Grow Your Farm Begins April 18

"Grow Your Farm" is an educational program offered by University of Missouri Extension that is designed to help landowners interested in farming for the first time and current farmers wanting to start new enterprises.

"Grow Your Farm" includes eight class sessions and two farm tours and will connect people investing in a farm career with successful farm operators and business experts according to Patrick Byers and Tim Schnakenberg, horticulture and agronomy specialists with MU Extension.

The course is being offered at the Hollister City Hall in Hollister. Classes meet monthly from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. starting April 18 and continuing through Oct. 24. Two classes will meet in April.

Sessions will focus on business planning and selecting enterprises that can be profitable, based on an individual's skills and resources. Planning the farm, keeping track of finances, marketing farm products and understanding legal issues are some of the topics addressed.

"This is a unique opportunity for growers and producers to connect with University of Missouri Extension specialists in horticulture, agriculture business, natural resources and community development. These specialists can offer their expertise in small farm production, marketing, and increasing outcomes for small farm profitability," said Byers.

Scholarships — through a grant with Missouri Enterprise, the City of Hollister and the USDA — to cover the training fee of $200 are available to the first ten registrants.

The training fee covers two people from a farm or household and includes the cost of a course notebook, additional textbook, and group sessions with guest speakers, farm tours, and refreshments. Each additional person per household/operation may attend for $50 per person.

For more information contact Patrick Byers at the Greene County Extension office by telephone at (417) 881-8909 or online at http://extension.missouri.edu/greene. Registration for the Grow Your Farm program will be through the Taney County Extension Office, at 417-546-4431.

Local Food Marketing Practices Survey

Frequently Asked Questions:

• 1. What is the Local Food Marketing Practices Survey?
  The 2015 Local Food Marketing Practices Survey is the first-ever survey conducted by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service to produce benchmark data about local food. Information will include the number of agricultural operations in the United States that produce local foods, the value of local foods sales, and marketing practices and expenses. This census study will provide data on the production and marketing of locally and regionally produced agricultural food products, as directed under the 2014 Farm Bill.
• 2. Why should I respond to the Local Food Marketing Practices Survey?
  Federal funding for the local foods sector substantially increased in recent Farm Bills, however official data and increased public understanding about the sector are still needed. No federal farm-level benchmark data exist on local foods sales, production practices, risk management, marketing channels and other factors that are key to informing and implementing policies and programs. Your responses will provide this important, detailed, objective information to meet the growing need for national, regional and state-level estimates on the local foods sector.
• 3. Who will use the data published from the Local Food Marketing Practices Survey?
  The agriculture industry, all levels of government, and related businesses and organizations will use the information to increase understanding of the local foods sector. In turn, this knowledge will help evaluate, inform and implement many of the USDA programs that support the local foods sector.
  These USDA programs may include:
  • Agricultural Marketing Service: Farmers Market Promotion Program, Local Food Promotion Program, Specialty Crop Block Grants Program
  • Farm Service Agency: Microloan Program
  • Food and Nutrition Service: Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentives Program, Farm to School Program
  • Rural Development: Value-Added Producer Grant Program
  Additional examples of how others can use the data include:
  • State and local agencies to better understand, support and promote local food markets
  • Farmers and others in the agriculture industry to plan business and marketing strategies
  • Researchers, extension and university members to assist with local foods research
• 4. How will NASS conduct the survey?
NASS will mail survey forms in the beginning of April to approximately 44,300 producers nationwide. Responses are due by May 2, 2016. If a response is not received, a representative with USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service may follow up with you to gather this information.
• 5. How was I selected for this survey?
  The 2015 Local Food Marketing Practices Survey provides the first opportunity for NASS to contact many individuals and entities specifically involved in the local foods sector. NASS will contact a sample of approximately 44,300 people for this effort. If you were selected, NASS may have gathered your information from a number of sources. These sources include NASS’s current list of U.S. agricultural operators; public lists of producers involved in local and regional food activity; research via social media on local agriculture, etc.
• 6. Can I respond online?
  Yes. Survey participants are encouraged to use the secure, convenient online response system at www.agcounts.usda.gov . This not only saves you time, but it saves the government money on return postage and data entry. You will need the ID number printed on the mailing label of your survey form.
• 7. What types of questions will you ask?
  The Local Food Marketing Practices Survey will gather data related to the production and marketing of foods directly from farm producers to consumers or to retailers who then sell directly to consumers. Information will be gathered on local food marketing practices during 2015, including items such as:
  • Value of local food sales by marketing channel (i.e. farmers markets, CSAs, restaurants, roadside stands, food hubs, and more)
  • Crop and livestock sales by marketing channel
  • Federal farm program participation
• 8. Must I respond to the survey?
  Participation in the survey is voluntary and your response is strongly encouraged. Factual data straight from producers are needed in order to increase public understanding about the local foods sector.
• 9. Will my information be kept confidential?
  Absolutely. Respondents are guaranteed by law (Title 7, U.S. Code) that their individual information will be kept confidential. NASS uses the information only for statistical purposes and publishes data only in tabulated totals. The report cannot be used for purposes of taxation, investigation, or regulation. The privacy of individual records is also protected from Freedom of Information Act disclosure.
• 10. What if I want more information or need help completing my form?
  Call the toll-free number listed on your survey form, 888.424.7828, or email nass@nass.usda.gov.
• 11. When will results of the survey be released?
  NASS will publish survey results in December 2016.
• 12. What if I want more information?
  For more information, call (800) 727-9540 or visit www.agcensus.usda.gov.

