July

Beef has been on the dinner table throughout our history in modern society. When humankind transitioned from being hunters and gathers to farmers and ranchers, efficiency of our food supply chain increased. The efficiency of producing food has continued to increase throughout our recent past generations. Statistics show that in the 1930s one farmer fed four other people. In the 1970s the statistic was 73 people; and today, one farmer feeds approximately 170 people. The data indicates that one farmer has increased the number of people fed by two individuals each year since the Great Depression. Prior to 1950 the increase was only one person per year; but, during the latter half of the 20th century the annual increase in the number of people a farmer fed was 2.4 people. This rapid shift in the increase of efficiency of the American farmer and rancher is directly related to the development and implementation of technology in modern day agriculture. This is especially true for beef production systems. Today, the innovative development of genetics, management, nutrition and reproduction technologies into cow herds results in 36% fewer cattle needed to produce the same amount of beef that was produced in 1975. Implementation of these technologies developed by scientists at land grant universities, USDA and private industry has been the foundation of the increased efficiency in beef production.

Recently, U.S. President Joe Biden signed a law that aims to address a rising number of anti-Asian attacks. To comment on the significance of this bill, and to elaborate on some of the perceptions Americans have about Asia, Myoung-Gi Chon and Carolyn FitzGerald, both faculty in the College of Liberal Arts, answer some questions about the treatment of, and attitudes toward, Asians in America. 

As many people prepare for cookouts and fun gatherings for the Fourth of July weekend, those celebrating could be doing so not only with family and friends, but also an unwanted seasonal pest–the fruit fly. Auburn University’s Laurie Stevison, an assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, is an expert on the tiny, airborne nuisance. She offers the below information about how you can rid your home of them and how in some ways they can actually be beneficial.