Want to do your own data analysis or read more about agribusiness? Visit the sources below – listed alphabetically.
Brief overview of how agriculture works in America produced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Great place to start.
The Center for Agribusiness Excellence
“The mission of the Center of Agribusiness Excellence (CAE) is to provide research, training, and resources for data warehousing and data mining of agribusiness and agriculture data. The CAE provides facilities and staff to make full use of data warehousing and data mining technologies for development of Agribusiness Decision Support Systems and Agricultural Risk Management Products.”
“Global demand for food and fuel is rising, and the push and pull for resources has serious ramifications for our country’s economic recovery and prosperity. Today’s emerging agenda for agriculture is headlined by energy and climate change, food safety, biofuels, animal production and welfare, human health, water quality, and local food systems. By examining these local, regional and national issues and their implications, Harvest Public Media serves as a rich multimedia resource devoted to food, fuel and field.”
The Investigative Journalism Education Consortium
“The Investigative Journalism Education Consortium (IJEC) brings together the experience and knowledge of university journalism professors who teach investigative and public service reporting to carry out major collaborative projects with their students throughout the Midwest. These projects are intended not only to serve as a model of strong, practical educational classes, but also deliver important public service stories to citizens in the region, including the major cities such as Chicago. Further, these projects will help develop the next generation of investigative journalists who can see the local story and beyond and who can make the best use of the new digital tools to do broader and better public service stories while maintaining the highest standards of accuracy and credibility.”
Great resource to find political campaign contributions by company or field, including agribusiness.
The USDA Census of Agriculture
Factsheets on demographics, geography, economics and farm numbers as well as data by zip code and Congressional district. Also includes the latest Agriculture Census data.
The USDA Economic Research Service
Provides information and data on food, farms, crops and livestock. Also has updated drought reports and the impact from the 2012 drought.
The USDA Economics, Statistics and Market Information System
“A collaborative project between Albert R. Mann Library at Cornell University and several agencies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The system contains nearly 2500 reports and datasets. These materials cover U.S. and international agriculture and related topics. Available titles include both current and historical data. Many of the current titles are available via email subscription.”
The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service
“The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) conducts hundreds of surveys every year and prepares reports covering virtually every aspect of U.S. agriculture. Production and supplies of food and fiber, prices paid and received by farmers, farm labor and wages, farm finances, chemical use, and changes in the demographics of U.S. producers are only a few examples”
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services
“A conservation leader for all natural resources, ensuring private lands are conserved, restored, and more resilient to environmental challenges, like climate change. Seventy percent of the land in the United States is privately owned, making stewardship by private landowners absolutely critical to the health of our Nation’s environment.”
