Research Informs Policy Decisions
As Under Secretary of USDA’s
Research, Education, and Economics mission area,
I am pleased to see our research applied to critical
issues facing the Nation today. This farm policy
special issue of Amber Waves does just that by giving
insight to pertinent topics that are being considered
in the upcoming 2007 farm bill discussion.
For example, funding for conservation
programs will be a focus in the 2007 farm bill and
is highlighted within this collection of articles.
ERS research summarized in the articles gives insight
to program cost-effectiveness, conservation compliance,
green payments, and environmental credits.
Programs related to specialty
commodities, such as fruit and vegetables, are also
important topics addressed in this compilation.
The implications for relaxing fruit and vegetable
planting restrictions for commodity program participants
and fruit and vegetable availability for nutrition
assistance program participants are topics included
to stimulate thinking about specialty commodity
policy.
One of the feature articles presents
information on managing risk with revenue insurance.
Implications of adjusted gross farm income with
payment limitations are revealed by indicators of
the geographic distribution of government payments
as a proportion of gross income. In addition, Food
Stamp Program effectiveness, policy challenges posed
by the changing face of rural America, and fast-paced
growth of a bioenergy sector are also covered in
these reprinted articles.
This special issue is a great
opportunity to showcase our exciting and timely
research. It is my sincere hope that these articles
serve to inform, enlighten, and provoke thought
as discussion of the upcoming 2007 farm bill continues.
Gale Buchanan
Under Secretary
Research, Education, and Economics
U.S. Department of Agriculture
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