Farm Safety Week is just around the corner. We’ll have this year’s theme coming up on This Land of Ours. National Farm Safety and Health Week is September 19-23. Agriculture is known as one of the most dangerous industries in America. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health says about 100 agricultural workers suffer a lost worktime injury every …
New Program for Underserved, Minority Farmers
A new USDA program for underserved and minority farmers. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. A new $550 million program from the Department of Agriculture seeks to support projects that help underserved producers. The program supports projects that enable producers access to land, capital, and markets, and train the next diverse generation of agricultural professionals. The investments are …
Funding to Boost Biofuel Sales
A national push to increase sales of biofuels. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. USDA is accepting applications for $100 million in grants to increase the sale and use of biofuels derived from U.S. agricultural products. USDA is making the funding available through the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP).This program seeks to market higher blends of ethanol …
Adult Obesity Increased During First Year of COVID-19 Pandemic
If your waistline increased during the pandemic, you’re not alone. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. New data from USDA’s Economic Research Service shows that U.S. adults ages 20 and older reported a three percent higher prevalence of obesity during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study analyzed data from the Centers for Disease Control and …
Fall Propane Supply Outlook
Fuel prices are lowering, but still high in many places. What does that mean for the fall propane supply and price outlook? That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. A big topic for nearly everyone is the price of fuel, especially as diesel hits a record high. Naturally, that has many farmers wondering about the cost of propane and …
New Food Supply Threat from Lack of Rice
Is a new global food supply threat looming? That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. A lack of rice could be the next big strain on the global food supply. Bloomberg says the challenge may come from a lack of rain in parts of India, which is, by far, the biggest rice exporter in the world. The drier weather …
Watching for Advancements in Ag Technology
Keeping an eye on technological advancements. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. This week we’re focusing on technology in agriculture. New and developing technologies often stem from novel concepts, and this requires the modernization of existing approaches to risk assessment and regulation. APHIS Biotechnology Regulatory Services (BRS) works to keep abreast of the latest advances in science and …
Science Key Weapon in Fight Against Citrus Greening
How science is the key weapon in the fight against Citrus Greening. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. This week we’re focusing on technology in agriculture. Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) is the bacterial pathogen that causes “citrus greening disease,” one of the most destructive diseases of citrus worldwide. PPQ scientists are harnessing the power of CRISPR/Cas systems to …
Using DNA Tech to Manage Wildlife
Using DNA technology to help manage the nation’s wildlife. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. This week we’re focusing on technology in agriculture. As part of normal bodily functions, a cell’s DNA sends out “messages” to other parts of the cell to create specific proteins. These proteins are the building blocks of organisms. For instance, if the body …
Technology to Prevent Pest Invasions
Using technology to prevent pest invasions. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. This week we’re focusing on technology in agriculture. The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service or APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) uses the sterile insect technique to prevent invasions of damaging exotic fruit fly pests, which are among the most destructive pests of fruits …