Investigate Midwest (https://investigatemidwest.org/category/graphic-of-the-week/)
In four states with a large meatpacking footprint, production dropped 40% during outbreaks in the pandemic's first year. But overall production ended 2% higher than the year before.
Large family farms in the beef industry are more likely to operate feed lots, according to the USDA.
In 2020, the majority of pork plants slaughtered relatively few pigs.
Runoff can lead to poisoned drinking water and toxic algae blooms.
Overall, farm households received about $4.3 billion in pandemic aid from the federal government, according to the USDA.
Based on a U.S. Department of Agriculture annual survey collected in June, most farms throughout selected Midwest states use their phones to access the internet.
Since 1895, the U.S.'s growing season has increased by about two weeks, according to EPA data.
More than 80 percent of the pumpkins grown in Illinois will be processed into pie filling or other food products.
Since 1980, the frequency and intensity of the events have been steadily increasing.
Almost all farm households in 2019 derived some income from off-farm sources, such as pensions, investment income, or wages and salary from an off-farm job.