Retail Farm Market School

What:  Missouri Retail Farm Market School Course

The Missouri Retail Farm Market School is a comprehensive program that educates participants about utilizing produce science knowledge to prolong the marketability of fresh produce.  The program utilizes hands-on exercises, videos and lecture to address the use of produce science, sanitation, crisping, customer service and merchandising to prolong the life of fresh produce.

When:  Thursday, March 24^th, 10AM-2PM

Where: University of Missouri Extension Office, 105 East 5th Street. Suite 200, Kansas City, MO 64106

Park within the City Market or in public parking lots located next to the Steamboat Arabia Museum. 

Registration Cost:  $20

Includes all Retail Farm Market course materials and lunch.

To register: email webercd@missouri.edu or call 816-407-3490.  If you need special accommodations because of a disability, or if you need materials in an alternative format, please inform me immediately.  I may be contacted at (816) 407-3490.

Farmers' Market and Local Food Promotion Program Grant Writing Workshop

University of Missouri-Extension is partnering with the USDA AMSTA this year to offer a one day training about the LFPP (Local Food Promotion) and FMPP (Farmers Market Promotion) grant opportunities. This training is designed to provide technical assistance to interested groups that are looking to apply for the newly released USDA Local Food Promotion Grants and the USDA Farmers Market Promotion Grants.  During the training, we will discuss how to increase the quality of applications, increase awareness of the program and to support those who successfully apply. You can find more information about the program here: http://www.amsta.net/

We’re asking that prior to attending the training that you have applied for your SAM and DUNS number which you can do so by clicking here: https://www.sam.gov/portal/SAM/#1

And

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html

Missouri will be hosting one training in the St. Louis area at:

Tuesday, March 29^th

MU Extension Center in Warren County

107 W. Walton

Warrenton, MO 63383

10 am to 2 pm

RSVP’s must be made in advance. To RSVP or if you have any questions regarding the trainings themselves please email fahrmeierl@missouri.edu or call (660) 259-2230. 

MU Extension hosts acidified foods workshop, March 28-29 in Kansas City

University of Missouri Extension will host a workshop for processors of acidified foods such as salsa and pickles, March 28-29 in Kansas City.

The two-day workshop meets FDA training requirements for those wanting to sell acidified, shelf-stable canned foods, said Londa Nwadike, MU Extension consumer food safety state specialist. Out-of-state participants are welcome, she said.

Teaching the workshop will be Andrew Clarke, associate professor of food science at MU; William McGlynn, horticulture products processing specialist at Oklahoma State; and Steve Seideman, extension food processing specialist at the University of Arkansas.

Topics will include FDA regulations, principles of thermal processing, food plant sanitation and microbiology. Upon successful completion of the workshop, participants will receive a certificate that can be used to verify training for FDA or Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services records.

The workshop will be held at Kansas City office of MU Extension in Jackson County, 105 E. Fifth St., across the street from the City Market.

Registration is $450 for the first person from a company and $350 for each additional participant from the same company. The fee covers educational materials, exams, a food safety textbook, refreshments and a laboratory analysis of pH and water activity for one product per participant.

To register, send contact information (name, company, address, phone number and email address) to NwadikeL@missouri.edu. Checks should be payable to the University of Missouri and mailed to Celeste Tilley, MU Extension in Jackson County, 105 E. 5th St., Suite 200, Kansas City, MO 64106.

For more information, contact Nwadike at 816-482-5854. Registration deadline is March 14.

The Missouri Department of Agriculture is offering a limited number of $225 scholarships to AgriMissouri members. Additional information and a scholarship application are available at http://foodscience.missouri.edu/afw/.

The workshop was designed as a Better Process Control School to meet FDA regulations on acidified foods (21 CFR Part 114).

