Best Uses for Using Oranges this Holiday Season

Some of the best uses for using Oranges this holiday season. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Oranges are not only a great stocking stuffer, this traditional Christmas fruit can be used for Marmalade, candles, and so much more. Rather than throwing those orange peels away, they can be candied and dipped into a little chocolate sauce to make a …

Unique and Tasty Veggie to Consider Growing

A unique and tasty veggie you may want to consider growing in your garden.  That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. If you want something special that isn’t fussy in the garden, try growing common ice plant. It’s  one of those veggies that chefs love because it makes a unique addition to the restaurant menu. Also known as salty …

Florida Farmers Grapple with Transportation Problems

(TALLAHASSEE/NSF/Dec. 2, 2021) — While global supply chain issues are reportedly easing, Florida farmers told lawmakers Thursday that perishable items with short shelf lives continue to struggle in being moved from fields to markets. During a meeting of the Senate Agriculture Committee, growers said the industry faces transportation and labor shortages in getting products out of the ground and to …

International Marketing Efforts for Florida Citrus

The Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) described its 2020-21 international marketing efforts at last month’s meeting of the Florida Citrus Commission, which governs the FDOC. Katie Bruce, international marketing manager, discussed the FDOC’s past-year programs in the United Kingdom (UK), France, Japan, South Korea and Canada for fresh grapefruit and orange juice. Bruce also presented an overview of preliminary 2021-22 plans. UNITED …

Agricultural Guestworkers, the Pandemic, and Vaccinations

We’ve all heard stories of how disruptive the impacts of COVID-19 have been on the U.S. agricultural system. While they have been broad and varied, the pandemic has been a big issue when it comes to ag labor. As Rod Bain reports, farm guestworkers and their employers have really been impacted by COVID-19 pandemic, especially when it comes to vaccination …

Pandemic Assistance Heading to Poultry, Livestock Contract Producers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Thursday they are starting to issue some $270 million in payments to contract producers of eligible livestock and poultry who applied for Pandemic Assistance. Earlier this year, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) identified gaps in assistance including in the initial proposal to assist contract growers. “We listened to feedback from producers and stakeholders about impacts …

Almost Half of U.S. States Lost Rural Population in 2010-2020

From 2010-2020, the USDA’s Economic Research Service says 24 states lost population in nonmetropolitan or rural areas. Sixteen of those states lost population overall or showed slow population growth of less than five percent. Data from the 2020 U.S. Census shows the U.S. population grew by 7.4 percent from 2010-2020, slower than the 9.7 percent growth from the previous decade. …

Stay Vigilant on Handwashing and Hygiene

If you visited any public building or restroom during the COVID-19 pandemic, you may have noticed an increased focus on handwashing and hygiene principles reflected in an abundance of signage on doors and in hallways. While it is great that public awareness has increased in the last 18 months, these have always been important principles, especially for all food-related businesses. …

Vaccine Requirement Won’t Close FSA Offices

The Biden Administration’s requirement that all federal employees, including the employees of the Farm Service Agency, be vaccinated against COVID-19 will not cause FSA offices to close or farmers to receive a less-than-usual level of service. The Hagstrom Report says Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack made that statement last week during a House Agriculture Committee hearing. Representative Vicki Hartzler of Missouri …