pest

April is Invasive Pest and Disease Awareness Month

Sabrina Halvorson This Land of Ours

Increasing awareness of some agricultural pests. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The Department of Agriculture Tuesday declared April as 2023 Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month. The outreach effort is dedicated to highlighting the impact of invasive plant pests and diseases on plants nationwide. The campaign also seeks to inform Americans on how they can help …

CCQA

Dairy Farm Innovations Yield Environmental Benefits

Sabrina Halvorson This Land of Ours

Dairy farms around the nation are becoming more efficient. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. From parlor to pasture, many advances in dairy farm management are helping drive up dairy farm efficiency in North America, and that helps drive down environmental impact. The Association of Equipment Manufacturers issued a report titled “Environmental Benefits of Modern Dairy, Hay, and …

Growing Chia in Your Home Garden

Taylor Hillman Features, This Land of Ours

Chia has become incredibly popular due to its myriad health benefits and the sheer number of recipes the seeds can be used for. The seeds are high in Omega-3 and fiber and can be added to cakes and muffins, yogurt, desserts, drinks, and many other dishes. The best thing about Chia is how easily they germinate and grow. Chia are …

How to Get Rid of a Gnat Problem

Taylor Hillman Features, This Land of Ours

Gnats may be invading your home for several reasons:  food spills, over-watered grass, pipes leaking under the sink, garbage cans, or windows or vents with condensation. And once you have a single gnat, it can be hard to get rid of them because they breed so infrequently.  But there is a simple solution and one without chemicals. Create a trap …

Growing Your Own Edamame

Taylor Hillman This Land of Ours

Growing beans is easy, and Edamame is no exception.  Edamame is a type of soybean, thought only the dried form is used for making tofu and other soy products.  Their popularity stems from the fact that they’re extremely nutritious. Edamame beans are packed with protein and vitamins, including vitamin E. They’re also rich in antioxidants and contain a lot of …

Why Your Garden Needs Nasturtium

Taylor Hillman This Land of Ours

Nasturtium is a plant that vines out and is so attractive that many people plant them as additions to ornamental gardens. There are several varieties of nasturtium for just about whatever shape plant is needed: Some cascade, others climb, and still, others are bushy. They work well for borders, as pot plants, or for vertical gardening up walls or fences. …

You Should Consider Growing Wildflowers

Taylor Hillman This Land of Ours

Wildflowers come in many shapes and sizes. They come at different times of the year, blending a huge array of colors across the landscape. They do all of this without being planted, watered or preened over at all. There are plenty of reasons to plant them. For one, they are pretty inexpensive. They’re self-seeding which takes the extra work off …

essential

Why Aeration is Important for the Garden

Taylor Hillman General

In soil, aeration refers to the extent of air gaps. Aerated soil will equate to happier plants with plenty of oxygen. That can be as important as water, sun, and nutrients. You can typically notice a lack of oxygen in the soil when you look at the plants’ roots. If the roots have an abnormal shape, this means that the …