Ag Opportunities Volume 15, Number 2 September - October 2004 ******** Asparagus Offers Vegetable Growers a Profitable Niche By Jason L. Jenkins Extension & Ag Information With the potential to gross $9,000 annually from one acre of asparagus, Andy Thomas wonders why more MO growers don’t cultivate the vertical vegetable. The Univ of MO horticulture research associate recently completed a three-year trial evaluating 11 asparagus cultivars at the MU Southwest Center. He’ll present his data at the center’s annual field day, Sept. 10. While Thomas’ study concentrated on southwest MO, he said asparagus can be grown statewide. "Folks would do even better and could run a larger operation in northern MO or the Bootheel where soils are better." A member of the Lily family, asparagus is a perennial that produces edible shoots, called spears, during the spring and early summer. Although an asparagus stand isn’t harvested until its third growing season, given proper care, it can produce for 15 years or more before replanting is necessary. Thomas compared yields among the various cultivars, both by the total number of spears produced and total weight. Although there were not statistically significant differences among the cultivars, "those that produced the greater number of spears tended to produce smaller spears, and vice versa." Three-year average yields ranged from 1,045 to 1,788 pounds per acre within the study, but Thomas said a spring drought in 2002 pulled down the average. "Our best cultivar, Jersey Deluxe, averaged 2,265 pounds during 2003 and 2004," he added. "At $3 a pound, that’s a gross profit of $6,795 per acre. I suspect commercial growers could do much better than that." For MO, Thomas recommended Jersey varieties such as "Jersey Deluxe," and "Jersey Giant" over California varieties such as UC157. "The Jerseys seem to overwinter better than the west coast varieties." Irrigation and weed control are the two main challenges to raising asparagus. "When you’re growing any high-value crop, you need to be prepared to irrigate," Thomas said. "We irrigated with overhead sprinklers, but drip irrigation would work. "Weeds were also a problem for us, and even with herbicide treatments, we had control issues. But asparagus is pretty tough and can compete against the weeds." (Source: Andy Thomas (417) 466-2148) ******** Asparagus Cultivar Trial by Andrew L. Thomas Asparagus is a high-value vegetable that is very well suited to small-scale production in Missouri. If quality is good, both pre-picked and you-pick operations can be successful and profitable, with potential yields of 3,000 lbs. per acre possible. That said, it is difficult to understand why we do not have more asparagus growers in Missouri, especially when fresh, locally-grown asparagus is eagerly sought after by consumers and tastes far superior than anything trucked in from California. Probably the two main challenges for local growers are weed control and the need to irrigate for optimum yields. Information on which asparagus cultivars are best suited to our growing conditions is also lacking. A number of new asparagus cultivars have been released over the last 20 years, but they have not been extensively evaluated in the Midwest. An asparagus planting of 0.7 acre was established at the Southwest Center in 1999. Seed from eleven modern asparagus cultivars (Table 1) was sown in the greenhouse on March 31, 1999. After deep plowing, liming, fertilizing, and disking the soil, the seedlings were transplanted into the field on June 7 and 25, 1999. Experimental plots consisted of three parallel 15-ft rows containing 12 plants per row, with two replicated plots per cultivar. Rows were 5 ft apart and separated lengthwise by alleys of 3.5 ft. Additional asparagus experiments (not described here) were also established at the same time within and among this cultivar evaluation so that it was spread out and interspersed over a large plantation area in a completely randomized design. Harvest data were collected from all 36 plants per plot. The plots were allowed to become very well established before initiating harvest during their fourth season in 2002, and continuing through 2004. Harvests were conducted April 15 - May 1, 2002; April 15 - May 24, 2003; and April 9 - May 21, 2004. Spears were hand harvested generally every two days during the harvest period, counted, weighed, and evaluated for quality. A statistical analysis was conducted to compare yields among the 11 cultivars. Table 1 presents data on plot yields, including total weight and