Ag Opportunities
Volume 14, Number 6
May - June 2004

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From Trash to Cash:
Growing Industry Increases Demand for Red Cedar
By Jason L. Jenkins
Extension & Ag Information

While it’s as common as oak or hickory in Missouri forests, eastern
red cedar often is regarded as a "trash" tree, one that is more
likely to be thrown onto a burn pile than onto a truck headed to the
mill.

Yet despite this less-than-stellar reputation, a University of
Missouri analysis of the US eastern red cedar market finds that
Missouri landowners may be underestimating the value of their cedar
stands and missing an opportunity to turn "trash" into cash.

"Many landowners don’t like cedar because they see it as a
nuisance," said Michael Gold, associate director of the University
of Missouri Center for Agroforestry, who led the study. "Like
multiflora rose, it’s spread by birds and will take root almost
anywhere. It’s a very invasive, competitive species that’s hard to
control."

Though most landowners are satisfied simply to rid their property of
cedar, Gold, MU agroforestry economist Larry Godsey and MBA
candidate Mihaela "Ina" Cernusca looked at the state’s predominant
native conifer from a different perspective.

"Like other opportunities in agroforestry, the two questions
landowners ask are, ‘How much money can you make?’ and ‘Where do you
sell it?’" Gold said. "Even though we knew cedar was bought and
sold, we didn’t have the data to answer those questions with
certainty, so that’s why we conducted the market analysis."

The agroforestry team surveyed red cedar businesses in 16 states,
ranging from small operations with annual sales less than $10,000 to
large firms with annual sales more than $16 million. Their major
objectives were to identify market participants, determine the types
of products currently marketed, and establish general trends for
supply and demand.

"We also examined the competitive forces that coordinate and control
the market, and identified the resources and relationships needed to
be successful," Gold added. "This included evaluating the threat of
new entrants to the market, barriers to market entry, threat of
substitute products, rivalry among existing companies, governmental
policies, and the bargaining power of buyers and suppliers."

The analysis estimated that the US eastern red cedar market
generates almost $60 million annually in gross sales and is growing,
Gold said. Almost 40 percent of survey respondents indicated that
demand for red cedar products had increased in the past 5 years, and
about half felt it would continue increasing over the next 5 years,
he said.

Gold attributed the industry’s growth to the ever-increasing list of
uses for cedar. "From mailbox posts and mulch to novelty gifts and
paneling, the list keeps growing," he said. "Many high-value
products can be produced from small-diameter stock, and cedar’s
natural rot and insect resistance makes it an attractive substitute
for pressure-treated lumber products, especially now that chromated
copper arsenate (CCA) is no longer in use."

In terms of available resource, the analysis ranked Missouri among
the top four states nationally, along with Arkansas, Tennessee and
Kentucky. Gold said the bulk of red cedar suppliers are located in
these states, but added that buyers reside across the Midwest.
"There is a great deal of variability in prices paid for raw
materials, with the highest prices paid in areas where resources are
more limited."

The analysis also revealed that in comparison to other states,
Missouri is undercapitalized and not yet taking advantage of the
opportunity to add value locally.

"Those who provide the raw resource are at the bottom of the value
chain, and they capture the lowest value in the market," Gold
explained. "However, as soon as you do something to that resource,
you add value. We have a lot of resource in Missouri, and there’s
room for producers to get more value from that resource."

He added that the market is growing for primary and secondary
manufacturers, which include sawmills, mulch producers, lumber
companies and parts manufacturers. "These are areas where Mo could
move up the value chain."

To help cedar producers improve their market position, the center
has compiled a red cedar market directory. "Cedar is a loosely
organized industry, but one that can grow by more effectively
connecting buyers and suppliers," Gold said.

Based on results of the market analysis, the researchers proposed
four actions to grow the overall US red cedar market. The first is
to create a marketing board.

