Publications

A-Z Title List: A

Adding Value to Existing Models of International Agricultural Trade - By order only: Discusses the computable general equilibrium (CGE) model, which represents an effort to build a bridge between partial equilibrium models of agricultural trade and their general equilibrium counterparts.
ERSTB1833 68 pp August 1, 1994
Adjusting for Living Costs Can Change Who Is Considered Poor: The prevalence of poverty has historically been greater in nonmetro than metro areas since poverty rates were first officially recorded. However, adjusting the official poverty measure for cost-of-living differences reverses the rankings of metro and nonmetro poverty. Such a reversal would have important implications for the geographic and demographic distribution of Federal funding of poverty-based programs.
AER November 1, 2006
Administrative Costs in the Child and Adult Care Food Program: Results of an Exploratory Study of the Reimbursement System for Sponsors of Family Child Care Homes: Providers of child day care services operating out of their homes may be reimbursed for meals and snacks served to participating children through USDA's Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). To participate, these homes must be sponsored by a public or private organization that recruits the homes, trains them to follow CACFP rules, monitors compliance with the rules, and handles meal reimbursement claims and payments. CACFP reimburses sponsors for the administrative expenses incurred in conducting these activities. In 1996, Congress instituted a meal reimbursement system to better target benefits to low-income providers and children. The system created new administrative tasks for sponsors and a need for more time to be spent on some of the tasks conducted previously. This situation has raised concerns as to the adequacy of reimbursements. The decline in the number of CACFP sponsors—a 6 percent drop between 1995 and 2001—has further added to the concern. To address the issue, this study explores the administrative cost reimbursement system for CACFP sponsors that oversee the family child care homes portion of the CACFP. Costs reported by sponsors on average were about 5 percent higher than allowable reimbursement amounts. The report also presents and discusses alternative administrative reimbursement systems used by other Federal programs.
This study was conducted by Resource Network International and ORC Macro under a research contract with the Economic Research Service. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of ERS or USDA.

