{ "_doc": "Curated, fact-gated registry of documented U.S. food-commodity market events (2001-2026), each mapped to affected Cost Index ingredient slugs and backed by primary citations (USDA, CDC, NOAA, CRS, peer-reviewed). Framing is ALWAYS co-occurrence, not causation: an event is documented context beside the price windows it overlapped, never asserted as the cause of any specific price move. Source of truth for the events layer; published copy at cost-index/events.json. Researched + adversarially source-verified by the curation workflow.", "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/", "framing": "co-occurrence-not-causation", "temporalCoverage": "2001/2026", "count": 39, "citations": 106, "events": [ { "id": "exotic-newcastle-disease-california-2002", "label": "Exotic Newcastle disease outbreak, California (2002-2003)", "startDate": "2002-10-01", "endDate": "2003-09", "affectedSlugs": [ "eggs", "whole-chicken" ], "whatHappened": "The California Department of Food and Agriculture and USDA confirmed exotic (virulent) Newcastle disease (END) in a Los Angeles County backyard flock on October 1, 2002. The virus subsequently spread to several commercial egg-laying operations in Southern California; more than half of the state's roughly 12 million commercial egg-producing hens were located inside the quarantine zone. The state-federal eradication response depopulated approximately 3.16 million birds across quarantined premises at a reported cost of about $161 million. The last infected commercial flock was detected March 26, 2003 (San Diego County) and the last infected backyard flock on May 31, 2003 (Los Angeles County); USDA lifted the nationwide quarantine after declaring the disease eradicated later in 2003.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/newcastle-disease-infiltrates-southern-california-poultry-flocks", "publisher": "CIDRAP, University of Minnesota", "title": "Newcastle disease infiltrates Southern California poultry flocks" }, { "url": "https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/Animal_Health/pdfs/END/ENDVetletter20303.pdf", "publisher": "California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA)", "title": "Exotic Newcastle Disease Outbreak in California — Veterinary Letter" }, { "url": "https://www.avma.org/javma-news/2003-02-15/emergency-declared-exotic-newcastle-disease-found-commercial-poultry-farms", "publisher": "American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA News)", "title": "Emergency declared: exotic Newcastle disease found in commercial poultry farms" } ] }, { "id": "first-us-bse-case-export-bans-2003", "label": "First US BSE (mad cow) case & export bans (2003-04)", "startDate": "2003-12", "endDate": "2004-12", "affectedSlugs": [ "ribeye", "striploin", "short-rib", "beef-tenderloin", "ground-beef" ], "whatHappened": "On December 23, 2003, USDA announced the first US case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, 'mad cow disease'), confirmed in a dairy cow slaughtered in Washington State (Mabton). Following the announcement, USDA/APHIS documented that dozens of countries closed their borders to US beef, with major export markets including Japan and South Korea banning US beef; some restrictions lasted years. On December 30, 2003, USDA barred nonambulatory ('downer') cattle and specified risk materials (e.g., brain and spinal cord tissue from older cattle) from the human food supply.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5253a2.htm", "publisher": "CDC MMWR", "title": "Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy in a Dairy Cow --- Washington State, 2003" }, { "url": "https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/newsroom/stakeholder-info/sa_by_date/sa-2022/aphis50-bse", "publisher": "USDA APHIS", "title": "History Highlight: APHIS Combats Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy" }, { "url": "https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/RS21709.html", "publisher": "Congressional Research Service", "title": "Mad Cow Disease and U.S. Beef Trade" }, { "url": "https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/bse/usda-bans-all-downer-cattle-food-supply", "publisher": "CIDRAP (University of Minnesota)", "title": "USDA bans all downer cattle from food supply" }, { "url": "https://www.historylink.org/File/5650", "publisher": "HistoryLink.org", "title": "First U.S. case of mad cow disease is reported in a Mabton dairy cow on December 23, 2003" } ] }, { "id": "shrimp-antidumping-duties-2004", "label": "US antidumping duties on frozen warmwater shrimp (2004-2005)", "startDate": "2004-01", "endDate": "2005-02", "affectedSlugs": [ "shrimp", "shrimp-head-on", "shrimp-pd" ], "whatHappened": "On petitions filed December 31, 2003 by the Ad Hoc Shrimp Trade Action Committee (a coalition of US shrimp producers/harvesters), the US Department of Commerce initiated antidumping duty investigations in January 2004 into certain frozen and canned warmwater shrimp imported from Brazil, China, Ecuador, India, Thailand, and Vietnam. Following affirmative final determinations by Commerce and an affirmative injury finding by the US International Trade Commission, antidumping duty orders took effect on non-canned warmwater shrimp from all six countries in early 2005 (February 1, 2005); duty rates varied widely by country and company.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2004/01/27/04-1698/notice-of-initiation-of-antidumping-duty-investigations-certain-frozen-and-canned-warmwater-shrimp", "publisher": "US Federal Register (Department of Commerce)", "title": "Notice of Initiation of Antidumping Duty Investigations: Certain Frozen and Canned Warmwater Shrimp From Brazil, Ecuador, India, Thailand, the People's Republic of China and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (69 FR 3876)" }, { "url": "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2005/02/01/E5-373/notice-of-amended-final-determination-of-sales-at-less-than-fair-value-and-antidumping-duty-order", "publisher": "US Federal Register (Department of Commerce)", "title": "Notice of Amended Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Antidumping Duty Order: Certain Frozen Warmwater Shrimp from Ecuador (Feb 1, 2005)" }, { "url": "https://enforcement.trade.gov/download/factsheets/amended-factsheet-shrimp-brazil-ecuador-india-thailand-prc-vietnam-amended-final-020105.pdf", "publisher": "US Department of Commerce, Enforcement & Compliance", "title": "Imports of Certain Frozen Warmwater Shrimp (Amended Final Determinations fact sheet, Feb 1, 2005)" }, { "url": "https://www.usitc.gov/publications/701_731/pub4429.pdf", "publisher": "US International Trade Commission", "title": "Frozen Warmwater Shrimp from China, Ecuador, India, Thailand and Vietnam (2013 five-year sunset review)" } ] }, { "id": "florida-hurricanes-2004", "label": "Florida hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan & Jeanne (2004)", "startDate": "2004-08-13", "endDate": "2004-09-26", "affectedSlugs": [ "grapefruit" ], "whatHappened": "Four hurricanes struck Florida within roughly six weeks in 2004 — Charley (landfall Aug 13), Frances (Sept 5), Ivan (Sept 16, flooding the Indian River district), and Jeanne (Sept 25-26), three of them direct hits on citrus-producing regions. High winds and flooding uprooted and defoliated citrus trees, knocked ripening fruit to the ground, and USDA/industry reports noted the storms further spread citrus canker. USDA reported the 2004/05 Florida orange crop was roughly 27-31% smaller than 2003/04, and the grapefruit crop fell about 63-68% to its smallest size since the 1930s.