Why carving Halloween pumpkins is a tradition. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The history of Halloween as we know it is based on an ancient Celtic holiday known to honor the deceased. Celts believed that from dusk on October 31 until the dusk of November 1, souls of those who had died that year would pass on, …
Best Ways to Pick Your Halloween Pumpkin
The best ways to pick your Halloween pumpkin. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Pumpkins, which are members of the squash family, produce fruits in all shapes, sizes, and colors. You could pick a pumpkin from the grocery store, but you’ll get a fresher and more interesting selection at a pumpkin farm. Many farms grow different types of …
U.S. Congressman Talks Pecans and Peanuts
Last week, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), Chairman of the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, visited a farm in Albany, GA. meeting with members of the National Pecan Shellers, Georgia Pecan Growers Association, Georgia Pecan Commission, and the University of Georgia’s Associate Deans of Research and Engineering. Tyron Spearman …
Growing and Harvesting Bell Peppers
Growing and harvesting your homegrown bell peppers. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Bell peppers need warm soil and warm temperatures to thrive. To encourage faster growth in cooler areas, consider laying black plastic over the soil. Just be careful not to let the soil get so hot that beneficial soil bacteria are killed. For improved fruit production, keep …
Transplanting Your Homegrown Bell Pepper Plants
How to transplant your homegrown bell pepper plants. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Once your seedlings have produced true leaves it’s time to harden them off. This is the process where plants are acclimated to new environment by slowly introducing them to outdoor weather. Start in the morning and bring them in later and later each day …
New Blackberries: Eclipse, Galaxy, and Twilight
(USDA/ARS) — The best of eastern and western blackberry genetics have been melded to create Eclipse, Galaxy and Twilight, three new blackberry varieties released by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS). ARS’ Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory in Corvallis, Oregon, working in cooperation with the Oregon State University Agricultural Experiment Station, has blended the desirable traits of eastern erect-cane blackberries and western …
Get Started Growing Your Very Own Bell Peppers
How to get started growing your very own bell peppers. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Depending on the variety, growing bell peppers from seedlings can take up to 100 days to reach maturity. So it’s a good idea to start them indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost date. Use a seed starting mix and …
The Many Varieties of a Crunchy and Tasty Fruit
The many varieties of a crunchy and tasty fruit you can grow in your own backyard. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Bell peppers are fairly easy to grow at home as long as the weather plays along. They are a perennial in tropical areas. But in colder climates, they are grown as annuals and they really have …
USDA Crop Report Forecasts Are Within Industry Expectations
USDA released their October crop forecasts last Friday, and according to a story from Stephanie Ho, the corn and soybean numbers are within industry expectations. Here are key findings for the Southern Region from the October Crop Production report: Alabama: Corn area planted for all purposes is estimated at 340,000 acres, down 30,000 acres from the previous estimate. Production is forecast …
USDA Announces Deadline to Submit Wildfire, Hurricane Disaster Assistance Applications
Final Opportunity for 2018 and 2019 Disaster Recovery Assistance (USDA/FSA) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Friday, Oct. 30, 2020, as the deadline to submit applications for the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program – Plus (WHIP+) for 2018 and 2019 losses. USDA did not originally specify a deadline when the program was announced. “The physical and financial loss experienced …