ERSCCR16 51 pp March 21, 2006
Adoption of Agricultural Production Practices: Lessons Learned from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Area Studies Project: The U.S. Department of Agriculture Area Studies Project was designed to characterize the extent of adoption of nutrient, pest, soil, and water management practices and to assess the factors that affect adoption for a wide range of management strategies across different natural resource regions. The project entailed the administration of a detailed field-level survey to farmers in 12 watersheds in the Nation to gather data on agricultural practices, input use, and natural resource characteristics associated with farming activities. The data were analyzed by the Economic Research Service using a consistent methodological approach with the full set of data to study the constraints associated with the adoption of micronutrients, N-testing, split nitrogen applications, green manure, biological pest controls, pest-resistant varieties, crop rotations, pheromones, scouting, conservation tillage, contour farming, strip cropping, grassed waterways, and irrigation. In addition to the combined-areas analyses, selected areas were chosen for analysis to illustrate the difference in results between aggregate and area-specific models. The unique sample design for the survey was used to explore the importance of field-level natural resource data for evaluating adoption at both the aggregate and watershed levels. Further analyses of the data illustrated how the adoption of specific management practices affects chemical use and crop yields.
ERSAER792 116 pp February 14, 2001
Adoption of Bioengineered Crops: This report uses USDA survey data to examine the extent to which US farmers have adopted bioengineered crops, factors affecting adoption of these crops, and the impacts of bioengineered crops on input use and farm-level net returns.
AER-810 67 pp June 28, 2002
Agri-Environmental Policy at the Crossroads: Guideposts on a Changing Landscape: Agri-environmental policy is at a crossroads. Over the past 20 years, a wide range of policies addressing the environmental implications of agricultural production have been implemented at the Federal level. Those policies have played an important role in reducing soil erosion, protecting and restoring wetlands, and creating wildlife habitat. However, emerging agri-environmental issues, evolution of farm income support policies, and limits imposed by trade agreements may point toward a rethinking of agri-environmental policy. This report identifies the types of policy tools available and the design features that have improved the effectiveness of current programs. It provides an indepth analysis of one policy tool that may be an important component of a future policy packageâ€”agri-environmental payments. The analysis focuses on issues and tradeoffs that policymakers would face in designing a program of agri-environmental payments.
ersaer794 72 pp January 25, 2001
Agricultural Adaptation to Climate Change: Issues of Longrun Sustainability: Early evaluations of the effects of climate change on agriculture, which did not account for economic adjustments or consider the broader economic and environmental implications of such changes, overestimated the negative effects of climate change. This report, which highlights ERS research, focuses on economic adaptation and concludes there is considerably more sectoral flexibility and adaptability than found in other analyses. The report frames the discussion of economic adjustments within the context of global agricultural environmental sustainability.
ERSAER740 68 pp June 1, 1996
Agricultural Baseline Projections to 2005, Reflecting the 1996 Farm Act: This report provides long-run baseline projections for the agricultural sector through 2005 that incorporate provisions of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (1996 Farm Act). The baseline assumes that the new farm legislation remains in effect through 2005. Projections cover agricultural commodities, agricultural trade, and aggregate indicators of the sector, such as farm income and food prices. Generally favorable global economic growth is projected in the baseline which, combined with liberalized trade associated with both the GATT agreement and unilateral policy reforms, supports strong growth in global trade and U.S. agricultural exports. Greater market orientation in the domestic agricultural sector under the 1996 Farm Act puts U.S. farmers in a favorable position for competing in the global marketplace. A tightening of the balance between productive capacity and demands results in rising nominal market prices, increasing farm income, and stability in the financial condition of the agricultural sector. However, management of risk will be important for farmers. With the reduced role of the Government in the sector under the 1996 Farm Act, farmers in general face greater risk of income volatility due to price variation, reflecting market price variability more directly. Consumer food prices are projected to continue a long term trend of rising less than the general inflation rate. The baseline projections presented are one representative scenario for the agricultural sector through the middle of the next decade, assuming no shocks and based on specific assumptions regarding macroeconomic conditions, policy, weather, and international developments. As such, the baseline provides a point of departure for discussion of alternative farm sector outcomes that could result under different assumptions. The projections in this report were prepared in October through December 1996, reflecting a composite of model results and judgmental analysis.
ERSWAOB971 April 23, 1997
Agricultural Biotechnology: An Economic Perspective: The development of agricultural biotechnology offers the opportunity to increase crop production, lower farming costs, improve food quality and safety, and enhance environmental quality. This report describes the economic, scientific, and social factors that will influence the future of biotechnology in agriculture. The supply of biotechnology innovations and products will be affected by public policies and by expectations of producer and consumer demand for the products. The demand for biotechnology by farmers and food processors is derived from the expected profitability of using the technology as an input to production. Ultimately, the use of biotechnology in the farm sector will depend on consumer demand for the biotechnology-derived agricultural product.
ERSAER687 64 pp May 1, 1994
Agricultural Contracting Update, 2005: More than half of all transactions for U.S. agricultural products are still conducted through spot market exchanges, in which commodities are bought and sold in open market transactions for immediate delivery. But a growing share of U.S. farm production is produced and sold under agricultural contracts. Such contracts between farmers and their buyers are reached prior to harvest (or before the completion stage for livestock) and govern the terms under which products are transferred from the farm. The shift of production to contracting coincides with shifts of production to larger farms. Contracts are far more likely to be used on large farms than on small ones. Marketing and production contracts covered 41 percent of the value of U.S. agricultural production in 2005, up from 39 percent in 2003, 36 percent in 2001, and a substantial increase over 28 percent in 1991 and 11 percent in 1969.
EIB-35 37 pp April 1, 2008
Agricultural Contracting Update: Contracts in 2003: Marketing and production contracts covered 39 percent of the value of U.S. agricultural production in 2003, up from 36 percent in 2001 and a substantial increase over estimated values of 28 percent for 1991 and 11 percent in 1969. Large farms are far more likely to contract than small farms; in fact, contracts cover over half of the value of production from farms with at least $1 million in sales. Although use of both production and marketing contracts has grown over time, growth is more rapid for production contracts, which are largely used for livestock.
EIB-9 26 pp January 17, 2006
Agricultural Contracting: Trading Autonomy for Risk Reduction: Farm production is shifting from smaller to larger family farms and from spot (or cash) markets to contracts. Technological developments may underlie much of the shift to larger farms, but expanded use of production and marketing contracts supports that shift by reducing financial risks for farm operators. For farm operators, contracts provide benefits from reduced risks, but also result in loss of managerial control and reduced autonomy.
February 1, 2006
Agricultural Export Programs: Background for 1995 Farm Legislation: Since 1985, the United States has heavily supported agricultural exports with an array of programs. A central issue related to those programs is how best to support farm exports, and farm income, with lower price subsidies under the Uruguay Round Agreement of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and with U.S. budget constraints.
ERSAER716 40 pp June 1, 1995
Agricultural Exports From Grain and Soybean Producing States Rose in Fiscal 2002: Fiscal 2002 U.S. agricultural exports rose slightly from 2001. Most of the gain occurred in soybeans, feed grains, and wheat, as prices of those commodities increased. As a result, soybean and feed grain or wheat exporting States, such as Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Indiana, increased exports in 2002. North Dakota particularly benefited from increased wheat exports. California, which produces and exports primarily fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and other agricultural products had slightly reduced exports in 2002, even though it remained by far the largest agricultural exporting State.
ERSFAU7801 June 30, 2003
Agricultural Income and Finance Outlook: Provides historical estimates and forecasts of farm sector financial information that allows readers to gauge the financial health of the nation's farmers and ranchers.
AER December 13, 2007
Agricultural Outlook April 1997: Agricultural Outlook was published monthly (except February) by the Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. The magazine ceased publication with the December 2002 issue.
AO-239 April 1, 1997
Agricultural Outlook August 1997: Agricultural Outlook was published monthly (except February) by the Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. The magazine ceased publication with the December 2002 issue.
AO-243 August 1, 1997
Agricultural Outlook December 1996: Agricultural Outlook was published monthly (except February) by the Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. The magazine ceased publication with the December 2002 issue.
AO-236 December 1, 1996
Agricultural Outlook January 1997: Agricultural Outlook was published monthly (except February) by the Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. The magazine ceased publication with the December 2002 issue.
AO-237 January 1, 1997
Agricultural Outlook January/February 1998: Agricultural Outlook was published monthly (except February) by the Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. The magazine ceased publication with the December 2002 issue.
AO-248 February 1, 1998
Agricultural Outlook July 1997: Agricultural Outlook was published monthly (except February) by the Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. The magazine ceased publication with the December 2002 issue.
AO-242 July 1, 1997
Agricultural Outlook June 1997: Agricultural Outlook was published monthly (except February) by the Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. The magazine ceased publication with the December 2002 issue.
AO-241 June 1, 1997
Agricultural Outlook March 1997: Agricultural Outlook was published monthly (except February) by the Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. The magazine ceased publication with the December 2002 issue.
AO-238 March 1, 1997
Agricultural Outlook May 1997: Agricultural Outlook was published monthly (except February) by the Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. The magazine ceased publication with the December 2002 issue.
AO-240 May 1, 1997
Agricultural Outlook October 1997: Agricultural Outlook was published monthly (except February) by the Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. The magazine ceased publication with the December 2002 issue.
AO-245 October 1, 1997
Agricultural Outlook September 1997: Agricultural Outlook was published monthly (except February) by the Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. The magazine ceased publication with the December 2002 issue.
AO-244 September 1, 1997
Agricultural Policy Affects Land Use and the Environment: Economic forces and policy changes encourage producers to shift less productive, or â€œmarginal,â€� cropland in and out of production. Because marginal lands are also environmentally sensitive along several dimensions, cropland shifts have environmental, as well as economic, effects. Thus, agricultural and conservation programs that affect land use likely have more profound effects on erosion and some other environmental factors than on production.
AER September 1, 2006
Agricultural Policy Reform in the WTO--The Road Ahead: Agricultural trade barriers and producer subsidies inflict real costs, both on the countries that use these policies and on their trade partners. This report quantifies the costs of global agricultural distortions and the potential benefits of their full elimination. The report concludes that eliminating global agricultural policy distortions would result in an annual world welfare gain of $56 billion. The report also analyzes the effects on U.S. and world agriculture if only partial reform is achieved in liberalizing tariffs, tariff-rate quotas (limits on imported goods), domestic support, and export subsidies.
ERSAER802 120 pp June 26, 2001
Agricultural Production Management: AREI, 2006 Edition: The Agricultural Production Management section of Agricultural Resources and Environmental Indicators, 2006 Edition describes the processes and physical practices associated agricultural production. It examines the management of farm businesses and conventional and organic production systems, including soil, nutrient, pest, and irrigation water management. Each chapter provides a concise overview of a specific topic with links to sources of additional information.
EIB July 21, 2006
Agricultural Productivity and Efficiency in Russia and Ukraine: Building on a Decade of Reform: The purpose of the report is to determine the potential for increased grain exports from Russia and Ukraine. The report reviews the evidence on the productivity of agricultural production, and explores some of the causes of inefficient practices. Results of the analyses show that implementing institutional reforms would allow productivity and efficiency in the agricultural sector to improve. Consequently, completing the reform program could allow Russia and Ukraine to emerge as significant grain exporters in the future.
ERSAER813 33 pp July 29, 2002
Agricultural Productivity in the United States: Increased productivity is a key to a healthy and thriving economy. Consequently, the trend in productivity, economywide, is one of the most closely watched of our common economic performance indicators. Agriculture, in particular, has been a very successful sector of the U.S. economy in terms of productivity growth. The U.S. farm sector has provided an abundance of output while using inputs efficiently. Agricultural productivity growth has been an important source of U.S. economic growth throughout the century, but the years since 1940 have seen an even faster growth in agricultural productivity. The annual average increase in productivity from 1948 to 1994 was 1.94 percent. This reflects an annual growth in output of 1.88 percent per year and an actual decline in agricultural inputs of 0.06 percent per year. This report describes changes in U.S. agricultural productivity, and its output and input components, for 1948-94. The report also discusses factors that have affected productivity trends and provides detailed, technical information about the USDA system for calculating productivity.
ERSAIB740 32 pp January 1, 1998
Agricultural Research and Development, Agricultural Productivity, and Food Security: This Food Security briefing paper describes ERS research on sustained growth in agricultural productivity and the role of research and development on world's ability to produce more food for the growing population.
ERSAIB765-10 2 pp June 13, 2001
Agricultural Research and Development: Public and Private Investments Under Alternative Markets and Institutions: Empirical studies indicate high economic returns from the public's investment in agricultural research. Yet, even as society is placing broader demands on the research system, taxpayer support for public agricultural research is unlikely to increase. Stronger ownership rights for intellectual property have increased incentives for private investment in agricultural research, but key elements still require direct public support. The USDA is developing new mechanisms to build a more effective public-private partnership in agricultural research.
ERSAER735 88 pp May 1, 1996
Agricultural Resources and Environmental Indicators, 1994: This report identifies trends in land, water, and commercial input use, reports on the condition of natural resources used in the agricultural sector, and describes and assesses public policies that affect conservation and environmental quality in agriculture. Combining data and information, this report examines the complex connections among farming practices, conservation, and the environment, which are increasingly important components in U.S. agriculture and farm policy. The report examines the economic factors that affect resource use and, when data permit, estimates the costs and benefits (to farmers, consumers, and the government) of meeting conservation and environmental goals. The report takes stock of how natural resources (land and water) and commercial inputs (energy, nutrients, pesticides, and machinery) are used in the agricultural sector; shows how they contribute to environmental quality; and links use and quality to technological change, production practices, and farm programs.

