Missouri Alternatives Center's Bimonthly Electronic Newsletter 800-433-3704 "AG OPPORTUNITIES" September-October 2000 (Vol 11 No 2) * Small Farms * New Family Farms * Agricultural Alternatives Southwest Center to Study Medicinal Plants (By Andrew L Thomas from SW Center Ruminations, Vol 6 No 3, July-Sept 2000) The Southwest Center is playing an important role in a $5.7 million five-year grant recently received by the University of Missouri and the Missouri Botanical Garden. The National Institutes of Health provided the funds to establish the new Center for Phytonutrient and Phytochemical Studies ("Botanicals Center", for short) in Columbia. The new Botanicals Center will study the identification, cultivation, efficacy, safety, and toxicity of many medicinal plants consumed by humans. Americans alone spend more that $ 660 million each year on herbal dietary supplements. Whether its ginseng, St. John's wort, ginko, Echinacea, or hundreds of other botanicals, most of us (and even more Europeans) have experimented with one herbal product or another. And experiment is right. Few if any laws regulate the composition, quality, consistency, or even the true identification of that expensive substance in bottle. Furthermore, few good botanical reference standards exist for well-meaning companies to use in determining the quality and purity of the products they market to their customers. One of the most important questions, however, is whether or not a particular medicinal herb has any effect whatsoever on human health, good or bad. The Botanical Gardens will attempt to find answers to some of these questions through solid scientific research. Several important biochemical and medical experiments will be conducted on campus. Diseases such as prostate and other cancers, cystic fibrosis, neuro- degenerative disease, and immune-mediated abnormalities will be studied to determine if specific plant-derived substances may be beneficial. The Missouri Botanical Garden will compile and publish a valuable reference to aid in the precise identification of many medicinal herbs, including closely-related species that are often confused with the intended species. Meanwhile, the Southwest Center, along with the Shaw Arboretum of Missouri Botanical Garden and the University's Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center at New Franklin, MO, will conduct a variety of horticultural experiments. One of the first studies will evaluate variations in the active components of medicinal plants cultivated under different environmental and soil conditions. Ultimately, we intend to conduct several experiments that focus on developing horticultural recommendations for Missouri farmers interested in raising these potentially profitable crops. 8th National Small Farm Trade Show and Conference THEME: Good Life, Good Money WHEN: Nov 3-4, 2000 WHERE: Columbia, MO COSTS: Seminars, exhibits, demonstrations, Farmers Forum : $5.00/day or $8.00/2 day pre-registration (Oct 1st) or $8.00/day or $10.00/2 day Short courses: $20.00 each pre-registration (Oct 1st) or $30.00 each at the door (Short courses do include admission fee to the rest of the show.) SPONSORS: Small Farm Today Magazine; brought to you by John Deere Co, Alpha Ag, MO Beef Council; Mo Dept of Ag; Liar's Lake, University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources; Orscheln's; Stachowski Alpacas; NBC-8; and USDA-CSREES Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program. This is the largest annual small farm conference and trade show in the US. Over 3,250 people and 150 exhibitors attended the 7th conference in 1999. Five three-hour Short Courses: Pasture-Based Dairying (cattle); Free-Range Poultry Production and Marketing; Marketing is Everything; Greenhouses; and Soils. Thirteen one-hour Seminars: Pumpkins; Poultry Choices for the Small Farm; Hair Sheep; Asparagus Production, Management and Marketing; Kitchen Processing; Creating a Dream House: Straw Bale Construction; Open-Pollinated Corn; Selection, Production and Marketing of Meat Goats; Mechanized Raised-Bed Truck Farming; Selecting a New Enterprise; Succeed with Blueberries; Waterfowl; and Selling via CSA/Farmers Markets. Demonstrations: Stock Dogs; Soap Making; Emu-Egg Carving; Fiber Corn Husk Crafts; Poultry Exhibition; and Alpaca Agility Course! Farmer Forum: Straight-talk from Successful Small Farmers sponsored by Small Farm Today magazine and brought to you by MO Organic Assn, Sustaining People through Agriculture Network, MO Alternatives Center, and the University of MO Sustainable Agriculture