Rabbit 101 Workshop for New (or hopeful) Rabbit Owners

Know what you are getting into before you buy that rabbit this spring.

Farm stores and individuals are starting to sell rabbits just in time for Easter. Although small and cute, they are much different than a dog or cat in how they behave and what they require.

Whether you’ve already purchased a rabbit or are still thinking about it, there is a lot to learn. University of Missouri Extension will be offering a program on March 26 in Maryville to help educate new and potential rabbit owners.

“Rabbit 101” will cover how to select a rabbit, supplies needed, basic care, what to expect, and opportunities. The program will be held from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the Northwest Technical School in Maryville. The fee to attend is $10 per adult or $5 for youth (17 years and under).

Registrations are required by March 25. To register, contact the Northwest Technical School at 660-582-8311 or visit their website.

For more information about the program, contact AmieSchleicher at the Atchison County MU Extension Center at 660-744-6231.

(by Amie Schleicher, MU Livestock Specialist)

2014 Regional Grazing Schools Across Missouri

The 2014 regional grazing schools are gearing up across the state.  Check to see where the nearest one to you is located.

Northwest Region

TBA – Albany (at Hundley Whaley Research Farm), contact Nathan Bilke (660) 582-7125 x 123 Nathan.bilke@mo.usda.gov or Jim Humphrey (816) 324-3147 humphreyjr@missouri.edu

East Central Region

April 1-2 – Warrenton (at Warren County Extension Center) contact Sarah Szachnieski (636) 456-3434 x 3 sarah.szachnieski@mo.usda.gov

May 20-21 – Fulton (at Callaway MU Extension Bldg.) contact Joshua Stewart (573) 592-1400 x 3 joshua.stewart@mo.usda.gov  

September 3-4 – Union (Location TBA) contact Lori Nowak (636) 583-2303 x 3 Lori.nowak@swcd.mo.gov 

Central Region

April 10-11 – Rolla Phelps County SWCD contact Paula Wade (573) 364-6202 x 3

September 4-5 – Tri-County School-Maries County contact Maries County SWCD Sandy Stratman (573) 422-3342

September 25-26 – Wurdack contact Crawford County Extension (573) 775-2135

South Central Region

April 23-25 – West Plains contact Logan Wallace (417) 256-2391 wallaceld@missouri.edu

May 12-14 – Hartville contact Missy Wollard (417) 741-7343 x 3 missy.wollard@swcd.mo.gov or Ted Probert (417) 741-6134 ProbertT@missouri.edu

July 28-30 – Houston contact Sandy Wooten (417) 967-2028 x 3 sandra.wooten@swcd.mo.gov

or Sarah Kenyon (417) 967-4545 KenyonS@missouri.edu  

August 4-6 – Squires contact Stacy Hambelton (417) 679-3525 HambeltonS@missouri.edu  

September 10-12 – Willow Springs contact Regan Hughston (417) 256-7117 x 3 regan.hughston@swcd.mo.gov or Jamie Kurtz (417) 256-7117 x 3 jamie.kurtz@mo.usda.gov  

September 22-24 – Centerville contact Vera Pyles (573) 648-1035 pylesv@missouri.edu or Jeff Lawrence (417) 778-7561 x 106 jeff.lawrence@mo.usda.gov  

October 6-8 – Alton contact Sarah Stubbs (417) 778-7561 x 3 or Sarah Kenyon (417) 967-4545 KenyonS@missouri.edu  

Southeast Region

May 6-7 – Park Hills (at Mineral Area College) contact Selma Mascaro (573) 224-3410 x 3 selma.mascaro@mo.usda.gov

September 17- 18 – Jackson contact Selma Mascaro (573) 224-3410 x 3 selma.mascaro@mo.usda.gov

Southwest Region

April 29, May 2, 6, 9 (evenings), May 3 field day (Saturday daytime) – Halfway contact Dallas County SWCD (417) 345-2312 x 3

May 21-23 (daytime) – Mt. Vernon contact Lawrence County SWCD (417) 466-7682 x 3

June 3-5 (daytime) – Neosho contact Nathan Witt (417) 451-1007 x 3

September 23-25 (daytime) – Forsyth contact Aaron Hoefer (417) 581-2719 x 3 or Cindy Dalton (417) 546-2089