"This board would be able to coordinate supply and demand, provide a
contact for buyers and sellers, and lobby governmental agencies to
adopt management practices to benefit the growth of high-quality
cedar," Gold said. "It would reduce market inefficiencies that
currently exist."

Other actions include developing an industry infrastructure to
regulate quality and quantity standards, encouraging private
landowners to manage red cedar stands, and coordinating industry
participants and university researchers to develop new market
opportunities.

"In the future, we hope to initiate several UMCA research projects
to benefit the cedar industry," Gold said. "Developing a method to
vegetatively propagate male cedar trees that don’t produce invasive
seed is one priority, as is a management system with techniques to
maximize growth."

Gold said a red cedar management handbook also is under development
in collaboration with the US Forest Service Central Hardwood
research unit.

Copies of the eastern red cedar market analysis and directory are
available online at
http://agebb.missouri.edu/umca/profit/redcedar/index.asp, or by
writing to Center for Agroforestry, University of Missouri, 203 ABNR
Bldg, Columbia, MO 65211.

(Source: Mike Gold, 573-884-1448, goldm@missouri.edu)

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Bringing back ‘Bob’ at Bradford:
MU farm demonstrates quail habitat restoration
By Jason L. Jenkins
Extension & Ag Information

A species that lives on the edge, bobwhite quail once thrived as a
by-product of MO agriculture, its habitat needs met by a landscape
mosaic of small fields, brushy fencerows and weedy native grass
pastures.

But during the past 30 years, as agricultural land use has changed
to increase production efficiency, this mosaic — and the quail it
supported — has disappeared. A new Univ of MO project will
demonstrate how farmers can meet the habitat needs of bobwhite quail
in a modern agricultural system without reducing farm profits.

Like other MO farms, the 600-acre MU Bradford Research and Extension
Center east of Columbia practices the latest crop production
strategies and management techniques to maximize use of tillable
acreage, said Tim Reinbott, farm superintendent and member of the MU
Quail Focus Team.

"We try to be as efficient as possible, but just like a lot of
northern and central Missouri farms, we have ground that’s highly
erodible and not suitable for planting crops," he said. "On these
areas, we’re establishing quail-friendly habitat plots to showcase
how private landowners can incorporate wildlife habitat on their
property."

The bobwhite quail requires a variety of cover for nesting,
brooding, feeding, roosting, dusting and escape, Reinbott said. The
Bradford center demonstration will address each essential habitat
component.

"When quail populations peaked in the ‘50s and ‘60s, fields were
smaller, and just about every one was surrounded by a managed
Osage-orange hedgerow," he said. "Today, the fields are larger with
fewer fencerows, so one of our demonstrations will show how to
develop quail-friendly fencerows that incorporate native shrubs,
grasses and weedy forbs."

Other demonstrations will show how tall fescue pastures and reed
canary grass waterways can be renovated to promote quail-friendly
habitat. "Fescue is an aggressive, non-native cool season grass with
little habitat value for wildlife," Reinbott said. "Our plots will
present landowners with at least three strategies for eliminating
fescue and establishing a mix of native warm season grasses such as
little bluestem and switch grass with native forbs such as partridge
pea and black-eyed susan."

Food plots are another component of the quail demonstration,
Reinbott said. One plot will be grown to millet, sorghum and corn,
as food sources. Another will show farmers how they can manage
borders of a crop field to benefit quail.

"This second plot will be treated just like any other on the farm,
except that the outer rows will be managed to encourage weeds and
forbs," he said. "The weeds will provide seeds for the adult quail,
and they’ll also attract insects, which quail chicks eat."

Nadia Navarrete-Tindall, a post-doctoral researcher at MU, is taking
an inventory of native plants on the farm and adjacent private
property. She also is selecting plantings that are appropriate for
quail, grassland birds and other wildlife for each of the
demonstration plots.

Trained as a botanist, she has spent the past two years evaluating
the Quail Cover Bundle, a mix of native shrubs and small trees the
MO Dept of Conservation (MDC) developed to promote the planting of
quail cover.

