Ag Opportunities Volume 18 Number 6 June 2007 From Honey to Timber: Missouri Exchange online marketplace broadens opportunities and shows quick growth From honey to homemade soap, and medicinal herbs to timber and native plant seeds, Missouri’s land and forest owners offer a tremendous variety of value-added agricultural products. A new online marketplace, launched in January of 2007, is helping connect buyers and sellers of these products faster than you can say “wild bergamont.” As part of its mission to enhance sustainable income opportunities for family farms, the Center for Agroforestry teamed up with Grow Native! (a joint program of the MO Dept of Conservation and the MO Dept of Ag) to bring together buyers and sellers of Missouri-grown products with an innovative, free Web site. The site, called Missouri Exchange, is an online marketplace that allows producers to post products for sale — and buyers to list products they are looking for — at no charge to the user. Generating a list of more than 110 members in less than three months, Missouri Exchange is rapidly expanding producers’ markets. “The site is broadening marketing opportunities for Missouri producers who specialize in niche market products,” said Larry Godsey, economist, University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry. “One great thing about Missouri Exchange is that you don’t have to be a big producer to participate. That’s the whole point of this. We want small growers, too.” Local products in a global market Products on the site include locally grown mushrooms, nuts and herbs; native plants; greenhouse plants; decorative woody florals; specialty wood products and timber products. “The online market is the fastest growing market area,” Godsey said. “It’s convenient, and the Internet provides immediate access to the information. Producers who list merchandise on the Web site have unlimited access to potential buyers throughout the state, throughout the country, even around the world.” Penny Frazier, co-owner and developer of Goods from the Woods, a native plant product and botanicals producer in the Ozark region of MO, is hoping Missouri Exchange will help connect her organic products to a range of buyers, especially in urban areas. As consumer interest in certified organic products rises, Goods from the Woods receives requests for organic native plant materials that are difficult to find in adequate quantity. “Last year, we needed three times the hickory nuts than we could source. It is very hard to find a method for communicating about these plant products, but Missouri Exchange can be a key component in linking producers to urban markets and manufacturers. “Everyone knows that the small rural producer’s link to urban markets is one of the largest challenges to building a stable, sustainable rural community and capturing resource dollars for rural areas,” said Frazier. “The site offers a perfect blended venue for those of us whose interests merge agriculture, forestry and non-timber forest products. It can also result in a greater understanding of the increasing value of native plant materials, especially organics.” Creating the perfect match Buyers and sellers who wish to use www.missouriexchange.com must register on the site and can provide the level of contact information they choose. For example, a grower may post a phone number, an email address, a short biography and a photograph of his or her farm. Others may list only the items they are selling or looking to buy and an email address. No sales are made via the Web site, but once a potential buyer or seller locates the products they are seeking, information can be easily exchanged through email or by phone to enable transactions to occur between parties. The site is designed to be quick and convenient. Registered buyers can browse offers to sell posted by sellers, and then contact the seller through the form provided. The seller will handle the buyer’s offer directly. If a buyer doesn’t find what he or she is looking for, a request to buy can be posted. At any time, the online directory of products offered can be searched. “In comparison to sites that handle direct transactions, Missouri Exchange places a great deal of freedom and control in the hands of the buyers and sellers,” said Ina Cernusca, market research specialist, University of MO Center for Agroforestry. “The site can provide detailed information to precisely match the needs of a producer to a buyer, and vice versa – but this is dependent on users listing offers about their products (offers to sell), or those products they wish to buy (requests to buy) in addition to the directory page and making them as clear and specific as possible.” Once registered, sellers of agricultural products can post offers to sell using product categories provided on the Web site. They can view requests to buy posted on the site and contact potential buyers using the forms provided. By joining the online directory of members in MO, a seller can provide additional information about their company, post photos and create a link to their Web page. Contact information is kept secure through the registration process and the creation of personal accounts. In 2006, Grow Native! partnered with the MU Center for Agroforestry to develop the site. Funding for the Missouri Exchange site is provided by a grant from the Federal