Ag Opportunities Volume 16, Number 3 September 2005 Is Agritourism for You? Agritourism is not for everybody, but don’t be too quick to decide it’s not for you. Many farmers write off agritourism too quickly because of misconceptions about what it’s all about, says expert Peter Williams, co-author of the how-to book Cultivating Agritourism. Here are some of the biggest concerns that farm managers have about entering this sector: I won’t be a farmer any more: At its core, agritourism isn't about selling apple pie and country crafts or about entertaining people in a haunted barn or corn maze - it’s about sharing your farm, says Williams. "I don’t think I would want to work in this area if I thought these were going to become tourism operations instead of farms," he says. "The beauty of these operations is that they are tied to the land and the values of the land. If they just become tourism operations, then they would quickly end up as something very inauthentic and that’s not what people are looking for. The authenticity of the farmer and his or her family is essential to these enterprises." I don’t want hordes of people tramping around my farm: Williams says this is perhaps the biggest objection to agritourism that he encounters. "I've seen many farmers cross their arms and turn sideways in their chair when we talk about agritourism because they’re uncomfortable with the idea of a lot of people coming to their farm. "I can understand that. They appreciate solitude, that’s one of the reasons why they like farming." But you don’t have to have huge crowds spending hours at your farm in order to generate meaningful revenue, notes Williams. The enterprises that end up attracting large numbers of people are inevitably run by people who love that sort of thing, he says. There are many others who have a small clientele base and are perfectly happy with that. "Agritourism doesn't have to mean 50,000 people coming to the farm. It can be that or it can be a roadside stand." I don’t have the money to start an agritourism business: "You don’t have to invest a lot of capital," says Williams. "There are some things you have to have - you need a safe working environment, you have to have some good signage, and you have to have a sanitary place. Those are the fundamentals for any kind of hospitality business. "You don’t have to spend a lot on infrastructure, but whatever you do has to be done well. Just keep it at a scale that you can manage. If you want to open a bed and breakfast, you don’t have to build a new home. But you may have to upgrade the bathroom so it’s of the quality that people would expect for the money you’re charging them." Virtually all of the most successful enterprises had humble roots, he notes. 'The vast majority of operations start small and grow incrementally. They may have started by selling apples and then found themselves operating a farmers’ market or offering a festival. It may have seemed to happen overnight but really it took several years of trying this and trying that." I don’t have the skills to run this kind of a business: In many ways, creating an agritourism business is an assembly job - it’s a matter of putting all the bits and pieces together. The individual tasks aren't all that difficult, but there are a lot of them, says Williams. "In putting together the book, I looked at all the lists and thought it was getting tiresome," he says. "But the book is also intended for people who are already started in the business. So if they’re having trouble with marketing, they can go to that section. If it’s insurance, they can go to the section that deals with liability. "Starting from scratch seems like a monumental task but some of the tasks are easier to deal with than others - so my advice would be to start with the simpler ones and do them first." I can see all kinds of things that might go wrong: Good, says Williams, that’s exactly the attitude you need to have. "The biggest investment is really in the time you spend in preparation," he says. "You look at all the things you need to consider and say, ‘Oh my god, all I wanted to do was sell some fruit.’ But what you’re really doing is managing people so that their experience is a good one and they don’t get into uncomfortable or dangerous situations. So I would say preparation is 70 per cent of the job." And be prepared to stick with it, Williams adds. One of the biggest complaints from successful operators is all the trouble they've encountered over zoning, building ordinances, and what he calls "the regulation maze." "The people who have been pioneers in dealing with types of issues aren't totally hamstrung.," he says. "I mean, they complain about what they had to go through, but in the end, they managed to get what they wanted." (From Canadian Farm Manager Newsletter, April-May 2005) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Direct Marketing Steps for Small Farms By David Burton, Civic Communications Specialist The direct marketing of farm products to consumers is not a new idea. The practice was a major source of income for Ozark's farms 50 years ago. At that time, nearly every farm sold eggs, milk or meat products directly off the land. "Times have changed but opportunities still exist for farmers to direct market products," said Tim Schnakenberg, agriculture and rural development specialist, University of Missouri Extension. A direct marketing approach can supplement a farm operation or can become the primary focus of a farm according to Schnakenberg. "Since the Branson area attracts seven million visitors a year, Southwest Missouri producers already have a significant group of potential customers continually passing through the area," said Schankenberg. One way to capitalize on this opportunity is with roadside stands, something that has been successful over the years. "The success of roadside stands usually depends on quality products, location and cheap labor. If the customer’s experience is enjoyable and they are satisfied when leaving, you can bet they will be repeat customers," said Schnakenberg. U-pick operations also provide a direct marketing opportunity. According to Schnakenberg, there has been a slight trend away from U-pick operations in recent years but the concept can still work if the customer's experience is enjoyable. "The operator can provide a variety of other items to sell besides just a single commodity like blueberries, blackberries, apples or strawberries. Other items can be sold like locally produced salsa, honey or crafts. Special advertised weekend events such as hayrides, corn mazes, hiking trails and other kid’s activities will generate attention too," said Schnakenberg. Vintage farm machinery or live farm animals can also help attract a non-farm public and an older generation. Cut flowers may be another U-pick commodity that can be harvested by customers desiring to create their own bouquet. "If location is a problem for fruit and vegetable growers, use existing farmers markets. These markets attract both the local public and tourists and can create a great deal of exposure. They also cut down on the advertising and promotional costs," said Schnakenberg. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wanted: Windiest spots in Missouri to harvest alternate energy source By Robert E. Thomas, Information Specialist A University of Missouri atmospheric scientist is looking for the windiest spots in Missouri. Neil Fox plans to place anemometers on six communications towers across Missouri to learn if and where there’s enough wind to warrant its use as an alternative energy source. "Wind models suggest that Northwest Missouri is the windiest part of the state," Fox said, adding that other areas of the state have small, scattered pockets where commercial wind energy production could be feasible. "A corridor of strong winds tends to flow across the open plains of which Northwest Missouri is a part," he said. Surrounding states of Kansas and Iowa in that corridor already have wind farms. Southwest Missouri is also an area of interest, he said, because of the influence of the hilly Ozark terrain on the wind, which can be complex. "There’s a wind threshold we look at which is an average of seven meters per second over a year or about 15.5 miles per hour," he said. Wind speeds will be measured at different elevations, typically 50, 100 and 150 meters (165, 330 and 495 feet). What portion of the time during a year that such a threshold is realized is an additional factor to consider, he said. Further research calls for building a number of 50-meter instrumented masts to identify the best locations in the state. Commercial wind energy production requires placing large turbines in open fields. The turbines are non-invasive and take up about two percent of agricultural production land, he said. Farmers who allow turbines on their land could earn a secondary income to their agricultural production. Missouri has been thought to be marginal as a state for wind power exploitation, Fox said, but as the technology of the turbines improves so do the number of places where enough energy can be extracted to make such efforts feasible. "I would be surprised if there is not someplace in Missouri where this will work," he said. Use of wind power is now being considered in light of environmental concerns such as the need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and the high price of oil. Funding for the research comes from state and federal agencies as well as two of the state’s utility companies, he said. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *** In Print/On-Line *** *Insects and Gardens: In Pursuit of a Garden Ecology* by Eric Grissell, entomologist with the USDA. Grissell suggests it might be time to declare a truce with insects in the garden. He explains the vital role insects play in every garden ecosystem and writes about the various orders of insects, describing how the insects grow, feed and reproduce. Available at most bookstores. *The Organic Pepper Seed Production Guide* an 18 page guide providing a detailed reference for production for organic sweet and hot peppers seeds. Available from Saving Our Seed, 706-788-0017, http://www.savingourseed.org/ *Guidelines to Increase the Use of Local Foods at Meetings* developed by the Society for Nutrition Education, this guide assists anyone who is involved in planning the food for a conference in ways that support local farmers and to convey the local or regional flavor. While serving local foods can be a challenge, the rewards of positive impressions among attendees and the boost to the local agricultural economy can also be significant. To access the guide, click "Resources and Relationships" on the left sidebar and click on the document’s title. *Titled Feeding Young Minds: Hands-on Farm to School Education Programs* booklet provides profiles of experiential education programs around the country that help connect kids to their food supply. According to the Community Food Security Coalition programs "range from cooking classes in NM, to school fundraisers in OH, to kindergartners tasting watermelon radishes in PA. Each program is unique, yet offers insights and possibilities of what can be achieved when farm-fresh products in the cafeteria are linked with experiential education activities." Available from CFSC http://www.foodsecurity.org/ for $10 plus shipping. *The Veggie Queen: Vegetables Get the Royal Treatment* new book from vegetarian Jill Nussinow, culinary instructor at Santa Rosa, CA Junior College. More than 100 recipes are arranged by season of availability. $19.95 from http://www.theveggiequeen.com *Pests of the Garden and Small Farm: A Grower’s Guide to Using Less Pesticides* by Mary Louise Flint, Director of Education for the CA Integrated Pest Management Program. Available for $38 from Growing for Market, PO Box 3747, Lawrence KS 66046, 800-307-8949, http://www.growingformarket.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *** IN THE NEWS *** The North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR SARE) program has issued a call for proposals for the 2005 Farmer Rancher Grant Program. NCR SARE has allocated about $400,000 for the program. Competitive grants of up to $6,000 are available for individual farmers and ranchers, and grants up to $18,000 are available for groups of farmers and ranchers interested in exploring sustainable agriculture. Farmers and ranchers are invited to submit proposals that test, evaluate, and adapt sustainable agriculture practices for their operations; conduct learning circles, educational events, field days or demonstrations to further disseminate information to farmer/ranchers; develop new technologies; or create or modify equipment. Applicants must identify specific problems and potential solutions to those problems. The twelve states in the North Central Region are: IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD, and WI. Proposals are due Dec 1, 2005. http://www.sare.org/ncrsare/prod.htm The Organic Farming Research Foundation, which has disbursed nearly $1.2 million in organic research grants since 1990, will be accepting grant applications on July 15 and Dec 15 of each year. This is a change from previous years, when Jan 15 was the deadline for spring grant applications. "Grant applications go through a rigorous evaluation process here," said Jane Sooby, OFRF’s technical program coordinator. "Moving the deadline to Dec will give our Board more time to give applications the careful scrutiny they deserve." For more info, call 831-426-6606, e-mail jane@ofrf.org. Tests of eggs from four flocks of pasture-raised chickens have shown that, when compared with eggs from confinement production systems, free-range eggs are more nutritious. The tests were conducted by Skaggs Nutrition Laboratory at Utah State University and the Food Products Laboratory in Portland, OR, at the request of Mother Earth News. Compared with nutrient data provided by the USDA for eggs from confined systems, the eggs from pasture-raised chickens were up to twice as rich in vitamin E, four times richer in essential omega-3 