As NAFTA renegotiations begin on Wednesday, U.S. negotiators are planning to introduce a proposal aimed at making it easier for produce growers to bring potential anti-dumping cases against Mexico. Politico’s Morning Ag Report says that’s a move that will make Southeast growers happy, but it could also fuel criticism of the Trump administration’s protectionism. The proposal would make it easier …
Small Container Gardening
Container gardening is an excellent way to grow your vegetables. Cathy Isom gives has some tips about growing your own food in small spaces. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. When it comes to growing your own food, you really don’t need a backyard or green space to do it. You can still raise …
Sunflowers as a Crop and Garden Flower
Cathy Isom brightens us up with the flowers that are really easy to care for and can lend a hand in the garden. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Sunflowers have been a part of agriculture, dating back to at least 3000 BC, and they have been used for all sorts of handy stuff: seeds, oil, medicine, …
USDA Calls for Nominations for the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking nominations to fill vacancies expiring in 2017 on the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (FVIAC). FVIAC, administered by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, was established by USDA in 2001. Members of the committee meet up to two times a year to develop recommendations on issues affecting the U.S. produce industry. Committee members represent …
UF Scientists Work on the ‘Essence’ of Better-Tasting Tomato Juice
If you’re yearning for a better-tasting tomato juice, University of Florida scientists in their labs, working on satisfying your palette. Essence, usually extracted from a plant to add flavor or provide a scent, according to a new UF/IFAS study, can be used to improve juice flavor. Using volatile capture, UF/IFAS scientists obtained the essence from the tomatoes, said Paul Sarnoski, …
UF Scientists Trying to Control Avocado Pathogen
University of Florida experts are trying to find ways to prevent Laurel Wilt, the pathogen endangering the state’s $100 million-a-year avocado industry, from spreading. They recently took their data to California to talk with scientists, growers, and regulators there. AgNet Media’s Taylor Hillman talked with Jonathan Crane, UF/IFAS professor of horticultural sciences and tropic fruit extension specialist, about the disease …
Easy Fruits and Veggies to Grow in Pots
Cathy Isom has some easy fruits and veggies we can grow in pots. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Let’s face it, we all want to be green thumbs. And why wouldn’t we want to grow our own food? It really is a lot easier than we think. Container gardening can be done with little fuss, …
Pick and Store Your Green Beans
Cathy Isom has some tips about how to pick and store one of the top 10 favorite vegetables in America. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. A lot of people love to eat Green Beans. They’re in the top 10 most consumed vegetables in the United States. And they also have many aliases. String Beans, Pole Beans, …
“Good-Guy” Fungus to Take on Killer of Oaks and Ornamental Crops
A beneficial soil fungus could offer a bio-based approach to battling Phytophthora ramorum, a pathogen that kills oaks, other tree species, and woody ornamentals. BioWorks, Inc. of Victor, New York, is collaborating with Agricultural Research Service (ARS) plant pathologist Tim Widmer to commercially formulate the fungus, Trichoderma asperellum. The species is a mycoparasite, meaning it attacks and kills other fungi, including P. ramorum, a fungus-like …
National Watermelon Day
Cathy Isom tells us a lot of different ways of celebrating a refreshing and sweet summertime fruit. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Which fruit is made up of 92% water, refreshing, sweet, and is a summertime staple at picnics and outdoor cookouts? Why, yes, of course, it’s watermelon. And today is the perfect day to …