High Tunnel Workshop for Intermediate and Advanced Growers

20th Annual Greenhouse Growers' School

The Missouri State Florists Association and University of Missouri Extension announce the 20^th Annual Greenhouse Growers’ School (Presented jointly with MLNA ‘Nuts and Bolts’ Event) on Thursday, February 18^th.  The event will be held at the Bradford Research and Extension Center, 4968 Rangeline Road, Columbia, MO.  (From U.S. 63 travel east on Rt. WW to Rangeline and turn right)

Agenda

8:30 - Registration/Coffee and donuts

9:00 - What’s new in the world of ornamental plants?, Kerry Meyer, Proven Winners

10:15 - Break

10:30 - ‘Grow Native!’ – Panel discussion on diverse topics & programs of ‘Grow Native!’

12:00 - Lunch (furnished) - Various program updates will be presented during lunch.

Concurrent sessions in the afternoon—your choice of topics.

                                                           

 Room A (Greenhouse programming)

1:00 - Specialty Cut Flower Production, Karen Davis, LU Extension, Urban Buds

2:00 - Growing My Way, John Graham, Callaway Fields                                                        

3:00 - Break

3:15 - Hydroponics 101, David Trinklein, MU Plant Sciences

                                   

Room B (Nursery/Landscape programming)

1:00 - What’s wrong with my container trees? Tim McDonnell, Kansas Forest Service

2:00 - After the storm, drought, etc.—ideas to restore trees. Tim McDonnell, Mike Rood, Dr. Sven Svenson
3:00 - Break

4: 00 - Pests to beware and prepare (for) Sarah Phipps, Forest Pest Program Dir., MO-AG

4:15     Closing discussion—door prizes                           

Registration is $30 per person (includes lunch and break items) payable on the 18^th.  Advanced registration is

not necessary.

For additional information contact: David Trinklein, State Floriculture Extension Specialist, 573/882-9631 or trinkleind@missouri.edu

Safety for You and Your Livestock

With winter approaching, we have more opportunities to work with our livestock in a more confined setting.  Handling livestock can sometimes be stressful for both people and the animals.  A lot depends on our attitude, methods, and our understanding of how an animal behaves.  Trying to load a balky horse into a trailer, gathering or herding animals in a pasture, or trying to pen or catch animals for treatment can all be stressful situations and even unsafe at times for all involved.

Safety becomes an important issue when handling livestock.  Livestock safety applies to both the animal and the animal handler.  It involves much more than simply “being careful” around livestock.  In fact, many livestock accidents are not directly related to the animals themselves but are caused by improper use of equipment and poorly-maintained or poorly-built facilities.

People tend to give animals human qualities and forget that animals quickly revert to primal reflex reactions when they are threatened or under stress.  Animals will fiercely defend their food, shelter, territory, and young.  This is especially important to remember during late winter and early spring when livestock may be giving birth.  When frightened or in pain, animals may react in ways that threaten their and our health and safety.  While livestock fatalities are not nearly as frequent as deaths involving tractors or machinery, animals are involved in more total accidents and with more work related accidents.  Typical animal-caused injuries to the handler range from cuts and sprains from falls, to broken bones and whole body injuries from being kicked, pushed, shoved, or run over by an animal.

Livestock handlers must be fully aware of the different ways livestock and humans react to certain situations.  Handlers must remain in control of potentially dangerous situations and avoid actions which make them vulnerable to injury.  The more predictable our actions, the less likely we are to injure livestock or be injured.  The better we understand livestock, the less risk of the animals harming us or themselves.

Observing animals to determine their temperament can alert the handler to possible danger.  These signs include raised or pinned ears, raised tail or hair on the back, bared teeth, pawing the ground, and snorting.  Male animals are always dangerous.  Males of some breeds are more aggressive than others, but protective females, especially new mothers, can be just as dangerous.  Often injuries occur from animals that do not openly exhibit aggression or fear.  This reaction may be triggered by excitement caused, for example, by a person walking nearby.  Typical injuries from this type of situation are usually a result of being kicked, bitten, stepped on, or squeezed between the animal and a solid structure as the animal tries to flee.

Treat livestock with respect.  Always know where you are and where the animal is in relation to you when you are working with livestock.  Never overlook warning signs exhibited by animals being handled.

An ounce of patience when handling livestock will be worth a pound of good working relationship when farm animals are concerned.  Take time to understand how animals respond to various situations.  This understanding should reduce the potential for accidents.

(By Steve Tonn, Nebraska Extension Educator - Livestock; Source: Introduction to Livestock Safety, Auburn University)

Beekeeping Workshop across Missouri

This is the time to look for beginning beekeeping classes across the state.  Here are a few that are upcoming.  If you don't see a location near you, go to the bottom of this post to find one in your area.

Willow Springs

Beginning Beekeeping

This beekeeping class provides resources to local beekeepers and design networking opportunities for you to learn and grow from experienced beekeepers.  Learn about equipment, sources of bees and how and when to start your own hives.

Class will be held at Jan, 25, 27 & 28 from 6-8 pm each night at the Ferguson Builing, 127 E Main, St, Willow Springs, MO.

