In this week’s “Around the State with Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture Rick Pate”, we hear about a big event that took place this past weekend, and also about something coming to Alabama the first week of August. But Commissioner, starting with this past weekend’s event, I understand Sweet Grown Alabama Day was held. Thanks Commissioner, and a reminder to support Sweet Grown Alabama every day. For more …
Turkey Production Up, Prices Down
Instead of Christmas in July, how about Thanksgiving in July? That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Forecasts for turkey production are up. Price forecasts are down. Gary Crawford reports. I noticed a number of radio stations and TV channels are doing Christmas in July programming so I decided to try Thanksgiving in July taking a look at that …
NPPC Submits Testimony on Importance of U.S. Pork Trade
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) recently submitted testimony for the congressional record on the importance of trade to the U.S. pork industry. It all took place at a field hearing in MN, to discuss “Trade in America: Agriculture and Critical Supply Chains.” In their testimony, NPPC said “Free and fair trade has helped the United States become an economic powerhouse. To maintain that …
Sweet Grown Alabama Day is Saturday
Sweet Grown Alabama, the state’s non-profit agricultural branding program, will celebrate all things locally grown for “Sweet Grown Alabama Day” on Saturday, July 22. Participating in Sweet Grown Alabama Day is simple — do at least one activity that supports an Alabama farmer. Consumers can make a purchase from their local farmer, cook a meal made with local ingredients, pick …
U.S. Consumers’ Food Spending Hit Record High in 2022
Consumers spent a record amount on food last year. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. New data from USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) shows consumer spending on food reached a record in 2022. Real, or inflation-adjusted, annual food spending in the United States increased steadily from 1997 to 2022, except in 2008 and 2009 during the Great Recession …
GCC to Host Mid-Year Meeting Next Week
By Clint Thompson The Georgia Cotton Commission (GCC) reminds producers and industry leaders that its mid-year meeting is scheduled for next Wednesday, July 26, at the Nesmith-Lane Conference Center in Statesboro. Taylor Sills, executive director of the Georgia Cotton Commission (GCC), highlighted what attendees can expect to learn about at next week’s meeting. “We’ve got a really good program put …
USDA Unveils Efforts to Streamline Agricultural Conservation Easement Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is streamlining its Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) to ultimately better help agricultural producers and private landowners conserve wetlands, productive farmlands and at-risk grasslands. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is rolling out several improvements to the program, which has more than 5 million acres of land enrolled, in response to feedback from producers, landowners and conservation partners. …
Cattle Industry Summer Meeting Education Session to Focus on Resilience
U.S. cattle producers will gather in San Diego, July 24-26, for the industry’s Summer Business Meeting to discuss critical issues, develop initiatives, and establish direction for various projects aimed at improving the beef cattle industry. One of the highlights of the event is the education session “Optimizing Resources and Leveraging Technology to Build Resilience” on Wednesday, July 26, which will …
NMPF on Lab Based Milk Imposters
We told you late last month that the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) had sent a letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) noting they must end dairy product mislabeling by manufacturers of synthetic, cell-based “dairy” ingredients that are in violation of federal dairy Standards of Identity. The letter concerns a product made by a company called Bored Cow. In …
Cattle Producers Praise Congressional Resolution Supporting Beef Checkoff
This week, cattle industry leaders praised the introduction of a bipartisan congressional resolution recognizing the importance of commodity checkoff programs, including the Beef Checkoff. “As a cattle producer who invests in the Beef Checkoff, I know how important this program is to the continued success of America’s cattlemen and cattlewomen. The Beef Checkoff was created by cattle producers, is run …