by Sabrina Halvorson The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is keeping specialty crops in focus for trade deals and working on disputes under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Chief Agricultural Negotiator …
Funding Questionable for New Specialty Crop Farm Bill Programs
by Sabrina Halvorson The specialty crop industry wants farm bill funding for research and new programs, but lawmakers ask, where’s that money coming from? Dave Puglia, president and CEO of …
Mango Industry Seeing Unprecedented Growth
Big growth in the mango industry. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The mango industry is having record volume of high-quality fruit arriving in the U.S. this year. …
Apples and Oranges Top U. S. Fruit Choices
These are the top fruit choices in the United States. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Apples held the top spot for total fruit available for consumption in …
Alliance Wants to Protect Specialty Crop Program
Few programs within the farm bill are designed for specialty crops, and even fewer are designed specifically for specialty crops. However, the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) program is …
Celebrating Cinco de Mango
The National Mango Board wants to help you celebrate Cinco de Mango. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The National Mango Board has added something extra to this …
Hemp Report Shows Considerable Drop in Acreage and Value
The latest hemp report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reflects sizable declines in the industry. Last year the value of hemp production fell by 71 percent, according to …
U.S. Potato Exports Hit $2.1 Billion in 2022
It was a big year for potatoes. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Potato exports reached a record $2.1 billion in sales in 2022. Compared to 2021, volume …
Vidalia Onion Season Date Announced
A favorite sweet onion heads to supermarkets soon. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The start of Vidalia onion season is almost here, with the official pack date …
California Storms Continue Taking a Toll on Agriculture
The continuing series of California storms is having a dire impact on agricultural production in several areas of the state. Most notably, in the Watsonville and Salinas areas where a …
Breeding Better Potatoes for Better Potato Chips
Breeding better potatoes for better potato chips. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Americans eat more potato chips than any other nation; more than four pounds a person …
Sorghum: A Useful Pollinator Food Source
An alternative food source for pollinators. That’s coming up in This Land of Ours. Sorghum bicolor, a pollen-rich grass species cultivated for grain and forage, which looks similar to corn, …
ARS Scientists Improve Nutrients Adding Value to Rice Crop
Improvements to a worldwide food staple. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Rice, already the primary staple for half the world’s population, is getting a makeover from a …
Planting Delays in Monterey County Due to Flood Damage
Flood damage in Monterey County is going to set back production timelines for many growers. Multiple storms brought a tremendous amount of rainfall to the area, flooding a significant amount …