The agency’s latestNational Resources Inventory(NRI) summary report features data on how U.S. non-federal rural lands are being used. Data come from 800,000 sample locations across the country. NRI data also show that between 2007 and 2010:
- Fruit, nut and flower production acreage surged from 124,800 to almost 273,800.
- Cropland acres increased by 2 million acres, this following a steady decline over the previous 25 years.
- Pastureland increased by 847,000 acres.
- Developed land increased by 2 percent from 111.1 million to 113.3 million acres.
- Palustrine wetlands slightly increased. These include swamps or marshes and estuarine wetlands.
- Acres enrolled in NRCS programs grew from about 17 million acres in 2007 to about 40 million in 2010.
—From USDA news release