Family Farm and Food Bytes
GETTING FARM TO TABLE FASTER (Effingham Daily News) – Researchers from the University of Illinois’ Prairie Research Institute, along with members from the Illinois Specialty Growers Association and Illinois Farm Bureau, are carrying out a six-step process that will culminate with launching pilot programs throughout the state that address food insecurity.
FRANCE PASSES LAW TO PRESERVE THE SOUNDS AND SMELLS OF THE COUNTRYSIDE (Travel and Leisure) – French senators unanimously passed a law to protect the "sensory heritage" of the French countryside, including its sounds and smells.
COVID CHALLENGES SHEEP, LAMB INDUSTRY (FarmWeek) - The inventory of market sheep and lambs in the state totaled 8000 head as of January 1, 2021, down 11% from the previous year, the National Agricultural Statistics Service Illinois field office reported. The wool market also unraveled in 2020, dropping 9% to 155,000 pounds. Demand was reduced with restrictions during the Easter season and the inability to have family get-togethers.
SUPER BOWL WEEKEND A TOUCHDOWN FOR POULTRY INDUSTRY (FarmWeekNow) – Americans consumed a record 1.42 BILLION wings while watching the Super Bowl. That’s a 2% increase from last year, according to the National Chicken Council’s annual Wing Report.
AFTER THE SUCCESS OF LOGAN SQUARE’S DILL PICKLE, RESIDENTS ACROSS THE CHICAGO AREA ARE LOOKING TO LAUNCH FOOD CO-OPS (Chicago Tribune) – The only operating grocery food cooperative in Chicago, Logan Square’s Dill Pickle is a community-owned store run by its members. Now residents around the region — from Rogers Park to Lombard to Woodstock — are in different stages of trying to launch more food co-ops.
TAKE A (VIRTUAL) TRIP TO THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME (FarmWeekNow) - Did you miss Illinois Ag in the Classroom's tour of the Professional Hall of Fame? No worries. You can visit IAITC's blog and watch the YouTube video anytime for your own private tour. You'll learn many interesting facts about the history of football and its correlation with agriculture.
GENERAL MILLS PUTS FAITH IN CEREALS, ICE CREAM AND MEXICAN FOOD FOR GROWTH (Reuters) – General Mills Inc will focus on eight key markets and five global product categories, including ice cream, cereal and Mexican meals, as the Betty Crocker cake mixes maker seeks to reach its long-term goal of up to 3% growth.
GM AIMS TO END SALE OF GASOLINE, DIESEL-POWERED CARS, SUVS, LIGHT TRUCKS BY 2035 (Reuters) – General Motors Co said Thursday it was setting a goal to sell all its new cars, SUVS and light pickup trucks with zero tailpipe emissions by 2035, a dramatic shift by the largest U.S. automaker away from gasoline and diesel engines.
EIA PROJECTS HIGHER FUEL, ENERGY PRICES THIS YEAR (FarmWeekNow) - As temperatures drop, fuel and energy usage and prices rise. The Energy Information Administration projects spending this winter will increase by 6% for natural gas, 7% for electricity and 14% for propane to heat U.S. homes compared to last year. Meanwhile, EIA projects retail gasoline prices could average $2.44 per gallon in 2021, up 26 cents from last year.
About Family Farm and Food Bytes: This is a collection of articles gathered from both mainstream and agriculture media and is designed to keep you informed as a member and leader within the Cook County Farm Bureau® organization. The articles summarized above are not intended to represent Cook County Farm Bureau policy or positions, but rather to provide members an idea of what is being reported regionally, nationally, and globally.