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Tag: Chuck Ringwalt

  • USDA ends food insecurity survey

    OHIO — The United States Deptartment of Agriculture said it will end the publication of a report focused on food security and the lack thereof among Americans.

    What You Need To Know

    • The USDA called the report “redundant”, “costly and “politicized”

    • The last Household Food Security Report will be published in October

    • Each week, Spectrum News 1 anchor Chuck Ringwalt and agriculture expert Andy Vance discuss an aspect of the state’s agricultural landscape

    “For 30 years, this study—initially created by the Clinton administration as a means to support the increase of SNAP eligibility and benefit allotments—failed to present anything more than subjective, liberal fodder. Trends in the prevalence of food insecurity have remained virtually unchanged, regardless of an over 87% increase in SNAP spending between 2019 – 2023,” the USDA said in a release.

    According to the USDA’s 2023 report summary, “This report presents statistics from the survey that cover household food security, food expenditures, and the use of Federal food and nutrition assistance programs…The prevalence of food insecurity is determined by many factors, including household circumstances, the economy, and Federal, State, and local policies. This report does not provide an analysis of the factors that determine the prevalence or trends in food insecurity.”

    “The U.S. Department of Agriculture has one of the greatest data collection apparatuses really, of any governmental agency outside maybe the Census Bureau. They are really good at collecting farm level data, at collecting food bank level data, at collecting household level data to support good policy and good decision making. When you take away a survey like this, you’re taking away objective data,” Spectrum News agriculture expert Andy Vance said.

    The Ag Report airs every Friday on Spectrum News 1.

    Chuck Ringwalt

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  • USDA updates meat labeling guidelines

    USDA updates meat labeling guidelines

    COLUMBUS, Ohio — The U.S. Department of Agriculture updated its guidelines in an effort to ensure that animal-raising and environmental claims printed on meat and poultry labels are accurate. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The U.S. Department of Agriculture updated its guidelines in an effort to ensure that animal-raising and environmental claims printed on meat and poultry labels are accurate
    • According to the USDA, examples of these marketing claims include: “Raised using Regenerative Agriculture Practices” and “Climate-Friendly”
    • These marketing claims are printed on product packaging in an effort to attract consumers
    • Each week, Spectrum News 1 anchor Chuck Ringwalt and agriculture expert Andy Vance discuss an aspect of the state’s agricultural landscape

    “USDA continues to deliver on its commitment to fairness and choice for both farmers and consumers, and that means supporting transparency and high-quality standards,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a release. “These updates will help to level the playing field for businesses who are truthfully using these claims and ensure people can trust the labels when they purchase meat and poultry products.”

    Some examples include: “Raised Without Antibiotics”, “Grass-Fed” and “Free-Range”.

    “The [USDA] has basically said to food companies, ‘Bring us some verification. If you’re claiming that your animals were raised with no antibotics ever for example, how do you prove that us?’” agriculture expert Andy Vance said.

    If you have an idea for the Ag Report, a question for Chuck and Andy or you’d like to send a photo of your farm and the work you do, email charles.ringwalt@charter.com.

    Chuck Ringwalt

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  • USDA continues to fight avian influenza as virus spreads

    USDA continues to fight avian influenza as virus spreads

    COLUMBUS — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is working to stop the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

    What You Need To Know

    • Close to 100 million birds have been killed since the HPAI outbreak began in 2022
    • According to the United States Department of Agriculture, HPAI has been confirmed at least 69 times in dairy herds throughout nine states, including Ohio, as of May 30
    • Each week, Spectrum News 1 anchor Chuck Ringwalt and agriculture expert Andy Vance discuss an aspect of the state’s agricultural landscape

    4.2 million chickens were killed this month after an outbreak at an Iowa egg farm.

    The United States Department of Agriculture reports at least 69 confirmed cases of HPAI in dairy cow herds. Three farmworkers have been infected with the virus.

    Since the start of the outbreak in 2022, more than 96 million birds have been killed.

