MU Extension’s Southern Missouri Sheep and Goat Conference in Bolivar Oct. 20

University of Missouri and Lincoln University are teaming up to host the Southern Missouri Sheep and Goat Conference from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 20 at the Polk County Fairgrounds, 4560 S. 100^th Road, Bolivar, Mo.

MU Extension offices in southern Missouri continue to receive calls for information about sheep and goat production according to Wesley Tucker, an agriculture business specialist with University of Missouri Extension in Polk County.

“There is simply more profit potential in sheep and goats than most other enterprises that can use our local resources. Of course you have to be willing to put in more labor as well as an investment in facilities and fences,” said Tucker.

This conference will provide producers with practical management tips they can use to focus on improving the profitability of their own sheep and goat operations.

The following topics will be presented at the conference: economics of sheep and goat production, producing quality hay, limited versus intensive management of sheep and goats, a panel discussion on how to cope with the drought, alternative feeding strategies for this winter, and live demonstrations of electric fencing, a fecal egg count workshop, and selection and showing for youth.

Topics will be presented by personnel from MU Extension and Lincoln University Cooperative Extension. 

“This conference is for beginners as well as experienced producers,” said Tucker.

Registration for the conference is $5 which includes lunch.  To arrange for the food, preregistration is needed by Oct. 15.

For more information about the conference or to register, stop by or call the Polk County Extension Center at (417) 326-4916.

Elderberry Wine Making Workshop

The Center for Agroforestry is pleased to announce that it will be hosting an elderberry wine making workshop in Columbia on Friday, October 26. The workshop will be held in the Barrel Room of Bleu Restaurant & Wine Bar (811 E. Walnut St.), Columbia, MO from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dr. John Brewer, president of Wyldewood Cellars, will be the course instructor.

Dr. Brewer’s excellence as a winemaker has been widely recognized, and he serves as a judge at international wine competitions. Wyldewood Cellars produces more than 40 types of wine and has won over 450 international awards for its wines, including elderberry varieties. Wyldewood Cellars’ Spiced Elderberry Wine was featured and served at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Utah, where it was named the Best Non-Grape Wine in North and Latin America and won many Gold Medals. In addition, Wyldewood Cellars sells value-added elderberry products coast to coast. For more information, see wyldewoodcellars.com.

The cost of the workshop is $30, which includes a lunch catered by Bleu and an elderberry wine tasting. Interested parties can register by clicking here.  Visit centerforagroforestry.com/events or contact Michael Gold to learn more about this event!

Webinar Tonight - Grazing Cover Crops

Join the Missouri Beginning Farmers Program's monthly webinar this evening, Monday, Oct 1st from 7:00 to 8:30 pm.  The topic for webinar is Grazing Sheep with Cover Crops with Harry Cope, producer from Cope Farm and Rich Hoormann, Regional Agronomy Specialist from the University of Missouri Extension.

Harry received a SARE Farmer/Rancher grant to test the potential of grazing cover crops. While using cover crops to enhance his soil, Harry thought that the might be nutritional value to his sheep if he grazed the sheep in the cover crops.

Learn about Harry's results from this project as well as a bit about the benefits of using cover crops in your fields.

To join the webinar go to  univmissouri.adobeconnect.com/debikelly.  Join a few minutes early since the webinar will begin directly at 7 pm.  If you miss the webinar, it will be archived and placed on the Online Learning Community.

Field Day at the Busby Farm

Field Day at the Busby Farm

Friday October 12, 2012 

9am-4pm

Visit the Allen T. Busby Farm for an opportunity to see the progress made with goats controlling invasive species in unmanaged woodlands and other innovative research.  Busby Farm is intended to be the demonstration farm for integrated agriculture and extension.  The farm will feature Organic Blueberry production, Integrated Pest Management, Rotational Multispecies Grazing and Biological Brush Control using goats.

Guest Speakers include: 

Fencing options for small ruminants - Mark Kennedy, State Grasslands Specialist USDA-NRCS

Calculating amount of available forage - Mark Kennedy, State Grasslands Specialist USDA-NRCS

Using Goats as a biological control for unwanted vegetation - Dr. An Peischel, Assistant Professor, Small Ruminant Extension Specialist at Tennessee State University

Guided tours of ongoing research will be given in the afternoon: 

·         Organic Blueberry Research

·         IPM

·         Multispecies Grazing

·         Chicory                                                                                  

·         Aquaculture

·         Composting Facility

·         Goats in Woodlands

A light lunch will be available.  Please let us know if you have specific dietary needs. Registration fee is $25.  To register please call or e-mail Vonna Kesel at 573-681-5312 or keselv@lincolnu.edu.  Registration deadline is October 1, 2012.