Back to AREI home.

ERSAH705 216 pp December 1, 1994
Agricultural Resources and Environmental Indicators, 1996-97: This report identifies trends in land, water, and commercial input use, reports on the condition of natural resources used in the agricultural sector, and describes and assesses public policies that affect conservation and environmental quality in agriculture. Combining data and information, this report examines the complex connections among farming practices, conservation, and the environment, which are increasingly important components in U.S. agriculture and farm policy. The report also examines the economic factors that affect resource use and, when data permit, estimates the costs and benefits (to farmers, consumers, and the government) of meeting conservation and environmental goals. The report takes stock of how natural resources (land and water) and commercial inputs (energy, nutrients, pesticides, and machinery) are used in the agricultural sector; shows how they contribute to environmental quality; and links use and quality to technological change, production practices, and farm programs.

Back to AREI home.

ERSAH712 356 pp July 1, 1997
Agricultural Resources and Environmental Indicators, 2003: This report identifies trends in land, water, and biological resources and commercial input use, reports on the condition of natural resources used in the agricultural sector, and describes and assesses public policies that affect conservation and environmental quality in agriculture. Combining data and information, this report examines the complex connections among farming practices, conservation, and the environment, which are increasingly important components in U.S. agriculture and farm policy. The report also examines the economic factors that affect resource use and estimates costs and benefits to farmers, consumers, and the government of meeting conservation and environmental goals. The report takes stock of how natural resources (land, water and biological resources) and commercial inputs (nutrients, pesticides, seed and machinery) are used in the agricultural sector; shows how they contribute to environmental quality; and links use and quality to technological change, production practices, and farm programs. The report is available only in electronic format.

Back to AREI home.

