Data Harvest

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.

GRAPHIC: Knee high by Fourth of July?

The old term , "Knee high by Fourth of July" was used as a marker to gauge the year's corn crops, meaning that the height of a corn stalk should be at or above an average person's knee cap.

By Pam Dempsey, Investigate Midwest

/ 1 Jul 2021

GRAPHIC: OSHA received relatively few COVID-19 complaints related to agriculture

Since close to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has tracked complaints it's received about the virus by industry. And through May of this year, agriculture — think crop farming, cattle ranching and the like — has had relatively few complaints.

By Sky Chadde, Investigate Midwest

/ 24 Jun 2021

GRAPHIC: OSHA received relatively few COVID-19 complaints related to agriculture

GRAPHIC: The people who pick America’s fruits and vegetables are getting older

The average age of farmworkers born outside the U.S. steadily increased from 2008 to 2019, while the average age of U.S.-born workers has stayed about the same

By Madison McVan, Investigate Midwest

/ 16 Jun 2021

GRAPHIC: The people who pick America’s fruits and vegetables are getting older

GRAPHIC: Acres in federal conservation program have decreased steadily in past decade

Since 2007, the number of acres the government has paid farmers and ranchers to conserve has declined. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Conservation Reserve Program subsidizes the removal of environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production. But, between 2007 and 2016, the enrollment c

By Ignacio Calderon, USA TODAY Network Agriculture Data Fellow, Investigate Midwest

/ 10 Jun 2021

GRAPHIC: Acres in federal conservation program have decreased steadily in past decade

GRAPHIC: Expect to pay more for food in 2021 - except for eggs

In 2020, the price of food rose more than 3% over the price the year before. This includes both food eaten out and food cooked at home, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Consumers saw the price of meat spike in 2020 as well with beef and veal prices increasing 9.6%, poultry

By Pam Dempsey, Investigate Midwest

/ 3 Jun 2021

GRAPHIC: Expect to pay more for food in 2021 - except for eggs

GRAPHIC: East Asia leads world in purchases of U.S. meat

Since 2016, meat and livestock exports to China have increased 75 percent. China displaced Mexico last year as the 2nd-largest buyer of U.S. meat.

By Madison McVan, Investigate Midwest

/ 19 May 2021

GRAPHIC: East Asia leads world in purchases of U.S. meat

GRAPHIC: Americans are drinking less cow milk and more plant-based alternatives

In the past half century, people started drinking less cow milk, and recently more and more people have joined in the trend, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

By Ignacio Calderon, USA TODAY Network Agriculture Data Fellow, Investigate Midwest

/ 12 May 2021

GRAPHIC: Americans are drinking less cow milk and more plant-based alternatives

GRAPHIC: A 40-year look at the busiest canal on the Mississippi River

Millions of tons of corn, wheat and soybeans travel down the Mississippi River each year to be shipped all over the world from New Orleans. As of April 17, 641,000 tons of grain passed through Lock 27, a canal that runs more than two-dozen miles long and is located just outside of St. Louis in Grani

By Pam Dempsey, Investigate Midwest

/ 29 Apr 2021

GRAPHIC: A 40-year look at the busiest canal on the Mississippi River

GRAPHIC: As industry pushed fears of meat shortage, exports increased

Trade data shows the value of American meat exports reached its highest level since 2014.

By Madison McVan, Investigate Midwest

/ 21 Apr 2021

GRAPHIC: As industry pushed fears of meat shortage, exports increased

GRAPHIC: Nearly all cash crops are genetically engineered now

More than 90 percent of all corn, cotton and soybeans planted in the U.S. are genetically engineered, according to data from the Department of Agriculture.

By Ignacio Calderon, USA TODAY Network Agriculture Data Fellow, Investigate Midwest

/ 14 Apr 2021

GRAPHIC: Nearly all cash crops are genetically engineered now

GRAPHIC: COVID-19 death rates in rural communities surpassed urban ones in September

In December, small towns had a rate of about 10 deaths a week, according to a USDA analysis.

By Sky Chadde, Investigate Midwest

/ 1 Apr 2021

GRAPHIC: COVID-19 death rates in rural communities surpassed urban ones in September

GRAPHIC: Environmental regulation enforcement varies widely from state to state

The number of enforcement actions and the size of fines levied against companies for violating environmental protection laws is vastly different from state to state.

By Madison McVan, Investigate Midwest

/ 24 Mar 2021

Since 1955 the Vermilion Power Plant has been storing toxic coal ash in three ponds next to the Middle Fork Vermilion River n