"Landowners may be more inclined to provide habitat if it requires
little to no management, so part of my research has been to evaluate
the shrubs’ growth and survival under low-maintenance conditions at
five locations, including Prairie Fork Conservation Area, George
Hobson’s farm and another private farm near Avalon, MO," she said.
"Another part of my project has been to evaluate how they grow when
planted with nitrogen-fixing legumes such as partridge pea as a
ground cover."

When her research, which is funded primarily by the Prairie Fork
Trust, is completed, Navarrete-Tindall said she hopes to offer
farmers and MDC a recommendation about other native plants that
could be incorporated with the Quail Cover Bundle.

The Bradford quail habitat project has garnered support from at
least one local conservation group, the Mid-Missouri Chapter of
Quail Unlimited (QU). Actually, Reinbott explained, the impetus for
the project began through conversations he had with a private
landowner who owns property adjacent to the MU research center.

"One of our neighbors, George Hobson, is a quail enthusiast and QU
member," Reinbott said. "We had talked a lot about the quail, where
they were bedding and how we might improve the habitat. When we
initiated the project, George told the local QU chapter, and they
decided to help us get things rolling. His knowledge and efforts
were really key in starting this project."

Curt Cunningham, president of the Mid-Missouri QU chapter, said
habitat management is a key component of QU’s mission. The group
donated $850 to the project, which primarily will be used for
demonstration plot establishment and for signs identifying native
plantings within the plots.

"Because the field days at Bradford attract so many landowners, we
felt this would be a terrific vehicle for education," he said. "Even
if only a couple of landowners choose to improve wildlife habitat on
their properties after seeing the demonstration, it still adds up to
more coveys and more birds. Plus, improving habitat for quail also
improves habitat for other non-game grassland species."

The Bradford demonstration already has sparked interest in
establishing companion similar projects at two other MU centers —
the Baskett Wildlife Research and Education Center east of Ashland,
MO, and the Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center near New
Franklin, MO, Reinbott said. "There’s still a lot to learn about
these species-habitat interactions," he said.

Reinbott estimated Bradford currently supports one quail covey on
600 acres. "Our goal is to increase that to three or four coveys
within the next few years," he said. "Given favorable habitat
conditions, the quail will come back."

Those interested in touring the Bradford quail habitat restoration
demonstration may contact Reinbott at 573-884-7945 or
ReinbottT@missouri.edu.

For more information about creating quail habitat, request the free
publication, "On the Edge," from the Distribution Center, MO Dept of
Conservation, PO Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180. "Living on
the Edge," also can be downloaded from the MDC web site at
http://mdc.mo.gov/landown/wild/quail. To get advice tailored to your
property, contact the private land conservationist at the nearest
MDC office.

For more information about Quail Unlimited, visit the national web
site at http://www.qu.org, or contact Cunningham at 573-886-0480 or
curt829@hotmail.com

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MU website gives disabled persons helpful gardening tips
By Robert Thomas
Extension & Ag Information

With spring approaching, disabled gardeners can find some helpful
hints on a special MU website designed to make their pastime easier.

"A lot of the elderly, or persons with a disability, think they have
to give up something that they love. The site’s message is don’t
give up. There are different levels and ways of gardening," said
Karen Funkenbusch, extension specialist working with disabled
persons."

The site, called "Gardens for Every Body," is found at
http://www.muhealth.org/~arthritis/gardens.

It includes a tool shed showing ergonomic and enabling garden tools.
Enabling tools, designed for disabled gardeners, require less energy
to use and help keep proper body alignment, she said. Aids include
pistol grip, sure grip, telescopic tools or tools fitted with
braces.

In addition to showing the tools, the site gives tips on how to
safely transport the tools to work in a garden. Tips include using
an old golf bag, sled or wagon.

