November 2004
Sun	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Sat
	1	2 Profiles of America	3 Amber Waves, November 2004 Devolution of Farm Programs Could Broaden States' Role ... U.S. Peanut Sector Adapts to Major Policy Changes Farmland Retirement's Impact on Rural Growth Low-Skill Jobs: A Shrinking Share of the Rural Economy Decoupled Payments in a Changing Policy Setting A Consideration of the Devolution of Federal Agricultural ...	4	5 ARMS Update Newsletter Wheat and Barley Policies in Japan	6
7	8	9 Update of Farm Sector and Household Income Forecast for 2004	10	11	12 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates U.S. Agricultural Trade Update	13
14	15 Oil Crops Outlook	16 Feed Outlook Wheat Outlook	17	18 Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook	19 Retail Scanner Prices for Meat	20
21	22 Outlook for U.S. Agricultural Trade Cotton and Wool Yearbook summary	23 Fruit and Tree Nuts Outlook	24 Agricultural Exchange Rate Data Set	25	26	27
28	29	30 Rice Yearbook summary

Filter view All Topics Ag Chemicals & Production Technology Agribusiness/Industry Concentration Agricultural Market/Trade Projections Agricultural R&D; and Productivity Biotechnology Crops Diet, Consumption, & Health Farm Financial & Risk Management Farm Structure, Income, & Performance Farm/Rural Finance & Tax Food & Nutrition Assistance Programs Food Market Structures Food Prices, Spreads & Margins Food Safety International Agriculture Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, Aquaculture Macroeconomics in the Ag & Food Economy Natural Resources, Environment, & Conservation Policy Topics Rural America Trade U.S./State Facts All Product Groups Publications - Magazines - Research Reports - Outlook Reports Data Products Briefing Rooms Events All Products Agricultural Income and Finance Outlook Agricultural Outlook Aquaculture Cotton and Wool Outlook Feed Outlook Floriculture and Nursery Crops Outlook Fruit and Tree Nuts Outlook Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook Oil Crops Outlook Outlook for U.S. Agricultural Trade Rice Outlook Sugar and Sweeteners Outlook Tobacco Outlook U.S. Agricultural Trade Update Vegetables and Specialties/Melons Outlook Wheat Outlook World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates

THIS MONTH AT ERS - [November 1, 2004 - November 30, 2004]
Tuesday, November 2, 2004
Profiles of America Profiles of America: Demographic Data and Graphic Builder, uses interactive tools to create maps, tables, and charts that display information on demographic trends, industrial structure, and the economic well-being of rural and urban communities. The program allows users to analyze rural and urban differences at the national, State, and county levels and provides useful information to community leaders, Federal officials, and researchers.
Wednesday, November 3, 2004
Amber Waves, November 2004 Amber Waves presents the broad scope of ERS's research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the Internet and in print, Amber Waves is issued in print five times a year (February, April, June, September, and November). The Internet edition, or "eZine," includes links to web-only resources.
Wednesday, November 3, 2004
Devolution of Farm Programs Could Broaden States' Role in Ag Policy U.S. farms vary greatly in size, specialty, and household characteristics. U.S. regions differ markedly in natural resource endowments. And States themselves are widely divergent in terms of their preferences as to how funds from agricultural programs should be spent. Given this diversity, can the delivery of agricultural programs be better tailored to distinct State and local circumstances? Devolution, or the transfer to States of Federal funds and/or control of those funds, is one way of adapting national policies to suit local preferences more closely and of recognizing that program delivery costs can vary geographically.
Wednesday, November 3, 2004
U.S. Peanut Sector Adapts to Major Policy Changes U.S. Peanut Sector Adapts to Major Policy Changes_examines the experience of the peanut sector following the 2002 Farm Act's elimination of the marketing quota system, and identifies factors affecting the transition to a more market-oriented system. Although peanut prices and acreage declined following passage of the 2002 Farm Act, it appears that producers are taking advantage of increased planting flexibility to expand production in higher yielding areas, and the transition has been cushioned by rising demand, and additional sources of revenue from government payments and other sources of farm and off-farm income.
