Food Insecurity Hits Highest Level Since 2014 as USDA Ends Long-Running Report

USDA data indicates that 13.7 percent of U.S. households experienced food insecurity in 2024, the highest rate since 2014, even as most households remained food secure.

food.jpg

Market Day Report

NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD-TV) — The final Household Food Security in the United States Report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service shows that in 2024, 86.3 percent of U.S. households were considered “food secure” for that entire year.

On the other hand, 13.7 percent of U.S. households experienced some form of food insecurity throughout the year. That is the highest rate recorded since 2014.

Of the Americans experiencing some level of food insecurity, 5.4 percent of U.S. households experienced “very low food security,” defined by the USDA as “the more severe range of food insecurity where one or more household members experience reduced food intake and disrupted eating patterns at times during the year because of limited money or other resources for food.”

Last year, the USDA announced it would end this study, citing “politicization.” USDA officials told RFD-TV News that they will continue to monitor food security rates using reports from other government agencies and private sources.

Related Stories
Vanessa Wood shares more about Ag Women Connect, the importance of uplifting women in agriculture, and upcoming projects designed to highlight stories across rural America.
House ag leaders had hoped to get the Farm Bill voted on by Easter, but no dates have been secured just yet.
Lower production is tightening honey supplies across markets.
Rising protein demand supports long-term trade in feed and meat.
Diversification is critical as conservation reshapes rural economies.
Herd contraction remains gradual across North America.

Marion is a digital content manager for RFD News and FarmHER + RanchHER. She started working for Rural Media Group in May 2022, bringing a decade of digital experience in broadcast media and some cooking experience to the team.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Keir Albert of Albert Acres Cattle Company joined us on Monday’s Market Day Report to share his journey into raising Texas Longhorn cattle and the reason behind his trip to Kenya.
CLAAS is expanding its customer service offerings in Iowa, as well as breaking ground in Nebraska on a 44,000 square foot research and development facility that will focus on fieldwork in the region.
Lewie Pugh, with the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, joined us on Monday’s Market Day Report with his insights on the incident and a deeper dive into the issues at hand.
As the Trump Administration seeks out new global trade partnerships, Congress is considering more support for farmers, which comes as the Federal Reserve warns that farmers need a safety net.
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins will travel to Europe and Asia to seek new trade partnerships for U.S. crops after China reduced imports due to tariffs.
Agriculture Shows
Special 3-part series tells the story of the Claas family’s legacy, which changed agriculture forever.
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.
Champions of Rural America is a half-hour dive into the legislative priorities for Rural America. Join us as we interview members of the Congressional Western Caucus to learn about efforts in Washington to preserve agriculture and tackles the most important topics in the ag industry on Champions of Rural America!
Featuring members of Congress, federal and state officials, ag and food leaders, farmers, and roundtable panelists for debates and discussions.