AgOPP Vol 19, No 9 September 2008 Alternative Farm Products Considerations for Diversification By Marlin Bates, Extension Horticulture Specialist Platte County Entering into a new agricultural enterprise can be an effective way to increase the long-term economic viability of your farm. With the increased focus on sustainability lately, it is difficult not to consider diversifying to meet the economic, social, and environmental responsibilities associated with this movement. Of course, a decision like this is not one to be taken lightly or hastily entered into. There are many benefits, as well as risks to be considered. Part of the appeal of producing an alternative farm product is the value that is inherent in a product that is produced locally and sustainably. Because consumers across the country are paying more attention to these factors, there comes a greater appreciation for local and sustainably-produced items. Thus, consumers are becoming more willing to pay extra for a good that is produced locally versus a comparable good from elsewhere. There are many other factors that influence farmers to invest in alternative agriculture enterprises. More locally-produced goods lead to a broader sense of community. Many people are not only willing, but are also actively seeking to invest in local farms. From agritourism to relationship development at the farmers markets, people are demonstrating a desire to know "their" farmer. The number of civic organizations across the country that are dedicated to healthier lifestyles, support of local communities/economies, and sustainable living is indicative of the consumer's perception of these topics. This couldn't be truer in the communities within and surrounding metropolitan areas. Another factor playing a role in the re-birth of alternative agricultural is the younger generation. Because so many young people are not coming back to the farm for economic reasons, dedicating a portion of the family farm to high value crops is one way to make the decision to come back more lucrative. Additionally, the effort necessary to alter the business model of any farm can be overwhelmingly prohibitive to many farmers. This is why the move to specialty/alternative cropping systems is sometimes initiated by the younger generation. Many farmers have come to view alternative agriculture as a means to ensure the succession of the farm. Like any business venture, the decision to expand your farm's operation does not come without risk. However, there are many resources available to aide in reducing this risk. First, you will want to determine if you are in a good position to develop an additional enterprise on the farm. This can be done by asking questions like: Do I have enough time, experience, and knowledge to invest in a new venture? Is there equipment on the farm that is being under-utilized? Is there an underserved market nearby that I can address? Careful evaluation of your assets (tangible and intangible) and market opportunities will lead in this decision-making process. The most successful alternative agriculture farmers are the ones who evaluated existing markets thoroughly enough to identify overlooked niches. When you have identified a niche product and are confident that there is an existing market, it is time to put pencil to paper. For guidance with gross profit analysis, there are several resources available. The most common piece of advice in these resources is to "start small." That is, learn everything that you can about the alternative product before producing it. When you begin production, don't go all in. Produce enough for you, your family and friends. Mistakes made during this transition period aren't as costly. Finally, as you become more familiar with the ins and outs of the enterprise, take it to the next level and make it a contributing portion of the on-farm operation. ********************************************************************** New Research Vineyard Established at SW Center by Andy Thomas, Assistant Researcher, Horticulture MU Southwest Missouri Research Center After a hiatus of more than 20 years, grapes are once again growing at the University of Missouri's Southwest Research Center near Mt. Vernon. Two studies involving the promising wine-grape cultivar Chambourcin were planted this summer, with a third study slated for installation next winter. The new vineyard, located just north of Hwy. H across from the Southwest Center headquarters building, covers two acres and will eventually