Stephanie Mercier

Stephanie Mercier is the Senior Policy and Advocacy Adviser for the Farm Journal Foundation. From 1997-2011, she served as the Chief Economist for the Democratic staff of the Senate Agriculture Committee.

Latest Stories
CRP Land Conservation_Darrell Smith
Opinion
Incentivizing U.S. Farmer Efforts to Improve Water Quality
In recent decades, water quality has declined so seriously in certain bodies of water that federal courts have ordered local and state jurisdictions to take concrete actions to address the problem.
September 06, 2024 01:54 PM
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Stephanie Mercier
Stephanie_Mercier
Opinion
Reducing On-Farm Energy Use in the United States
Farmers continue to improve in this area
August 26, 2024 08:19 AM
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Stephanie Mercier
The House Farm Bill Inches Forward
On May 23, the House Agriculture Committee passed a 2024 farm bill on a largely party line vote. Due to cuts made to programs valued by Democratic members, prospects for moving to a successful floor vote are unclear.
June 06, 2024 11:55 AM
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Stephanie Mercier
Labor Problems Persist in the U.S. Agricultural Sector
U.S. farmers, especially in specialty crop and livestock operations, continue to struggle to find enough workers. As of the 2022 Census of Agriculture, 15 percent fewer farms reported using hired labor compared to 2017.
May 20, 2024 02:56 PM
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Stephanie Mercier
European Farmers Protest Against Policy Changes
Changes to farming regulations as well as increased agricultural imports have spurred farmer protests across the European Union over the last year or so. Their efforts may affect the EU Parliamentary elections in June.
May 02, 2024 08:04 AM
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Stephanie Mercier
China Moves from a ‘Cultural Revolution’ to an Agricultural Revolution
The government of China has come a long way in developing its agricultural sector over a relatively short period. Since 2000, the real value of China’s agricultural production has increased more than 530 percent.
April 09, 2024 10:50 PM
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Stephanie Mercier
What’s New In U.S. Agriculture--Tales from the 2022 Census of Agriculture
The 2022 Census of Agriculture continues the trend of declining number of farms and increasing average age of farmers. I also shows mixed results in terms of farmers adopting conserving agricultural practices.
February 28, 2024 02:58 PM
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Stephanie Mercier
Disruptions to Normal Shipping Patterns are Causing Another Spike in Ocean Freight Rates
Major disruptions to shipping through the Panama and Suez canals, occurring for very different reasons, are contributing to the recent spike in ocean freight rates.
January 19, 2024 12:49 PM
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Stephanie Mercier
Biofuels Seeking New Horizons
U.S. biofuel use has plateaued in recent years, and the industry is seeking new ways to expand use. One promising outlet is more use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in the commercial aviation sector.
January 03, 2024 11:30 AM
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Stephanie Mercier
Emerging Groundwater Issues Likely to Affect U.S. Agriculture
The rate of groundwater withdrawal from aquifers is increasing in many parts of the country, and agricultural use in irrigation is accounting for much of that change. Climate change may be accelerating this trend.
October 04, 2023 07:43 AM
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Stephanie Mercier
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