July 21, 1998 Missouri Alternatives Center's Bimonthly Electronic Newsletter 800-433-3704 "AG OPPORTUNITIES" July-August 1998 (Vol 9 No 1) * Small Farms * New Family Farms * Agricultural Alternatives Agroforestry in Missouri (by Dr Sandy Hodge, University of Missouri, School of Natural Resources - Forestry) Agroforestry is an old concept in many areas of the world. It is rapidly gaining attention in Missouri, however, as a form of sustainable agriculture. Agroforestry is an intensive land-use management that optimizes the benefits (physical, biological, ecological, economic, and social) from biophysical interactions created when trees and/or shrubs are deliberately combined with crops and/or livestock. One of the most important aspects of agroforestry is that it strives to provide income from the practices as well as protection of the natural resource base. In Missouri, there are five commonly used practices. Alley cropping is growing trees at wide spacing while producing companion crops in the alleyways. How wide the spacing will be depends on what the landowner's objectives are in terms of tree and crop production. Silvopastoral practices combine grazing animals with trees and forage. Riparian buffers involve tree planting along water sources-streams, rivers, creeks-combined most often with grass filter strips. Windbreaks are an agroforestry practice which combines different trees that act as a wind barrier for a variety of purposes-cattle protection in the winter, crop protection in the summer and to prevent soil loss. Forest farming in the fifth commonly used agroforestry practice. This involves clearing patches of forest to provide a certain percentage of shade and growing shade-loving crops under the trees. Some of the more frequently planted (and valuable) crops are medicinal plants such as ginseng and golden seal. What combinations of trees, crops or animals can be included in the different practices? It is very important to remember that many trees and crops are site specific and will not grow just anywhere. However, there are a variety of combinations that landowners in Missouri are doing. More traditional alley cropping practices vary from black walnut, grown for nuts or timber, intercropped with soybeans, corn, forage or wheat, to oak intercropped with hay. Less typical systems include medicinal plants such as ginseng intercropped between the walnut trees in the row with the alleys providing an additional crop, ginkgo trees intercropped with purple coneflower (both have medicinal value), pecans intercropped with wildflowers which are grown for wildflower seed or eastern gamma grass. One landowner is exploring growing paw-paw and planting the alleyways with vegetables. Silvopastoral practices include grazing cattle in a walnut-forage alley configuration, to a native pecan plantation sewn with legumes. Other trees such as oak can be planted in alleys and cows grazed between the rows. (A single strand of electric wire down each side of the tree row) protects the trees while they are young. Another landowner grazes his Christmas trees plantation with sheep to keep the weeds down. The sheep do not eat the Christmas trees. Most silvopastoral practices are grazed using a management intensive grazing system. Riparian buffers, some of which are managed for wildlife and produce income from lease- hunting, have been planted with a variety of trees including hazelnut, tulip poplar, pecans or other flood tolerant species. Trees in the riparian buffer are also valuable to filter out large debris during flooding. It keeps fields behind the riparian buffer free of large woody debris. Windbreaks are popular in the more northern areas of the state and have been established to protect cattle from harsh winter winds. Forest farming is also well established primarily with herbaceous specialty crops such as ginseng and goldenseal and mushrooms. For more information about agroforestry in Missouri contact Dr Sandra Hodge, 203 ABNR, School of Natural Resources-Forestry Program, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, 573-884-6729. Missouri Watershed Information Network Want to know where you can get your drinking water tested? How to solve water quality problems in your neighborhood? Where you can find financial resources for doing a better job of watershed stewardship? Or, you may want to know what water quality projects are ongoing or planned for your watershed, or what the current events are, or who are the local contacts.. The answers to these questions and much more are available from the Missouri Watershed Information Network (MoWIN). MoWIN is being established to assist individuals, governmental and private agencies, schools and other groups in locating and accessing information about Missouri's watersheds. The goal is to help citizens increase their knowledge about current watershed conditions and best management practices to improve the state's water quality. MoWIN is unique in that it will emphasize people, activities, and education, not just data about watersheds. The intent is to provide what the clients have already indicated they want. It will provide "a first point of contact" for people seeking information and data on watershed projects, activities