APACAgricultural Policy Analysis Center - Weekly Column

updated 11/11/2022


Policy Pennings Weekly Agricultural Policy Column

Originally published in MidAmerica Farmer Grower 
Reproduction Permission Granted with:

1) Full attribution to Daryll E. Ray and Harwood D. Schaffer, Agricultural Policy Analysis Center, Knoxville, TN;

2) An email sent to hdschaffer@utk.edu indicating how often you intend on running the column and your total circulation. Also, please send one copy of the first issue with the column in it to Harwood Schaffer, Agricultural Policy Analysis Center, 1708 Capistrano Dr., Knoxville, TN 37922.

  • HTML
  • PDF
  • Word

December 2020

  1. To be prepared for future pandemics and devastating livestock diseases requires highly-funded,
    long-term research
  2. December 18, 2020 #1058
  3. 2020 jump in net farm income is driven by an unsustainable level of government payments
  4. December 11, 2020 #1057
  5. Strengthening anti-trust laws is important but falls short of solving long-term farm problems
  6. December 4, 2020 #1056

November 2020

  1. Farm organizations are part of an alliance to consider climate solutions
  2. November 27, 2020 #1055
  3. Profitable opportunities for agriculture to reduce carbon emissions
  4. November 20, 2020 #1054
  5. The sole focus of anti-trust legislation is on the effect of concentration on consumer prices;
    equally important effects are ignored
  6. November 13, 2020 #1053
  7. Long-term lesson of COVID-19: Preparation for potentially lethal pathogens requires a continuing,
    robust and well-funded research and monitoring system
  8. November 6, 2020 #1052

October 2020

  1. COOL information can now be provided with little additional cost
  2. October 30, 2020 #1051
  3. Distribution of wealth
  4. October 23, 2020 #1050
  5. Coordination of agricultural policy
  6. October 16, 2020 #1049
  7. Price extremes and market distortions
  8. October 9, 2020 #1048
  9. Role of crop exports and international trade agreements in general
  10. October 2, 2020 #1047

September 2020

  1. US major-crop export competitors have greatly upped their production capacity
  2. September 25, 2020 #1046
  3. Over one third of 2020 net farm income is expected to be government payments
  4. September 18, 2020 #1045
  5. Arguments against supply management: An evaluation
  6. September 11, 2020 #1044
  7. Welcome to the age of increased variability
  8. September 4, 2020 #1043

August 2020

  1. Price floor? There is no price floor.
  2. August 28, 2020 #1042
  3. New corn price era or back to an old one?
  4. August 21, 2020 #1041
  5. The Bruce Gardner Precept
  6. August 14, 2020 #1040
  7. Recovering US share of world crop exports is ag policy’s Zombie idea
  8. August 7, 2020 #1039

July 2020

  1. Feeding the hungry during the COVID-19 crisis
  2. July 31, 2020 #1038
  3. US share of world crop exports trends lower with or without supply management
  4. July 24, 2020 #1037
  5. Agriculture likes to produce, which is great during the good times, but disastrous
    when production exceeds what is needed
  6. July 17, 2020 #1036
  7. Pharmaceutical and food markets are surprisingly similar and yet SO different
  8. July 10, 2020 #1035
  9. With COVID-19 we all really are “in the same boat”
  10. July 3, 2020 #1034

June 2020

  1. There are ways to spend less on prescriptions—we take advantage of them but don’t understand
    how they work
  2. June 26, 2020 #1033
  3. Chicken business: Alleged industry price fixing cause consumers to pay more and growers to receive less
  4. June 19, 2020 #1032
  5. Balancing privacy and need-to-know during the COVID-19 crisis
  6. June 12, 2020 #1031
  7. “Essential workers:” Appreciated now but will today’s recognition be reflected in long-term
    remuneration and policy?
  8. June 5, 2020 #1030

May 2020

  1. Farm groups have a change of heart about change in climate
  2. May 29, 2020 #1029
  3. Next few years could spotlight the gimcrackery of recent farm policy
  4. May 22, 2020 #1028
  5. COVID-19 has created a disconnect between where food is produced and where it is needed
  6. May 15, 2020 #1027
  7. Agriculture’s perfect storm
  8. May 8, 2020 #1026
  9. Essential vs. non-essential goods
  10. May 1, 2020 #1025

