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Radio Features Archive

An Initiative for Healthy School Meals

 00:04:59.833
USDA recently announced a partnership with a national non-profit with the goal of improving school meal quality and nutrition. The means to achieve these goals is recent grant monies to modernize school meal preparation equipment and education on better ways to increase nutrition. Rod Bain looks at the Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative in this edition of “Agriculture USA”.

PARTICIPANTS: Rod Bain. Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small. Action for Healthy Kids CEO Rob Bisceglie. Aquilla Texas Independent School District Superintendent David Edison.

Some Schools Getting Help in Providing Meals to Students

 00:03:00.035
Some schools are getting much needed help in providing healthy meals to their students. Gary Crawford has more.


PARTICIPANTS: Gary Crawford. Deputy Agriculture Secretary Xochitl Torres Small. Rob Bisceglie, CEO of Action for Healthy Kids. Former President Harry Truman.

Food Prices Still Rising, but at a Slower, More "Normal" Rate

 00:02:59.356
Food prices are still going up, but at a much slower rate than we saw one year ago. Gary Crawford has more.


PARTICIPANTS: Gary Crawford. USDA economists, Matt MacLachlan and Megan Sweitzer.

Contributors to Hawaiian Wildfires

 00:02:50.501
What are some of the factors that led to recent wildfires on two of Hawaii’s islands, including one on Maui that led to several fatalities and destruction of a historic community? Rod Bain reports.

PARTICIPANTS: Rod Bain and USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey

A Mixture of July Weather Conditions and Records

 00:02:57.606
The seventh month of 2023 produced a wide degree of both average recorded temperatures and precipitation in parts of the county, with some of those readings record-setting. Rod Bain reports.

PARTICIPANTS: Rod Bain and USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey

How to Pack a Nutritious School Lunch for Your Child

 00:03:00.062
If we are packing a school lunch for our kids, an expert says we should make sure there's enough nutrition in that lunch. Gary Crawford reports.


PARTICIPANTS: Gary Crawford and Sandy Proctor, Kansas State University Extension food and nutrition specialist.

Revelations from August Crop Production Reports

 00:02:29.368
What did field-collected and producer-contributed surveys do to change numbers in USDA's latest crop production reports? Rod Bain reports.


PARTICIPANTS: Rod Bain. Chief Economist Seth Meyer. Lance Honig of the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

USDA Updates Ag. Trade Numbers. Exports Still Below Last Year.

 00:02:28.192
Several factors are combining to slow down U.S. agricultural exports. Gary Crawford has more.


PARTICIPANTS: Gary Crawford and USDA economist, Bart Kenner.

New Survey Explodes One Myth about Cover Crop Incentives

 00:02:30.413
A new farmer survey explodes one myth about cover crop incentives. Gary Crawford has more.


PARTICIPANTS: Gary Crawford. Dr. Rob Myers with USDA's Sustainable Ag. Research and Extension Group at the University of Missouri. Andy LaVigne, CEO of the American Seed Trade Association.

Latest Update to USDA Market News Mobile App

 00:02:28.427
USDA recently rolled out its latest version of its Market News mobile app for smart devices, building upon previous editions and adding expanded features and data. Rod Bain reports.

PARTICIPANTS: Rod Bain and Agricultural Marketing Service Associate Deputy Administrator Taylor Cox

Defining and Improving Agricultural Literacy

 00:02:30.334
Efforts continue to improve both the definition of agricultural literacy among the public as well as basic understanding of ag. Rod Bain reports.

PARTICIPANTS: Rod Bain and Kathleen Liang of North Carolina A and T University