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Agricultural Exports
The average annual value of agricultural exports totaled $48.5 billion/year or 10% of total exports. -
Population and Productivity
In the 1990s the average total U.S. population was 261,423,000, farm population 2,987,552, farmers 2.6% of labor force, number of farms 2,143,150, average acres 461 ,irrigated acres 49,404,000 (1992), number of farms 2,215,876, average acres 431, irrigated acres 56,289,172 (1997) -
Ann M. Veneman
In 2001 President George W. Bush appointed Ann M. Veneman to serve as the Secretary of Agriculture, the first woman to hold this very important position. -
The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act
The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, signed by President George W. Bush, was passed to address water and other environmental issues. Programs included the Conservation Security Program, which created a reward system for eco-conscientious farmers, and it increases funding for conservation programs by 80% over 10 years. -
Energy Policy Act
The Congressional Budget Office estimated costs of the bill at $2.2 billion over the period of 2006-2010. -
2008 Financial Crisis
In 2008, the US faced the worst financial disaster since the Great Depression. Beginning with high-priced real estate taking a downward spiral in 2007, the crisis spread through the US financial sector and infiltrated the global economy. -
USDA Programs and Policies
In February 2009, Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture, launched The People's Garden initiative on the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln, who created the Department in 1862. He referred to it as "The People's Department. -
2010 Energy Security Plan
President Barack Obama announced initiatives to boost advanced biofuel production, which included five research centers, the installation of 10k fuel pumps with access to ethanol fuel blends, the increase of biofuel use in USDA's fleet, and the resumption of USDA's Biomass Crop Assistance program. -
Climate Impacts on Agriculture and Food Supply
Overall, the climate has a big impact on agriculture. Both increases in temperature and carbon dioxide (CO2) can increase certain crop yields, but only if nutrient levels, soil moisture, water availability, and other conditions are met. Impacts of climate change including droughts and floods can also pose challenges to farmers, ranchers, and food safety. -
Food Choices and Cost's
On average, 2018 consumption of meat, eggs, and nuts as well as grains in the United States was higher than the recommended amounts. -
The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018
The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 was a bipartisan "farm bill" singed into law by President Trump on December 20, 2018. According to the Republican Policy Committee, "H.R. 2 amends and extends major programs for income support, food and nutrition, land conservation, trade promotion, rural development, research, forestry, horticulture, and other miscellaneous programs administered by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) for five years through 2023" -
Global Pandemic
The disruptive impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the U.S. agricultural system were broad and varied. The crisis amplified problems in over-production, low prices, and, in some cases the availability of food. With more people eating at home, there were changes in demand of how product were packaged. With Americans eating 30-40% of their food out of the home, food products had been packaged in larger volumes for restaurants and schools.