ERSAH722 February 14, 2003
Agricultural Resources and Environmental Indicators, 2006 Edition: These chapters describe trends in resources used in and affected by agricultural production, as well as the economic conditions and policies that influence agricultural resource use and its environmental impacts. Each of the 28 chapters provides a concise overview of a specific topic with links to sources of additional information. Chapters are available in HTML and pdf formats.
EIB-16 July 21, 2006
Agricultural Statistics: A comprehensive statistical report (approximately 500 pages) containing current and historical agricultural data, revised annually. Statistics cover grain and feed; cotton, tobacco, sugar crops, and honey; oilseeds, fats, and oils, vegetables and melons; fruits, tree nuts, and horticultural specialties; hay, seeds and minor field crops, cattle, hogs, and sheep; dairy and poultry statistics; farm resources, income, and expenses, taxes, insurance, credit and cooperatives; stabilization and price-support programs; consumption; fertilizers and pesticides, and more.
NASSZAG99 April 1, 1999
Agricultural Trade Preferences and the Developing Countries: Nonreciprocal trade preference programs originated in the 1970s as an effort by high-income developed countries to provide tariff concessions for low-income countries. This study analyzes detailed trade and tariff data for the United States and the European Union (the two largest nonreciprocal preference donors) to determine the extent to which the programs have increased exports from beneficiary countries. The analysis finds that the programs offer significant benefits for some countries, mostly the higher income developing countries. Economic benefits in the least developed countries have been modest.
ERR-6 50 pp May 20, 2005
Agriculture and Ecosystem Restoration in South Florida: Assessing Trade-offs from Water-Retention Development in the Everglades Agricultural Area: The Florida Everglades is widely acclaimed as one of the world's most productive wetland ecosystems. However, decades of land and water development, some of it for agriculture, have seriously degraded native wildlife communities. Agricultural production decisions have contributed to the loss of some ecosystem functions and reduced environmental quality. Policies to restore the Everglades environment will affect the profitability of the farming sector in Florida. Considerable attention has focused on the retention of wet-season water flows in the northern watershed that is currently drained to meet urban and agricultural needs. In this study, a dynamic model of agricultural production, soil loss, and water retention in the Everglades Agricultural Area was developed to assess agricultural impacts under alternative water policy and land acquisition scenarios.
eejs0108 February 1, 2001
Agriculture and European Union Enlargement: This report documents the modeling framework (European Simulation Model, ESIM) used to analyze the 1992 CAP reform and discusses possible effects of EU enlargement. Potential accession of a number of eastern and central European countries into the European Union (EU) seems destined to lead to further reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The financial costs of absorbing these countries may be extreme.
ERSTB1865 60 pp February 1, 1998
Agriculture and Rural Communities Are Resilient to High Energy Costs: Higher energy costs have led agricultural producers to substitute more expensive fuels with less expensive fuels, shift to less energy-intensive crops, and employ energy-conserving production practices where possible. Energy price increases will have the biggest impact on farmers where energy represents a significant share of operating costs. Rural communities face somewhat different issues with increases in petroleum and natural gas costs. As the cost of producing goods and services rises, so will household costs for transportation and home heating. Because of higher transportation expenses, rural communities may see changes in settlement patterns, especially in more remote rural areas.
AER April 10, 2006
Agriculture and the Environment in the European Union - By order only: Examines some of the agriculture-related environmental problems confronting the European Union. Also describes the recent trends of agrichemical use in the EU and regional similarities and differences in environmental concern.
ERSAIB708 24 pp October 1, 1994
Agriculture Economy Improves in 2003: The financial condition of U.S. farmers and other agricultural stakeholders is expected to improve in 2003.
October 15, 2003
Agriculture in a North American Free Trade Agreement: Analysis of Liberalizing Trade Between the United States and Mexico - By order only: Provides background information and analysis on the agricultural aspects of a hypothetical North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in which all barriers to trade are removed.
ERSFAER246 180 pp September 1, 1992
Agriculture in Brazil and Argentina: Developments and Prospects for Major Field Crops: This report identifies key factors underlying the agricultural productivity growth and enhanced international competitiveness of Brazil and Argentina in the past decade. Economic and policy reforms, infrastructure development, and enhanced use of agricultural inputs that drove output growth during the 1990s are discussed. This report also compares Brazilian, Argentine, and U.S. soybean production costs and evaluates the combined impact of production, marketing, and transportation costs on the overall export competitiveness of each country's soybean producers. Finally, the outlook for continued growth in output and exports of key commodities is assessed.
ERSWRS013 85 pp January 9, 2002
Agriculture in the WTO International Agriculture and Trade Report: The Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations continued the process of reducing trade barriers achieved in seven previous rounds of negotiations. Among the Uruguay Round's most significant accomplishments were the adoption of new rules governing agricultural trade policy, the establishment of disciplines on the use of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, and agreement on a new process for settling trade disputes. Articles in this issue cover WTO export subsidy commitments, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, biotechnology, and more.
WRS-984 55 pp December 1, 1998
Aiming for Targets, Saving on Arrows: Insights from Two USDA Food Assistance Programs: The article describes four types of targeting decisions that are made in either the design or the administration of a food assistance program. It summarizes recent ERS research that examined benefits targeting (providing greater program benefits to households that have the lowest incomes) and operational targeting (low administrative and food procurement expenses). One study found that WIC cost-containment practices in six States were relatively inexpensive to administer and reduced food costs with few adverse impacts on WIC participants. Another study examined the effects of a reduction in a USDA subsidy for the meals that are generally served to higher income children (Tier 2 meals) in the Child and Adult Care Food Program. The subsidy reduction targeted program benefits more intensively on low-income children, as designed.
June 20, 2003
Amber Waves Special Issue, May 2007: This special issue of Amber Waves, the magazine of the USDAâ€™s Economic Research Service (ERS), provides a closer look at key farm policy topics likely to be considered in the farm bill debate. The issue contains reprints and updates of articles and statistics highlighting: commodity programs, conservation, food and nutrition, rural development, and energy.
AER May 1, 2007
Amber Waves, April 2003: Amber Waves presents the broad scope of ERS' research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the Internet and in print, Amber Waves is issued in print five times a year (February, April, June, September, and November). The Internet edition, or "e-zine," will change as new material is added between scheduled issues.
April 30, 2003
Amber Waves, April 2004: Amber Waves presents the broad scope of ERS' research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the Internet and in print, Amber Waves is issued in print five times a year (February, April, June, September, and November). The Internet edition, or "e-zine," includes links to web-only resources.
April 1, 2004
Amber Waves, April 2005: Amber Waves presents the broad scope of ERS' research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the Internet and in print, Amber Waves is issued in print five times a year (February, April, June, September, and November). The Internet edition, or "e-Zine," includes links to web-only resources.
April 1, 2005
Amber Waves, April 2006: Amber Waves presents the broad scope of ERS' research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the Internet and in print, Amber Waves is issued in print five times a year (February, April, June, September, and November). The Internet edition, or "e-zine," includes links to web-only resources.
April 10, 2006
Amber Waves, April 2007: Amber Waves presents the broad scope of ERSâ€™s research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the Internet and in print, Amber Waves is issued in print five times a year (February, April, June, September, and November). The Internet edition, or â€œeZine,â€� includes links to web-only resources, such as podcasts and additional articles.
AER April 2, 2007
Amber Waves, April 2008: Amber Waves presents the broad scope of ERSâ€™s research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the internet and in print, Amber Waves is issued in print five times a year (February, April, June, September and November). The internet edition, or â€œeZine,â€� includes links to web â€“only resources, such as podcasts and additional articles.
AER April 1, 2008
Amber Waves, February 2003: Amber Waves is a new magazine that presents a window into the broad scope of ERS' research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the Internet and in print, it will appear five times a year (in February, April, June, September, and November). The Internet edition or ""e-zine"" will change as new material is added between scheduled issues.
February 20, 2003
Amber Waves, February 2004: Amber Waves presents the broad scope of ERS' research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the Internet and in print, Amber Waves is issued in print five times a year (February, April, June, September, and November). The Internet edition, or "e-zine," includes links to web-only resources.