number of spears, as well as the calculated average weight per spear averaged over the 3-year trial. The cultivar ‘Jersey Deluxe’ was the overall 3-year champion, both in terms of total weight per plot and total number of spears. However, Jersey Deluxe’s average weight per spear was much lower than many other cultivars. The cultivar ‘Apollo’ produced the largest spears with an average of 10.6 g for all three years and 11.3 g during 2003 and 2004. Table 1. Mean annual plot* yields of 11 asparagus cultivars at Southwest Center, 2002-2004 Cultivar total wt/plot(kg) #spears mean wt/spear(g) Jersey Deluxe 4.19 472 8.8 Jersey Giant 3.97 410 9.2 NJ857 3.91 438 8.7 Apollo 3.75 347 10.6 NJ931 3.56 342 10.2 UC157 3.53 455 8.0 Guelph Millen. 3.38 337 9.6 Jersey Supreme 3.33 355 9.0 Atlas 3.17 352 8.8 Jersey Gem 2.98 351 8.0 NJ855 2.45 260 9.0 *Plots were 225 ft sq containing 36 plants. Statistically, we did not find true differences in total spear weight among cultivars, but did detect significant differences in number of spears per cultivar and average weight per spear. An interesting trend observed was that the cultivars producing the greater number of spears tended to produce smaller spears, and conversely, cultivars producing fewer spears were larger. Yields in 2002 were poor because of a serious spring drought (we normally set up our irrigation system after spring harvest and were not well-prepared for a spring drought). The 2003 and 2004 yields, however, were excellent. Table 2 provides details on yields (converted to a pound per acre basis) of the eleven cultivars. Including the poor 2002 yield data, the total calculated yield per acre of our best cultivar (Jersey Deluxe) was 1,788 lbs/acre. However, if we look only at 2003 and 2004 yields (realizing how important spring moisture is), our total yield was much better at 2,265 lbs/acre. At $3.00 per pound, this cultivar could potentially gross $6,795 annually per acre! I suspect that many growers could do quite a bit better than that as they would be focused solely on optimum production rather than on the various demands of the research trials that we were conducting. Table 2. Calculated* yield per acre (lb/acre) of 11 asparagus cultivars at Southwest Center, 2002-2004 Cultivar 2002 2003 2004 3 yr mean Jersey Deluxe 834 270 1830 1788 Jersey Giant 685 2040 2352 1692 NJ857 796 2500 1715 1670 Apollo 730 1868 2200 1599 NJ931 805 2227 1525 1519 UC157 1216 1716 1590 1508 Guelph Millen. 376 1857 2091 1441 Jersey Supreme 576 1948 1743 1422 Atlas 634 1589 1835 1353 Jersey Gem 551 1668 1591 1270 NJ855 386 1372 1377 1045 Mean 690 1953 1804 1482 *Based on plot size of 225 ft sq containing 36 plants. We hope these results can assist potential asparagus growers, from back-yard gardeners to commercial growers, in choosing which asparagus cultivars to plant. But keep in mind that this was a relatively small study at a single location. Furthermore, other important factors such as insect and disease resistance, flavor, tenderness, and earliness are not accounted for here. We would usually recommend planting more than one cultivar, especially on a large scale, to ensure genetic diversity in any type of horticultural planting. (from Southwest Center Newsletter, RUMINATIONS, July - Aug, 2004, Vol. 10, No. 3) ******** Missouri’s mulch of the future? Pine straw, MU researchers say By Forrest Rose MU Extension & Ag Information Steven Kirk talks about pine straw with the evangelical fervor of an old-time preacher. "It’s the mulch of the future in MO,- he told a group of Master Gardeners during a pine straw demonstration at the northeast corner of Ellis Library on the Univ of MO campus. "It has a lot of advantages over conventional bark mulch." Pine straw has long been the landscape mulch of choice in the southeastern US, where long-needled pine species thrive. "This pine straw is all MO grown," Kirk said. "It comes from loblolly pines grown in the Bootheel. They’re not native to MO, but they can grow in parts of the state." At $9 per bale, pine straw might seem more expensive than bark mulch, which retails at about $3 a bag, he said. "But we’re going to see how far one bale goes as opposed to a bag of bark mulch. Then, you can do the math." Kirk spreads a 3-cubic-foot bag of bark mulch and measures the coverage area: 15 square feet at a depth of 3 inches. The pine straw bale spreads over about 50 square feet at a depth of 4.5 inches. "If it’s raked out, it will cover 60 to 70 square feet." "It shouldn’t be any more expensive in terms of coverage," said Dick Munson, MU