A. Duda & Sons Competition
Now Viewing A. Duda & Sons's competition in: Agriculture Crop Production (primary)
Recent Developments
US Agricultural Exports Rising - US farmers are benefiting from rising global demand for agricultural products and the low value of the US dollar compared to other currencies. US wheat exports rose 121 percent in the first half of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007. Exports of soybeans rose 97 percent; corn, 67 percent; and cotton, 10 percent.
Request to Reduce US Ethanol Requirements Denied - The EPA has denied a request by Texas' governor to reduce federal ethanol requirements for 2008. Farmers may have been negatively impacted if reduced ethanol consumption resulted in lower corn prices. The Texas governor and several industry groups claim that rising US ethanol output is inflating corn prices, hurting livestock and food producers, and boosting grocery bills.
US Farm Income Expected to Increase - US farm income will rise 4 percent in 2008 compared to 2007, according to the USDA. Total US farm income is expected to be $92.3 billion in 2008, well above the $61.1 billion average for the 10-year period ending in 2007. Experts cite rising demand for corn caused by increasing ethanol production, rising global demand for agricultural products, and the weak value of the US dollar as key causes of the expected rise in income.
Competitive Landscape
Demand is driven by federal agricultural policy programs, food consumption trends, and the grain and oilseed export market. The profitability of individual companies depends on maximizing crop yield and minimizing disease risk. Large companies have advantages in highly automated technologies and access to the latest in seed and crop technologies. Small operations can compete effectively by harvesting heirloom, non-genetically modified (GM), or specialty products. The industry is highly labor-intensive: average annual revenue per employee (operator and hired laborers) is $100,000.
Agriculture Crop Production Industry Forecast
from Hoover's/D&B subsidiary First Research
The output of US cotton, grains, tobacco, fruit, vegetables, and other crops is forecast to grow at an annual compounded rate of 5.9 percent between 2007 and 2012.
Agriculture Crops Growth Spikes
First Research forecasts are based on INFORUM forecasts that are licensed from the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc. (IERF) in College Park, MD. INFORUM's "interindustry-macro" approach to modeling the economy captures the links between industries and the aggregate economy.

First Research Opportunity Rating
The First Research Opportunity Rating is First Research's estimate of industry performance vs. industry risk over the next 12 to 24 months.

- Demand: Weak dollar drives export demand
- Economies of scale favor large operators
- Risk: Commodity prices fall
Industries Where A. Duda & Sons Competes
- Agriculture
- Crop Production
- Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Production (primary)
- Animal Production
- Crop Production
- Food
- Real Estate





