Skip to navigation

Skip to main content

Rural Migration News Blog

contact us

Rural Migration Blog

January 26, 2023

US Farms in 2021

The US has two million farms that generated over $400 billion in sales in 2021, an average of about $200,000. However, averages in agriculture are misleading because over half of US farms had sales of less than $8,000, while the 70,000 farms that each had sales of $1 million or more accounted for 70 percent of US farm production.

Continue reading "US Farms in 2021 "...  /  View PDF of "US Farms in 2021

Mexico-US Border

President Biden visited El Paso in January 2023 en route to Mexico City, highlighting continued unauthorized migration over the Mexico-US border. Border Patrol agents encountered over 2,000 unauthorized migrants a day in the El Paso area in December 2022.

Continue reading "Mexico-US Border"...  /  View PDF of "Mexico-US Border

Ag Automation

Human history is the story of productivity improvements in agriculture that allow fewer farmers to feed more people, setting the stage for the emergence of cities and ruling elites. In modern times, labor-saving mechanization in agriculture is a response to economic and risk factors. Farmers mechanize when the cost of hand labor exceeds the cost of machine services, and when there is a risk that farm workers may not be available. Rising nonfarm wages draw workers out of agriculture, while biological and engineering innovations make it possible to replace workers with machines.

Continue reading "Ag Automation"...  /  View PDF of "Ag Automation

Australia Agriculture and Labor

Australia is a net food exporter, sending $30 billion worth of crops and livestock commodities a year abroad and importing farm commodities worth $15 billion. Australia exports 70 percent of its farm commodities by value, led by beef and wheat. The major destinations for Australian farm exports are China, Japan, other Asian countries, and Europe.

Continue reading "Australia Agriculture and Labor"...  /  View PDF of "Australia Agriculture and Labor

December 19, 2022

Remittances: $626 billion in 2022

Remittances, the monies sent to countries of origin by migrants abroad, reached a record $626 billion to low- and middle-income countries in 2022. Remittances are three times Official Development Assistance (ODA) and exceed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), making them the largest financial flow from richer to poorer countries. Remittances have reached new records every year despite a wide range of challenges, from closed borders during covid to a weakening Euro that reduces the value of remittances sent from Europe in dollar terms.

Continue reading "Remittances: $626 billion in 2022"...  /  View PDF of "Remittances: $626 billion in 2022

CEA and Labor

Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) involves growing plants under protective structures that shield them from weather and pests. CEA raises yields, reduces water requirements, and facilitates organic production. Many CEA operations are located in urban areas near consumers. Data on CEA workforces are sparse, but US CEA farms may employ a smaller share of the unauthorized Mexican-born workers who dominate in open field agriculture.

Continue reading "CEA and Labor"...  /  View PDF of "CEA and Labor

US Fruit and Vegetable Trade

The US had an agricultural trade surplus in most years between 1960 and 2020 because exported farm commodities were worth more than the commodities that were imported. The US farm trade surplus has turned into a deficit in recent years as the US imports more fruits and vegetables, which are more valuable than the corn and soybeans that dominate among US farm exports.

Continue reading "US Fruit and Vegetable Trade"...  /  View PDF of "US Fruit and Vegetable Trade

World wine in 2020

World wine consumption was 236 million hectoliters in 2021, down from the 260 million hectoliters consumed in 2019. One hectoliter is 26.4 gallons, making global wine consumption about 6.2 billion gallons or 1.1 gallons per year for each of the 5.5 billion people 18 and older.

Continue reading "World wine in 2020"...  /  View PDF of "World wine in 2020

« Older Posts


Subscribe via Email

Click here to subscribe to Rural Migration News via email.