AmberWaves March 2009 > Features

Growing Crops for Biofuels Has Spillover Effects by Scott Malcolm and Marcel Aillery Growing demand for corn as biofuel feedstock will transform the agricultural landscape as regional cropping patterns adjust and production practices adapt. Agricultural Commodity Price Spikes in the 1970s and 1990s: Valuable Lessons for Today by May Peters, Suchada Langley, and Paul Westcott While the most recent runup in commodity prices is similar in many ways to those in the 1970s and 1990s, rising demand for grains and oilseeds for biofuels adds a new dimension of complexity. Grain Prices Impact Entire Livestock Production Cycle by Richard Stillman, Mildred Haley, and Ken Mathews The biological timeline of livestock production prevents quick producer response to fluctuating feed costs. Recent Volatility in U.S. Fertilizer Prices: Causes and Consequences by Wen-yuan Huang, William McBride, and Utpal Vasavada Farms that grow fertilizer-intensive crops and have a limited ability to switch to other crops or inputs may be especially vulnerable to fluctuating fertilizer and commodity prices. When Nudging in the Lunch Line Might Be a Good Thing by Lisa Mancino and Joanne Guthrie Skillful application of behavioral economic theory may be able to help schoolchildren make healthier food choices