director of Landscape Services and the MU Botanical Garden. "It’s my favorite mulch of all the organic material I’ve used. I think it’s by far the most attractive. It’s very effective, and I really like the way it smells, especially after a rain." Meredith Ludwig of Creative Gardening Design and Nursery in Boonville, MO, was a pine straw enthusiast before she came to the demonstration. For one thing, she said, pine straw comes in bales instead of "these nasty plastic bags that are not recyclable." "It definitely spreads faster, sweeps up easier, and it won’t stain the pavement," Ludwig said. "And it doesn’t get as hard as a rock over time. Even after it’s been out for a month and been rained on a couple of times, it’s still pretty fluffy." That characteristic has a practical benefit, said MU horticulturist Mary Kroening, coordinator of the Master Gardeners Program. "Bark mulch tends to make a seed bed for weeds," she noted. "With pine straw, the weed seeds fall through and don’t take root. Pine straw is not conducive to weed growth." Nor is it a favorable habitat for garden pests, said Kirk, a graduate student in horticulture. He cited studies that indicate slugs and snails do not thrive in pine straw, and that termites prefer bark mulch to pine straw. He added that pine straw is a renewable resource that ultimately provides a more balanced soil pH than bark mulch. "Pines shed needles every year, but hardwood trees don’t naturally shed their bark. Pine straw is more like the natural cycle." Another aspect of Kirk’s research is to find long-needle pines species that grow well in MO. At MU Bradford Agronomy Research Center, he has worked with loblolly pines crossed with pitch pines, and his preliminary findings indicate those crosses will come into full production about eight years after planting. "He’s got some fast-growing pine trees that are hardy here in MO," Munson said. "Once you get enough trees, pine straw will become commercially viable around here. When people see what it looks like in the landscape, the demand will grow and the commercial folks will say, ‘Here’s a viable product we need to stock.’ Sources: Steven Kirk (573) 884-9406; Dick Munson (573) 884-6307; Mary Kroening (573) 882-9633 ******** American Livestock Breeds Conservancy - FAQs What does the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC) do? The organization protects genetic diversity in livestock and poultry species through the conservation and promotion of endangered breeds. What is an endangered breed? The ALBC conducts periodic censuses of breeds of traditional North American livestock (cattle, goats, horses, pigs, asses, and sheep), as well as poultry (chickens, geese, ducks and turkeys) and publishes a Conservation Priority List. Breeds are placed in one of six categories (critical, rare, watch, study and recovering - depending on the number of registries, global population, and other criteria. The most endangered are placed in the critical category which for livestock means fewer than 200 annual North American registrations and estimated fewer than 2000 global population. For poultry, critical mean fewer than 500 breeding birds in North American and with five or fewer primary breeding flocks. (Because the vast majority of chicken eggs and birds end up on out tables and never pass their genes on, the ALBC focuses its census efforts breeding populations instead of total chicken population numbers.) What breeds are on the Conservation Priority List? The list includes uniquely American breeds such as Mammoth Jackstock donkeys, Mulefoot hogs and Delaware and Buckeye chickens. Also included are some surprising familiar names: Guensey cattle, Tennessee Fainting goats, and Clydesdale horses. One hundred breeds are currently on the list. Why conserve these breeds? Says the ALBC: "Today industrialized agriculture values only the most productive of breeds and discards the rest." For example, In the 1920’s more than sixty breeds of chickens were raised on farms across the US. Today, one hybrid chicken, the Cornish Rock cross, supplies nearly all the supermarket chicken, while White Leghorns lay almost all the white eggs. In the 1930’s, fifteen breeds of pigs were raised for market. Today, six of these breeds are extinct. The Hampshire, Yorkshire and Duroc pigs provide 75% of the genetics for commercial production. This is of concern because of the ALBC points out, agriculture is constantly changing and our future needs are uncertain. A sustainable agriculture needs what these endangered breeds have to offer, traits