Agriculture and other contentious issues proposed by the U.S. during round four of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) talks have stalled the renegotiation effort. The U.S., Canada, and Mexico have now agreed to extend the talks into 2018, failing to meet the Trump Administration’s goal to conclude the talks by the end of this year. The move comes …
Blairsville, GA Farmers Produce State Record Pumpkin
Tim Grizzle and Patrick Fix (pictured at right) of Blairsville, Georgia recently harvested the current Georgia state record pumpkin. The giant gourd weighed in at 1306 pounds, a state record according to The Great Pumpkin Commonwealth. The pumpkin, currently on display at the Union County Farmers Market, will remain there until the end of October. by Larry Flegle, WUCG-FM, Blairsville, …
Seasonal Fruits for Your Health
Cathy Isom has the details about six of the best seasonal fruits good for your hair, skin, and nails. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Even if you’re not looking to add a little extra glow to your complexion, there are some wonderful fall fruits that will give your skin, hair, and nails an extra boost. Persimmons have a …
No “Skull and Crossbones” for GMO Apple Labels
The company behind GMO apples hitting the market later this fall says the apples won’t be labeled as containing GMO’s. The arctic variety apples developed by Okanagan Specialty Fruits, an initiative started by an apple farmer, will instead include a QR code, as outlined in the GMO labeling bill that was passed by Congress and signed by then President Barack …
UF scientists act as plant detectives to identify disease
As a University of Florida plant pathologist, Gary Vallad likes to call himself and his colleagues “sleuths of the plant world.” These detectives find out what ails plants and crops, hopefully before the disease gets out of control. Most recently, scientists with the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences discovered some novel pathogens that may damage Florida tomatoes. Their …
Picking the Perfect Halloween Pumpkin
It is that time of year. Time to head to the local pumpkin patch. Cathy Isom has a few tips on how to pick the perfect Halloween pumpkin. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Whether it is for carving, eating or a little of both. Here are some tips on how to choose the perfect jack-o-lantern for your …
Palm Beach County Sugarcane, Vegetable Fields Flooded
Fresh green beans, a popular dish on the Thanksgiving table, are expected to be in short supply this Thanksgiving after vegetable and sugar cane crops in western Palm Beach County were wiped out by flooding. Hurricane Irma, which made landfall in Florida on Sept. 10, drenched and flooded fields south of Lake Okeechobee in the Belle Glade and Pahokee area, …
Edible Plants for Lazy Gardening
If you are a lazy gardener, Cathy Isom has some edible plants you can grow without doing much work. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. When it comes to gardening if time is short or perhaps patience it’s probably best to choose edible plants that don’t require a lot of your attention. The good news, there …
Putnam Speaks to Florida Congressional Delegation in Washington, D.C.
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam joined Governor Rick Scott to discuss the recent agricultural damage caused by Hurricane Irma and to request federal assistance. The following are excerpts from his remarks: “The Florida delegation has a long history of coming together in the aftermath of these types of disasters and bringing the full weight of the third largest …
Grow Kale in the Winter
Cathy Isom has some interesting tips about the green veggie you can grow in the winter. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. When cold winter temperatures set in, there is one green vegetable that doesn’t mind the chill. Kale, and other members of the Brassica oleracea family like broccoli and cabbage, thrive in colder weather. Kale can …