Ag Opportunities Volume 18, Number 5 May 2007 Black Walnut Research Delivers Nuts & Results by Kevin Hansen Ag Business Specialist MU Extension Livingston County The Southwest Center maintains some of the largest and longest-term studies anywhere on black walnut nut production. The main orchards were planted by a group from the Missouri Nut Growers Association in 1993 and are now producing truckloads of nuts and volumes of valuable data annually. The largest study compares six of the most promising nut producing cultivars and will help document the economic potential of a grafted walnut orchard with currently available cultivars. In 2006 we had our fourth and largest nut harvest even though a number of trees have yet to come into production. We are also working with Hammons Products Co. of Stockton MO the largest buyer and processor of black walnuts in the world. Hammons is now paying a premium for high-quality thin-shelled walnuts brought in by serious walnut growers and purchased all of our experimental walnuts in 2006. The 2006 yield data presented in the following two tables is a preliminary look at what these different cultivars are producing at the Southwest Center. As the years progress and as more and more data come in from this and other orchards we will continue developing a realistic picture of the potential productivity and economics of grafted black walnut production in the Midwest. To view the tables go to http://aes.missouri.edu/swcenter/news/archive/v13n2/swrc3.stm (Southwest Center RUMINATIONS Vol 13 No 2) ********************************************************************** Weather’s Impact Pat Guinan University of Missouri’s State Climatologist observes: "I cannot recollect a period during this time of year where we had such an abrupt transition in temperatures that were averaging 20 degrees above normal to 20 degrees below normal. Some locations across the state were experiencing record highs last Tuesday and were setting record lows 4 days later. It’s nothing short of incredible. What made this situation even more troubling was that all the cold weather had come on the heels of an unusually long warm period. In fact preliminary numbers indicate it was the third warmest March on record for Missouri and the warmest in over 60 years for the state. For example the average high temperature for the last 11 days of March in Columbia was 75° and the average low temperature was 57° nearly 19° above normal for the period and more typical of the last week of May. I’ll delve more into the state climate records but it appears we have witnessed a weather scenario that was unprecedented since records began (118 years ago)." Due to the weather Missouri State University put up a webpage on April 9 with freeze information. They will be updating it through the season for management recommendations concerning fruit crops. The site is http://mtngrv.missouristate.edu/springfreeze.htm ********************************************************************** Show-Me Goat Sheep and Swine Camp A Show-Me Goat Sheep and Swine Camp will be held from 8:30 am-4:30 pm at the Cameron Community Building on May 26. Sessions will include showmanship clipping and fitting show animal nutrition health management Show-Me Quality Assurance plus much more. There is no charge to attend. You are welcome to bring your lamb pig or goat to the camp. For additional info please contact Luke Jackson at 816-632-2124 or Jim Humphrey in the Andrew County Extension Office at 816-324-3147. We are asking participants to pre-register by May 22 2007. ********************************************************************** Food Safety Publications AgriMissouri the Missouri Farmers' Market Association and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services sponsored Food Safety Workshops throughout the state in February and March. Workshops were led by staff from the Department of Health and Senior Services. Farmers producers and market managers who attended the workshops found them to be very helpful and informational. Realizing that not everyone could attend the workshops the presentations are linked below. Questions can be directed to agrimo@mda.mo.gov. *Update on Recent Outbreaks Associated with Fresh Produce http://www.agrimissouri.com/pdf/ProduceRelatedOutbreaks.pdf *Food Safety Concerns in the Field http://www.agrimissouri.com/pdf/FoodSafety_field.pdf *Irrigation Methods and Associated Issues http://www.agrimissouri.com/pdf/IrrigationMethods.pdf *Food Safety from Field to Market http://www.agrimissouri.com/pdf/SafeProduceHandling.pdf *State Regulations for Selling at Farmers' Markets