kenneth c. clayton associate administrator agricultural marketing service
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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 - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Kenneth C. Clayton
Associate AdministratorAgricultural Marketing ServiceU.S. Department of Agriculture
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
Program areas: primarily by commodity
Employees:
• Full-time federal 2,512• Other than full-time Federal 1,579• State (federally supervised) 3,959
Cooperative agreements 524
Federal offices 145
Statutes administered 50+
Agency Profile
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 ininternational markets
75 percent of AMS workforce
Cash & Carry Programs
AMS Certification Programs
Industry initiated regulatory programs
Marketing ordersResearch & promotion programs
4 percent of AMS workforce
Industry Self-Help Programs
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• Dairy products• Fruits and vegetables
Utilized in user fee grading and market news reporting
• Livestock and meat• Poultry and eggs• Tobacco
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 How Can You Become a Part?Part?
Student PositionsStudent 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
Undergraduates – economist, market reporter, marketing specialist
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 programsRegulatory impact analysisAnalysis in support of agency business operationsJustification for commodity purchasesResearch and analysis on transportation, marketing
chain, etc.
For More Information
Website: http://www.ams.usda.gov
Phone: 202-720-5115