Registration is $65 per person and includes reference materials.  To register call 417-256-2391.

Versailles

Keeping Honeybees beyond the First Year

This all day workshop will be taught by Jim and Valerie Duever.  Learn how to manage and maintain productive honeybee colonies beyond the first year.  Also learn about marketing products of the hive.

The class will be held Feb 27^th at the Hunter Civic Center, 201 W Jasper St, Versailles, MO. From 9 am to 5 pm.

Class is limited to the first 50 paid registrants.  Cost is $30 for individual or $50 for a couple.  Contact the Morgan County Extension Center at 573-378-5358.  Registration deadline is Feb 19^th.  You can also register online here.

Hillsboro

Beginning Beekeeping Workshop

The Jefferson County Beekeeper Association is offering a Beginning Beekeeping Workshop on Saturday, February 13 from 8 am to 4:30 pm. The workshop will be held at the Jefferson County Extension Office at 301 Third St, Hillsboro, MO.

The workshop will include information on characteristics of a good colony, apiary location, equipment, honey plants, disease prevention, mite control and protection from insecticides. The workshop will be taught with local beekeepers with over 100 years of experience.

Price of the workshop is $50 per person, $25 for each additional person from the same family. Lunch is on your own.

To register, call 636-797-5391. Space is limited to 25 people, so register soon.

Oscelola

Beginning Beekeeping Workshop

The St. Clair County MU Extension Center is offering an all-day beginning beekeeping workshop on Saturday, February 20th. The workshop will be taught by Pomme De Terre Beekeepers. The topics of the class may include:

• hive components, construction and accessories
• Setting up the hive
• Putting bees in the colony and management of the colony
• Races of bees, their attributes and were to get them
• Starting with nucleus hive or package of bees
• Disease and pest of bees, identifying the queen, workers and drones, their function in the hive
• Honey harvesting, equipment needed, when to harvest, how to package honey, what needs to be on the label, comb or extracted honey, how to market the honey
• Fall and winter management to bring the hive to the second year

There will be a starter hive and bees raffled off during the workshop.

The workshop will be held at the First Baptist Church at 505 Walnut Street, Osceola, Mo. and will begin with registration at 8:30 a. m. and end around 4:00 p. m.

Food and refreshments will be provided. Cost of the event is $20.00 and payment along with registration needs to be done by February 17th to the St. Clair County MU Extension Center. For questions, more information or to register, contact the St. Clair County MU Extension Center (St. Clair County Courthouse, P. O. Box 523, Osceola, Mo. 64776) at 417 – 646 – 2419 or by email at stclairco@missouri.edu. If the workshop has to be canceled due to inclement weather it will be made up on February 27th same time and place.

Kansas City

Beginning Beekeeping Workshop

Saturday, March 12, at Lakewood Oaks Golf Club, Lee's Summit, MO 64064

21^st Annual all-day class presented by the Midwestern Beekeeper’s Association. The complete course offers professional classes, a handbook, association membership, refreshments/lunch, a monthly newsletter, prizes, and beekeeping supply vendors on site.  $65 Pre-registration.

Visit: www.midwesternbeekeepers.org or call: 

Cathy (660) 656-3485 cathymisko@earthlink.net / Ezekiel (816) 616-7619 zekeamador@aol.com

To find out if there is a beekeeping class in your area of the state go to the Missouri State Beekeepers Association calendar of events or the local associations page for a club in your area.

Growing Elderberries for Fun and Profit

Meet Terry Durham, one of America’s leading growers and processors with River Hills Harvest Elderberry Juice Products.  Terry will be at the Slow Food St. James Workshop to share his knowledge of elderberry culture, from propagation to fighting pests, to harvesting and selling berries. 

The workshop will take place on Monday, February 15 at the Public House Brewing Compnay, 551 State Route B, St. James, MO.  A tour will begin at 3 pm followed by the workship from 4-6 pm.

Attendance is limited to the first 40 registrants.  Registration is $40 per person and includes light snacks created by chef Alex and River Hills Elderberry Products.

To register, click here.

For more information contact Penelope at slowfoodst.james@gmail.com or call 573-693-8054.

(photo courtesy of Columbia Tribune)

Grow Your Farm Course in Jefferson County

An extension educational program will help landowners who want to get into farming for the first time as well as current farmers who are interested in starting new enterprises.

Grow Your Farm, a program offered by University of Missouri Extension, will connect people considering a farm career with successful farm operators and business experts, says Debi Kelly, MU Extension horticulture/local foods specialist in east central Missouri and one of the authors of the curriculum.

The curriculum includes eight group sessions that will begin January 25th in Hillsboro and continue on through March 14th. 

Most sessions will focus on business planning and the process of selecting enterprises that can be profitable, based on an individual’s skills and resources. Planning is a big part of the program.

