Farm Share of U.S. Food Dollar Reached Historic Low in 2021

Dan Agri-Business, Economy, USDA-ERS

U.S. farm establishments received 14.5 cents per dollar spent on domestically produced food in 2021—a decrease of 1.0 cent from a revised 15.5 cents in 2020. The figure is the lowest recorded farm share value in nearly three decades, according to USDA’s Economic Research Service. The remaining portion of the food dollar—known as the marketing share—covers the costs of getting …

Disability Status Can Affect Food Security Among U.S. Households

Dan This Land of Ours, USDA-ERS

What households have a higher rate of food insecurity? That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. In 2021, households that included an adult with disabilities reported higher food insecurity rates than households with no adults with disabilities. USDA’s Economic Research Service reports that in 2021, for U.S. households that included an adult out of the labor force because of …

SNAP Participation Varied Across States from 2019 to 2021

Dan This Land of Ours, USDA-ERS

A look at SNAP participation. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. In fiscal year 2021, USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program served an average of 41.5 million people monthly. USDA’s Economic Research Service Wednesday reported the 2021 figure is an increase of about 5.8 million per month compared with fiscal year 2019. SNAP participation increased nationwide during the COVID-19 …

Cow-Calf Operations Vary in Adopting Rotational Grazing

Dan Beef, Cattle, Dairy, Pasture, USDA-ERS

Rotational grazing is a frequently discussed livestock management practice with a wide variety of public and private benefits. Little information has been available on the adoption rate of rotational grazing, so the Economic Research Service at USDA issued a report on the subject. Data shows that 40 percent of cow-calf operations report using rotational grazing. However, just 40 percent of that number …

Regionality of Avian Flu Outbreak Limits Losses in Broiler Production

Dan Avian Influenza, Poultry, USDA-ERS

USDA’s Economic Research Service reports highly pathogenic avian influenza in 2022 has major regionality differences. The outbreak has had relatively little impact on the broiler industry based on the volume of broiler meat produced in the United States. HPAI was detected in Indiana in February 2022 for the first time nationally since 2015 and was soon confirmed at multiple commercial …

USDA: Conservation Tillage Increasing

Dan Corn, Cotton, Field Crops, Soybeans, USDA-ERS, Wheat

The share of acreage for major cash crops—wheat, corn, soybeans, and cotton—that are planted using conservation tillage has increased over the past two decades in the United States. USDA’s Economic Research Service reported the data Tuesday. Farmers reported employing conservation tillage on the majority of acres of wheat at 68 percent, 76 percent of corn acres, and 74 percent of …

New Report Shows Decade of Trends in School Meals

Dan Education, This Land of Ours, USDA-ERS

Tracking ten years of changes to produce in school lunches. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. One USDA department tracked changes in school lunches for the last ten years and found that a 2012 change in school meal nutrition standards drove changes in the type of foods schools purchased. USDA’s Economic Research Service found that following the change …

Report on Specialty Crops in USDA Programs

Dan Specialty Crops, USDA-ERS

A report from USDA’s Economic Research Service shows that the amount of specialty crops enrolled in federal risk management programs has nearly doubled in the last ten years. The value of specialty crops insured by FCIP (i.e., liabilities) increased from about $12 billion in 2011 to about $21 billion in 2020 (not adjusted for inflation). The States with the most policies are …

Food Insecurity in Households with Children Reached Two-decade Low

Dan This Land of Ours, USDA-ERS

U.S. food insecurity in households with children is down once again. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) reported that food insecurity in U.S. households with children reached a two-decade low in 2021. The Economic Research Service monitors the prevalence of food insecurity in U.S. households with children by measuring food insecurity for the …

USDA Says Farm Profits to Reach Near-Record High in 2022

Dan Agri-Business, Economy, USDA-ERS

USDA’s Economic Research Service forecasts inflation-adjusted U.S. net cash farm income to increase by $13.5 billion or 8.7 percent from 2021. Net cash farm income is gross cash income minus cash expenses and will reach $168.5 billion in 2022, the highest level since 2012. In comparison, net farm income is forecast to drop by almost $1 billion from 2021 to …