Another click demonstrates container gardening using window boxes,
hanging baskets or miniature gardens for greater accessibility.
Pathways leading to raised beds and trellises also make gardening
more accessible.

"Gardening is one of the most popular pastimes in the US,"
Funkenbusch said. "But this hobby can become a chore when someone is
faced with physical limitations. We show that with a little
creativity disabled people can continue to get the benefits from
their gardening."

Links to other websites are provided to help users find sites on
gardening for kids with disabilities, gardening techniques for the
visually impaired and for people with arthritis.

For more info call Karen Funkenbusch 573-882-2731.

********

*** In Print ***


*Building Capacity for Local and Organic Proud Foods for Retail and
Restaurant Distribution in Ohio* from Ohio State Univ and Innovative
Farmers of Ohio, http://www.ifoh.org; print copy is $4 from 330-
202-3527, inwood.2@osu.edu.

*CSA Across the Nation* 26-pg report from collaborative survey on
community supported agriculture in US,
http://www.wisc.edu/cias/pubs/csaacross.pdf; print copy is $3 from
Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems, Univ of WI,
608-262-5200.

*Direct Marketing Meat: A Resource for Direct Market Meat Producers
in Wisconsin* (134 pgs), from Univ of WI Extension and WI Dept of
Ag, Trade and Consumer Protection, linked from
http://www.savorwisconsin.com/find_out_more/educ_info.aspx; or
contact Savor Wisconsin, 608-224-5117.

*Farm Locator*, online searchable guide to connect producers with
wholesale and retail customers, and tool for creating farm/ranch
webpages, from Rodale Institute's New Farm website,
http://www.newfarm.org/farmlocator.

*Food for Thought: Food with the Farmer's Face on It* 52-pg media
briefing paper on emerging community-based food systems, from WK
Kellogg Foundation, http://www.wkkfweb.org/FSRDFullGuide.pdf, or
contact author Ken Meter, Crossroads Reference Center, 612-869-8664,
kmeter@crcworks.org.

*Establishing and Operating a Garden Center* surveyed 25 garden
centers across the United States and then derived two models that
are analyzed throughout the book: a large garden center with annual
sales of $1 million and a smaller garden center with annual sales of
$350,000. For each model, it defines capital budgets, including
investment and operations costs; provides a business evaluation
based on standard business indicators; and describes a merchandising
program composed of layout, pricing, advertising, cost structure,
and diversification. Available from NRAES, PO Box 4557, Ithaca, NY
14852-4557, 607-255-7654, nraes@cornell.edu

*Cover Crops on the Intensive Market Farm* (24 pgs),
www.wisc.edu/cias/pubs/cvrcrop.pdf, and *Becoming a Certified
Organic Fresh Market Grower* (12 pgs),
www.wisc.edu/cias/pubs/certorg.pdf; or contact Center for Integrated
Agricultural Systems, Univ of WI, 608-262-5200.

*Farm-to-Cafeteria Connections: Marketing Opportunities for Small
Farms in Washington State* (revised Jan. 2004, 97 pgs),
agr.wa.gov/Marketing/SmallFarm/; print copy is free from Small Farm
and Direct Marketing Program, WA State Dept of Ag, 360- 902-2057;
ksanger@agr.was.gov.

Farmstop.com, national agritourism website of US and Canadian farms,
ranches, wineries, farmers' markets, and additional resources, or
contact Jane Eckert at 314-862-6288, jane@eckertagrimarketing.com

*Fresh Market Vegetable Resource CD* with production and marketing
information, from Univ of WI Extension and UW-Madison's Nutrient &
Pest Management Program, and Center for Integrated Agricultural
Systems, $5 from CIAS, 608-262-5200, phaza@wisc.edu.

*A Guide to Illinois Laws Governing Direct Farm Marketing for
Farmers and Other Food Entrepreneurs* 16-pg pamphlet, $7.50 from
Illinois Stewardship Alliance, PO Box 648, Rochester, IL 62563,
217-498-9707.

