Fuel prices are lowering, but still high in many places. What does that mean for the fall propane supply and price outlook? That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. A big topic for nearly everyone is the price of fuel, especially as diesel hits a record high. Naturally, that has many farmers wondering about the cost of propane and …
New Food Supply Threat from Lack of Rice
Is a new global food supply threat looming? That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. A lack of rice could be the next big strain on the global food supply. Bloomberg says the challenge may come from a lack of rain in parts of India, which is, by far, the biggest rice exporter in the world. The drier weather …
Watching for Advancements in Ag Technology
Keeping an eye on technological advancements. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. This week we’re focusing on technology in agriculture. New and developing technologies often stem from novel concepts, and this requires the modernization of existing approaches to risk assessment and regulation. APHIS Biotechnology Regulatory Services (BRS) works to keep abreast of the latest advances in science and …
Science Key Weapon in Fight Against Citrus Greening
How science is the key weapon in the fight against Citrus Greening. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. This week we’re focusing on technology in agriculture. Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) is the bacterial pathogen that causes “citrus greening disease,” one of the most destructive diseases of citrus worldwide. PPQ scientists are harnessing the power of CRISPR/Cas systems to …
Using DNA Tech to Manage Wildlife
Using DNA technology to help manage the nation’s wildlife. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. This week we’re focusing on technology in agriculture. As part of normal bodily functions, a cell’s DNA sends out “messages” to other parts of the cell to create specific proteins. These proteins are the building blocks of organisms. For instance, if the body …
Technology to Prevent Pest Invasions
Using technology to prevent pest invasions. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. This week we’re focusing on technology in agriculture. The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service or APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) uses the sterile insect technique to prevent invasions of damaging exotic fruit fly pests, which are among the most destructive pests of fruits …
Science is an Important Part of Agriculture
Science is a big part of modern agriculture, and we’re taking a look at some of the ways it’s put to use. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. This week we’re focusing on technology in agriculture. New innovations in genetic technologies, such as CRISPR/Cas systems and small interfering ribonucleic acid (RNA), are helping to expand our understanding and …
Higher Beef Prices Could Follow Shrinking U.S. Cattle Herd
The nation’s cattle herd is shrinking and that could mean higher prices at the grocery store. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. American shoppers struggling with inflation are looking at higher beef prices continuing in their local meat cases. Due to high feed prices and severe drought, ranchers were forced to reduce their cattle herds. Grain prices have …
Fun Facts about Farmers Markets
National Farmers Market Week Continues. We have fun facts about farmers markets in today’s This Land of Ours. We’re in the heart of National Farmers Market Week now. The number of farmers markets around the nation has grown steadily for nearly the last 30 years. According to the Farmers Market Coalition, the number of farmers markets in the United States …
New Push for Rural Broadband
Another push to expand rural broadband access. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. There’s another attempt to increase rural access to broadband. Senators Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Joni Ernst of Iowa reintroduced bipartisan legislation to protect and expand access to high-speed internet in rural communities and encourage rural broadband investment. The Access to Capital Creates Economic Strength …