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ERS Peer Reviews

The U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has issued guidelines for the peer review of important scientific information before it is disseminated by the Federal Government. OMB published its "Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review" in the Federal Register on January 14, 2005, at 70 FR 2664-2677. The Bulletin provides specific requirements for peer reviews of highly influential scientific assessments and influential scientific information that are disseminated by Federal agencies, including posting the agenda and plans for such peer reviews on agency websites.

ERS Agenda for Peer Reviews of Highly Influential Scientific Assessments

At this time, ERS has no agenda of forthcoming highly influential scientific assessments to post on its website in accordance with OMB's Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review.

ERS Agenda for Peer Reviews of Influential Scientific Information

ERS's economists and social scientists conduct research to inform public and private decisionmaking on economic and policy issues involving food, farming, natural resources, and rural development.  The agency’s research program is aimed at the information needs of USDA, other public policy officials, and the research community. ERS information and analysis is also used by the media, trade associations, public interest groups, and the general public.  ERS disseminates economic information and research results through an array of outlets.

ERS has two types of report series that could contain potentially influential scientific information: ERS research reports; and Outlook Special Reports.  The peer review process varies for each series.  All reports in each series are included in ERS’s peer review agenda for potentially influential scientific information. 

  • ERS research reports—Division management submits ERS research reports, including Economic Briefs, Economic Information Bulletins, and Economic Research Reports, to the ERS Peer Review Council to develop the peer review plan and coordinate the peer review process.  Each report submitted to the Peer Review Council is reviewed by a minimum of two academic economists/subject specialists and two economists from ERS. In addition, subject specialists from USDA agencies potentially affected by the research provide technical reviews. All reviews are double blind (the reviewers do not know the identity of the report author(s) and the author(s) do not know the names of the reviewers). Review criteria are detailed in request letters sent to each reviewer.
  • Outlook Special Reports—Outlook Special Reports deliver time-sensitive information related to the forces shaping commodity markets and trade.  These reports provide analysis of commodity market conditions, production, supply, and use, both domestically and internationally. Outlook Special Reports are reviewed by ERS staff, external commodity and market specialists, and subject experts on the World Agricultural Outlook Board.

Cleared manuscripts are posted on the ERS website. For a complete list, see the ERS Publication Catalog listing.

In accordance with OMB's Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review , ERS’s Peer Review Agenda for potentially influential scientific information is reported below. The agenda is updated quarterly.

ERS Peer Review Agenda for Potentially Influential Scientific Information
(Under review as of June 30, 2011)
Working Title Description Peer Review Plan
Private-Sector Research Investments in Agriculture, Food and Biofuel Economic Research Report
PDF file
Rural Wealth Creation: Concepts, Measures and Strategies Economic Research Report
PDF file
Multi-Enterprising Farmers: On-Farm Diversification, Off-Farm Business Ventures, and Their Importance in the Rural Economy Economic Research Report
PDF file
Baselines in Environmental Programs and Markets Economic Brief
PDF file
Promotional Competition for National Brand and Private Label Food Products Economic Research Report
PDF file
Estimating the Range of Food-Insecure Households in India Economic Research Report
PDF file
Major Uses of Land in the United States, 2007 Economic Information Bulletin
PDF file
Dynamic PEATSim Model: A Documentation and an Application Technical Bulletin
PDF file
Changing Farm Structure and the Distribution of Farm Payments Economic Research Report
PDF file
Indonesia's Modern Food Retail Sector Economic Information Bulletin
PDF file
Rural America at a Glance, 2011 Edition Economic Information Bulletin
PDF file
Policy, Technology, and Efficiency of Brazilian Agriculture, 1985-2006 Economic Research Report
PDF file

U.S. Rice Prices and Global Economic Integration

Outlook Special Report
PDF file

Renewable Identification Numbers Under the Renewable Fuel Standard: Implications for U.S. Corn and Soybean Oil Markets

Outlook Special Report
PDF file

Long Run Growth Prospects for Wheat Production in Afghanistan

Outlook Special Report
PDF file

China's Volatile Pork Industry

Outlook Special Report
PDF file

Where's the (Not) Meat?: Byproducts from Beef and Pork Production

Outlook Special Report
PDF file

Value and Variability in Cattle Products

Outlook Special Report
PDF file

See completed peer reviews


Contact

For information on ERS's agenda and plans for peer reviews of highly influential scientific assessments and influential scientific information, contact:

Elise Golan
Economic Research Service
1800 M Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20036
email: EGolan@ers.usda.gov
phone: (202) 694-5424

USDA Resources

The USDA website provides more information on:

 

For more information, contact: Elise Golan

Web administration: webadmin@ers.usda.gov

Updated date: July 1, 2011