Wednesday, November 3, 2004
Farmland Retirement's Impact on Rural Growth The Feature "Farmland Retirement's Impact on Rural Growth" addresses an unintended consequences of high levels of enrollment in the CRP, that of farmland retirement's impact of rural growth. To examine this issue, this article examines the local socioeconomic changes that accompanied CRP enrollment in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and discusses ERS analysis of the potential employment and output changes if all land currently enrolled in the program could be put to other uses, given the current distribution of land, prevailing commodity market conditions, and public policies.
Wednesday, November 3, 2004
Low-Skill Jobs: A Shrinking Share of the Rural Economy In the 1990s, the rural economy slightly outpaced the national decline in low-skill job share, reflecting rural America's participation in an increasingly skill-intensive national economy. The long-term decline in rural low-skill jobs stemmed first from a steep decline in farm employment and more recently from declines in rural manufacturing. Today, most low-skill jobs in rural areas are in the service sector-government, trade, and consumer and business services-rather than in the goods production sector represented by agriculture, mining, construction, and manufacturing.
Wednesday, November 3, 2004
Decoupled Payments in a Changing Policy Setting This report analyzes the U.S. experience with decoupled payments in its Production Flexibility Contracts program 1996-2002. The studies in this report explore aspects of household behavior, as well as analyses of agricultural market conditions that may influence how farmers choose to use decoupled payments.
Wednesday, November 3, 2004
A Consideration of the Devolution of Federal Agricultural Policy Diverse needs and preferences across the United States provide justification for the devolution, or decentralization, of many Federal Government programs to the State or local level. The move toward devolution, however, has not been evidenced in U.S. agricultural policy, despite significant differences across States in such areas as commodity production, production costs, income distribution, and opportunities for off-farm work. The existing structure of USDA funding and program delivery already reflects an appreciation of the gains from devolution, with some programs accommodating differences in State and regional preferences. This report considers the implications of devolving $22 billion in 2003 budget outlays, mostly for domestic commodity and natural resource programs and rural development and housing programs.
Wednesday, November 3, 2004
Contracts, Markets, and Prices: Organizing the Production and Use of Agricultural Commodities Production and marketing contracts govern 36 percent of the value of U.S. agricultural production, up from 12 percent in 1969. Contracts are now the primary method of handling sales of many livestock commodities, including milk, hogs, and broilers, and of major crops such as sugar beets, fruit, and processing tomatoes. Use of contracts is closely related to farm size; farms with $1 million or more in sales have nearly half their production under contract. For producers, contracting can reduce income risks of price and production variability, ensure market access, and provide higher returns for providing differentiated farm products. For processors and other buyers, vertical coordination through contracting is a way to ensure the flow of products and to obtain differentiated products, ensure traceability for health concerns, and guarantee certain methods of production. The traditional spot market—though it still governs nearly 60 percent of the value of agricultural production—has difficulty providing accurate price signals for products geared to new consumer demands, like produce raised and certified as organic or for identity-preserved crops modified for special attributes. We are likely to see a continuing shift to more explicit forms of vertical coordination, through contracts and processor ownership, as a means to ensure more consistent product quantity and quality.
Wednesday, November 3, 2004
Agricultural Outlook Statistical Indicators Statistical Indicators previously published in Agricultural Outlook addressing a broad spectrum of agriculture-related issues. Includes commodity and food prices, general economic indicators, government program expenditures, farm income estimates, and trade and export statistics.
Friday, November 5, 2004
ARMS Update Newsletter Welcome to the ARMS Update newsletter, a part of ERS' commitment to improve knowledge of the Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) process and access to the aggregate data products. For information about the ARMS process, status, schedule, and data availability, get the latest issue of the newsletter online. More, faster, and easier access to a wealth of data on farming practices, the economics of the farm business, the structure of American farming, and the characteristics of the American farm household--from your PC!
