Energy Prices and Policies: How Farmers Have Adapted
May 13, 2013
Farmers have adapted to rising energy prices and evolving policies by adjusting their use of energy-based agricultural inputs, altering energy-intensive production practices, and growing more energy-feedstock crops.
The Food Access Research Atlas
May 08, 2013
New online mapping tool measures access to affordable, nutritious food by census tract, using indicators such as distance to grocery stores and vehicle availability, and updates previous estimates of food desert census tracts.
The Role of Conservation Programs in Drought Risk Adaptation
April 30, 2013
Farms in more drought-prone areas are more likely to offer land to the Conservation Reserve Program or participate in other conservation programs. If climate change increases drought risk, farmer interest in these programs will likely grow.
SNAP Participation Leads to Modest Changes in Diet Quality
April 24, 2013
ERS examined survey data to determine if the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) changes the diet quality of program participants, and to compare the diet quality of low-income adult participants and nonparticipants in SNAP.
Economizing on Milk Purchases When Budgets Are Tight
April 16, 2013
By buying lower price products, households can withstand price and income changes without reducing overall fluid milk consumption. Demand for organic milk responds more to swings in income and food prices than does conventional milk demand.
ERS Farm Typology Updated – Small Farm Share Changed
April 04, 2013
ERS updated the farm typology to reflect commodity price inflation and a shift in production toward larger farms. The revised typology (now measuring by gross cash farm income) slightly increases the share of farms classified as small.
Highlights From the 2013 Farm Income Forecast
February 25, 2013
Net farm income for 2013 is forecast at $128.2 billion, up nearly 14 percent from the 2012 revised forecast. This year’s net farm income is expected to be the highest since 1973 after adjusting for inflation.