Helping rural towns with renewable energy projects. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small this week announced an investment of $6.6 million across the country to help people living in rural towns develop community-sized renewable energy projects that will help them lower their energy costs and create jobs. These …
Beginning Farm Operations Tend to be in the South and West
There are two regions where new farmers are more concentrated. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Beginning farms tend to be more concentrated in Southern and Western States than in other areas of the United States, according to USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS). Data published Monday by ERS shows that in some counties in California and Texas, the …
Ford Keeping AM Radios in Commercial Vehicles
A major car manufacturer is dropping AM from many new models. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. A new report says Ford will keep AM radios in certain vehicles. The company plans to exclude AM radio from “most new and updated vehicles we bring to market” but also says commercial vehicles will continue to have AM radios. Say …
April is Invasive Pest and Disease Awareness Month
Increasing awareness of some agricultural pests. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The Department of Agriculture Tuesday declared April as 2023 Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month. The outreach effort is dedicated to highlighting the impact of invasive plant pests and diseases on plants nationwide. The campaign also seeks to inform Americans on how they can help …
Dairy Farm Innovations Yield Environmental Benefits
Dairy farms around the nation are becoming more efficient. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. From parlor to pasture, many advances in dairy farm management are helping drive up dairy farm efficiency in North America, and that helps drive down environmental impact. The Association of Equipment Manufacturers issued a report titled “Environmental Benefits of Modern Dairy, Hay, and …
Growth Predicted for Tree Nut Market
A growth spurt is predicted for the tree nut market. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. A new report by Technavio shows the tree nut market is expected to grow by more than $20 million from 2022 to 2027. An increase in the use of tree nut oils in the cosmetics industry is the primary trend influencing the …
Poll Shows Voters Want Year-Round E15
A new poll shows consumers want more choices at the gas pump. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. A new poll shows support among voters for year-round access to E15 across the country. The poll was sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association and conducted by Morning Consult. It found that 70 percent of respondents were in favor of …
USDA Announces Additional Help for Distressed Farmers
There’s additional help for some farmers who need it. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Starting in April, the USDA will provide approximately $123 million in additional, automatic financial assistance for qualifying farm loan program borrowers who are facing financial risk, as part of the $3.1 billion to help distressed farm loan borrowers that was provided through Section …
Research Shows Vegetables May Help Mental Health
Are you working on taking care of your mental health? Add another serving of vegetables to your dinner plate. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. We’ve heard that to grow up big and strong, we need to eat our veggies. And once we grow up, research shows veggies may also make us happy. USDA’s Agricultural Research Service says …
Is U.S. Losing Trade Competitiveness?
The U.S. remains the top exporter of a few commodities, but the competition is getting closer. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) released a report on the competitiveness of U.S. exports, and it shows while we’re still top in some categories, the competition is getting hotter. The report says that export shares …