April 2020

  1. Concentration in the meat packing industry has advantages and distinct disadvantages
  2. April 24, 2020 #1024
  3. COVID-19 challenges key elements of the food supply chain
  4. April 17, 2020 #1023
  5. 2020 USDA “Prospective Plantings” show typical pattern: Total cropland planted is relatively constant;
    the crop mix is what changes
  6. April 10, 2020 #1022
  7. Grocery stores require complex sanitation practices to help protect customers and
    grocery personnel from COVID-19
  8. April 3, 2020 #1021

March 2020

  1. Agriculture faces financial pounding from multiple sources
  2. March 27, 2020 #1020
  3. Food availability and the coronavirus pandemic
  4. March 20, 2020 #1019
  5. Are the “high” crop-price years we experienced in the last decade the new norm?
  6. March 13, 2020 #1018
  7. Coming up with a viable dairy policy ain’t easy
  8. March 6, 2020 #1017

February 2020

  1. Historical pattern: High prices cause low prices and farm bankruptcies
  2. February 28, 2020 #1016
  3. Rural/urban divide on environmental policies
  4. February 21, 2020 #1015
  5. USDA’s 5-year research plan includes the words “sustainable” and “climate" but with a spin
  6. February 14, 2020 #1014
  7. While agricultural subsidies may seem large, fossil fuel subsidies are gargantuan
  8. February 7, 2020 #1013

January 2020

  1. Yes, the customers are always right (even if they are wrong)
  2. January 31, 2020 #1012
  3. The long journey toward understanding the role of nutrition in human health
  4. January 24, 2020 #1011
  5. Three centuries of agricultural exports: When they’re hot, they’re hot and when they’re not, they’re not
  6. January 17, 2020 #1010
  7. It’s beginning to look a lot like the 1980s?
  8. January 10, 2020 #1009

 

 


* It has come to our attention that Safari 5.1 browsers have compatibility problems with the Adobe Reader plug-in. You can find more information here. *

December 2020

  1. To be prepared for future pandemics and devastating livestock diseases requires highly-funded,
    long-term research
  2. December 18, 2020 #1058
  3. 2020 jump in net farm income is driven by an unsustainable level of government payments
  4. December 11, 2020 #1057
  5. Strengthening anti-trust laws is important but falls short of solving long-term farm problems
  6. December 4, 2020 #1056

November 2020

  1. Farm organizations are part of an alliance to consider climate solutions
  2. November 27, 2020 #1055
  3. Profitable opportunities for agriculture to reduce carbon emissions
  4. November 20, 2020 #1054
  5. The sole focus of anti-trust legislation is on the effect of concentration on consumer prices;
    equally important effects are ignored
  6. November 13, 2020 #1053
  7. Long-term lesson of COVID-19: Preparation for potentially lethal pathogens requires a continuing,
    robust and well-funded research and monitoring system
  8. November 6, 2020 #1052

October 2020

  1. COOL information can now be provided with little additional cost
  2. October 30, 2020 #1051
  3. Distribution of wealth
  4. October 23, 2020 #1050
  5. Coordination of agricultural policy
  6. October 16, 2020 #1049
  7. Price extremes and market distortions
  8. October 9, 2020 #1048
  9. Role of crop exports and international trade agreements in general
  10. October 2, 2020 #1047

September 2020

  1. US major-crop export competitors have greatly upped their production capacity
  2. September 25, 2020 #1046
  3. Over one third of 2020 net farm income is expected to be government payments
  4. September 18, 2020 #1045
  5. Arguments against supply management: An evaluation
  6. September 11, 2020 #1044
  7. Welcome to the age of increased variability
  8. September 4, 2020 #1043

August 2020

  1. Price floor? There is no price floor.
  2. August 28, 2020 #1042
  3. New corn price era or back to an old one?
  4. August 21, 2020 #1041
  5. The Bruce Gardner Precept
  6. August 14, 2020 #1040
  7. Recovering US share of world crop exports is ag policy’s Zombie idea
  8. August 7, 2020 #1039