Extension Program. Twenty minute presentations include: Botanicals and Biodiversity; Crop Diversification Programs; Compost Teas for Control of Plant Diseases; Growing Watermelons; Low-Input Sustainable Grazing; Selling Local Is Value Added; Selling to Institutions and Restaurants; Using Meat Goats for Weed Management; Sustainability with Purebred Poultry and Livestock; Starting Local Livestock Auctions; Organic Apples: Using Kaolin Clay Film; The Caractacus Contraption: You Can Take Vegetable Farming Lying Down; Working Together: The Ozark Belgian Blue LC; Tilling the Soil: Agreprenuership Training: Farmer Stores and Roadside Stands; Saving Vegetable Seeds; Producing Your Own Hybrid Corn; Shepherd Farms; Agroforestry Alternatives; Using Pigs to Root Johnson Grass; Goat Cheese Made Easy; Production and Marketing of Free-Range Eggs; Sheperdsfield Bakery and Country Store; Poultry Processing Plant Update; Asian Pear Production. For more information, call 1-800-633-2535. MU Extension, state ag department offer grants for sustainable agriculture research Is organic rice a viable crop for Missouri? Can sheep and goats help to reclaim strip-mined land? What sort of market is there for soybean candles and soap? People with bright ideas for sustainable agriculture might be able to try them out with the help of the Missouri Department of Agriculture and University of Missouri Outreach and Extension. The agencies are offering 30 sustainable agriculture demonstration awards through the Sustainable Agriculture Extension Program of MU and Lincoln University. The grants of up to $4,500 help farmers reduce their dependence on purchased inputs and help to protect and conserve natural resources, said Joan Benjamin, coordinator of the Missouri Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Award program. "To be considered, a project or demonstration must be sustainable, meaning economically viable, environmentally sound and socially responsible," she said. "Most projects aim to reduce pesticide and fertilizer use." While some of the grants are geared to niche farming, many have broader applications for Missouri agriculture. For example, several projects evaluated what kinds of grass are most suitable for forage in different parts of the state. Another demonstrated the best ways to return Conservation Reserve Program land to no-till production, and others tested alternative, naturally occurring fertilizers on corn, tall fescue and cotton. Some projects that received awards for 2000 include biological pest control in greenhouses, growing and direct marketing black raspberries as jelly and improving crop diversity with edible dry beans. Since its inception in 1995, the program has awarded more than 100 grants to Missouri farmers. Projects are selected by a committee made up of farmers and representatives of the state agriculture department and the university. MU researchers and Extension specialists aid the recipients in conducting the demonstrations. Projects must be completed within three years. The deadline for application is Nov 30, 2000. For an application, contact your local Extension office or the MO Department of Agriculture at 573-751-5505. For more information, call Joan Benjamin at 573-522-8616 or 573-445- 2194. To see example of projects from previous years, visit the website at: http://agebb.missouri.edu/sustain Missouri Watershed Information Network The Missouri Watershed Information Network (MOWIN) has come a long way since 1998. Success has been a team effort. The result has been an effective clearing house and one-stop-shop for Missouri citizens interested in healthy watersheds. The MoWIN website offers information on best management practices for the state's watersheds. As word has spread, the number of hits has increased greatly. Features include a calendar of watershed events, ongoing projects, local county contacts, grants and funding sources, technical assistance, and educational resources. Acronym City-where 700 acronyms are defined-has been a popular feature in helping users better understand the language surrounding watershed management. A new feature - an extensive glossary of natural resource-related terms will be helpful to users. An additional website feature receiving much attention is our Watershed-Related by County. Users can click on their county shown on a color map of Missouri and find a wealth of geographic and demographic information plus a county map and a listing of impaired water sources. This feature was highly publicized in major state media and found instant popularity among users. Earlier