*2003 High Tunnel Production Manual*
plasticulture.cas.psu.edu/manual.htm (or $25 for print copy), and
*2003 Crop Review* (26 pgs) is $3, from Bill Lamont, Dept of
Horticulture/Center for Plasticulture, 206 Tyson Bldg., Penn State
Univ, University Park, PA 16802, 814-865-7118; wlamont@psu.edu.

*Managing Soil Organic Matter: The Key to Air and Water Quality*
4-pg technical note from USDA-NRCS,
soils.usda.gov/sqi/files/ManagingSOM.pdf; print copy is free from
Landcare, 1-888-526-3227, landcare@swcs.org.

*Organic Livestock Research Survey* 9-pg report on research
priorities for US organic livestock industry,
www.misa.umn.edu/main.html, print copy is free from MN Institute for
Sustainable Agriculture, 1-800-909-6472, or Jim Riddle,
jriddle@hbci.com.

*Renewable energy fact sheets on wind, solar, and biomass energy in
agriculture* plus information on markets and state-level support,
available from Clean Energy Program, Union of Concerned Scientists,
Two Brattle Square, Cambridge, MA 02238, 617- 547-5552.

*Taking the First Step: Farm and Ranch Alternative Enterprise and
Agritourism Resource Evaluation Guide* (53 pgs), from Southern
Maryland Resource Conservation Board,
www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/RESS/altenterprise/; for free print
copy, contact Southern Maryland RC&D, 303 Post Office Rd., #B4A,
Waldorf, MD 20602; somdrcd@verizon.net, or NRCS-RESS Division,
202-720-2307.

*Schools Come to the Farm*  This new planning guide is designed for
farmers who want to offer tours to schools and other groups or wish
to improve the tours they already give. The guide includes: the
benefits of giving tours, logistics, how to make tours exciting and
educational, examples of successful farm tours, suggestions of
resources, and pre-designed forms. ($7 + shipping), send an e-mail
to cerp@cornell.edu and request ordering information, or call
607-255-9252. 

*Consumer perceptions of pasture-raised beef and dairy products* is
available on the Leopold Center's web site, www.leopold.iastate.edu
(see Papers and Information), or contact the Center at 515- 294-3711
for a copy.


********

*** IN THE NEWS ***


Wind power is undergoing a renaissance. Since 1998, wind turbines’
generating capacity in the US has grown an average of 28% a year.
They can now generate nearly 6400 megawatts, enough to power about
1.9 million homes. Last year alone, US capacity shot up by 36%.
Worldwide wind power capacity grew 26% in 2003. (Kiplinger Ag
Newsletter, March 2004)

The Root Cellar in Columbia, MO is an upstart food retailer that
works to provide a local alternative to the traditional supermarket.
The store was founded in 2001 as a way to link local farmers and
consumers. At first, the market operated primarily during only nine
months of the year, and had a boutique like quality. Now, the store
is open year round, feels more like a grocery store, and recently
added a deli counter. Everything sold at the Root Cellar is locally
processed or locally grown using more traditional farming methods,
such as pesticide free produce and meat from pasture-raised animals.
The store provides farmers with a convenient sales outlet and an
extended marketing season, and gives interested consumers the
convenience of finding local, sustainable products in one reliable
location. (Columbia Daily Tribune 2/10/04 —
archive.columbiatribune.com/2004/feb/20040207busi003.asp)

What do consumers really know about agriculture? That question was
at the heart of a recent survey conducted by the MO Dept of Ag and
the Univ of MO-Columbia to determine Missourians' perceptions on
everything from farming to food safety. Driving the survey was the
fact that the number of people directly involved in raising crops
and livestock today has dwindled to less than two percent of the
nation's population. Yet, agriculture is estimated to employ one out
of every 6.6 workers in MO. While agriculture remains a strong and
vital industry, do consumers really know where their food and other
daily essentials come from and the importance agriculture plays in
their daily lives? For the answer, go to
http://www.mda.mo.gov/NewsAndEvents/Press/2004/PR03122004.htm#Press1
To download the survey report, go to
http://www.mda.mo.gov/pdf/consumersurvey.pdf

