Food Spending Decreased Unevenly Across States in 2020

Dan Economy, This Land of Ours, USDA-ERS

Trends in food spending across the U.S. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The COVID-19 pandemic in the United States disrupted the food industry in 2020, according to fresh data from USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS). Inflation-adjusted total U.S. food expenditures were 6.6 percent lower in 2020 than in 2019. However, individual states experienced varying degrees of food …

Socially Disadvantaged Farms Concentrated in South and West

Dan Economy, This Land of Ours, USDA-ERS

Some areas of the nation are more likely than others to have socially disadvantaged farms. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Data from USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) shows socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers tend to be more concentrated in southern and western regions of the country. USDA defines socially disadvantaged farmers as those belonging to groups subject …

Rodale Institute Applauds USDA Investments in Organic Farmers

Dan Organic, This Land of Ours, USDA, USDA-AMS, USDA-FSA

The USDA gets a pat on the back for its investments in organic farming. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expanding opportunities for organic farmers, a welcome investment, according to the Rodale Institute. USDA announced the expanded opportunities last week. Through the newly-established Organic Market Development Grant Program (OMDGP), USDA’s Agricultural Marketing …

More Elected Officials Concerned About Lack of AM Radio in New Cars

Dan This Land of Ours

Concern about the lack of AM radio in new vehicles continues to grow. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Representatives Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin and Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey sent a bipartisan letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regarding the future of AM radio in new vehicles. They expressed concerns over automakers’ decision to drop …

Apples and Oranges Top U. S. Fruit Choices

Dan Citrus, Fruits, Orange Juice, Research, Specialty Crops, This Land of Ours, USDA-ERS

These are the top fruit choices in the United States. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Apples held the top spot for total fruit available for consumption in 2021 at more than 26 pounds per person after adjusting for losses. USDA’s Economic Research Service’s (ERS) loss-adjusted food availability data adjusts the data for food spoilage, plate waste, and …

EIA Expects Less Electricity Demand this Summer

Dan Biofuels/Energy, This Land of Ours

You may use less electricity this summer, but that’s not necessarily completely good news. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects a slightly cooler summer in 2023 will lead to less demand for air conditioning than in 2022. The result will slightly reduce overall electricity demand this summer. If you need heat …

AEM Offers Ways to Address the Industry’s Technician Shortage

Dan Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), This Land of Ours

It’s no secret to anyone working in equipment manufacturing the ever-growing technician shortage is a problem poised to get a lot worse before it gets better. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. According to a 2020 report, the ag equipment industry may need to fill as many as 73,500 heavy equipment technician positions by 2025. In addition, the …

Ag Exports in 2021 Generate Billions in Economic Activity

Dan Economy, Exports/Imports, This Land of Ours, USDA-ERS

How much do ag exports contribute to the nation’s economic activity? That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. A new USDA report says exports constitute a significant market for American farm and food products and send ripples of activity through the nation’s economy. The USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) says America’s agricultural exports, valued at $177.3 billion in 2021, …

Some Food Prices Rise in April

Dan Economy, Field Crops, Fruits, Specialty Crops, This Land of Ours, Vegetables

Some food prices are creeping up again. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reports that food prices rose in April for the first time in a year. The organization says the increases stem from higher sugar, meat, and rice prices. The Food Price Index, which tracks the international prices of commonly-traded …

Farm Bureau Foundation Fellows Launch Free Digital Skills and Ag Literacy Lessons

Dan Education, This Land of Ours

A chance to gain new skills. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The 2023 Farm Bureau Foundation Fellows have launched four free Applied Digital Skills lessons dedicated to helping students learn about food, fuel, and fiber. The lessons were developed with support from Grow with Google to make digital skills and agricultural literacy more accessible to students across …