contain nearly 1,000 plants according to Andy Thomas, a horticulture research associated with the University of Missouri. This is an ambitious and costly project made possible by a number of very generous donors  and with direction and cooperation from the Institute for Continental Climate Viti-culture and Enology (ICCVE), located on the MU campus in Columbia according to Thomas. "Missouri now has about 78 wineries with more opening every year as the quality and distinctiveness of Missouri wines continue to improve. Wine tasting and agri-tourism are becoming increasingly popular in Missouri, as is the interest in locally-produced, value-added agricultural products such as wine and grape juice," said Thomas. In order to meet this increasing demand for high-quality grapes and grape products in Missouri, Thomas says it is important to entice new producers to enter the market while encouraging established producers to expand and improve production. "Both basic and cutting-edge research conducted by the University will help provide the scientifically-based guidance needed to make grapes a major commodity in Missouri once again," said Thomas. Chambourcin is a very promising grape cultivar for Missouri, and especially southwest Missouri. It is a European-American interspecific hybrid that was developed in France by Joannes Seyve, and released in 1963. Its pedigree is uncertain, but is believed to be based on Seibel hybrids and a number of undetermined American grape species. Chambourcin is a high yielding, cold-hardy grape with good resistance to fungal disease that produces a deep colored, full-bodied red wine. It has been widely planted in France, Australia and southeastern Canada, as well as the northeast and mid-west portions of the U.S. "One source estimates that there are now about 800 acres of Chambourcin in the US -- well, make that 802 now," said Thomas. The first of the three studies will evaluate the performance of Chambourcin grafted onto 11 experimental rootstocks versus self-rooted (ungrafted) plants. The second study is an evaluation of Chambourcin either self-rooted or grafted onto three promising rootstocks (1103P, 3309C, SO4) in combination with three irrigation regimens. The third experiment (to be planted next winter) will be an establishment study comparing the effectiveness of several training methods that can be used to bring grapevines into production. "We hope to begin harvesting grapes in 2010, with full production a few years later. We also look forward to eventually expanding our grape and vineyard research beyond this initial two acres into additional cultivars and production techniques," said Thomas.   As Missouri's grape and wine industry continues to develop, Thomas says the University looks forward to conducting research guided by the "needs and demands of our grape and wine producers." The University of Missouri research facility, officially named the Southwest Missouri Agricultural Research Center, is located two miles south of Mt. Vernon, Mo. It was established in 1959 with the purchase of an 898-acre site representing soil types in this region. Results of research conducted at the center are communicated to the public through various programs, field days, publications and specialists working within University of Missouri Extension. ********************************************************************** USDA releases interim final rule for Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) By Zac Erwin, Livestock Specialist Lewis County Extension Center The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently issued an interim final rule for the mandatory country-of-origin-labeling program that will become effective September 30, 2008. The implementation of COOL represents a six-year battle between various industry groups from producers to retailers. If you are not interested in reading the 233 page rule, there are several "cliff notes" versions of the law. I extracted the following information from a summary published by the American Meat Institute. I outlined a few of the major highlights and their effect on different segments of the meat industry. COOL Applies to Certain Retail Meat Products COOL is a retail labeling law that requires retailers to provide country of origin information regarding "covered commodities," which include certain meat products. Because COOL is limited to retail sales, products sold at food service establishments are exempt. For meat, a "covered commodity" includes "muscle cuts" of