Applications Now Available for Pilot Industrial Hemp Production

Dan Alabama, Industry News Release, Specialty Crops

The Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries (ADAI) is now accepting applications from eligible producers, farmers and universities interested in growing industrial hemp.  ADAI is also accepting applications from prospective industrial hemp processors. In 2016, the Alabama Legislature passed the Alabama Industrial Hemp Research Program Act, Section 2-8-380 Code of Alabama 1975, tasking the ADAI with the development of a …

UAV-based Remote Sensing Can Help Avocado Growers by Detecting Asymptomatic Pathogen

Dan Florida, Fruits, Research

Remote imaging can effectively detect a pathogen that endangers the $100 million-a-year Florida avocado industry – even before the trees show symptoms — University of Florida scientists say. Yiannis Ampatzidis, an assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, led recently published research that shows that multispectral cameras can detect laurel wilt …

State, Plaintiffs Ask Court to Put Pot Case on Hold

Dan Florida, Industry News Release, Specialty Crops

Lawyers representing both sides in a lawsuit over the state’s ban on smoking medical marijuana have asked an appeals court to put the case on hold while they work out an agreement. The notice was filed at the 1st District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee, hours after Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday gave the Legislature until “mid-March” to repeal the …

Desantis Presses Lawmakers for Pot Changes

Dan Florida, Industry News Release, Specialty Crops

Saying they failed to heed the will of voters, Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered Florida lawmakers Thursday to eliminate a ban on smokable medical marijuana and, if they don’t comply, threatened to drop the state’s appeal of a court ruling that found the prohibition ran afoul of a 2016 constitutional amendment. DeSantis, who had been widely expected to announce he was …

Commissioner Nikki Fried on State’s Lack of Action on Smokable Medical Marijuana

Dan Florida, Industry News Release, Specialty Crops

Following news on the lack of resolution to the ongoing smokable medical marijuana lawsuit and the Governor’s call on legislative leadership to take action to remedy the situation, Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried offers the following: “When the people overwhelmingly voted for legalized medical marijuana in 2016, they intended for the medicine to be accessible by patients in the manner which their doctor, not Tallahassee politicians, decides …

Plant a Garden Specifically for Canning

Dan Field Crops, This Land of Ours, Vegetables

We all have abundant produce in our gardens. Cathy Isom lets you know why you should plant a garden specifically for canning. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours.   Canning is a great way to preserve an abundant harvest, as well as being a time and money saver. Canning will help you save produce before it spoils so you …

Celebrating National Apricot Day

Dan Fruits, This Land of Ours

Cathy Isom has us celebrating a popular summer fruit that is recognized in the winter. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours.  Apricots ripen in the early summer, but they’re quite commonly dried so that way we can enjoy them year round.  Apricot lovers recognize today as National Apricot Day. The apricot’s velvety flesh is similar to that of their …