Peer Reviews
The U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has issued guidelines for the peer review of important scientific information before it is disseminated by the Federal Government. OMB published its "Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review" in the Federal Register on January 14, 2005, at 70 FR 2664-2677. 
The Bulletin provides specific requirements for peer reviews of highly influential scientific assessments and influential scientific information that are disseminated by Federal agencies, including posting the agenda and plans for such peer reviews on agency websites.
ERS Agenda for Peer Reviews of Highly Influential Scientific Assessments
At this time, ERS has no agenda of forthcoming highly influential scientific assessments to post on its website in accordance with OMB's Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review.
ERS Agenda for Peer Reviews of Influential Scientific Information
ERS's economists and social scientists conduct research to inform public and private decisionmaking on economic and policy issues involving food, farming, natural resources, and rural development. The agency's research program is aimed at the information needs of USDA, other public policy officials, and the research community. ERS information and analysis is also used by the media, trade associations, public interest groups, and the general public. ERS disseminates economic information and research results through an array of outlets.
ERS has two types of report series that could contain potentially influential scientific information: ERS research reports; and Outlook Special Reports. The peer review process varies for each series. All reports in each series are included in ERS's peer review agenda for potentially influential scientific information.
- ERS research reports-Division management submits ERS research reports, including Economic Briefs, Economic Information Bulletins, Technical Bulletins, and Economic Research Reports, to the ERS Peer Review Council to develop the peer review plan and coordinate the peer review process. Each report submitted to the Peer Review Council is reviewed by a minimum of two external economists/subject specialists and one economist from ERS. In addition, subject specialists from USDA agencies potentially affected by the research provide technical reviews. All reviews are double blind (the reviewers do not know the identity of the report author(s) and the author(s) do not know the names of the reviewers). Review criteria are detailed in request letters sent to each reviewer.
- Outlook Special Reports-Outlook Special Reports deliver time-sensitive information related to the forces shaping commodity markets and trade. These reports provide analysis of commodity market conditions, production, supply, and use, both domestically and internationally. Outlook Special Reports are reviewed by ERS staff, external commodity and market specialists, and subject experts on the World Agricultural Outlook Board.
Cleared manuscripts are posted on the ERS website. For a complete list, see the Publications catalog.
In accordance with OMB's Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review, ERS's Peer Review Agenda for potentially influential scientific information is reported below. The agenda is updated quarterly.
ERS Peer Review Agenda for Potentially Influential Scientific Information
(Under review as of March 31, 2013) |
| Working Title |
Description |
Peer Review Plan |
|
Drivers of Global Land Use Change
|
Economic Research Report |
|
|
Making Sense of Recent Cost-of-Foodborne-Illness Estimates
|
Economic Information Bulletin |
|
|
Are Farmers Improving Fertilizer Nutrient-Use Efficiency in Corn, Cotton, Winter Wheat and Soybean Plantings?
|
Economic Information Bulletin |
|
|
Growth and Evolution in China's Agricultural Support Policies
|
Economic Research Report |
|
|
Working the Land with 10 Acres: Small Acreage Farming in the U.S.
|
Economic Information Bulletin |
|
|
The Economics of Glyphosate Resistance Management
|
Economic Research Report |
|
|
Recession and Recovery in Rural America
|
Economic Research Report |
|
|
Assessing the Growth of U.S. Broiler Exports
|
Special Outlook Report |
|
|
Forecasting World Raw Sugar Prices:The Influence of Brazilian Costs of Production and World Surplus/Deficit Measures
|
Special Outlook Report |
|
|
Alternative Dairy Policy Programs: Analysis of Risk Management and Margin Insurance
|
Economic Research Report |
|
|
Production Cost and the Joint Adoption of Precision Technologies
|
Economic Research Report |
|
|
Produce Sourcing and Transportation Cost Effects on Wholesale Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Prices
|
Economic Research Report |
|
|
Emerging Energy Industries and Rural Growth
|
Economic Research Report |
|
|
Student Acceptance of Nutritious NSLP School Lunches
|
Economic Research Report |
|
|
Pesticide Use in U.S. Agriculture, 1960-2008
|
Economic Information Bulletin |
|
|
Understanding Wheat Futures Prices
|
Economic Research Report |
|
|
Wetlands: Targeting Public Investments for Cost-Effective Conservation
|
Economic Research Report |
|
|
Trends and Developments in U.S. Hog Production 1992 to 2009:Technology, Reorganization and Productivity Growth
|
Economic Research Report |
|
|
Food Security of SNAP Recipients Worsened as the Real Value of SNAP Benefits Declined from 2009 to 2011
|
Economic Research Report |
|
|
SNAP Access at the State and County-Levels: Evidence from Texas SNAP Administrative Records and the American Community Survey
|
Economic Research Report |
|
|
Cross-Price Elasticities of Demand Across 144 Countries
|
Technical Bulletin |
|
See completed peer reviews
Contact
For information on ERS's agenda and plans for peer reviews of highly influential scientific assessments and influential scientific information, contact:
Daniel Pick
Economic Research Service
355 E Street, SW
Washington, DC 20024-3221
email: dpick@ers.usda.gov
phone: (202) 694-5278
USDA Resources
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