beef, lamb, chicken, goat, and pork, as well as ground beef, ground lamb, ground chicken, ground goat, and ground pork. However the law exempts from COOL a product that otherwise would be subject to labeling if that product "is an ingredient in a processed food item." Thus, the rule treats all cooked items (e.g., cooked sausages, cooked roast beef) as processed food items and outside the scope of a covered commodity. The rule also exempts as processed an item if it has been cured, smoked, or restructured. Thus, other examples of meat products not covered are flavored pork tenderloin, smoked ham, corned beef, etc. Four-Tiered Labeling Process The law provides for four categories of origin for meat: Product of the United States, Multiple Countries-of-Origin, Imported for Immediate Slaughter, and Covered Commodity that is Foreign Country-of-Origin. Product of the United States is defined as a meat product "exclusively from an animal that is exclusively born, raised, and slaughtered in the United States." Multiple Countries-of-Origin captures covered commodities from animals with an affiliation with more than one country, but are not from animals that are imported for immediate slaughter. For example, cattle that are born in Mexico, spend part of their lives there as well as in the United States, and then are slaughtered in the U.S. The label in this scenario could read "Product of the U.S and/or Mexico". Imported for Immediate Slaughter refers to animals imported to the U.S. for immediate slaughter and will be labeled as Product of Country X and the United States. For example, the covered commodity from a market hog delivered directly to a slaughter plant in the U.S would be labeled "Product of Canada and the U.S." Immediate slaughter is defined as being slaughtered within two weeks from the date of entry. The last category, Covered Commodity that is Foreign Country-of-Origin, captures covered commodities from an animal for which no production steps (born, raised, or slaughtered) occur in the United States. COOL Imposes Recordkeeping Requirements The law imposes recordkeeping requirements on packers and processors and anyone else who supplies a covered commodity to a retailer. The packer requirement will trickle through the production chain and the recordkeeping system ultimately will begin at the producer level. The law also specifies that "records maintained in the normal conduct of business" can serve as verification of the country-of-origin of a covered commodity. Those records may include animal health papers, import or customs documents, as well as producer affidavits. The law is very clear that a National animal ID system is not to be tied to COOL or made a mandatory requirement of COOL. However, there are indications the USDA may provide a "safe harbor" for producers who are participating in the national animal ID program. This could alleviate some of the paperwork and traceability burden for producers. Also there is a grandfather date for all cattle within the United States before July 15, 2008. Any animal on U.S. soil prior to this date will be considered a part of the national herd and labeled "Product of the U.S.", regardless of heritage. The supplier of an animal that enters the U.S. after that date has an obligation to ascertain the origin of the animal that yielded the covered commodity. Since COOL will be mandatory as of September 30, it is best to start keeping records now. If you are buying or selling cattle, moving your calves off the farm and onto the feedlot, keep a record of where and when you bought or sold cattle. A simple sheet of paper with the numbers and lots will be helpful come fall. ********************************************************************** Fruitful Findings: Shiitake by Michelle Hall MU Center for Agroforestry Interest in fresh shiitake mushrooms is increasing with gourmet chefs, farmers' markets and household consumers, as information spreads about their nutritional benefits and rich, versatile taste. Markets for shiitake and other specialty gourmet mushrooms continue to show promising profit potential for Missouri forest landowners. Cultivating shiitake mushrooms allows forest landowners and home gardeners an opportunity to utilize trees thinned from woodlots as well as branch-wood cut from the tops of larger trees. When the mushrooms are harvested and marketed, the result is a relatively short-term payback for long-term management of wooded areas. The practice of intentionally managing shade levels in a