this year, MoWIN was able to provide drought-related information to farmers and government officials. Along with our website, we respond to queries by e-mail, telephone and by personal visits. Information is also disseminated through workshops and conferences. MoWIN is a partnership in which the University of Missouri Outreach and Extension works with 27 state and federal agencies, non- governmental organizations, businesses and interest groups to provide current information. Working together, partners in MoWIN are providing citizens with the information they need for improved watershed management, and restoration. The result will be a cleaner environment and safe drinking water supply. For more information contact MoWin at mowin@missouri.edu; 573-882-0085 or toll free (MO only) 1-877-H20-SHED (426-7433) Consumers Count In August 1999, the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and Phillip Morris collaborated through the Shared Solutions program to conduct research into the preceptions and opinions of American consumers and farmers. They wanted to identify the gaps in opinions and attitudes between consumers and farmers and "provide the impetus to both learn what we don't know and to unlearn a few things as well." They interviewed 704 livestock, field crop and specialty crop farmers with an estimated annual gross farm income of at least $100,000 and another 1,002 adult consumers selected at random. In general, farmer underestimated consumer's level of concern for farm production practices. Consumers consistently thought that chemicals, hormones, and antibiotics were less acceptable than what the farmers thought. Three of every four consumers had concerns about chemicals and they wanted to know whether the food had chemicals or pesticides. Farmers thought only 47 percent of consumers would have this concern. Forty percent of farmers thought it was always acceptable to use pesticides and herbicides for production. Only 10 percent of consumers thought it was always acceptable and 34 percent said it was never acceptable. In this research, consumers were willing to accept tradeoffs for using fewer chemicals in food production. They said they would accept -- biotechnology (73%), seasonal availability of food (72%); a smaller section (68%); pest damage (52%); and higher prices (57%). Consumers were twice as likely as farmers to think that agricultural chemicals in the water supply present a major problem. Almost three-quarters of consumers polled rated agriculture's communications with the public as only fair or poor. Consumers are telling us they want alternative practices and products that improve food safety and reduce negative environmental impact. At a minimum, farmers and ranchers need to heed these concerns and be aware of how they may affect future markets. For more information on the survey, contact Rose Jaspersen, Center for Rural Affairs, 402-846-5428, info@cfra.org (Center for Rural Affairs newsletter, Aug 2000) Organic Insurance A single phrase within a 99-page law recently signed by President Clinton grants organic farmers the right to buy insurance that cover their crops at their true value. It will completely change the way organic farmers are judged when purchasing crop insurance, the cornerstone of an economically sound commercial farm, according to organic farming advocates. "It's huge for organic farmers because, in one fell swoop, it provides the insurance infrastructure at organic prices that they've never had," said Bob Scowcroft, director of the Organic Farming Research Foundation in Santa Cruz, CA. The new law says that insurance providers don't have to cover losses because of a farmer's failure "to follow good practices, including scientifically sound sustainable and organic farming practices." Previously, good farming practices have been defined as having very specific characteristics that include the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers. No one is quite sure who wrote the section dealing with organic farmers. A spokesman for the House Agriculture Committee said lawmakers simply felt "it was about time" organic producers were included in farm insurance law. Scowcroft said the change is important particularly for organic farmers who need to get crop loans because often, especially in the grain belt, farmers have to have crop insurance and show they are meeting good farming practices. Also, in past years organic farmers have been able to buy crop insurance, but only at rates and with coverage suitable to conventional farming. For example, an organic grape