“Knowing how to pay yourself can feel like one of those ‘Shouldn’t I know how to do this if I am running a business?’ kind of questions, but in reality, it’s a question that many farmers and ranchers have. And they don’t have a clear answer to,” said Eva Moss. Moss is the education program director ...

In their ongoing efforts to connect rural Americans across the country with existing mental health resources, Rural Minds recently partnered with the National Grange to present a webinar titled “Mental Health Benefits of Sleep, Nutrition, Exercise and Mindfulness.” Looking first at the mental health...

What sparked my interest in vegetable newsletters was one I received recently from UMass with two articles on the effect of the smoke from the wildfires in Canada on vegetable crops. One article came Dr. Gordon Johnson from the University of Delaware; the other, Dr. Steve Reiners of Cornell Universi...

Much has been written about product and experiential marketing where benefits and experiences are highlighted, sometimes over and above customer-based strategies. Identifying and developing plans for key target groups are essential for any marketing plan, but especially so for customer-driven advert...

Cultivate’s State of the Industry address begs frogs to beware of boiling water AmericanHort is a leader in its field because it has the capacity to employ top-notch experts to provide insights on how to plan and navigate the changing market climate for growers. Each summer during Cultivate, they ad...

DeFrancesco Farm in Northford, CT, has been owned and operated by one family since the early 1900s. Fourth generation farmer Mike DeFrancesco, who operates the farm today with his two brothers, explained the farm’s history. “My great-grandfather started the farm in 1903 with an acre or two and plant...

As summer unfolds, greenhouse growers are continually tracking their inventory and evaluating how their business is doing. How early did certain varieties sell through? On the flip side, what part of the crop production should be cut back next year? If you ask a greenhouse grower in the Midwest how ...

One of the perks of attending a NAFDMA event is the collaborative spirit that’s harnessed by attendees. While there are a plethora of scheduled educational sessions during each annual conference, impromptu talks take place as well. At the most recent International Agritourism Association’s conferenc...

If you think the retail shops that put up Christmas decorations as soon as they take down their Halloween ones are early in focusing on the holiday season, you should talk to a Christmas tree farmer. On average, it takes between six to eight years to grow a crop of Christmas trees to a marketable he...

As Halloween enthusiasts begin their “spooky season” countdown, those garden centers, nurseries, farms and other ag enterprises that like to decorate their operations will require a lot of artsy jack-o’-lanterns – or will hire teenagers to scare people during haunted hayrides, who will need frighten...

Greenhouse growers routinely scout for numerous insect pests. A recent addition to the scouting lineup is Thrips parvispinus , first discovered in a Florida greenhouse. Dr. Lance Osborne, professor of entomology and associate center director at the University of Florida, discussed parvispinus during...

The original purpose of farmers markets was to connect consumers with agriculture, providing a source of fresh and local foods. That remains the same today with an added twist. With the addition of processed and prepared food vendors, artisans and entertainment, they have become more than just a pla...

Obtaining labor for agricultural operations is an ongoing challenge. Programs such as H-2A and H-2B for obtaining workers can be difficult to navigate, and employers should understand the differences between the two programs. In a presentation by AmericanHort , Megan Wright, másLabor ’s director of ...

It was Benjamin Franklin that said “When the well is dry, we’ll know the worth of water.” That was over 200 years ago, yet the statement holds true today. Recent global reports on the future availability of water emphasize the fragility of this valuable resource. When it comes to commercial greenhou...

There has been much discussion lately about the reporting of scope emissions, but the topic isn’t new. What is new is how it may affect the world of agriculture. The EPA created its Center for Corporate Climate Leadership back in 2012 to “establish norms of climate leadership by encouraging organiza...