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://crec.ifas.ufl.edu/media/crecifasufledu/faculty/rogers/27Albrigoetal2006.pdf", "publisher": "University of Florida IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center", "title": "The Impact of Four Hurricanes in 2004 on the Florida Citrus Industry" }, { "url": "https://www2.ljworld.com/news/2004/oct/13/hurricanes_squeeze_floridas/", "publisher": "Lawrence Journal-World (Associated Press)", "title": "Hurricanes squeeze Florida's citrus crops" }, { "url": "https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Florida/Publications/Citrus/Citrus_Forecast/2004-05/cit1204.pdf", "publisher": "USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service", "title": "Florida Citrus Forecast, December 2004" } ] }, { "id": "florida-citrus-greening-hlb-2005", "label": "Florida citrus greening (Huanglongbing/HLB), first detected 2005 - ongoing", "startDate": "2005-08", "endDate": "2026-07", "affectedSlugs": [ "grapefruit" ], "whatHappened": "Citrus greening (Huanglongbing/HLB), a bacterial disease spread by the Asian citrus psyllid that causes premature fruit drop, misshapen unripe fruit and eventual tree death, was first detected in Florida's commercial groves in 2005. USDA data show Florida orange production fell from about 242 million boxes in 2003/04 to roughly 41 million boxes by 2022 — an estimated ~92% decline that USDA attributes to citrus greening compounded by hurricanes. Florida grapefruit and other citrus were similarly affected, and the disease remains present and unresolved through the present.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/charts-of-note/chart-detail?chartId=109051", "publisher": "USDA Economic Research Service", "title": "Natural disasters, disease cut Florida orange production an estimated 92 percent since 2003/04" } ] }, { "id": "global-food-price-crisis-2007", "label": "Global food-price crisis (2007-2008)", "startDate": "2007-01", "endDate": "2008-12", "affectedSlugs": [ "vegetable-oil" ], "whatHappened": "USDA ERS and FAO documented a sharp run-up in world grain and oilseed/vegetable-oil markets that peaked in 2008 (USDA labels it the '2006-08 commodity price spike'). Cereals, vegetable oils and protein meals accounted for the bulk of the FAO Food Price Index increase over 2007-2008. Supply and demand factors documented by ERS, FAO and EIA included rapid growth in biofuel-feedstock demand (US fuel-ethanol output expanded under the 2005 Renewable Fuel Standard and the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act, with corn-ethanol production reaching roughly 8 billion gallons in 2007), adverse weather in major producing regions in 2006-07, grain/oilseed stocks-to-use falling to multi-decade lows, a depreciating US dollar, high energy prices, and export restrictions imposed by some exporting countries.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2011/september/commodity-price-spike/", "publisher": "USDA Economic Research Service", "title": "The 2006-08 Commodity Price Spike (Amber Waves)" }, { "url": "https://www.fao.org/worldfoodsituation/foodpricesindex/en", "publisher": "Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations", "title": "FAO Food Price Index" }, { "url": "https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=11551", "publisher": "US Energy Information Administration", "title": "US ethanol production and the Renewable Fuel Standard RIN bank" } ] }, { "id": "california-citrus-freeze-2007", "label": "California citrus freeze (January 2007)", "startDate": "2007-01-11", "endDate": "2007-01-17", "affectedSlugs": [ "lemon" ], "whatHappened": "Four-to-five consecutive nights of sub-freezing temperatures (Jan 11-17, 2007), with lows dropping into the teens and low 20s F in California's Central Valley, damaged the state's citrus crop. USDA/CDFA and industry assessments reported roughly 27% of the state's navel orange and lemon crop lost, with the majority of the season's fruit still on the trees at the time; the early CNN Money estimate put citrus-crop damage at about $480 million (later total-agriculture estimates rose higher).", "sources": [ { "url": "https://money.cnn.com/2007/01/16/news/economy/california_citrus/index.htm", "publisher": "CNN Money", "title": "Freeze does $480 million damage to California citrus crops" }, { "url": "https://calag.ucanr.edu/Archive/?article=ca.v061n02p54", "publisher": "University of California / California Agriculture", "title": "2007 freeze: UV could cast new light on citrus damage" } ] }, { "id": "chilean-salmon-isa-virus-2007", "label": "Chilean farmed salmon ISA virus outbreak (2007-2010)", "startDate": "2007-06", "endDate": "2010-12", "affectedSlugs": [ "salmon-fillet", "salmon-skin-on-fillet", "whole-salmon" ], "whatHappened": "Infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISAV) was first isolated on an Atlantic salmon farm in Chile's Los Lagos region (Region X) in mid-2007 and spread along roughly 1,300 km of southern Chilean coastline over 2007-2009. Chile's Atlantic salmon harvest volume in 2009 was reported about 61% lower than in 2008, and industry and academic assessments described an overall Atlantic-salmon production decline on the order of 50% or more, with a multi-year recovery beginning around 2011. Chile is one of the world's largest farmed salmon producers.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167587711002315", "publisher": "Preventive Veterinary Medicine (Elsevier)", "title": "Farm-level reproduction number during an epidemic of infectious salmon anemia virus in southern Chile in 2007-2009" }, { "url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2710322/", "publisher": "Journal of General Virology (via PMC)", "title": "ISAV isolated from the ISA disease outbreaks in Chile diverged from ISAV isolates from Norway around 1996 and was disseminated around 2005" }, { "url": "https://www.globalseafood.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/GAA_ISA-Report.pdf", "publisher": "Global Aquaculture Alliance", "title": "The Recovery of the Chilean Salmon Industry" } ] }, { "id": "salmonella-saintpaul-produce-2008", "label": "Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak - tomatoes and Mexican peppers (2008)", "startDate": "2008-04", "endDate": "2008-08", "affectedSlugs": [ "tomato", "jalapeno", "serrano-pepper" ], "whatHappened": "CDC and FDA investigated a large multistate Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak (1,442+ reported illnesses across 43 states plus DC and Canada, 286 hospitalizations, 2 deaths; illness onsets April 10 to August 31, 2008). Jalapeno peppers, and to a lesser extent serrano peppers, traced to farms in Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon, Mexico were identified as major sources; raw tomatoes were implicated early in the investigation and subject to a federal consumer warning (issued June 7, 2008; lifted July 17, 2008) before being cleared as a confirmed source.