Food products would need to meet a narrower set of standards to carry a “Product of USA” or “Made in the USA” label on their packaging, under a rule proposed by USDA. “These proposed changes are intended to provide consumers with accurate information to make informed purchasing decisions,” said USDA Secretary Secretary Tom Vilsack.   Read more

What’s the best way to get the most nutrition out of your food dollar? Industry experts say red meat, poultry and dairy. In fact, U.S. beef and dairy exports set new records in 2022 while pork exports were the third-largest on record, according to the U.S. Meat Export Federation and U.S. Dairy Export Council. Find out how sales have remained strong.   Read more

Farmers’ share of the domestic food dollar averaged 14.5 cents for 2021, according to USDA’s Economic Research Service. That’s the lowest recorded farm share value in nearly three decades. Where does the rest of the food dollar go? How does inflation impact it? Mike Doherty, consultant and former Illinois Farm Bureau senior economist, weighs in.   Read more

Consumers could see inflationary pressure ease this year, but that doesn’t mean the price of food will decline. “Economic growth and demand for food, feed and fuel has been remarkably high,” said Nathan Kauffman, senior vice president and Omaha branch executive for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.   Read more

From swapping brands and changing the type of food purchased to growing their own food or using a food pantry, one University of Illinois survey analyzed how consumer habits changed in response to escalating prices.   Read more

Be careful handling eggs — breaking one just might break the bank. Prices for eggs increased another 8.2% in January and are up nearly 70% compared to the same time last year at a record $4.82 per dozen. Ag economists said the situation basically boils down to two key points.     Read more