Description: This is
a VOA Special English Agriculture Report.
See text below
Text:
Two thousand ten was a good year for American
farmers. They earned an estimated eighty-two billion
dollars. That is almost one-third more than they
earned in two thousand nine. And it is twenty-six
percent higher than the ten-year average.The numbers
are from the Economic Research Service at the
Department of Agriculture. They represent net farm
income, a measure of profitability of farm
operations. Values for grain and oilseed crops are
up about three percent from two thousand nine. The
value of animal production is up by almost seven
percent.Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack points out
that agriculture is one of the few major areas of
the economy with a trade surplus. A surplus of
forty-one billion dollars is predicted in two
thousand eleven. That would be an increase of almost
eighteen billion dollars from two thousand ten. At
the same time, farm exports are expected to break
the all-time high set in two thousand eight. The
Agriculture Department says exports in two thousand
eleven could top one hundred twenty-six billion
dollars.The largest buyer of agricultural products
is expected to be Canada. But farm exports to China
are predicted to come within five hundred million
dollars of Canadian purchases.Secretary Vilsack says
countries in Southeast Asia and the Middle East are
also buying more from American farmers.Poor growing
conditions overseas played an important part in
higher prices for American crops in two thousand
ten. Charlotte Hebebrand is chief executive of the
International Food and Agricultural Trade Policy
Council in Washington. She says drought conditions
had a big effect over the summer. Wheat prices rose
after Russia halted wheat exports, although Russia
later eased the ban.Wheat used to be America's top
crop, says economist Charlotte Hebebrand. She says:
"Wheat production has actually declined over the
past few years because corn has become the most
popular crop."Corn, or maize, is mostly fed to
animals or made into ethanol fuel and high-fructose
corn syrup. But Ms. Hebebrand says with the recent
increase in wheat prices, American farmers might
plant more wheat again. Corn and wheat are the two
largest crops supported by the government through
subsidy payments. For VOA Special English, I'm Alex
Villarreal.
Hi. I
personally reviewed this video and found it appropriate for
the news section of English Global Group. This
is a Voice of America video which covers an interesting
topic in Special English. I would appreciate some feedback from both
students and teachers about this video. You can comment in
the window below using any of a number of different services
including Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, and Hotmail.
To post a comment:
• Click "Comment using..." in
the window below
• Click your favorite service: Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail
• Login to the service
• Click "Add a comment..."
• Post your comment in the window
Students: Please post a
comment stating what you found interesting about this video. You are
welcome to include links to your English study blogs and any
other materials you think might be useful for learning
English.
Teachers: Please post your
thoughts about this video. You are welcome to include links to
your sites, blogs, and any other materials you think might
be useful for learning English.
Hi. I
personally reviewed this video and found it appropriate for
the news section of English Global Group. This
is a Voice of America video which covers an interesting
topic in Special English. I would appreciate some feedback from both
students and teachers about this video. You can comment in
the window below using any of a number of different services
including Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, and Hotmail.