State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP), funneled through the MO Dept of Ag. FSMIP, funded by annual appropriations to the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, provides matching funds to state agencies to explore new market opportunities for US food and agricultural products. “It’s a very user-friendly site,” said Tammy Bruckerhoff, marketing and business development specialist for Grow Native!. Grow Native!’s charge is to restore the state’s biodiversity and increase awareness of native plants and their uses. “We frequently receive requests for places to buy native seeds and plants. Now, buyers can check this Web site for sources.” Expanding to quality standards and education The Missouri Exchange site includes product lists and a directory of members. Buyers and sellers can post feedback, ask questions, make offers for products or recommend items to friends. Producers can change prices and update offerings immediately. Product information will be available to buyers and sellers, including that which may help establish quality standards for niche industries. “A broader market will help provide additional income opportunities for small farmers and landowners. We hope to use feedback from market participants to identify quality standards for products,” Godsey said. “Small niche markets often lack quality standards. We hope to post information that can help serve people who wish to participate in those small markets.” Paul Gustafson, Sni Valley Seed Co, Centerview, MO, has several product listings on Missouri Exchange, specializing in native wildflower seed production. The company is a project Gustafson is leading with plant science students at Grain Valley High School, with a vision to expand into live plant sales. “Missouri Exchange gives us exposure as to what our small, but viable, business does and offers,” said Gustafson. “The one-stop shopping feature makes it a centralized place for everyone to see the niche markets in the state – and hopefully will boost our efforts to improve our plant science program.” Godsey said the Web site would be closely monitored for appropriate postings and up-to-date information. “If something has been posted for 60 days, we will contact (the seller) to make sure it is still available,” he said. “Our hope is it will highlight the diversity of products that can be grown in Missouri.” Missouri Exchange Partners: The University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry is one of the world’s leading centers contributing to the scientific understanding of agroforestry. Linked with the Center’s solid science and research programs are several key collaborations and partnerships with landowners, natural resource professionals, federal and state agencies and non-profit organizations. Through these relationships, UMCA and its partners are producing an expanding a list of positive outcomes for landowners, the natural environment and society as a whole. One of the Center’s primary goals is to create new income opportunities and markets for farm and forest landowners. Grow Native! is a joint program of the MO Dept of Conservation and the MO Dept of Ag. Its objectives include helping protect and restore the state’s biodiversity by increasing conservation awareness of native plants and their effective use through partnerships among private industry, non-profit organizations, government agencies and landowners. Do you have timber, nuts, fruits, botanicals, native plants, mushrooms or other alternative agricultural products on your land to sell? Missouri Exchange Workshop July 19, 2007 - 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Columbia, Mo. Do you have alternative agricultural products on your land to sell? Are there Missouri-grown products you are looking for but can’t find? Land and forest owners and natural resource professionals are invited to learn how to post value added products for sale on the new Missouri Exchange web site (and how to purchase Missouri-made agricultural items) at the Missouri Exchange Workshop on July 19 at the University of MO campus, Columbia, MO. Membership to Missouri Exchange is free (all you have to do is register) and allows users to network with other buyers/sellers of a diverse range Missouri agricultural products and native plants. Workshop speakers will address using the site and tips for timber harvest, nut crops, specialty mushrooms and more. Educational booths from MO land and forest owners and a local-foods lunch will also be featured, with opportunities for networking with other growers or potential buyers. Registration is free, but limited to 60 participants and required by July 10, 2007. To register, contact Julie Rhoads, Events Coordinator, at 573- 882-3234 or rhoadsj@missouri.edu. Workshop hosted by the University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry with funding from the USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program. ********************************************************************** Organic Certification Cost-Share Program Information The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act authorizes the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide cost-share assistance for national organic certification costs to qualified organic producers (crop, wild crop or livestock) and handlers of agricultural products who obtained certification under the National Organic Program (NOP). The Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) signed a cooperative agreement with USDA-NOP to administer the dissemination of these funds to qualified applicants. This year Missouri state funds have also been appropriated for the organic certification cost-share program. These state funds will be distributed by MDA under these same guidelines and will help provide costshare monies to a greater number of organic producers and handlers in Missouri. To qualify, applicants must complete a signed application and supply a copy of their organic certificates, with an invoice documenting their certification costs. Payments to eligible producers and handlers will be reimbursed for costs incurred for certifications issued during the period of October 01, 2004 through September 30, 2007 or until all funds are exhausted, whichever comes first. Payments will be limited to 75 percent of individual certification costs, up to a maximum of $500.00 per application. Applications for cost share funds will be reimbursed in the order they are received and until funds are exhausted or the eligibility period ends, whichever comes first. Please submit the following items: * Organic Certification Cost-Share Program Application * Copy of individual Organic Certificates matching each invoice * Copy of Itemized Invoices showing fees assessed for certification. Mail to: MO Dept of Ag, Organic Certification Cost-Share Program, PO Box 630, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0630 For Questions Contact: Gene Wiseman, 573-751-4339, Gene.Wiseman@mda.mo.gov ********************************************************************** Missouri Watershed Information Network The MO Watershed Information Network or MoWIN, provides assistance in locating and accessing information relative to MO watersheds. The intent is to make it easier to find the information needed. The services of MoWIN are available to anyone seeking information related to watersheds in MO. This may range from professionals looking for technical data, elementary students conducting research for class reports, to someone anxious to know what they can do to improve the condition of their watershed. Inquiries may be sent to MoWIN by email, telephone at 877-H2O-SHED (426-7433), submitting a written request and/or visiting the MoWIN offices (205 Ag Engineering Bldg, Univ of MO-Columbia). Visit the website at www.mowin.org ********************************************************************** *** In Print/On-Line *** *Marketing Local Food* This handbook is designed to help farmers explore the various options for marketing local food. It introduces the basics of different marketing systems, suggests resources and includes profiles of farmers who are selling farm products directly to consumers via farmers' markets, roadside stands, CSAs, on-farm stores; as well as information and profiles about selling indirectly via retail food establishments or food services. http://www.misa.umn.edu/vd/publications/marketing_local_food.pdf *The Farm Energy Handbook for Vermont* 65 page overview of every energy technology, feedstock and product that can be developed on the farm. It includes questions designed to help make readers make early-phase decision about which renewable product is most appropriate for your farm or land, a financial analysis of the options and a list of additional information resources for each energy technology. $10. Contact 802-485-2455 or vec@norwich.edu *Dirt Hog* by Kelly Klober. A resource for any farmer wishing to start or expand this popular enterprise. This comprehensive manual on raising hogs the natural way includes sections on housing and fencing, selection and breeding, herd maintenance, feed and feeding, marketing and more. Available now from www.Back40Books.com for $25.00. or call 866-596-9982. *Determining the Methods for Measuring the Economic and Fiscal Impacts Associated with Organic Crop Conversion in Iowa* This study shows that the potential regional economic impact of organic crop production exceeds that of conventional crop production. In work funded by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, researchers assessed the potential region-wide economic impact of this major switch in production practices. The project affirms existing ISU research which demonstrates that operators who choose organic methods will receive greater economic returns than those who opt for conventional practices. The study found that the economic impacts of the organic alternative were substantially larger than the conventional configuration, a significant observation for those engaged in rural and regional economic development. http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/research/marketing_files/woodbury.htm Cornell’s Department of Plant Pathology has developed online keys for diagnosing cucurbit and tomato plant diseases. Around 300 images have been included to aid in diagnosis or for use in teaching, research and extension programming. View at: vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/DiagnosticKeys/KeyPage.html A new online resource is available for forest owners who want to explore growing non-timber forest crops--like mushrooms and ginseng--on their land. The website contains videos, fact sheets, and links as part of learning units you can explore on your own, or sign up for an online course to get the benefit of working