In the news
|
Cotton, rice farmers
blast move to trim subsidies (San Francisco
Chronicle, April 30, 2005) |
| From ERS |
Farm
Income and Costs: Which Farms Receive Government
Payments? Thirty-nine percent of U.S. farms
received government payments (averaging $13,025)
in 2003. Farms specializing in rice or cotton
represented less than 1 percent of farms receiving
payments but received the highest average payment
level of any farm type. |
|
In the news |
Apple growers welcome
McDonald’s plans for healthier fare (Associated
Press, April 30, 2005) |
| From ERS |
The
Demand for Food Away from Home: Full-Service
or Fast Food? Recent trends indicate greater
growth for full-service restaurants than for
fast-food establishments. Some fast food outlets
are now offering more of the variety and heightened
amenities typically associated with full-service
restaurants. |
|
In the news |
Farmers tally benefits
of biotech plantings (Omaha World-Herald,
April 21, 2005) |
| From ERS |
Size
and Distribution of Market Benefits From Adopting
Biotech Crops. ERS estimated the size and
distribution of benefits from adopting Bacillus
thuringiensis (Bt) cotton, herbicide-tolerant
cotton, and herbicide-tolerant soybeans. Stakeholders
considered are U.S. and foreign farmers and
consumers, and U.S. biotechnology developers
and germplasm suppliers. |
|
In the news |
Consumer attitudes
toward BT corn are varied (Dow Jones, April
20, 2005) |
| From ERS |
Information
Sways Consumer Attitudes Towards Biotech Foods.
ERS and university researchers held experimental
auctions to gauge US consumers’ willingness
to pay for food items with and without biotech
labels. The type and source of information provided
ahead of time influenced their attitudes. |
|
In the news |
New USDA food pyramid
unveiled (Dailies, Wires, April 19-20, 2005) |
| From ERS |
Understanding Economic and Behavioral Influences
on Fruit and Vegetable Choices. Marketers
and nutritionists alike have puzzled over the
reasons for American’s fruit and vegetable
shortfalls. ERS researchers have examined how
economic, social, and behavioral factors influence
consumers’ fruit and vegetable choices. |
|
In the news |
Water problems in
West intensify (Associated Press, April 19,
2005) |
| From ERS |
Western
Irrigated Agriculture: Data Product. Irrigation
is particularly important for agriculture in
the Western United States. The 147 electronic
tables in this data product are grouped into
categories that include farm size and sales,
water sources, irrigation technologies and costs,
and farm participation in public cost-share
projects. |
|
In the news |
New labeling requirements
for seafood take effect (Washington Post,
April 13, 2005) |
| From ERS |
Mandatory
Country-of-Origin Labeling–Will It Benefit
Consumers? Proponents of mandatory country-of-origin
labeling claim it will benefit consumers who
are concerned about food safety, who wish to
support U.S. producers, or who believe U.S.
foods are of higher quality than imports. Others
argue that mandatory labeling will raise costs
and bring few benefits. |
|
In the news |
USDA to hold hearing
on milk order amendments (Reuters, April
11, 2005) |
| From ERS |
Economic
Effects of U.S. Dairy Policy and Alternative
Approaches to Milk Pricing (pdf). Dairy
programs are limited in their ability to change
the long term economic viability of dairy farms.
Technology, changing consumer demand, and changes
in the marketing and processing sectors—while
difficult to measure—are likely to have
more impact. |
|
|
In the news |
Food prices rose
slightly in first-quarter 2005 (Kansas City
Star, April 6, 2005) |
| From ERS |
ERS's
monthly updates to forecasts of the Consumer
Price Index (CPI) for food provide government
and food industry analysts with the most current
information regarding retail food price movements.
In 2005, the CPI for all food is forecast to
increase 2.5 to 3.5 percent. |
|
In the news |
Farmers confront
rising fuel costs (USA Today, April 4, 2005) |
| From ERS |
2005
Farm Income Forecast. In 2005, net farm
income is forecast to be $64.4 billion, which
is the second largest amount on record. While
production expenses derived from petroleum products
are forecast to be higher in 2005, other expense
items such as feed and feeder livestock will
cost less. |
|
In the news |
Animals’ “bugs”
worse than their bite (Washington Post, April
3, 2005) |
| From ERS |
U.S.
2003 and 2004 Livestock and Poultry Trade Influenced
by Animal Disease and Trade Restrictions.
Disease outbreaks and related trade restrictions
have slowed previously expected high growth
in many U.S. animal product exports, with U.S.
beef exports most affected. Most notable diseases
in recent years are bovine spongiform encephalopathy
(BSE) and avian influenza (AI), and Exotic Newcastle
Disease. |
|
