Making sense of all those numbers is one thing, but making sure those numbers are correct in the first place is another matter entirely.

The staff of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and their international measurement counterpart, the World Agricultural Outlook Board, are charged with making sure the numbers in the industry are accurate. With so much discussion lately about government's role in the lives of everyday Americans, organizations such as NASS and WAOB have been making an even more concerted effort to make sure those who use their information know it is accurate, unbiased and tamper-proof.

WASHINGTON (B)--The U.S. House July 11 approved a $75 billion fiscal 2001 agriculture spending bill, including approximately $14.38 billion in discretionary spending for such programs as aid to U.S. farmers, international food assistance and export credits, and food and drug safety.

World wheat stocks tally should pressure prices

CHICAGO (B)--Analysts at the Chicago Board of Trade press briefing said that increased world wheat production and larger domestic ending stocks estimates by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in July 12's supply/demand reports should pressure wheat prices.

U.S. farm leader says weak Cuba trade bill is better than no bill

WASHINGTON (B)--U.S. farmers will benefit from a bill that opens up agricultural trade between the United States and Cuba even if that legislation has been severely weakened by alterations that forbid financing and government subsidies, a farm group leader said July 12.

No group was more excited about the positive vote by the House of Representatives for Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with China than the one meeting at the Westin Crown Center, in Kansas City, MO.

That is where the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) was holding a board of directors meeting and International Buyers Conference.

GMO crops survey results listed

A new national survey on genetically modified (GMO) crops has found considerable farmer concern over the issues of segregation and liability.

It also showed overwhelming support for foreign countries having the right to choose between GMO and non-GMO commodities. The survey, commissioned by the American Corn Growers Association (ACGA), was conducted by RMA, Inc, of Sioux Falls, SD. This scientific, randomly selected, statistically valid survey of 500 corn farmers in 15 states has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.47%.

Beef is going to market in greater tonnage than predicted and well ahead of a year ago. But, consumers are eating it up.

That's the mid-year assessment by Scott Brown, livestock analyst with the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) at the University of Missouri.

Schaffer urges approval of emergency grazing waiver

U.S. Rep. Bob Schaffer, R-CO, has urged the secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to approve an emergency grazing waiver for eastern Colorado's drought-stricken counties.