The Economic Research Service (ERS) is the main source of economic information and research from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). ERS offers accurate, timely, and comprehensive economic analysis on issues related to agriculture, food, natural resources, and rural development. ERS strives to provide public and private decisionmakers the information they need to conduct business, formulate policy, or learn about the farm, rural, and food sectors.

ERS is engaged in a wide range of research activities concerning the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). ERS is the principal USDA agency involved in preparing the Department's Congressionally mandated NAFTA Report. Currently, ERS is preparing comprehensive analyses of the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas and the extent of economic integration in the North American agri-food sector.

This resource contains recent ERS research and analysis on U.S. farm policy and NAFTA-related issues, including:

• ERS presentations for April 2003 PDIC conference,
• NAFTA-related publications,
• NAFTA web-based briefing rooms, and
• 2002 farm bill: side by side comparison and economic analysis.