An exotic and peculiar looking melon with a unique flavor that you can grow in your garden. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The Kiwano Melon has a yellowish-orange horned skin and looks more like a cucumber on the inside than a melon. They have a wonderfully unique flavor, something like banana mixed with lime. These horned melons …
Weekly Livestock Market Report Week Ending 2-5-2021
Here are the weekly livestock market reports for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, for the week ended February 5, 2021, compiled by the Livestock Market News Service for all three states. AL Livestock Market Report: At Alabama Livestock Auctions for the Week ended February 05, 2021, receipts at 21 markets totaled an estimated 9,200 head compared to 7,996 last week and …
USDA Extends General Conservation Reserve Program Signup
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced they are extending the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) General Signup period. The previous deadline was Feb. 12, 2021. Acting Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Steve Peterson told Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman, USDA will continue to accept offers as it takes this opportunity for the incoming Administration to evaluate ways to increase enrollment. The CRP program provides annual rental …
Update on Florida OJ Supply and Demand
In the Feb. 3 Florida Citrus Commission meeting, Marisa Zansler, Florida Department of Citrus director of economic and market research, provided an update on the Florida orange juice (OJ) movement and availability. External trends, such as fruit drop and increased demand during the pandemic, may significantly impact the availability of orange juice throughout the season. Coming into the 2020–21 season, beginning inventory …
Vilsack Looks Ahead at Various Issues
U.S. Agriculture Secretary-designate Tom Vilsack recently listed some of the top issues he’s concerned about, Tyron Spearman has the story. The Senate Agriculture Committee this week did approve Vilsack to return to the helm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The overall process is still waiting for confirmation by the full Senate. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 1, 2026FL Cattle …
USDA Updates to Conservation Easements Strengthens Protection
Thursday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the final rule for its Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). The program enables agricultural producers and private landowners to protect farmlands, grasslands, and wetlands with conservation easements. The rule updates ACEP as directed by the 2018 Farm Bill and incorporates public comments made on an interim rule. NRCS received more than 570 comments on the ACEP interim rule, which …
Field-Testing Natural Compounds to Fight HLB
Field tests of numerous antibacterial products and plant-derived compounds are underway with the goal of eliminating the HLB-causing bacteria in citrus and reversing plant damage to restore tree health. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) plant root biologist Lorenzo Rossi discusses a new research project funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of …
NMPF: 2021 Holds Promise
National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) President CEO Jim Mulhern says 2021 holds promise with a big to-do list. In the new Congress, the organization seeks to advance dairy’s needs within COVID-19 relief legislation. Child nutrition programs are up for reauthorization, offering a chance to maintain and expand dairy options in school meals and build upon the strong reaffirmation of dairy’s …
Alabama Sweet Potato Farmer to Be Featured on National TV Show
Sweet potatoes are not a crop we think a lot about across the Southeast. But one farmer in Baldwin County, Alabama thinks about them regularly. His story will receive both statewide and national exposure. On the next episode of “Simply Southern TV”, Joel Sirmon will explain what it takes to grow sweet potatoes. Alabama Farmers Federation’s Kevin Worthington, co-host of …
Busy Week for Georgia Lawmakers
Week four of the 2021 Georgia State Legislative Session was a busy one for lawmakers, including more work on the state budget. Georgia Agribusiness Council (GAC) President Will Bentley says they are still hearing about some positive things in the budget for agriculture. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted food and agriculture workers were among the 30 …