February 2, 2004
Amber Waves, February 2005: Amber Waves presents the broad scope of ERS' research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the Internet and in print, Amber Waves is issued in print five times a year (February, April, June, September, and November). The Internet edition, or "e-zine," includes links to web-only resources.
February 1, 2005
Amber Waves, February 2006: Amber Waves presents the broad scope of ERS' research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the Internet and in print, Amber Waves is issued in print five times a year (February, April, June, September, and November). The Internet edition, or "e-zine," includes links to web-only resources.
February 1, 2006
Amber Waves, February 2007: Amber Waves presents the broad scope of ERSâ€™s research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the Internet and in print, Amber Waves is issued in print five times a year (February, April, June, September, and November). The Internet edition, or â€œeZine,â€� includes links to web-only resources, such as podcasts and additional articles.
AER February 1, 2007
Amber Waves, February 2008: Amber Waves presents the broad scope of ERSâ€™s research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the internet and in print, Amber Waves is issued in print five times a year (February, April, June, September and November). The internet edition, or â€œeZine,â€� includes links to web â€“only resources, such as podcasts and additional articles.
AER February 1, 2008
Amber Waves, June 2003: Amber Waves presents the broad scope of ERSâ€™ research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the Internet and in print, Amber Waves is issued in print five times a year (February, April, June, September, and November). The Internet edition, or "e-zine," will change as new material is added between scheduled issues.
June 20, 2003
Amber Waves, June 2004: Amber Waves presents the broad scope of ERS' research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the Internet and in print, Amber Waves is issued in print five times a year (February, April, June, September, and November). The Internet edition, or "e-zine," includes links to web-only resources.
June 1, 2004
Amber Waves, June 2005: Amber Waves presents the broad scope of ERS's research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the Internet and in print, Amber Waves is issued in print five times a year (February, April, June, September, and November). The Internet edition, or "eZine," includes links to web-only resources.
June 3, 2005
Amber Waves, June 2006: Amber Waves presents the broad scope of ERSâ€™s research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the Internet and in print, Amber Waves is issued in print five times a year (February, April, June, September, and November). The Internet edition, or â€œeZine,â€� includes links to web-only resources.
AER June 1, 2006
Amber Waves, June 2007: Amber Waves presents the broad scope of ERSâ€™s research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the Internet and in print, Amber Waves is issued in print five times a year (February, April, June, September, and November). The Internet edition, or â€œeZine,â€� includes links to web-only resources, such as podcasts and additional articles.
AER June 1, 2007
Amber Waves, June 2008: Amber Waves presents the broad scope of ERSâ€™s research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the internet and in print, Amber Waves is issued in print five times a year (February, April, June, September and November). The internet edition, or â€œeZine,â€� includes links to web â€“only resources, such as podcasts and additional articles.
AER June 2, 2008
Amber Waves, November 2003: Amber Waves presents the broad scope of ERS' research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the Internet and in print, Amber Waves is issued in print five times a year (February, April, June, September, and November). The Internet edition, or "e-zine," includes links to web-only resources.
November 7, 2003
Amber Waves, November 2004: Amber Waves presents the broad scope of ERS's research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the Internet and in print, Amber Waves is issued in print five times a year (February, April, June, September, and November). The Internet edition, or "eZine," includes links to web-only resources.
November 3, 2004
Amber Waves, November 2005: Amber Waves presents the broad scope of ERS's research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the Internet and in print, Amber Waves is issued in print five times a year (February, April, June, September, and November). The Internet edition, or "eZine," includes links to web-only resources.
November 1, 2005
Amber Waves, November 2006: Amber Waves presents the broad scope of ERSâ€™s research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the Internet and in print, Amber Waves is issued in print five times a year (February, April, June, September, and November). The Internet edition, or â€œeZine,â€� includes links to web-only resources, such as podcasts and additional articles.
AER November 1, 2006
Amber Waves, November 2007: Amber Waves presents the broad scope of ERSâ€™s research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the Internet and in print, Amber Waves is issued in print five times a year (February, April, June, September, and November). The Internet edition, or â€œeZine,â€� includes links to web-only resources, such as podcasts and additional articles.
AER November 1, 2007
Amber Waves, September 2003: Amber Waves presents the broad scope of ERS' research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the Internet and in print, Amber Waves is issued in print five times a year (February, April, June, September, and November). The Internet edition, or "e-zine," includes links to web-only resources.
September 8, 2003
Amber Waves, September 2004: Amber Waves presents the broad scope of ERS' research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the Internet and in print, Amber Waves is issued in print five times a year (February, April, June, September, and November). The Internet edition, or "e-zine," includes links to web-only resources.
September 1, 2004
Amber Waves, September 2005: Amber Waves presents the broad scope of ERS's research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the Internet and in print, Amber Waves is issued in print five times a year (February, April, June, September, and November). The Internet edition, or "eZine," includes links to web-only resources.
November 1, 2005
Amber Waves, September 2006: Amber Waves presents the broad scope of ERSâ€™s research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the Internet and in print, Amber Waves is issued in print five times a year (February, April, June, September, and November). The Internet edition, or â€œeZine,â€� includes links to web-only resources.
AER September 1, 2006
Amber Waves, September 2007: Amber Waves presents the broad scope of ERSâ€™s research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the Internet and in print, Amber Waves is issued in print five times a year (February, April, June, September, and November). The Internet edition, or â€œeZine,â€� includes links to web-only resources, such as podcasts and additional articles.
AER September 4, 2007
Amber Waves, September 2008: Amber Waves presents the broad scope of ERSâ€™s research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the internet and in print, Amber Waves is issued in print five times a year (February, April, June, September and November). The internet edition, or â€œeZine,â€� includes links to web â€“only resources, such as podcasts and additional articles.
AER September 2, 2008
Amber Waves, Volume 4, Special Issue, July 2006: This special issue of Amber Waves, the magazine of the USDAâ€™s Economic Research Service (ERS), provides a closer look at the relationship between agriculture and the Nationâ€™s land, air, water, and biological resources. The issue contains reprints and updates of articles and statistics highlighting: conservation policy and program design, impact of conservation programs on farmers and the environment, cost-effectiveness of conservation programs, and emerging issues, such as environmental credits.
AER July 7, 2006
America's Diverse Family Farms, 2007 Edition: American farms encompass a wide range of sizes, ownership structures, and business types, but most farms are still family farms. Family farms account for 98 percent of farms and 85 percent of production. Although most farms are small and own most of the farmland, production has shifted to very large farms. Farms with sales of $1 million or more make up less than 2 percent of all farms, but they account for 48 percent of farm product sales. Most of these million-dollar farms are family farms. Because small-farm households rely on off-farm work for most of their income, general economic policies, such as tax or economic development policy, can be as important to them as traditional farm policy.
EIB-26 12 pp June 1, 2007
America's Diverse Family Farms: Assorted Sizes, Types, and Situations: This report describes a farm typology developed by the Economic Research Service (ERS), which categorizes farms into more homogeneous groups than classifications based on sales volume alone, producing a more effective policy development tool. The typology is used to describe U.S. farm structure.
ERSAIB769 8 pp May 31, 2001
America's Diverse Family Farms: Structure and Finances: American farms vary widely in size and other characteristics, but farming is still an industry of family businesses. Ninety-eight percent of farms are family farms, and they account for 86 percent of farm production. Very small farms are growing in number, and small family farms continue to own most farmland. But production is shifting toward very large family farms. Because small-farm households receive most of their income from off-farm work, general economic policiesâ€”such as tax policy or economic development policyâ€”can be as important to them as traditional farm policy.
EIB-13 12 pp May 15, 2006
America's Eating Habits: Changes and Consequences: Individual chapters in this book provide different perspectives on the nutrition problems in the United States: what are the economic costs associated with unhealthy eating patterns; how do dietary patterns compare with dietary recommendations; how do national income and prices, advertising, health claims, and trends in eating away from home affect nutrient intake; how much do people know about nutrition and how does nutrition knowledge and attitudes affect intake of fats and cholesterol; how do different government programs and regulations influence food expenditures and consumption; what are some public and private efforts to improve healthy eating; and what are potential impacts of healthier eating on domestic agriculture.
