FieldFieldKerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture Notes Notes Vol. 33, #3 • Fall 2007 Oklahoma Farm-to-School Initiative Wins State and National Honors —Maura McDermott

Inside he Farm-to-School This Issue: TInitiative of the Kerr Center and the Horticulture 3 Industries Show Oklahoma Food Policy

Pineywoods 4 Council received the 2007 “Champion of Oklahoma 8 Producer Grants Children’s Health” award Oct. 8 at an Biofuels Conference 10 awards banquet in Calendar 16 Oklahoma City. Kerr Center staff who worked long hours on farm-to-school. PHOTO CREDITS The center and the l-r: Doug Walton, Maura McDermott (with Champion of Pgs. 1, 10, 11 (top), 14: council were honored for Children's Health Award), Dr. Jim Horne and Anita Poole. Oklahoma Dept. of their five year effort to Agriculture, Food and establish a statewide farm-to-school program and supporters for their work and pointed out Forestry that would positively impact children’s health. the potential benefits of the program for Pgs. 4, 6: Maura The popular program has brought Oklahoma farmers. Secretary Peach voiced the McDermott Pg. 7: Wylie Harris Oklahoma-grown watermelons and honeydew hope that the program can be established in melons into 35 school districts and almost 400 every Oklahoma school. schools across the state. The goal of farm-to- “We’re just getting started,” he said. school is to “grow healthy kids and a healthy Farm-to-school programs get kids excited rural economy.” about eating healthy foods by serving high The Oklahoma Food Policy Council is a joint quality fresh fruits and vegetables in lunchrooms. project of the Oklahoma Department of Educational activities that teach kids about food, Agriculture, Food and Forestry (ODAFF) and the nutrition, and farming are coordinated with Kerr Center. The twenty seven council members deliveries of the locally grown produce. and ad hoc members represent a cross section The children’s health award is one of eleven of Oklahomans. “Champions of Health” Awards given annually Kerr Center president and council chairman in various categories to individuals or groups Dr. Jim Horne and ODAFF secretary Terry Peach “working to make a difference in the health of their accepted the award. Dr. Horne thanked the council’s members continued on page two The Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture continued from page one offers progressive leadership and educational programs to all those interested in making farming and ranching environmentally communities.” Chris Kirby coordinates Oklahoma’s friendly, socially equitable, and economically Blue Cross and Blue Shield of farm-to-school program at ODAFF. She viable over the long term. Oklahoma, the Oklahoma State says that research shows that students The Kerr Center is a non-profit foundation Department of Health, the Oklahoma choose significantly more servings of fruits located on 4,000 acres near the south- Hospital Association, the Oklahoma and vegetables when given the choice of eastern Oklahoma town of Poteau. It was established in 1985. Osteopathic Association and the high quality, farm fresh produce. For further information contact us at: Oklahoma State Medical Association Research in Oklahoma has shown that P.O. Box 588, Poteau, OK 74953 sponsor the awards. children who participate in school gardens 918/647-9123 phone, In May, the Oklahoma Food Policy eat more vegetables and less junk food. 918/647-8712 fax [email protected] Council was named a “Partner in Advancing School gardens and cooking classes are www.kerrcenter.com Public Health” by the National Centers for often included in comprehensive farm-to- Overstreet-Kerr Historical Farm Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). school programs. 918/966-3396 The award recognizes “substantial Kirby travels the state promoting such [email protected] contributions by a state or local partner” to activities as well as connecting farmers PROGRAMS INCLUDE: the state’s efforts to prevent obesity and with schools. To find out more, call her at • Oklahoma Producer Grants other chronic diseases. 405.522.2106. • The Stewardship Farm • Rural Development and Public Policy The CDC cited the council’s “dedication For complete information on the • Communications/Education to public health” and its “creative energy” Oklahoma Food Policy Council and farm- • Overstreet-Kerr Historical Farm in developing the farm-to-school program. to-school, visit www.kerrcenter.com. For STAFF: When the food policy council began curriculum focused on food, nutrition and James E. Horne, PhD., to meet in 2001, no one really knew agriculture visit the Oklahoma Ag in the President and CEO whether schools in Oklahoma were even Classroom program, online at Simon Billy, Stewardship Ranch Technician interested in buying locally. The council www.agclassroom.org/ok. To learn about Jessica Castillo, Office Coordinator Barbara Chester, Corporate Secretary surveyed food service directors and found all of this year’s Champions of Health, go Jim Combs, Development Manager, substantial interest. The results were pub- to www.championsofhealth.org. Overstreet-Kerr Historical Farm lished in the Oklahoma Farm-to-School Wylie Harris, Contract Communications Report in 2003. Specialist Next the council sponsored a series of George Kuepper, Sustainable Agriculture Specialist meetings during which the nuts and bolts Kerr Center to Lead Regional Maura McDermott, of a farm-to-school pilot were worked out. Farm-to-School Effort Communications Director The pilot projects in four, then six, school Because of its success in establishing a Lena Moore, Administrative Assistant districts in 2004 and 2005 went off without Mary Penick, Research Assistant farm-to-school program in Oklahoma, the a hitch and were extremely popular. Anita Poole, Assistant to the President/ Kerr Center has been chosen to be the Legal Counsel The Kerr Center continued educational lead agency for the Midwest (Oklahoma, David Redhage, Director, Southern SARE outreach with workshops, small farm Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, North PDP Program Natural Resources Economist tours, farm-to-school web pages, articles, and South Dakota) in the new National Liz Speake, Business Manager brochures and resource guides for both Farm-to-School Network. Currently Doug Walton, Community Foods Oklahoma and Iowa are the only two Coordinator food service and farmers. The Oklahoma states in the region with farm-to-school Alan Ware, Director, Producer Grants Food Connection, containing information programs. Program/Stewardship Farm about farms wanting to sell to schools and The center’s Anita Poole will work Melanie Zoeller, Corporate Secretary a list of schools interested in buying locally with partners in the various states. Field Notes is published quarterly and grown, was published in 2003 and is sent free to subscribers. Address corre- Priorities include initiating food policy spondence to: Maura McDermott, editor. updated in 2006. councils, evaluating barriers to farm to Copyright 2007 by the Kerr Center for Five years of effort by the Kerr Center school, providing survey materials, joint Sustainable Agriculture. Newsletter articles and the Oklahoma Food Policy Council may be reprinted if credit is given and a media and marketing efforts, and train- copy is sent to the newsletter editor. paid off when Governor Brad Henry signed ing/networking. For more information go Design by Argus Designworks a bill in 2006 establishing a statewide to www.farmtoschool.org. Printed by Calvert-McBride, Ft. Smith, AR farm-to-school program.