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://archive.cdc.gov/www_cdc_gov/salmonella/2008/raw-produce-8-28-2008.html", "publisher": "U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention", "title": "Salmonella Saintpaul Infections Linked to Raw Produce (Aug 28, 2008 Update)" }, { "url": "https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5734a1.htm", "publisher": "U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (MMWR)", "title": "Outbreak of Salmonella Serotype Saintpaul Infections Associated with Multiple Raw Produce Items --- United States, 2008" }, { "url": "https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1005741", "publisher": "New England Journal of Medicine", "title": "2008 Outbreak of Salmonella Saintpaul Infections Associated with Raw Produce" } ] }, { "id": "florida-winter-freeze-2010", "label": "Florida winter freeze (January 2010)", "startDate": "2010-01-02", "endDate": "2010-01-13", "affectedSlugs": [ "tomato", "cherry-tomato", "bell-pepper", "grapefruit" ], "whatHappened": "A prolonged early-January 2010 cold spell (Jan 2-13, 2010, one of the coldest 12-day periods on record for South Florida) brought several nights of sub-freezing temperatures across Florida, with lows in the mid-teens to low-20s F in growing regions. USDA NASS crop reports documented extensive damage to winter vegetable crops (including tomatoes and peppers), with some fields reported as total losses, and cold damage to the citrus crop; harvest was largely at a standstill during the event.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Florida/Publications/Crop_Progress_&_Condition/2010/wc011110.pdf", "publisher": "USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service", "title": "Florida Crop Progress and Condition (week ending Jan 10, 2010)" }, { "url": "https://www.weather.gov/media/mfl/news/ColdEpisodeJan2010.pdf", "publisher": "NOAA National Weather Service (Miami, FL)", "title": "Summary of Historic Cold Episode of January 2010 (South Florida)" }, { "url": "https://climatecenter.fsu.edu/products-services/summaries/climate-summary-for-florida-january-2010", "publisher": "Florida Climate Center, Florida State University", "title": "Climate Summary for Florida - January 2010" } ] }, { "id": "deepwater-horizon-fishery-closures-2010", "label": "Deepwater Horizon oil spill Gulf of Mexico fishery closures (2010-2011)", "startDate": "2010-04", "endDate": "2011-04", "affectedSlugs": [ "shrimp", "shrimp-head-on", "shrimp-pd", "whole-crab" ], "whatHappened": "After the April 20, 2010 Deepwater Horizon blowout in the Gulf of Mexico, NOAA began closing federal Gulf waters to commercial and recreational fishing on May 2, 2010; at its peak around June 21, 2010 the closure covered about 37% of the federal Gulf (roughly 229,000 square kilometers / 88,522 square miles). Waters were reopened in stages after seafood sampling and testing, with all federal Gulf waters reopened to fishing by April 19, 2011. Shrimp and Gulf blue crab were among the fisheries documented within the closed area.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/sustainable-fisheries/deepwater-horizon-oil-spill-2010-frequently-asked-questions", "publisher": "NOAA Fisheries", "title": "Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill 2010 Frequently Asked Questions" }, { "url": "https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/content/deepwater-horizon-oil-spill-2010-size-and-percent-coverage-fishing-area-closures-due", "publisher": "NOAA Fisheries", "title": "Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill 2010 - Size and Percent Coverage of Fishing Area Closures Due to BP Oil Spill" }, { "url": "https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/R/PDF/R41640/R41640.2.pdf", "publisher": "Congressional Research Service", "title": "The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and the Gulf of Mexico Fishing Industry (R41640)" } ] }, { "id": "russian-drought-grain-export-ban-2010", "label": "Russian drought, wildfires & grain export ban (2010)", "startDate": "2010-06", "endDate": "2011-06", "affectedSlugs": [ "vegetable-oil" ], "whatHappened": "USDA FAS documented that a severe summer heat wave, drought and wildfires cut Russia's 2010 harvest. Russia's total grain output fell from about 97 million metric tons in 2009 to roughly 60 MMT in 2010 (a ~37% decline), and Russian sunflower-seed output was estimated about 10% below 2009. Russia is a leading wheat and sunflower-oil exporting country. Effective August 15, 2010, the Russian government imposed a temporary ban on exports of wheat, barley, rye and maize (plus wheat and rye flour), initially set to run through December 2010 and later extended through July 1, 2011. (The export ban itself covered grains, not oilseeds or vegetable oil.)", "sources": [ { "url": "https://apps.fas.usda.gov/newgainapi/api/report/downloadreportbyfilename?filename=Effects+of+the+Summer+Drought+and+Fires+on+Russian+Agriculture_Moscow_Russian+Federation_10-26-2010.pdf", "publisher": "USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (GAIN)", "title": "Effects of the Summer Drought and Fires on Russian Agriculture" }, { "url": "https://apps.fas.usda.gov/newgainapi/api/Report/DownloadReportByFileName?fileName=Ban+on+Grain+Exports+from+Russia+Comes+to+Force+on+August+15+_Moscow_Russian+Federation_8-6-2010.pdf", "publisher": "USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (GAIN)", "title": "Ban on Grain Exports from Russia Comes to Force on August 15" } ] }, { "id": "cattle-herd-contraction-2011", "label": "Drought-driven cattle herd contraction, record-low 2014 inventory", "startDate": "2011-01", "endDate": "2014-12", "affectedSlugs": [ "ribeye", "striploin", "short-rib", "beef-tenderloin", "ground-beef" ], "whatHappened": "USDA documented that persistent drought across major US cattle-raising regions of the Southern Plains and Southwest, including the widespread 2011-2012 drought, degraded pasture and forage supplies and prompted cow-calf operators to cull cows and limit heifer retention. A multi-year liquidation of the national cattle herd culminated on January 1, 2014, when USDA/NASS counted 88.2 million cattle and calves, the smallest US cattle inventory since 1952. Herd rebuilding progressed slowly in 2014 as some producers continued to market female cattle rather than retain them for breeding.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/animal-products/cattle-beef/sector-at-a-glance", "publisher": "USDA Economic Research Service", "title": "Cattle & Beef - Sector at a Glance" }, { "url": "https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/charts-of-note/chart-detail?chartId=77663", "publisher": "USDA Economic Research Service", "title": "Drought impacts help drive U.S. cattle and beef prices to record levels" }, { "url": "https://www.nass.usda.gov/Charts_and_Maps/Cattle/inv.php", "publisher": "USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service", "title": "Cattle: Inventory on January 1 by Year, US" } ] }, { "id": "northwestern-mexico-freeze-2011", "label": "Northwestern Mexico hard freeze (February 2011)", "startDate": "2011-02-03", "endDate": "2011-04-15", "affectedSlugs": [ "tomato", "cherry-tomato", "bell-pepper", "jalapeno", "serrano-pepper", "poblano-pepper", "cucumber", "eggplant", "zucchini", "yellow-squash" ], "whatHappened": "An unusually severe freeze on the night of Feb 3-4, 2011 reached deep into northwestern Mexico's winter-vegetable region (Sinaloa, around Culiacan and Los Mochis) — reported as the area's worst cold since 1957 — coinciding with freezes in Florida and Texas. Industry notices described crop losses in the range of 80-100% on affected fields of tomatoes, bell and chili peppers, cucumbers, squash and eggplant, with reduced shipments to the US and Canada expected into early April. Mexico is a major winter supplier of these crops to the US.