The USDA says it plans to make debt relief available to Black farmers. The announcement came one day before Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack participated in a roundtable discussion with Black farmers in Georgia. A spokesman says Vilsack will be traveling to other states to discuss the plan in the weeks ahead. Late last week, the Farm Service Agency published the …
Chickens are Amazing, Intelligent, and Affectionate Animals
Some of the things to love about chickens. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Chickens, which are descended from dinosaurs, are amazing, intelligent, and affectionate animals. Here are some things you might not have known about these adorable birds. They can solve problems, understand cause and effect, and anticipate and plan for the future. Mother hens begin to teach …
Livestock Market Report Week Ending 5-21-2021
Here are the weekly livestock market reports for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, for the week ended May 21, 2021, compiled by the Livestock Market News Service for all three states. AL Livestock Market Report: At Alabama Livestock Auctions for the week ending May 21, 2021, receipts at 21 markets totaled an estimated 13,600 head compared to 9,302 last week and …
Crew Leaders Backed in Overtime Fight
A federal appeals court sided with two crew leaders on Friday in a dispute about whether they should be paid overtime for driving farmworkers to accomplish tasks like buy groceries, go to the bank and do laundry. Crew leaders Jose Ramirez and Joel Santana filed the lawsuit in 2017 against Statewide Harvesting & Hauling, LLC, which is a Florida company …
How You Can Grow an Avocado Tree from the Pit
How to grow an avocado tree from the pit. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. While it takes a lot of patience to grow an avocado tree, about five years before it starts producing fruit, you’ll have everything you need to get one started the next time you cut open an avocado. Take the pit of the fruit, wash …
Over $2.3 Million Invested in Small Business Innovation Research
Small businesses play a vital role in driving innovation and technology advancements, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is investing over $2.3 million in such projects through its Small Business Innovation Research program. As the program aims to encourage participation by women-owned and socially or economically disadvantaged small businesses, it can greatly benefit …
Agriculture Facing More Transportation Issues with Trucking Challenges
Agricultural producers are facing more transportation issues as it relates to trucking challenges. The cost of shipping has been steadily increasing over the past year. Additionally, there are reports of overall trucking shortages compounding the issue. Ag exporters have had a tough time dealing with overall transportation issues in recent months. Congestion at U.S. ports and the limited availability of …
Study Combines Sheep Grazing and Solar Energy Production
A recent study published in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems details the effects of combining solar panels and lamb grazing on overall land productivity. New research carried out by Oregon State University scientists in 2019 and 2020 is believed to be the first study of its kind. The team compared the differences between lamb growth in traditional open pastures, with that of …
Provysol Can Help With Resistance Issues in Peanut Crops
Resistance issues continues to be a major concern for many peanut growers going into this season. Abraham Fulmer, BASF Technical Service Representative, explains to Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman why it has been such a problem the past few years. Provysol fungicide provides fast disease-stopping power to shield new growth and immediately deposits to inner leaf depots and provides residual protection as …
An Ingenious Way to Maximize Your Potato Harvest
An ingenious way to maximize your potato harvest. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. One of the easiest ways to grow potatoes, when space is limited, is by using upcycled materials. Potato tire towers, is one example, which are made of used tires stacked on top of one another. The reason these work so well is that potato …