With supporters pointing to the potential of a new industry, a House committee Thursday approved a plan for regulating production of hemp. The bill (HB 333), approved by the House State Affairs Committee, would create a regulatory framework that would be administered by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which is led by Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, a …
Why Create a Window Box Garden
Cathy Isom lets you know why you should consider creating your own window box garden. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. For anyone wanting to grow a garden with limited space, a vacant window is a great place to have a variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs in window boxes. The idea is to choose items which will …
Why Create Your Own Homemade Potting Mix
Cathy Isom lets you know why you should create your own homemade potting mix. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. There are several reasons why it’s a good idea to make your own potting mix, including: You know exactly what’s inside your soil, you can save your hard-earned money, homemade mix lasts longer. And, you can modify …
Identify and Stop Tomato Pests
Cathy Isom reviews how to identify and stop tomato pests in their tracks. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Tomatoes are one of the most popular garden crops. So it’s natural to want to protect them at all costs. Knowing what type of tomato pest is attacking your garden is the first step to tackling the problem. Some …
A Vegetable with a Crunchy, Peppery Zing
Cathy Isom lets us know about the vegetable with a crunchy and peppery zing that will give you a continuous harvest all summer long. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Radishes are the vibrant red vegetable with a crunchy and peppery zing. They require little fuss to grow, and because they’re ready to harvest so quickly you can …
Tips for Growing Carrots in Containers
Cathy Isom fills you in with some tips about growing carrots in containers. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Growing carrots in containers is easy, especially if you choose the right varieties, and the right soil they need in order to thrive. Carrots are a great addition to any balcony: you simply need to make sure you choose …
Study Sheds Light on Major Disease in Roses
Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists in Beltsville, Maryland and their colleagues have discovered why a mite is causing extensive damages to the nation’s $250-million-a-year rose industry and why it’s so hard to detect and control. It seems the mite hides deep in the flower’s internal organs. The rose bud mite (Phyllocoptes fructiphilus) is about half the size of a grain of …
Report Details Risks of U.S. Hemp Industry
The U.S. hemp industry is poised for growth, but there are serious financial, regulatory and agronomic risks that farmers must understand. A report by Rabo AgriFinance says the market is “highly fragmented,” and there is no reliable source for pricing and production data. The report notes that the 2018 Farm Bill set off a process to completely overhaul hemp industry …
Growing a Grafted Multi-Fruit Tree
Have you ever wanted to grow more than one type of fruit on a single tree? Cathy Isom has a few tips about growing a grafted multi-fruit tree. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. A tree that can grow multiple types of fruit is a magical thing to see! And it all boils down to the art of …
Industrial Hemp Eyed to Help Farmers
Pointing to potential opportunities for farmers, state House members Tuesday continued moving forward with a plan that would help set the stage for an industrial-hemp industry in Florida. The state is trying to move quickly to take advantage of a 2018 federal law that legalized industrial hemp as an agricultural product. The House and Senate are working on bills that …