ERS is responsible for estimating costs of production. It is 1. 



also responsible for developing and using appropriate 

 concepts to measure costs of production. One can use 

 alternative procedures and concepts as well as alternative 

 methods of gathering data. ERS depends on the 2. 



cooperation of land-grant universities, commodity 

 organizations, general farm organizations, and farmers to 

 reach agreement on these concepts and procedures and 

 insure an understanding of the COP program. 3. 



The current COP program goes beyond the scope of the 4. 



former mandate in the following ways: 



ERS provides costs for many more crop and livestock 

 commodities than those specifically listed in the 

 legislation. 



ERS provides regional cost estimates for all 

 commodities included in the program and provides 

 costs by enterprise size for some commodities. 



ERS estimates more detailed individual cost items. 



ERS maintains numerous crop and livestock 

 enterprise budgets by State and region. 