http://www.agrimissouri.com/pdf/FoodSafety_fm.pdf NOTE: County and City regulations may be more strict than those posted by USDA and State offices. ********************************************************************** *** IN PRINT/ON-LINE *** *Free-Range Poultry Production & Marketing* The revised edition contains up-dated feed formulas (including a discussion on poultry nutrition and meat and bone meal), illustrated and extended information on artificial insemination of chickens and turkeys, new skid designs and an up-dated section on marketing. $39.50 alone or with a 20 minute video for $60. Call 866-596-9982. The 2007 Indiana Horticultural Congress included a half-day session on cover crops and a full-day program on production in high tunnels. The presentations are available in pdf format from the Purdue Fruit and Vegetable Connection, under the Reports and Presentations Link, towards the bottom of the page at: http://www.hort.purdue.edu/fruit/rep_pres/2006-7/ihc_07_toc.shtml *Ecologically Based Farming Systems* This is a new publication about natural systems and how they affect your management practices. This publication looks at such topics as community-based food systems, agricultural landscapes and integrated pest management. Chapters focus on holistic approaches for field crops, potatoes, tart cherries and managed intensive grazing and takes an in-depth look at organic production on two Michigan organic operations. Learn how it is possible to support farm productivity while benefiting the environment and the community. To order go to www.new-ag.msu.edu/pdf/E2983.pdf *Missouri Woodland Steward* A DVD set for woodland enthusiasts is designed for the landowner who wants to learn about basic timber and habitat management without a formalized learning process or interaction with others. Users can listen to the materials at their own pace, focus on the areas they're most interested in and contact a forestry professional if and when they have questions or want to work on developing a management plan. Early lessons teach goal setting and how to take stock of the land, including how to access aerial photos and maps of property, obtaining soil information and identifying tree and plant species. The second session covers basic forest management concepts: forest ecology, assessing forest stand, tending woodland gardens and forest health. Session three focuses on wildlife habitat and ecological concepts, how forest management practices influence wildlife food and cover, and wildlife habitat management to encourage specific types of animals. In the fourth session, materials bring everything together to help the landowner begin to develop a management plan that will fit their goals and the land they have to work with. The DVDs are $50 plus tax, shipping and handling. The set can be ordered by calling 1-800-292-0969. *Secrets to a Successful Greenhouse and Business* This book is a complete guide to starting and operating a high-profit organic or hydroponic business that benefits the environment. Whether you are a beginner or a serious farmer who wants to start and grow a profitable greenhouse business, this is the book for you. Nowhere else will you find this specialized information so thoroughly organized. Included is a well illustrated and packed full of resources such as who to sell to, a nationwide wholesale plant buyers list, which plants sell best, how to sell to large chains and supermarkets, how to grow organically or hydroponically, growing vine-ripe tomatoes, wholesale plant price guide, supplier directory, and even complete plans for a 30' x 48' or 30' x 96' greenhouse with an inflated double layer poly roof. $29.95. To order call 866-596-9982. Two relatively new resources exist for farmers, consumers, and educators interested in learning more about how climate change is already impacting agriculture, and what changes are predicted for the future. Visit www.climateandfarming.org which contains downloadable fact sheets and Powerpoint presentations, and visit www.northeastclimateimpacts.org to view or download a PDF report with detailed forecasts of climate change for the region. Some libraries are now providing full electronic copies of books on their websites. I highly recommend the Core Historical Literature of Agriculture, hosted by Cornell University online at http://chla.library.cornell.edu. It features more than 1,800 digitized books. *Market Farm Forms* by Marcie Rosenzwieg. Contains computer spreadsheet templates for planning and organizing information on diversified market farms. This software program will help you in planning crops and budgets, order