U.S. Cattle on Feed Report Up

According to USDA’s June Cattle on Feed Report, the number of cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the U.S. was at 11.1 million head on June 1st, 3 percent above June 1, 2016. But that was not the biggest number coming out of this report. USDA livestock analyst Shayle Shagam says placements of cattle in feedlots …

Achieving ‘Bliss’: Children, Adults Differ in How They Perceive Sweetness of Fruits

by Brad Buck, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Most children want their food to taste sweet. So, do you want your child to eat a candy bar or fruit when they have a snack? A team of researchers from the University of Florida and the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Pennsylvania found children and adults differ in …

McMillan Speaks at Alabama Agribusiness Council Meeting

The 2017 Alabama Agribusiness Council Annual Meeting is taking place in Orange Beach, Alabama through Tuesday. One of the guest speakers was Alabama Agriculture Commissioner John McMillan. He talked about a variety of issues affecting agriculture in the state, including the Disaster Declaration the state is currently seeking for South Alabama counties. This is due to the recent flooding and …

Bats Shouldn’t Be Kept as Pets

If you believe you need to keep bats as pets, think again. Cathy Isom looks at why some people think they’re cute while others may think they’re creepy. Why you shouldn’t consider keeping a bat for a pet. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Rob Mias with the Organization for Bat Conservation would like to introduce Camilla, the 22-year-old …

Managed Honeybee Colony Numbers Increasing

The Department of Agriculture says the number of managed honeybee colonies has increased over the last decade. While recent public attention has focused largely on colony mortality trends, overall colony numbers have increased since 2006. USDA says the number of managed colonies has increased from roughly two million in 2006 to near 2.8 million in 2016. However, honeybee mortality, as …

Canada Disputing U.S. Claims Regarding Poultry Trade

Canada’s Ambassador to the United States is firing back at claims that Canada is hindering the trade of poultry with the United States. Canadian Ambassador to the United States David MacNaughton told a group of senators who say Canada has denied access to U.S. poultry and eggs that their claims are “inaccurate.” McNaughton cited statistics on Canadian imports of U.S. …

All-American July 4th Cookout Down Slightly

Remains Under $6 Per Person A cookout of Americans’ favorite foods for the Fourth of July, including hot dogs, cheeseburgers, pork spare ribs, potato salad, baked beans, lemonade and chocolate milk, will cost slightly less this year, coming in at less than $6 per person, says the American Farm Bureau Federation. Farm Bureau’s informal survey reveals the average cost of a …