The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Wednesday announced draft recommendations on the naming of plant-based foods that are marketed and sold as alternatives to milk. The guidance recommends that an alternative milk product that includes the term milk and has a nutrient composition different than milk, include a voluntary nutrient statement that conveys how the product compares with milk. Jim …
ThryvOn™ Technology Now Available for Cotton
Cotton growers have a new option for fighting tarnished plant bugs and thrips. Bayer’s cotton trait ThryvOn™ Technology is the industry’s first biotech trait to provide season-long protection against tarnished plant bugs and thrips species and may help reduce the need for some insecticide applications. Through built-in trait technology, ThryvOn Technology will help defend the whole plant from these insects, …
Florida Voting on a New Agriculture Commissioner
(NSF/Tallahassee, FL) — One of Florida’s most-powerful lawmakers and a North Miami Democrat touting a grassroots campaign are competing in the November 8th election to become state agriculture commissioner. Outgoing Republican Senate President Wilton Simpson has more name recognition, political connections and funding as he goes up against Naomi Blemur, the first Haitian-American to be a major-party candidate for a …
Florida Draws Challenges Over Pot License
(NSF/TALLAHASSEE, FL/ Oct. 18, 2022) — Weeks after state health officials selected a Suwannee County man to receive a long-awaited medical marijuana license earmarked for a Black farmer, applicants who lost out on joining Florida’s growing cannabis industry are challenging the decision. The Florida Department of Health on Sept. 21 announced it had issued an “intent to approve” a medical-marijuana …
North Florida Farmer Selected for Pot License
(NSF/TALLAHASSEE/Sept. 21, 2022) — The owner of a Suwanee County farm is in line to be the state’s newest medical-marijuana operator, beating out 11 other applicants competing for a license earmarked for a Black farmer with ties to Florida. The state Department of Health announced it had issued a “written notice of intent” to approve a medical-marijuana license for Terry …
New Ag Coalition Focuses on Bioeconomy
A new coalition of agriculture groups with a new focus. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Several industry associations launched the Ag Bioeconomy Coalition just days ago, to advance federal policy initiatives that foster growth toward a circular economy based on innovative products derived from agricultural commodities. Encompassing a broad range of technologies, the ag bioeconomy uses renewable, …
NASDA Announces Priorities for the 2023 Farm Bill
State agriculture officials announced their priorities for the upcoming 2023 Farm Bill discussion. The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) will direct its policy advocacy efforts regarding the bill towards ten specific policy areas. During the hybrid 2022 NASDA Winter Policy Conference last week, members laid the foundation for those priorities. They want to focus attention on agriculture …
Gas Plant is an Old School Favorite to the Garden
Adding an old school favorite to your garden that prefers to be left alone once it’s in the ground. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Gas plant is an upright, clump-forming perennial that blooms in late spring to early summer. It does well in northern climates with cool nights and it tolerates light shade. Gas plant likes to …
Commissioner Fried / FDACS Submit 2022-23 Legislative Budget Request
(Tallahassee, FL/Sept. 20, 2021-FDACS) — Last week, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) submitted the department’s Legislative Budget Request (LBR) for Fiscal Year 2022-2023. “Despite the challenges of operating through a continuing pandemic, our core mission remains the same: to safeguard the public and support Florida agriculture. Our budget priorities are solutions-oriented and critical not only to our …
Useful Herb Good in the Kitchen, Good for the Garden
The super useful herb that’s good in the kitchen and good for your garden. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Stinging Nettle is known to attract tons of beneficial insects, such as butterflies, is tasty in the kitchen, and has several proven medicinal uses. It’s a relative of mint plants, so it shares the same invasive quality. If …