Global food prices dropped for a fifth-straight month after a seasonal rise in supplies took place and demand dropped for some products. The northern hemisphere wheat harvest is helping to ease supply concerns as more grain moves out of Ukraine. A U.N. index of world food costs dropped 1.9 percent in August and remains at its lowest level since January. …
USDA Program Feeds Children During Summer Months
States and territories issue $12.5 billion in USDA’s Summer Child Food Benefits program. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) partnered with 32 states and territories to provide summer food buying benefits to families with children. The states and territories provide an estimated $12.5 billion in temporary nutrition benefits to approximately 32 million children. …
USDA Says Farm Profits to Reach Near-Record High in 2022
USDA’s Economic Research Service forecasts inflation-adjusted U.S. net cash farm income to increase by $13.5 billion or 8.7 percent from 2021. Net cash farm income is gross cash income minus cash expenses and will reach $168.5 billion in 2022, the highest level since 2012. In comparison, net farm income is forecast to drop by almost $1 billion from 2021 to …
New Children’s Book on the Life of Norman Borlaug
A new book from the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture teaches children about the life of Norman Borlaug. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Hero for the Hungry is the latest book from Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture’s publishing venture, Feeding Minds Press. Author of the book, Peggy Thomas, says it shows readers how to use science …
USDA Updates Crop Insurance Plans to Broaden Access
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is improving two of its most comprehensive risk management safety net programs. USDA announced the improvements for the Whole-Farm Revenue Protection, and Micro Farm, making them more accessible to farmers. The improvements include doubling the maximum insurable revenue under Whole-Farm Revenue Protection, now $17 million, more than tripling the size of farm operations eligible for …
Major School Nutrition Program Spending Declined During Pandemic
A decline in school nutrition program spending. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. USDA’s National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program typically make up the largest share of child nutrition program expenditures. In fiscal year 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, spending on the two programs amounted to about $18.7 billion, nearly 80 percent of the $23.6 billion …
USDA Releases Updated Trade Projections for 2022-23
The Department of Agriculture released updated trade projections for the remainder of fiscal year 2022 and the first projections for fiscal year 2023. The outlook follows the federal fiscal year, which begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. Agriculture exports for 2023 are projected at $193.5 billion, with imports at $197 billion. The export forecast is $2.5 billion …
Corteva Announces 2022 Climate Positive Leaders Program
Recognizing farmers and ranchers working for the climate. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Corteva Agriscience this week announced that applications are available for its 2022 Climate Positive Leaders Program. The program recognizes farmers and ranchers who implement, scale and share climate-positive practices. The program will give the selected global and regional leaders tools and opportunities to broadly …
Tools for Varroa Management Guide
An update to a tool used for honey bee health. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The Honey Bee Health Coalition unveiled the 8th Edition of the Tools for Varroa Management Guide . The guide provides information on the latest tools and options for beekeepers in the USA and Canada to keep bees healthy and manage varroa mites, which spread disease …
Farm Safety and Health Week Coming Up
Farm Safety Week is just around the corner. We’ll have this year’s theme coming up on This Land of Ours. National Farm Safety and Health Week is September 19-23. Agriculture is known as one of the most dangerous industries in America. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health says about 100 agricultural workers suffer a lost worktime injury every …