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
Broader export demand helps stabilize prices and supports stronger marketing opportunities over time.
Rising production underscores the importance of marketing discipline and margin protection as milk supplies expand.
Oregon FFA CEO Kjer Kizer discusses the proposed budget reductions, potential consequences, and the importance of protecting learning opportunities for students interested in agriculture.
Farms and major food companies use AI to improve efficiency and forecast demand. Still, developers said that training AI for different uses is only possible with support from knowledgeable workers.
The report shows that, despite production challenges, dairy farmers are producing more milk with fewer resources per gallon across the industry.
Smaller U.S. production and steady global demand could provide better pricing opportunities in 2026.

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:

Mike Knotts with the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association joined us with the latest on storm impacts, power restoration, and safety considerations following the ice storm.
Brooks York with AgriSompo joined us with his outlook on crop insurance and risk management following the recent winter storm that tore through most of the United States, including the Midwest.
Placements and marketings beat expectations, but declining on-feed totals and feeder constraints keep the supply story supportive for cattle prices into 2026. Dr. Derrell Peel, with Oklahoma State University, joined us to break down cattle-on-feed numbers and provide his broader market outlook.
USDA Rural Development Director for Kentucky, Travis Burton, joined us to discuss the Princeton facility (formerly Porter Road Meats), now backed by the USDA, and its role in expanding domestic meat processing capacity.
Farm CPA Paul Neiffer joined us to break down the recent Fifth Circuit Court decision overturning a prior Tax Court decision on self-employment tax for limited partners, the ruling’s impact on farmers, and potential next steps in Congress.
Americans for Prosperity Arkansas Director Ryan Norris talks energy infrastructure, regulatory reform, and the role of critical minerals in supporting rural America.