Millions of U.S. seniors are facing hunger. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Feeding America® this week released a study (Map the Meal Gap 2022) about seniors facing hunger in the United States. The report sheds light on the extent to which food insecurity affects individuals aged 60 and older. The report shows that out of 78 million …
Number of U.S. Farms Continues to Decline
New data released this week by USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) shows the number of U.S. farms continues to decline. After peaking at 6.8 million farms in 1935, the number of U.S. farms and ranches fell sharply through the early 1970s. Researchers say the rapidly falling farm numbers in the mid-20th century reflect the growing productivity of agriculture, increased mechanization, …
Taylor Leads USDA Trade Mission to the Netherlands
A U.S. trade mission to the Netherlands. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis Taylor launched the first-ever regional agribusiness trade mission to the Netherlands in Amsterdam. The delegation includes representatives from 31 agribusiness and farm organizations and ten state departments of agriculture. The group aims to expand economic …
Optimism in the Ag Equipment Market
While equipment manufacturers are still recovering from the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic, they continue working toward a state of normalcy. Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) Senior Vice President, Government and Industry Relations Kip Eideberg, says supply chain pressures and a lack of workforce retention have been ongoing struggles for the industry, and individual sectors are facing their own problems …
NPPC Urges Quick Passage of the Beagle Brigade Act
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) is urging quick passage of the Beagle Brigade Act of 2023. The Act, H.R. 1480 and S.759, was reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. The legislation would provide permanent authorization for the USDA’s National Detector Dog Training Center. NPPC notes this is important as safe and reliable food production is critical to …
Efforts to Restrict Drone Surveillance of Livestock Facilities
In the state of Iowa, the House of Representatives passed a bill last week that restricts drone surveillance of livestock facilities without permission from the property owner. If Iowa House File 572 becomes law, remotely piloted aircraft couldn’t fly within 400 feet of homesteads or other areas where animals are kept. People caught in violation would face a simple misdemeanor …
NRCS Invests to Assist Producers Transitioning to Organic Production
The NRCS is investing $75 million to assist producers transitioning to organic production. As part of the multi-agency Organic Transition Initiative (OTI), USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will dedicate financial and technical assistance to a new organic management standard and partner with new organic technical experts to increase staff capacity and expertise.? NRCS will dedicate $70 million to assist producers …
Quiet Grain Trade before the Holiday Break
The grain trade is expected to be somewhat quiet today ahead of the Easter break. Mark Oppold has more. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsMarch 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024
Commodity Prices, Interest Rates, Prompt Ag Economy Barometer Decline
Farmer sentiment weakened again in March as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer fell eight points to a reading of 117. Both the Index of Current Conditions and the Index of Future Expectations declined eight points in March, leaving the Current Conditions Index at 126 and the Future Expectations Index at 113. Weaker prices for key commodities, including wheat, …
Death Tax Repeal Act Introduced in U.S. Senate
Something we’ve talked many times about over the years is the Estate Tax, or as many know it as, the Death Tax. It has been a top issue for agriculture groups and has been discussed in our nation’s capital various times. And, it’s being discussed again, as last week Senator John Thune (R-SD) and 40 colleagues reintroduced legislation to permanently repeal …