October 7-9 (daytime) – Bois D’ Arc (NW of Springfield 10 miles) contact Greene County SWCD (417) 831-5246 x 3

Southwest Central Region

May 14-15 – Osceola (at Osceola Baptist Church) contact Margie Best (417) 646-8108

TBA – Harrisonville (at MU Extension Office) contact Jamie Bokern (816) 884-3391 jamie.bokern@swcd.mo.gov or Katrina O’Farrell (816) 884-3391 Katrina.O’Farrell@swcd.mo.gov  

October 8-9 – Lincoln contact Tina Dulaban (660) 547-2456 x 3

Northeast Region

May 30-31 - Monroe County contact Darren Hoffman or Lena Sharp (660) 327-4117 x 3

August 22-23 – Novelty (at MU Greenley Center) contact Karisha Devlin (660) 397-2179 or Tim Clapp (660) 385-2616 x 113

Linneus Schools

September 29-October 1 – Linneus contact Joetta Roberts (573) 499-0886 mfgc@mchsi.com

Keys to Successful Composting!

A workshop on composting will be held at the MU Southwest Research Center, 14548 Hwy H, Mt. Vernon, MO 65712 on Thursday, March 27^th from 9:30 am - 4:30 pm.  The workshop is being offered by Lincoln University Cooperative Extension (LUCE) with a day long workshop on the do’s and dont’s of composting!

·       Educational topics include: Aerobic composting, vermicomposting, Effective Microbe

·       (EM)/Bokashi composting, and compost tea brewing.

·       Learn how to build your own low cost composting bin.

·       Overview of GAP and FSMA food safety standards for applying compost to your crops.

·       Hands on demonstration

·       A registration fee of $10 (includes lunch, materials and entry for one person). A farm may register additional individuals for $10 each (Only one set of training materials per farm).

The workshop will be led by:

·       Dr. Hwei-Yiing Johnson, Lincoln University Cooperative Extension

·       Patrick Byers, University of Missouri Regional Horticulture Specialist

·       Shon Bishop, Lincoln University Cooperative Extension

Make Checks payable to: University of Missouri Extension-Greene County and mail to 2400 S. Scenic Ave. Springfield, MO. 65807.

For more information or to register contact Lorri Winters at 417- 881-8909.

3/24 Acidified Foods Workshop and HACCP Implementation for Food and Meat Industry Workshop

The Acidified Foods Workshop will be held March 24-25 in Columbia MO, is a Better Process Control School (BPCS) event specifically for processors of acidified food products and meets the requirements of 21 CFR Part 114 for FDA regulated food manufacturers.

Those who would like to process low acid canned foods should attend a BPCS event designed for thermal processing (retorting) of low acid products such as one offered at Oklahoma State University (http://www.fapc.biz/processcontrol.html) June 11-13, 2014 or at the University of Arkansas (http://www.uark.edu/depts/ifse/bpcsrev1.html) November 4-6, 2014.  Low acid canned foods training will not occur in Missouri this year.

The two-day (7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.) workshop is best for managers or process operators responsible for the safety of acidified foods. New or relatively inexperienced employees are welcome and a reduced registration fee will be available for multiple representatives from a single company. The registration fee will cover all educational materials, exams, and a food safety textbook plus refreshments and two lunches. In addition, the registration fee includes a laboratory analysis of the pH and water activity for one product per participant.

At the end of the program, there will be a "walk-through" of the paperwork needed to file an acidified food process with FDA conducted by a Process Authority. Every participant that successfully completes the workshop will receive a certificate that may be used to verify the training for FDA or Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services records.

Schedule

Day 1

7:30-8:00 am   Registration

8:00-8:10         Welcome and Course Introduction, Andrew Clarke, MU

8:10-8:45         FDA Regulations (Chapter 1), TBD, Consumer Safety Officer, FDA

8:45-10:15       Microbiology (Chapter 2), Steve Seideman, UA

10:15-10:30     Break

10:30-11:45     Acidified Foods (Chapter 3), Andrew Clarke, MU

11:45-12:45     Lunch

12:45-1:45       Principles of Thermal Processing (Chapter 4), William McGlynn, OSU
1:45-3:00         Food Plant Sanitation (Chapter 5), Andrew Clarke, MU
3:00-3:15         Break

