(FDACS/Tallahassee, FL/January 28, 2022) — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is sharing information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on federal disaster assistance for producers facing inclement weather as Florida is expected to see record cold temperatures this weekend. A cold front moving across the state is expected to bring record low temperatures, triggering a hazardous weather warning from the National Weather Service. …
Create a Chicken Garden to Keep Your Feathered Friends Healthy
How to create a chicken garden to keep your feathered friends healthy, and also away from your harvest. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. A chicken garden is a great way to supplement your chickens’ diets while keeping them busy and away from your garden. Place your chicken garden in an area where they have easy access to, …
Growers Discuss Priorities for 2023 Farm Bill
The 2018 Farm Bill is set to expire in 2023, so preparations are underway to craft the behemoth legislation into law sometime next year. However, it is common for negotiations to extend into the following year. Whether the new farm bill is passed in 2023 or 2024, there’s a lot of work ahead. The farm bill was the focus of …
Raspberries, One of the Juiciest Fruits of the Summer to Grow
How to grow one of the juiciest fruits of the summer. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. With the right type of plant and a good spot to grow, you can raise plump, juicy, and tasty raspberries in your own backyard. To help your raspberry plants thrive and produce a bumper crop each year, make sure you choose the …
Tips for Storing Produce in a Root Cellar
Some tips for storing produce in a root cellar. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. One of the first and probably most important tips about storing produce in a root cellar is to keep fruits away from veggies. And this is because of ethylene gas. Not only that, the strong odors of vegetables like cabbage, onions, and turnips …
Produce That Can Be Stored in a Root Cellar
The produce that can be stored in a root cellar. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The root cellar was once a staple of rural life, serving as a method of food preservation as well as a storage space for people without electricity and refrigeration. The cool, somewhat moist (yet not too damp) atmosphere of a root cellar …
Common Diseases that Pose a Threat to Your Strawberry Crop
Some common diseases that pose a threat to your Strawberry crop. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. There are 5 common diseases that can cause big problems for your Strawberry plants, and if they become infected, the plants could die. One bacterial disease that’s tough to get rid of is Angular Leaf Spot. It’s smart only to plant …
Common Pests that Pose a Threat to Your Strawberry Crop
Some common pests that pose a threat to your Strawberry crop. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Strawberry plants are one of the easiest fruit plants to add to your garden, but that doesn’t mean you won’t encounter common strawberry pests and diseases. The pests that love to feast on your berries are aphids, army worms, Japanese Beetles, …
Bitter Melon is a Prolific Vining Plant in Many Varieties
Some of the best bitter melon varieties. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Bitter melon is often called bitter gourd or balsam pear. White Pearl is a hybrid variety and a slightly bitter type. It’s great for salad, stir fry, stuffing, and soups. Beauty Winner is another hybrid that is almost completely white. It has a mellower taste compared …
More Environmentally Friendly Way to Control Strawberry Pests
There is good news for strawberry farmers as we head into a new year. University of Florida scientists have found a way to better control the chilli thrips that can make strawberries virtually unmarketable. Research efforts have discovered a more environmentally friendly way to control these pests, meaning the use of less pesticides. While pesticides do kill the thrips, they …