Exploring the market for agricultural economics information: views of private sector analysts

This survey of 100 economic analysts in agriculture, outside of government and academia, assesses the changing public-private balance in information services in agriculture. Its objectives were to (1) contact frontline private sector analysts who handle economic issues in agriculture and ask them about the data and information they most value and why; (2) experiment with measurement instruments to segment and describe information attributes that users value; and (3) assess the interest of front line analysts in the changing public-private balance in information provision. The results provide a list of information services used by analysts, descriptive responses on attributes that contribute to value added, and statistical analysis relating respondent characteristics to the use of information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Respondents use a wide spectrum of information services. USDA was the single source of agricultural economics information mentioned most often. Education of the respondent is positively associated with the probability of using USDA information services, and experience is negatively associated with the use of USDA information services.