“With the continued growth of people moving into rural fringe areas around major cities, extension receives more questions from people who want to make a living, or at least create a profitable business, on their acreage,” says Kelly. “Grow Your Farm is designed to answer those questions and help them start successful enterprises. It should also be valuable for producers looking for new ideas to make their existing farms more successful.”

Class sizes will be limited to 20 participants, with two decision makers from each farm encouraged to participate.

“Farming takes a lot of work and family commitment,” says Kelly. “Participants are likely to be more successful if both spouses, a partner or a parent and an adult child who will be involved in the operation, are both part of the learning process.”

A fee of $300 per operation (for two participants) includes courses and one set of materials.  Fees include the cost of a course notebook and additional textbook, copies of the set of Grow Your Farm PowerPoint presentations, group sessions with guest speakers, farm tours and refreshments. To register, contact the Jefferson County Extension office at 636-797-5391 or email Debi Kelly.

Mid-America Organic Association Conference 2016

As a result of growing interest, the Missouri Organic Association Conference has evolved into Mid-America Organic Association Conference. This year we will be welcoming participants from eight states: Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Tennessee and Kansas and maybe even more!

MOA’s remains unchanged: they aspire to provide organic farms with the necessary tools to be successful businesses, while educating the general public about the connection local farms and healthy communities, in a physical, environmental and economic sense.

The Mid American Organic Conference 2016 will be held between February 4^th and 6^th, at the University Plaza Hotel and Conference Center, Springfield MO.

For the 7^th edition, they will be providing a broad spectrum of lectures, hands-on workshops, consumer education classes and networking opportunities.

The topics will include: Grain production, Livestock production, Commercial Vegetable production, High-tunnel small fruits and vegetable production, Sustainable living skills, Culinary and medicinal plants, and a whole lot more!

Keynote speakers this year are Dr. Arden Anderson, DO who will be presenting on “Healthy Soils, Healthy Bodies,” and Dr. John Ikerd who will be presenting on “Healthy Soils, Healthy Economies, Healthy Communities.” 

Another highlight for this year is the workshop conducted by Botanical Explorer, Joseph Simcox on “Raising Sexy, Exotic Crops for Fun and Profit”. He will be emphasizing plant selections suitable for farmers in Missouri and surrounding states and advising on propagation material and sources.

The “Top Chef competition”, featuring 6 of the premier chefs from St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, and Columbia, scheduled for Friday, February the 6^th, is by now a tradition of the MOA Conference.

On Saturday, February 6, the MOA will organize a special networking event, connecting organic farmers/producers with buyers and marketing managers from regional and national food stores, chefs, food distributors, etc.

One of the surprises they prepared for this year is the “Consumer Health Education Seminary”, scheduled for Saturday, February 6^th and open to the general public. The discussion will focus on organic foods and their connection to a healthy diet and balanced nutrition. The session will be presented by dietitians and medical physicians and will include definitions and discussion regarding “health food terminology”.  Participants will learn about the difference between organic, non-GMO, natural foods, free range, cage free, etc.

The full 3-day MOA 2016 Annual Conference agendas are available for viewing at:

 http://www.moaconference.org. 

The conference price is $175 for all three days and a single day pass is $75. An Early Bird Special discount is available until January 15^th, which includes a Buy 1 registration at full price, Get the 2^nd registration at ½ price.  

To register, please follow the instructions on their website.                                           

Hotel reservations are available at a special MOA Conference block price of $84 (+ tax) per night at The University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center, Springfield, MO. Please make sure to mention the MOA conference block to get this special hotel lodging price.

Beekeeping Workshop in West Plains

University of Missouri Extension beekeeping workshop continues to be a popular request and one of the most widely attended programs. Improving the craft of beekeeping takes many years of experience, a strong network of beekeepers you can depend on and a source of research based information to feed your knowledge as your apiary grows. 

“Winter and spring are a critical time for beekeepers and hive management, this workshop will provide beekeepers with the information they need to develop strong hives for spring brood rearing and honey production” says Dr. Amy Patillo, Certified Beekeeper and University of Missouri Extension Community Development Specialist.

Join us January 25^th, 27^th, and 28^th at the Ferguson building in Willow Springs from 6-8 p.m. nightly, $65 per person or $100 per farm. The Ferguson building is located at 127 E. Main Street, Willow Springs, MO, 65793.

Beginning beekeeping will introduce beekeepers to everyone living in the hive, including each bee and the work they do, pests and their management and the equipment and components of beehives. Beekeepers will have the opportunity to examine beekeeping equipment, hives and hive products.

Patrick Byers, University of Missouri Horticulture Specialist will share information about the importance of pollination and contribution of bees to horticulture crops, as well as, provide detailed information about bees and horticulture. Patrick’s presentations are always a special treat at the beekeepers meetings.