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://newsfeed.time.com/2011/02/15/no-tomatoes-at-sweet-tomatoes-restaurants-mexico-freeze-causes-u-s-veggie-shortage/", "publisher": "TIME", "title": "No Tomatoes at Sweet Tomatoes Restaurants? Mexico Freeze Causes U.S. Veggie Shortage" }, { "url": "https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/49652/cold-weather-damages-crops-in-sinaloa-mexico", "publisher": "NASA Earth Observatory", "title": "Cold Weather Damages Crops in Sinaloa, Mexico" } ] }, { "id": "jensen-farms-cantaloupe-listeria-2011", "label": "Listeria outbreak - Jensen Farms cantaloupe (2011)", "startDate": "2011-07-29", "endDate": "2011-09-14", "affectedSlugs": [ "cantaloupe" ], "whatHappened": "CDC and FDA investigated a multistate Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to whole cantaloupes from Jensen Farms of Holly, Colorado. Contaminated melons shipped from July 29 through mid-September 2011 to at least two dozen states; Jensen Farms issued a recall on Sept 14, 2011. CDC's final tally was 147 confirmed illnesses and 33 deaths across 28 states, among the deadliest US foodborne-illness outbreaks on record.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://archive.cdc.gov/www_cdc_gov/listeria/outbreaks/cantaloupes-jensen-farms/index.html", "publisher": "U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention", "title": "Multistate Outbreak of Listeriosis Linked to Whole Cantaloupes from Jensen Farms, Colorado" }, { "url": "https://archive.cdc.gov/www_cdc_gov/listeria/outbreaks/cantaloupes-jensen-farms/timeline.html", "publisher": "U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention", "title": "Jensen Farms Cantaloupe Listeria Outbreak - Timeline" }, { "url": "https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6039a5.htm", "publisher": "U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (MMWR)", "title": "Multistate Outbreak of Listeriosis Associated with Jensen Farms Cantaloupe - United States, August-September 2011" } ] }, { "id": "us-midwest-drought-2012", "label": "US Midwest / Corn Belt drought (2012)", "startDate": "2012-06", "endDate": "2013-08", "affectedSlugs": [ "vegetable-oil", "whole-chicken", "chicken-breast", "chicken-thigh" ], "whatHappened": "A historic drought and heat across much of the US Midwest and Corn Belt in summer 2012 sharply reduced feed-grain and oilseed output; drought conditions peaked in late July 2012. USDA NASS reported the 2012 US corn crop at 10.8 billion bushels, about 13% below 2011, with the national corn yield falling to 123.4 bushels per acre (from 147.2 in 2011); soybean yield came in at 39.6 bushels per acre with production of 3.01 billion bushels, down about 3% from 2011. Soybeans are the dominant US vegetable-oil oilseed, and feed grain represents a large share of poultry production costs. Elevated feed costs persisted into the 2012/13 marketing year.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.nass.usda.gov/Newsroom/archive/2013/01_11_2013.php", "publisher": "USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)", "title": "Crop Production Down in 2012 Due to Drought, USDA Reports" }, { "url": "https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/charts-of-note/chart-detail?chartId=76883", "publisher": "USDA Economic Research Service", "title": "Drought and heat in 2012 lowered U.S. corn yields by more than 40 bushels per acre" } ] }, { "id": "desert-southwest-freeze-2013", "label": "January 2013 desert Southwest freeze (Yuma / Imperial Valley)", "startDate": "2013-01-10", "endDate": "2013-01-16", "affectedSlugs": [ "iceberg-lettuce", "romaine-lettuce", "green-leaf-lettuce", "red-leaf-lettuce" ], "whatHappened": "A multi-day cold snap in mid-January 2013 brought freezing temperatures to the desert winter-vegetable regions of southwestern Arizona (Yuma County) and California's Imperial Valley, which together supply the majority of US leafy greens during winter. Growers and news reporting documented freeze damage to iceberg and romaine lettuce over the weekend of January 12-13, 2013 — including head blistering, epidermal peeling and internal leaf burn — with head lettuce within roughly three weeks of harvest hardest hit and some harvests delayed.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.npr.org/2013/01/14/169343378/arizona-southern-california-fight-off-frost-and-frozen-vegetables", "publisher": "NPR", "title": "Arizona, Southern California Fight Off Frost And Frozen Vegetables" }, { "url": "https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/cold-snap-threatens-california-oranges-arizona-lettuce/", "publisher": "The Seattle Times (Associated Press)", "title": "Cold snap threatens California oranges, Arizona lettuce" }, { "url": "https://www.farmprogress.com/vegetables/photos-freezing-temperatures-damage-lettuce-in-yuma-county-ariz-", "publisher": "Farm Progress", "title": "Photos: Freezing temperatures damage lettuce in Yuma County, Ariz." } ] }, { "id": "pedv-outbreak-2013", "label": "Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) outbreak (2013-14)", "startDate": "2013-05", "endDate": "2014-12", "affectedSlugs": [ "pork-belly", "pork-loin", "pork-shoulder" ], "whatHappened": "Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv), a swine disease that is nearly 100% fatal to piglets less than two weeks old, was first confirmed in the United States in May 2013 and spread through 2013 into 2014 across more than 30 states (reported at more than 4,700 farms in 30 states by June 2014). USDA and peer-reviewed assessments documented the death of millions of newborn piglets over the epidemic year (estimates on the order of 7-8 million pigs), a roughly 3% decline in the US pigs-saved-per-litter rate, and roughly 5 million fewer hogs sent to slaughter during the affected period.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://ers.usda.gov/data-products/charts-of-note/chart-detail?chartId=77411", "publisher": "USDA Economic Research Service", "title": "PEDv outbreak sparks increase in hog prices" }, { "url": "https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/chart-gallery/gallery/chart-detail/?chartId=77501", "publisher": "USDA Economic Research Service", "title": "Effects of PEDv outbreak evident in U.S. pig-per-litter rate" }, { "url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7109690/", "publisher": "Journal of Animal Science (via PMC / NIH; PMID 26641031)", "title": "Assessment of the economic impacts of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus in the United States" } ] }, { "id": "mexican-lime-shortfall-2014", "label": "Mexican lime supply shortfall (2014)", "startDate": "2014-01", "endDate": "2014-05", "affectedSlugs": [ "lime" ], "whatHappened": "USDA ERS documented a sharp reduction in the supply of Mexican limes reaching the US in spring 2014. Contributing production factors included heavy rainfall in Veracruz, Mexico in late 2013 that reduced the Persian lime harvest and citrus greening disease affecting lime trees in Colima; theft and hijacking of shipments were also reported. About 98% of US-consumed limes are supplied by Mexico.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/charts-of-note/chart-detail?chartId=77740", "publisher": "USDA Economic Research Service", "title": "Shortage of Mexican limes leads to sharp spike in U.S. prices" }, { "url": "https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2014/05/05/309073066/the-lime-shortage-still-messing-with-your-margarita", "publisher": "NPR", "title": "The Lime Shortage: Still Messing With Your Margarita" } ] }, { "id": "hpai-outbreak-2014", "label": "2014-2015 highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak", "startDate": "2014-12", "endDate": "2015-06", "affectedSlugs": [ "eggs", "whole-turkey" ], "whatHappened": "USDA APHIS documented a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI, H5N2/H5N8/H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4) epizootic in US poultry between December 2014 and June 2015 — the largest animal-health emergency in US history at that time. APHIS recorded 232 HPAI detections in domestic flocks across 15 states (211 of them in commercial operations), leading to the depopulation of about 50.4 million birds, including roughly 43.0 million table-egg layers and pullets and about 7.4 million turkeys. Estimated economic impacts exceeded $3 billion. Commercial broiler chicken flocks were largely unaffected.