seed and soil amendments, grow transplants, project yields and income, and then track what really happens against your projections. Works on PC or Mac. To order call 866-596-9982. *Soil Health Assessment Training Manual* created by the Soil Health team at Cornell University. This is a comprehensive manual. At the following link, associated with the soil health website, you can view the table of contents and download the entire document or download specific chapters. Information for ordering hard copies is also provided. http://soilhealth.cals.cornell.edu/Cornell%20Soil%20Health%20Manual.ht m ********************************************************************** *** IN THE NEWS *** A report of 2 years of organic, non-tillage control of Canada thistle on farm research at is now online for your review at www.coopext.colostate.edu/boulder/AG/agweeds.shtml Controlling/killing a rhizomatous perennial weed like C. thistle with methods approved for certified organic production can only be done by exhausting root carbohydrate reserves. The motto is "Never let it see the light of day". Whenever C. thistle is allowed to photosynthesize it is replenishing root carbs. The study showed a decline of overall biomass ONLY when we treated every other week. All of our treatments removed above ground growth via dessicant sprays, hoeing, hand pulling, and flame weeding. It should be mentioned that currently there are no translocating (move into the root system) herbicides for USDA Certified Organic practices. There are several organic weed control fact sheets that the Colorado Environmental Pesticide Program has published. See the Canada thistle fact sheet on this page: www.cepep.colostate.edu/organic.htm (Note: The information on organic spray herbicides in the research paper cited here is more up-to-date than that in the C. thistle fact sheet.) Please take note of the recommendations in the C. thistle fact sheet regarding avoiding rotary tillage and discing, as these chop up and redistribute vegetative portions of C. thistle which will re-root and propagate the plant over a larger area. Using sweeps for cultivating C. thistle would replicate hoeing and be an effective method for control and not likely propagate C thistle. Also, fall moldboard plowing has been shown to reduce the vigor of C. thistle. Preliminary research from the University of Wisconsin Madison shows that cheese from the milk of pastured cows tastes significantly different from other cheese. A three-year study determined differences in taste and components between milk produced by cows on three different feeding regimens: pasture only, pasture and grain, and grain-based. A trained sensory panel noticed a significant grassy note affecting the flavor of the two pasture-based cheeses, while a consumer panel at North Carolina State gave highest taste ranking to the pasture and grain regimen cheeses. http://www.cias.wisc.edu/archives/2007/02/22/how_is_cheese_from_pastur ed_cows_unique/index.php ********************************************************************** *** ON THE CALENDAR *** May 5 - Diversifying Farm Income through Agroforestry and Lease Hunting: An Agroforestry Workshop, Lee's Summit, MO. Call 573-884-7991 or WalterD@Missouri.edu May 5-8 - All Things Organic, Chicago, IL. http://www.organicexpo.com/07/public/enter.aspx May 6 - Solar Irrigation System Field Day, Ashland, MO. Call 573-657-1125 or dlkuebler@yahoo.com May 11-12 - Midwest Forest Industry Show St Louis. Call 573-634-3252. May 11-12 - Midwest Forest Industry Show, St. Louis, MO. Call 573-634-3252. May 15, 17, 22, 24 - Grazing School, Carthage, MO. Call 417-455-9500 or 417-223-4775. May 18-19 - Goat Short Course, Jefferson City, MO. Call 573-681-5551 or swartzh@lincolnu.edu. May 18-20 - 2nd Annual Statewide Master Naturalist Conference, Columbia, MO. www.monaturalist.org May 19 - Quail Management Workshop, Chillicothe, MO. Call 660-359-5685 ext. 114 . May 19 - River Hills Farm Family Day, Silex, MO. Call 573-485-7261 or 573-581-7093. May 22 - Show-Me Goat, Sheep, and Swine Camp, Cameron, MO. Call 816-632-2124. June 1 - From Recipe to Reality, Lincoln, NE. Call 402-472-2819 or jgifford1@unl.edu June 2 - Sheep & Goat Workshop: The Basics and Beyond, Houston, MO. Call 417-967-2028 ext. 5 June 3-5 - 9th Annual Value-added Conference, Lexington, KY. Call 859- 257-7272 X 246 or jhunter@uky.edu June 8 - Grazing Missouri Grass Class, St. Louis, MO. Call 877-77GRASS. June 12-13 - Grazing School, Mt Vernon, MO. Call 417-466-2148. June 20-21 - Grazing School, Neosho, MO. Call 417-455-9500 or 417-223-4775. June 24-28 - Midwest Stud Ram Sale, Sedalia, MO. Call 