This workshop will provide you with the information and resources you need if you are thinking about ordering bees this spring. If you are a new beekeeper, you will find the resources and information you need to keep your bees alive through the winter and be prepared to care for them in the spring during their crucial brood rearing time. This is also an opportunity for you to learn how to become active with the West Plains Beekeepers group and learn more about the Willow Springs Beekeepers group that is hoping to get started in the spring.

Call the University of Missouri Howell County Extension office to register, 417-256-2391. More information is available online at http://extension.missouri.edu/howell

Bringing Back the American Small Farm Conference

The Ozark Farmers Ag Co-op (OFAC) is presenting a conference to share instruction on how to contribute to your regional food supply using whatever land resources are available to you.  Whether that's a backyard garden area or 100 acres, get the information you need to start producing local foods the right way for you.​​

Bringing Back the American Small Farm Conference will be held January 28-29, 2016 at the West Plains Civic Center, 110 Saint Louis Street, West Plains, MO 65775.  Registration for one day is $25 and two days is $50 per person before Jan 14.  After this date registration is $35 for one day and $75 for two days.

For more information contact OFAC at (417) 274-4235 or vist http://www.ozarkfarmers.com.

Day 1

8:00 am Registration

9:00 am Welcoming Remarks Patrice Jennings, Ozark Farmers Agriculture Cooperative

9:15 am General Session - Keynote "Small Farm, Real Income" Hank Will, Editorial Director,

Mother Earth News & Grit Magazine

10:15 am Vendor Exhibits / Break / Network

10:45 am Breakout Sessions:

* Conventional Farming Part I:  Considerations for Beginning Commercial-Scale Vegetable Production; Land, Machinery, Labor, Irrigation, Rusty Lee, Lee Farms, LLC

* Soil Health: Does It Matter, Doug Peterson, Rancher and NRCS State Soil Health Conservationist

* Livestock Grazing 101, Mark L. Kennedy, USDA Livestock Specialist

* Aquaponics Part I: Aquaponics system design is typically coupled with mystery, magic and backyard how to, Jeremy Shechter, Aquaponics Manager, FarmTek

11:45 am Vendor Exhibits / Break / Network

12:00 pm Luncheon General Session: Farm Resource Panel / Vendor Exhibits

1:30 pm Breakout Sessions:

* Conventional Farm Part II: Production and Harvest Care of your crop from seed to the marketed box of produce, Rusty Lee, Lee Farms, LLC

* Beekeeping Part I Grant Gillard, Author and former Missouri State Beekeeper President

* Pastured Poultry Jim Protiva, Peace Valley Poultry

* Aquaponics Part II – Maintenance and Fish-care Jeremy Shechter, Aquaponics Manager, FarmTek

2:45 pm Vendor Exhibits / Break / Network

3:15 pm Breakout Sessions:

* No Till Organic Vegetable Farming, Patrice Gros, Foundation Farm

* Small Fruit Production, Marilyn Odneal, Missouri State University at Mountain Grove

* Opportunities in Small Ruminants Mark L. Kennedy, USDA Livestock Specialist

* Hydroponics Speaker TBD

* Social Media Marketing, Kelli Jennings, Ag Marketing and Social Media Specialist

4:30 pm Networking Mixer

5:30 pm Adjourn for dinner

Day 2

8:00 am Registration

9:00 am Greeting and Announcements Patrice Jennings, Ozark Farmers Agriculture Cooperative

9:05 am General Session - Keynote "Why do Small Farms Matter?" Janie Dunning, USDA Rural Development State Director and Matt Moore, USDA Rural Development Business Program Director

9:55 am General Session "How to Learn Small Farm Skills" Dr. Linda Wulff-Risner, MSU-WP

Assistant Professor of Agriculture

10:15 am Vendor Exhibits / Break / Network

10:45 am Breakout Sessions:

* Urban Farming, Hank Will, Editorial Director, Mother Earth News

* Agri-Marketing, Patrice Gros, Foundation Farm

* Irrigation Speaker TBD

* Greenhouse 101,  Pete Hummert, Hummert International

11:45 am Vendor Exhibits / Break / Network

12:00 pm Luncheon General Session - Marketing Panel

1:30 pm Breakout Sessions:

* Conventional Farming Part III: Marketing—We grew it, now what do we do with it?, Rusty Lee, Lee Farms, LLC

* Agriculture Tourism,  Scott McWilliams

* Beekeeping Part 2, Grant Gillard, Author and former Missouri State Beekeeper President

3:30 pm Evaluations / Door Prizes / Adjourn

Missouri Aquaculture Meeting

The Missouri Aquaculture Association Winter Meeting will be Friday and Saturday, January 8-9, 2016 in Jefferson City.