July 2020

  1. Feeding the hungry during the COVID-19 crisis
  2. July 31, 2020 #1038
  3. US share of world crop exports trends lower with or without supply management
  4. July 24, 2020 #1037
  5. Agriculture likes to produce, which is great during the good times, but disastrous
    when production exceeds what is needed
  6. July 17, 2020 #1036
  7. Pharmaceutical and food markets are surprisingly similar and yet SO different
  8. July 10, 2020 #1035
  9. With COVID-19 we all really are “in the same boat”
  10. July 3, 2020 #1034

June 2020

  1. There are ways to spend less on prescriptions—we take advantage of them but don’t understand
    how they work
  2. June 26, 2020 #1033
  3. Chicken business: Alleged industry price fixing cause consumers to pay more and growers to receive less
  4. June 19, 2020 #1032
  5. Balancing privacy and need-to-know during the COVID-19 crisis
  6. June 12, 2020 #1031
  7. “Essential workers:” Appreciated now but will today’s recognition be reflected in long-term
    remuneration and policy?
  8. June 5, 2020 #1030

May 2020

  1. Farm groups have a change of heart about change in climate
  2. May 29, 2020 #1029
  3. Next few years could spotlight the gimcrackery of recent farm policy
  4. May 22, 2020 #1028
  5. COVID-19 has created a disconnect between where food is produced and where it is needed
  6. May 15, 2020 #1027
  7. Agriculture’s perfect storm
  8. May 8, 2020 #1026
  9. Essential vs. non-essential goods
  10. May 1, 2020 #1025

April 2020

  1. Concentration in the meat packing industry has advantages and distinct disadvantages
  2. April 24, 2020 #1024
  3. COVID-19 challenges key elements of the food supply chain
  4. April 17, 2020 #1023
  5. 2020 USDA “Prospective Plantings” show typical pattern: Total cropland planted is relatively constant;
    the crop mix is what changes
  6. April 10, 2020 #1022
  7. Grocery stores require complex sanitation practices to help protect customers and
    grocery personnel from COVID-19
  8. April 3, 2020 #1021

March 2020

  1. Agriculture faces financial pounding from multiple sources
  2. March 27, 2020 #1020
  3. Food availability and the coronavirus pandemic
  4. March 20, 2020 #1019
  5. Are the “high” crop-price years we experienced in the last decade the new norm?
  6. March 13, 2020 #1018
  7. Coming up with a viable dairy policy ain’t easy
  8. March 6, 2020 #1017

February 2020

  1. Historical pattern: High prices cause low prices and farm bankruptcies
  2. February 28, 2020 #1016
  3. Rural/urban divide on environmental policies
  4. February 21, 2020 #1015
  5. USDA’s 5-year research plan includes the words “sustainable” and “climate" but with a spin
  6. February 14, 2020 #1014
  7. While agricultural subsidies may seem large, fossil fuel subsidies are gargantuan
  8. February 7, 2020 #1013

January 2020

  1. Yes, the customers are always right (even if they are wrong)
  2. January 31, 2020 #1012
  3. The long journey toward understanding the role of nutrition in human health
  4. January 24, 2020 #1011
  5. Three centuries of agricultural exports: When they’re hot, they’re hot and when they’re not, they’re not
  6. January 17, 2020 #1010
  7. It’s beginning to look a lot like the 1980s?
  8. January 10, 2020 #1009

 

 


December 2020

  1. To be prepared for future pandemics and devastating livestock diseases requires highly-funded,
    long-term research
  2. December 18, 2020 #1058
  3. 2020 jump in net farm income is driven by an unsustainable level of government payments
  4. December 11, 2020 #1057
  5. Strengthening anti-trust laws is important but falls short of solving long-term farm problems
  6. December 4, 2020 #1056

November 2020

  1. Farm organizations are part of an alliance to consider climate solutions
  2. November 27, 2020 #1055
  3. Profitable opportunities for agriculture to reduce carbon emissions
  4. November 20, 2020 #1054
  5. The sole focus of anti-trust legislation is on the effect of concentration on consumer prices;
    equally important effects are ignored
  6. November 13, 2020 #1053
  7. Long-term lesson of COVID-19: Preparation for potentially lethal pathogens requires a continuing,
    robust and well-funded research and monitoring system
  8. November 6, 2020 #1052

October 2020

  1. COOL information can now be provided with little additional cost
  2. October 30, 2020 #1051
  3. Distribution of wealth
  4. October 23, 2020 #1050
  5. Coordination of agricultural policy
  6. October 16, 2020 #1049
  7. Price extremes and market distortions
  8. October 9, 2020 #1048
  9. Role of crop exports and international trade agreements in general
  10. October 2, 2020 #1047

