United States Department of Agriculture
This page provides an overview of the three main units of the USDA that provide data and statistics: the Economic Research Service, Foreign Agricultural Service and the National Agricultural Statistics Service. Below is a recap and some additional information about USDA statistical resources:
Agricultural Marketing Service
Administers programs that facilitate the efficient, fair marketing of U.S. agricultural products, including food, fiber, and specialty crops.
Market News
Pricing, sales and related information on farm products in specific markets and marketing areas. Includes both domestic and international data.
Economic Research Service
A primary source of economic information and research including issues involving food, farming, natural resources, and rural development.
Foreign Agricultural Service
Look here for U.S. trade reports and market data.
National Agricultural Statistics Service
Provides timely, accurate, and useful statistics in service to U.S. agriculture. NASS publishes U.S., state, and county level agricultural statistics for many commodities and data series.
Census of Agriculture (1840- )
Taken every five years, the Census of Agriculture is a complete count of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them. The Census looks at land use and ownership, operator characteristics, production practices, income and expenditures and many other areas. Print copies available in the Census Alcove (3 West).
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. Data is available from the following agencies: Economic Research Service, Foreign Agricultural Service, National Agricultural Statistics Service, World Agricultural Outlook Board, and Agricultural Marketing Service.
The Census of Agriculture was part of the Census of Population and Housing (Decennial Census) until 1920. After 1925, it was conducted at 5-yearly intervals, currently in years ending with -2 and -7. In 1997, responsibility for the Census of Agriculture was transferred from the Census Bureau (Dept. of Commerce) to the National Agricultural Statistics Service (Dept. of Agriculture). The census provides information on agricultural production, statistics on farms and farm operators, values for crops and livestock and fertilizer use.
