Swem Government Information - Agriculture/Rural Issues

The Post-Buyout Experience: Peanut and Tobacco Sectors Adapt to Policy Reform

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:59:00 -0500

http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/eib60/ Describes what has happened to peanut and tobacco farming since the federal government phased out marketing quota and price support programs for these crops. Total acreage and prices have remained below pre-buyout levels, but lower prices and increased production effiency have resulted in increased demand, particularly in export markets. From the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture

The Debt Finance Landscape for U.S. Farming and Farm Businesses

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:57:00 -0500

http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/AIS87/AIS87.pdf Reports that farm asset levels have outpaced debts but recent declines in farm income and falling land prices have raised concerns about the financial position of U.S. farms. From the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture

Characteristics, Costs, and Issues for Organic Dairy Farming

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:08:00 -0500

http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/ERR82/ERR82.pdf Examines the structure, costs, and challenges of organic milk production. Compares organic and conventional milk production methods and costs. Concludes that economic forces have made organic operations more like conventional operations and that the future of organic operations may depend on the interpretation of new pasture rules. From the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Does SNAP Decrease Food Insecurity? Untangling the Self-Selection Effect

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:50:00 -0500

http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/ERR85/ Examines household food access for several months prior to initial receipt of federal assistance through Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and for several months after joining the program. Concludes that the SNAP program reduces very low food security by about one-third. From the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Direct Certification in the National School Lunch Program: State Implementation Progress

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:45:00 -0500

http://www.fns.usda.gov/ORA/menu/Published/CNP/FILES/NSLPDirectCertification2009.pdf Reports on the progress made by states and school districts in directly certifying eligibility for free school lunch programs for children from households that receive benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Asssistance Program (formerly known as the Food Stamp Program). Reports that 78% of all school districts directly certified some SNAP participants. From the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Deforestation

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:52:00 -0500

http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/postpn344.pdf Looks at the reasons why deforestation occurs and the impact it has on the environment. Also examines policies that might reduce the pace of deforestation. From the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology.

Eurostat Regional Yearbook 2009

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:55:00 -0500

http://bookshop.europa.eu/eubookshop/download.action?fileName=KSHA09001ENC_003.pdf&eubphfUid=10730627&catalogNbr=KS-HA-09-001-EN-C Provides a narrative and statistical overview of major developments in the European region relating to population, European cities, labor, economics, information technologies, science and technology, education, tourism, and agriculture. From Eurostat

Food Safety: Agencies Need to Address Gaps in Enforcement … to Enhance Safety of Imported Foo

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:33:00 -0500

http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09873.pdf Examines how several federal agencies are trying to assure the safety of imported foods and describes what problems remain to be resolved. From the Government Accountability Office

Opening a Farmers Market on Federal Property: A Guide for Market Operators and Building Managers

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:23:00 -0500

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5079490&acct=wdmgeninfo Reports that more than 4,900 farmers markets are currently in operation, up from fewer than 1800 fifteen years ago. They provide access to locally grown food, revitalize neighborhoods, and enhance social interaction. This guide describes how market operators and building managers can establish and operate farmers markets on federal property which is often located in central business districts. From the Department of Agriculture and the General Services Administration.

Foreign Holdings of U.S. Agricultural Land Through February 29, 2008

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:50:00 -0500

http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/02_29_2008_foreign_holdings.pdf Reports that foreign persons owned an interest in nearly 21 million acres of U.S. agricultural land or about 1.6% of all privately held agricultural land in the U.S. Also shows trends in foreign holdings of agricultural land. From the Department of Agriculture.

Marketing U.S. Organic Foods: Recent Trends from Farms to Consumers

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 09:42:00 -0500

http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/EIB58/EIB58.pdf Reports that organic foods accounted for $21 billion in retail sales in 2008, compared to $3.6 billion in 1997. Describes developments in the organic food delivery chain as a whole and component categories. From the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Agricultural Land Tenure and Carbon Offsets

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:26:00 -0500

http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/EB14/EB14.pdf Examines the potential role that land ownership might play in determining the agricultural sector's involvement in carbon sequestration programs. From the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture

The Economics of Agricultural and Wildlife Smuggling

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:21:00 -0500

http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/ERR81/ERR81.pdf Reports that agricultural and wildlife smuggling primarily include luxury goods, ethnic foods, and specialty goods, such as traditional medicines. Most smuggled agricultural goods originate in Mexico and China. From the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture

Rural America at a Glance: 2009 Edition

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:25:00 -0500

http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/EIB59/#2009-9-4 Describes the effects of the economic recession on rural America with emphasis on the fall of commodity prices, the rise of unemployment, trends in rural poverty rates, and the housing foreclosures. From the Economic Research Service.

State Fact Sheets: Virginia

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 09:21:00 -0500

http://www.ers.usda.gov/StateFacts/VA.htm Updated information on a variety of topics related to Virginia agriculture including farm characteristics, farm financial indicators, and top commodities and commodity exports. From the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.