The Northeast-Midwest Institute hosts a website that supports the
development and expansion of farmers’ markets across the US. The
site, which is aimed at communities, market managers, and
organizations seeking to establish or promote farmers’ markets,
provides an overview of federal, state, and non-governmental
resources, financial and technical, that could assist with those
efforts. The site also has information that will assist consumers in
locating nearby farmers’ markets. Visit the site at
www.nemw.org/farmersmarkets (The Third Crop Vol 3, No 3)

Consumer trends indicate a preference for smaller seedless
watermelons over the larger traditional seeded varieties. Even
smaller "icebox" size melons (6-12 pounds) became widely available
during the past several years and have grown in popularity. The
newest melons hitting market stands are "mini personal" melons that
weigh as little as 3 pounds. (Small Farm News, Vol 1, 2004)

Advice on selling fresh produce to schools is available in the
report "Direct Marketing to Schools—A New Opportunity for Family
Farmers" at www.sarep.ucdavis.edu


********

*** ON THE CALENDAR ***

May 6—MO Nut Growers Spring Meeting, Windsor, MO. Call 660-925-3253.

May 14—Missouri-Illinois Peach Tour, Edwardsville, IL. Call
618-692-9434.

May 15—2004 Quality Hardwood Timber Management Workshop, Fayette,
MO. Call 573-884-7991, walterd@missouri.edu

May 25-26—Applied EMS in Agriculture Conference, Kansas City, KS.
Conference on Environmental Management Systems and food production
and processing. Call 800-897-1163 or 913-551-7644;
anderson.jennifer@epa.gov;
http://www.ses-corp.com/EMS%20Conference.htm.

May 26-28—Grant Writing Workshop I, Concordia, MO. Call Prairie Rose
RC&D, 660-463-1000.

June 1—From Food to Recipe Seminar, Lincoln, NE. Call 402-472-8930,
http://fpc.unl.edu

June—3rd Annual Rabbit University, St Louis, MO. Call 800-227-8941.

June 9-10—Dairy Specialization, Decorah, IA. Call 563-382-2949.

June 15-17—Grant Writing Workshop I, Springfield, MO. Call Southwest
RC&D, 417-732-6485

June 19—Family Farm 2004: Sharing Our Experiences, Silex, MO. Call
636-528-8603.

June 19—Timber Tax Workshop, Jefferson City, MO. Call
573-522-4115x3113.

June 23-25—MO and IA Agroforestry Tour
www.centerforagroforestry.org, 573-882-3234, rhoadsj@missouri.edu

June 23-25—Grant Writing Workshop II, Concordia, MO. Call Prairie
Rose RC&D, 660-463-1000.

June 28—Organic Production: Information, Resources and Research,
professional development workshop, in Springfield, IL. Call
217-968-5512; cvnghgrn@uiuc.edu,
web.aces.uiuc.edu/pdo/display.pl?ProgID=529

July 6-8—Grant Writing Workshop II, Springfield, MO. Call Southwest
RC&D, 417-732-6485.

July 13—Turfgrass Field Day, South Farms, Columbia, MO. Call
573-442-4893.

July 17—MO Christmas Tree Assn Summer Meeting, Jackson, MO.

July 17-Aug 1—15-Day Permaculture Design Certification Course,
Stelle, IL. Call 815-256-2204; csc@stelle.net;
www.centerforsustainablecommunity.org/permaculture.html.

July 21-23—Grant Writing Workshop, Concordia, MO. Call Prairie Rose
RC&D, 660-463-1000.

July 30-Aug 8—Ozark Empire Fair, Springfield, MO.

