Research in agriculture, especially in agricultural economics, often requires the use of agricultural statistics. Many government agencies compile and publish statistics that researchers may find useful. This handout directs researchers to selected statistical sources in the ACES Library. These sources have been selected because they have proved useful in the past.

The sources have been divided into four categories: finding aids, general sources, and agricultural sources. Please consult with a reference librarian for statistical sources on other topics, or for further assistance.

Note: For sources that have been listed as USDA Publications or Current Periodicals, current issues are shelved alphabetically in the lower level of the ACES Library. Those sources listed as ACES Ref Statistics can be found behind the Information Desk on the main level.

Commodity Prices. Gale Research Co., 1991.
338.5W28C1991 ACES Ref Statistics

Very comprehensive index to sources of wholesale and retail prices for over 10,000 commodities. Includes information on price frequency, effective markets, units of measure and time periods covered for agricultural, commercial, industrial and consumer products. Also includes a publishers index.

Handbook of Agricultural Statistical Data. American Agricultural Economics Association, 1986.
630.970321G183H ACES Ref Statistics

"A comprehensive source of information on many varied agricultural data series." Includes publications on crops, livestock, production, prices, consumption, income and nutrition. Discusses methodology, variables, data period and contact for each series. Somewhat dated but still useful.

Statistics Sources. Gale Research Co.
016.31ST2 ACES Ref Statistics
Latest edition in Reference Library. Earlier editions in Main Stacks.

Comprehensive subject index for finding statistical information in other sources. Particularly useful for agriculture.

Illinois Statistical Abstract. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Bureau of Economic and Business Research.
330.9773IL663 ACES Ref Statistics
Earlier editions in ACES Stacks and Main Stacks.

General source for statistics on Illinois. Includes agricultural statistics in chapter 17. Data extracted from cited statistical sources. Contains 1 to 5 years of statistical data.

The Statesman’s Year-book. Macmillan Press.
310ST2 ACES Ref Statistics
Latest edition in Reference Library. Earlier editions in Main Stacks.

"A statistical, political and economic account of the states of the world." Broad survey of information on every country in the world. Includes agricultural statistics, including very interesting comparative tables for agricultural crops. Contains 1 to 3 years of statistical data. Provides a place index and a person index, but no subject index. Includes a moderately useful topic finding list near its beginning.

Statistical Abstract of the United States. U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.
317UN3S ACES Ref Statistics
Earlier editions in ACES Stacks and Main Stacks.

A standard source for basic statistics on the social, political and economic aspects of the United States. Data extracted from cited statistical sources. Contains 1 to 20 years of statistical data. Includes comprehensive index. Divided into sections by subject including agriculture, geography and environment, health and nutrition, natural resources and prices.

Statistical Yearbook. United Nations.
310UN3S ACES Ref Statistics
Earlier editions in ACES Stacks.

General statistical source that includes international and U.S. crop, livestock, machinery and fertilizer statistics by country and region as well as food consumption and calorie consumption per capita. Usually contains 10 years of statistical data. Recent editions include a useful index and a bibliography of statistical sources. Text is in both English and French.

The World Almanac and Book of Facts. Newspaper Enterprise Association.
310W89 ACES Ref Statistics
Earlier editions in Main Stacks.

Includes a wealth of quick reference information, including agricultural statistics on production, acreage, prices and weather. Focuses on the United States but includes some international statistics. Contains 1 to 10 consecutive years of statistical data. Includes a very comprehensive general index near its beginning.

Agricultural Statistics. U.S. Department of Agriculture.
630UN3AGR ACES Ref Statistics
Earlier editions in ACES Stacks.

Excellent source for statistics on all areas of U.S. agriculture including production, consumption, costs and prices. Usually contains 1 to 10 years of statistical data. Includes a comprehensive index. Dates back to 1936 in ACES Stacks. Statistics for 1935 and earlier included in the Yearbook of Agriculture (630UN3A1 in ACES Stacks).

Census of Agriculture. U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.
630.973UN321C ACES Ref Statistics
Latest edition on the Web at http://www.nass.usda.gov/census/. Earlier editions in ACES Stacks.

