The Food and Rural Economics Division of ERS designed the following series of policy-oriented, timely publications to provide background and analysis for decision makers and others.

While the 1999 drought has had severe financial impacts on agricultural producers in the drought regions, its impact on U.S. agricultural production has been limited. The drought will reduce commodity receipts relative to 1998 by an estimated $1.29 billion. Estimated farm net income losses,...

American farms vary widely in size and other characteristics, but farming is still an industry of family businesses. Ninety-eight percent of farms are family farms, and they account for 82 percent of farm production. Small family farms make up most of the U.S. farm count and hold the majority of...

Several proposals calling for fundamental reform of the Federal income tax system have been put forth, including a report by the co-chairs of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility. The primary elements of reform—eliminating tax preferences, restructuring capital gains and dividend...

By 1985, 300 or fewer dairy cooperatives will market 80 percent of the Nation's milk, 46 percent sold raw and 34 percent bottled or manufactured. About half will be marketed by 15-25 full-service co-ops, one fifth by 50-80 manufacturing co-ops, and one-fourth by small bargaining associations and...

There was little change in the value of U.S. agricultural exports in CY 1991 ••• Agricultural imports for 1991, at $22.7 billion, were the same as in 1990••• U.S. agricultural to major markets totaled $37.6 billion in FY 1991, down from $40.2 billion.

In the 2 years following the January 1980-April 1981 sales suspension, Soviet purchases of U.S. farm goods have remained more than one-third below 1979's record $3 billion in agricultural sales. The worldwide economic recession reduced demand for U.S. agricultural exports during 1982, lowering...

U.S. agricultural exports rose slightly during the first 5 months of FY 1990, climbing 4 percent to $18 billion....More than 18 percent of the value of U.S. agricultural production was exported in FY 1989, up from. 16 percent the previous year and the highest total in 5 years ••• For the...