ERSAIB750 484 pp May 1, 1999
Analyses of Generic Dairy Advertising, 1984-97: Generic advertising raised fluid milk sales about 6.0 percent, or 18.1 billion pounds, between September 1984 and September 1997. Sales of cheese rose by about 6.8 million pounds (milk equivalent) in the same period because of increased generic advertising. An assessment of 15 cents per hundredweight of milk sold commercially, mandated by the Dairy and Tobacco Adjustment Act of 1983, funded the advertising. Activities of the National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board also contributed to increased milk sales over the past year. Gross returns to dairy farmers between September 1984 and September 1997 were estimated to increase by $3.44 for each dollar spent on generic advertising. This report presents the results of econometric demand models that examined the effect of advertising and other facts on milk and cheese sales.
ERSTB1873 44 pp February 1, 1999
An Analysis of Risk Premia in U.S. Farm-Level Interest Rates: Traditional family farms may face certain forms and sources of risks, while modern, corporate farm structures may face other types of risk. The belief that agriculture has greater inherent financial risk than other sectors of the eco-nomy underlies the philosophy of most government farm programs. Identifying the determinants of farm financial risk is essential to understanding the effects and operation of farm programs. Policymakers may desire to direct support toward certain segments of the farming population on the basis of differences in realized financial risks. Therefore, the objective of this article is to empirically consider factors related to financial risks on U.S. farms.
EEJS0101 January 1, 2000
Analysis of the U.S. Commodity Loan Program with Marketing Loan Provisions: Over the next several years, crop prices are projected to be below to slightly above commodity loan rates. As a result, marketing loan benefits to farmers, in the form of loan deficiency payments and marketing loan gains from the commodity loan program, are likely to continue to be sizeable. The level of realized per-unit revenues facilitated by marketing loans exceeds commodity loan rates, thereby raising expected net returns to farmers. Model simulations show that the loan program can raise total acreage planted to major field crops, generally increasing levels of domestic use and exports while lowering crop prices. Cross-commodity effects of supply response to relative returns (including marketing loan benefits), however, result in acreage shifts among competing crops, which can lead to reductions in plantings of some crops in some years. Most impacts occur in the years when there are marketing loan benefits, with little effect in subsequent years when prices rise high enough to eliminate marketing loan benefits. The livestock sector benefits from these outcomes because of generally lower feed costs.
ERSAER801 26 pp May 24, 2001
Anatomy of Nonmetro High Poverty Areas: Common in Plight, Distinctive in Nature: This article discusses how rural high poverty counties differ across racial and demographic lines. Comparisons are made among and between high poverty counties populated by African Americans, Hispanics, Whites, and Native Americans.
February 2, 2004
Animal Products Markets in 2005 and Forecasts for 2006: Uncertainty continues to shape the forecasts for animal products markets in 2006. Potential and actual animal disease outbreaks, consumer sensitivities, volatile exchange rates, and growing competition from producers in other countries cloud U.S. trade prospects for major meats. Loss of U.S. trade market share, partly caused by disease outbreaks and related trade restrictions that have affected animal product exports since 2003, compounds the problem. The outlook for U.S. meat, poultry, and dairy markets in 2006 depends on how well domestic production adjusts to changes in input costs, the effect of exchange rates on trade, the continuing effects of disease and trade restrictions on exports, and the increasing competitiveness of emerging animal products exporters.
LDPM-14601 15 pp September 8, 2006
Antimicrobial Drug Use and Veterinary Costs in U.S. Livestock Production: Feeding low levels of antimicrobial drugs to livestock affects food safety, human health, and livestock production costs and returns. This report examines the economics of antimicrobial resistance in livestock and the economic implications of banning the use of growth-enhancing antimicrobial drugs in livestock production.
ERSAIB766 13 pp May 8, 2001
APEC Agriculture and Trade: Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Region Buying More U.S. Consumer-Ready Food Products: Provides information and analyses about developments in agriculture, food, policy, and trade in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) region, and implications for the United States. In fiscal 1995, more than 60 percent of U.S. farm exports, worth a record $33 billion, went to APEC forum members.
ERSAER734 68 pp May 1, 1996
APEC International Agriculture and Trade Report: U.S. agricultural exports to the APEC region reached a record $36.7 billion in fiscal 1996, up 10 percent from the year before. The region accounted for more than 60 percent of total U.S. agricultural exports, about the same as in recent years. Mexico, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and Japan showed the biggest gains, while exports to China dropped from $2.4 billion in fiscal 1995 to $1.8 billion.
WRS-974 71 pp August 1, 1997
Aquaculture Outlook: Examines the U.S. aquaculture industry including production, inventory, sales, prices, inputs, and trade of catfish, trout, tilapia, salmon, mollusks, crawfish, shrimp, ornamental fish, and new species.
October 5, 2006
Are Lower Income Households Willing and Able To Budget for Fruits and Vegetables?: Households have a number of needs and wants that all compete for scarce resources. Given this situation, are low-income households, in particular, generally willing and able to budget for healthful foods like fruits and vegetables, or are other goods and services, including other foods, more of a priority? For six out of seven selected types of food, we find that households with an income below 130 percent of the poverty line spend less money than higher income households. However, we also find that these households, when given a small increase in income, will allocate more money to only two out of the seven products, beef and frozen prepared foods. These foods may be priorities for reasons of taste and convenience. For additional money to be allocated to fruits and vegetables, a householdâ€™s income needs to be slightly greater than 130 percent of the poverty line.
ERR-54 29 pp January 7, 2008
Asia-Pacific Transportation Infrastructure: Linking Food Sources To Urban Centers: The Asia-Pacific food system faces the challenge of rapid urbanization and concentration of food demand, while food-producing areas remain geographically dispersed. Sustaining growth in urban food demand requires streamlining domestic supply chains, including transportation infrastructure (roads, railroads, inland waterways, ports and airports) connecting urban with food-producing areas, or negotiating trade agreements to open domestic markets to foreign food supplies, or some combination of approaches.
September 1, 2005
Asian Financial Crisis: Effects on U.S. Agriculture. - By order only: ERSAGES9805 34 pp November 1, 1998
Assessing the Nutrient Intakes of Vulnerable Subgroups: This study is a comprehensive analysis of the nutrient adequacy of segments of the population at risk of inadequate nutrient intake, excessive intake, or dietary imbalances, based on the Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals conducted in 1994-96 and 1998. The segments include adolescent females, older adults, children and adults at risk of overweight, individuals living in food-insufficient households, low-income individuals, and individuals targeted by and participating in food and nutrition assistance programs. The study adds to a growing literature that uses current, improved knowledge of nutrient requirements and recommended nutrient assessment methods to analyze nutrient intakes. The study indicates generally inadequate intakes of key micronutrients, especially magnesium, calcium, folate, and vitamin E; energy intakes less than recommended energy requirements for adults; and consumption of too much food energy from fat and not enough from carbohydrates; and inadequate intakes of fiber. In addition, diet adequacy deteriorates as individuals get older. Children—especially infants and young children-have diets that are more nutritionally adequate than those of adolescents and adults.
ERSCCR11 98 pp October 12, 2005
An Assessment of the Impact of Medicaid Managed Care on WIC Program Coordination With Primary Care Services: Coordination between the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and Medicaid has been an important component to ensuring access to primary care services for WIC clients. This study examines how increased use of managed care in the Medicaid program has affected WIC program coordination efforts. According to the study sample, 72 percent of State Medicaid agencies report that Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) are required to inform their members about WIC. About 43 percent of State WIC agencies sampled in the study have a formal agreement with a State Medicaid agency, generally revolving around data sharing, referrals, and provision of special metabolic infant formulas. The agreements often lack specific details on how services should be coordinated, however. Some local WIC agencies and MCOs have implemented innovative approaches to coordination. These approaches include Medicaid staff at WIC clinics to help clients with enrollment, sharing information to promote targeted outreach efforts, helping clients identify providers and resources, and MCOs paying transportation costs of WIC clients to attend WIC appointments.
Disclaimer: This study was conducted by Health Systems Research, Inc., under Research Contract No. 43-3AEM-2-80103 with the Economic Research Service. The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of ERS or USDA.

