ERS To Strengthen and
Extend its Market Analysis
and Outlook Program
New FY 2008 funding will provide the Economic Research Service with the resources needed
to strengthen and expand its Outlook Program and thereby provide the world-class analysis
necessary for 21st century agriculture.
Agricultural commodity markets are changing rapidly as a result of globalization, consumer
demand for an ever greater variety of food products, and rapid growth in bioenergy. The
uncertainty resulting from these developments, along with likely changes in both domestic
farm programs and trade policy, means that policymakers, farmers, and other market partici-
pants have a greater need than ever for objective information and analysis for a broad array
of agricultural markets—the kind of information and analysis at which ERS excels.
With additional funding in FY 2008, ERS will be able to satisfy those expanded information
needs by extending and strengthening its Market Analysis and Outlook Program.
For 85 years, ERS and its predecessors have provided objective agricultural market analysis
and outlook for federal policymakers and the public. For the past 15 years, the agency has
achieved technological efficiencies to offset declining staffing levels. With the increased fund-
ing proposed for FY 2008, ERS will hire the staff needed to provide broader scope in current
topics as well as to expand coverage of critical emerging issues.
This broader scope and expanded coverage in the ERS Market Analysis and Outlook
Program will help public and private sector decision makers deal with increasingly
dynamic and uncertain agricultural product markets.
ERS will deepen coverage in critical areas including animal products, field crops, and special-
ty crops. The 2008 funding proposed in the President’s budget would enable ERS to extend
its market analysis and outlook activities to rapidly growing and developing markets:
• South America, Southeast Asia, and Africa;
• ethanol and biodiesel co-products;
• organic product markets, includin