and initiatives. It will consolidate widely scattered information into a standardized system for all to use, and avoid duplication of effort among agencies saving both time and money. MoWIN is a true partnership effort which is currently supported by 20 General Operating Partners (five of them are also Funding Partners) from various segments of Missouri's natural resources community. MoWIN officially opened for business on April 1, 1998. It is located on the Columbia Campus of the University of Missouri in the Agriculture Engineering Building. You may contact MoWIN by phone (573/882-0085), fax (573/884-5650), email (dillardj@missouri.edu), visit the MoWIN web site (http://outreach.missouri.edu/mowin/) or mail (205 Ag Eng Bldg, Columbia, MO 65211). Missouri Minor Crops Survey Underway The Integrated Pest Management program at the University of Missouri is compiling a report on the minor crops grown in Missouri. The report consists of crop profiles that describe the culture of each minor crop. These profiles include pest problems, pest control, economic data on crop value, how the crop benefits Missouri's economy and how it compares to national production. The report is part of an effort to obtain more accurate information on Missouri minor crops, reflecting the wide variety of minor crops and the overall contribution these crops make to the state's economy. Getting an accurate picture of minor crop production requires obtaining information about specific pest problems. Other important information is how the pest problems are handled. Are satisfactory pesticides, conventional or alternative? This information is useful when the IPM program is called upon by regulatory agencies to provide information they use in making decisions on registration and re-registration of pesticides for minor crops. If it's known what products are essential to crop production (conventional or alternative) we can function as an advocate for those products. This is especially important with the upcoming review of pesticides used for food crops as mandated by the Food Quality Protection Act. Additionally, any economic information that documents the importance of a minor crop to Missouri's economy adds weight to arguments for the retention and re-registration of products that are essential to crop production. For that reason it's crucial to get the facts on how many acres are planted to each minor crop, what is the value per acre, and how many growers there are. This is information that only you, the producers can provide. How does this all help you? IPM can provide information to you to show you what pests are the most serious for the minor crops that interest you. We can also provide information on pest management. We function as advocates for products when regulatory agencies are making inquiries, if we can provide documented proof showing the importance of the minor crops to Missouri's economy. What can you do? If you can provide any information to us, it will make the report a more complete and accurate picture of Missouri's minor crops. The IPM program will be calling producers in the near future to ask them about their production problems and essential solutions. Or, if you have information that you would like to provide now and you'd like to give us a call, please do so. Charlene Boyes, IPM, Univ of Missouri-Columbia, 573-882-4851 or Eric Bohle IPM, Univ of Missouri-Columbia, 573-882-3054. Customer Service Must Be Everyone's First Priority (Reprinted from The Great Lakes Vegetable Growers News, March 1998) No business today can succeed for any length of time without offering great customer service, according to C. Thaver, Nebraska Cooperative Extension. "Entrepreneurs and business owners must realize that customer service is not something done to a customer, but rather something done for a customer," Thaver said. "True customer service means recognizing each person as an individual with needs and doing what it takes to meet those needs." Everyone must realize that customer service is their job -- it is not someone else's job. Every time you or your employees interact with a customer, that customer is rating you and your business. Customers evaluate service quality on five points: 1. Reliability -- Do you perform and live up to your promises? Are you dependable and accurate? 2. Assurance -- Can the customer trust and have confidence in you? Do you possess the required skills and knowledge to perform the job well? Do you and your employees have excellent listening and problem solving skills? 3. Tangibles -- Is your business facility neat and clean? Are your business letters typed on official stationary? 