2.The Department of Agriculture said the number had not risen from 2008, despite a sharp increase in unemployment, and many families would have faced far more severe problems without help from the federal government.
这句话的主语和谓语是:The Department of Agriculture said,后面是宾语从句。宾语从句的主干是:the number had not risen from 2008。后面是despite引导的让步状语从句。