Things are heating up over the EATS Act. Supporters of the bill say the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act would prevent states from regulating farmers and ranchers nationwide. But opponents turned up the fire this week when a bipartisan group of more than 150 lawmakers sent a letter to House Agriculture Committee Chair G.T. Thompson (R-PA) and ranking member …
USDA Publishes Child Nutrition Program Integrity Final Rule
Ensuring the integrity of child nutrition programs. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Wednesday published a final rule on program integrity to ensure that child nutrition programs are properly operated and managed to protect federal funds and taxpayer dollars. The final rule impacts the National School Lunch …
Two Sides of the EATS Act
Things are heating up over the EATS Act. Supporters of the bill say the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act would prevent states from regulating farmers and ranchers nationwide. “The EATS Act does two things. First, it prohibits the states, like California, from passing a law that would impact production practices in other states. And then in the event that …
Cammack Expects Tough Battle for Farm Bill
There’s just over a month until the current farm bill expires, and some lawmakers are gearing up for a tough fight. Florida Congresswoman Kat Cammack (R-FL) spoke at the Sweetener Symposium in California last week and said she’s expecting a battle over the farm bill. In an interview with us on Monday, she explained some of the issues she expects. …
FARM Act Would Guard U.S. Ag Land from Foreign Control
About three percent of agricultural land in the United States is owned by foreign entities. But U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer, a Republican from North Dakota, thinks even that may be too much. “One would think that’s not a very high percentage, but it’s obviously a lot of acres. And what’s more, probably somewhat alarming is how quickly in recent years …
Free Online Training for Phosphorus Management
A new program aims to help farmers manage phosphorus. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. A series of online training modules is now freely available to farmers, engineers, environmental consultants and others interested in designing on-farm systems to remove phosphorus from field runoff or subsurface drainage. Available on the Internet, the modules comprise seven narrated videos, starting with a …
Study Shows Positive Economic Impact of Soil Health
A new study links soil health and farm profitability. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The Soil Health Institute (SHI) and the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) announced the results of a nationwide study showing how improving soil health can improve a farmer’s profitability. The study shows farmers can build resilience across a diversity of soil types, …
Farmers Remain Cautiously Optimistic About Ag Economy
Farmer sentiment rebounded in June as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer rose 17 points to a reading of 121. June’s sentiment improvement left the index near the April reading of 123 after a one-month swoon in May. Producers report a more optimistic view of the future as the Index of Future Expectations rose 25 points to 123, while …
Florida Rural and Family Lands Protection Program Application Results Released
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has released the results of 2023 applications for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP), and Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson is pleased with the response. Landowners from 181 properties, which represents over 200,000 acres, submitted applications to be considered for funding. The program, which partners with farmers and ranchers through conservation easements, is …
NCBA President Hits Back at Animal Rights Activists and Policymakers Attacking the Beef Checkoff
(NCBA/WASHINGTON, D. C./July 26, 2023) — Today, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Todd Wilkinson, a South Dakota cattle producer, responded to attacks on the Beef Checkoff and NCBA from animal rights activists and their allies in Congress: “As a cattle producer, I know what it means to work hard for every dollar, and I am proud to invest my money …