From the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service
January 14, 2013
Agricultural Data
is More Important than Ever
Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist
January 14, 2013
Agricultural Data
is More Important than Ever
Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist
U.S. agriculture has seen tremendous changes and challenges in recent years. Unprecedented new demands for agricultural products have caused significant changes in crop production and have provoked huge impacts on livestock production. Input market shocks, dynamic global markets and drought have all contributed to volatile short term market conditions. The changes and impacts are not merely short term in nature. There are long term structural implications to these changes that will impact what will be produced and where and how it will be produced. These changes have implications, not only for agricultural producers but also for consumers. Food price impacts of changes the last six years are just beginning to be manifest in the consumer marketplace. All of these factors imply that much information will be needed to understand the changes and implications of those changes on the U.S. food and fiber system.