such as thriftiness, hardiness, self-sufficiency, intelligence, easy births, good mothering ability and long lives. Many breeds that the ALBC promotes, says Don Bixby, DVM, ALBC’s technical program director, "Were developed in an era when farm animals were expected to be reasonably self-sufficient with minimal input of resources." These neglected breeds need to be preserved as treasures of our agricultural heritage and as important resources, "genetic reservoirs" for future generations to use. How do I contact the ALBC? ALBC, PO Box 477, Pittsboro NC 27312, 919-542-5704, www.albc-usa.org ********* The Present and Future of Small Farms in the North Central Region What good are small farms? Can they really compete with large farms? And what’s the real definition of a small farm size? Is it defined by output or earnings, and does it matter? The definition may differ or be more or less important to a food consumer, and agriculture educator , a farmer, a lawmaker, or a banker. There are a lot of questions, with very personal consequences, and few definite answers. The North Central Region Small Farm Task Force set out to resolve some of the questions. With grant money from the North Central Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, the task force researched the issue, analyzed the complexities and inconsistencies of the situation and talked to real farmers. The results of their hard work can be found in a new publication - A Matter of Scale: Small Farms in the North Central Region. In just 20 pages, the booklet offers fresh insight into an issue with a huge effect on the economy, health, environment and people of the North Central Region. Take, for example, the definition of a small farm. A Matter of Scale examines the variety of ways to define "small," and shows where and why the definitions are right or not and how the definitions affect American agricultural production and consumption. The booklet illustrates the innovations that small farms have to make in an era of agricultural consolidation and offers real-life examples of the farmers behind sustainable agriculture. Finally, A Matter of Scale charts a path through one of the thorniest philosophical issues in agriculture—the benefits and value of small farms. It explores many of the standard arguments, for and against, and presents carefully examined views. A Matter of Scale: Small Farms in the North Central Region is available online at http://ssfin.missouri.edu/report.htm. Hard copies are also available by calling 1-800-433-3704. For more information about small scale activities of the North Central Region, visit: http://ssfin.missouri.edu/index.htm. ******** *** In Print *** *Garden Insects of North America: The Ultimate Guide to Backyard Bugs* by Whitney Cranshaw. Comprehensive reference work to the insects that can cause problems in food and ornamental gardens. Book groups insects by the type of damage they do: leaf chewing, leafminers; flower, fruit and seed feeders; sap suckers; gall makers; stem and twig damagers; trunk and branch borers; and root, tuber and bulb feeders. *Farm-Fresh Recipes* A book with nearly 30 recipe cards specifically for direct market farmers. Covers 50 types of vegetables with multiple pages or the most popular veggies. $24. Both from GFM, PO Box 3747, Lawrence, KS 66047, 800-307-8949, www.growingformarket.com, $35.95. *Micro Eco-Farming* details how the new micro eco-farmers succeed, how they start “with nothing,” what traits they share, and what secrets they know. The examples covered in the book emphasize farms from fractions of an acre to five acres that earn full-time income for at least one adult. Call 888–281-5170 or send $16.95 plus $4 shipping to New World Publishing, 11543 Quartz Dr. #1, Auburn, CA 95602. *Organic Vegetable Production* Covered topics include soil and nutrient management, weed management, insect and disease management. Related websites, publications and contacts are also included. To order, NRAES, Cooperative Extension, PO Box 4557, Ithaca NY 14852, 607-255-7654, $34. ******** *** IN THE NEWS *** Small amounts of aspirin sprayed on plants improve their growth, sometimes remarkably. Aspirin triggers the plants’ natural defenses against harmful bacteria, fungi and viruses. Plants produce salicylic acid, the active ingredient in aspirin, themselves but often not quickly enough to suppress diseases. Spraying aspirin on them rapidly activates the "systemic acquired resistance" (SAR) response. The Univ of FL and USDA researchers tested other products being marketed as