SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Some Illinois growers are using the power of NASA in a new project aimed at addressing food security, from improving crop outputs to working their land more efficiently.
Local farmers with the Illinois Corn Growers Association are working with University of Illinois researchers and NASA on a new Farmer Data Cooperative. Dr. Laura Gentry, the association's director of water quality research, said farmers are proud to feed the nation, and the project will help them grow more and reduce environmental impacts.
"So hopefully, bring value back to our farmers and to maintain the productivity of our fields," she said, "so that our farmers are making enough food, fuel and fiber to fuel our country."
Farmers will be able to access special NASA datasets and work with researchers to develop tools that will help them predict and address inefficiencies in the ways their farm operations are managed.
Gentry said some of the tools that could be used as part of the cooperative will focus on new market opportunities, land-use efficiency and nutrient management. When to fertilize crops is one example.
"Things that help farmers make better decisions when they're applying nitrogen fertilizer in season, helping them use NASA harvest satellite imagery to predict the growth stage and how much nitrogen has been taken up already," she said, "and then use that as a budget to decide how much nitrogen the crop is deficient."
She said farmers who participate will be part owners in the cooperative and have influence over developing the new tools and technologies. They'll pay into the cooperative by authorizing use of their farming data for further development and research.
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Roughly one in eight Nebraskans who have experienced hunger is a child. The state has a chance to help their families afford groceries, but must 'opt in' to a federal program to do so.
During the COVID Public Health Emergency, families with children eligible for free or reduced-price meals at school also received Pandemic EBT funding to help them afford groceries during school closures and summer vacation. Now the U.S. Department of Agriculture is offering a similar program, Summer EBT, on a permanent basis.
Eric Savaiano, food and nutrition access program manager for the nonprofit Nebraska Appleseed, said a huge number of Nebraska children could benefit, but the state must opt in to the program.
"It's an option for states to take this program up," Savaiano explained. "And there is a small investment that's needed to authorize it. But it would pull down $18 million in benefits to be distributed to about 150,000 kids."
Savaiano explained the state would pay about $300,000 annually in administrative costs, and Nebraska families would receive $120 per eligible child for groceries in the summer.
The deadline for states to let the USDA know they are interested is Jan. 1. Nebraska is not among the 14 states and two tribal nations that have signed on so far.
Savaiano argued Nebraska children have a lot to gain and the state has little to lose by signing on in time.
"Even indicating interest does not actually lock us into participation," Savaiano pointed out. "It would just give us the opportunity to participate, while some of these final regulations for this brand-new program are released. But I think we might be out of luck if we don't even indicate our interest by January 1st."
Just over 12% of Nebraskans experience food insecurity. Savaiano observed the state's rural nature probably contributes to the figure, which is higher than the national average. But he added the state has refused "time and time again" to participate in federal programs that could have helped reduce food insecurity.
"Through the pandemic, there were lots of federal assistance programs that we refused -- sometimes first in the nation, or we ended very early -- that made it harder for people to get the food that they need," Savaiano noted.
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to a request for comment on the state's plans regarding the Summer EBT program.
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Today, nearly 4,000 Utahns are lacing up their running shoes and putting on a costume for the Utah Food Bank's 18th annual Utah Human Race.
Ginette Bott, president and CEO of the Utah Food Bank, said as many gather in the spirit of Thanksgiving, it is an important time to remember close to 320,000 Utahns face hunger, and one in 10 Utah kids do not know where their next meal is coming from. She explained by running with an "attitude of gratitude," many are helping the food bank in the fight against statewide hunger.
"We know that what we do comes at a crucial time for people on a daily basis," Bott noted. "But when you have families that are trying to celebrate a holiday tradition, regardless of which holiday they celebrate, and they have to stretch that budget even more, what we do for families is really, really important."
The event is taking place at the Sandy Promenade and starts at eight in the morning. Runners can choose between a 5k or 10k race.
The American Farm Bureau Federation found Thanksgiving dinner was less expensive this year than last but food costs still remain high compared to years past. The group found this year's "classic Thanksgiving feast" for 10 people cost just over $6 per guest. Bott pointed out the race is part of the food bank's Holiday Food and Fund Drive and encouraged Utahns to donate food, time or money if they can.
"Any of those three things would be appreciated, and if you don't come to the Utah Food Bank, go to a pantry in your neighborhood or even another organization that you are passionate about," Bott suggested. "Time of giving is great during the holiday season, and the biggest mistake people make is not doing something."
Bott stressed for every dollar going to the Utah Food Bank, they can turn it into more than $8 worth of goods and services. She added the fight against hunger takes a communitywide approach and reminded people it is not something only applying during the holiday season but throughout the course of the year. She invited Utahns to give thought to what it is they can share with others.
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As Thanksgiving approaches, some Alabama residents are facing a meal gap crisis, forcing people to choose between buying gas and medicine or putting turkey on the table.
Each month, the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama reported they serve about 250,000 people across 12 counties who experience food insecurity on a regular basis.
Nicole Williams, CEO of the food bank, said this holiday season the food bank is preparing an extra 25,000 holiday meal boxes to help feed families.
"The holidays are really all about food and family being together," Williams explained. "We want to just ensure that our neighbors who experience food insecurity have an opportunity to have a nice meal and not feel that stress of where that food is going to come from."
She noted they are working with 230 agency partners to help distribute holiday meals throughout central Alabama between now and the end of December.
Some of the 12 counties served by the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama are located in rural areas, where food insecurities can exist at higher rates, according to an Annie E. Casey Foundation study.
Williams pointed out the need for food assistance is currently at an all-time high, which is reflected at the food bank. She said they had to start finding ways to provide holiday meals way back in June, and added inflated grocery and gas prices have impacted their operations.
"I know last year we had budgeted about $80,000 for gas and we spent more than twice that much as gas prices rose," Williams reported. "The food bank also buys food. We don't just you know take donated food and so we use grant money and donor money to buy food. So, food inflation has really affected us."
Williams added people in need of food can visit feedingal.org and click the "Find Food" button on the front page. Information on volunteering at the food bank warehouse or organizing a food drive can also be found there.
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