3:15- 4:30        Food Container Handling (Chapter 6), William McGlynn, OSU
4:30                 Questions & Discussion

4:45                 Adjourn

7:00                 Laboratory Analysis Demonstration (optional*)

Day 2

7:30- 8:00 am  Exam Retakes

8:00- 9:30        Records for Product Protection (Chapter 7), Andrew Clarke, MU

9:30-10:30       Process Room Instrumentation, Steve Seideman, UA
Equipment and Operation (Chapter 8)

10:30 10:45     Break

10:45-12:00     Closure of Glass Containers (Chapter 16), Dr. Andrew Clarke, MU

12:00-1:00       Lunch

1:00-2:15         Closures for Semi-rigid and Flexible, Steve Seideman, UA           
Containers (Chapter 17)

2:15-4:00         Process Authority Services and Filing Process Schedules with FDA, William McGlynn, OSU

4:00                 Questions, Evaluations

4:30                 Workshop Concludes

* The optional Laboratory Analysis Demonstration is open to all participants and will involve the use of common techniques for determining pH and water activity of selected food products.  Participants may bring a sample of their own product for the demonstration. A confidential analysis of pH and water activity of one product per participant is included in the workshop registration. Additional products can be tested for a fee (please contact Andrew Clarke at ClarkeA@missouri.edu for rates).

Registration

The registration fee is $425 for the first person from a company and $325 for each additional person from the same company. All participants will be provided with workshop materials as well as lunches and refreshments during breaks.

Space is limited to the first 100 participants so early registration is encouraged.  Registration deadline: March 10, 2014.  To register, please send an e-mail with contact information (participant name, company name, address, telephone and e-mail) to FergusonSD@Missouri.edu

We will confirm your registration and provide directions to the meeting location by e-mail reply.  If you have any questions or do not have e-mail access for registration, please contact Ms. Starsha Ferguson, 573-882-4113.

HACCP

The University of Missouri will also host a workshop for Implementation of HACCP for the Meat and Food Industry on March 26-28, 2014. Separate registration is required for this workshop which is accredited by the International HACCP Alliance for certificate-based instruction that satisfy USDA and FDA training requirements. Contact either Andrew Clarke at ClarkeA@missouri.edu or Starsha Ferguson at FergusonSD@Missouri.edu for more information about the HACCP Workshop.

Southwest Missouri Sheep and Goat Conference

The Southwest Missouri Sheep and Goat Conference will be held March 22 from 9 am to 3 pm at the McDonald County Fairgrounds in Anderson, MO.

Topics will include:

• budgets for sheep and goats
• pros and cons of sheep and goats
• multi-species grazing
• grades and grading of sheep and goats
• marketing of your animals
• producer panel on helpful hints to make a profit with sheep and goats

Cost per person is $10 as pre-registration which includes lunch and educational materials ($15 at the door).

Contact the Newton County Extension Center at 417-455-9500.

 

Understand Food Safety and Putting it into Action on Your Farm

Have you been wondering what all this Food Safety and Food Modernization talk is all about?  Perhaps some of your customers have asked you how you address food safety on your farm.  This 2-day workshop is meant to teach just that. By the end of it on the second day, we want you to be well on your way to completing a food safety plan for your farm, which is he first step to getting food safety certified. Thanks to a grant through the USDA we can offer this training free of charge.  At the workshop we will feed you lunch both days and provide over $50 worth of materials that will assist you in practicing food safety on your farm.

The workshop will be held March 14th and 15th at the Lincoln University Urban Impact Center, 1028 Paseo Kansas City, MO 64106 (parking is off of 10th st. on the West side of Paseo).

Day 1 - 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

Why food safety?

What is food safety?

From the field to delivery

Food Safety Modernization act

Water and Sanitation

Compost and manure

Post-harvest

Record keeping

Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Audit Process

Day 2 -  9:00 am - 2pm

Traceability
Starting a food safety plan for your farm

Getting a GAPS Audit

Instructors include:

Patrick Byers, University of Missouri

Miranda Duschack, Lincoln University

Shon Bishop, Lincoln University

Katie Nixon, Lincoln University

Doug Goodson, USDA

 

This workshop is FREE.  SPACE IS LIMITED. Please bring a laptop computer (if you have one) to start writing your plan.

