" "  
Search ERS

  Browse by Subject
  Diet, Health, & Safety
  Farm Economy
 Bioenergy
 Commodity Outlook
 Costs of Production
 Farm Employment
 Farm Financial Management & Performance
 Farm Household Well-being
 Farm Income
 Farm Structure
 Market Analysis
 Market Structure & Concentration
 Taxes
  Farm Practices & Management
  Food & Nutrition Assistance
  Food Sector
  Natural Resources & Environment
  Policy Topics
  Research & Productivity
  Rural Economy
  Trade & International Markets
  Also Browse By


or

""

 

Search ERS

 
Costs of Production

USDA is required to develop annual estimates of the costs of producing wheat, feed grains, cotton, and milk. ERS also produces estimates for soybeans, rice, cow-calf, hogs and other major crops and livestock. Cost estimates are used for program adjustments and policy analysis, and ERS uses the data for research in such areas as farm structure and performance, technology adoption, and international competitiveness


Spotlights

Commodity Cost and Return Data—USDA has estimated annual production costs and returns and published accounts for major field crop and livestock enterprises since 1975. Estimated production costs and returns are based on producer surveys conducted every 4-8 years for each commodity and updated each year with estimates of annual price, acreage, and production changes.

Monthly Milk Cost of Production Estimates—Congress included language in USDA's FY 2003 appropriation that strongly urged USDA to make available monthly milk costs of production (COP) in various areas of the United States. To comply with this request, ERS has begun reporting monthly milk COP by State, where sufficient data support a State estimate. Estimates are available starting from January 2003.

Latest Releases

Publications (see all)

Data Sets (see all)

Related Briefing Rooms

Web administration: webadmin@ers.usda.gov