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USDA's Economic Research Service
AmberWaves November 2008 > Features
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.
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.