Farm operations' use of input procurement and marketing practices

As part of the Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS), farm operators are asked about use of various practices to procure inputs and to market outputs. The 2008 ARMS asked farmers about their marketing practices (such as using production contracts or collaborative marketing) and input procurement (such as locking in prices or negotiating discounts) to elicit information about how approaches to management differ among farm types. Among livestock farms, dairy producers more frequently reported use of input acquisition and marketing practices than other livestock type operations. Of the major row crop operations, corn producers reported the highest use. This chart appeared in the December 2009 release of the Agricultural Income and Finance Outlook, AIS-88.

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