AmberWaves November 2007 > Features

Do Food Labels Make a Difference? Sometimes by Elise Golan, Fred Kuchler, and Barry Krissoff Includes audio podcast interview The economics behind food labeling provides insight into the dynamics of voluntary and mandatory food labeling and the influence labeling has on consumers’ food choices. Integrating Conservation and Commodity Program Payments: A Look at the Tradeoffs by Roger Claassen and Marcel Aillery A single payment program that supports farm businesses while encouraging environmentally sound farming practices could work, but with tradeoffs. The Future of Biofuels: A Global Perspective by William Coyle Biofuels will likely be part of a portfolio of solutions to high energy prices, including conservation, more efficient energy use, and use of other alternative fuels. Cropland Concentrating Faster Where Payments Are Higher by Nigel Key and Michael J. Roberts Research examines whether areas that had received higher program payments per cropland acre experienced faster or slower growth in the concentration of production than areas with lower or zero payments.