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/finalreport14-15_shortppt.pdf", "publisher": "USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)", "title": "Final Report for the 2014-2015 Outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in the United States" }, { "url": "https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-17-360", "publisher": "U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)", "title": "Avian Influenza: USDA Has Taken Actions to Reduce Risks but Needs a Plan to Evaluate Its Efforts (GAO-17-360)" }, { "url": "https://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2018/april/egg-price-impacts-of-the-2014-15-highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-outbreak", "publisher": "USDA Economic Research Service (ERS)", "title": "Egg Price Impacts of the 2014-15 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Outbreak" } ] }, { "id": "hurricane-irma-florida-citrus-2017", "label": "Hurricane Irma - Florida citrus (September 2017)", "startDate": "2017-09-10", "endDate": "2017-10-12", "affectedSlugs": [ "grapefruit" ], "whatHappened": "Hurricane Irma made US landfall in the Florida Keys on Sept 10, 2017 and tracked up the peninsula through citrus-growing counties, knocking ripening fruit from trees, uprooting trees and flooding groves. In its Oct 12, 2017 Crop Production report, USDA NASS forecast the 2017/18 Florida orange crop at 54.0 million boxes and noted increased fruit drop attributable largely to Irma's high winds; Florida grapefruit was forecast at 4.90 million boxes, 37% below the prior season, with the drop percentage including Irma's effects.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.nass.usda.gov/Newsroom/Notices/2017/10_13_2017.php", "publisher": "USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service", "title": "Hurricane Irma Impact on Florida Orange Production" }, { "url": "https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/charts-of-note/chart-detail?chartId=87332", "publisher": "USDA Economic Research Service", "title": "Hurricane Irma further reduced already shrinking Florida citrus production" } ] }, { "id": "virulent-newcastle-disease-california-2018", "label": "Virulent Newcastle disease outbreak, California (2018-2020)", "startDate": "2018-05-17", "endDate": "2020-06-01", "affectedSlugs": [ "eggs", "whole-chicken" ], "whatHappened": "USDA APHIS and CDFA confirmed virulent Newcastle disease (vND) in poultry in Southern California beginning May 17, 2018, predominantly in backyard exhibition chickens. Between May 2018 and May 2020, 476 premises tested positive across six California counties (concentrated in Riverside, San Bernardino, and Los Angeles counties), including four commercial premises (table-egg layer facilities). The state-federal response quarantined more than 8,700 premises and depopulated approximately 1.2 million birds across roughly 2,400 premises. USDA-APHIS certified the United States as having met the World Organisation for Animal Health criteria for vND eradication on June 1, 2020.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/epi-analy-vnd-poultry-calif.pdf", "publisher": "USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)", "title": "Epidemiologic Analyses of Virulent Newcastle Disease in Poultry in California" }, { "url": "https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/Animal_Health/Newcastle_Disease_Info.html", "publisher": "California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA)", "title": "Virulent Newcastle Disease" } ] }, { "id": "african-swine-fever-china-2018", "label": "African swine fever in China (2018-19), global hog-supply shock", "startDate": "2018-08", "endDate": "2020-12", "affectedSlugs": [ "pork-belly", "pork-loin", "pork-shoulder" ], "whatHappened": "China, the world's largest pork producer, confirmed its first case of African swine fever (ASF) on August 3, 2018; the virus spread to every province by mid-2019. USDA ERS documented that China's swine inventory fell more than 40% year over year by late 2019 and that Chinese pork production fell sharply, with reduced Chinese output sharply increasing demand for imported pork; US pork exports to China through November 2019 (more than 790 million pounds) were more than double the same period in 2018. China Ministry of Agriculture / industry estimates put the hog inventory decline at 320.8 million to 190.9 million head by August 2019 (~40%), the sow herd down about 39%, 2019 production down roughly 21%, and about 143 million pigs dead from disease or culling.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2020/february/african-swine-fever-shrinks-pork-production-in-china-swells-demand-for-imported-pork", "publisher": "USDA Economic Research Service (Amber Waves)", "title": "African Swine Fever Shrinks Pork Production in China, Swells Demand for Imported Pork" }, { "url": "https://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details?pubid=107924", "publisher": "USDA Economic Research Service", "title": "How China's African Swine Fever Outbreaks Affected Global Pork Markets (ERR-326)" } ] }, { "id": "autumn-freeze-us-potato-2019", "label": "Early autumn freeze - US potato crop (October 2019)", "startDate": "2019-10-09", "endDate": "2019-10-31", "affectedSlugs": [ "russet-potato", "red-potato" ], "whatHappened": "An early hard freeze with record cold and snow beginning around Oct 9, 2019 hit potato-growing regions of the northern US (notably Idaho and the Red River Valley of North Dakota/Minnesota) before harvest was complete, leaving an estimated 10-20% of Idaho's crop still in the ground. The Idaho Potato Commission estimated up to roughly 30% of the statewide crop was lost to frost, and USDA subsequently forecast lower US potato output for the year (Idaho's 2019 crop down about 6% versus 2018); frost exposure also raised the risk of storage rot and bruising in harvested tubers. Red River Valley red and yellow potatoes were also documented as damaged.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://capitalpress.com/2019/10/18/growers-eye-crop-quality-after-hard-freeze/", "publisher": "Capital Press", "title": "Growers eye crop quality after hard freeze" }, { "url": "https://www.npr.org/2019/10/15/770224600/idaho-farmers-worry-early-cold-weather-could-ruin-potato-harvest", "publisher": "NPR", "title": "Idaho Farmers Worry Early Cold Could Ruin Potato Harvest" }, { "url": "https://www.weather.gov/fgf/2019_10_10-12_CripplingBlizzard", "publisher": "NOAA/National Weather Service", "title": "Review of the October 10-12, 2019 Crippling Blizzard over eastern North Dakota and the Red River Valley" }, { "url": "https://www.grandforksherald.com/business/red-river-valley-red-yellow-potatoes-see-millions-in-damages", "publisher": "Grand Forks Herald", "title": "Red River Valley red, yellow potatoes see millions in damages" }, { "url": "https://www.idahofb.org/news-room/posts/idaho-potato-production-down-6-percent/", "publisher": "Idaho Farm Bureau", "title": "Idaho potato production down 6 percent" } ] }, { "id": "covid-dairy-supply-chain-2020", "label": "COVID-19 US dairy supply-chain disruption (2020)", "startDate": "2020-03", "endDate": "2020-08", "affectedSlugs": [ "cheddar-cheese", "butter" ], "whatHappened": "The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020 abruptly closed a large share of US foodservice demand (restaurants, schools, hospitality), and USDA documented on-farm milk disposal during the first quarter of 2020 (dumped milk was made eligible for CFAP payments). Beginning May 15, 2020, USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service launched the Farmers to Families Food Box program, which required milk and cheese in dairy boxes; USDA reported the first round contracted roughly $1.2 billion of food products including about $317 million of dairy over a short window, concentrating cheese and dairy demand. The program ultimately distributed more than 173 million boxes worth over $5 billion before ending in 2021.