in 2006. Rising crop prices help solidify
2006 as one of the top three net income years
of the past decade. In 2006, average farm
household income is projected to be $80,703,
down 0.9 percent from 2005, but 11.7 percent
above the 2001-2005 average. |
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In the News
|
Editorial: Future
of Fish Farming (Washington Post, November
23, 2006) |
| From ERS |
U.S.
Seafood Market Shifts to Aquaculture.
Technology has enabled harvesting to outpace
the speed at which species can reproduce.
In response, the seafood industry is beginning
to shift from wild harvest to aquaculture,
which is growing rapidly in many countries,
including the United States, and which accounts
for a growing share of U.S. seafood consumption.
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In the News
|
New York to Name
Food Policy Czar to Combat Hunger and Unhealthy
Eating (New York Times, November 23, 2006) |
| From ERS |
Understanding
Fruit and Vegetable Choices—Research
Briefs. Consumption of these healthy foods
still does not meet dietary recommendations.
How can we better understand the reasons for
the difficulty in increasing produce consumption?
ERS series of research briefs provides information
on the economic, social, and behavioral factors
influencing consumers' fruit and vegetable
choices. |
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In the News
|
CRP Helps Revive
Pheasant Populations (Wall Street Journal,
November 17, 2006) |
| From ERS |
USDA
Land Retirement Programs. The Conservation
Reserve Program (CRP) started with a focus
on soil conservation, but has expanded to
include wildlife habitat, air and water quality,
and carbon sequestration. The multiple objectives
addressed by the CRP have resulted in reductions
in soil erosion, and increases in the values
of several outdoor recreation activities.
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In the News
|
NRCS Assists With
Farm Water Management (Associated Press,
November 13, 2006) |
| From ERS |
Irrigation
Water Management. ERS outlines state-of-the-art
improvements in irrigation systems that promote
conservation, as part of a larger study of
resources used in agricultural production.
The effectiveness of public water conservation
programs depends on the programs’ accounting
for diverse farm types and for the farm-size
characteristics of irrigated agriculture.
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In the News
|
Reduction in Corn
Crop To Affect Users (Dow Jones, November
9, 2006) |
| From ERS |
Feed
Outlook. Lower yields accounted for the
decrease in the 2006/07 corn production forecast
this month, according to ERS’s November
report, down 160 million bushels from last
month to 10.7 billion. Corn price projections
were up this month because of projected decreased
ending stocks and strong futures prices. |
|
In the News
|
Children’s
Expanding Waists as Health Risk (Newsday,
November 7, 2006) |
| From ERS |
Parental
Time, Role Strain, and Children's Fat Intake
and Obesity-Related Outcomes. ERS examined
parental influence on children’s dietary
intake and potential child obesity. Household
income, parents’ time spent with children,
and parents’ work experiences significantly
affect children’s energy and fat intake
and obesity-related outcomes. |
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In the News
|
Small Local Organic
Farms Seeing Success (Washington Post,
November 6, 2006) |
| From ERS |
Price
Premiums Hold on as U.S. Organic Produce Market
Expands. Price premiums for organic products
have contributed to growth in certified organic
farmland and to market expansion. ERS examined
price premiums and market margins for three
fresh produce items. |
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In the News
|
USDA Inspections
to Focus on Higher Risk Meat Plants (Des
Moines Register, November 5, 2006) |
| From ERS |
Meat
and Poultry Plants' Food Safety Investments:
Survey Findings. Results from the first
national survey of the types and amounts of
food safety investments made by meat and poultry
slaughter and processing plants since the
late 1990s provide evidence that market forces
have worked in conjunction with regulation
to promote the use of more sophisticated food
safety technologies. |
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In the News
|
CRS Reports on
Potential WTO Challenges to U.S. Farm Programs
(AgWeb.com, November 2, 2006) |
| From ERS |
Eliminating
Fruit and Vegetable Planting Restrictions:
How Would Markets Be Affected? U.S. farm
program participants are restricted from planting
and harvesting wild rice, fruit, and most
vegetables on acreage historically used for
program crops. A World Trade Organization
challenge has created pressure to eliminate
planting restrictions. ERS found that market
effects of eliminating the restrictions would
likely be limited and confined to specific
regions and commodities. |
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See
previous economics behind the headlines
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