SAR promoters on greenhouse grown tomatoes. All the material tested generally reduced disease incidence, but the results were variable. So far aspirin remains the only certain SAR activator. Aspirin, at a rate of 3 aspirin in 4 gallons of water, can be sprayed monthly to supplement other foliar sprays such as compost tea and seaweed. (June 2004, The Avant Gardener, Box 489, NY, NY 10028) The New Agriculture Network is a resource to bring seasonal advice to field crop and vegetable growers interested in organic agriculture. The network is a joint project of Michigan State Univ, Purdue Univ, and the Univ of Illinois. New information will be posted at the network website twice a month during the growing season and less frequently during winter. An online newsletter features crop updates from organic growers and articles from university specialists about a variety of practices and new findings useful for organic growers. The most recent issue includes stories about weed management systems in organic vegetable production, improving soil water holding capacity, using vinegar for weed control, organic crop budgets, and reports from organic growers. www.ipm.msu.edu/new-ag.htm The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy has developed a guide to resources for information about the production of naturally mating "heritage" varieties of turkeys, sources of poults, and key points one should consider before raising a first flock. Request the Heritage Turkey Resource Packet by emailing albc@albc-usa.org. Researchers in Colorado have shown that spring planting of garlic is feasible. The key requirement keeping garlic bulbs in good condition into the spring months is storage at a temperature close to 27 degrees. After such storage for up to nine months, when the bulbs are returned to ambient temperatures, they have the firmness and taste of freshly harvested bulbs for a period of tow months or more. Note: the bulbs should be cured normally before they are stored at 27 degrees. (HortScience, 39(3), June 2004, 571-574) Tomatoes grown in a sustainable agricultural system using a legume cover crop as fertilizer had better disease resistance and lived longer than tomatoes grown on black polyethylene mulch with chemical fertilizer, Agricultural Research Service scientists report. The scientists showed that at least 10 genes in the leaves of tomatoes grown in the sustainable system were turned on longer, or "over-expressed," allowing those tomatoes to live longer than tomatoes grown on the plastic mulch. These "over-expressed" genes may respond to signals emanating from the specific ratio of nitrogen, carbon and other elements provided by the cover crop. In one system, tomatoes were grown under the traditional method of black polyethylene mulch with chemical fertilizer. In the other planting system, the plants received half the chemical fertilizer and fungicide applied in the traditional system. The sustainable system relied on hairy vetch - a nitrogen-fixing legume cover crop - to provide soil nutrients and some natural leaf disease protection. The scientists also believe the cover crop allows the tomato root system to produce increased levels of cytokinins, a class of plant hormones that delay senescence and let the plant live longer. www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2004/040706.htm Australian researchers found that adding hydrogen peroxide to irrigation water in heavy clay soils increased yields of zucchini and vegetable soybeans. They hydrogen peroxide increased the oxygen content of the water 5 to 13 times compared to water without hydrogen peroxide. Researchers injected 0.6 pints of 50% hydrogen peroxide per 1,000 square feet in zucchini plots. They also injected at a rate of 0.1% by volume in soybean plots. Both produced yield increases: 29% more zucchini and 82-96% more soybeans. (HortIdeas, July 2004) A Pecan Self-Study Course is being offered on-line by Ok State Univ. The course is designed for commercial growers but can be useful to backyard tree owners as well. It covers management of both native and grafted cultivars. For more info, http://pecan.okstate.edu. Cost is $75. ******** *** ON THE CALENDAR *** Sept 11— Fall Horticulture Seminars, Mountain Grove, MO. Call 417-926-4105. Sept 11— MO Assn of Meat Processors Plant Bus Tour, Springfield, MO. Call 1-660-827-0005. Sept 13-15— 10th Annual Women in Ag Conference, St Louis, MO. Call 314-453-9555 x 3. Sept 14-16— Foundation Development Workshop, Springfield, MO. Call Southwest RC&D, 417-732-6485. Sept 24-26— Master