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.choicesmagazine.org/choices-magazine/theme-articles/agricultural-market-response-to-covid-19/covid-19-and-the-us-dairy-supply-chain", "publisher": "Choices Magazine (Agricultural & Applied Economics Association)", "title": "COVID-19 and the U.S. Dairy Supply Chain" }, { "url": "https://www.fns.usda.gov/news-item/usda-030220", "publisher": "US Department of Agriculture (Food and Nutrition Service)", "title": "USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program Reaches 20 Million Boxes Distributed" }, { "url": "https://www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food-to-usda/farmers-to-families-food-box", "publisher": "USDA Agricultural Marketing Service", "title": "USDA Farmers to Families Food Box" } ] }, { "id": "covid-meatpacking-closures-2020", "label": "COVID-19 meatpacking plant closures (spring 2020)", "startDate": "2020-04", "endDate": "2020-08", "affectedSlugs": [ "ribeye", "striploin", "short-rib", "beef-tenderloin", "ground-beef", "pork-belly", "pork-loin", "pork-shoulder" ], "whatHappened": "Amid COVID-19 outbreaks among plant workers, major US meatpacking plants idled or curtailed operations in spring 2020. Smithfield Foods indefinitely closed its Sioux Falls, SD pork plant (about 4-5% of US pork production) on April 12, 2020, and JBS closed its Greeley, CO beef plant on April 13, 2020; by late April at least 15 plants were reported closed. USDA and the Congressional Research Service documented that daily cattle and hog slaughter capacity fell substantially, that weekly federally inspected cattle slaughter for the week ending April 25, 2020 (469,000 head) was down about 27% year-over-year, and that pork processing capacity utilization bottomed near 54% (53.9% on April 29, 2020) before recovering over the summer.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/IN11366.html", "publisher": "Congressional Research Service", "title": "COVID-19 Disrupts U.S. Meat Supply; Producer Prices Tumble" }, { "url": "https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/covid-impact-livestock-markets.pdf", "publisher": "USDA", "title": "The Impact of Coronavirus COVID-19 on US Meat and Livestock Markets" }, { "url": "https://ers.usda.gov/data-products/charts-of-note/chart-detail?chartId=98682", "publisher": "USDA Economic Research Service", "title": "U.S. pork processing capacity utilization rebounds as COVID-19 infections of plant labor forces recede" } ] }, { "id": "insv-salinas-lettuce-2020", "label": "INSV outbreak in Salinas Valley lettuce (2020)", "startDate": "2020-06", "endDate": "2020-11", "affectedSlugs": [ "iceberg-lettuce", "romaine-lettuce", "green-leaf-lettuce", "red-leaf-lettuce", "butter-lettuce" ], "whatHappened": "Peer-reviewed research and regional reporting documented a severe outbreak of impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV), a thrips-transmitted orthotospovirus, in lettuce across California's Salinas Valley (Monterey County) during the 2020 growing season. A survey of roughly 1,350 fields reported an average crop loss of about 33%, with some fields reaching 100% loss, and an estimated $100 million in lost gross revenue for Salinas Valley lettuce growers that year. All lettuce types (iceberg, butterhead, romaine, and leaf) are documented as susceptible. Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) populations and hot weather were identified as drivers of the outbreak's spread.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/10.1094/PDIS-05-22-1248-RE", "publisher": "Plant Disease (American Phytopathological Society)", "title": "Epidemiology and Economic Impact of Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus: A Resurging Pathogen Affecting Lettuce in the Salinas Valley of California" }, { "url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36018552/", "publisher": "PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine)", "title": "Epidemiology and Economic Impact of Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus: A Resurging Pathogen Affecting Lettuce in the Salinas Valley of California" } ] }, { "id": "thomson-onion-recall-salmonella-2020", "label": "Thomson International onion recall - Salmonella Newport (2020)", "startDate": "2020-07", "endDate": "2020-09-11", "affectedSlugs": [ "onion", "red-onion" ], "whatHappened": "CDC and FDA investigated a multistate Salmonella Newport outbreak (1,127 reported illnesses across 48 states, 167 hospitalizations, no deaths, with illness onsets from June 19 to Sept 11, 2020) linked to onions supplied by Thomson International, Inc. of Bakersfield, California. On Aug 1, 2020 Thomson recalled red, yellow, white and sweet yellow onions shipped from May 1, 2020 onward, distributed nationwide to wholesalers, restaurants and retailers, removing the affected product from the market. Red onions were identified as the likely source.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-newport-red-onions-july-2020", "publisher": "U.S. Food and Drug Administration", "title": "Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella Newport: Red Onions (July 2020)" }, { "url": "https://www.fda.gov/safety/major-product-recalls/2020-recalls-food-products-associated-onions-thomson-international-inc-due-potential-risk-salmonella", "publisher": "U.S. Food and Drug Administration", "title": "2020 Recalls of Food Products Associated with Onions from Thomson International, Inc. due to the Potential Risk of Salmonella" }, { "url": "https://archive.cdc.gov/www_cdc_gov/salmonella/newport-07-20/index.html", "publisher": "U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention", "title": "Outbreak of Salmonella Newport Infections Linked to Onions (July 2020)" } ] }, { "id": "winter-storm-uri-texas-citrus-2021", "label": "Winter Storm Uri - Texas citrus freeze (February 2021)", "startDate": "2021-02-13", "endDate": "2021-02-17", "affectedSlugs": [ "grapefruit" ], "whatHappened": "Winter Storm Uri brought a prolonged hard freeze to Texas in mid-February 2021 (Rio Grande Valley coldest around Feb 15, lows near 22 F for hours), including the Rio Grande Valley citrus region. Growers reported loss of most of the remaining Valencia orange crop and more than 60% of grapefruit, plus extensive tree damage (about 10% of trees damaged or killed) that curtailed the following season's production. Texas A&M AgriLife estimated roughly $230 million in citrus-industry damage, part of more than $600 million in total Texas agricultural losses.