Gen Z is called the foodie generation, but recent research shows a darker side to their relationship with food. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. A wide-ranging research study from global communications consultancy Ketchum shows 61 percent of Gen Z have felt pressure on them since childhood to eat a certain way to communicate their identity and beliefs, which has …
Income Spent on Food Increases
We spent more of our income on food in 2022. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. U.S. consumers spent an average of 11.3 percent of their disposable personal income on food in 2022, a level not observed since the 1980s, according to USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS). Disposable personal income is the amount of money consumers have left …
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, …
AgNet Weekly: Sens. Boozman, Cramer, and Hoeven on Farm Bill Issues
This week host Sabrina Halvorson had the opportunity to meet in person with Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, John Boozman of Arkansas, along with Ranking Member of the Agriculture Appropriations Committee Senator John Hoeven of North Dakota. It was at a Farm Bill roundtable held in Fargo, and hosted by Senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota. She got …
AFBF Partners with Escoffier
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) announces a new collaboration with the largest culinary school brand in the United States. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Farm Bureau’s Promotion and Education Committee announced a collaboration with culinary school Escoffier. Committee Chairman Daryn Westergard says AFBF and Escoffier will collaborate on farm-to-table cooking events, the annual convention, and other …
USDA Cotton Crop Report
USDA released the latest crop reports today. Becky Sommer, Cotton and Sorghum Statistician with USDA-National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has the details. All cotton production (.pdf) is forecast at 14.0 million 480?pound bales, down 3 percent from 2022. Based on conditions as of August 1, yields are expected to average 779 pounds per harvested acre, down 171 pounds from the previous year. All cotton area …
Funding Available for Rural Broadband
An unprecedented amount of federal funding is available to expand broadband connectivity across rural America. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Rick Cimerman is vice president of state affairs for NCTA – The Internet and Television Association. He says federal investments can be used most wisely to help close the digital divide that still exists. “I think there …
National FFA Membership Reaches All-Time High
The FFA reaches a milestone. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The National FFA Organization Monday announced a record-high student membership of 945,988, an increase of 11 percent from last year. In addition, the number of FFA chapters continues to grow — increasing by 168 this year, resulting in 9,163 chapters in the U.S., Puerto Rico and the …
Farmland Growth Continues
Economic headwinds aren’t stopping farmland growth. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The Value of U.S. farmland continues to grow, despite economic headwinds. USDA economist, Shawn Arita, says this year’s growth in farmland values is stronger than some had expected. “It’s still very, very strong growth. This is up again 7.4 percent. I think moving into this, there …