-
Selected Charts from Ag and Food Statistics: Charting the Essentials, October 2018
AP-080, October 30, 2018This collection of charts and maps presents examples of key statistics on the farm sector, food spending and prices, food security, rural communities, agricultural production and trade, the interaction of agriculture and natural resources, and more found in ERS's regularly updated web product, Ag and Food Statistics: Charting the Essentials.
-
Despite Elevated Loss Rate Since 2006, U.S. Honey Bee Colony Numbers Are Stable
Amber Waves, October 01, 2018An ERS study found that elevated U.S. honey bee winter colony losses have not resulted in enduring declines in colony numbers. Instead, the number of honey bee colonies in the U.S. is either stable or growing depending on the dataset being considered.
-
Food Safety Costs for Farms Vary Across Commodities Due to Differences in Farm Size
Amber Waves, September 04, 2018An ERS study estimated farm-level costs to comply with the Food Safety Modernization Act's Produce Rule by commodity, State, and farm size. Costs ranged from as little as 0.3 percent of annual produce sales for the largest farms and 6.8 percent for the smallest.
-
Estimated Costs for Fruit and Vegetable Producers To Comply With the Food Safety Modernization Act's Produce Rule
EIB-195, August 08, 2018Implementation of the Produce Rule in 2018 will raise costs for farms supplying most fresh produce sold in the U.S. Costs are estimated to range from 0.3 percent of annual sales for the largest farms to 6.8 percent for the smallest.
-
Before Implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act's Produce Rule: A Survey of U.S. Produce Growers
EIB-194, August 06, 2018Among produce growers, larger growers (measured by annual produce sales) had adopted food safety practices at higher rates than smaller growers in advance of the Food Safety Modernization Act’s Produce Rule.
-
Federal Commodity Programs Price Loss Coverage and Agriculture Risk Coverage Address Price and Yield Risks Faced by Producers
Amber Waves, August 06, 2018Differences in Federal Agricultural Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage program payment formulas help explain why program enrollment decisions vary by commodity.
-
New Survey Results Highlight Variation in Food Safety Practices Prior to the Produce Rule
Amber Waves, August 06, 2018The Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011 included a new Produce Rule that sets specific disease-preventive requirements for produce that is consumed raw in the United States. ERS researchers conducted a survey of produce growers prior to implementation of the Produce Rule to highlight variation in food safety practices.
-
Lower Conventional Corn Prices and Strong Demand for Organic Livestock Feed Spurred Increased U.S. Organic Corn Production in 2016
Amber Waves, June 04, 2018Lower Conventional Corn Prices and Strong Demand for Organic Livestock Feed Spurred Increased U.S. Organic Corn Production in 2016
-
The 2012-13 U.S. Drought Heightened Federal Disaster Assistance Payments for Livestock Producers
Amber Waves, May 07, 2018The 2012-13 U.S. Drought Heightened Federal Disaster Assistance Payments for Livestock Producers
-
Pollination Service Fees
Amber Waves, March 27, 2018While still a small share of food production costs, pollination service fees are now the largest source of beekeeper revenue.
-
Federal Natural Disaster Assistance Programs for Livestock Producers, 2008–2016
EIB-187, January 31, 2018Analysis of three disaster assistance programs for livestock administered by the Farm Service Agency reveals regional differences in payment delivery and how outlays vary by year and program.
-
U.S. Cropland Is Consolidating Into Larger Farms
Amber Waves, December 19, 2017Cropland in the United States has shifted to larger farms. Large crop farms (with 2,000 acres or more) accounted for 36 percent of U.S. cropland in 2012, compared to 15 percent in 1987. Most of that cropland shifted from midsize crop farms (with 200 to 999 acres). Midsize farms operated 47 percent of U.S. cropland in 1987, but that share fell to 29 percent by 2012.
-
A Primer on Land Use in the United States
Amber Waves, December 04, 2017Land use and land-use change have important economic and environmental implications for commodity production and trade, soil and water conservation, and other policy issues. The ERS Major Land Uses (MLU) series is the longest running, most comprehensive accounting of all major uses of public and private land in the United States. The U.S. land area totals just under 2.3 billion acres.
-
Selected Charts from Ag and Food Statistics: Charting the Essentials, October 2017
AP-078, October 18, 2017Examples from ERS's updated collection of 70 charts/maps covering key U.S. statistics on ag production and trade, farm income, food spending and prices, food security, rural communities, and natural resources and the environment.
-
Major Uses of Land in the United States, 2012
EIB-178, August 28, 2017ERS presents findings from the most recent (2012) inventory of U.S. major land uses, the only consistent accounting of all major uses of public and private land in all 50 States.
-
Although Small, Markets Have Been Expanding for GE Crops With Traits That Increase Nutrient Content or Improve Taste
Amber Waves, August 07, 2017Genetically engineered (GE) crops are plants with genetic material that has been altered to achieve one or more desirable features. Although small, markets have been recently expanding for GE crops with traits that increase nutrient content or improve the taste of certain foods for consumers.
-
Progress and Challenges in Global Food Security
EIB-175, July 31, 2017ERS researchers analyze the roles of trade, agricultural productivity, safety nets, and better data and measurement in achieving achieving gains in global food security.
-
Conservation Compliance: How Farmer Incentives Are Changing in the Crop Insurance Era
ERR-234, July 27, 2017Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) contributed significantly to soil erosion reduction. For erosion due to rainfall, the average erosion reduction on land subject to HELC was 40 percent more than on similar land not subject to HELC.
-
Declines in Pollinator Forage Suitability Were Concentrated in the Midwest, the Over-Summering Grounds for Many Honeybees
Amber Waves, July 03, 2017While most agricultural commodities are wind-pollinated, about one-third of total U.S. food consumption either require or benefit from insect pollination. Managed honeybees alone provide over $350 million worth of pollination services each year. Recently, however, the health of pollinators has suffered.
-
Applications for the Noninsured Crop Disaster Program Increased After the Agricultural Act of 2014
Amber Waves, July 03, 2017A recent ERS report examined impacts of the Buy-Up coverage addition to the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) on expected payments, producers' risk reduction, and NAP enrollment by type of producer and crops.