The bell had barely begun to ring in the new school year when complaints starting coming in about USDA’s “healthier” school lunch menu guidelines and the chorus is getting louder. The new guidelines feature lots more healthy fresh fruits and veggies, which is great, but they also cut the portion sizes and the amount of protein served to students, which …
Top Farmers Markets in America Announced
Throughout the summer farmers market shoppers from across the United States have been voting for America’s Favorite Farmers Markets. American Farmland Trust sponsors the event and is ready to announce this years winners. But the contest isn’t just about being number one. This fun-loving contest showcases the role farmers markets play in local communities and cities alike. Farmers markets are …
Meals in the Fields
It’s time for a meal in the field with the Farm Credit Services of Illinois. The 2012 National Farm Safety and Health Week will be celebrated September 16-22 with the theme “Agricultural Safety & Health: A Family Affair”. Even as the average size of farms continues to increase, 94% of all Illinois farms are family-owned. Most farm workers in Illinois …
Livestock 101 at NAMA Boot Camp
Animal agriculture seems to be under a constant fire from those who don’t understand it. During the recent NAMA Boot Camp, Dr. Dan Thomson, Assistant Dean of Outreach and Professor at Kansas State University Vet School, addressed the basics of the industry along with issues and challenges so agri-marketers could help educate the growing population of non-ag consumers. “I think …
Colbert Makes PSA for Produce
Stephen Colbert is always hilarious, but his parody PSA for the “People for the Ethical Treatment of Produce (PeTOP)” is priceless! The Colbert Report Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive
Why We Go Meatless on Wednesdays and Fridays
In the spirit of full disclosure, the owners of AgWired – Chuck and Cindy Zimmerman – have a confession to make. We go meatless on Wednesdays and Fridays. The reason is because we love meat. Therefore, going without it is a sacrifice, a form of abstinence for religious reasons. From the time of the Holy Apostles, Christians have fasted on …
Chocolate Lovers Unite
Chocolate lovers make plans to attend The National Chocolate Show and Chicago Fine Chocolate Show Nov. 16-18 at Chicago’s Navy Pier. These shows will premiere as the preeminent chocolate event and the only dual consumer and trade shows dedicated to the chocolate industry in the country. The National Chocolate Show and Chicago Fine Chocolate Show were created to address both …
Senators Celebrate “Meat Mondays”
The offices of U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) today celebrated ‘Meat Monday’ with barbeque beef brisket, ribs, and sausage from Hill Country BBQ restaurant. For the senators from beef producing states, it was a response to last week’s USDA employee newsletter promoting “Meatless Mondays” that was accidentally approved and put on line, and subsequently removed but …
No Hormones Used in Chicken/Turkey Production
Think chickens are raised by giving them hormones? You’d be wrong. Simply not true. The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association has put together a video you can share to set the record straight. One of the most common, and frustrating, questions for U.S. poultry producers is why hormones are used to produce today’s poultry products. Of course, the actual answer …
Kicking Off National Hot Dog Month
To celebrate the start of July’s National Hot Dog Month, the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC) is proud to announce the winner of its t-shirt slogan contest. ‘Hot Dogs: Relish the Moment’ was America’s top choice for the Council slogan, beating seven other finalists in a Facebook poll. Gadi Lefkowitz of Baltimore, MD, who submitted the winning slogan, …