Readings
Related Amber Waves Articles
Recommended readings for baseline-related topics in four areas are found here: baseline projections, related research in developing and enhancing baseline models, analyses of alternative market and policy scenarios, and previous baseline projection reports.
Baseline Projections (last two years)
USDA Agricultural Projections to 2022 (February 2013) is the complete departmental baseline report. The complete 2013 baseline report is also available in Microsoft Word 
USDA Agricultural Projections to 2021 (February 2012) is the complete departmental baseline report. The complete 2012 baseline report is also available in Microsoft Word .
Research in Baseline-Related Model Development and Enhancement
Implications of an Early Corn Crop Harvest for Feed and Residual Use Estimates (July 2012) looks at factors affecting feed and residual use of corn. An early corn harvest—before the August 31 end of the previous marketing year—creates an overlap of supply-and-use data between the old and new marketing years that can alter the patterns of corn use and ending stocks, with implications for official USDA projections and estimates. An econometric and statistical model for marketing-year feed and residual use for total feed grains is develop to assess effects on feed and residual use of corn.
Supply Response Under the 1996 Farm Act and Implications for the U.S. Field Crops Sector (September 2000) measures the regional response of producers of major field crops to the flexibility mandated in the 1996 Act, in terms of their acreage and crop mix; the pattern of response is used in the baseline.
Price Determination for Corn and Wheat: The Role of Market Factors and Government Programs (August 1999) observes factors in U.S. farm-level prices for corn and wheat, for use in annual models used in the baseline to capture the effects of market supply and demand factors as well as government agricultural policy.
Marketing Loan Benefits Supplement Market Revenues for Farmers 
(December 1999) summarizes the workings of the marketing loan program and provides estimates of above-loan rate levels of per-unit revenue facilitated by the program. These relationships are used in baseline analysis of response to the program.
Analyses of Alternative Market and Policy Scenarios
Full Throttle U.S. Ethanol Expansion Faces Challenges Down the Road (September 2009). EISA of 2007 specified an ambitious agenda to significantly expand biofuel use in the United States, with an increased emphasis on "second generation" cellulosic biofuel. However, challenges in both supply and demand--ranging from the development of new cellulosic biofuel production technologies to the development of supporting infrastructures at every step along the way from the field to the pump--may limit future growth in the industry.
Ethanol Expansion in the United States: How Will the Agricultural Sector Adjust? (May 2007) examines effects of the expansion in U.S. ethanol production. Market impacts extend well beyond corn, the primary feedstock for ethanol in the United States, to supply and demand for other crops, such as soybeans and cotton, as well as to U.S. livestock industries. As a consequence of these commodity market impacts, farm income, government payments, and food prices also change. See narrated slideshow for an overview; see related Amber Waves feature U.S. Ethanol Expansion Driving Changes Throughout the Agricultural Sector (September 2007).
The 2002 Farm Act: Provisions and Implications for Commodity Markets (November 2002) provides an initial assessment of the legislation's effects on agricultural production, commodity markets, and net farm income over the next 10 years. Results indicate that commodity market impacts are fairly small. Net farm income is projected higher than under a continuation of the 1996 Farm Act, largely reflecting an increase in government payments.
Pacific Food System Outlook 2003-2004, Where Demographics Will Take the Food System (October 2003) assesses the impact of expanded urbanization, variability in population growth and immigration, and aging populations on the Asia-Pacific food system. The ability of developing countries to adjust to rapid urbanization will be the most important demographic challenge, testing the region's capacity to deliver a steady flow of safe, reasonably priced food.
Agriculture in Brazil and Argentina: Developments and Prospects for Major Field Crops (December 2001) points to the increasing competitiveness of these countries in world oilseed and grain markets. For each country, the potential for future market-share gains will depend on exchange-rate movements, overall economic stability, infrastructure improvements, and further policy reform.
Developing Countries' Economies Key to U.S. Agriculture (September 2000) presents a graphical overview of the relationship of developing countries' economies to U.S. agricultural trade, analyzing the influence of income changes and exchange rate movements on U.S. agricultural trade relative to baseline projections.
The 1996 U.S. Farm Act Increases Market Orientation (August 1996) provides a general overview of major changes in production agriculture resulting from the 1996 Farm Act provisions on commodity programs, agricultural trade, and conservation; reports the impacts relative to the 1996 baseline.
Archives of Previous Baselines
Previous baseline projections reports, with related articles and presentations.