fatty acids, and two to six times richer in beta carotene. On average, eggs had half as much cholesterol as conventional eggs. Mother Earth News' new Chicken and Egg Page invites free-range producers to post test results for their flocks and includes addresses and prices of labs it recommends for testing. http://www.motherearthnews.com/eggs/testing#free (Weekly Harvest Newsletter, 8/3/05) Using trees to shade forage can be beneficial for plants and animals and profitable for farmers, according to research conducted by scientists at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS). Soil scientist Charlie Feldhake, agronomist Dave Belesky, and animal scientist Jim Neel have been raising lambs on oak and conifer silvopastures for the past four years at the ARS Appalachian Farming Systems Research Center in Beaver, West Virginia. Partially shaded forage has more protein than open pasture during July and August, found Neel, and silvopastures buffer drought and other seasonal extremes. Feldhake found that buffering helps forage plants warm up about two weeks earlier than usual in the spring and hold off hard frost until later in the fall. http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2005/050811.htm After a long wait, the first blackberry cultivars that produce fruit in the fall are available for spring planting! Like Heritage raspberry, Prime-Jim and Prime-Jan blackberry plants can produce fruit in late July until frost. Bare-root plants can be planted in late March through early April. Plants are allowed to grow the first growing season and will bear a few fruit. The following spring, the over wintered canes are mowed off so that the newly emerging canes will produce a fall crop of berries. Prime-Jan has larger fruit size than Prime-Jim, but Prime Jim produces a larger overall crop. While it is terrific to have fall-bearing blackberries that are easy to prune, these plants are not without faults. The canes are thorny, which makes harvesting more time-consuming. Also, these plants tend have a prostrate growth-habit the first year, which makes weed control more difficult. And finally, while they do produce a fall crop, the berry size is much smaller than the summer-fruiting types such as Kiowa, Shawnee, Apache, and Arapaho. However, these cultivars are only the first releases from the University of Arkansas fruit breeding program, with undoubtedly improved fall-bearing blackberry cultivars on the way. (Missouri Environment and Garden, Vol 11, No. 8) What’s the worst part of harvesting blackberries? The hot sweat-inducing temperatures outdoors, the biting insects, or the blood dripping from your arms when you reach for that plumpest berry, only to have them ripped open from those thorns? While we can’t change the weather, we can mow the grass to cut down on the chiggers, and we can grow thornless blackberries. Currently, there are four thornless blackberry cultivars, Arapaho, Apache, Navaho, and Ouachita (pronounced WAH-shi-tah). These four cultivars have been developed and released from the University of Arkansas fruit breeding program. Arapaho plants are less vigorous growing plants with fewer canes produced from the crown. However, this cultivar produces fruit earlier than the other cultivars. Its fruit size is also smaller than that of Apache and Ouachita. Because Arapaho ripens early, it isn’t quite as flavorful as the other cultivars. After Arapaho, Ouachita is the next cultivar in the harvest sequence, followed by Navaho, and then Apache. Navaho and Apache have the sweetest berries. If you only plant one cultivar, my favorite pick of the bunch is Apache, because of it is easy to prune and it has good plant health, berry size, and flavor. However, if you find seed size troublesome, avoid this cultivar! Arapaho has the smallest seed size of the four cultivars. If you want a good-sized, firm berry, choose Navaho. (Missouri Environment and Garden, Vol 11, No. 8) The number of farmers' markets in the US and MO has grown dramatically in recent years, prompting advocates to designate a time each year to take note of the market's benefits. MO is currently home to 112 markets across the state; up from 77 in 2002. The MO Dept of Ag and USDA are working together to increase the development of farmers' markets emphasizing the need for locally grown products and access to fresh fruits and vegetables. (MDA Agriculture eNewsletter - Aug 2005) On Aug 28, the Missouri Meat and Poultry Inspection Program, administered by the MO Dept of Ag, began inspecting llama, alpaca and buffalo during slaughter and processing at state inspected establishments as part of livestock inspections. The change and addition of these species came with the signing of Senate