grower in CA lost 20 acres of organic table grapes to a rare fungus. His crop insurance covered him for $5 a box -- not the $15 a box he would have made on the organic market. (Growing for Market, Aug 2000) Diversification Considerations Thinking about diversifying? Consider this: * Diversifying into crops for different markets helps offset commodity price swings. * Potential gross income could be higher for the alternative crop, or the production cost may be lower. * Post harvest transportation of alternative crops to more distant markets may cost more. * Diversification can reduce risk from crop-damaging weather conditions. * Producers may find now is a better time than ever to diversify, as technological advances have increased market opportunities. * A more diverse rotation can reduce pest pressures in two ways: by providing habitat for beneficial insects and by breaking insect, weeds and disease cycles. * Nitrogen fixing crop, such as lupines for grain use or red clover for ground cover, can add fertility. Cover crops also smother weeds and reduce erosion. * Vegetative buffer strips can reduce erosion. * Communities can benefit from diversified farming. Marketing alternative crops directly often creates local opportunities to process, package or sell new product. (Compiled by Lisa Bauer, NCR SARE communications specialist, with information from the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN). Tips on Writing Grants * Read through all enclosed materials in the mailing about the grant. * Make sure your goals match the grants goals. * Follow directions. * Involve other groups and people. * Include a detailed plan for outreach. * Pay close attention to budget guidelines. * Keep the writing simple. * Have someone proof-read your proposal. *** In the News *** Turnips can save winter feeding costs. Four Heartland Network farmers planted turnips into wheat stubble last summer and grazed cattle in late fall and early winter. The animal unit months of grazing averaged 2.8 AUM per acre. Variable establishment costs (custom rates for field operations, seed, fertilizer, herbicide) averaged $33 per acre. Winter feed cost savings averaged $57 per acre for a return of $24 per acre. Land costs, labor for fencing and cattle management were not included in these calculations. Fall drought conditions on one farm severely limited production. The other three farmers were very pleased with turnips. They feel that this forage crop fits nicely into a wheat to feed grain rotation. For detailed information on these production figures and Kansas Rural Center's management guide on turnips, contact Jerry Jost at 785-776-5851 or email jjost@flinthills.com (Kansas Rural Center NewsletterApril 2000) USDA Prices on the Internet - Agricultural Marketing Service website at http://www.ams.usda.gov/ then make the following choices: 1. Market News 2. Fruits, Vegetables, Specialty Crops 3. Individual Daily Reports 4. Fruit and Vegetable Market Reports 5. US Terminal Market Price and Supply Reports 6. Choose fruits or vegetables 7. Choose the city nearest to you; if you don't find the info you need, back up and try another city. Some terminal markets have more comprehensive reports than others. Global demand for organic food is on the rise. Retail sales in Japan, US and Europe combined could reach $21.5 billion thisyear. Demand for certain varieties of organic foods often exceeds supplies. Some of the hottest-selling items include grains and beans. Also, fresh and dried fruits, frozen vegetables, nuts, juice and snacks. Organic animal feed demand is also growing. New standards, recently implemented in the European Union for organic animal production, will boost sales of organic feed in coming years. Global standards are also being developed by members of the Codex Alimentarius Commission. Exporters should look beyond retail market to sell organic foods. More airlines, hotels, and restaurants will offer these types of products. Japan, Canada and the European Union are key markets for US exporters. (The Kiplinger Agriculture Letter, Vol 71, No 15) USDA announced that 40,774 comments were received on the revised proposal to set national organic standards. The public comment period ended on June 12. A final rule is expected by the end of 2000. (Organic Perspectives, Aug 2000) *** In Print *** *Soil Management Series* has five titles: Soil Management, Compaction, Manure Management, Organic Matter, and Soil Biology and Soil Management, at $3 each, $13 for full set, plus shipping; "Collaborative Marketing: A Roadmap and Resource Guide for