Federal Dairy Programs:
Insights Into Past Provide Perspective for the Future
T-RCED-90-40: Published: Mar 8, 1990. Publicly Released: Mar 8, 1990.
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GAO discussed federal dairy policy, focusing on: (1) dairy industry changes since the original enactment of federal dairy legislation; (2) federal involvement in the dairy industry; and (3) federal programs' effects on milk supplies. GAO noted that: (1) annual milk production per cow has grown from about 4,500 pounds in 1930 to about 14,200 pounds in 1988, due to advances in technology, better management, and improved breeding; (2) between 1930 and 1988 the average herd size increased from 5 to 46, the cow population declined from 22.2 million to 10.2 million, and the number of dairy farms decreased from about 4.5 million to about 220,000; (3) in 1988 the upper Midwest accounted for 28 percent of U.S. milk production, the Southwest accounted for 14.9 percent, and the Corn Belt accounted for 20 percent; (4) the federal government established programs intended to control the surplus and reduce the amount of milk farmers marketed, but those efforts achieved only temporary success; (5) Congress passed legislation in 1985 which instituted a supply-demand adjuster, but suspended the adjuster in 1988 due to a drought; and (6) federally guaranteed purchases of all production and increased price supports increased milk production, despite accumulating dairy surpluses.
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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