Consumers spent a record amount on food last year. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. New data from USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) shows consumer spending on food reached a record in 2022. Real, or inflation-adjusted, annual food spending in the United States increased steadily from 1997 to 2022, except in 2008 and 2009 during the Great Recession …
Rural Social Connections Draw Healthcare Professionals
The friendly small-town reputation may be drawing healthcare professionals. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The availability of healthcare professionals in rural areas lags that of urban areas, partly because of difficulties in recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals. USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) reports that when choosing rural locations to practice, healthcare professionals most often cite social aspects, …
How Important is the “Natural” Label on Food?
How important is that “natural” label on our groceries? That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. A new report from the USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) says food labeled as “natural” may not be worth its higher cost. The USDA says numerous consumer food choice studies have found that the “natural” label on food is often equated with healthier food choices …
Food Spending Decreased Unevenly Across States in 2020
Trends in food spending across the U.S. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The COVID-19 pandemic in the United States disrupted the food industry in 2020, according to fresh data from USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS). Inflation-adjusted total U.S. food expenditures were 6.6 percent lower in 2020 than in 2019. However, individual states experienced varying degrees of food …
Socially Disadvantaged Farms Concentrated in South and West
Some areas of the nation are more likely than others to have socially disadvantaged farms. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Data from USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) shows socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers tend to be more concentrated in southern and western regions of the country. USDA defines socially disadvantaged farmers as those belonging to groups subject …
Apples and Oranges Top U. S. Fruit Choices
These are the top fruit choices in the United States. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Apples held the top spot for total fruit available for consumption in 2021 at more than 26 pounds per person after adjusting for losses. USDA’s Economic Research Service’s (ERS) loss-adjusted food availability data adjusts the data for food spoilage, plate waste, and …
Economic Research Service: Farm Income Decline Varies by Region
After reaching recent highs in 2021 and 2022, the average net cash income of U.S. farm businesses is expected to decline by 18 percent in 2023 compared with 2022. Farm businesses across the country are forecast to see higher production expenses, lower cash receipts, and lower Government payments in 2023, resulting in lower expected average net cash farm income. However, …
Ag Exports in 2021 Generate Billions in Economic Activity
How much do ag exports contribute to the nation’s economic activity? That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. A new USDA report says exports constitute a significant market for American farm and food products and send ripples of activity through the nation’s economy. The USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) says America’s agricultural exports, valued at $177.3 billion in 2021, …
Farm Sector Real Estate Debt Hits Record High
New data from USDA’s Economic Research Service shows farm sector debt tied to real estate is expected to be at a record high of $375.9 billion in 2023. Farm sector real estate debt has been increasing continuously since 2009 and is expected to reach an amount that is 87.5 percent higher in 2023 compared with 2009 in inflation-adjusted dollars. Real …
Federal Recommendations on Nutrients Differ from Consumer Intake
A look into the nutrients we’re taking in, and how they compare to federal recommendations. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. U.S. consumers’ intakes of several key nutrients differ from Federal recommendations, and those differences are associated with where they obtain food. Researchers from USDA’s Economic Research Service examined diet patterns based on density—amounts of nutrients consumed per …