january february 1999 ago 258 2 briefs livestock dairy & poultry broiler prospects shaped by financial crises abroad lower feed costs specialty crops green industry cash receipts growing despite import competition farm structure more farmers contracting to manage risk 8 commodity spotlight cigarette price increase follows tobacco pact thomas capehart jr 11 finance net income decline but remain near 1990 98 average mitch morehart robert mcelroy 15 resources environment conservation on rented farmland a focus us corn production meredith soule abebayehu tegene keith wiebe 18 special article transportation technology eases the journey for perishables going nicole s ballenger william t coyle others published economic research service department of agriculture materials may be reprinted without permission current and back issues are available ers website internet at www econ ag gov epubs pdf agout ao htm access articles autofax dial 202 694 5700 document 00550 00540 contents have been approved world agricultural outlook board summary released december 21 1998 quantity forecasts based supply demand estimates subscriptions 65 per year