2012 Missouri Blueberry Fall Conference

The 2012 Missouri Blueberry Fall Conference will be held on October 19-20, 2012 in Springfield, MO.

Blueberries offer huge potential for Missouri farmers. Though a challenging crop to produce, blueberries are in high demand for many markets. The 2012 Missouri Blueberry Conference will offer a variety of educational experiences, for both established blueberry growers and those considering blueberry production. Join local and nationally known blueberry specialists to gain expertise on:

* Selecting adapted blueberry cultivars

* Establishing blueberry plantings

* The economics of blueberry production
* Constructing and maintaining blueberry irrigation systems
* Blueberry fertility management
* Blueberry pruning
* Blueberry pest management
* Blueberry marketing

Keynote Speakers include:
Dr. Dave Creech, Regent’s Professor, Stephen F. Austin State University
Dr. Annemiek Schilder, Associate Professor, Michigan State University

For more information on the 2012 Missouri Blueberry School or to join the contact list for upcoming events, please contact:

Patrick Byers, Regional Horticulture Specialist
MU Extension, Greene County
2400 S. Scenic, Springfield, MO 65807
417-881-8909

Grant Writing Workshop

Have you ever thought about applying for a grant to assist you with moving your on-farm production forward?  or how about the funding to try something new?  and funding to share that knowledge with others in the farming community?

SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) Farmer/Rancher grants can provide this opportunity.

However, writing grants can be an intimidating process, but it doesn't have to be.  Join us next week (Oct. 3rd) for a workshop on writing SARE Farmer/Rancher Grants.  Here are the details:

What: SARE Farmer/Rancher Grant-writing class

When: October 3rd (Wednesday) from 6-9 pm.

Where: KC Urban Impact Center 1028 Paseo Kansas City, MO (parking behind building off 11th St)

Cost: $5 per person (includes light snacks)

For more information on the SARE Grant check here: http://www.northcentralsare.org/Grants/Our-Grant-Programs/Farmer-Rancher-Grant-Program

To register or for more information please contact:

Katie Nixon, Small Farm Specialist, Innovative Small Farmer's Outreach Program Lincoln University Cooperative Extension Kansas City, 816-809-5074.

Grow Your Farm Course to be offered in Kansas City Area

This fall and winter the University of Missouri Extension will again be hosting a Grow Your Farm workshop series. This 8 course series builds upon participants' knowledge and skills in business planning and marketing for new and existing farm businesses-urban and rural.

What: a 12-week workshop series focusing on the business side of agriculture and value-added agribusinesses

Who: 2 participants per farm or agribusiness. Mother/Daughter, Father/Son, Grandpa/Grandson, Partners, 2 Neighbors working on an agribusiness idea. Urban farmers, rural farmers, those involved in value-added processing or those seeking to start a new agri-business are encouraged to attend.

Where: Classes will be held and the Clay County Extension office and the Platte County Extension office. Both, conveniently located just off I-29 in Kansas City, N.

When: Tuesday evenings beginning November 6, 2012. Classes start at 6 PM. Light dinners will be served for all paid registrants.

Costs: $80 per farm business (2 people) and $25 each additional participant. This 12-week series typically costs $330 per farm family but the North Central Risk Management Education Center has generously underwritten $250 of participants' fees! Includes all workshop presentations, workbooks & materials and a meal and refreshments!

Why: We recognize that businesses are often a family or community effort and sharing the knowledge with those that you work with is important for the long-term success of your agri-business, urban farm, rural farm or food venture.

Past Grow Your Farm participants are involved in the following agri-businesses: market gardening, cow-calf operations, certified organic grain production, horse boarding, urban farming, community-supported agriculture farms, nursery operations and more.

Schedule:
November 6 - Identifying Values & Creating Goals, Debi Kelly, Missouri USDA SARE Coordinator

November 13 - Walking the Farm - Farm Tour, Dan Switzner, Natural Resource Conservation Service

November 18 - Walking the Farm-Tour at Fair Share Farm, Kearney, MO

November 17 - Assessing Opportunities, Speaker to be announced

December 4 - Planning for the Farm Business, Kelly Dyer, Small Business Technology Development Centers

December 11 - Marketing Your Farm Products, Lane McConnell, Marketing Consultant

December 18 - Keeping Track of Finances, Whitney Wiegel, University of Missouri Extension

January 8 - Legal Issues for Agri-Businesses, Crystal Weber, University of Missouri Extension

January 22 - Business Plan Presentations

To Register: call 816-407-3490 or email. Register by October 29, 2012