Instead of Christmas in July, how about Thanksgiving in July? That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Forecasts for turkey production are up. Price forecasts are down. Gary Crawford reports. I noticed a number of radio stations and TV channels are doing Christmas in July programming so I decided to try Thanksgiving in July taking a look at that …
U.S. Consumers’ Food Spending Hit Record High in 2022
Consumers spent a record amount on food last year. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. New data from USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) shows consumer spending on food reached a record in 2022. Real, or inflation-adjusted, annual food spending in the United States increased steadily from 1997 to 2022, except in 2008 and 2009 during the Great Recession …
Lawmakers Introduce Women in Agriculture Bill
Lawmakers introduce the Women in Agriculture Bill. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (R-Va.), and Congresswoman Jenniffer González-Colón (R-Puerto Rico-At-Large) introduced bipartisan legislation to support women farmers and ranchers in Maine and across the United States. These lawmakers recently introduced the Women in Agriculture Act. The legislation would establish a research priority …
Support for Keeping AM Radio in New Vehicles
The call to keep AM radio in vehicles continues to grow. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Senate Bill 1669 is the AM Radio in Every Vehicle Act. This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to issue a rule that requires all new motor vehicles to have devices that can access AM broadcast stations installed as standard …
USDA Requests Input on GHG Measurement Plans
The USDA wants the public’s opinion on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. USDA is requesting public input on the draft “Federal Strategy to Advance Greenhouse Gas Measurement and Monitoring for the Agriculture and Forestry Sectors (.pdf).” The draft Federal Strategy outlines a framework for enhancing greenhouse gas measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification within …
U.N. Says More People Facing Hunger
There’s an increase in the number of people facing hunger. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Over 122 million more people around the world are facing hunger since 2019 due to COVID-19 and repeated weather shocks and conflicts like the war in Ukraine. That’s according to the latest “State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World” report …
Land Sales Slowing, Prices Remain High
Ag land sales are slowing but the prices are staying high. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The agriculture real estate market entered a period of de-escalation beginning in the fourth quarter of 2022. The market experienced a reduction in both sales volume and value growth since that time, as interest rates increased, and inflation pressures became more …
Deadline Friday to Nominate Farm Dog of the Year
The deadline is fast approaching to nominate your farm dog for a big award. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The nomination period for Farm Bureau’s 2024 Farm Dog of the Year Contest closes Friday. Denny Ashcraft, Kansas Farm Bureau Member and owner of Tough, the 2023 Farm Dog of the Year, says the contest is a great …
Canned, Frozen Corn Industry Struggling
Part of the corn industry is struggling and it may affect grocery store shelves. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. For those whose primary experience with corn is the butter-drenched cob variety, it might come as a surprise that other forms of sweet corn are in trouble. A new University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign analysis shows sweet corn production …
USDA Resources for Preventing HPAI
How the USDA is helping poultry producers keep the bird flu from spreading. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. USDA has several informational resources to help poultry producers protect their flocks from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. Chief Veterinarian Rosemary Sifford says at the center of the effort is the “Defend the Flock” educational program. “[There is] lots of …