Ag Opportunities Volume 19, Number 5 May 2008 Redcedar: From Invasion to Innovation by Michelle Hall, MU Center for Agroforestry Eastern redcedar is the most widely distributed tree-sized conifer in the eastern United States, although its many industrial uses are not widely known and it is considered an invasive weed tree in many regions of the country. But new research at the University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry could help redcedar go from “trash to cash” for landowners. Chung-Ho Lin, research assistant professor of forestry with the Center for Agroforestry, has found redcedar leaves and fruit to have compounds that may help to fight bacteria, fungi, agricultural pests and weeds, malaria, and the production of melanin, which can help skin have a more youthful appearance and even prevent skin cancer. Lin said he has spoken with landowners who have acres and acres of redcedar but no idea what to do with it. He is working to change that common problem. "This could provide an incentive for people to leave these trees on their land, where they can be beneficial to the environment, by preventing stream bank erosion, for environment, by preventing stream bank erosion, for example." Lin said. "Since redcedar spreads so rapidly, landowners can cut their trees for the wood, leaves and fruit without concern about the future of the species." Lin and students Mark Hymbaugh, MU senior in biochemistry, and Amber Spohn, senior in environmental geology, studied the fruit, leaves, branches, roots, sawdust, oil, resin and bark of the 10 redcedar, to determine which parts might have beneficial compounds. They extracted compounds from each tree part and then tested these compounds on bacteria, fungi, weeds and melanin to see if growth was inhibited. Chemical compounds found in the leaves and fruit had the most promising results, although levels of activity varied. Now, the potent compounds in the extracts showing high bioactivities will be further isolated and purified for chemical characterization. Ninety-five percent purity is needed to confirm that the chemicals identified are useful for the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, Lin said. "Every chemical has a 'fingerprint,'" Lin said. "We use the fingerprint of the unknown compound and compare it to known chemical fingerprints in an existing database." At least two antibacterial chemicals in the redcedar needles (leaves) have been isolated; these chemicals are similar to others that have proven effective against a wide range of bacteria. In addition, other chemicals have shown promising inhibitory effects on melanin development and tyrosinase activity. This means they have great potential for skin care application for preventing and healing pigmentation after sunburn, freckles, liver spots, etc. Best of all, this class of chemicals has been proven to be very safe for external skin application. "Value-added phytochemical products from eastern redcedar have the potential to create new industries in regions such as Missouri with an abundant redcedar resource," Lin said. Mike Gold, professor and associate director of the Center for Agroforestry, said the goal of the Center is to help landowners around the state and country get the most from their land. Through agroforestry practices such as riparian forest buffers, windbreaks, silvopasture, forest farming and alley cropping, landowners diversify products, markets and farm income; improve soil and water quality; and reduce erosion, non-point source pollution and damage due to flooding. "The Center is interested in finding uses for redcedar, an abundant Missouri resource. These trees have been classified as a weed, yet are extremely common in this state. Looking to find productive uses from the beneficial compounds in redcedar will help create additional markets for the trees, where none existed previously," Gold said. ********************************************************************** IN PRINT/ON-LINE *Iowa Meat Processors' Resource Guidebook: A Guide to Building, Upgrading or Expanding a Small Meat Processing Facility* The book is a result of the Small Meat Processors Working Group's discussions, research, and hands-on work with individual meat processors. The book is available in a free PDF format through the NCRCRD Web site. http://www.ncrcrd.iastate.edu/pubs/contents/189.htm *Starting and Operating a Farmers’ Market: Frequently Asked Questions* This guide follows a question/answer format and includes a number of issues that extension services and the department of agriculture are asked to expound on.  http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/hort/g06223.htm *Soil Quality Workshop CD & Soil Quality Test Kit* This CD contains information about the fundamentals of soil quality and active organic matter. The impacts upon soil quality of gypsum, cover crops, tillage, and compaction. Soil organic matter and nutrient recycling. Management practices to improve soil quality. Instructions for using the Soil Quality Test Kit, which can be ordered separately, are included. Speaker Powerpoint presentations with audio, video of field demonstrations, and university publications are also included. Certified Crop Advisor CEU credits up to 5 hours in Soil & Water Management are included in self study exams which can be returned for an additional fee. http://estore.osu-extension.