Friday, November 5, 2004
Wheat and Barley Policies in Japan [Release Schedule] This report provides a detailed description and analysis of policies used by Japan to support its wheat and barley producers. Domestic policies include direct payments for production, subsidies to plant wheat and barley on diverted rice paddies, subsidized hazard insurance, and subsidies to increase farm size. At the border, a tariff-rate-quota is administered by a government state-trading enterprise, which applies markups to imported wheat prices when it sells the wheat inside Japan. The proceeds are used to fund the direct payments made to Japan's farmers. If Japan's policies were liberalized, production in Japan would fall, but consumers and taxpayers in Japan would reap large gains.
Tuesday, November 9, 2004 (Scheduled for release)
Update of Farm Sector and Household Income Forecast for 2004 The 2004 forecast of income earned within the farm sector of the U.S. economy, by farm businesses and by households of farm operators, are updated to reflect production activities that have taken place within the farm sector, including acreage planted, production outcome, livestock produced, and prices paid for inputs purchased, as well as circumstances in the nonfarm economy such as changes in employment, wages, or interest rates.
Friday, November 12, 2004 (Scheduled for release)
World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates [Release Schedule] Issued monthly, WASDE provides the most current USDA forecasts of U.S. and world supply-use balances for major grains, soybeans and products, and cotton, and U.S. supply and use data for sugar and livestock products. Released at 8:30 a.m. ET. There is no charge for the electronic version.
Friday, November 12, 2004 (Scheduled for release)
U.S. Agricultural Trade Update [Release Schedule] Announces USDA's monthly release of year-to-date quantity and value of U.S. farm exports and imports. Released at 4 p.m. ET. Subscribe to the free electronic version to receive timely notification of newsletter availability. Printed copies can be purchased from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) by calling 1-800-999-6779 (specify SUB-FAT-4030). Users who subscribe to this monthly newsletter will also receive articles on timely topics via e-mail notification (ERS subscribers) or by mail (for NTIS subscribers).
Monday, November 15, 2004 (Scheduled for release)
Oil Crops Outlook [Release Schedule] Examines supply, use, prices, and trade for oil crops (primarily soybeans and products), including supply and demand prospects in major importing and exporting countries. Includes information on cottonseed, peanuts, sunflowerseed, tropical oils, corn oil, and animal fats. Timely version released at 4:00 p.m. ET. Final full pdf available no later than 4 business days after the day of initial release. Subscribe to the free electronic version to receive notification of newsletter availability. Users who subscribe to this newsletter will also receive articles on timely topics via e-mail notification.
Tuesday, November 16, 2004 (Scheduled for release)
Feed Outlook [Release Schedule] Examines supply, use, prices, and trade for feed grains, including supply and demand prospects in major importing and exporting countries. Focuses on corn; also contains information on sorghum, barley, oats, and hay. Timely version released at 9:00 a.m. ET. Final full pdf available no later than 4 business days after the day of initial release. Subscribe to the free electronic version to receive notification of newsletter availability. Users who subscribe to this newsletter will also receive articles on timely topics via e-mail notification.
Tuesday, November 16, 2004 (Scheduled for release)
Wheat Outlook [Release Schedule] Examines supply, use, prices, and trade for wheat, including supply and demand prospects in major importing and exporting countries. Contains data and information on U.S. wheat by class. Timely version released at 9:00 a.m. ET. Final full pdf available no later than 4 business days after the day of initial release. Subscribe to the free electronic version to receive notification of newsletter availability. Users who subscribe will also receive articles on timely topics via e-mail notification.
