Overview
- Food and agricultural systems operate in a highly
competitive global context, and the United States is
a major player in these international markets—the
U.S. share of the global market for agricultural goods
averages just over 20 percent.
- Since U.S. farms produce far beyond domestic demand
for many crops, maintaining a competitive agricultural
system is critical to ensuring the economic viability
of U.S. agriculture.
- At the same time, U.S. agriculture is a diverse economic
sector. Differences in commodity type, farm size, operator
and household characteristics, and even goals for farming
affect the competitiveness of individual operations
and ultimately of the sector as a whole.
- In recent years, new developments in technology, shifts
in domestic policy, and changes in the rules of trade
have altered the competitive landscape of global agriculture
and the challenges facing American farmers.
- More overview...
ERS research focuses on these and other economic issues
affecting the U.S. food and agriculture sector's competitiveness,
including factors related to performance, structure, risk
and uncertainty, marketing, and market and nonmarket trade
barriers.
Related Briefing Rooms
Features
Recommended Readings
- Ethanol
Co-Product Use in U.S. Cattle Feeding: Lessons Learned
and Considerations, Feed Outlook special report, April
2009
- The 2008/2009 World
Economic Crisis: What It Means for U.S. Agriculture,
International Agriculture and Trade Report, March 2009
- NAFTA at 15: Building
on Free Trade, International Agriculture and Trade
Report, March 2009
- USDA Agricultural
Projections to 2018, USDA Office of the Chief Economist,
February 2009
- 2008 Farm Bill Side-By-Side, web feature, August 2008
See all recommended readings...
Recommended Data Products
See all recommended data products...
Outlook Reports
ERS develops outlook reports, many of which are issued
monthly, highlighting timely developments in U.S. and
global markets. Commodity-based outlook reports include:
We also issue the Outlook
for U.S. Agricultural Trade and Agricultural
Income and Finance. See the 2009
calendar of releases.
Related Links
USDA agencies and other government organizations of interest
in the area of agricultural competitiveness.
See all related links...
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