Government Growth Statistics Overestimated

The U.S. Department of Agriculture revised farmland development rate figures used to gauge the pace of sprawl

1 minute read

January 12, 2001, 8:00 AM PST

By Christian Madera @http://www.twitter.com/cpmadera

The Agriculture Department says it overestimated the amount of farm land that was developed between 1992 and 1997 by 30 percent and it blames faulty software for the mistake. The department initially reported that nearly 16 million acres of farm land were converted to development between 1992 and 1997 a rate of 3.2 million per year. The correct figure, it turns out, is 11.2 million acres, a development rate of 2.2 million acres per year.

Thanks to Christian Peralta

FULL STORY: Government Admits Error on Farm Loss

Wednesday, January 10, 2001 in Associated Press

Community / Economic Development United States

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