September 2020

  1. US major-crop export competitors have greatly upped their production capacity
  2. September 25, 2020 #1046
  3. Over one third of 2020 net farm income is expected to be government payments
  4. September 18, 2020 #1045
  5. Arguments against supply management: An evaluation
  6. September 11, 2020 #1044
  7. Welcome to the age of increased variability
  8. September 4, 2020 #1043

August 2020

  1. Price floor? There is no price floor.
  2. August 28, 2020 #1042
  3. New corn price era or back to an old one?
  4. August 21, 2020 #1041
  5. The Bruce Gardner Precept
  6. August 14, 2020 #1040
  7. Recovering US share of world crop exports is ag policy’s Zombie idea
  8. August 7, 2020 #1039

July 2020

  1. Feeding the hungry during the COVID-19 crisis
  2. July 31, 2020 #1038
  3. US share of world crop exports trends lower with or without supply management
  4. July 24, 2020 #1037
  5. Agriculture likes to produce, which is great during the good times, but disastrous
    when production exceeds what is needed
  6. July 17, 2020 #1036
  7. Pharmaceutical and food markets are surprisingly similar and yet SO different
  8. July 10, 2020 #1035
  9. With COVID-19 we all really are “in the same boat”
  10. July 3, 2020 #1034

June 2020

  1. There are ways to spend less on prescriptions—we take advantage of them but don’t understand
    how they work
  2. June 26, 2020 #1033
  3. Chicken business: Alleged industry price fixing cause consumers to pay more and growers to receive less
  4. June 19, 2020 #1032
  5. Balancing privacy and need-to-know during the COVID-19 crisis
  6. June 12, 2020 #1031
  7. “Essential workers:” Appreciated now but will today’s recognition be reflected in long-term
    remuneration and policy?
  8. June 5, 2020 #1030

May 2020

  1. Farm groups have a change of heart about change in climate
  2. May 29, 2020 #1029
  3. Next few years could spotlight the gimcrackery of recent farm policy
  4. May 22, 2020 #1028
  5. COVID-19 has created a disconnect between where food is produced and where it is needed
  6. May 15, 2020 #1027
  7. Agriculture’s perfect storm
  8. May 8, 2020 #1026
  9. Essential vs. non-essential goods
  10. May 1, 2020 #1025

April 2020

  1. Concentration in the meat packing industry has advantages and distinct disadvantages
  2. April 24, 2020 #1024
  3. COVID-19 challenges key elements of the food supply chain
  4. April 17, 2020 #1023
  5. 2020 USDA “Prospective Plantings” show typical pattern: Total cropland planted is relatively constant;
    the crop mix is what changes
  6. April 10, 2020 #1022
  7. Grocery stores require complex sanitation practices to help protect customers and
    grocery personnel from COVID-19
  8. April 3, 2020 #1021

March 2020

  1. Agriculture faces financial pounding from multiple sources
  2. March 27, 2020 #1020
  3. Food availability and the coronavirus pandemic
  4. March 20, 2020 #1019
  5. Are the “high” crop-price years we experienced in the last decade the new norm?
  6. March 13, 2020 #1018
  7. Coming up with a viable dairy policy ain’t easy
  8. March 6, 2020 #1017

February 2020

  1. Historical pattern: High prices cause low prices and farm bankruptcies
  2. February 28, 2020 #1016
  3. Rural/urban divide on environmental policies
  4. February 21, 2020 #1015
  5. USDA’s 5-year research plan includes the words “sustainable” and “climate" but with a spin
  6. February 14, 2020 #1014
  7. While agricultural subsidies may seem large, fossil fuel subsidies are gargantuan
  8. February 7, 2020 #1013

January 2020

  1. Yes, the customers are always right (even if they are wrong)
  2. January 31, 2020 #1012
  3. The long journey toward understanding the role of nutrition in human health
  4. January 24, 2020 #1011
  5. Three centuries of agricultural exports: When they’re hot, they’re hot and when they’re not, they’re not
  6. January 17, 2020 #1010
  7. It’s beginning to look a lot like the 1980s?
  8. January 10, 2020 #1009