Aug 5—Greenley Research Center Field Day, Novelty, MO. Call
660-739-4410.

Aug 15-19—Northern Nut Growers Assn and North American Fruit
Explorers Joint Meeting, Columbia, MO. Call 573-882-3234,
rhoadsj@missouri.edu, www.nutgrowing.org

Aug 17-19—Grant Writing Workshop III, Springfield, MO. Call
Southwest RC&D, 417-732-6485.

Aug 18—From Food to Recipe Seminar, Lincoln, NE. Call 402-472-8930,
http://fpc.unl.edu

Aug 12-22—Missouri State Fair

Aug 24—Graves-Chappel Farm Field Day, Corning, MO. Call
660-744-6231.

Aug 24-26—Foundation Development Workshop, Concordia, MO. Call
Prairie Rose RC&D, 660-463-1000.

Sept 2—Delta Center Field Day, Portageville, MO. Call 573-379-5431.

Sept 8—Hundley-Whaley Center Field Day, Albany, MO. Call
660-726-5610.

Sept 9-10—The Role of Farmers' Markets in America's Food System, Des
Moines, IA. Second national workshop sponsored by Drake University
and Agricultural Law Center, held in conjunction with third annual
Iowa Food Policy Conference. Details will be posted when available
at www.statefoodpolicy.org/new_developments.htm.

Sept 10—Southwest Center Field Day, Mount Vernon, MO. Call
417-466-2148.

Sept 13-15—Women in Ag Conference, Wentzville, MO. Call 636-456-3434
x 3.

Sept 14-16—Foundation Development Workshop, Springfield, MO. Call
Southwest RC&D, 417-732-6485.

Sept 25—Master Gardener Tour, Bradford Farm, Columbia, MO. Call
573-882-9633.

Sept 28-30—Grazing School, Linneus, MO. Call 573-499-0886.

Oct 2—Wild Fruit and Nut Jam, Nebraska City, NE.
sjosiah@unlnotes.unl.edu

Oct 2-3—Best of Missouri Show, St Louis, MO.

Oct 8—Wurdack Farm Field Day, Cook Station, MO. Call 573-882-4450.

Oct 16—Second Annual MO Chestnut Roast, New Franklin, MO. Call
573-882-3234, www.centerforagroforestry.org

Oct 18—From Food to Recipe Seminar, Lincoln, NE. Call 402-472-8930,
http://fpc.unl.edu

Oct 20-25—American Royal, Kansas City, MO.

Nov 4-6—National Small Farm Trade Show & Conference, Columbia, MO.
Call 800-633-2535.

Nov 8-9—MO Forage & Grassland Council Annual Meeting. Call
573-499-0886.

Dec 3-4—MO Livestock Symposium, Kirksville, MO. Call 660-665-9866.

Dec 4—Shiitake Mushroom and Truffle Production and Marketing
Workshop, Columbia, MO. Call 573-882-3234,
www.centerforagroforestry.org


Green Hills Farm Project 2004 Farm Walk Schedule
May 20th—5pm at Joe & Sarah DeVorss, Spickard, MO 660-485-6430—We
have everything and the kitchen sink.....Cows, pastured chickens,
ducks, sheep, rabbits, blueberries, small allotment of tobacco. Lawn
chair.

June19th—1pm at Jordan & Anne Bentley, Bucklin, MO
660-695-3482—Pastured meat chickens, turkeys, lambs, and pigs. Will
demonstrate our pasture poultry operation from brooders to pasture
to processing. Construction of a poultry hoop house will be
demonstrated. See our truck bed liner brooders! The processing
trailer will show the upgrades given by MDA’s Sustainable Ag
Demonstration Award Grant. Bring a camera to take home an idea!

