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, Technical 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 external economists/subject specialists and one economist 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 Publications catalog.
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 December 31, 2012) |
| Working Title |
Description |
Peer Review Plan |
| Food and Commodity Price Stabilization Policies: A Synthesis |
Economic Research Report |
|
|
Drivers of Global Land Use Change
|
Economic Research Report |
|
|
Making Sense of Recent Cost-of-Foodborne-Illness Estimates
|
Economic Information Bulletin |
|
|
Processing Meat and Poultry for Local Markets: From Convenience to Commitment
|
Economic Research Report |
|
|
Are Farmers Improving Fertilizer Nutrient-Use Efficiency in Corn, Cotton, Winter Wheat and Soybean Plantings?
|
Economic Information Bulletin |
|
|
Growth and Evolution in China's Agricultural Support Policies
|
Economic Research Report |
|
|
Working the Land with 10 Acres: Small Acreage Farming in the U.S.
|
Economic Information Bulletin |
|
|
Non-convergence in Domestic Commodity Futures Markets: Causes, Consequences and Remedies
|
Economic Information Bulletin |
|
|
The Economics of Glyphosate Resistance Management
|
Economic Research Report |
|
|
Recession and Recovery in Rural America
|
Economic Research Report |
|
|
The First Fifteen Years of Adoption of Genetically Engineered Crops in the United States
|
Economic Information Bulletin |
|
|
Assessing the Growth of U.S. Broiler Exports
|
Special Outlook Report |
|
|
Forecasting World Raw Sugar Prices:The Influence of Brazilian Costs of Production and World Surplus/Deficit Measures
|
Special Outlook Report |
|
|
Multi-Program Participation in SNAP and Unemployment Insurance: How Tight are the Strands of the Recessionary Safety Net?
|
Economic Research Report |
|
|
Alternative Dairy Policy Programs: Analysis of Risk Management and Margin Insurance
|
Economic Research Report |
|
|
Production Cost and the Joint Adoption of Precision Technologies
|
Economic Research Report |
|
|
U.S. Wheat Production: Background and Costs of Production
|
Economic Information Bulletin |
|
|
Produce Sourcing and Transportation Cost Effects on Wholesale Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Prices
|
Economic Research Report |
|
|
Association Between Total Diet Cost and Diet Quality is Limited
|
Economic Research Report |
|
|
Food Insecurity in Households with Children in 2010-11: Prevalence, Severity, and Household Characteristics
|
Economic Information Bulletin |
|
|
Nutrition Standards Would Impact Availability of Most Competitive Foods but Have Smaller Revenue Effects for Most School Foodservices
|
Economic Research Report |
|
|
Emerging Energy Industries and Rural Growth
|
Economic Research Report |
|
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:
Daniel Pick
Economic Research Service
355 E Street, SW
Washington, DC 20024-3221
email: dpick@ers.usda.gov
phone: (202) 694-5278
USDA Resources
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