How to make your next strawberry crop taste better than store-bought. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Biting into sun-ripened strawberries, still warm from the garden, is one of the best summer treats you can enjoy. Just a few rows of plants will fill the fruit bowl and freezer, even after you subtract the samples you sneak while …
Thank a Farmer for Food, Fiber, Fuel, and Our Future
By Deborah Tannenbaum, State Executive Director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency; Juan Hernandez, State Conservationist for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service; and Davina Lee, Regional Office Director for USDA’s Risk Management Agency March 22 is National Ag Day, a time for us to thank farmers and ranchers for feeding, sheltering and powering our nation. We also want to celebrate and …
Food Safety Tips to Consider When Visiting Farmers Markets
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 …
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 …
Plant Materials Center Provides Diverse Climate Plant Solutions
The center providing plant solutions in a diverse climate. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The Lockeford Plant Materials Center is a 106-acre facility located in the Central Valley of California. It’s about an hour southeast of the state’s capitol, Sacramento, and is the only plant materials in the state. The center provides plant solutions for the diverse …
Pear Tree Diseases Every Farmer Needs to Lookout For
The pear tree diseases every farmer needs to be on the lookout for. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. There are several diseases that can cause serious problems to pear trees. The ones to worry about include Armillaria root rot which is a fungal disease that leads to a range of problems, including the death of the plant. …
Pear Tree Pests that Could Ruin a Harvest
The pear tree pests that could ruin a harvest. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Pear trees are one of the easiest fruits to grow in an orchard. They are also easy targets for Aphids, Codling Moth, Leafrollers, and Pear Psylla which is a very destructive pest. Aphids will suck the plants juices leaving a secretion behind called …
USDA to Survey Farmers’ Planting Intentions for 2022
With the 2022 crop production season soon to begin, the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will be contacting producers to determine their plans for the upcoming growing season. Later this month, NASS will mail survey questionnaires asking producers to provide information about the crops they intend to plant in 2022, how many acres they intend to plant, and the amounts of …
Problems that can Plague Your Fig Tree Crop
The problems that can plague your fig tree crop. That’s coming upon This Land of Ours. Growing figs are an absolute pleasure to grow. But, like anything else on the farm, they are susceptible to problems. Such as black or sour-smelling figs. This is caused by a bacteria or a few different yeasts. Insects usually spread these pathogens so the …
Update for Producers Impacted by Freezing Temperatures Provided by Florida Ag Commissioner
Emergency Order Issued as Assessments Continue (Tallahassee, FL/February 4, 2022/FDACS) — The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) had staff in the fields as producers continue to assess damages caused by recent freezing temperatures and work to salvage impacted produce. On Thursday, the Florida Department of Transportation issued an emergency order helping farmers impacted by freezing temperatures to move as …