Bill 355 by Governor Matt Blunt on July 7 defining these species as livestock as it pertains to meat inspection. The program is now inspecting llama, alpaca and buffalo with no charge to the slaughter and processing facility. Currently, llama, alpaca and buffalo are not considered amenable to the Federal Meat Inspection Act. Therefore, federally inspected facilities will continue to be charged a fee for voluntary inspection of these animals, a cost usually passed on to the producer or consumer. For more info regarding meat inspection, call 573-522-1242 or 573-751-3377 or visit http://www.mda.mo.gov/Animals/mmpip.htm. Purdue University researchers found that aggressive animals and birds reduce weight gain for their entire herd or flock. Compliant members get less feed, while aggressive ones overeat and increase stress for all. In a test, Purdue scientists chose only passive quail for reproduction. Flocks freed of aggressors gain weight 25% faster than random flocks. (Kiplinger Ag Newsletter, Vol 76, No 18) What is a bunch? The most frequent question Growing for Market (GFM) gets from new growers is: How big is a bunch? For most items of produce, USDA standards do not specify bunch sizes, but you will find that there is a general uniformity to bunches. GFM advises new growers to look in the produce section every time you go into a supermarket to check on packaging and sizing of every produce item you grow. You will soon become familiar with the accepted size and appearance of each item. (Growing for Market, July 2005) The Missouri Boer Goat Association just recently formed. The website, www.mbga.org, has information for any boer goat producer. They also have a list serve for those interested. They have a round robin style email list to keep members posted of news and events. To subscribe send an email to missouriboergoats-subscribe@yahoogroups.com For info contact Barry Watts, 417-753-4886, missouriboers@wattswoodfarms.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *** ON THE CALENDAR *** Sept 10 - 1st Annual Tomato Festival, Columbia, MO. Call 573-882-9633, kroeningm@missouri.edu Sept 10 - 2nd Annual Shrimp Fest, Dixon, MO. Call 417-664-2307, http://showmeshrimpfarms.com Sept 13-14 - Women In Ag Conference, Joplin, MO. Call 417-637-5993 x 3. Sept 15 - Latino Human Risk Management Workshop, Mt Vernon, MO. Call 573-882-3776. Sept 16-18 - 11th Annual Master Gardener’s Conference, Kansas City, MO. Call 573-882-9633. Sept 21-24 - 45th Annual Black Walnut Festival, Stockton, MO. Call 417-276-5213. Sept 23-24 - Midwest Forest Industry Show, St Louis, MO. Call 573-634-3252. Sept 19-21 - Grants 101: Professional Grant Proposal Writing Workshop, St, Louis, MO. Call 888-824-4424, http://www.thegrantinstitute.com Sept 23-24 - Midwest Forest Industry Show, St Louis, MO. Sept 23-25 - Artisan Cheesemaking Class, Warren, VT, Call 802-496-3998, aginnov@madriver.com Sept 27 - Integrating Meat and Dairy into Vegetables Workshop, call 913-488-1270 or growers@ksu.edu Oct 6-7 - Wurdack Youth Field Day, Cook Station, MO. Call 573-743-3301. Oct 14 - Cultural Competency Working with Rural Latinos, Monett, MO. Call 573-882-3776. Oct 14-16 - Artisan Cheesemaking Class, Warren, VT. Call 802-496-3998, aginnov@madriver.com Oct 14-16 - Biodynamic Farming National Conference, Red Boiling Springs, TN. Call 888-516-7797. Oct 22 - Farm Beginnings™ Course, West Plains, MO. Call 417-256-2391. Oct 21-23 - Women in Ag Conference, Burlington, VT. Call 802-656-0554 or wagn@umv.edu Oct 22 - Business Management, Basics of Farm Business Management Workshop, call 913-488-1270 or growers@ksu.edu Oct 27 - Riparian Buffer Field: Managing Riparian Forests and Riparian Buffers, New Franklin, MO. Call 573-882-3234, rhoadsj@missouri.edu Oct 29 - 3rd Annual Chestnut Roast, New Franklin, MO. Call 573-882-3234, http://www.centerforagroforestry.org Oct 29-30 - MO State Beekeepers Assn Fall Meeting, Lake of the Ozarks, MO. Call 636-394-5395 Nov 3-5 - National Small Farm Trade Show & Conference, Columbia, MO. Call 800-633-2535. Nov 12 - MO Boer Goat Bonanza, Carthage, MO. Call 417-753-4886, missouriboers@wattswoodfarms.com Nov 10 - Latino Human Risk Management Workshop, Sedalia, MO. Call 573-882-3776. Dec. 2-3 - 2005 MO Livestock Symposium, Kirksville, MO. Call 660-665-9866, http://missourilivestock.com Dec 3 - Rural Life Day, Jefferson City, MO. Jan 13-14 - MO Aquaculture Assn Annual Meeting and Banquet, Jefferson City, MO. Call 573-5 Jan 13-14 - North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Conference and Trade Show, Austin, TX. Call 413-529-0386 or handley@ilfb.org Feb 17-19 - Specialty Mushroom Grower Workshop, Columbia, MO. Call 573-882-3234, http://www.centerforagroforestry.org