forest to favor the production of certain crops represents the agroforestry practice called forest farming. Properly applied, forest farming can enhance and diversify income opportunities, while at the same time improving the composition and structure of the forest for long-term stand health and economic value. By developing an understanding of the interactions between the overstory trees and the understory environment, forest management activities can be used to create understory sites ideal for growing profitable shade loving crops like shiitake mushrooms. University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry experts have been working since 1999 to determine the best logs, strains and spawn for growing shiitake in Missouri. UMCA mushroom studies were quite "fruitful" in 2007 as numerous research questions were answered to help growers, including: Sugar maple logs outperform oak as mushroom hosts (especially when sugar maple are harvested in February). Wide-temperature shiitake strain outperforms warm- and cold-weather strains. Sawdust spawn outperforms dowel or thimble. Fruiting is most abundant in years two and three after logs are inoculated. Although fruiting will continue for about six years, gradually declining, contaminant wood-decay fungi will become increasingly prevalent. Chilled immersion water improves mushroom yield; well water is recommended over surface water when force fruiting (soaking logs in water to simulate natural rainfall and encourage mushrooms to fruit). Force fruiting compresses and increases production of logs to three years (spawn run plus two). The efficacy of force fruiting depends on ambient temperatures and the spawn strain used. Cold-weather strains respond poorly to force fruiting. A completely updated version of UMCA's Agroforestry in Action: Growing Shiitake Mushrooms in an Agroforestry Practice, is now available online at http://www.centerforagroforestry.org/pubs/index.asp#mushguide This guide, authored by MU's Johann Bruhn, research associate professor, Division of Plant Sciences, takes landowners step by step through the growing process, from managing shade levels for production to marketing the fresh mushrooms. New findings are incorporated throughout the publication. ********************************************************************** Missouri's Purple Paint Statute: A Simple Way to Post Your Property by Hank Stelzer MU Forestry Extension The Purple Paint Statute (RSMO 569.145) allows Missouri landowners to mark trees or posts with purple paint as a warning to would-be trespassers. It fulfills the same function as a "No Trespassing" sign, a fence or telling someone not to come onto your property. Since they can't be taken down, destroyed or stolen, purple paint marks are cheaper and more economical to maintain. The law does not require that property marked with the purple paint also be fenced; unless, of course, you or your neighbor(s) raise livestock along the property line(s) in question. Under Missouri's law: Any owner or lessee of real property can post property with the purple paint marks. Purple paint marks must be placed on either trees or posts (the statute does not specifically allow the option of placing paint marks on buildings). Vertical paint lines must be at least 8 inches long (the statute does not mention a maximum length). The bottom edge of each paint mark must be between 3 feet and 5 feet off the ground. Paint marks must be readily visible to any person approaching the property. Purple paint marks cannot be more than 100 ft. apart. The statute provides that any person trespassing onto property marked by purple paint can be found guilty of a first-degree trespassing charge. Any unauthorized entry onto property marked with the purple paint is considered a trespass. First-degree trespassing is a Class B Misdemeanor, with potential punishment of a maximum $500 fine and/or a maximum of 6 months in jail. Other violations which would subject a trespasser to first-degree trespass are: (1) entering a property posted with "No Trespassing" signs; (2) refusing to leave property once told to do so; and (3) coming onto land fenced against intruders. Landowners can purchase purple boundary posting paint at hardware stores across the state. Several paint companies formulated a latex semi-paste product for the specific purpose of marking property. The paint can be applied in semi-paste form or sprayed once thinned. ********************************************************************** 16th