News Update
January 22, 2014
American Adults are
Choosing
Healthier Foods,
Consuming
Healthier Diets
American adults are eating better, making better use of available nutrition information, and consuming fewer calories coming from fat and saturated fat, consuming less cholesterol and eating more fiber, according to a new report from the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS); Changes in Eating Patterns and Diet Quality Among Working-Age Adults, 2005-2010.
The study, released Jan. 16, , underscores the importance of robust efforts undertaken since 2009 to improve food choices and diet quality and ensure that all Americans have access to healthy food and science-based nutrition education and advice.
“The Obama administration is working hard to empower the American public to make smart choices every day at school, at home and in their communities,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “We have made significant progress, but our work is not done. We will continue to invest in critical programs that expand the availability of healthy, safe, affordable food for all Americans.”
The researchers found that use of nutrition information, including the Nutrition Facts Panel found on most food packages, increased in recent years. Forty-two percent of working-age adults and 57% of older adults reported using the Nutrition Facts Panel most or all of the time when making food choices. When asked about nutrition information in restaurants, 76% of working-age adults reported that they would use the information if it were available.
“We are pleased to hear that this study finds improvements in several key areas of the American diet,” said Michael Taylor, deputy commissioner for foods and veterinary medicine at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “FDA will soon propose an updated Nutrition Facts label designed to provide information that will make it even easier for people to make healthy choices.”
For more information, please view the full release here.
American Farmland Trust Survey Shows
State Funding for Agricultural Land Protection is Low
The annual American Farmland Trust (AFT) survey of state farm and ranch land protection programs shows a 19% increase in funding from 2011 to 2012, but funding levels are still 39% below where they were in 2008, according to Andrew McElwaine, president and CEO of AFT.
“State budget cuts have hit agricultural land-protection programs hard in the last five years, but our latest survey shows a very significant 19% increase in funding from 2011 to 2012,” said McElwaine. “This increase shows that a number of states have put a priority on protecting farmland, while state spending on environmental protection programs generally continues in a downward trend.
“But, if states had continued the same level of funding they had in 2008, we would have saved an additional 358,000 acres of agricultural land and purchased 2,000 additional farmland conservation easements,” said McElwaine. “That’s the gap AFT is working hard to narrow with our state partners.”
Last year, American Farmland Trust worked with state partners in New York to increase farmland protection funding by $13 million and in Washington State to increase funding from $700,000 to $5.3 million.
The AFT survey released Jan. 21 shows states protected an additional 89,465 acres of agricultural land in 2012, acquiring 480 easements, and spent nearly $206 million. Overall since 1979, state farm and ranch land programs have protected 2,373,470 acres of agricultural land by acquiring 13,450 easements and spending a total of more than $3.6 billion.
Colorado, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey and Vermont lead the 27 states with active farmland protection programs in the number of acres protected.
In terms of the percentage of farmland protected, New Jersey leads other states with 27%, Delaware with 21%, Maryland with 18%, Massachusetts with 13%, and Vermont with 11%.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference
Moves to a Bigger Barn
For the first time in its 15-year history, the Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference will take place at the Grand Traverse Resort in Traverse City on Feb. 1. Despite its name, the conference hosts participants from all around the state and has become such a popular annual gathering that, according to co-chair Amanda Kik, “We needed to move to a bigger barn!”
This year’s keynote speaker, Professor Emeritus John Ikerd from the University of Missouri (MU), will share thoughts from his book, Small Farms are Real Farms. A full trade show, 28-session workshop roster, youth programming and a lunch composed of items sourced primarily from local growers round out the day’s activities.
Both consumers and growers will find educational offerings to expand their understanding of food safety concerns. Atina Diffley, one of the countries’ leading experts on the topic, and author of the popular Turn Here, Sweet Corn, will share her professional expertise, as well as draw from her more than 20 years of personal experience running a successful organic farm outside of the Twin Cities.
Workshops will cover a wide range of interests from learning about the Michigan State University (MSU) Extension Firewise initiative to protect rural properties from wildfire, to how Tribal Communities in the Great Lakes region are making strides toward food sovereignty.
“Growers, whether on a commercial or backyard scale, can attend sessions on the production of beef to hops, flowers to veggies, fruit, wine, mushrooms — the cornucopia of what makes this place and this state such a great place to farm and to eat,” Scotty Bruce, conference committee member and owner of Ellsworth’s MI Farm Market, said.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal’s Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
Winter Crop Update Set for Feb. 12 in Kingman
The Kingman and Harper county extension offices will host a Winter Crop Update and sponsored lunch Wednesday, Feb. 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Kingman County Activity Center, 121 S. Main St. in Kingman.
“We will have K-State speakers discussing wheat disease and outlook, insects and scouting in wheat and canola, fertilizer and weed control in wheat and canola, and finally, the market outlook for wheat and canola,” said Michael Owen, Kansas State University (K-State) Research and Extension agriculture and natural resources agent in Kingman County.
There is no charge to attend, but attendees are asked to register by Friday, Feb. 7, to ensure an accurate head count for the meal, sponsored by Cody Bergman of American AgCredit in Kingman. To register, call the Kingman County K-State Research and Extension office at 620-532-5131 or email Owen at mowen@ksu.edu.
Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management
Short Course Feb. 18-19
Making sound soil fertility management decisions is an important part of successful crop production, on both an economic and environmental level. Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach will offer a two-day crop-production short course Feb. 18-19 focusing on principles of soils, soil fertility and nutrient management. Highlights include sampling and testing; pH and liming; essential, secondary and micronutrients; nitrogen dynamics and manure management.
The Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management Short Course will be in Room 250, Scheman Continuing Education Building, ISU, Ames. Registration opens Feb. 18 at 8:30 a.m. with classwork beginning at 9 a.m. and ending at 4:30 p.m. on Feb 19. Registration is limited to 40 participants and preregistration is required. The small class size allows for increased discussion and interaction with extension specialists. The short course cost is $275 and includes the course reference notebook, lunches and breaks. Registration and fees must be received by midnight Feb. 11. Registrations can be completed online with a credit card or by mail with check payment. Online registration and forms are available at www.aep.iastate.edu/soil.
For more information, call ANR Program Services at 515-294-6429 or email anr@iastate.edu.
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