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=2116 *Organic Foods: What Do We Need to Know About Them?* Written for anyone who may eat organic foods, this publication answers common questions about the definition and benefits of organic certification. http://www.kerrcenter.com/pdf/organic-foods.pdf *Organic Production in Oklahoma: Questions and Answers* This is for farmers who may be considering organic certification and seek information about the steps involved and the current state of the market. http://kerrcenter.com/pdf/organic-production-AQ.pdf *How to Access Organic Compliance: A Tool for Market Growers, Market Managers, Producer Buyers, Extension Agents and Others* Small farmers, as well as the managers of markets at which they sell, may find the USDA organic standards complicated and confusing. This publication simplifies the process of determining whether an organic farming operation is in compliance with the USDA standards. http://www.kerrcenter.com/publications/organic-certification-report/or ganic-report07.pdf *High Tunnel Raspberries and Blackberries* Researchers at Cornell and Pennsylvania State universities have published the guide on the latest and ongoing high tunnel research in the Northeast. The guide includes sections on site selection; the types of tunnels; construction; plant selection; tunnel, crop and pest management; early and late season extension techniques; and budgeting. High tunnels can extend the fruit season and help growers gain much higher prices for their fruit. http://www.fruit.cornell.edu/Berries/calendarpdf/RaspberryFlyer.pdf *Flaming as a Method of Weed Control in Organic Farming Systems* This publication can be used throughout the North Central Region by organic farmers growing corn. Even though several farmers in Michigan use fire to control weeds in soybeans, there is a fine line between successful weed control and killing the soybeans. For this reason, the researchers only recommend using flame weed control on corn. Corn’s growing point is below the soil surface when flaming weeds, and therefore, very little injury results from this method. http://www.emdc.msue.msu.edu/Bulletin/PDF/E3038.pdf *Certification and Labeling Considerations for Agricultural Producers* Put together by the Western Extension Marketing Committee this publication addresses marketing through branding and certification which are strategies that many producers are using to distinguish their production and obtain higher and hopefully less volatile prices than those obtained in traditional commodity markets. The entire publication is online at http://cals.arizona.edu/AREC/wemc/certification.html ********************************************************************** IN THE NEWS Washington State University, which offers a Graduate Certificate in organic agriculture, will now make its certificate program available through online distance learning courses, according to The Grower. Admission to WSU is required to enroll in courses and to earn the certificate, though participants may apply as non-degree seeking students. The program includes a range of courses available through distance learning, as well as an "on ground" practicum or professional internship in organic agriculture. http://online.wsu.edu/future_students/dc_organic_ag.aspx Consumers are willing to pay more for ‘green’ environmentally friendly products, according to a recent MamboTrack™ study of 1,000 consumers by Mambo Sprouts Marketing. In the study, seven in ten consumers were willing to pay up to 20 percent more for environmentally friendly products. In addition, 56 percent of consumers identified the selection of healthy organic products and 49 percent the availability of organic produce as key factors in where to shop. Consumers were most likely to choose organic produce (60 percent), dairy products (54 percent) and child and baby food products (50 percent). (What’s New in Organics, April 2008) A recent presentation on the basics of organics by Jim Riddle, the University of Minnesota’s Organic Outreach Coordinator, is available online as a video from the Southeastern Libraries Cooperating/Southeast Library System. In the video, Riddle explains the basic requirements for certification of organic crops; summarizes some recent research findings about the benefits of organic production; and presents a few helpful web resources. The video may be viewed in 10-minute clips, or in its entirety. http://www.selco.info/programs-services/special-projects/abc-s-of-orga nics-video ********************************************************************** ON THE CALENDAR May 16-17—MO Walnut Council Tours, West Plains, MO. Email walterd@missouri.edu May 17-MO Walnut Council Spring Tours. Contact palmh@missouri.edu or 