An effort to keep local governments out of homeowners’ vegetable gardens has returned to the House. Rep. Elizabeth Fetterhoff, R-DeLand, filed a measure (HB 145) Wednesday intended to prevent local governments from regulating homeowners’ vegetable gardens. The measure mirrors a bill (SB 82) by Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, that is scheduled to be heard Tuesday in the Senate Community …
DIY Mini Greenhouse for the Patio or Balcony
Cathy Isom continues her series of building mini greenhouses by telling you about a do it yourself mini greenhouse ideal for a patio or balcony. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Building your own greenhouse doesn’t have to be a lot of work or cost a lot of money. And if you are short on space, such as only …
Desantis Urged to Help Farmers on Trade Deal
Incoming Gov. Ron DeSantis is being urged to use his close ties with President Donald Trump to bolster efforts to help Florida farmers fend off low-priced crop imports that weren’t addressed in the rewrite of the North American Free Trade Agreement. During a conference call last week, several members of DeSantis’ Transition Advisory Committee on the Environment, Natural Resources & …
Ag Calendar Upcoming Events
There are several important conferences coming up on the ag calendar. Tyron Spearman has a look at a few of these upcoming events. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Allows Viable Research in the Cattle IndustryFebruary 6, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Track Record Well Received By LegislatorsJanuary 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Supports Beef Education and Promotion ProgramsJanuary 23, 2026Florida Cattle …
Celebrating National Fruitcake Day
Cathy Isom gives us a bit of history about a delicious, fruity holiday treat that’s been enjoyed for thousands of years.  That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Across the United States, fruitcake lovers young and old observe National Fruitcake Day every year on this day. Made with chopped candied or dried fruit, nuts and spices and sometimes soaked …
Commissioner-elect Nikki Fried on Legalized Hemp
Following the news of the farm bill signing into law and the legalization of hemp nationwide, Commissioner-elect Nikki Fried offers the following: “Lifting the needless ban on hemp presents an incredible opportunity for our farmers and Florida as a whole. This is an alternative crop which will give Florida’s agriculture community the tools they need to be competitive and successful—it has the …
U.S. Sugar Gives Back at Christmas
With the holidays approaching, the people of U.S. Sugar have been busy spreading Christmas cheer by giving back to nearby communities. Over the past two weeks, representatives from the company have distributed more than 2,000 turkeys, 4,000 bags of sugar, hundreds of crates of sweet corn, and other vegetables grown by U.S. Sugar farmers in the Everglades Agricultural Area. “The …
Farm Bill Removes Hemp as Controlled Substance
On Dec. 12, Congress passed the 2018 Agriculture and Nutrition Act, better known as the farm bill, which is awaiting President Trump’s signature. The important legislation amends the classification of hemp as a Schedule I drug. This legislation defines hemp as all parts of the plant less than 0.3% THC, including derivatives, extracts and cannabinoids. Hemp is now deemed an agricultural …
USDA Highlights Opportunities for Producers and Vendors
Apples, Grapes, Oranges, Pork, Fluid Milk and more Earlier, a new USDA Foods vendor delivered 2,000 gallons of fresh milk to the D.C. Capital Area Food Bank. The delivery was one of many taking place at food banks across the country resulting from purchases made by the USDA to provide market support to the dairy industry. USDA Foods are a …
Purple Veggies to Consider Growing
Yesterday, Cathy Isom told you about adding vibrant color to your garden. Today, she lets you know about the purple veggies you should consider growing in your garden. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Purple Kohlrabi. It’s like a turnip, only sweeter. Use it raw in a slaw or cooked and purred to add a creamy texture to …