    “Poultry farmers are getting more and more used to dealing with [HPAI],” agriculture expert Andy Vance said. “This outbreak in particular has been more challenging than some we’ve had, but the variance and the spread of these does tend to ebb and flow.” 

    The USDA said it will provide financial assistance to dairy producers affected by the virus.

    The USDA said it will use $824 million from the Commodity Credit Corporation to launch a new Voluntary H5N1 Dairy Herd Status Pilot Program 

    The program’s goals include testing options for producers and increased surveillance of the virus.

    “USDA food safety inspectors are making sure that no animal, dairy cow or poultry that’s infected with this disease is getting into the food supply,” Vance said.

    Vance also serves as the executive director of the Poultry Science Association.

    If you have an idea for the Ag Report, a question for Chuck and Andy or you’d like to send a photo of your farm and the work you do, email charles.ringwalt@charter.com.

    Chuck Ringwalt

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  • Ag Report: Warm soil temperatures aid farmers despite wet weather

    Ag Report: Warm soil temperatures aid farmers despite wet weather

    COLUMBUS — Despite heavy rain, farmers were able to make progress in the fields.

    What You Need To Know

    • According to the report: ” There were 2.0 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 12.”
    • Each week, Spectrum News 1 anchor Chuck Ringwalt and agriculture expert Andy Vance discuss an aspect of the state’s agricultural landscape

    According to the USDA, 1.59 inches of precipitation was recorded for the week ending May 12. The report said this was .8 inches above average.

    “Anyone with a backyard or a dog can identify with it. It feels like here comes .2 of an inch. Here comes .3 of an inch. Just enough rain every day or every two days to keep it from drying out and getting anything done,” agriculture expert Andy Vance said.

    Tornados and extreme weather also prevented farmers from working in the fields.

    According to the report: “Farmers reported damage from either a direct hit of the tornado or from trees being uprooted or branches breaking off the trees.”

    However, warm soil temperatures allowed some farmers the ability to make progress.

    “We’re also well ahead of the five-year average for corn and soybean planting,” Vance said. “We’re running about 3.5° above normal here for example, so when you have above average precipitation and above average temperatures things get to growing pretty quickly.”

    The USDA reported corn and soybean planting was 36% and 27% planted during the week ending May 12.

    If you have an idea for the Ag Report, a question for Chuck and Andy or you’d like to send a photo of your farm and the work you do, email charles.ringwalt@charter.com.

    Chuck Ringwalt

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  • Ag Report: Limiting foreign ownership of U.S. farmland

    Ag Report: Limiting foreign ownership of U.S. farmland

    COLUMBUS — Foreign ownership of U.S. farmland is causing concern, and lawmakers are implementing laws to limit the practice.

    What You Need To Know

    • Peggy Kirk Hall, J.D. joins this edition of the Ag Report to provide further insight into state legislation limiting foreign investment in Ohio’s farmland
    • Each week, Spectrum News 1 anchor Chuck Ringwalt and agriculture expert Andy Vance discuss an aspect of the state’s agricultural landscape

    According to a USDA report, “Foreign persons held an interest in over 43.4 million acres of U.S. agricultural land as of December 31, 2022. This is 3.4 percent of all privately held agricultural land and nearly 2 percent of all land in the United States.”

    For Ohio, that number is 2.7%.

    Peggy Kirk Hall, J.D., is the Director of The Ohio State University’s Agricultural and Resource Law Program.

    She discussed a 2023 Ohio law that limits who can purchase farmland.

    “And what that law does now is prohibit ownership of land by certain persons. So in order to know which persons cannot own land in Ohio, the Ohio Secretary of State is to prepare a registry of those persons,” she said. “And that registry contains those who would be considered to be threats to land ownership in Ohio. That registry is now up and available on the Ohio Secretary of State’s website. And any person or entity on any of those lists on that registry would be prohibited from holding on to land ownership if they obtained that land after the law’s effective date of October 23rd of last year.”

    If you have an idea for the Ag Report, a question for Chuck and Andy or you’d like to send a photo of your farm and the work you do, send an email to charles.ringwalt@charter.com. You can also follow Chuck on Facebook.

    Chuck Ringwalt

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