Americans are paying up to 40 percent more for their vegetables than in 2021, and drought is a big reason for the price hike. A new report from Daily Mail says the increase is due, in large part, to states that grow fresh produce getting hit with water cuts because of droughts and storms destroying some crops as well. For …
Specialty Crops Growth Shows Need for Expanded Risk Management Tools
Specialty crops, including fruits, vegetables and nuts, make up almost one-third of total crop sales in the United States, but many specialty crop acres remain uninsured. American Farm Bureau Federation economists recently examined specialty crop coverage. The Market Intel report found that more than 80 percent of the acreage of hazelnuts, kiwifruit, strawberries and lettuce remain uncovered through the Federal …
U.S. Live Holiday Plant Imports Growing
The U.S. is importing more live holiday plants. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Christmas trees and poinsettias are iconic symbols of the holiday season. While the vast majority are grown in the United States for domestic use, a small share of both plants comes from Canada, according to USDA’s Economic Research Service. Trade is highly seasonal, with …
U.S. Sugar Completes Deal Amid Legal Fight
(NSF/TALLAHASSEE) — U.S. Sugar Corp. has completed a $315 million purchase of another large player in the sugar industry as the federal government continues to fight the merger on antitrust grounds. Attorneys for Clewiston-based U.S. Sugar said in a court filing Tuesday that it had completed the acquisition of the assets of Imperial Sugar Co. The filing came after a …
Thanksgiving Dinner Cost Up 20% per Farm Bureau Survey
(AFBF/WASHINGTON, November 16, 2022) — Spending time with family and friends at Thanksgiving remains important for many Americans and this year the cost of the meal is also top of mind. American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) 37th annual survey provides a snapshot of the average cost of this year’s classic Thanksgiving feast for 10, which is $64.05 or less than …
A Rise in Cranberry Production
One specialty crop we don’t mention much is cranberries. And while the majority of those are grown outside of the Southeast, it’s the time of the year many households are thinking about them being a part of their Thanksgiving meal. Rod Bain reports production is up this year, and that is mainly led by the two largest cranberry growing states. …
Pumpkin Season in Full Swing
It’s pumpkin season around the nation, and they’re as popular as ever. That’s coming up on This Land of ours. It seems pumpkins are everywhere this time of year and most of those pumpkins make quite the trip to get to those stores, patches, and porches. The USDA’s Economic Research Service says about 40 percent of pumpkin acres are harvested …
Preliminary Damage Assessment for Florida Agriculture Following Hurricane Ian
(FDACS/Tallahassee, FL/Oct. 24, 2022) — The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried released the FDACS preliminary damage assessment for agriculture following Hurricane Ian. The assessment considered losses to agriculture production and infrastructure and are estimated between $1,180,714,303 and $1,888,305,886. “While today’s assessment is a preliminary snapshot of the losses to Florida agriculture, it is a critical first step …
Farmers, Ag Organizations Against EPA Proposal
More than 16,000 farmers and agricultural organizations recently united against EPA’s proposed revision to its 2020 atrazine registration review decision. The farmers and agricultural organizations representing corn, citrus, grain sorghum, sugar cane, and other crops, submitted comments calling for the agency to base decisions on credible scientific evidence. Efforts to help farmers speak out against the proposal were coordinated by …
New Study on Health Benefits of Pistachios
Another study supports the antioxidant benefits of a particular food. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Antioxidant-rich foods are regularly encouraged as part of a healthy lifestyle, and research suggests that a diet high in antioxidants may even help to reduce the risk of death. While certain fruits and vegetables are often thought of as high-antioxidant foods, a …