Assessing US Performance: Land and 21st Century Field Crop Production

Around the turn of the century, a sharp break occurred. World harvested acres began to increase after a 20-year period of stability (see farmdoc daily November 16, 2022). Since then, the role of land in increasing crop output has varied notably by region. It has accounted for over 50% and 40% of the higher crop output in South America and Sub-Saharan Africa, respectively. For the world, harvested acres have been responsible for one-third of the increase in crop output since 2000. In contrast, higher crop output in the United States (US) and European Union (EU) was entirely yield dependent. The US dependency on yield prompts policy questions regarding US agricultural research and export programs.