Growing One of the Tastiest Tropical Fruits on the Planet

Dan Fruits, Nursery Crops, Specialty Crops, This Land of Ours

What you need to know about growing one of the tastiest tropical fruits on the planet. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Mangosteen is also known as the Queen of tropical fruits. It’s native in many countries, but in the United States, you will find it in Florida and Hawaii. It has amazing flavor, is slightly acidic, and the …

Growing a Tasty Treat Known to Resist Many Pests and Diseases

Dan Fruits, Specialty Crops, This Land of Ours

Growing a peculiar and tasty treat that’s known to resist many pests and diseases. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Kiwanos have horned skin and look more like a cucumber on the inside than a melon. They have a wonderfully unique flavor, kind of like banana mixed with lime. Horned melons are known to resist many of the common …

Vilsack and Tai to Meet with USDA Ag Policy Committee

Dan Beef, Cattle, Citrus, Corn, Cotton, Dairy, Equine, Field Crops, Fruits, Grapefruit, Hemp, Lemons, Livestock, Marketing, Orange Juice, Peanuts, Pork, Poultry, Rabbits, Sheep-Goats, Soybeans, Specialty Crops, Trade, Tree Nuts, Vegetables, Wheat

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai will meet with the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee Friday. Topics include current and new trade deals, trade agreement implementation and concerns within the agreements. The committee, managed by the Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative’s office, offers advice on U.S. trade policy. The committee consists of six technical …

National Farmers Market Week Underway

Dan Beef, Cattle, Citrus, Dairy, Field Crops, Fruits, Herbs, Livestock, Marketing, Nursery Crops, Organic, Pecans, Pollinators, Pork, Poultry, Rabbits, Sheep-Goats, Specialty Crops, Sugar, Tree Nuts, Vegetables

The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture proclaimed this first week of August as National Farmers Market Week. It is a way to champion the direct-to-consumer producers, market managers, and customers that make their communities come alive during market days. According to a story from Rod Bain, highlights of the week are not only the markets themselves, but the innovations that allow these institutions to …

Avoiding Heat-Related Deaths

Dan Aquaculture, Beef, Cattle, Citrus, Dairy, Field Crops, Fruits, General, Hemp, Herbs, Labor and Immigration, Livestock, Nursery Crops, Organic, Pecans, Research, Specialty Crops, Sugar, Tree Nuts, Vegetables, Weather

A new University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) report showed 215 people in Florida died from heat-related causes in the last 10 years. The fact that heat-related deaths happen throughout the year surprised the researchers who wrote the report. Serap Gorucu, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering, helped write the report. She and …

Small Space Gardening Doesn’t Have to Be a Struggle

Dan Fruits, Herbs, Nursery Crops, Specialty Crops, This Land of Ours, Vegetables

Tips for edible gardens in small spaces. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Gardening in small spaces doesn’t have to be a struggle. Maximize your minimal gardening space by strategically pairing fruits, vegetables and flowers. Plant flowers that will attract beneficial bugs that will pollinate the vegetables. They can also deter harmful insects resulting in better growing conditions and …

Deadline Nearing to Apply for ADAI Relief Program

Dan ADAI, Alabama, Beef, Cattle, Dairy, Economy, Equine, Field Crops, Fruits, Hemp, Herbs, Livestock, Nursery Crops, Organic, Pork, Poultry, Rabbits, Sheep-Goats, Specialty Crops, Tree Nuts

Back in April, the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) announced they were administering the Alabama Agriculture Relief Program (AARP) to provide USDA relief funds to farmers who suffered losses due to Hurricane Michael in 2018. While the original deadline to apply was June 25th, they want to remind those who experienced necessary expenses related to losses of beef …

Suggestions for Squeezing a Garden onto a Small Deck or Patio

Dan Fruits, Herbs, Nursery Crops, Specialty Crops, This Land of Ours, Vegetables

Some ways to squeeze a garden on to your small deck or patio. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Starting a garden can be a challenge if your deck or patio is the size of a postage stamp. The good news is that there are many clever, space-saving garden ideas where large backyards are not required. You may even …