573-442-8257 June 24 - Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture Urban Farm Tour, Kansas City, MO. Call 816-531-6577 or 816-695-0033. July 19 - Missouri Exchange Online Marketplace Workshop, Columbia, MO. Call 573-882-3234. July 21 - MO Christmas Tree Assn Summer Meeting, Festus, MO. Call 573/243-5501. July 29-31 - Missouri Young Farmers/Young Farm Wives Summer Tour, Perryville, MO. Call 573-751-8467. Aug 9-19 - MO State Fair, Sedalia, MO. Aug 10 - From Recipe to Reality, Lincoln, NE. Call 402-472-2819 or jgifford1@unl.edu Aug 17 - From Recipe to Reality Seminar, Chicago, IL. Call 402-472-2819. Aug 18 - Canine Care Workshop, Kirksville, MO. Call 573-751-4570. Aug 23-24 - Grazing School, Mexico, MO. Call 573-581-3231. Aug 25 - Canine Care Workshop, Springfield, MO. Call 573-751-4570. Aug 31 - University of MO Delta Research Center Field Day, Portageville, MO. Call 573-379-5431. Sept 5 - Missouri Cut Flowers: From Field to Market, Mountain Grove, MO. Call 417-547.7533. Oct 23-25 - Grazing School, Bois d’ Arc, MO. Call 417-831-5246 x 3) Oct 29 - From Recipe to Reality, Lincoln, NE. Call 402-472-2819 or jgifford1@unl.edu Nov 1-3 - National Small Farm Today Conference and Trade Show, Columbia, MO. Call 800-633-2535. Nov 2-3 - MO State Beekeepers Assn Fall Meeting, Hannibal, MO. www.mostatebeekeepers.org Nov 30-Dec 1 - Livestock Symposium, Kirksville, MO. Green Hills Farm Project Farm Walks Green Hills Farm Project welcomes all families to our open farm walks. Always bring your children! Please call ahead to advise the host family of the number attending and to get directions. The host family provides main meat course and drinks. Please bring lawn chairs and covered dish. Come on out and join us for a great time of fellowship and sharing on our farms! Green Hills Farm Project welcomes all families to our open farm walks. Always bring your children! Please call ahead to advise the host family of the number attending and to get directions. The host family provides main meat course and drinks. Please bring lawn chairs and covered dish. Come on out and join us for a great time of fellowship and sharing on our farms! May 17th - 5pm, Isaac Rude, Braymer, MO, 660.645.2324. GHFP youth grant recipient sharing his boar goat project. his family also raises chickens, eggs, cattle, pigs, and turkeys marketed locally. mrude@greenhills.net June 21st - 5pm, Martin & Bev Turner, Elmer, MO 660.486.3388, Cattle and grass operation, they will share their 4-way cross cattle development programme; Hereford, Barzona, Red Angus, and Senepol. Bulls for sale. July 21st - Saturday, 5pm, Jordan & Anne Bentley, Brookfield, MO, 660.412.3399. Jordan and Anne should be in their new home by then. They grow broiler chickens, turkeys, and lambs. Flock management and marketing ideas. August 16th - 5pm, Tom & Paula Parker, Richmond, MO, 816.470.3276. Using MiG (management-intensive grazing) techniques, the Parker's are successfully managing animals and land to produce great-tasting beef, lamb, hogs, and poultry which is marketed locally. September 20th - 5pm, Allen & Tauna Powell, Laclede, MO, 660-963-2685. Soil, water, and grass management with the use of MiG and animal impact. Cattle, sheep, pastured hens. Web site sales of beef, lamb, eggs, soap, raw wool, sheep pelts, wool products including blankets, batting, roving, socks are coming! Tours to the seed cleaning operation are available if there is interest. www.mastersranch.com or atpowell@mcmsys.com October 20th - Saturday, 11am, Kerry & Barb Buchmayer, Purdin, MO 660.244.5858, Organic milk, butter, and eggs. Learn about managing soil and animals organically at Green Hills Harvest. Tours of the bottling plant available for those interested. www.ghharvest.com or ghharvest@juno.com November 15th - 4pm, Ben & Nancy Coleman, Callao, MO, 660.768.5743. Ben and family have been cattle ranching for years. Come and see their management practices; come early since it will be getting dark soon at this meeting. Heated outbuilding for meal and meeting. December - no meeting in December Growing Growers Workshops For more information 913-488-1270 or growers@ksu.edu May 14 - Equipment for Vegetable Growers, Olathe, KS. June 11 - Harvesting and Post-Harvest Handling for Maximum Quality and Nutrition, Bates County, MO July 9 - The Taste & Nutrition of Local Vegetables, location to be determined. Aug 13 - Starting a New Farm, Baldwin City, KS. Sept 9 - Pests, Diseases & Weeds, Independence, MO. Oct 1 - Integrating Meat and Dairy into Vegetables, Weston, MO. Oct 20 - Business Management for Small Farms, Kearney, MO. Nov 3 - TBD, Location to be determined