Data Harvest (formerly Graphic of the Week) is Investigate Midwest’s way of making complex agricultural data easy to understand. Through engaging graphics, charts, and maps, we break down key trends to help readers quickly grasp the forces shaping farming, food systems, and rural communities. Want us to explore other data trends? Let us know here.
Want us to explore other data trends? Let us know here.
Meat consumption grows in US and Asia, while Europe is on the decline
Since 2010, meat consumption habits in the US and Europe have diverged, while many of the countries with the greatest increases are in Asia.
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Recent droughts hit the top cattle counties hardest
The nation’s largest beef-producing counties have suffered from intense drought, helping to dwindle herds and drive up consumer prices.
Which states are most exposed as soybean exports falter?
The Midwest and South continue to produce huge soybean volumes, yet their ability to sell them increasingly hinges on global politics and federal action rather than farm decisions.
Trump tried to limit SNAP during the shutdown. Many in his base were eligible.
In farm-dependent counties, rates of food insecurity are increasing. The president has tried to curtail the nation’s premier anti-hunger initiative.
Farmers were exposed to roughly twice as many pesticides as general population in EU study
Even people outside of agriculture carried residue from dozens of chemicals after just one week, the study authors said. Many of these same chemicals, including several banned in Europe, are still in use across US farms.
An explosion of pesticide complaints led to reforms in Illinois. And now, a reporting collapse.
Environmental advocates warn that fewer formal complaints don’t signal progress — just frustration with a system that fails to hold violators accountable.
US farmers face $44 billion in losses as costs rise and markets shrink
This squeeze is made worse by the loss of key export markets — particularly China.
Trump could bail out farmers hurt in his trade war, again. Here’s what happened the first time.
In 2018 and 2019, the first Trump administration paid more than $20 billion to farmers who lost market access after tariffs were implemented. The money was unequally distributed.
Where do your pumpkins come from? Illinois keeps the crown
Illinois remains the country’s top pumpkin producer, even after a 30% drop in its 2024 production.
H-2B visa holders keep the nation’s seafood industry afloat
The number of visa holders has increased by 60% in the past decade.
Farmers squeezed as DOJ, USDA examine rising expenses
Federal prosecutors are moving to scrutinize high input costs as farmers face slimmer margins. USDA forecast data shows expenses climbing to $467.4 billion while crop receipts weaken for staples such as corn and soybeans.
Farm profits forecast to rise, but federal aid remains a big safety net
USDA projects higher farm income this year, but gains are largely driven by aid programs rather than stronger markets for crops or livestock.
Rural Illinois’ food economy depends on immigrants
While every farm-dependent county in the state has lost population in the past decade, counties tied to meatpacking and food processing are holding on thanks to foreign-born workers — a trend that could be upended by Trump’s deportation plans.
US grain growers face deepening losses
After a brief boom, soaring costs and weak markets are threatening corn and soybean farms, prompting warnings from industry groups.
Number of Black-owned farms has decreased drastically since 1900
After peaking in 1920, Black-owned farms have dwindled. It hit a low of less than 20,000 in the late 1990s.
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