CCR-33 71 pp September 19, 2007
Assessment of WIC Cost-Containment Practices: An Interim Report to Congress: The William F. Goodling Child Nutrition Act of 1998 directed ERS to conduct a study to assess the impacts of WIC (USDA's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) cost-containment practices. This Interim Report presents results from the first year of the study, including details of State WIC agencies' cost-containment practices, classification of States according to cost-containment practices, and selection of six States for case studies. The report also describes planned data collection efforts and subsequent analysis to be conducted to address the objectives specified in the legislation.
ERSEFAN01-005 38 pp April 26, 2001
Assessment of WIC Cost-Containment Practices: Executive Summary: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides both nutrition education and supplemental foods containing nutrients determined by nutritional research to be lacking in the diets of pregnant, breastfeeding, and post-partum women, infants, and children. State WIC agencies have implemented practices designed to reduce the cost of food packages containing these prescribed foods. For instance, one of the WIC program's primary cost-saving practices is negotiating rebate contracts with manufacturers of infant formula. Additional practices include limiting authorized vendors to stores with lower food prices; limiting approved brands, package sizes, forms, or prices; and negotiating rebates with food manufacturers or suppliers. There is concern that these practices may inadvertently counter the program's goal of providing supplemental foods and nutrition education. Based on a review of cost-containment practices in six States, including interviews with the various stakeholders and analysis of WIC administrative files, the study draws three major conclusions: (1) cost-containment practices reduced average food package costs by 0.2 to 21.4 percent, depending on practices implemented and local conditions; (2) the cost-containment practices had few adverse outcomes for WIC participants; and (3) administrative costs of the practices were low, averaging about 1.5 percent of food package savings.
For more details on the results, see Assessment of WIC Cost-Containment Practices: Final Report.