To guarantee your spot and lunch registration deadline is March 7th Register with Katie Nixon at 816-809-5074.

 

Top Ten Successful Marketing Strategies

Schryock's Callaway Farms

NOTE:  This is an article from Jane Eckert, national known consultant on agrimarketing.  I thought this was a good article on marketing to share with you.  Some of you may think you don’t have time for her suggestions.  If I didn’t post to the blog or Facebook almost every day would you forget to come read it?  Sure you would.  The same is the case for your customers.

By most accounts 2013 was a very good year for direct farm marketers, with an average of eighty-eight percent increasing their revenues. Most of those showing growth in revenue reported increasing by more than 15% over 2012. That’s a nice increase.  This information is based on more than 125 farms representing every region of the U.S. and Canada that completed my annual year end survey.  Over the next few months I will be sharing more of this information, but the most important responses impacting you right now is to hear how these farms increased their revenues and how they spent their money.

Here’s a little bit of a surprise: on average, these farms actually reduced their marketing budgets and increased their sales.  It can be done, and especially right now for businesses transitioning to more cost effective internet marketing.  To grow sales while reducing marketing expense requires some clear planning and those that did so took advantage of the greater efficiencies of the multitude of Internet tools available today. Please note that I didn’t say they spent less time on marketing, just less money.  Here’s what the farms reported.

10. Most farms reduced their advertising in local newspapers and did not see a reduction in sales. If your customers are families with children, it has been shown that this demographic no longer gets their news from the newspaper.  So it may be time to redirect those funds to something more effective.

9. Farms tended to focus on targeted television and cable programming as their local media of choice. While it can be a bit overwhelming to make these buying decisions due to the multitude of media channels, it is a most visual medium to show off your farm experience.

8. Local radio spots with special promotions, give-aways and contests continue to provide good results for many.  Finding the right station and time of day to air your commercial is a challenge, and often takes a little trial and error.  Don’t leave this to chance-take the time to study the station reports and select times and programs that appeal to your customers.

7. Billboards, roadside signs and increased on farm signage were often stated as a primary reason business increased.  Highway signage can be expensive so it’s always important to study the traffic count, their speed of travel and the proximity to your exit to see if this is right for you.

6. Online advertising with Google, Facebook, banner ads and mobile placement appear to be gaining in popularity and use.  These ads can be well targeted by zip code, sex, age and income to reach the type of active folks with money that you want to come to your farm.

5. Traditional brochures still play an important part in delivering our marketing messages and showing your farm experiences.  Instead of the one-size fits all brochure for a farm, you are increasingly producing more niche brochures with a single purpose, such as picnics, birthday parties, weddings, tours etc.

4. Internet tools gained in popularity and usage this year as well.  We all know about the benefits of e-newsletters direct to our customers, coupon website offers, and QR codes, but Pinterest and Instagram are now registering with greater utilization and effectiveness for those that take the time to use them.

3. Improved farm websites are on the “must have” list of effective Internet strategies, especially those that have worked with their web designer on specific search engine optimization (SEO).  Mobile websites have now been created by almost 20% of the farms that responded to the survey, and this was up from 7.5% in 2012. There is no doubt in my mind that our use of Smartphones will change the way we create our online marketing strategies.

2. Facebook was the most utilized online resource by 87% of the farms saying they have a Facebook page.  Even more amazing about this number is that almost 40% of them make daily posts during their season.  In general, the daily posts are made by a family member, but there are farms now outsourcing this daily task to a hired professional.

1. The number one marketing strategy ranked as most successful to bringing in new customers remains word of mouth. Whether you realize it or not, word of mouth begins by providing good customer experiences and courteous staff, reinforced by consistently maintaining these positive opportunities over the length of time in business.  Positive word of mouth begins and ends with our ability to pay attention to the details, day in and day out.  If your customers are pleased, they will tell others, and having others deliver your message is indeed “priceless.”

Finally, the survey shows that there was also a big increase in the number of farms that had free media this year on television and in print.  The incredible fact about the free media this year was that it is was not directly solicited—instead, the news entities approached the farms and asked if they could do the story. As the fall season numbers continue to explode, and the local food movement is being featured by all levels of media, we can all expect these calls to increase. 
(by Jane Eckert, Eckert AgriMarketing)