Census Bureau
Ethanol output up 10 percent following record 2013 corn crop
Ethanol makers produced 14.15 billion gallons of ethanol during the 12 months ending on Sept 1, coinciding with the corn marketing year, says economist Darrell Good of U-Illinois.
Federal reports on ethanol, flour milling resume after hiatus
The Agriculture Department said it is launching reports on ethanol production and flour milling, three years after the Census Bureau ended the reports due to budget cuts.
Rural poverty rate falls sharply, still above US average
The poverty rate in rural America was 16.1 percent, down sharply from the previous year, but still notably higher than the U.S. average, said the Census Bureau's annual Income and Poverty report. Census said the rural poverty rate dropped by 1.6 points for 2013, from 17.7 percent in 2013. One-fifth of Americans live in rural areas.
Farmer access to Internet zooms, nears US average
Some 70 pct of U.S. farmers have Internet access, up 14 points in five years, says the new Census of Agriculture, based on a 2012 survey. After trailing for years, the farm access rate is similar to the U.S. avg. The Census Bureau says a 2011 survey found 72 pct of U.S. households used the Internet at home.
USDA to revive soybean crush report in early fall
The Agriculture Department plans to begin monthly reports in September or October on soybean crush, corn mill grind and cotton mill use, a senior official told reporters on Monday.
Ten and done, says midwestern Democrat in House
Approaching her 60th birthday, Illinois Rep. Cheri Bustos, a member of the House Agriculture Committee, announced she will retire in 2022 after 10 years in the House. "It will be a new decade and I feel it's time for a new voice," said Bustos. Her decision also reflected the shrinking influence of the farm and industrial heartland in the House.