The deadline is fast approaching to nominate your farm dog for a big award. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The nomination period for Farm Bureau’s 2024 Farm Dog of the Year Contest closes Friday. Denny Ashcraft, Kansas Farm Bureau Member and owner of Tough, the 2023 Farm Dog of the Year, says the contest is a great …
Canned, Frozen Corn Industry Struggling
Part of the corn industry is struggling and it may affect grocery store shelves. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. For those whose primary experience with corn is the butter-drenched cob variety, it might come as a surprise that other forms of sweet corn are in trouble. A new University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign analysis shows sweet corn production …
USDA Resources for Preventing HPAI
How the USDA is helping poultry producers keep the bird flu from spreading. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. USDA has several informational resources to help poultry producers protect their flocks from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. Chief Veterinarian Rosemary Sifford says at the center of the effort is the “Defend the Flock” educational program. “[There is] lots of …
Grains for Heart Health
Knowing more about your grains could lead to a healthier heart. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Eating healthy is a priority for many Americans but knowing where to start and with what foods may be a little trickier. One way to level up the nutritional value of your meals is to better understand whole grains and why …
Applications Open for AFTs Brighter Future Fund
A chance for farmers to improve viability. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. American Farmland Trust has opened applications for 2023’s Brighter Future Fund Program. It helps farmers nationwide improve farm viability, access, transfer, or permanently protect farmland or adopt regenerative agricultural practices. The last day to submit applications is July 15. The Brighter Future Fund provides grants …
USDA: SNAP Payment Error Rates Rise
The USDA is seeing more errors in SNAP payments. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The combined payment error rate for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments went from 7.3 percent in fiscal year 2019 to 11.5 percent in fiscal year 2022. USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) says from 2022 to 2022, states were providing pandemic-related …
Farmers’ Share of July Fourth Food Dollar Continues to Shrink
That meal you enjoyed on the Fourth isn’t paying farmers what it used to. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The National Farmers Union (NFU) released the 2023 numbers for the Farmers’ Share of the Food Dollar Report covering several items typically found at a Fourth of July cookout. The NFU says every year, the troubling trend of …
Ice Cream Still a Summertime Favorite
Americans continue to beat the summertime heat with foods from the freezer section. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Every year, many Americans beat the summer heat with frozen treats and this year is no exception. July is National Ice Cream Month. President Ronald Reagan, in 1984, signed a Proclamation designating July as National Ice Cream Month, and …
Cherries Abundant for Independence Day
Great news for those adding cherries to the Fourth of July menu. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The summertime treat of fresh cherries is abundant for this Independence Day. The USDA forecast for sweet cherries this season is expected to be about 371 million tons, which is a 60 percent increase from last year. The USDA National …
Most Grilling Costs Stay Higher This Summer
We check on the costs of grilling this summer. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Cheeseburgers will cost more this year for an Independence Day cookout. USDA says that in May 2023, the ingredients for a home-prepared ¼-pound cheeseburger totaled $2.17 per burger, an increase of 10 cents from 2022. Prices for cheeseburger ingredients grew more slowly over …