(USDA/AMS) — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will purchase an additional $1.5 billion worth of food for nationwide distribution through the Farmers to Families Food Box Program. In total, USDA has distributed more than 132 million food boxes in support of American farmers and families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. “This new round of …
Growing a Tangerine Tree No Matter Where You Live
How to grow a Tangerine Tree no matter where you live. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Tangerine trees belong in the same citrus family as oranges, lemons, and limes. They’re a hybrid of mandarin oranges, and there are a ton of different varieties out there. Such as Clementine, Dancy, Honey, Kara, Pixie, and Yosemite. Whether growing tangerines …
Caring for Fruit Trees in the Wintertime
Caring for fruit trees in the winter time. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. For those of us hoping to provide our fruit, nut, and berry trees with the best care, there a few fruitful tips for how to make it through the festive frosts on past February. Before planting fruit trees, do some research and choose varieties …
Heat Brings Out Antioxidants, Increases Red in Tomatoes
(UF/IFAS) — Turn up the heat, and get more nutrition from your tomato, University of Florida researchers say. Furthermore, when you buy a tomato, it will be about as red as it can be, thanks to the UF/IFAS methods deployed for the study. The findings are crucial to an industry in which Florida ranks second to California in tomato production …
Fruit-Bearing Plants and Trees to Attract Birds to Your Yard
Some of the best plants to attract birds to your yard. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. By planting fruit-bearing trees and shrubs in your landscape, they will attract berry-eating birds such as bluebirds and robins while also creating a beautiful display with their flowers, fall & holiday colors, and fruits. American cranberry bush viburnum has white springtime flowers, …
Vilsack Named Secretary of Agriculture, Scott to Chair House Committee
(NABB) — President-elect Joe Biden has appointed Tom Vilsack as the Secretary of Agriculture. Vilsack, a former governor of Iowa, served as agriculture secretary for eight years in the Obama administration and was a rural and agriculture policy adviser during Biden’s presidential campaign. He was also a contender to be Hillary Clinton’s running mate in 2016. Additionally, Congressman David Scott …
Blueberries and Bees, UF Scientists Play Matchmaker
(UF/IFAS) — Chew on this the next time you eat a blueberry: Every single blueberry is the result of a flower that was pollinated by a bee. In other words: no buzz, no berry. With that in mind, it’s no wonder blueberry growers bring in hives of honey bees or bumble bees when their blueberry bushes are in flower. “We …
Blueberry App Developed to Help Growers Battle Diseases and Pests
(UF/IFAS) — A new University of Florida app will help the state’s blueberry growers identify and manage disease and insect injuries commonly encountered in Florida before their crop is ruined. Collectively, blueberries are a $60 million-per-year crop in Florida. Patricio Munoz, the UF/IFAS blueberry breeder and an assistant professor of horticultural sciences, came up with the vision for, and supervised …
UF/IFAS Study Shows Less Need for Pesticides to Control Pests
It’s harvest season for Florida’s $300 million-per-year strawberry season, so those who grow this fruit need help to control pests such as the tiny (up to 2-millimeters long), destructive chilli thrips. Farmers often use pesticides to control thrips, but they would like to use minimal chemicals. University of Florida scientists may have found a good reason to use pesticides at …
What’s in Store for 2021? UF/IFAS Experts Predict Food and Garden Trends
(UF/IFAS) — No one could have predicted the kind of year 2020 has been. But in late 2019, when UF/IFAS experts were asked to predict the top food and garden trends for the coming year, they made some startlingly accurate predictions. Today, these trends are no longer forecasts but facts of life in a year characterized by a global pandemic …