National Small Farm Trade Show and Conference Nov 6-8, 2008 Columbia MO Boone County Fairgrounds This year's conference will have 150+ exhibitors, 18 seminars, 5 three hour short courses, 50+ Farmers Forum talks, demonstrations, association meetings, farm tour and more. Cost: Entrance to Seminars, Exhibits, Demonstrations and Assn Meetings One day $7/after Oct 27-$10 Two day $12/after Oct 27-$15 Three day $15/after Oct 27-$20 Entrance to Short Courses: $25 each/after Oct 27-$35 each For more information or to register call 800-633-2535. Thursday Seminars: Surviving the Next Farm Financial Crisis Survival Gardening for Profit Poultry 301 Walnuts and Walnut Production High Tunnels Short Courses: SPINing (Small Plot INtensive) and PLANting Small Farm Equipment Farmers Forum: River Hills Purebred Poultry Marketing Alliance Producing and Marketing Shrimp Organic Farming Update Building the Ozark Seed Bank Peony Flower Insurance for Early Market Blooms: the High Tunnel How to Write a Food Defense Plan Grass-Hay Alley Cropping with Organic Nuts High Tunnel Ag Highly Nutritious Staple Food Crops Friday Seminars: Organic Berry Possibilities My Life as a Farm Marketer Compost is a Process Rare Breeds Alternative Crops Logging with Draft Animals How to Get Your Kids to Stay on the Farm Short Courses: Biodiesel SPINing (repeat) Farmers Forum: The Value of Mint: Preserving Historical Mint Fields with Windbreaks SSAIM (Site Specific Apple Insect Monitoring) Establishing a Complimentary Honeybee Enterprise Raising Heritage Breed Hogs Veggies and Chick Pea Innovative Field to Market Processes for Small Produce Farms Aronia Berry Industry Farmer-led Networking Groups for Vegetable Growers Ultra High Stock Density Grazing Bulldog Biodiesel Poppy's Pumpkin Patch: Agritourism Education Upgrade Saturday Seminars: Make Money with Your Sawmill Relating Compost, Humus, and Soil Fertility Hair Sheep Intensive Grazing and Marketing How to Write a Food Defense Plan Your Poultry Business Small Farms in the Year 2050 Short Courses: Management Intensive Grazing Farmers Forum: Marketing an Organic CSA Equine Forestry Alpaca Farm, Fiber Day Camps and Workshops Feed and Management Alternatives for Natural Livestock Production Sustainable Production of Tibetan Goji Berry in Central MO Producing and Marketing Medicinal Herbs as Alternative Cash Crops Improving Forests Through Better Logging: Why Rob the Bank You Own? Heirloom Vegetable Production Strategies via the Internet Association Meetings on Saturday: Rare Breed Swine Initiative Meeting MO Organic Assn Meeting Red Wattle Hog Assn Meeting ********************************************************************** IN PRINT/ON-LINE *The New Agritourism: Hosting Community and Tourists on Your Farm* A new book by Barbara Berst Adams. Farmers worldwide have rediscovered a new crop: Agritourism! This new book provides inspiration and practical information to increase farm revenue and build support for local agriculture.  More than ever, consumers want to know where their food and other farm products come from, how they were produced and who grew or raised them. The New Agritourism inspires producers to capitalize on this phenomenon and teaches them how, illuminating readers that opening one's farm gates to the public can be both personally rewarding and profitable.  The book may be purchased from New World Publishing at http://www.nwpub.net/. *Integrating Agroforestry Practices for Wildlife Habitat* The publication gives landowners and farmers ideas on how to incorporate management of trees, shrubs and grasses with their current farm practices so wildlife will benefit. The guide includes information on habitat requirements of white-tailed deer, eastern wild turkey, bobwhite quail, waterfowl and mourning doves. Online Magazine Focuses on Sustainable Agriculture Sustainable Farmer (http://www.sustainablefarmer.com/) is a new independent journalistic voice that provides information to consumers and farmers on sustainable agriculture. Sustainable Farmer offers articles, videos, blogs and forums to serve the entire spectrum of sustainable farmers, from large-scale growers to families and communities seeking to raise more of their own food. Rodale Institute offers free online Organic Transition Course Rodale Institute is offering a free online Organic Transition Course in partnership with USDA Risk Management Agency.  