Red Meat Muscle Cut Exports Strong in August

August exports of U.S. beef and pork muscle cuts were above last year’s strong volumes, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Variety meat exports were lower than a year ago, due in part to the lack of available labor required to harvest and export some items. Led by record-large demand in …

Nobel Prize Serves Notice: The U.S. is Falling Behind in Race to Adopt Key Technology for Farming

(NPPC) — For more than two years, by claiming regulatory jurisdiction over gene edited livestock, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stalled the development of an emerging technology with tremendous promise for livestock agriculture, including improved animal care, production efficiency and environmental impact. The scientists who invented one of the most promising forms of this technology – the …

Florida FWC Puts Hold on Oyster Harvesting Decision

(NSF) – Looking to address additional concerns from area residents, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission delayed a vote Wednesday on finalizing a suspension of wild-oyster harvesting in Apalachicola Bay for five years. Commission Executive Director Eric Sutton said some people in the Northwest Florida area have had late concerns and “we’d like to take some more time to shore …

Keeping Your Kitchen Waste Out of the Landfill

Some things you can do with kitchen waste to keep it out of the landfill.  That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Luckily, kitchen waste falls into many categories that are conducive to productive, useful waste cycling. There are lots of compostable items, such as paper bags, cardboard boxes, and food scraps. Also, there are tons of recyclable and …

What Plants You Need to Water Before Winter

What plants to water before winter. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Many plants die from dehydration as well as cold winter temperatures. Continue to water trees, shrubs and perennials as needed as the weather cools. Water all of your plants thoroughly before the ground freezes. Another way to give plants a boost and help them survive is with …

How to Tell if a Watermelon is Ripe

How to tell if a watermelon is ripe.  That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. When picking a watermelon at the market the first way to tell if it’s ripe is by looking at its belly. This spot on a ripe watermelon will be yellowish and not white, which indicates an unripe melon. Using your knuckles, rap on the …

Water War Arguments to be Held ‘In Due Course’

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday indicated it will hear oral arguments in the long-running water battle between Florida and Georgia but did not specify when. The court issued an order that said the dispute is “set for oral argument in due course.” The case involves divvying up water in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river system, which stretches from northern Georgia to …

Things, Other Than Plants, to Include in Your Garden

Some great things, other than plants, to include in your garden.  That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Gardens are places for growing, and while most of it is largely centered around plants, there are many other things of benefit that are important for a healthy, self-sustaining poly-culture garden system. Stones, for example, can play a vital role in …

Tips for Moving Plants Indoors for the Winter

Some tips for moving plants indoors for the winter.  That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. When the cold weather begins to arrive its time to move some of those plants indoors. But there’s more to it than just plunking them back in your living room corner. While some types of plants can cope better with big changes to …