Some food safety tips to consider when visiting Farmers Markets. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Farmers markets offer some of the freshest produce and vegetative products you can find, but they also create opportunities to buy locally, and support small farmers, ranchers, and agricultural businesses. It’s important to keep food safety top of mind when exploring farmers …
Fragile, Invasive Weed Threatening Ecosystems of Lakes and Ponds
A deceptively fragile and invasive weed threatening the ecosystems of lakes and ponds. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The Eurasian watermilfoil is a herbaceous aquatic plant, known to form dense mats on the surface of water bodies, such as lakes and ponds. It grows and spread quickly, killing off native aquatic plants that fish and other underwater …
Sunflowers Should be Included with Horticulture Farming
Several great reasons why sunflowers should be included with horticulture farming. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Sunflowers are extremely easy to grow from seed, making them an inexpensive, low-maintenance addition. They tower up quickly and have very little trouble with pests or diseases. Plus, they work just about everywhere, from the frigid parts of Alaska, to sweltering …
What You Need to Know if You’re Considering Farming Cress
What you need to know if you’re considering farming cress. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Cress is also known as pepperwort, peppergrass, pepper cress, and garden cress. The leafy green is an annual and belongs to the Brassica family of vegetables, though it has a distinct, decidedly non-brassica, flavor. It’s often grown as a micro green and …
Four-Legged Pets Trained to Sniff Out Damaging, Invasive Pests
The four-legged pets trained to sniff out some damaging and invasive pests. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. They may be man’s best friend but they’re also angling to be Agriculture’s best friend. Detector Canines, trained by the USDA’s PPQ program, are learning how to spot and stop spotted Lanternflies and Japanese beetles before it’s too late. These …
Program Helping Protect Pollinators from Invasive Pests
The USDA program helping protect pollinators from invasive pests. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Bee pollination alone is responsible for more than 15-billion in added crop value, particularly for specialty crops such as almonds and other nuts, berries, fruits, and vegetables. Unfortunately, the honey bees are also vulnerable to invasive pests like parasitic mites, viruses, and predatory …
Smart Phone App Provides Farmers Instant Access to Market Data
The new smart phone app providing farmers instant access to market data. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The USDA has launched USDA Market News, a free mobile app designed to give producers quick and easy access to recently published market information right at their fingers tips no matter where they are. Producers can search for markets based …
Trouble-Free Fruit Tree with a Sweet Floral Flavor and Tropical Twist
The trouble-free fruit tree with a tropical twist. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Tree farmers in the warmer regions of the United States may want to consider switching things up and growing a crop a little less common. The Longan tree produces tropical fruits with a sweet, floral flavor with a juicy flesh. Longans are related to …
Using Soil Blocks for Better Seed Starting
How to use soil blocks for better seed starting. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Soil blocking involves creating compressed blocks of soil to start seedlings in. It’s inexpensive, easier for transplanting, promotes healthy root systems, and is eco-friendly. And the best part, no transplanting to larger pots. To get started, you will need a seed-friendly soil mix, …
Sterilizing Soil Helps Beat Back Bugs and Diseases on the Farm
How sterilizing soil will help beat back bugs and diseases on the farm. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Soil sterilization helps to kill off the pests and fungi that can wreak havoc on farmland. It’s especially useful if farmers have struggled with bacteria, Nematodes, viruses, and weeds. A popular method of sterilizing soil is called solarization. Solarization …