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://agrilifetoday.tamu.edu/2021/02/23/future-uncertain-for-texas-citrus-other-fruit-vegetable-production/", "publisher": "Texas A&M AgriLife (AgriLife Today)", "title": "Citrus future uncertain in Texas after winter storm Uri" }, { "url": "https://agrilifetoday.tamu.edu/2021/03/02/initial-ag-losses-from-uri-exceed-600-million/", "publisher": "Texas A&M AgriLife (AgriLife Today)", "title": "Uri agriculture damage estimates exceed $600 million in Texas" }, { "url": "https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/24/texas-agriculture-citrus-dairy-winter-storm/", "publisher": "The Texas Tribune", "title": "Texas citrus, dairy farmers urge patience after winter storm hurt production" } ] }, { "id": "cattle-herd-contraction-2022", "label": "US cattle herd contraction to a 1951 low (2022-2026)", "startDate": "2022-01", "endDate": "2026-01", "affectedSlugs": [ "ribeye", "striploin", "short-rib", "beef-tenderloin", "ground-beef" ], "whatHappened": "USDA/NASS documented a renewed multi-year contraction of the US cattle herd. Total cattle and calves fell to 87.2 million head on January 1, 2024 (then the lowest January 1 inventory since 1951) and to 86.2 million head on January 1, 2026, the smallest US cattle inventory since 1951; the 2025 calf crop fell to about 32.9 million head, the smallest since 1941. USDA and American Farm Bureau analyses attributed the liquidation to drought (including the 2021-2022 Southern Plains drought), elevated input costs, industry consolidation, and higher cow slaughter and heifer marketing that slowed herd rebuilding.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.nass.usda.gov/Newsroom/2026/01-30-2026.php", "publisher": "USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service", "title": "United States cattle inventory down slightly" }, { "url": "https://www.fb.org/market-intel/u-s-cattle-inventory-smallest-in-73-years", "publisher": "American Farm Bureau Federation", "title": "U.S. Cattle Inventory Smallest in 73 Years" }, { "url": "https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/animal-products/cattle-beef/sector-at-a-glance", "publisher": "USDA Economic Research Service", "title": "Cattle & Beef - Sector at a Glance" } ] }, { "id": "russia-ukraine-black-sea-disruption-2022", "label": "Russia-Ukraine war: Black Sea grain & sunflower-oil disruption (2022)", "startDate": "2022-02", "endDate": "2022-12", "affectedSlugs": [ "vegetable-oil" ], "whatHappened": "Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, USDA FAS and FAO documented major disruption to Black Sea grain and oilseed shipments. Ukraine, which moved more than 90% of its agricultural exports by sea and supplied roughly 47% of world sunflower-oil exports in 2021, saw exports fall sharply as its ports were blockaded early in the war; monthly Ukrainian agricultural exports dropped to about 1.2 million metric tons before the UN-brokered Black Sea Grain Initiative (July 2022) allowed volumes to recover toward roughly 6.3 MMT per month by December 2022. Ukraine and the Russian Federation together are among the world's leading exporters of wheat, maize and sunflower oil.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.fas.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-07/Ukraine-Factsheet-July2022.pdf", "publisher": "USDA Foreign Agricultural Service", "title": "Ukraine Agricultural Production and Trade (Factsheet, July 2022)" }, { "url": "https://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2024/may/ukraine-s-rise-in-grain-and-sunflower-seed-market-share-limited-by-ongoing-war", "publisher": "USDA Economic Research Service", "title": "Ukraine's Rise in Grain and Sunflower Seed Market Share Limited by Ongoing War" } ] }, { "id": "hpai-outbreak-2022", "label": "2022 avian influenza outbreak onset (H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b)", "startDate": "2022-02-08", "endDate": "2022-12", "affectedSlugs": [ "eggs", "whole-turkey", "whole-chicken", "chicken-breast", "chicken-thigh" ], "whatHappened": "USDA APHIS confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (Eurasian H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b) in a US commercial flock on February 8, 2022 — a commercial turkey operation in DuBois County, Indiana — marking the start of what would become the largest HPAI outbreak in US history. During 2022, APHIS reported the outbreak affected more than 57 million birds nationwide across commercial and backyard flocks in dozens of states, including more than 43 million commercial table-egg laying hens depopulated that year, with the single largest monthly loss in March 2022. Affected commercial flocks included egg layers (~75% of losses), turkeys (~11%), and broilers (~8%).", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48518", "publisher": "Congressional Research Service (Library of Congress)", "title": "The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Outbreak in Poultry, 2022-Present (R48518)" }, { "url": "https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/commercial-backyard-flocks", "publisher": "USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)", "title": "Confirmations of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Commercial and Backyard Flocks" } ] }, { "id": "mexican-avocado-suspension-2022", "label": "US suspension of Mexican avocado imports from Michoacan (February 2022)", "startDate": "2022-02-11", "endDate": "2022-02-18", "affectedSlugs": [ "avocado" ], "whatHappened": "On Feb 11, 2022, USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) suspended inspections of Mexican avocados in Michoacan — the only Mexican state then authorized to export avocados to the US, supplying the large majority of US avocado imports — after an APHIS inspector received a threat while carrying out field work near Uruapan. With inspections paused, avocado shipments from Michoacan halted. USDA lifted the suspension on Feb 18, 2022 after additional inspector-safety measures were agreed with Mexican authorities and the exporters' association.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.thepacker.com/news/produce-crops/usda-pauses-mango-and-avocado-inspections-michoacan", "publisher": "The Packer", "title": "USDA pauses mango and avocado inspections in Michoacan" }, { "url": "https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/14/business/avocados-mexico-us", "publisher": "CNN", "title": "US suspends avocado imports from Mexico after threat to US inspector" }, { "url": "https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/18/us-government-allows-mexican-avocado-imports-to-resume-after-brief-suspension.html", "publisher": "CNBC", "title": "US government allows Mexican avocado imports to resume after brief suspension" } ] }, { "id": "indonesia-palm-oil-export-ban-2022", "label": "Indonesia palm-oil export ban (2022)", "startDate": "2022-04-28", "endDate": "2022-05-23", "affectedSlugs": [ "vegetable-oil" ], "whatHappened": "Indonesia, the world's largest palm-oil producer and exporter, imposed a temporary ban on exports of crude palm oil, refined/bleached/deodorised (RBD) palm oil, RBD palm olein and used cooking oil effective April 28, 2022, stated to secure domestic cooking-oil supplies. FAO GIEWS documented that the ban was lifted on May 23, 2022 (about three weeks) via Regulation No. 30/2022, after which Indonesia reinstated a Domestic Market Obligation and Domestic Price Obligation requiring a share of palm-oil supply to be reserved for the domestic market.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.fao.org/giews/food-prices/food-policies/detail/en/c/1529567/", "publisher": "Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (GIEWS/FPMA)", "title": "Indonesia lifts temporary ban on palm oil exports" }, { "url": "https://www.spglobal.com/commodity-insights/en/news-research/latest-news/agriculture/051922-indonesia-to-lift-ban-on-palm-oil-exports-from-may-23-trade-reactions-vary", "publisher": "S&P Global Commodity Insights", "title": "Indonesia to lift ban on palm oil exports from May 23, trade reactions vary" } ] }, { "id": "low-us-butter-cold-storage-2022", "label": "Low US butter cold-storage stocks (2022)", "startDate": "2022-05", "endDate": "2022-12", "affectedSlugs": [ "butter" ], "whatHappened": "USDA data documented unusually low US butter cold-storage inventories through 2022. USDA NASS Cold Storage reported butter holdings running well below prior-year levels (a three-year seasonal low in May 2022, down about 23% year over year, with monthly holdings bottoming near 199.8 million pounds in November), while US milk production ran slightly under the prior year and USDA ERS data showed elevated butter/butterfat exports relative to 2021.