The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) wants to remind producers and private landowners about assistance opportunities through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). The program can help strengthening your operation by building on existing conservation efforts. Whether you are looking to increase crop resiliency, improve grazing conditions or develop wildlife habitat, NRCS can custom design a CSP plan to help meet your goals. It starts …
Ancient and Modern Harvest Festivals of August 1st
August first marks one of the original harvest festivals. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Whether it’s Lughnasadh, Lammas, or Loaf Mass Day, August first is a harvest festival day in many cultures. Starting with the ancient Gaelic cultures of Scottland, Ireland, and Wales, Lugnasadh was celebrated about halfway between the summer solstice and the autumn equinox. It …
Non-Real Estate Loan Activity Higher in 2024
As commodity prices have continued to drop, many producers may face economic losses with less balance sheet resiliency. The economists at Agricultural Economic Insights (AEI) say recent loan data revealed that farmers utilized more non-real estate debt in early 2024. In the first quarter of the year, total non-real estate debt was 14 percent higher than in 2023. AEI says …
Consequences of No New Farm Bill
The farm bill is already a year late, the stakes are high, and time is running out. The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) released its Market Intel Analysis of the consequences of not finishing the legislation and adding another extension of the 2018 bill. While crop insurance is a permanent program, it does need improvements to make it more affordable …
Challenges in Rural America
Times have been tough for many farmers across the country, and that is having an effect on the business owners they normally deal with. During a trip across rural America last week, Mark Oppold had a chance to learn more about some of those many challenges. Sponsored ContentWhat Sets Provysol® Fungicide ApartJuly 8, 2025CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata …
USDA Offering Payment Programs to Help Private Forest Landowners Address Climate Change
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service is making $190 million available to help private forest landowners adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change and retain working forestlands. Of the total, $140 million is available to support state-endorsed cost-share programs for landowners. Cost-share payments lower the financial barriers for landowners to adapt to climate change by making forests more resilient …
Some Good News in Food Price Forecast
USDA’s latest food price forecast has a little good news for shoppers. Gary Crawford has more coming on up This Land of Ours. Analysts at the Agriculture Department are projecting that food at the grocery store this year will likely cost us more than last year, but only about 1% more. “And that’s compared to a 5% increase in prices …
House Ag Takes Close Look at Dropping Ag Income
Farmers across the U.S. could see a drop of nearly 25-percent in their farm income compared to last year. That’s what USDA is predicting—and that’s why your lawmakers in Washington, D.C. are looking for answers. Ag banker Tony Hotchkiss, who serves as Chairman of the Agriculture and Rural Bankers Committee of the American Bankers Association, testified before the House Ag …
National FFA Members Attend the Washington Leadership Conference
National FFA heads to Washington DC. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. For more than 50 years, thousands of FFA members from across the country have converged on the nation’s capital each summer for the Washington Leadership Conference. It’s a chance to engage with legislators, hone civic engagement and leadership skills, and create community impact projects to take …
Keeping Tractor Tires Inflated Properly
This week, Mark Oppold is at an event where he is learning more about the proper inflation of tractor tires and how important this is for farmers doing field work. Sponsored ContentWhat Sets Provysol® Fungicide ApartJuly 8, 2025CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024