As we are preparing for the upcoming holiday season, keep in mind that raw flour can give you Salmonella and E. coli if consumed raw. Flour is made from processing raw grains that are grown in fields, but this process does not kill the bacteria found in the raw grains. Some tips to avoid getting sick include not eating or tasting raw dough products, keeping flour away from ready-to-eat foods, and refrigerating cookie and pastry dough according...
Pinkeye in cattle is highly contagious and can lead to blindness and impair weight gain in calves, which can lead to negative economic impacts in the beef industry. Scientists at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS) revealed that there are two different variants of the bacterium that is known to cause pinkeye in cattle. Scientists Working on Prevention...
Over 47 million birds have died from infections and culling from avian influenza this year, according to a new report from Reuters. As Thanksgiving is rounding the corner, export bans and lowered egg and turkey production are causing supply issues and higher prices. Rosemary Sifford, chief veterinary officer for the Department of Agriculture, says, “Unfortunately, what we’ve done probably hasn’t been enough to protect us from this high...
The Mississippi River water level has reached the lowest it has ever been, -10.77 feet. This lack of water has made importing and exporting vital agricultural commodities a serious challenge as fewer barges are able to make their way down the river, and they are having to lighten their loads by 17-38% to keep from bottoming out. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have kept traffic flowing by dredging, but new challenging spots in the river can...
Protein from insects such as crickets, grasshoppers, ants, mealworms, and black soldier flies is being used to create various nutritious food products. By 2027 the insect protein market will reach 3.3 billion US Dollars as it is becoming popular with younger generations for sport nutrition. Some of these bugs are edible on their own, but others are being ground up and made into bars and cookies.
American Farmland Trust (AFT) announced a partnership with Edelen Renewables and Arcadia last Tuesday. To protect America's farmland and ranchland, the Farmers Powering Communities is using solar energy to combat climate change. They are bringing this renewable energy to communities where it is not readily available or places that do not have access to rooftop solar panels. This will begin in 2023 across a number of states that already have...
Over 90% of Puerto Rico's crops were destroyed as Hurricane Fiona hit the island as a Category 1 hurricane on September 17, 2022. Agriculture is an important aspect of the island, and some of the plants that were blown over did not lose their fruit, so farmers can still harvest and export the fruit if they have the correct equipment to get to their fields. The main crops that are grown are rice, sugar, cane, coffee, and corn.
The Economic Research Service (ERS) through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported in 2021 the number of households with children that were experiencing food insecurity was at a 20 year low. In 2020, 14.8 percent of households were food insecure, while in 2021 this number dropped to 12.5 percent. Food insecurity in children was 7.6 percent in 2020 while it was down to 6.2 percent in 2021.
Grow with Google partnered with the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture (AFBFA) to train 2,000 teachers in digital skills. These teachers will reach 200,000 students in rural communities around America by the end of the 2022-2023 school year. AFBFA is supporting this effort by creating the Farm Bureau Foundation Fellows Program, which is an 8-month program designed to help fellows develop a place-based curriculum that incorporates...
Feeding Minds Press has released a new title, Hero for the Hungry by Norman Borlaug. This book tells the story of Norman Borlaug, the "Father of the Green Revolution," and his fight to end world hunger. “We’re excited to introduce today’s youth to Norman Borlaug,” said Daniel Meloy, executive director of the Foundation. “With ‘Hero for the Hungry,’ we hope Norman Borlaug’s story of science and true American grit inspires young...
