pandemic

Adult Obesity Rates Increased During First Year of Pandemic

Dan This Land of Ours, USDA-ERS

If you gained a bit of weight during the pandemic, you weren’t alone. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. New data from USDA’s Economic Research Service shows that adult obesity increased during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Broad efforts to contain COVID-19 included travel, work, and social restrictions. Such behavioral adjustments disrupted the dietary and activity …

relationship

Study Shows Gen Z’s Relationship with Food is Complicated

Dan This Land of Ours

Gen Z is called the foodie generation, but recent research shows a darker side to their relationship with food. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. A wide-ranging research study from global communications consultancy Ketchum shows 61 percent of Gen Z have felt pressure on them since childhood to eat a certain way to communicate their identity and beliefs, which has …

phosphorus

Free Online Training for Phosphorus Management

Dan Education, Fertilizer, This Land of Ours

A new program aims to help farmers manage phosphorus. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. A series of online training modules is now freely available to farmers, engineers, environmental consultants and others interested in designing on-farm systems to remove phosphorus from field runoff or subsurface drainage.  Available on the Internet, the modules comprise seven narrated videos, starting with a …

research

Study Shows Positive Economic Impact of Soil Health

Dan Agri-Business, Beef, Cattle, Dairy, Economy, Field Crops, Livestock, Pasture, This Land of Ours

A new study links soil health and farm profitability. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The Soil Health Institute (SHI) and the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) announced the results of a nationwide study showing how improving soil health can improve a farmer’s profitability. The study shows farmers can build resilience across a diversity of soil types, …

afbf

AFBF Partners with Escoffier

Dan American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), This Land of Ours

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) announces a new collaboration with the largest culinary school brand in the United States. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Farm Bureau’s Promotion and Education Committee announced a collaboration with culinary school Escoffier. Committee Chairman Daryn Westergard says AFBF and Escoffier will collaborate on farm-to-table cooking events, the annual convention, and other …

funding

Funding Available for Rural Broadband

Dan Agri-Business, Funding, High-Speed Internet/Broadband, Technology, This Land of Ours

An unprecedented amount of federal funding is available to expand broadband connectivity across rural America. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Rick Cimerman is vice president of state affairs for NCTA – The Internet and Television Association. He says federal investments can be used most wisely to help close the digital divide that still exists. “I think there …

ffa

National FFA Membership Reaches All-Time High

Dan Education, This Land of Ours

The FFA reaches a milestone. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The National FFA Organization Monday announced a record-high student membership of 945,988, an increase of 11 percent from last year. In addition, the number of FFA chapters continues to grow — increasing by 168 this year, resulting in 9,163 chapters in the U.S., Puerto Rico and the …

survey

Farmland Growth Continues

Dan Agri-Business, This Land of Ours

Economic headwinds aren’t stopping farmland growth.  That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The Value of U.S. farmland continues to grow, despite economic headwinds. USDA economist, Shawn Arita, says this year’s growth in farmland values is stronger than some had expected. “It’s still very, very strong growth. This is up again 7.4 percent. I think moving into this, there …

producers

Producers Encouraged to Talk to Congress in August

Dan Farm Bill, Legislative, This Land of Ours

The August recess isn’t break for lawmakers, and farmers are encouraged to remember that. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Lawmakers from the House and Senate are on the annual August recess and back in their respective districts and states. Tom Donnely, American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Director of Grassroots Program Development, says lawmakers will spend that time …