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.
Argentina rarely sold beef to the US. Now, the country surpasses major trade partners.
While the domestic cattle inventory declines, reliance on South American beef products increases.
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Trump’s immigration surges in Midwest cities correlate with less employment, researchers find
The number of private sector workers declined in states such as Illinois and Minnesota after mass ICE presence, according to an analysis of employment data by UC Merced researchers.
Farm bankruptcies jumped 46% in 2025 as debt loads and costs rise
Chapter 12 filings climbed to 315 in the US. That’s a third straight increase annually as higher production costs and expanding borrowing put new pressure on farmers in 2026.
3 charts to better understand the potential link between pesticides and cancer
Most counties with the highest pesticide use also have cancer rates above the national average.
Cattle raised for beef are heavier than ever, raising new concerns in the industry about animal health and welfare
With the national cattle herd in long term decline, producers have increasingly relied on larger animals to keep up with demand.
Ag producers in worst 3-month cost-price gap since 2015, new USDA data shows
The analysis of federal price indexes also shows agricultural producers have consistently paid more to operate than they have received in return, with costs outpacing prices in every month since at least 2015.
In 2025, growers grew more anxious about Brazil’s edge in global soybean markets
Brazil’s dominance in China’s soybean market has only deepened since the Trump administration’s tariff fight.
Midwest and Southwest states see major increase in temporary H-2A workers, despite slow growth in program
These visas offer a pathway for increased farm labor, but have a documented history of wage theft and poor working conditions.
US ag exports drop in Asia, but increase in the Western Hemisphere
Since 2022, agriculture exports to China have decreased by more than 55%, but there have been increases to Canada, Mexico and some South American countries.
Increased pesticide use in Illinois is killing native oaks
While the amount of acres of soybeans and corn has remained stable for the past 25 years, the use of pesticides in Illinois has doubled. The state’s oldest trees are getting sick from the drift.
These 17 charts tell the story of the US food system in 2025
A highlight of our most important data visualizations and what they say about the state of agriculture.
Trump promised to lower food prices, but they’re still going up
As he campaigned against Kamala Harris, Trump said he would “defeat inflation.” Egg prices have decreased, but beef is doing the opposite.
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.
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.
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