Congressman Barry Moore is hosting several Farm Bill Listening Sessions for Alabamians to attend regarding the upcoming Farm Bill reauthorization. The Alabama Peanut Producers Association says attendees are encouraged to bring a hard copy of their questions, comments, or concerns along with their contact information so Congressman Moore and his staff have an opportunity to follow up with attendees after …
Research Shows Vegetables May Help Mental Health
Are you working on taking care of your mental health? Add another serving of vegetables to your dinner plate. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. And if you or someone you know needs more intensive support, exploring Phoenix adolescent residential treatment for teen mental health can provide specialized care and resources to address mental health challenges effectively. These …
Is U.S. Losing Trade Competitiveness?
The U.S. remains the top exporter of a few commodities, but the competition is getting closer. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) released a report on the competitiveness of U.S. exports, and it shows while we’re still top in some categories, the competition is getting hotter. The report says that export shares …
Food Prices Drop Slightly from January and February
You may have noticed a slightly lower grocery bill . That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The Food Price Index averaged 129.8 points in February 2023, down 0.6 percent from January and continuing the downward trend for the eleventh-consecutive month. As of February, the index has dropped 30 points from the peak it reached in March 2022. The …
Eating Almonds Before Meals May Help Lower Blood Sugar
Eating a handful of this nut before meals may help lower blood sugar. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Two new research studies with almonds, one conducted over three days and the other over three months, demonstrated benefits to blood sugar control for Asian Indians with prediabetes and overweight/obesity – and the three-month almond intervention broke new ground, …
AgNet Weekly: Court Ruling on WOTUS; Black Vulture Relief Act Introduced
This week, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Chief Council Mary-Thomas Hart talks about the latest development in the WOTUS saga, after a split ruling in Texas. We also talk to Sigrid Johannes, director of government affairs for NCBA and the Public Lands Council, about the Black Vulture Relief Act. Each week, we highlight essential legislative and policy conversations affecting …
Vilsack Announces School Lunch Actions
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making another investment in school lunch programs. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The USDA announced several actions to expand support for and access to the school meal programs, including awarding $50 million in grants that will increase collaboration between schools, food producers and suppliers, and other partners to develop nutritious, …
USDA Central America-Dominican Republic Trade Mission
USDA leaders visit Panama for a trade mission. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Department of Agriculture Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis Taylor arrived in Panama City Monday to launch a regional agribusiness trade mission. Taylor and the trade delegation on the trip look to develop stronger ties and build economic partnerships between the United …
Education Gaps Between Rural and Urban Communities
The USDA says rural areas are lagging behind when it comes to education. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Formal educational attainment in rural America has grown, but rural areas still lag behind urban areas, according to the USDA. USDA’s Economic Research Service data shows the share of adults ages 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or …
AFBF Hails Bipartisan Effort to Freeze Wage Rate
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) urges Congress to pass legislation to freeze the 2023 Adverse Effect Wage Rate, or AEWR. AFBF says the rate distorts labor costs for farmers across the country who hire nearly 400,000 employees through the H-2A program. The bipartisan Farm Operations Support Act temporarily resets the AEWR at 2022 levels, providing much need wage relief …