Agricultural Outlook Forum '98 Proceedings (75th). Held in Arlington, VA. on211 February 22-23, 1999

摘要

In 1923, the U.S. Department of Agriculture first invited farm economists to211u001eWashington to discuss prospects for the coming year and provide farmers with 211u001ehelpful planning information. Three-quarters of a century later, despite the 211u001eomnipresence of agricultural information and the ease of accessing it 211u001eelectronically, USDA's Outlook Forum tradition remains a vital one. On February 211u001e22 and 23, 1999, more than 1,l00 people took part in Agricultural Outlook 1999, 211u001emaking it the best-attended Forum in recent years. The proceedings include most 211u001eof the presentations made at the Forum. Speakers included government, industry, 211u001eand academic experts, and a number of farmers who provided an invaluable first-211u001ehand perspective. Two themes emerged among the many topics covered during the 211u001emeeting. One was concern with the immediate agricultural outlook in light of low 211u001efarm prices, and prospects for recovery. The other was the actions producers have 211u001etaken to manage risk and to capture a larger share of value by marketing what 211u001ethey produce. Topics of current interest discussed this year included agriculture 211u001ein China and Latin America, forthcoming trade negotiations, the potential of 211u001eprecision farming and biotechnology, the impact of nutrition guidelines and 211u001enutrition programs, farmland preservation, and the new Census of Agriculture.