4. Empathy -- Do you provide caring and individualized attention to customers? Are you available when customers need help? 5. Responsiveness -- Are you willing to assist customers? Do you give prompt service? Do you strive to resolve problems quickly to the customer's total and complete satisfaction? When it comes to customer service, the telephone is the heart and soul of any home-based small business. Great service begins when the phone rings. Sustaining People through Agriculture Network In March, a group of farmers attending the "Sustaining People through Agriculture" Conference in Columbia, MO, decided to come together to form a grassroots farmer networking organization. June 10, 1998, this dream became a reality. As many of the same group shared their visions, Sustaining People through Agriculture Network (SPAN) was born. The goal statement for the new organization is, "We area farmer-managed network working to develop sustainable agriculture that supports people, families and communities." The next meeting will be held during the National Small Farm Trade Show and Conference Nov 6, in Columbia, MO. SPAN is planning a booth at this conference. SPAN will also hold their annual conference March 24, 1999, in Columbia, MO. For more information about SPAN, call Jim Lummus, 660-463-2133. In The News The Missouri Value-Added Grant Program provides $500,000 in grants for projects that boost local economies by adding value to agricultural goods. The grants are intended to finance activities prior to starting or expanding a business, such as feasibility studies and business and marketing plans. In short, the grants will help producers identify opportunities and niche markets to better ensure successful enterprises. The Missouri Value-Added Loan Guarantee Program provides partial loan guarantees to banks, savings and loans, and Farm Credit system lenders. Under the program, lenders can receive a 25 percent first-loss guarantee on loans up to $250,000 that finance projects involving processing, manufacturing, marketing,exporting, or adding value to agricultural products. Eligible borrowers may also qualify for reduced interest rates through the Missouri First Linked Deposit Program administered by the state treasurer's office. Program applications must meet certain eligibility requirements and follow established program guidelines. For more information, contact the MO Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority, PO Box 630, Jefferson City, MO 65102, 573-751-2129. The MO Small Fruit Growers Association was recently formed this past winter. The purpose of the group is to share ideas among members, provide co-op purchasing, help advertise members' products and other matters. For more information about the association, contact Ginny Whipple, 9335 Little Bourbeuse Rd, Sullivan, MO 63080, 573-627-3717. According to an article in a recent Soil and Water Conservation Society magazine, food travels an average of 1,300 miles from the farm to your table and almost every state in the US buys 85-90% of its food from someplace else. Cornell Univ researchers are searching for the best cover crops to revitalize compacted soils and so far sudangrass is looking like a good choice. Sudangrass is effective at sending down deep roots to loosen the soil when it is mowed once during the season, plus it produces an abundant amount of organic matter and appears to protect against parasitic nematodes. Yellow mustard has also been identified as one of the best cover crops for breaking up hardpan. (New York State Vegetable Growers Assn, Dec 1997) In a special report on protecting children's' health, Mothers and Others for a Livable Planet lists the 10 most important foods to buy organic because of high pesticide residues in conventionally grown products. They are baby foods, rice, strawberries, milk, grains, corn, bananas, green beans, peaches and apples. The report cites research by the Environmental Working Group and FDA's own test reports. (Growing for Market, July 1998) A National Center for Preservation of Medicinal Herbs will be established on a 68-acre site in southeastern Ohio. The initiative was funded by Frontier Natural Products Co-op, which is soliciting sponsorships from others involved in the herb industry. Herbs will be cultivated for research and preservation, and an existing house will be developed into a botanical education site and lab. (Growing for Market, June 1998) In Print *Solviva: How to Grow $500,000 on One Acre and Peace on Earth* by Anna Edey, 1998. $38.00. Available from Growing for Market, PO Box 3747, Lawrence, KS 66046. *Advancing Sustainable Agriculture through Small Group Discussions: A Guide for Group Leaders and Members* 1998. 175-page handbook contains guidelines for setting up study circles, tips on forming productive questions, stories from existing study circles, and lists of reference materials from around the world. Make checks payable to the Univ of IL and send to Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant at PO Box 410, Greenview, IL 62642, $25.00. *1998 Directory of Flower & Herb Buyers* $10.00. Prairie Oak Seeds, PO Box 382, Maryville MO 64468, 660-582-4084. *Grow Smart, Grow Safe: A Consumer Guide to Lawn and Garden Products* 1998 Reviews over 300 lawn and garden products, including pesticides, fertilizers, pest barriers, traps and related tools. Presents basic data about health and environmental effects, stressing least-toxic and non-toxic pest management. Information about managing insects, slugs, snails, diseases, weeds and soil fertility. Washington Toxic Coalition, 4649 Sunnyside Ave N, Ste 540 East Seattle, WA 98103, 206-632-1545, $7.75. *How to Farm for Profit: Practical Enterprise Analysis* 116 page book on profitable farming includes a business forecast and marketing plan. Contact Beverly