1、1 Unless noted, sources for this section include USDA, ERS, “Farm Income and Costs: 2008Farm Sector Income Forecast,” August 2008; USDAs World Agricultural Supply and DemandEstimates, September 12, 2008; testimony by USDA Chief Economist Joe Glauber before theSenate Committee on Energy and Natural R
2、esources, June 12, 2008; and “Feed Grains andLivestock: Impacts on Meat Supplies and Prices,” Choices Magazine Online!, 2nd quarter 2008.Order Code RS22908Updated September 17, 2008Livestock Feed Costs: Concerns and OptionsGeoffrey S. BeckerSpecialist in Agricultural PolicyResources, Science, and In
3、dustry DivisionSummaryLivestock producers in 2008 have seen sharply higher feed costs, fueled bycompeting use demands for corn and soybeans and by higher energy prices. Someanalysts argue that current public policies, including financial incentives that divert cornfrom feed uses into ethanol product
4、ion, exacerbated if not caused these higher costs.Other factors, which some believe to be at least as significant, include crop productiondeclines due to weather, and higher global demand for commodities. Proposed optionsaimed at easing the impacts of higher feed costs include changes in ethanol inc
