Rural Job Growth Shifting to High-Skill Workers

There’s a shift in rural jobs. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Over the last two decades, the strongest rural job gains were in smaller industries that tend to employ high-skill workers. USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) reports the highest growth was in the real estate industry. According to experts like CALC job placement services, also showing rapid …

NASDA Conducts Vietnam Trade Mission

Exploring trade opportunities with Vietnam. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) members and leadership traveled to Vietnam last week. The delegation embarked on the organization’s first trade mission to explore global emerging markets through the Department of Agriculture Emerging Markets Program. NASDA President and Wyoming Department of Agriculture Director Doug …

Culver’s Thank You Farmers® Project Donations Surpass $4 Million

Millions of dollars in donations for agriculture from a restaurant chain. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Culver’s Thank You Farmers Project has now eclipsed $4 million raised since its creation in 2013. Through initiatives organized by Culver’s on a systemwide level and the fundraising efforts of local restaurants throughout 2022, the program raised $750,000 toward its mission …

Professional Athletes Buying Farmland

Some professional athletes are buying up farmland. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and longtime NBA player Blake Griffin are among some of the big-name athletes who are investing in Iowa farmland. They’ve joined up with more than 20 other pro athletes from the NFL, NHL, the NBA, and Major League Baseball to …

Farm Bureau Recognizes Young Farmers and Ranchers Competition Winners

Recognizing young farmers and ranchers. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) recognized the winners of the Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement Award, Discussion Meet, and Excellence in Agriculture Competitions. Young farmers and ranchers competed for the awards by demonstrating knowledge, achievement, and commitment to promoting agriculture. Daniel and Carla Trantham of Alabama …

Food Prices Drop in December BUT …..

Food prices were a little lower in December, but still higher than the year before. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization’s Food Price Index dropped during December, but 2022 food prices were 18 percent higher than in 2021. The December index averaged 132.4 points, 2.6 points below November, the ninth-straight monthly …

NOAA Proposes Seafood Import Monitoring Expansion

Proposed changes for seafood imports. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has announced a proposed rule to expand the Seafood Import Monitoring Program. The risk-based program is for targeted species of seafood imported into the United States. NOAA says expanding the program would increase the number of species included in the …