Friday, January 8

Friday’s activities will be at Hy-Vee which is at 3721 W Truman Boulevard. We have never met here but the store is easy to find since it is large and is just off the highway next to the mall. The meeting room we will be using is upstairs, above the dining area. To find it, just go to the deli in the front corner of the store and take the stairs that are next to the dining area. If stairs are a problem, there is an elevator on the other side of the deli towards the back of the store, next to the bathrooms. On the second floor, the meeting room is at the opposite end of the hall from the elevator. There will be three events Friday afternoon:

2:30-3:00 - MAC meeting

The four members of the Missouri Aquaculture Council will meet to conduct the business of the aquaculture feed checkoff.

3:00-4:30 - MoAA Board meeting

The Missouri Aquaculture Association officers and board will meet to discuss industry issues.

5:00 – Dinner

Russ Heindselman, a long-time fish producer from LaGrange will share some of the innovations he has developed on his farm. Come prepared to share the ideas you have implemented on your farm during a friendly competition for some great prizes.

Saturday, January 9

The meeting on Saturday will be at Lincoln University’s George Washington Carver Farm which is a couple miles south of the Lincoln University campus at 3804 Bald Hill Road. If you have trouble finding it the day of the meeting, the phone number at the Carver Farm office is (573) 681-5540.

The agenda for the Saturday meeting is packed and we are pleased with the great line up of presentations this year. We appreciate the speakers’ willingness to cover a number of important topics.

9:00-9:15 – Welcome, David Emerson, MoAA President, Crystal Lake Fisheries

9:15-9:45 – On-Farm Evaluation of Traditional and Non-Traditonal Trout Feeds, Dennis VanLanduyt, Troutdale Farm

9:45-10:30 – Algae and Control Methods, Brian Lind, Western Regional Sales Manager, Applied Biochemists

10:30-11:15 – Aeration and Water Quality, Roy Watkins, President, Air-O-Lator Corporation

11:15-11:45 – Missouri Department of Conservation Update, Brian Canaday, Fisheries Division Chief, Missouri Department of Conservation

11:45-12:15 – The Realities of RAS: Future of Aquaculture or Pipe Dream? Dr. Chris Weeks, Aquaculture Extension Specialist, NCRAC

12:15-1:30 – Lunch

Following lunch, there will be two options:

 * MoAA business meeting

 * Tour of the Lincoln University aquaculture research ponds and indoor fish holding facilities.  Some photos are online at http://www.lincolnu.edu/web/aquaculture-research/facilities.

1:30-2:00 – USDA APHIS Update, Parker Hall, State Director, USDA APHIS Wildlife Services

2:00-2:30 – The Realities of RAS: Future of Aquaculture or Pipe Dream? Dr. Chris Weeks, Aquaculture Extension Specialist, NCRAC

2:30-2:45 – North Central Region Aquaculture Center Update, Allen Pattillo, Extension Program Specialist, Iowa State University

2:45-3:00 – Industry Update, Dr. Chris Weeks, Aquaculture Extension Specialist, NCRAC

3:00-3:15 – What’s New in Aquaponics, Allen Pattillo, Extension Program Specialist, Iowa State University

3:15-3:45 – Fish Farm Composting for Managing Organic Waste and Recycling Nutrients, Dr. Hwei-Ying Johnson, State Extension Specialist, Lincoln University Cooperative Extension

3:45-4:15 – Missouri Department of Agriculture Update, Dr. Linda Hickam, State Veterinarian, Missouri Department of Agriculture

4:15-4:30 – Wrap Up, David Emerson, MoAA President, Crystal Lake Fisheries

Registration

We make an effort to keep the cost of the meeting low but could not do it for what we do without the help of our great sponsor, Skretting USA. They are well known for the quality feed they consistently provide the aquaculture industry. We appreciate the way they support Missouri fish producers with a wide selection of quality feeds and thank them for sponsoring our event this year. Learn more about their products at www.skrettingusa.com

Registrations will be accepted the morning of the conference; however, knowing how many people to expect helps tremendously with planning. Receiving registrations in advance and having a great sponsor are the key reasons we can keep the registration cost so low. As a result, a discount is offered for registrations received prior to Monday, January 4.  If you have questions, please call Vanessa at (417) 683-2301.

Midwest Winter Production Conference Returns to Webb City Area

The Midwest Winter Production Conference will be Thursday and Friday, January 21 and 22, 2016, at the Continental Banquet Center, 2728 North Rangeline, Joplin.  Aimed at professional and aspiring professional growers interested in three- or four-season production, this is the third reginal conference since 2013 hosted by the Webb City Farmers Market.  Winter production, and extended season production in the spring and fall, have become increasingly important sources of revenue for Missouri farmers.  Off-season production is also essential for year-round markets and their customers who want fresh local produce throughout the year.  There are currently about 30 winter markets in Missouri including Webb City, Farmers Market of the Ozarks, Greater Springfield, City Market in Kansas City, and Columbia.

