Showing papers in "Agricultural Information Bulletins in 1996"
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TL;DR: The Agricultural Market Transition Act (AMT) as discussed by the authors is the first agricultural market transition act to guide agricultural programs from 1996-2000. Signed into law in April, the act makes significant changes in long-standing U.S. agricultural policies.
Abstract: This report provides an item-by-item description and explanation of the new Act, which will guide agricultural programs from 1996-2000. Signed into law in April, the act makes significant changes in long-standing U.S. agricultural policies. Major changes in U.S. commodity programs are included in the Act's Title I, known as the Agricultural Market Transition Act.
57 citations
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss changes in methods of vertical coordination in the food supply system and raise important policy issues, such as the allocation of resources across successive stages of a food supply chain.
Abstract: Vertical coordination refers to the allocation of resources across successive stages of a food supply system. Methods of coordination include open production, contract production, and vertical integration. With changes in consumer preferences for food products over the past several decades, open-market exchanges have given way to contract production and vertical integration. These developments may continue in the future as consumers demand specific product attributes and technological advances enable added control over farm product attributes and flows. Changes in methods of vertical coordination raise important policy issues.
38 citations
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TL;DR: In the last two decades, China's grain trade has expanded dramatically, both as a buyer and a seller as mentioned in this paper, and China's demand for grain is likely to outpace domestic supplies in the next 10 years, according to ERS projections.
Abstract: China's demand for grain is likely to outpace domestic supplies in the next 10 years, according to ERS projections. By the year 2005, China will become a net importer of 32 million metric tons of grain annually. In the last two decades, China's grain trade has expanded dramatically, both as a buyer and a seller. Both China and the United States are major grain producers. How the grain trade between the two nations develops will be important to both agricultural economies. It is doubtful that China's farmers will be able to produce enough grain to keep pace with population gains and increased demand for feed grains to produce meat, eggs, and milk products for consumers.
31 citations
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TL;DR: The Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996, a milestone in U.S. agricultural policy, provides new farm sector law for 1996-2002, fundamentally redesigning income support programs and discontinuing supply management programs for producers of many commodities as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: The Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996, a milestone in U.S. agricultural policy, provides new farm sector law for 1996-2002, fundamentally redesigning income support programs and discontinuing supply management programs for producers of many commodities. This bulletin provides a general overview of major changes related to production agriculture resulting from the commodity provisions, agricultural trade provisions, and conservation provisions of the Act.
19 citations
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5 citations
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors argue that 93 percent of rural banking markets are still classified as noncompetitive despite past Federal action and that regulatory reforms affecting commercial banks and GSE's may be justified.
Abstract: Federal actions could improve efficiency and competition in the market for farm loans by lowering barriers to market entry and reducing market segmentation. Such actions might include changes to existing charters of Government-sponsored enterprises (GSE's), regulatory reforms affecting commercial banks and GSE's, and continued antitrust vigilance. Federal action may be justified because 93 percent of rural banking markets are still classified as noncompetitive despite past Federal action. Previous action improved efficiency by integrating isolated rural credit markets with national money markets and by promoting market innovation.
5 citations
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TL;DR: The number of new food processing plants rose sharply in 1995 and profitability from food manufacturing and retailing operations continued to increase, reflecting strong sales, wage and producer price stability, and streamlining of operations as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The number of new food processing plants rose sharply in 1995. Profitability from food manufacturing and retailing operations (excluding interest expense) continued to increase, reflecting strong sales, wage and producer price stability, and streamlining of operations. The number of mergers and leveraged buyouts fell. New product introductions, consumer advertising expenditures, common stock prices and the positive U.S. balance of trade in processed food reached new highs. This report analyzes and assesses yearly developments in growth, conduct, performance, and structure of the institutions--food processors, wholesalers, retailers, and foodservice firms--that comprise the Nation's food marketing system. Industry growth includes changes in sales for each of the four sectors, product mix, and external economic factors affecting the food system. Conduct measures firms' competitive behavior, which includes such price and nonprice competition as advertising, promotion, new product introduction, new store formats, price discounting, and menu variety. Performance includes profitability, capital expansion, foreign trade and investment, research and development, capacity use, equity market changes, and productivity. Structure developments include mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and leveraged buyouts, and changes in the number of companies and establishments.
4 citations
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TL;DR: Farmer bankruptcies often are viewed as an important measure of rural economic well-being and of the success or failure of various Federal agricultural and rural policies as mentioned in this paper. But the level of farmer bankruptcies is not a good indicator of rural financial health.
Abstract: Farmer bankruptcies often are viewed as an important measure of rural economic well-being and of the success or failure of various Federal agricultural and rural policies. But the level of farmer bankruptcies is not a good indicator of rural financial health. Bankruptcies are only a subset of all farm business exits and a lagging indicator of economic stress. They do not reflect overall economic conditions in most rural areas because farming is a relatively small part of rural economic activity.
3 citations
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors suggest that future Federal policy may need to go beyond traditional credit programs and encourage equity investments or provide tax advantages to landowners who sell or rent their land to beginning farmers.
Abstract: Government programs to assist beginning farmers enjoy strong political support. Current Federal programs use credit enhancements to help beginning farmers purchase commercial farms; but higher debt loads increase financial risk. Future Federal policy may need to go beyond traditional credit programs and encourage equity investments or provide tax advantages to landowners who sell or rent their land to beginning farmers.
1 citations