AmberWaves November 2008 > Features

Fluctuating Food Commodity Prices— A Complex Issue With No Easy Answers by Ronald Trostle Rising food demand, increased energy costs, a weak U.S. dollar, and other factors contributed to the rapid escalation of food commodity prices until July 2008. New Market Realities Affect Crop Program Choices by Robert Dismukes and Edwin Young Despite higher commodity prices, producers must still mitigate and manage risks. Can Low-Income Americans Afford a Healthy Diet? by Elise Golan, Hayden Stewart, Fred Kuchler, and Diansheng Dong Low-income households that receive maximum food assistance benefits usually can afford a healthy diet; others may have more difficulty. Market Failures: When the Invisible Hand Gets Shaky by Marc Ribaudo, Fred Kuchler, and Lisa Mancino Government intervention in agricultural markets may be warranted under circumstances where markets fail to allocate resources efficiently.