ars

ARS Scientists Improve Nutrients Adding Value to Rice Crop

Dan Research, Specialty Crops, This Land of Ours, USDA-ARS

Improvements to a worldwide food staple. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Rice, already the primary staple for half the world’s population, is getting a makeover from a research team in New Orleans, Louisiana. The results are a more healthful grain and many potential new products. The team, based in the Agricultural Research Service’s (ARS) Southern Regional Research …

big games

Price of Chicken Wings Easing in Time for the Big Games

Dan Poultry, This Land of Ours, USDA-ERS

It’s a break for the piggy-bank just in time for the big games. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Retail prices for chicken wings have been trending lower in recent months and in time for national sporting events such as the upcoming Super Bowl and the college basketball championship tournaments. Previously, a combination of limited supplies and strong …

rural veterinary

New Ways to Track COVID in Animals

Dan Beef, Cattle, Coronavirus, Dairy, Livestock, This Land of Ours, USDA-ARS

The USDA is developing new ways to track COVID in wild and domestic animals. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Scientists with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) are developing new tests to identify and track the COVID virus in wild and domestic animals. Funded by the American Rescue Plan, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is implementing …

nrcs

OTA on USDA Steps to Prevent Fraud in Organic Ag

Dan Agri-Business, Organic, This Land of Ours

The USDA is taking steps to prevent fraud in organic ag. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The Organic Trade Association applauded the USDA and the National Organic Program for the new “Strengthening Organic Enforcement Rule.” Tom Chapman, CEO of the Organic Trade Association, says the new regulation will do a lot to detect organic fraud and protect …

school

Improving Child Health through School Meals

Dan Education, This Land of Ours

The USDA is taking steps to improve child health through school meals. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Friday announced major initiatives that support and enhance the health of America’s children through nutritious school meals. At the USDA Conversation on Healthy School Meals Roundtable, Vilsack says, “Our commitment to the school meal programs comes …

food

Top 10 ‘Fancy Food’ Trends for 2023

Dan Specialty Crops, This Land of Ours

Trend spotters tell us the top ten “fancy food” trends for 2023. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The Specialty Food Association (SFA) Trendspotter Panel navigated thousands of specialty food products showcased by more than 1,100 exhibitors at the Las Vegas Convention Center. After great deliberation through countless products, 10 overall trends have emerged from the 2023 Winter …

wings

Wings on the Menu for the Big Game

Dan National Chicken Council (NCC), Poultry, This Land of Ours

While typically its barbecue in Kansas City and cheesesteaks in Philly, when it comes to the Super Bowl, the wing is still king. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The National Chicken Council (NCC) this week released its annual Chicken Wing Report, projecting Americans to consume a record-breaking 1.45 billion chicken wings during Super Bowl LVII weekend. This …

pasture

Study Shows Rotational Grazing Adoption Varies by Region

Dan Cattle, Pasture, This Land of Ours, USDA-ERS

A study sheds light on grazing practices around the nation. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Data published Monday by USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) shows rotational grazing adoption varies by region. Rotational grazing is a management practice in which livestock are cycled through multiple fenced grazing areas to manage forage production, forage quality, animal health, and environmental …

rural electric

USDA Investment in Rural Electric Infrastructure

Dan Agri-Business, Energy, Funding, This Land of Ours

Putting billions into rural electric infrastructure. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The USDA is investing $2.7 billion to help 64 electric cooperatives and utilities expand and modernize the nation’s rural electric grid and increase grid security. The announcement came from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Monday. He said the investments will benefit rural people and businesses in many ways for …

tree nuts

Study Adds to Proof of Health Benefits of Tree Nuts

Dan Pecans, Specialty Crops, This Land of Ours, Tree Nuts

More proof of the health benefits of tree nuts. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. In a paper published in the journal Nutrients, researchers found that consuming mixed tree nuts had a positive effect on the metabolism of the essential amino acid, tryptophan, in overweight and obese individuals. Specifically, there was an increase in both cardioprotective tryptophan metabolites and in …