The online course is a 15-hour program designed to help farmers understand the National Organic Standards and use them as framework for making the transition to organic production. It's suitable for farmers who are ready to make the complete transition to certified organic, and for those interested in simply integrating more sustainable methods into their current farming system. It's also helpful for farmers just looking to learn more about how certified organic farming works. The Organic Transition Course can be taken anywhere there is a computer connected to the Internet. There are no set course hours, registration fees or tests to take. The course is taught by Rodale Institute's farm manager, Jeff Moyer. Visit www.tritrainingcenter.org/course/ to get started! ********************************************************************** IN THE NEWS The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) funds research on organic farming and food systems and the dissemination of these research results to the greater agricultural community. Proposals must involve farmers or ranchers in project design and implementation and take place on working organic farms or ranches whenever possible. OFRF particularly encourages farmers, ranchers, researchers, and extension personnel to consider applying for funding. The average research grant awarded in OFRF's last funding cycle was $13,300. OFRF will not fund a project for more than $15,000 per year except for fruit research grants, for which the maximum grant size is $20,000 per year. Proposals are due November 17, 2008. http://ofrf.org/grants/apply_research.html Grants offered for Animal Welfare Improvement on Farms - Due October 15th President of the Animal Welfare Institute Cathy Liss and Director of the Animal Welfare Approved program Andrew Gunther are pleased to announce a new initiative that will offer grants of up to $10,000 for the sole purpose of improving animal welfare on farms. Current Animal Welfare Approved farmers and those who have applied to join the program are eligible to apply for these grants. A farmer may submit a proposal for one or two different projects, for a total maximum grant of $10,000. Grants will be awarded based upon the projects' potential to deliver the greatest benefit to farm animals. In order to receive a grant, applicants must meet the eligibility requirements, submit an application and a budget by October 15, 2008, and propose a project that meets the purpose of this program. All applications will be evaluated by a review panel. For more information, contact Emily Lancaster at (919) 428-1641 or Emily@AnimalWelfareApproved.org Download an application and guidelines at: http://www.animalwelfareapproved.org/uploads/docs/Animal_Welfare_Approved_G rant_Application_7.16.2008.pdf Scientists at the Richard B Russell Research Center in Athens, Georgia, an Agricultural Research Service facility, evaluated two primary industry methods for chilling chicken-immersion chilling and dry-air chilling-in terms of meat quality, food safety and water management. Both methods meet the criteria for limiting bacterial pathogen growth on carcasses, but the study showed that air chilling led to better quality meat and higher yields when cooked. Air chilling also reduces the amount of water it takes to process each chicken by one-half gallon per bird. The entire article can be read at www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/apr08/chicken0408.htm ********************************************************************** ON THE CALENDAR Sept 6-Missouri Nut Growers Association Pre-Harvest Fall Meeting, Joplin, MO. Call 417-623-3727. Sept 9-Ozark Rain Garden Field Day, Mountain Grove MO. Email PMayer@missouristate.edu Sept 13-Fall Poultry Fest, Silex, MO. Call 573-485-7261 or 573-384-5859. Sept 13-Northeast Missouri Food Fest, Kirksville, MO. Call 660-665-9866 Sept 15-17-MO Women in Ag Conference, Cape Girardeau, MO. Call 573-883-3566 Ext 3. Sept 20-A Cross Cultural Workshop: Gardening with the Umana Family, Marshall, MO. Call 573-82-7264 or email CML136@mizzou.edu Sept 26-Audrain Region Fall Craft and Flower Tour, Centralia, MO. Call 573-634-2824 or e-mail coleco@missouri.edu. Sept 27-Sandhill's Sorghum Festival, Call 660-883-5543 or go to www.sandhillfarm.org Sept 29-Commercial Cut Flower Production Basics, Mountain Grove. MO. Call 417-547-7513. Oct 2-Local Foods, Local Impact, Lincoln NE. Call 402-472-3717 or jpittam1@unl.edu 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. Oct 31-Nov 1-MO State Beekeepers Conference, Lake Ozark, MO. Call 636-394-5395. Nov 5-Stock Dog Clinic, Columbia MO. Call 800-633-2535. Nov 6-8-16th National Small Farm Trade Show & Conference, Columbia, MO. Call 800-633-2535, smallfarm@socket.net, www.smallfarmtoday.com/tradeshow Nov 8-Rare Breed Swine Initiative, Columbia, MO. Call 919-542-5704. Dec 3-Home Winemaking, Mountain Grove, MO. Call 417-547-7513. 