573-882-1402 May 17-19-Conference Celebrating 30 Years of Missouri Fiber Artists, Fayette, MO. Call 573-443-1731. May 20-Biofumigation for Strawberry Production, Mountain Grove, MO. Email PMayer@missouristate.edu May 22-Manure Entrepreneurs: Turning Brown to Green, Columbia, MO. Call 573-884-6572. May 22-23-17th Annual Small Farm Conference, Langston, OK. Call 866.466.2231 May 30-June 1-Heart of America Fiber Festival & Sheep Show, Sedalia, MO. Call 816-632-4310, http://www.moncwga.com/ June 3-Plant Propagation Workshop, Mountain Grove MO. http://mtngrv.missouristate.edu/homegardeners/ June 5-MO Vegetable Growers Association Farm Tour-Fahreier Farm, Lexington, MO. Jun 18-21-MO Milking Shorthorn Cattle Convention, Branson, MO. Call 608-365-3332. June 20-21-MO Woodland Owners Conference, Courtyard Marriott, Columbia, MO. Contact stelzerh@missouri.edu or 573-882-4444. June 26-Bobwhite Quail and Native Plant Field Day, Columbia, MO. Call 573-884-7945 or 573-882-4337. Aug 1-3-Camelid Community, Kansas City, MO. Call 715-246-5837, bsfugina@pressenter.com Aug 3-5-MO Young Farmers/Young Farm Wives Summer Tour, Kirksville, MO. Call 660-626-1476. Aug. 3-7-Walnut Council Annual Meeting, Columbia, Mo. Contact 573-875- 5341 ext. 233, coggeshallm@missouri.edu or 573-884-1777. Aug 7-17-2008 Missouri State Fair, Sedalia, MO. Aug 15-From Recipe to Reality, Chicago, IL. Call 402-472-2819, http://fpc.unl.edu/Entrepreneur/recipe.shtml Aug 22-23-Management Intensive Grazing School, Novelty, MO. Sept 4-Tomato Festival, Columbia, MO. Call 573-884-7945 Sept 9-Ozark Rain Gardens Field Day, Mountain Grove MO. Email PMayer@missouristate.edu Sept 13-Fall Poultry Fest, Silex, MO. Call 573-485-7261 or 573-384-5859. Oct 18-6th Annual Missouri Chestnut Roast, University of Missouri Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center, New Franklin, MO. Visit www.centerforagroforestry.org, Rhoadsj@missouri.edu or call 573-882-3234. Nov 6-8-16th National Small Farm Trade Show & Conference, Columbia, MO. Call 800-633-2535, smallfarm@socket.net, www.smallfarmtoday.com/tradeshow. Dec 4-6-2008 Acres U.S.A. Conference, St Louis, MO. Call 1-800-355-5313 Dec 5-6-Missouri Livestock Symposium, Kirksville, MO, http://missourilivestock.com Field Day Dates Set for MU Ag Experiment Station June 26 - Bradford Research and Extension Center, Columbia; Quail and Native Plant Field Day; Tim Reinbott, 573-884-7945 June 27 - Bradford; Weed and Pest Management Field Day; Kevin Bradley, 573-882-4039 Aug. 7 - Greenley Memorial Research Center, Novelty, Mo.; field day; Randall Smoot, 660-739-4410 Aug. 26 - Graves-Chapple Farm, Corning, Mo.; field day; Jim Crawford, 660-744-6231 Aug. 27 - Hundley-Whaley Farm, Albany, Mo.; field day; Bruce Burdick, 660-726-5610 Sept. 2 - Delta Research Center, Portageville, Mo.; field day; Jake Fisher, 573-379-5431 Sept. 4 - Bradford, Columbia; Tomato Festival; Reinbott Sept. 12 - Southwest Research Center, Mount Vernon, Mo.; field day; Richard Crawford, 417-466-2148 Sept. 18 - South Farm, Columbia; Beef Production Field Day; Bob Weaber, 573-882-5479 Sept. 27 - South Farm, Columbia; Showcase; John Poehlmann, 573-882-4450 Oct. 3 - Wurdack Farm, Cook Station, Mo.; field day; Poehlmann Oct. 18 - Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center (HARC), New Franklin, Mo.; Missouri Chestnut Roast; Nancy Bishop, 660-848-2268 2008 Grazing Schools June 3-5; Mt Vernon, Southwest Center Grazing School, Southwest Research Center, 417- 466-2148 May 6, 8, 13, 15 (evenings) and May 10 (Saturday daytime); Carthage, MO, Jasper Co. Central Annex #1; Mark Starnes (417)358-8198 ext 3 June 24, 25 & 26 (daytime); Neosho, MO, Crowder College; Dave Whitson (417) 455-9500 or John Hobbs (417) 223-4775 Aug 19, 20 & 21 (daytime); Cassville, MO, First Baptist Church Family Life Center; Tina Mills (417) 847-4309 ext 3 Sep 8, 9, 11, 16 & 18 (evenings) Taneyville, MO; Aaron Hoefer (417) 581- 2719 ext 3 Sep 30, Oct 1 & 2 (daytime); Mt. Vernon, MO, Southwest Center; Richard Crawford or Carla Rathmann (417) 466- 2148 Oct 21, 22 & 23 (daytime); Bois d’Arc, MO, MDC Dalton Shooting Range & Outdoor Education Center; Mark Green (417) 831-5246 ext 3 Growing Growers Workshops For more information, call 816-805-0362, email growers@ksu.edu or visit http://www.growinggrowers.org/. There is a small fee for each workshop. June 16-Harvesting and Post-Harvest Handling for Maximum Quality and Nutrition, Osceola, MO July 14-Taste & Nutrition of Local Vegetables, Lawrence, KS Aug 17-Pests, Disease and Weeds, St Joseph, MO Sept 15-Tree Fruit Production, Williamsburg, KS Oct-Business Planning and Management for Small Farms, Kearney, MO Nov-The Organic Certification Process, TBA ********************************************************************** 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! Aug 21-Tom & Paula Parker, Richmond, MO at 5pm. Call 816-470-3276. Sept 18-Doug & Diane Peterson, Ridgeway, MO at 5 pm. Call 660-824-4276. Oct 16-Jordan & Anne Bentley, Brookfield, MO. Call 660-412-3399. Nov 22-Ben & Nancy Coleman, Callao. MO. Call 660-768-5743