Late last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it was establishing the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program, which creates a consistent regulatory framework around hemp production throughout the United States. Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Bill Northey has more details about the new program. An interim final rule formalizing the program has been published in the Federal Register, and …
Making a Mechanical Harvester for Fresh Blueberries
Fresh blueberries could soon be harvested by machine, not by hand, thanks to a collaborative research effort. Rod Bain has the story. Lisa DeVetter of Washington State University Extension discusses research of mechanical harvesters for produce and specific efforts to develop technology to harvest fresh blueberries. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Considers Efforts Important to Cattle Producers in FloridaDecember 12, …
Research Probe Ways to Increase Yields of Grain Crops
(USDA/ARS) — Scientists with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) are working on field trials and genetic studies that could one day double the yields of sorghum, which is one of the world’s most important sources of food, animal feed and biofuel.  The efforts follow recent discoveries by ARS scientist Zhanguo Xin, who is based in …
AFVGA Conference Coming in Two Weeks
The Alabama Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association (AFVGA) will hold their Annual Conference and Trade Show November 21-22 at the Clanton Conference and Performing Arts Center in Clanton, Alabama. During the opening day luncheon, the topic of Challenges and Opportunities in the future of the Fruit and Vegetable Industry will be discussed by Dr. Phil Brannon, Professor of Plant Pathology with …
Exports Vital to U.S. Potato Growers
Exports are vital to growers of many crops, none more so than potato growers. Gary Crawford has a story explaining why. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Considers Efforts Important to Cattle Producers in FloridaDecember 12, 2025Commitment From Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Members Seeks To Move Research ForwardDecember 5, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Support For Cattle Producers Regardless of Herd …
Why Sun-Dry Fruits and Vegetables
Cathy Isom not only lets you know what is best, but most important, why you should consider sun-drying fruits and veggies. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Drying fruits, vegetables, and herbs is a process that has been around for a long time. In fact, it’s one of the earliest known methods of food preservation. Sun-drying, or solar …
Georgia Composing Plan to Comply with Federal and State Hemp Guidelines
Last week, the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the establishment of the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program. Published in the Federal Register, it outlines the regulatory framework for the cultivation of industrial hemp in accordance with the 2018 farm bill. The rule includes provisions for the USDA to approve hemp production plans developed by states. The Georgia Department of Agriculture …
Is Hass Avocado the New Green Gold?
Cathy Isom tells us why the Hass Avocado is considered the new green gold. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Hass avocado is the most commercially popular avocado worldwide. It is also the most nutritive among fruits and is regarded as the most important contribution of the New World to human diet, according to Food and Agriculture Organization. …
Florida Sugar Producers Give a Hoot About Pest Control
(ASA) — The sugarcane fields of south Florida are home to more than just high-quality sugar. The tall stalks provide a habitat to countless creatures that call the region home. Birds, reptiles, and small mammals all live in the farm fields, sharing their habitat with humans that grow cane. It’s been like this since sugarcane was commercially cultivated in the …
World’s First True Red Spinach Variety Released
(USDA/ARS) — USDA Red, the world’s first true red spinach variety has been developed and released by the Agricultural Research Service. Spinach has always been known as a green leafy vegetable. There are leafy vegetables often called red spinach. But these are actually red-leaf amaranths (Amaranthus spp.) or other plants such as Red Goosefoot (Blitum rubrum), not true spinach (Spinacia …