The conference will include multiple tracks covering:

·         * High tunnel siting, choices of equipment, costs and returns

·         * Economics and marketing for winter grow leafy greens

·        *  Marketing strategies for winter sales

·        *  Winter storage crop production and economics

·         * Integrated pest control in tunnels

·         * Starting your own plants for winter production - seed selection, crop varieties, seeding time table, cost, quality control

·        *  Adding value and expanding profit through storage crops and dried products

·         * Lacto fermentation of sauerkraut and dill pickles

·         * Garlic – production, storage and marketing

·         * Raspberry production in high tunnels

The conference also includes a Farmer Symposium with top winter producers from winter markets discussing their favorite winter production tools, crops and techniques. The conference will finish with a tour of a local farm operating both heated and unheated high tunnels, as well as a hydroponic lettuce greenhouse.

This conference features national and regional presenters including:  

Dru and Adam Montri operate 17,900 square feet of high tunnels for winter production, as well as farming in the field year-round on their farm in Bath, Michigan, Ten Hens Farm.  They sell their products through a variety of outlets, including farmers markets, restaurants, grocery stores and a medium-sized distributor.  Adam is also an outreach specialist in the Michigan State University Department where he works with farmers throughout the state on high tunnel funding, construction, year-round production, marketing, and economics.  Dru is director of the Michigan Farmers Market Association as well as on the board of the Farmers Market Coalition, the national farmers market association, giving her contacts with year-round markets throughout the country.

Patrice Gros operates Foundation Farm, Foundation Farm, a 5-acre USDA certified organic farm which includes three high tunnels in full winter production in Northwest Arkansas.  Go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bCfPh1drUE for a tour of his high tunnel operation taped this month.

Dan Kuebler operates The Salad Garden and sells year-round at local farmers markets and restaurants in Columbia. He has a special interest in lacto fermentation of sauerkraut and dill pickles, including it in his product mix and holding workshops on the processes.

Tammy and Greg Sellmeyer operate two greenhouses & four high tunnels.   They sell at the Columbia and the Fulton Farmers Markets, and have a CSA. Their winter sales include a wide variety of storage crops and dried products from produce raised on their farm.

The Midwest Winter Production Conference is sponsored by the Webb City Farmers Market, Lincoln University Co-operative Extension and University of Missouri Extension.  It is underwritten by a specialty crops grant from the Missouri Department of Agriculture.  Complete conference information is available at webbcityfarmersmarket.com or by calling 417 483-8139.  Pre-registration is required and is $50.  Additional registrations from the same farm or family are $40 each.  Registration at the $50 level includes the publications New Seed Starters Handbook by Nancy Bubel and the 2016 Midwest Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers.

The Great Plains Growers Conference and Trade Show

The 20th annual Great Plains Growers Conference will attract home gardeners and commercial growers from the Midwest and beyond.

The three-day conference, Jan. 7-9, 2016, in St. Joseph, will feature knowledgeable speakers from across the country.

“There are five states that participate in this conference. The extension services of Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota share horticulture expertise with conference attendees,” said Tim Baker, horticulture specialist for University of Missouri Extension and one of the conference organizers.

For the first time, the conference will feature several workshops on mushrooms.

Mark Gleason of Iowa State University will provide morel mushroom certification training. Anyone wishing to sell wild-harvested morels in Missouri must be certified as an inspector by an approved trainer.

“He regularly provides this training in Iowa, and a number of Missourians have traveled up to Iowa to get this training,” Baker said. “We’re bringing him down here so people can get that certification training and be able to legally sell morels in Missouri.”

If you want the state-required certification letter at the completion of the workshop, it will cost an additional $50.

There will also be a class for those interested in harvesting wild mushrooms for personal use. Correct identification is vital because some mushrooms are deadly and making the wrong choice can be life-threatening. Stan Hudson, with the Missouri Mycological Society, will discuss Missouri and Midwest mushroom identification and how to spot dangerous look-alikes.

There are also presentations for those who would like to grow shiitake and other specialty culinary mushrooms.

Other topics at the conference include organic growing, honeybees and scaling up small farm production.

MU Extension’s James Quinn and others will provide workshops on MarketReady, an educational program designed to help small farmers and ranchers build supplier relationships with restaurant, grocery, wholesale and food service buyers.

The keynote speaker will be Anthony Flaccavento, an organic farmer from Abingdon, Va. Flaccavento is a recognized leader in sustainable economic development and the founder of SCALE (Sequestering Carbon, Accelerating Local Economies).

The conference also includes a comprehensive trade show that will provide resources helpful to both home gardeners and commercial growers.

“The cost to attend the all-day Thursday workshop is $55 per person. The cost for Friday and Saturday is $45 per person per day,” Baker said. “The price includes lunch on all three days.”

To register, see a complete conference schedule and for more information, visit www.greatplainsgrowersconference.org.