Gardener Conference, 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. Call 314-997-2345. Oct 8— Wurdack Farm Field Day, Cook Station, MO. Call 573-882-4450. Oct 14— Riparian Buffer Workshop, New Franklin, MO. Call 573-882-3234, rhoadsj@missouri.edu 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. Oct 27— Aquaculture Field Day, Jefferson City, MO. Call 573-522-6666. Oct 30— Agroforestry Workshop, Mount Vernon, MO. Call 573-882-3234, www.centerforagroforestry.org Nov 1-2— 7th Annual Farmer Cooperatives Conference, Kansas City, MO. Call 608-262-3981, www.wisc.edu/uwcc.farmercoops04/index.html Nov 4-6— National Small Farm Trade Show & Conference, Columbia, MO. Call 800-633-2535. Nov 6— Future Farms: Digging Deeper, Oklahoma City, OK. Call 918-647-9123. 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 3-4— Shiitake Mushroom and Truffle Production and Marketing Workshop, New Franklin, MO. Call 573-882-3234, www.centerforagroforestry.org Dec 12-15— MO Governor’s Conference on Agriculture. Call 877-398-3305. Feb 5-6— MO Young Farmers/Young Farm Wives State Convention, Osage Beach, MO. Feb 7-9— MO Aquaculture Assn Annual Meeting and Conference, Blue Springs, MO. Call 573-521-6666. Feb 23-25— 2005 Small Farm Programs Conference, Sikeston, MO. Call 573-688-2473 or 573-471-3475. March 3— MO Assn of Meat Processors Pre-Convention Workshop on Marketing, Columbia, MO. Call 1-660-827-0005. March 4-6— MO Assn of Meat Processors Convention and Trade Show, Columbia, MO. Call 1-660-827-0005. April 1-3— MOPACA Invitational Alpaca Show, Lake St Louis, MO. Call 913-884-5831. Green Hills Farm Project 2004 Farm Walk Schedule 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—process of converting traditional cow/calf operation over to a MIG system on our Centennial Farm; brush and weed management with Boer African Meat Goat herd; launched a web site for our Bed & Breakfast. Lawn Chairs. Nov 18th— 4pm at Forage System Research Center Missouri Organic Association Farm Tours Sept 11— 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. 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. Dec. 3-4— Specialty Mushroom Workshop Columbia, MO, Learn the basics of production and/or marketing techniques for specialty gourmet mushrooms including shiitake, oyster, Stropharia and truffles from UMCA research faculty members, professional mushroom growers and marketers. Workshop topics include outdoor log cultivation of shiitake mushrooms; indoor cultivation for winter production of shiitake; and UMCA progress toward truffle cultivation. Exhibitors from the industry will provide information about mushroom production supplies. During the afternoon of Dec. 4, attendees will travel to the UM Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center in New Franklin to participate in a guided tour of the mushroom research and cultivation area and a log preparation demonstration. Cost for the workshop is $59 per person, if received by Nov. 1. Workshop fee for registration from Nov. 2 through Dec. 3rd is $69 per person. An optional Saturday evening Missouri wine and regional food tasting event at The Wine Cellar and Bistro is offered to the workshop participants for $25 per person. To register, or for more information, download or print the brochure from www.centerforagroforestry.org ; or call Julie Rhoads, UMCA Events Coordinator, at 573-882-3234; or email rhoadsj@missouri.edu. Workshop space is limited to first 100 participants. Growing Growers Workshops Kansas State Univ and the Univ of MO have launched a project to expand local produce production in the KC region. If you grow or market within 100 miles of KC and are interested, call Katherine 913-488-1270, growers@ksu.edu Sept—Post-Harvest Handling Practices Oct—Business Planning for Small Farms Nov—Mechanization for Veg Production Dec—Selling your Locally-Produced Food Products in Kansas City Illinois Farm Tours of Interest For more info contact Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant, 217-968-5512, cvnghgrn@uiuc.edu. Sept 15— Farming Alternatives, Western IL. This tour will feature several locations that demonstrate successful alternatives to conventional farming. The tour will include stops at John Brook's fee hunting operation, Baxter's Vineyard and Winery and Warren Bond's buffalo ranch. Oct 15— Agritourism, Millstadt, IL Eckert's Country Store & Farms is the largest family owned and operated pick-your own fruit farm in the nation and an excellent example of a successful and creative agritourism operation. www.eckerts.com/millstadt.htm