The nation has a new Speaker of the House, and he’s someone already trusted by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). NCBA’s Vice President of Government Affairs, Ethan Lane said though Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana has not served on the Agriculture Committee, he has a strong voting record when it comes to agriculture. “He has been a pretty reliable …
Details of Household Food Security Report
A look at household food insecurity in the U.S. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) Wednesday issued its latest edition of its annual Household Food Security in the U.S. report, with findings of the amount of food insecurity in our country in 2022. More than 87 percent of US households were food secure …
Farm Bill Extension Expected
As the House continues its search for a new speaker, some members of the Senate are watching and waiting for the legislative work to continue, especially when it comes to the Farm Bill. Senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota said he believes it continues to get more unlikely that a farm bill will be completed this year. “The dysfunction …
Rural Cooperative Month
October is Rural Cooperative Month, but what are rural cooperatives? That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. October is Rural Cooperative Month and a part of USDA Rural Development focuses on business cooperatives and their vital role in rural economies. Rural Business Cooperative Service Administrator Karama Neal provides various examples of rural business cooperatives and how they serve customers …
Big Four Packers Hit with Another Lawsuit
The four largest meatpackers were hit by a new price-fixing lawsuit from a group of small food distributors. The suit was filed on October 9 in the U.S. District Court in Northern Illinois, accusing the Packers of fixing prices for years. The plaintiffs say the price-fixing dates back to at least January 1, 2015, and includes Cargill, JBS, Tyson Foods, …
Feds Feed Families Program Milestone
The Feds Feed Families Program reaches a food donation milestone. Gary Crawford has that coming up in today’s This Land of Ours report. “I wanted to come down from my office today, first of all, to thank everybody who’s participating in the campaign for a job well done,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. The campaign is the Feds Feed Families …
Battle over Tomato Suspension Agreement
Should the U.S. terminate the Tomato Suspension Agreement with Mexico? The agreement is intended to keep Mexico from flooding the U.S. market with underpriced tomatoes by suspending duties, however, some industry leaders say it’s not working, and the agreement needs to be terminated so Mexico can be held accountable. Others worry that terminating the agreement and making Mexico pay duties …
Florida Ag Commissioner Seeks Funding for Conservation Program
(FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Oct. 17, 2023) — Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson is seeking $300 million for a program designed to keep swaths of rural land from commercial and residential development, triple the amount vetoed by Gov. Ron DeSantis this year. Meanwhile, the Department of Environmental Protection is asking lawmakers for a slight increase next year in funding for the separate Florida Forever …
Florida Beef Council Attends Conference in Denver
Last week, the Florida Beef Council (FBC) participated in the Partnership in Action Conference. FBC Director of Beef Marketing and Promotion, DeAnne Maples, says this is where they get updates on the latest Beef Checkoff promotions and marketing ideas. For more information on Beef Checkoff activities in Florida, contact the FBC office in Kissimmee. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata …
Higher Interest Rates, Strong Dollar Affecting Rural Economies
CoBank says the combination of high interest rates and a strong U.S. dollar is beginning to take a disproportionate toll on rural industries like agriculture, forestry, and manufacturing. Most international transactions are still conducted in dollars, and a strong dollar makes U.S. exports more expensive and imports cheaper. CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange says that disproportionately hurts the backbone of the rural …