On November 13, 2025, the U.S. government reopened after a 43-day shutdown, the longest in its history. The move was met with relief by agricultural analysts who had been waiting for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to resume operations. Here is why the agency plays a pivotal role in global agricultural statistics.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is one of the main benchmark sources for global agricultural data, both for the breadth of its coverage and the consistency of its releases.

The agency publishes detailed data on major cereals such as corn, wheat, barley and rice; oilseeds including soybeans, rapeseed, sunflower, palm oil and peanuts; cotton; sugar; and livestock such as cattle, hogs, poultry and dairy. For each sector, it tracks the full supply chain, from planting intentions and harvested acreage to total output, beginning and ending marketing-year stocks, and trade flows.

The USDA also issues country-specific production reports, allowing comparisons among major exporters such as Brazil, Argentina, the European Union and the United States.

Its monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE), compiled from official data, is closely watched by farmers, traders and policymakers. Its importance became clear during the government shutdown, when the temporary suspension of releases created uncertainty across markets. In the absence of official figures, market participants relied on private estimates, rumors and fragmented datasets that lacked the authority and precision of USDA reports.

A Benchmark and a Market Mover

By providing a comprehensive set of indicators updated monthly or annually depending on the commodity, the USDA does more than inform. It shapes expectations.

Revisions to production and stock estimates can trigger sharp market reactions. Higher-than-expected inventory forecasts, for example, can push corn or soybean futures lower on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT). Because its estimates are authoritative and periodically revised, USDA data serves as a reference point that forces traders, governments and producers to recalibrate strategies in real time. It also highlights the close interconnection of global agricultural markets.

Africa’s Data Gap

In Africa, where agriculture accounts for roughly 25% of GDP and employs about 60% of the workforce, USDA data plays a significant role. Reports produced by USDA agricultural attachés in more than 130 embassies and consulates provide insight into production trends, biotechnology, export standards, food services and trade policies. For many African countries, these reports help offset gaps in domestic statistical systems.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), fewer than half of African countries consistently report basic agricultural data such as land use, fertilizer application and yields.

This gap underscores the need to strengthen national statistical systems. Improving the availability, consistency and granularity of local agricultural data requires investment in collection infrastructure, updated land registries and regional platforms such as the African Agricultural Market Information System (SAIMA). Beyond improving policy design, reliable domestic data is ultimately a matter of economic sovereignty.

Espoir Olodo