TALLAHASSEE (NSF) — Hemp has been hyped as a lifesaver for Florida farmers, touted as a versatile crop that can be used to build houses, feed livestock and create clothing. But it’s the plant’s healing qualities that have sparked a second cannabis “green rush,” as the state’s hemp program gets off the ground. The nationwide craze for products containing CBD …
Commissioner Nikki Fried Announces Members of New Hemp Advisory Committee
Tallahassee, Fla. (FDACS) — Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried announced the members of her new Hemp Advisory Committee, which will help guide the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ hemp rulemaking process and the state’s emerging hemp industry development. Commissioner Fried is committed to Florida becoming a national leader on industrial hemp production. The appointment of committee members comes after the …
Pheromones Give Nematodes a Boost in Controlling Pests
(USDA/ARS) — Beneficial nematodes are used as biological control agents to fight a variety of insect pests that severely damage crops. However, in many cases the nematodes don’t measure up to other control methods such as certain chemical pesticides. A recent Agricultural Research Service (ARS) study, published in The Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, shows that beneficial nematodes (also called entomopathogenic nematodes) …
Southeastern Hay Contest 2019
In the weeks leading up to the Sunbelt Ag Expo, hay and baleage producers across the Southeast are being encouraged to submit entries to the 2019 Southeastern Hay Contest. The premiere forage quality contest is open to producers across 13 states. University of Georgia Professor and State Forage Extension Specialist, Dennis Hancock, says it’s good to send entries after each individual cutting. The …
UF/IFAS Researchers Use AI to Take the Guesswork out of Fruit Pricing
GAINESVILLE, FL (UF/IFAS) — Pricing fruit comes down to a bit of art and some science for farmers. But new technology from the University of Florida may remove some of that guesswork. “Growers often rely on their gut to estimate a price for their crop,” said Daniel Lee, a professor of agricultural and biological engineering at the UF Institute of …
State Ag Departments Want FDA Help for Hemp Industry
Federal agencies are continuing to work on filing a new regulatory process for hemp products. In the meantime, state departments of agriculture officials are asking the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to create a clear regulatory framework for hemp products as quickly as possible. The ag departments sent a series of comments to the FDA, saying that they have an …
Easy, Quick Way to Water Your Garden
Cathy Isom fills you in about an easy and quick way to water your garden without spending a ton of money. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. If you’ve never tried an Olla irrigation system to water your small garden, you’re in for a treat. It will not only save you time but money too… while properly caring …
Growing Tomatoes in Hanging Baskets
Cathy Isom reviews the different varieties, as well as gives you tips for growing tomatoes in hanging baskets. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Having your own freshly-picked homegrown tomatoes can still be done even if your short on space, like a small garden or even a balcony. That’s because tomatoes will happily grow in hanging baskets. Additionally, …
Georgia Produce Safety Rule Update
The Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Farm Safety Program, which started back in 2013, helped develop partnerships and relationships with farmers across the state concerning the regulatory requirements for produce safety under the Food Safety Modernization Act. Farm Safety Education and Outreach Associate, Elizabeth Stalvey, updates where things stand with the program. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Allows Viable Research in …
Useful Methods for Drying Chili Peppers
You have grown them in your garden. Now you have an abundance of them and don’t know what to do. Cathy Isom gives you three useful methods for drying chili peppers. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. At the end of the summer when you have more peppers than you know what to do with…the logical choice is …