New Ag Coalition Focuses on Bioeconomy

Dan Corn, Hemp, Livestock, Poultry, Soybeans, Specialty Crops, This Land of Ours

A new coalition of agriculture groups with a new focus. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Several industry associations launched the Ag Bioeconomy Coalition just days ago, to advance federal policy initiatives that foster growth toward a circular economy based on innovative products derived from agricultural commodities. Encompassing a broad range of technologies, the ag bioeconomy uses renewable, …

Borlaug Fellows Announced

Dan This Land of Ours

A new team of fellows is advancing agricultural research. That’s today’s This Land of Ours. USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service has announced the 2022 Borlaug Fellows. Since 2004, the Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship Program has promoted agricultural productivity, food security, trade, and economic growth. Since the program’s inception, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has …

Improving E. Coli Tracking

Dan Cattle, This Land of Ours

Working toward better traceability during foodborne illness outbreaks. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, or ARS, is working to improve traceability during foodborne illness outbreaks. Scientists want to enhance the capacity of regulatory agencies to trace E. coli back to its source by studying how the DNA of a specific population of this …

World Food Prices Fall in June

Dan Economy, This Land of Ours

Costs may still feel high, but food prices are falling. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. World food prices fell for a third straight month in June. However, the United Nation’s food agency says those prices are close to record levels set in March. The Food and Agriculture Organization’s food price index tracks the most globally-traded food commodities, …

Farm Bureau Foundation Awards Ag Literacy Grants

Dan Education, This Land of Ours

Farm Bureau is encouraging ag literacy. That’s today’s This Land of Ours. The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture awarded $9,400 in grants to recognize agricultural literacy programs of ten state and county Farm Bureaus. The grants are funded through the White-Reinhardt Fund for Education program, which acknowledges communities that are engaging with students on the fundamental role of agriculture …

USDA: Adult Obesity Increased During Pandemic

Dan This Land of Ours

An additional effect on our health from the pandemic. That’s today’s This Land of Ours. USDA’s Economic Research Service reports behavior changes during the pandemic exacerbated an already existing adult obesity epidemic. As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded in 2020, studies using limited online surveys found evidence of weight gain among U.S. adults. However, because the pandemic surveys did not represent …