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 Feb 1-4-North American Farmers' Direct Marketing Association Conference, Savanah, GA. Go to http://www.nafdma.com/ Feb 6-Missouri Nut Growers Association Annual Nut Evaluation & Show, Nevada, MO. Call 417-436-2351. Feb 7- Missouri Nut Growers Association Annual Meeting, Nevada, MO. Call 417-436-2351. Feb 16-18-MO Small Fruit and Vegetable Conference, Springfield, MO. Call 417-547-7533 Feb 26-29-Upper Midwest Organic Farming Conference, La Cross, WI. Call 715-772-3153 or info@mosesorganic.org May 31-June 3-North American Agroforestry Conference, Columbia, MO. http://www.centerforagroforestry.org/events/afta/index.asp March 6-7-MO and KS Beekeeping Associations Joint Conference, Overland Park, KS. Call 636-394-5395. ********************************************************************** Field Day Dates Set for MU Ag Experiment Station 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 Sept 8, 9, 11, 16 & 18 (evenings) Taneyville, MO; Aaron Hoefer (417) 581- 2719 ext 3 Sept 19-20; Stewartsville, MO; Curtis Walker, (816)-232-6555, ext. 139. Sept 24-25-Albany, MO; Curtis Walker, (816)-232-6555, ext. 139. Sept 24-27-Beginners Grazing Schools, Linneus, MO. Call 573-499-0886. Sept 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 info, call 816-805-0362, email growers@ksu.edu or visit http://www.growinggrowers.org/. There is a small fee for workshops. 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. ********************************************************************** ON THE CALENDAR Sept 2-Delta Research Center Field Day, Portageville, MO, 573-379-5431 Sept 4-Hundley-Whaley Center Field Day, Albany, MO, 660-726-5610 Sept 6-13-Southeast Missouri District Fair, Cape Girardeau, MO Sept 9-FFA Field Day, Bradford Center, Columbia, MO Sept 9-11-Beginner Grazing School, Forage Systems Research Center, Linneus, MO, 660-895-5121 Sept 11-Southwest Center FFA Day, Mount Vernon, MO, 417-466-2148 Sept 12-Southwest Center Field Day, Mt Vernon, MO Sept 16-18-Grant Writing III Workshop-Springfield, MO. Call 417-732-6485. Sept 15, 16, 22, 23 & 25-Whole Farm Planning Workshops, half-day events for farmers, ranchers, and agricultural professionals, in Oklahoma; for locations and details, contact Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture, 918-647-9123; easpeake@kerrcenter.com; www.kerrcenter.com/kerrweb/HTML/events.html. Sept 18-Direct Marketing of Meat Workshop, Conway, MO. Call 417-466-4225, BeckerA@missouri.edu Sept 19-MO Elk Producers Assn Meeting, Macon, MO. Call 573-897-4262. Sept 26-27-Midwest Forest Industry Show, St Charles MO. Sept 27-Alternative Forest Products Workshop, Lesterville, MO. Call 573-223-4525 or jensej@mdc.state.mo.us Sept 28-Oct 1-Perennial Production Conference, St Charles IL. Call 630-208-9080, mmazza@ballpublishing.com Oct 2-Wurdack FFA Field Day, Cook Station, MO, 573-882-4444 Oct 3-Wurdack Producer Field Day, Cook Station, MO Oct 3-5-Ozark Fall Farmfest, Springfield, MO Oct 3-5-Niche Marketing Using Appropriate Genetics American Livestock Breeds Conservancy 26th Annual Conference, Wichita, KS. Call 919-542-5704, albc@albc-usa.org. Oct 4-Chestnut Roast, HARC Research Center, New Franklin, MO, 660-848-2268 Oct 4-MO Nut Growers Assn Fall Meeting, New Franklin, MO. Call 573-445-3793. Oct 24-From Recipe to Reality Seminar, Lincoln, NE. Call 402-472-8930. Oct 24-25-MO State Beekeepers Assn Fall Meeting, Jefferson City, MO. Call 573-474-8837. Nov 6-8-National Small Farm Trade Show and Conference, Columbia, MO. Call 800-633-2535. Nov 18-Agritourism Conference, Sedalia MO. Call 1-866-466-8283 Nov 23-25-MO Governor's Conference on Agriculture, Tan-Tar-A. Dec 5-6-MO Livestock Symposium, Kirksville, MO Dec 6-MO Alpaca Owners & Breeders Assn Meeting, Columbia, MO. Call 913-884-5831, sondac@aol.com Southwest Region MO Organic Assn Farm Tours Sept 14-Annual Watermelon Social, Nixa, MO. (watermelons) Call Joan 417-725-5134. Green Hills Farm Project Farm Tours Sept 18-Michael & Kathy Rude, Braymer, MO, 660-645-2324 (chickens) Oct 16-Jeff & Anita Reid Farm, Bosworth, MO, 660-534-7318 (cattle and pasture) Nov 20-David Schafer & Alice Dobbs Farm, Jamesport, MO 660-684-6035 (cattle, sheep & homesteading practices)