Agricultural Marketing:
Farmers' Marketing Practices and Programs To Teach Alternative Practices
RCED-88-78BR: Published: Mar 25, 1988. Publicly Released: Mar 25, 1988.
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Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO studied: (1) farmers' use of three advanced marketing techniques, specifically cash-forward contracting, hedging in the futures market, and trading in agricultural options; and (2) educational programs in advanced agricultural marketing techniques.
GAO found that: (1) although producers could use advanced marketing techniques to ensure commodity prices at a future date, they face such risks as lost opportunities if prices rise, added option premium expenses, and potential liability for failure to deliver the contract product quantity; (2) producers participating in government price-support programs had little interest in marketing techniques; (3) futures contracts required standard quantities that some small- and medium-sized farms were capable of producing; (4) studies showed that only 5 to 13 percent of the total producers used futures contracts to market their products, while most producers used cash-forward contracting agreements; and (5) although studies showed the number of producers that could effectively use advanced marketing techniques, they indicated that futures trading provided fewer benefits to smaller producers. GAO also found that: (1) advanced marketing education programs provided practical knowledge to producers and encouraged them to implement that knowledge; (2) between May 1986 and April 1987, 25,000 individuals attended advanced marketing programs, and producers represented 82 percent of those attending; and (3) many of the entities that provided formal education workshops used alternative methods, such as home-study courses, videotapes, and marketing clubs, and provided marketing information through newspapers, radio, television, and other sources.
Sep 16, 2020
Agriculture Spending:
Opportunities Exist for USDA to Identify Successes and Challenges of the Farmers to Families Food Box Program to Inform Future EffortsGAO-20-711R: Published: Sep 16, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 16, 2020.
Sep 14, 2020
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USDA Market Facilitation Program:
Information on Payments for 2019GAO-20-700R: Published: Aug 21, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 14, 2020.
Aug 10, 2020
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National Bio and Agro-defense Facility:
DHS and USDA Are Working to Transfer Ownership and Prepare for Operations, but Critical Steps RemainGAO-20-331: Published: Jul 10, 2020. Publicly Released: Aug 10, 2020.
May 7, 2020
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Food Safety:
FDA and USDA Could Strengthen Existing Efforts to Prepare for Oversight of Cell-Cultured MeatGAO-20-325: Published: Apr 7, 2020. Publicly Released: May 7, 2020.
Apr 13, 2020
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Priority Open Recommendations:
U.S. Department of AgricultureGAO-20-288PR: Published: Apr 6, 2020. Publicly Released: Apr 13, 2020.
Dec 23, 2019
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Nutrition Assistance Programs:
Agencies Could Do More to Help Address the Nutritional Needs of Older AdultsGAO-20-18: Published: Nov 21, 2019. Publicly Released: Dec 23, 2019.
Dec 6, 2019
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Imported Seafood Safety:
Actions Needed to Improve FDA Oversight of Import Alert Removal DecisionsGAO-20-62: Published: Nov 6, 2019. Publicly Released: Dec 6, 2019.
Nov 12, 2019
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Irrigated Agriculture:
Technologies, Practices, and Implications for Water ScarcityGAO-20-128SP: Published: Nov 12, 2019. Publicly Released: Nov 12, 2019.
Oct 28, 2019
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Dairy Cooperatives:
Potential Implications of Consolidation and Investments in Dairy Processing for FarmersGAO-19-695R: Published: Sep 27, 2019. Publicly Released: Oct 28, 2019.
Sep 9, 2019
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Date Labels on Packaged Foods:
USDA and FDA Could Take Additional Steps to Reduce Consumer ConfusionGAO-19-407: Published: Sep 9, 2019. Publicly Released: Sep 9, 2019.
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