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 …
Sunbelt Ag Expo Monthly Blog Series
In September, the Sunbelt Ag Expo announced their new monthly blog series. Due to the fact this year’s Expo will not be held because of Covid-19, a decision was made to do a monthly online event. Each month a new topic will be presented, and this month they are discussing backyard gardening. The blog series takes place every Tuesday on …
Picking Through Peach Production Forecast
A few details pertaining to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) latest annual outlook on U.S. peach production indicates a bit lower production number for 2020. Rod Bain has the story. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm OverviewJune 19, 2026Verdant Robotics …
How to Tell if a Watermelon is Ripe
How to tell if a watermelon is ripe. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. When picking a watermelon at the market the first way to tell if it’s ripe is by looking at its belly. This spot on a ripe watermelon will be yellowish and not white, which indicates an unripe melon. Using your knuckles, rap on the …
First Virtual Georgia Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training
The Georgia Department of Agriculture Produce Safety Team is offering a virtual two-day Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training via Zoom on Oct. 21 and Oct. 22 from 8 a.m.-noon. Any produce grower who grows, packs, harvests and/or holds covered produce, makes more than $25,000 in annual produce sales (on average, based on the past three years of sales), and does …
Growing One of the Most Used Spices in the World
Growing one of the most used spices in the world. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Peppercorns is one of the most used spices in the world. You can grow it from home as long as you have space, patience, and heat. Peppercorn is a perennial vine that blooms lovely little white flowers, typically in the middle of summer. …
Ways to Tell if You’re Tomatoes are Ripe if You’re Color Blind
The ways to tell if you’re tomatoes are ripe if you’re red-green color blind. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. When it comes to fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, color is one of the key visual hints when determining ripeness. If harvested too early, the fruits may not ripen properly. In contrast, if left on the stem for …
Challenges to Raising Peafowl on Your Farm
Some challenges to raising Peafowl on your farm. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Peafowl are uniquely large and gorgeous birds but they are noisy. And that can be a challenge if your neighbors are close by. Peafowl are known to make a loud shrilling call, or honking sounds, and can be heard up to 5 miles away! …