July 15th—5pm at Martin & Bev Turner, Elmer, MO 660-486-3388—We will
tell our red cow (South Poll) story and look at yearling bulls for
sale. Our breeding and selection program is focused squarely on the
maternal virtues—fertility, calving ease, mothering ability,
disposition and longevity. These traits are absolutely essential to
consistently achieve a high weaning percentage, and weaning
percentage is the only measure of herd performance that is
consistently related to profitability. The physical attributes that
are consistent with these maternal traits are moderate frame size,
moderate milking ability, large rumen capacity, easy fleshing
ability, high heat tolerance, sound udders and sound feet. These are
also the attributes that are necessary to thrive on forage alone
without expensive supplemental feed. Our goal is to raise cows that
meet these standards and bulls that sire daughters that meet them.

Aug 19th—5pm at Tom & Paula Parker, Richmond, MO, 816-470-3276.

Sept 16th—5pm at Allen & Tauna Powell, Laclede, MO
660-963-2685—Speaker: Jessica Powell closing her MDA SADA Grant
project. Sheep & Cattle. Lawn chairs.

Oct 21st—4pm at Matt & Tina Reichert, Brunswick, MO 660-548-3283—"We
are in the process of converting our traditional cow/calf operation
over to a MIG system here on our Centennial Farm. Matt is the fourth
generation of Reicherts to farm this land. The children are working
on brush and weed management with their Boer African Meat Goat herd.
We have recently launched a web site for our Bed & Breakfast to
expand our operation into agri-tourism. Lawn Chairs.

Nov 18th—4pm at Forage System Research Center (tentatively)


Missouri Organic Association Farm Tours
May 8—Come and join us a Rick Hopkins' farm near Marionville.
American Pasturage, Inc. was created around a family farm to provide
alternative and healthy beef products. The development of the
company evolved around all natural pastured beef and lamb products.
Rick is also a recipient of a NW SARE grant and a MO Sustainable
Agriculture Demonstration Award for pastured vegetables. The
gathering is a potluck beginning at 1:30pm,
www.americanpasturage.com or call 417-258-2394.

June 12—Let's go to East Wind. East Wind is an intentional
community, owned, operated, and governed by its members. All income
and expenses are shared in common. East Wind makes several different
healthy products including nut butters. The tour is a potluck and
will begin at 10:00am.

July 17—Beyond organic, at Greenwood Farms near Rolla. It is also
the home of Greenwood Woolies Handspun Yarn and Greenwood Farms
Beyond Organic Meat and Heirloom Vegetables. The tour will begin at
1:00pm and is a potluck.

Aug 7—Meet us all at Tim Hite's farm. Tim, a recipient of a MO
Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Award, is working with
mushrooms in recycling and cancer prevention. You will learn he is
quite knowledgeable in areas of research and mushroom production.
The tour begins at 10:00am and is a potluck.

Sept 11—Our Annual Watermelon Social. This year we will all gather
at Seth Entwisle's home. We will all have an opportunity to see what
can be done on a residential lot in town. Please bring your favorite
watermelon and dish for the potluck that begins at 3:00pm. Seed
spitting' contests will surely ensue!

Oct 9—Come visit Larry Willis' farm near Washburn. Larry is also a
MO Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Award recipient in Long
Point Farm Bio-Systems. The tour begins at 1:00pm and is potluck.


Growing Growers Workshops
Kansas State University and the University of MO have launched a
project to expand local produce production in the Kansas City
region. Most of the fruits and vegetables bought by consumers in
this area are imported. Extension training session have been
scheduled. If you grow or market within 100 miles of KC and are
interested in attending any of the workshops call Katherine or Ted
at 913-488-1270, growers@ksu.edu

May—Integrating Meat & Dairy into your Vegetable Operation

June—Small Farm Health & Safety Practices

July—Slow Down and Taste Your Food

Aug—Pests and Diseases and Weeds

Sept—Post-Harvest Handling Practices

Oct—Business Planning for Small Farms

Nov—Mechanization for Vegetable Production

Dec—Selling your Locally-Produced Food Products in Kansas City