From the military to the fields. How farmer veterans, and a coalition that serves them, are working the land. That’s the topic of today’s This Land of Ours. The Farmer Veteran Coalition is the nation’s largest nonprofit organization that helps veterans and active duty members of the U.S. military create agricultural businesses. One way they do that is through the Farmer Veteran …
Combating African Swine Fever
We’ve been hearing about African Swine Fever lately. So what is it, and what’s being done about it? That’s the topic of today’s This Land of Ours. African swine fever is a highly contagious and deadly viral disease that affects every kind of swine. But, ASF is not a threat to human health or food safety. ASF spread from Africa …
Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities
The focus on improving the climate through agriculture continues. The first round of funding through the new Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities received more than 450 proposals. The Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities opportunity provides up to $1 billion for pilot projects that create market opportunities for commodities produced using climate-smart practices. The proposals from the first round of funding ranged from $5 million …
Farmer Mental Health Month
Protecting Farmers’ Mental Health Farming is one of the most challenging ways to make a living and can take a toll on farmers and everyone close to them. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Jessica Cabrera, American Farm Bureau managing director of member engagement, says mental health can be a difficult topic to discuss in farm country. “Farm life …
U.S. Helping to Feed the World
The U.S. is once again helping to feed the world. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The United States has long prided itself in our ability to feed the world. Administration leaders have taken another step to do just that. U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Agency for International Development are drawing down the full balance of …
Deadline Extension for Innovators
A deadline is extended for innovators in agriculture. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), in partnership with Farm Credit, is seeking entrepreneurs to apply online for the 2023 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge. Now in its ninth year, this national business competition showcases U.S. startup companies developing innovative solutions to challenges faced …
Local Food Marketing Practices
USDA Releases Data on Local Food Marketing Practices. More than 147,000 American farms produced and sold food locally through direct marketing practices, resulting in $9 billion in revenue during 2020. The Local Food Marketing Practices data released by the National Agricultural Statistics Service covers both fresh and value-added foods, such as meat and cheese. For effective promotion of such initiatives, …
Avocados Are Good for More Than Guacamole
It’s a Cinco de Mayo favorite, but avocados are good for more than just guacamole. A study published recently in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that eating avocados may lower the chances of heart attacks and heart disease. They compiled research collected over the last 45 years. Medical News Today says, “After adjusting for major dietary and lifestyle …
Farmers Embracing Sustainable Practices
Farmers are embracing sustainable farming practices. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. People today are interested in their investments as it relates to environmental, social, and governance issues, including sustainability. Farmland Partners CEO, Paul Pittman, says investing in farmland, with consideration of those issues, is a natural fit. “The track record of American farmers and American agriculture generally …
Agriculture Greenhouse Gas Emissions Falling
Agriculture gets good marks when it comes to lowering greenhouse gasses. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The nation’s greenhouse gas emissions are declining and fell more than four percent from 2019 to 2020. That’s according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The most recent Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks shows agriculture continues to represent …