FANRR31 32 pp May 16, 2003
Assessment of WIC Cost-Containment Practices: Final Report: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides both nutrition education and supplemental foods for pregnant, breastfeeding, and post-partum women, infants, and children. These supplemental foods contain nutrients that nutritional research has found may otherwise be lacking in the diets of WIC recipients. State WIC agencies have implemented practices designed to reduce the cost of food packages containing these prescribed foods. For instance, one of the WIC program's primary cost-saving practices is negotiating rebate contracts with manufacturers of infant formula. Additional practices include limiting authorized vendors to stores with lower food prices; limiting approved brands, package sizes, forms, or prices; and negotiating rebates with food manufacturers or suppliers. There is concern that these practices may inadvertently counter the program's goal of providing supplemental foods and nutrition education. Based on a review of cost-containment practices in six States, including interviews with the various stakeholders and analysis of WIC administrative files, the study draws three major conclusions: (1) cost-containment practices reduced average food package costs by 0.2 to 21.4 percent, depending on practices implemented and local conditions; (2) the cost-containment practices had few adverse outcomes for WIC participants; and (3) administrative costs of the practices were low, averaging about 1.5 percent of food package savings.

A summary of this report, Assessment of WIC Cost-Containment Practices: Executive Summary, is also available online.

03-005 342 pp February 25, 2003
Assigning Values to Life: Comparing Methods for Valuing Health Risks: An examination of five approaches economists and health policy analysts have developed for evaluating policy affecting health and safety: cost-of-illness, willingness-to-pay, cost-effectiveness analysis, risk-risk analysis, and health-health analysis. Also examines the theoretical basis and empirical application of each approach and investigates the influence that assumptions embedded in each approach have on policy guidance.
ERSAER784 76 pp December 1, 1999
Asymmetric Information in the Market for Yield and Revenue Insurance: This report analyzes farmers' choice of crop insurance contracts and tests for the presence of asymmetric information in the market for multiple yield and revenue insurance products. Farmers' risk characteristics, their level of income, and the cost of insurance significantly affect their choices of yield and revenue insurance products as well as their selections of alternative coverage levels. Empirical analysis indicates that, in the presence of asymmetric information, high-risk farmers are more likely to select revenue insurance contracts and higher coverage levels. The results also indicate that premium rates do not accurately reflect the likelihood of losses, implying informational asymmetrics in the crop insurance market.
ERSTB1892 40 pp May 15, 2001
Atrazine: Environmental Characteristics and Economics of Management: Restricting or eliminating the use of atrazine in the Midwest would have important economic consequences for farmers and consumers. Atrazine is an important herbicide in the production of corn and other crops in the United States. Since atrazine is such an important herbicide, mandatory changes in application strategies are likely to generate sizable costs for producers and consumers. However, recent findings indicate that elevated amounts of atrazine are running off fields and entering surface water resources. This report presents the costs and benefits of an atrazine ban, a ban on pre-plant and pre-emergent applications, and a targeted ban to achieve a surface water standard. A complete atrazine ban is hypothesized to be the costliest strategy, while the targeted strategy is the least costly.
ERSAER699 28 pp September 1, 1994
Away-From-Home Foods Increasingly Important to Quality of American Diet: The increasing popularity of dining out over the past two decades has raised the proportion of nutrients obtained from away-from-home food sources. Between 1977 and 1995, home foods significantly improved their nutritional quality, more so than away-from-home foods, which typically contained more of the nutrients overconsumed (fat and saturated fat) and less of the nutrients underconsumed (calcium, fiber, and iron) by Americans. Since the trend of eating out frequently is expected to continue, strategies to improve the American diet must address consumers' food choices when eating out. This report analyzes food intake survey data collected by USDA over the past two decades to compare the nutritional quality of home and away-from-home foods and examine how the quality has changed over time.
ERSAIB749 32 pp January 1, 1999

For more information, contact: webadmin@ers.usda.gov

Web administration: webadmin@ers.usda.gov