The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) is accepting grant applications for projects that enhance the competitiveness of U.S. specialty crops in foreign and domestic markets. The application deadline for these specialty crop block grants through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is April 18, 2019, 5 p.m. CST. Specialty crops are defined by USDA as fruits and …
USDA Provides Funding to Florida to Support Projects that Protect Agriculture and Natural Resources
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is allocating $7.2 million to Florida as part of its effort to strengthen the nation’s infrastructure for pest detection and surveillance, identification, and threat mitigation, and to safeguard the U.S. nursery production system. Overall, USDA is providing $66 million in funding this year to support 407 projects in 49 states, Guam, Puerto Rico, and …
It Could Be Lights Out for Some Diseases and Pests in Strawberries
Natalia Peres envisions a day when light from a machine that resembles a spacecraft helps prevent powdery mildew from causing much damage to strawberries. Peres, a professor of plant pathology at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, works with a global group of scientists studying how to use ultraviolet light to suppress plant pathogens. Powdery mildew …
Growing Kale for Greens Year-round
Cathy Isom gives you a few good tips about growing the low maintenance plant that will give you a continuous supply of greens throughout the year. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Kale has about a dozen varieties and is one of the wonderfully versatile plants that you can transplant or sow nearly anytime during the season. Though …
Mustard Greens-a Good Spring Crop
Cathy Isom fills you in about the raw green with a unique flavor you can continually grow every few weeks. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Mustard greens add just the right amount of zing to dishes, and they’re easy-as-pie to raise. They’re a versatile plant, too. You can grow mustard micro-greens in under a week, or you can …
UF Scientists Sequence Vanilla Genome
Could Support Domestic Industry University of Florida scientists have sequenced the genome of Vanilla, which will help them select the best types for breeding new varieties of the popular plant to grow in Florida. Some consumers crave vanilla. The U.S. leads the world in imported vanilla beans, said Alan Chambers, an assistant professor of tropical fruit breeding and genetics at …
Tips for Growing the Brussel Sprout
Although it’s not the easiest plant to grow, but worth the effort, Cathy Isom has some tips for growing the brussel sprout. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The Brussel sprout plant may be a challenge to even the most-seasoned gardener, but it can be grown! It will require full sun, at least 6 hours per day. Start …
National Nutrition Month Advice: Eat More Fresh, Fewer Processed Foods
Nutrients from fresh foods give you “more bang for your nutritional buck,” says a registered dietitian with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. “For every calorie, there’s also going to be a lot of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients in that food that contribute to our health,” said Laura Acosta, also a lecturer in the UF/IFAS …
Growing Your Own Hazelnuts
Cathy Isom tells you a little about, and has a few great tips for, growing your own hazelnuts. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Growing your own hazelnuts is a cinch. On top of that, they produce quickly, so you don’t have to wait a decade for your first harvest. In general, hazelnuts grow about 12-feet high and …
Training for Farmers and Growers on Produce Safety Rule
This one-day workshop is being offered to produce growers. The training will cover the standardized curriculum designed by the Produce Safety Alliance, which meets the regulatory requirements of the Produce Safety Rule under FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act). The course will provide a foundation of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and co-management information, FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements, and details on …