IMPLICATIONS OF THE 2002 U.S. FARM ACT FOR WORLD AGRICULTURE

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the implications of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act (FSRIA) of 2002 for U.S. agriculture and its subsequent impact on world agricultural prices and world trade. In order to effectively illustrate the implications of the 2002 Act it is important to consider it in the context of the changes already made in previous farm acts. As the paper develops, many of the changes in U.S. cropping patterns were already captured by the policy changes occurring under the 1996 Federal Agricultural Improvement and Reform (FAIR) Act. The estimated impact of the 2002 Act on commodity production is minimal and, therefore, estimated price changes are relatively small. In the conclusions is a discussion on how trends in U.S. farm policy tend to reflect international agricultural policy, an important observation as World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations are anticipated. Policy changes in the 2002 Act are discussed in detail followed by a description of how the policy instruments are incorporated in the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute's (FAPRI) U.S. crops model. Implications of the policy changes for the 2002 Act are discussed relative to a continuation of the FAIR Act. A brief review of the possible implications for longer-term trade, production, consumption, and prices are also included. Finally, some observations are included that trace the evolution of U.S. farm programs, especially the trend toward designs in the European Union.Agricultural and Food Policy,

Mississippi River Research Conclusions Executive Summary

Briefing paper requested by Senator Bond detailing the conclusions from the Mississippi River research to date.Agricultural and Food Policy, Environmental Economics and Policy,

Implications of the GATT Agreement for Iowa

What is the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)? The GATT may be best described as an ongoing process through which trade distortions among countries are defined and targeted for reduction. There have been seven previous GATT agreements over the years. The most recent GATT agreement represents the eighth round of trade negotiations and is often called the Uruguay Round in reference to Punta del Este, Uruguay, where the agenda was set in 1986. The Uruguay Round of trade negotiations was the first to focus directly on trade distortions in agriculture. Agricultural trade distortions were chosen primarily because of increasing budgetary constraints for agricultural programs around the world. An agreement from the Uruguay Round was finally reached in December 1993, after seven years of negotiations that involved 117 nations. Even though an agreement was reached, the U.S. Congress still has to approve the agreement for it to become U.S. law. With the agreement slated to take effect on July 1, 1995, the lawmakers will have to move rather quickly to pass implementing legislation if the GATT agreement is to be approved in its present form. It does not appear that GATT implementing legislation will be passed this fall. If GATT is not approved by Congress in the spring of 195, many of the agreements will have to be renegotiated

Implications of the 2002 U.S. Farm Act for World Agriculture

This paper discusses the implications of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 for U.S. agriculture and its subsequent impact on world agricultural prices and world trade

Testimony on the Value of the Mississippi River for U.S. Agriculture: Presented to the Mississippi River Caucus Washington D.C.

Presented to the Mississippi River Caucus Washington D.C.The Mississippi River is the most critical artery of the inland waterway system, supporting between 50 and 60 percent of total U.S. corn exports and 30 to 45 percent of total U.S. soybean exports. In calendar year 2002, 1.1 billion bushels of corn, 389 million bushels of soybeans, and 32 million bushels of wheat were transported to the Gulf via the Mississippi River

Trend Yield Analysis and Yield Growth Assumptions

Discusses the formulation of assumptions pertaining to yield growth in the crop sector used in developing market projections

The Iowa Baseline

Each year the FAPRl analysts conduct a baseline projection for U.S. and international agriculture. This baseline is unlike the traditional forecast in that i.t does not necessarily represent the most likely scenario for future events

Implications of Extending the Consertation Reserve Program for Iowa

A variety of alternatives have recently been proposed for the future of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) program. Among the proposals are: elimination of the program, targeting specific land types for reentry into the program, allowing renewal of all contracts, and redefining the program to bid land in for a one lime permanent easement payment

Implications of the GATT Agreement for Iowa Agriculture

The FAPRI analysis indicates that nearly all U.S. agricultural commodities benefit under GATT, although some commodities experience larger impacts than others. CARD extended the FAPRI analysis to commodities important to Iowa, such as com, soybeans, and pork and found that all are significant winners under the Uruguay Round Agreement

The Conservation Reserve Program

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) was originally created in the 1985 Food Security Act to assist owners and operators of highly erodible cropland in conserving and improving the soil and water resources of their farms or ranches