Reviving hemp
by Sally Colby
Hemp has faded in and out of history, and its contributions have been easily forgotten. (more…)
Inaugural Hemp Summit delivers
by Sally Colby
When the 2014 Farm Bill allowed states to initiate hemp research programs, there was widespread optimism that restrictions would be lifted nationwide. (more…)
Hemp: Not just another greenhouse crop
Owner/grower Ed Knapton of Berry Hill Farms of Cottage Grove, WI, inspects one of the plants he grows in his greenhouses.
Photos by Gail March Yerke
by Gail March Yerke
Greenhouse growers across the country are embracing hemp as a supplemental or even primary crop for their growing operations. (more…)
Social media for farmers
by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Many businesses use social media as part of their marketing strategy. Charlotte Smith, owner of 3 Cow Marketing, believes farmers shouldn’t be an exception. (more…)
Tips from Christmas tree growers
by Gail March Yerke
As autumn comes to a close most greenhouses and garden centers find themselves scrambling to gear up for the Christmas season. (more…)
Honey and yeast work together to make mead
Chris Gerling led a mead conference in Geneva, NY, recently.
Photo by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
GENEVA, NY – A lot can happen to honey as it’s transformed to mead. Chris Gerling, Extension associate and manager of the Vinification & Brewing Laboratory at Cornell AgriTech in Geneva, and Kaylyn Kirkpatrick, an Extension associate at Cornell AgriTech, led a discussion on interactions between yeast and honey in making mead at an event led by Pilar McKay, agriculture economic development educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension Ontario County. (more…)
Preparing for U-cut
Driving lanes to the fields should be clear of obstructions and allow ample space for guests to exit and enter wagons safely.
Photo by Sally Colby
by Sally Colby
Pumpkins, gourds and everything else autumn will be the order of the day until Thanksgiving. But as soon as mums and corn stalks fade, Christmas tree farms that offer U-cut trees will become the center of attention. (more…)
Before you sign
by Sally Colby
Alternative energy projects are popping up across the country, often the result of a power company approaching a landowner to obtain land for solar or wind projects. (more…)
Back to class at the close of the season
The East Pierre Landscape and Garden Center hosts at least one event each month during its season – which it has greatly expanded past just the tomato-planting season.
Photo courtesy of East Pierre Landscape and Garden Center
by Courtney Llewellyn
It’s October. The requisite autumn mums are almost all sold out. The season is wrapping up. How do you ensure you keep people coming to your business when winter is coming? (more…)
Skin Deep: Cosmetically Imperfect Fruit
So much tree fruit is susceptible to disease and pest issues or environmental factors that make it look unappetizing. But not all of these concerns go beyond being skin deep. The fruit might not look good, but its taste is fine. (more…)
Better Business Decisions
Today’s direct to consumer selling environment is fast-paced and ever changing. To stay competitive, you need as much market research information as you can glean. Making better business decisions marks the starting point for developing effective sales strategies and setting up business longevity. (more…)
SNA Conference Pt. 4: Plant Propagation
A short and sweet wrap-up of this portion of the Southern Nursery Association’s annual conference studies focuses on something nurseries across the nation may grow: the eastern redbud, a large, pink-flowered deciduous shrub that grows from southern Ontario to northern Florida and as far west as California. (more…)
