The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) produces
excellent research. In March of 2010 I discussed their report,
Energy Use in the US Food System, which noted that the energy-
cost intensity of food production was expanding (see Paris Over
Amherst: Food Energy and Credit). Given the strong advance in
energy and food poverty the past few years, as reflected in
soaring participation in SNAP (food stamp programs), the USDA
has produced a new piece of research just last month,
Alleviating Poverty in the United States: The Critical Role of
SNAP Benefits. The report concludes that, SNAP benefits have a
relatively stronger effect on the depth and severity of poverty
than on the prevalence of poverty. Yes, that makes sense. But
something additional in a key chart from the report caught my
attention. | see: SNAP participants, people in poverty, and the
unemployment rate, 1980-2009 (click images to enlarge). I've
drawn a red, vertical line in the USDA chart at the year 2003.
As you can see, that is the year th