Summary of the 1990 Data Users Meetings

Report Forword: This report summarizes discussions at three Data Users Meetings held in May 1990 to discuss USDA economic statistics programs. Also included are written statements which were provided by meeting participants or by individuals who were unable to attend. Listening meetings have been held nearly every year since 1978 by agencies under the Assistant Secretary for Economics. These meetings have identified a number of improvements which have been incorporated into the ongoing reports and research program. The 1990 meetings focused on the NASS price program and ERS economic indicators including farm income and cost of production. The material presented in this report is a summary of the major points presented at each session. No attempt was made to capture verbatim comments. All answers and subsequent discussion based on remarks by a particular speaker are shown by indentations.