through the materials with an educator and fellow students. The website link is hwwff.cce.cornell.edu/ *Energy Estimator for Animal Housing* evaluates energy use and the costs associated with heating, lighting, and ventilating poultry, swine and dairy housing. Once the required information has been entered, the calculator provides an analysis of estimated energy use and the costs associated with various energy management options, and it identifies any potential energy savings that may be realized from making certain changes. Go to http://ahat.sc.egov.usda.gov/ ********************************************************************** *** IN THE NEWS *** Understanding Impacts of Climate Change on Agriculture— How can managers of agricultural operations reduce their greenhouse gas emissions? What opportunities exist under the Conservation Title of the 2007 Farm Bill to enhance climate change mitigation opportunities from the US agricultural sector? A new report from the World Resources Institute analyzes these questions and makes four policy recommendations linking farm energy, conservation and climate change. View the report online at www.wri.org/climate/pubs_description.cfm?pid=4252 A new theme is sure to feature prominently in the farm bill: Improving local and regional food systems. The five-year plan will promote the processing, marketing and distribution of food near where it's raised. It's a kind of complement to globalization. The initiative has wide support, especially from coastal areas with large populations. Urban consumers are especially supportive as is a fairly broad coalition of mainstream and organic farmers. Congress will provide up to $4 billion a year to such efforts, and USDA will take charge of measures to spur local food networks. What to expect: More research into pest and disease controls, new crops and products plus ways to help boost farmers’ opportunities. And expanded distribution networks, including grants to states, to improve processing, shipping and marketing foods on a local scale at various outlets... roadside stands, supermarkets and elsewhere. Not all changes will be expensive. USDA regulations on school lunches will be tweaked to let schools pay price premiums for local produce. (Kiplinger Agriculture Letter, Vol 78, No 10) Organic foods will account for 4% of US grocery sales by 2008, as sales volume soars again this year, approximating last year’s 22% jump. Organic fruits and vegetables, now nearly 6% of sales in that category, will increase swiftly in market share, claiming about 20% in five years. (Kiplinger Ag Newsletter, Vol 78, No 11) US sheep ranchers can expect strong wool prices for a while. Fine to medium grades of wool are a firm $2-$3/lb. and likely to increase by 2008. The U.S. flock is waning. And Australia, the top world exporter of wool, is shipping less: A 2002 drought cut its flock and production for years, and drought will again shave 8% more from this year’s shear. (Kiplinger Ag Newsletter, Vol 78, No 11) U.S. farmers will legally grow industrial hemp within a year or two. North Dakota approved growing the crop and licensed a legislator who farms, though the US Drug Enforcement Administration still bans the crop. Lawsuits will soon challenge the feds for not differentiating between marijuana and industrial hemp, raised for its rope-making fiber plus seed and oil that are prized by healthfood makers. Canadian farmers have grown industrial hemp for a decade, about 40,000 acres a year. They sell most of their crop to the US. Other US states are moving toward approving hemp, and its expanding food uses will add to pressure. (Kiplinger Ag Newsletter, Vol 78, No 11) ********************************************************************** *** ON THE CALENDAR *** 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 4 — Game Bird Academy, Kansas City, MO. Call 573-522-3377, Rose.Foster@mda.mo.gov June 5 — Grant Writing I—Springfield, MO. Call 417-732-6485. June 8 - Pasture Finished Beef Workshop, 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 21 — Native Plant Field Day, Bradford Farm, Columbia, MO. Call 573-884-7945. 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. June 30 — MO Strawberry Plasticulture Workshop, Mountain Grove, MO. Call 417-547-7533. July 10-12 — Grant Writing II, Springfield, MO. Call 417-732-6485. 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. July 31-Aug 3 — 13th Annual Aquaculture Recirculating Systems Short Course, Ithaca, NY. http://www.bee.cornell.edu/outreach/aquaculture/short-course/. Aug 9-11 — Red Cedar–Challenge or Opportunity Workshop, Springfield, MO. Call 417-732-6485. 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 14 — Grant Writing III, Springfield, MO. Call 417-732-6485. 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. Sept 6 — TomatoFest, Bradford Farm, Columbia, MO. Call 573-884-7945. Sept 7-9 — State Master Gardener Conference, Kirksville, MO. http://extension.missouri.edu/adair/MGConf/index.shtml Sept 22-23 — Annual Ozark Renewable Energy and Sustainable Living Expo, Columbia, MO. www.ozarkre.org Oct 13 — 5th Annual Chestnut Roast, New Franklin, MO. Call 573-882-3234. 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. http://missourilivestock.com/ 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! 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 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