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.nass.usda.gov/Charts_and_Maps/Livestock_Cold_Storage/butter.php", "publisher": "USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service", "title": "Butter: Cold Storage Stocks by Month and Year, US" }, { "url": "https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/chart-gallery/chart-detail?chartId=104988", "publisher": "USDA Economic Research Service", "title": "Butter cold storage ending stocks and exports, January 2021 to August 2022" } ] }, { "id": "insv-salinas-lettuce-2022", "label": "INSV outbreak and fall lettuce supply shortfall, Salinas Valley (2022)", "startDate": "2022-06", "endDate": "2022-12", "affectedSlugs": [ "iceberg-lettuce", "romaine-lettuce", "green-leaf-lettuce", "red-leaf-lettuce", "butter-lettuce" ], "whatHappened": "Published research and industry reporting documented that INSV outbreaks, combined with the soil-borne pathogen Pythium wilt, affected Salinas Valley lettuce production in 2022, with an estimated $150 million in losses to the region's lettuce industry reported for the year. Survey work in Monterey County (2021 season) detected the virus at incidence above 1% in more than 750 fields, with incidence above 50% not uncommon and severe fields reaching up to 100% loss. In fall 2022, Salinas Valley lettuce supplies were documented as short, with record wholesale per-box prices reported for iceberg, romaine, green leaf and red leaf lettuce; the December transition to desert growing regions was separately affected by unusually cool weather.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/10.1094/PDIS-05-22-1248-RE", "publisher": "Plant Disease (American Phytopathological Society)", "title": "Epidemiology and Economic Impact of Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus: A Resurging Pathogen Affecting Lettuce in the Salinas Valley of California" }, { "url": "https://www.thepacker.com/news/produce-crops/lettuce-markets-soar-records-prices-should-cool-december", "publisher": "The Packer", "title": "Lettuce markets soar to records, but prices should cool in December" }, { "url": "https://www.farmprogress.com/crop-disease/viruses-devastate-salinas-valley-lettuce", "publisher": "Farm Progress", "title": "Viruses devastate Salinas Valley lettuce" } ] }, { "id": "hurricane-ian-florida-citrus-2022", "label": "Hurricane Ian - Florida citrus (September 2022)", "startDate": "2022-09-28", "endDate": "2022-12-09", "affectedSlugs": [ "grapefruit" ], "whatHappened": "Hurricane Ian made landfall as a Category 4 storm on Florida's southwest coast on Sept 28, 2022 and crossed major citrus-producing counties, damaging trees and knocking down fruit. USDA's December 9, 2022 forecast lowered the all-grapefruit forecast to 1.80 million boxes and put 2022/23 Florida orange production about 36% below its October estimate — reflecting damage from Ian and Hurricane Nicole (November 2022) — making it one of the lowest Florida orange crops since World War II.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Florida/Publications/Citrus/Citrus_Forecast/2022-23/cit1222a.pdf", "publisher": "USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service", "title": "Citrus (December Forecast), released December 9, 2022 — Florida 2022/23 orange and grapefruit production forecasts" }, { "url": "https://www.tampabay.com/news/business/2022/12/12/usda-florida-orange-crop-down-36-after-twin-hurricanes/", "publisher": "Tampa Bay Times (Associated Press)", "title": "USDA: Florida orange crop down 36% after twin hurricanes" } ] }, { "id": "salinas-pajaro-flooding-2023", "label": "2023 Salinas Valley / Pajaro River flooding", "startDate": "2023-01", "endDate": "2023-03", "affectedSlugs": [ "romaine-lettuce", "iceberg-lettuce", "celery", "broccoli", "spinach" ], "whatHappened": "A series of atmospheric-river storms in January and March 2023 caused widespread flooding in Monterey County's Salinas Valley and the Pajaro River area, including a Pajaro River levee breach in March 2023. The Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner's Office documented roughly 15,507 acres flooded in January and 8,736 acres in March (over 20,000 acres of farmland impacted for the year), with weather-related agricultural damage estimates ranging from about $330 million in initial surveys to roughly $600 million in later county tallies. Romaine lettuce, celery and broccoli were among the crops reported most affected; leafy-greens food-safety rules require destroying crops exposed to floodwater and testing soil before replanting, and total county lettuce acreage for the year was reported down roughly 3,000 acres from the prior year.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.countyofmonterey.gov/Home/Components/News/News/9723/1336", "publisher": "County of Monterey Agricultural Commissioner's Office", "title": "Agricultural Commissioner's Office Releases Initial Survey Results of Storm Impacts on Monterey County Agriculture" }, { "url": "https://www.farmprogress.com/crops/weather-dampens-23-monterey-county-crop-value", "publisher": "Farm Progress", "title": "Weather dampens '23 Monterey County crop value" }, { "url": "https://localnewsmatters.org/2023/05/18/growing-losses-monterey-county-agriculture-may-suffer-600m-impact-from-winter-storms/", "publisher": "Local News Matters (Bay City News Foundation)", "title": "Growing losses: Monterey County agriculture may suffer $600M impact from winter storms" } ] }, { "id": "winter-avian-influenza-surge-2024", "label": "2024-2025 winter avian influenza surge", "startDate": "2024-11", "endDate": "2025-03", "affectedSlugs": [ "eggs", "whole-turkey", "whole-chicken", "chicken-breast", "chicken-thigh" ], "whatHappened": "The ongoing H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b HPAI outbreak intensified over the winter of 2024-2025. USDA APHIS reported roughly 18.25 million birds affected in December 2024 and about 23.3 million in January 2025, with commercial egg-layer depopulations concentrated in Ohio, Indiana, and Missouri; the national table-egg layer flock fell to about 291 million at the end of February 2025 from a typical level near 320-325 million. Cumulatively, USDA reported the 2022-present outbreak had affected more than 166 million birds through late February 2025, including more than 130 million commercial egg layers and over 18 million turkeys.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.fca.gov/template-fca/about/2025MarchUpdateonHPAI.pdf", "publisher": "U.S. Farm Credit Administration (FCA)", "title": "Update on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, March 13, 2025" }, { "url": "https://www.wattagnet.com/egg/article/15738148/hpai-roundup-2025-off-to-bad-start-for-us-layer-industry", "publisher": "WATT Global Media (WATTPoultry)", "title": "HPAI roundup: 2025 off to bad start for US layer industry" }, { "url": "https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48518", "publisher": "Congressional Research Service (Congress.gov)", "title": "The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Outbreak in Poultry, 2022-Present" } ] } ] }