Thursday, November 18, 2004 (Scheduled for release)
Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook [Release Schedule] Timely livestock, dairy, and poultry information, focusing on current production, price, and trade statistics for each of the sectors. Timely version released at 9:00 a.m. ET. Final full pdf available later in the month after release of key livestock and animal product data. Subscribe to the free electronic version to receive timely notification of newsletter availability. Printed copies can be purchased from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) by calling 1-800-999-6779 (specify SUB-LDPM-4042). Users who subscribe to this monthly newsletter will also receive articles on timely topics via e-mail notification (ERS subscribers) or by mail (for NTIS subscribers).
Friday, November 19, 2004 (Scheduled for release)
Retail Scanner Prices for Meat Average monthly weighted retail price data for selected cuts of red meat and poultry based on electronic supermarket scanner data. While not based on a random sample, the raw data underlying the database are from supermarkets across the United States that account for approximately 20 percent of U.S. supermarket sales. This data set supplements similar data supplied by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Currently, BLS data are used to derive ERS published price spreads from farm to retail.
Monday, November 22, 2004 (Scheduled for release)
Outlook for U.S. Agricultural Trade [Release Schedule] Offers the latest forecast of value and volume of U.S. farm exports, by commodity and region, as well as the agricultural trade balance for the coming year. Keeps readers abreast of how U.S. agricultural trade stacks up in a global market. Released at 4 p.m. ET. Subscribe to the free electronic version to receive timely notification of newsletter availability. Printed copies can be purchased from the National Technical Information Service by calling 1-800-999-6779 (specify SUB-AES-4035).
Monday, November 22, 2004 (Scheduled for release)
Cotton and Wool Yearbook summary [Release Schedule] Summary release. Examines world and U.S. production, consumption, trade, stocks, and prices for cotton, wool, other fibers, and textiles. Summary release at 4 p.m. ET. The full report, available in several weeks, examines world and U.S. production, consumption, trade, stocks, and prices for cotton, wool, other fibers, and textiles.
Tuesday, November 23, 2004 (Scheduled for release)
Fruit and Tree Nuts Outlook [Release Schedule] Provides current intelligence and forecasts the effects of changing conditions in the U.S. fruit and tree nuts sector. Topics include production, consumption, shipments, prices received, and more. Released at 4 p.m. ET. Subscribe to the free electronic version to receive timely notification of newsletter (and yearbook) availability. Printed copies of the newsletter (together with the yearbook) can be purchased from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) by calling 1-800-999-6779 (specify SUB-FTS-4036). Users who subscribe to this every-other-month newsletter will also receive articles on timely topics via e-mail notification (ERS subscribers) or by mail (for NTIS subscribers).
Wednesday, November 24, 2004 (Scheduled for release)
Agricultural Exchange Rate Data Set Contains annual and monthly data for exchange rates important to U.S. agriculture. Includes both nominal and real exchange rates for 80 countries (plus the European Union), as well as real trade-weighted exchange rate indexes for many commodities and aggregations.
Tuesday, November 30, 2004 (Scheduled for release)
Rice Yearbook summary [Release Schedule] Summary release. Examines world and U.S. production, consumption, trade, stocks, and prices for rice. Summary release at 4 p.m. ET. The full report, available in several weeks, examines world and U.S. production, consumption, trade, stocks, and prices for rice.
25 releases of 25 products this month on 13 different days.

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Ag Chemicals & Production Technology Agribusiness/Industry Concentration Agricultural Market/Trade Projections Agricultural R&D and Productivity Biotechnology Crops Diet, Consumption, & Health Farm Financial & Risk Management Farm Structure, Income, & Performance Farm/Rural Finance & Tax Food & Nutrition Assistance Programs Food Market Structures Food Prices, Spreads & Margins Food Safety International Agriculture Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, Aquaculture Macroeconomics in the Ag & Food Economy Natural Resources, Environment, & Conservation Policy Topics Rural America Trade U.S./State Facts What's New State Facts Calendar of Releases E-Mail Updates Subject Specialists Archive