Farmers" is $4.75 plus shipping; order all from University of Minnesota Extension Service Distribution Center, 405 Coffey Hall, 1420 Eckles Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108; (800) 876-8636. *LocalHarvest.com* a Web site for farmers to connect with consumers about farmers' markets and small farms in the US; the site is http://www.LocalHarvest.com *Agriculture Activist List* A mailing list for Activism in Agriculture has been started courtesy of UNC MetaLab's Lyris server. This list provides a central location for political agricultural announcements and discussion. Post a message to lyris@franklin.oit.unc.edu subscribing: subscribe agriculture-activist subscribe agriculture-activist your_name join agriculture-activist join agriculture-activist your_name *A Comparison of Management-Intensive Grazing and Conventionally Managed Michigan Dairies: Profitability, Economic Efficiencies, Quality of Life and Management Priorities* available free from Michigan State University Bulletin Office, 10-B Agriculture Hall, MSU, East Lansing, MI 48824-1039; 517- 355-0240. *The Environmental Impacts of Organic Farming in Europe* and *Economic Performance of Organic Farms in Europe* are the latest two publications in a series, *Organic Farming in Europe: Economics and Policy* details are available on the Internet at www.uni- hohenheim.de/~i410a/ofeurope/. *Pesticide Decision Tool* documents designed to help incorporate environmental factors into crop production decisions, are available from John Vickery, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, (612) 870-3430; jvickery@iatp.org; on the Internet, www.iatp.org/pesticide/. *Alternatives to Insecticides for Managing Vegetable Insects* available from Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service, Cooperative Extension, 152 Riley-Robb Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853; 607-255-7654; nraes@cornell.edu; on the Internet, www.nraes.org, $11.75. *Catalog of Federal Funding Sources for Water Protection* available on the Internet at www.epa.gov/OWOW/watershed/wacademy, or from the National Service Center for Environmental Publications, 1-800-490- 9198. *** On the Calendar *** Sept 19-21-Advanced Grazing School, Forage Research Center, Linneus, MO. Call 573-499-0886. Sept 12-14-MO Grazing School, Marshfield, MO. Call Mark Emmerson, 417-468-6270. Sept 20-21-MO Grazing Shool, Dekalb County, MO. Call Curtis Walker, 816-449-2118 ext 3 Sept 22-24-Strawbale Construction Workshop, Rutledge, MO. Call 660- 883-5511. Sept 28-30-MO Grazing School, Howell County, MO. Call Randy Saner, 417-256-2391. Sept 28-30-US Trout Farmers Assn Conference and Trade Show, Branson, MO. Call 573-526-6666. Oct 4-6-3rd Annual Ag Fiber Technology Showcase, Memphis, TN. Email fiber@nettn.net Oct 6-8-Ozark Fall Farmfest, Springfield, MO. Call 417-833-2660. Oct 10-12-Three Day Beginning MO Grazing School, Linneus, MO. Call 573-499-0886 Oct 11-12-MO Grazing School, Cape Girardeau County, MO. Call 573- 499-0886. Oct 13-14-MO State Beekeepers Assn Conference, Lake Ozark, MO. Call 314-398-5014. Oct 18-19-MO Grazing School, Farmington, MO. Call Joann Steffans, 573-547-4504. Oct 20-21-Alternative and Herbal Livestock Health Conference, Storrs, CT. Call 860-486-6271; ssyme@canr.uconn.edu. Nov 3-4-8th National Small Farm Trade Show and Conference, Columbia, MO. Call 1-800-633-2535. Dec 7-9-26th Annual ACRES USA Conference, Minneapolis, MN. Call 1- 800-355-5313. Dec 10-12-MO Governor's Conference on Agriculture, Tan-Tar-A, MO. Call 573-751-5622. Jan 5-6-Great Plains Vegetable Conference, St Joseph, MO. Call 816- 279-1691. Jan 19-20-10th Annual SAWG Conference, Chattanooga, TN. Call 225-654-2017, toni-hawk@tlxnet.net Jan 26-28-MO Assn of Fairs & Festivals Convention, Columbia, MO. Call 618-355-0854. Feb 4-6-Midwest Regional Grape & Wine Conference. Call 800-392- WINE. Feb 13-Soil Health and Biodynamic Methods Workshop, Jefferson City, MO. Call 573-884-3794. Feb 14-16-Advanced Organic Vegetable Production Workshop, Jefferson City, MO. Call 573-884-3794. Feb 17-SPAN Conference, Columbia, MO. Call 573-884-3794. Feb 19-21-MO Small Fruit Conference, Springfield, MO. Call 417-926- 4105. April 28-29-Farm-fiber Festival and MO Spin-In. Call 573-874-2233. May 19-Fiber Fair, Marshfield, MO. Call 417-859-2914. June 1-3-MO Natural Colored Wool Growers Meeting, Butler, MO. Call 816-697-2104. Farm Tours at MU Research Centers Sept 15-Wurdack Farm, Cook Station Sept 28-Forage Systems Research Center, (FSRC), Pasture Day, Linneus 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.