On Monday, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried, State Senator George Gainer (R-Panama City), State Representative Brad Drake (R-DeFuniak Springs) and Florida Forest Service Director Jim Karels toured Hurricane Michael-damaged Jackson County and surrounding areas and discussed hurricane damage and ongoing recovery efforts and needs. The group toured several agricultural operations including timber, cotton and soybean farms in Jackson and Calhoun counties, and met with state forest …
Flatwoods Fire and Nature Festival
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida invites everyone to attend the Flatwoods Fire and Nature Festival, January 26, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on the University of Florida’s Austin Cary Forest off Waldo Road in Gainesville, FL. During the family-friendly festival, you can enjoy prescribed fire demonstrations, fire ecology tours, live wildlife, live music, food trucks, exhibits, quail mascot Burner …
Florida Forest Service Provides Safety Tips for Disposing of Christmas Trees
The Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, is encouraging Floridians to dispose of Christmas trees safely. Dry limbs and needles from discarded Christmas trees can be an ignition source for fire if not properly cleared away from homes and natural areas. One way to avoid this potential fire hazard is by recycling …
Worried about Future Christmas Tree Farmers
Christmas tree growers of today are worried that as they retire, there are no younger growers lined up to take over. Gary Crawford has the story. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Offers Unique Opportunity For Applied ResearchOctober 24, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Plays Major Role in Applied Beef Cattle ResearchOctober 17, 2025FCEB Recurring Funding Provides Opportunity for Longer Term Research …
Harvesting Homegrown Christmas Trees
Cathy Isom has taken us through each step of raising Christmas trees. In this program she gives us a few great pointers on how to harvest a Christmas tree. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Most people opts for a six to seven-foot Christmas tree. Growing a tree to this height can take approximately six to nine years to …
Caring for Homegrown Christmas Trees
There is a little more to it than just planting the tree seedlings and letting them grow. Cathy Isom lets you know more about how to care for homegrown Christmas Trees. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. When growing your own Christmas tree varieties, they require little care. During the first year of your seedlings growth, it’s important to …
Planting Christmas Trees for Yearly Harvest
Cathy Isom began her Christmas tree series telling you abou8t the different types of trees, and some of their good qualities. Today, Cathy is letting you know how to get started planting your own Christmas tree. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Planting Christmas Trees for Yearly Harvest The first step is picking your Christmas tree variety. Step …
Grow Your Own Christmas Tree
Tis the season. Cathy Isom has a few pointers to help get you get in the holiday spirit by growing your own Christmas tree. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Grow Your Own Christmas Tree If you have the land to grow your own Christmas tree, or even a tree farm, they don’t take a great deal of …
Forestry Title a Farm Bill Sticking Point
As agriculture eagerly awaits a farm bill, another hurdle has emerged. Now, a forestry dispute appears to be in the way, according to Politico. Pat Roberts, chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, continues to insist that the conference committee negotiators are “close” to reaching an agreement. He says finding an agreement on the forestry title is the biggest obstacle. That’s …
Florida Eyes Deepwater Horizon Money for Land Deal
Florida officials are looking at using money from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill to help shield timber land in Dixie County from future development. Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet next week will decide whether to spend $6.4 million to purchase what is known as a “conservation easement” on nearly 20,000 acres of timber land near the Suwannee River …