What state is the leader in peach production? The answer may surprise you. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. While Georgia is on many consumers’ minds when it comes to fresh, juicy peaches, California is by far the largest peach-producing state in the United States. USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) reports that last year, California’s harvest yielded 475,000 …
Worm Farm Conference Dates Set
It’s an ag conference like no other. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The date is set for the 2024 U.S. Worm Farm Conference. More than 50 worm farms from all over the world will meet in Phoenix, AZ next January 11 and 12 at the Arizona Worm Farm for the third annual US Worm Business Conference. The …
USDA Proposal to Strengthen Horse Protection Act
A proposed rule to strengthen horse protection. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) seeks public input on a proposed rule to strengthen Horse Protection Act (HPA) requirements. Announced last week, the proposed changes aim to eliminate horse soring, a practice that gives horse owners and trainers an unfair advantage in …
Ag Lenders Donate to Hawaii Relief Efforts
The ag lending industry is sending help to Hawaii. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Farm Credit Association, American AgCredit, rural banking partner CoBank, and The Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation, also known as Farmer Mac, are donating $40,000 to Maui Food Bank to help aid during the devastating wildfires that are wreaking havoc in Hawaii. AgCredit CEO Curt …
Adult Obesity Rates Increased During First Year of Pandemic
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 …
Study Shows Gen Z’s Relationship with Food is Complicated
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 …
Income Spent on Food Increases
We spent more of our income on food in 2022. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. U.S. consumers spent an average of 11.3 percent of their disposable personal income on food in 2022, a level not observed since the 1980s, according to USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS). Disposable personal income is the amount of money consumers have left …
Free Online Training for Phosphorus Management
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 …
Study Shows Positive Economic Impact of Soil Health
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 Partners with Escoffier
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 …