OPPORTUNITIES FOR ECONOMISTS IN THE AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE

OPPORTUNITIES FOR ECONOMISTS IN THE AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE 2007 Joint Annual Meeting between the American Agricultural Economics Association, the Western Agricultural Economics Association, and the Canadian Agricultural Economics Society Kenneth C. Clayton Associate Administrator Agricultural Marketing Service U. S. Department of Agriculture

Agency Profile § Program areas: primarily by commodity § Employees: • Full-time federal • Other than full-time Federal • State (federally supervised) 2, 512 1, 579 3, 959 § Cooperative agreements 524 § Federal offices 145 § Statutes administered 50+

Cash & Carry Programs § Voluntary third-party grading, certification, and process verification services for a fee § Support/protect buyers and sellers in commercial transactions § Basis for product and/or production process marketing claims § USDA seal especially important in international markets § 75 percent of AMS workforce

AMS Certification Programs

Industry Self-Help Programs § Industry initiated regulatory programs §Marketing orders §Research & promotion programs § 4 percent of AMS workforce

Marketing Agreements & Orders § Stabilize market conditions and improve producer income through: • Minimum prices for fluid milk • Quality and quantity requirements • Market development and promotion § AMS marketing orders include: • 11 dairy marketing orders • 34 fruit & vegetable marketing orders

Research & Promotion Programs AMS provides Federal oversight of industry funded self-help programs Research & Promotion Programs include: § Avocado § Cotton § Beef § Dairy § Egg § Mango § Fluid milk § Honey § Mushroom § Popcorn § Peanut § Lamb § Pork § Potato § Soybean § Watermelon § Blueberry

Public Goods Programs § Program beneficiaries broadly based, difficult to individually identify § 15 percent of AMS workforce

Market News § 600+ daily, monthly, and annual Federal/State and international reports § Time-sensitive information § Internet access • 40 million hits per year § Covers all major agricultural products § Helps to equalize agricultural marketing opportunities

Commodity Standards § Describe product quality attributes § Provide a common language of trade for buyers and sellers § 494 U. S. and international standards in effect: • Cotton • Livestock and meat • Dairy products • Poultry and eggs • Fruits and vegetables • Tobacco § Utilized in user fee grading and market news reporting

Transportation Services § Conducts economic studies and analyses on distribution of agricultural products in domestic and international markets § Assists shippers entering the export market § Represents U. S. agricultural interests on transportation issues before industry and governmental regulatory bodies

Wholesale & Farmers Market Development § Assists in feasibility analysis and preliminary design of public wholesale marketing facilities § Provides technical assistance on farmer direct marketing § Operates USDA farmers market § Farmers Market Promotion Program

Commodity Purchases § Removes surplus commodities from markets for distribution through National School Lunch Program and other Federal food and nutrition programs § Purchased over $949 million in FY 2006 § Meat, fruits and vegetables, poultry products, and fish § Emergency and disaster relief purchases

Regulatory Programs § Promotes fair trading practices § 6 percent of AMS workforce

National Organic Program § Develops national standards with the National Organic Standards Board § Enhances marketing opportunities for organically produced foods § Accredits State and private certification agents

Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act § Ensures fair trading in the fresh and frozen fruit and vegetable industry § Issues licenses to companies and individuals that buy, sell, and/or broker commercial quantities of fruits and vegetables in interstate and foreign commerce § Suspends or revokes licenses to firms that violate fair trading practices § Provides a forum for fruit and vegetable firms to resolve contract disputes

Country of Origin Labeling § Provides consumers information on which to base their purchasing decisions § Requires retailers to notify customers of country of origin of covered commodities § Conducts retail surveillance audits § Investigates any consumer complaints received

How Can You Become a Part?

Student Positions § § § 1890 National Scholars Program Student Career Experience Program Presidential Management Fellows Program Career Intern Program Student Temporary Employment Program Summer Intern Program Agricultural Marketing Service

Opportunities for Economists • Employment Ø Undergraduates – economist, market reporter, marketing specialist Ø Graduate students – more limited, but periodic needs • Faculty Development – mini-sabbaticals • Cooperative Research Agreements – quantitative models, supply & demand elasticities, transportation issues, etc. • Analytical and research support for agency programs Ø Regulatory impact analysis Ø Analysis in support of agency business operations Ø Justification for commodity purchases Ø Research and analysis on transportation, marketing chain, etc.

For More Information § Website: http: //www. ams. usda. gov § Phone: 202 -720 -5115