Fisher, IA State Univ Press, 800-862-6657, $19.95. *Public Programs for Private Forestry: A Reader on Programs and Options* $20.00. American Forest, 1-800-368-5748. *Reducing Your Risk from Pesticides* 1998 World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Canada. Presents basic fact-sheet style information about reducing pesticide risks by using alternatives to pesticides and finding ways to reduce pesticide exposure. Outlines recommendations for reducing pesticides in agriculture, urban environments and indoors. Free (available on limited basis) or on-line. Kim Bilous, WWF, 90 Eglinton Ave E, Ste 504, Toronto, Ontario, M4P 2Z7, Canada, 416-489-4567 ext 261; email kbilous@wwfcanada.org; web site: www.wwfcanada.org/reduce-risk/. *A Guide to Raising Beef Cattle* 1998 by Heather Smith Thomas. Includes chapters on buying, housing, feeding, maintaining cattle health, processing of breeding heifers, caring for pregnant cows, calving, weaning along with a great list of resources. Available through Storey Books, PO Box 44, Pownal, VT 05261, 800-441-85700, $18.95. *The Household Detective Primer: How to Protect Your Children from Toxics in the Home* 1998 The Children's Health Environmental Coalition (CHEC). Briefly describes hazards of common household products and presents basic information about how to avoid toxins such as pesticides in the home. Discusses non-toxic pest control alternatives for home and garden. $10. CHEC, PO Box 846, Malibu, CA 90265, 310-573-9608, email chec@checnet.org; web site: www.chec.org. *Soil Compaction: Crop Response and Remediation* Available from Cornell Dept of Fruit and Vegetable Science, Ask for Report 63, January 1997. Call 607-255-4568. *Series of five booklets on Fresh Market Vegetables* Five booklets (1. broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and other cole crops; 2. tomatoes, peppers and eggplants; 3. beans/peas; 4. carrots, beets, radishes, and other root crops; 5. pumpkins/other vine crops) cover practical aspects of growing, including site selection, planting, fertility needs, pest and disease control. Each booklet is $5.00, except for beans and peas, which is $4.50. Cooperative Extension Publications, Room 170, Dept GV, 630 W Mifflin St, Madison WI 53703, 608-262-3346, www.uwex.edu/ces/pubs/vegetables. *The Community Farm* quarterly newsletter for anyone active or interested in the community supported agriculture movement, small farms, and sustainable agriculture. The Community Farm, 3480 Potter Rd, Bear Lake, MI 49614, 616-889-3216, $20.00. *AgVentures* bimonthly magazine of agricultural opportunities. AgVentures, 11950 W Highland Ave, Blackwell, OK 74631, 888-474-6397, $21.00. Calendar of Events Aug 3 Weaving Workshop, Jackson, MO. Contact Pat Weber, 573-238-4623. Aug 7-8 Amaranth Institute Meeting, Sidney, NE. Call Jane Sooby, 308-254-3918. Aug 8-9 Bees and Beekeeping Short Course, Urbana, IL. Call 217-333-2910. Aug 13-23 MO State Fair, Sedalia, MO. Aug 16-18 MO/KS Landscape & Nursery Assn Summer Meeting & Trade Show, Kansas City, MO. Call Sara Woody Bibens, 816-369-3115. Sept 3-4 Fiber Art Expo, Bethel, MO. Contact Virginia Neal, 573-681-5551. Sept 5-7 World Sheep, Fiber Art and Flower Festival, Bethel, MO. Contact Helen Swartz, 573-681-5551. Sept 12 Salute to AgriMissouri, Columbia, MO. Call 800-MOBRAND. Sept 14-16 Artificial Insemination Workshop and Lab for Goats and Sheep, Jefferson City, MO. Call 573-681-5551. Sept 18-19 MO Forest Products Assn Annual Meeting, St Charles, MO. Call Eric Peters, 573-634-3252. Sept 25 MO Landscape & Nursery Assn Summer Field Day, New Franklin, MO. Call Sara Woody Bibens, 816-369-3115. Oct 4-7 Farming the Agroforesty for Specialty Products, Minneapolis, MN. Call Scott Josiah, 612-624-7418. Oct 4-8 BioEnergy '98, Madison, WI. Call Fred Kuzel, 312-407-0177. Oct 7-9 MU Grazing School, Brookfield, MO. Call Joetta Roberts, 573-499-0886. Oct 9-10 MO State Beekeepers Assn Annual Fall Meeting, Lake Ozark, MO. Call Neal Bergman, 573-888-1301. Nov 6-7 National Small Farm Today Conference and Trade Show, Columbia, MO. Call 800-633-2535. Nov 8-11 New Crops & New Uses: Biodiversity & Agricultural Sustainability, Phoenix, AZ. Contact Dave Dierig, 602-379-4356. Dec 10 Farming Profitably in a Changing Environment, Urbana, IL. Dec 13-15 MO Governor's Conference on Agriculture, Tan-Tar-A. 1999 Jan 8-9 Great Plains Vegetable Conference, St Joseph, MO. Contact Keith Hawxby, 816-279-1691. Jan 17-19 Midwest Regional Grape & Wine Conference, Tan-Tar-A. Call 573-751-6807. Jan 18-20 MO Landscape & Nursery Assn Nuts & Bolts Course, St Louis, MO. Call Sara Woody Bibens, 816-369-3115. Jan 21-22 North American Farmers Direct Marketing Conference, Grand Rapids, MI. Call Rick Breeden, 888-884-9270. Feb 24-26 MO Aquaculture Assn Annual Meeting and Conference, Columbia, MO. Call 573-526-6666. March 5-6 10th Annual Upper Midwest Organic Farming Conference March 23 Value Added Agriculture Conference, Columbia, MO. March 24 Sustaining People through Agriculture Conference, Columbia, MO. Oct National Small Farm Conference, St. Louis, MO. "University Outreach and Extension does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability or status as a Vietnam-era veteran in employment or programs."