"The leading source of statistics about the Nation’s agricultural production." Includes census data for the U.S. as a whole and for individual states, territories and counties. Includes statistics on most aspects of agriculture including production, crops, livestock, farm size and labor. Census data is important because statistics are actual not estimated. Currently released every 5 years.

Commodity Yearbook. Commodity Research Bureau.
Q.338C7301A ACES Ref Statistics
Earlier editions in ACES Stacks, ACES Storage and Main Stacks at 338C73 to Q.338C7301A.

Excellent source of market information, including production and prices, for various commodities. Contains 5 to 10 years of statistical data. Includes a glossary of terms and a table of contents.

Economic Indicators. U.S. Congress, Joint Economic Committee.
ACES Ref Statistics
Earlier editions in Main Stacks at 330.973 EC745.

Government publication covering useful economic variables for assessing the health of the national economy. Usually contains 10 years of statistical data including quarterly data for the most recent years.

FAO Fertilizer Yearbook. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
338.4F738F1 ACES Ref Statistics
Earlier editions in ACES Stacks at 338.4F738F to 338.4F738F1.

Includes comprehensive statistics on world production, consumption and trade of fertilizers by type and country. Contains 10 years of statistical data. Text is in English, French and Spanish.

FAO Forest Products Yearbook. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
338.1Y33 ACES Ref Statistics
Earlier editions in ACES Stacks.

Includes international statistics on forest products including roundwood, sawnwood, wood-based panels, wood pulp, paper and paperboard. Contains 5 years of statistical data. Text is in English, French and Spanish.

FAO Production Yearbook. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
338.1P9451 ACES Ref Statistics
Earlier editions in ACES Stacks at 338.1P945 to 338.1P9451.

Includes comprehensive statistics on international land use, population, crop production, livestock production and means of production by country and region. Contains 3 years of statistical data. Text is in English, French and Spanish.

FAO Trade Yearbook. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
382T6751 ACES Ref Statistics
Earlier editions in ACES Stacks and ACES Storage at 382T675 to 382T6751.

Includes extensive information on imports, exports and trade by country and region. Contains 3 years of statistical data. Text is in English, French and Spanish.

Food Consumption, Prices and Expenditure. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
Q.630UN3S ACES Stacks
Latest edition on the Web at http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/sb965/. Earlier editions shelved with the series Statistical Bulletin. Recent editions include no. 939 (1997), no. 928 (1996) and no. 915 (1994).

Includes comprehensive statistics on U.S. food prices, expenditure, consumption, per capita consumption, supply and utilization divided by food product. All editions contain statistical data back to 1970.

Food Consumption Statistics. Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Q.339.48OR14FO ACES Ref Statistics
Final edition covers 1979-1988. Earlier editions in ACES Stacks.

Includes food consumption statistics for industrialized countries throughout the world. Contains 10 years of statistical data. Text is in both English and French.

Illinois Agricultural Statistics. Illinois Agricultural Statistics Service.
338.1IL661IC ACES Ref Statistics
http://dli.grainger.uiuc.edu/aces_dli/statistics/index.html
http://www.agstats.state.il.us/ 
All editions in ACES Ref Statistics and ACES Stacks.

Excellent source for statistics on Illinois farm income, farm population, weather, crops, fruit, vegetables, livestock, dairy, poultry, prices, fertilizer and farm labor. Also includes statistics divided by county. Contains 10 years of statistical data for state as a whole but only 1 year of statistical data divided by county. One year of similar publications for most other states can also be found in ACES Ref Statistics.

Statistical Annual Supplement. Chicago Board of Trade.
332.64ST293 ACES Ref Statistics
Earlier editions in the ACES Stacks at 332.64ST293 (1986 to date), 332.64ST292 (1985-1986), 381ST29 (1979-1984), 381C433S (1969-1978) and 381C433 (1858-1968 as Annual Report).

Includes information about options on agricultural futures at the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT). Usually contains 1 year of daily information.

Weather in U.S. Agriculture (Statistical Bulletin, no. 834). U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
Q.630UN3S ACES Ref Statistics
Earlier editions in ACES Stacks with the series Statistical Bulletin. Earlier editions include no. 834 (1992), no. 789 (1989) and no. 765 (1988).

Includes precipitation and temperature data by state and farm production region. Lacks current data but excellent source for older time-series data. All editions contain statistical data back to 1950.