Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue is calling on agriculture to fight back against the “Fear Your Food” movement. During last week’s Ag Outlook Forum, Perdue said the “Fear Your Food” movement could harm efforts to feed the world’s soaring population and shouldn’t go unanswered. “This growing fear has the potential to sideline, deter, critical technologies that we already use, and derail …
Growing Your Own Garlic
Yesterday’s program Cathy Isom covered growing ginger. Today’s program covers another spice. She fills you in with a few tips about growing your own garlic. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Garlic is fairly simple to propagate. In fact, every time a fresh clove of garlic sends out a little green sprout, a new plant has been started. …
UF/IFAS Researchers Find Aromatic Strawberry Variety Grows in South Florida
As National Strawberry Day approaches on Feb. 27, University of Florida scientists have found another variety that can grow in South Florida. It’s largely unknown to American consumers, it’s temptingly tasty and it’s good for local markets, UF researchers say. Alan Chambers, an assistant professor of horticultural sciences with the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, led a team …
Agriculture Chairman Seeks State Hemp Program
With officials seeing a potentially lucrative industry, Senate Agriculture Chairman Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, is proposing creation of a state hemp program. Albritton on Thursday filed a bill that would set up the program under the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The bill came after Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried last week named Holly Bell as the state’s first director …
Harvest and Store Your Homegrown Potato Crop
In the first part of her series, Cathy Isom gave tips about growing your own potatoes. Today she fills you in about how to harvest and store your potato crop. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. When you’re ready to harvest your homegrown potato crop, the first step is cutting the water off of the crop a few …
Growing Your Own Potatoes
Although there are numerous varieties, Cathy Isom lets you know about how to grow your own potatoes. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. If you want a consistent supply of potatoes, it’s a good idea to choose two different varieties. Pick an early type that’ll be ready by early summer, and a main crop choice that’ll be ready …
Springtime Vegetables to Start Indoors Now
In the second of her series of preparing your garden, Cathy Isom has tips on the veggies and flowers you can start right now for springtime planting. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. It’s not too early to get your garden going. In fact, some of your warm weather vegetables need a longer growing period, so February is …
Commissioner Nikki Fried Appoints Holly Bell as Director of Cannabis
Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried announced her appointment of Holly Bell as the Director of Cannabis. Bell’s selection comes after a national search and interviews with multiple finalists for the position. In her role as Director of Cannabis, Bell will oversee the development of rules, work directly with scientific experts, and ensure Commissioner Fried’s vision for cannabis in Florida continues moving forward and now sells more and …
Industrial hemp a featured topic at UF/IFAS ag policy conference Feb. 26 in Balm
Industrial hemp may soon be a financially significant crop in Florida, and an expert with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences will discuss some of the challenges and opportunities related to this fledgling industry at the fourth annual Florida Agricultural Policy Outlook Conference in Balm. The conference happens 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26 …
Giving Your Garden a Head Start
In this, the third and final part of her series, Cathy Isom gives you a few tips about how you to give your garden a solid head-start into the growing season. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Whether you have much or little to do, every lit bit helps move things in the right direction. Of course there are …