2 FIELD NOTES FALL 2007 Celebrating Horticulture – Four Seasons of Success: 2008 Horticulture Industries Show

he 27th Annual Horticulture Coleman is widely recognized rake, and European style scythe. He within the organic growing commu- has served as a tool consultant to a TIndustries Show will take place nity for his development of season- number of companies, and presently on Tulsa Community College’s extension techniques. He and his consults and designs tools for wife Barbara Damrosch operate a Johnny's Selected Seeds. Northeast Campus on January 4-5. year-round market garden using Coleman will be the keynote The public and growers from unheated and minimally heated speaker on both days of the HIS, dis- Oklahoma, Arkansas, and surround- greenhouses on their Four Season cussing tool use on the first day, and ing states are welcome at this Farm, in Harborside, Maine. production methods on the second. grower meeting and trade show. It He will also present two sessions consistently provides the latest infor- during the regular programming mation on vegetables, fruit, herbs, tracks, and will be available for a Christmas trees, farmer’s market book signing after Friday afternoon’s crops, sustainable agriculture and sessions. public gardening issues. Lunches on both days will This year’s HIS keynote speaker feature locally produced, seasonal is Eliot Coleman, who has nearly 40 foods. Attendees are encouraged to years of experience in all aspects of register early as lunchtime seating is organic farming, including field veg- limited. etables, greenhouse vegetables, The Kerr Center sponsors the rotational grazing of cattle and Horticulture Industries Show, along sheep, and range poultry. His books with the University of Arkansas, include The New Organic Grower Oklahoma State University, Tulsa and Four Season Harvest. The farm is also the site of Community College, and the Samuel Coleman served for two years various horticultural research pro- Roberts Noble Foundation. as the Executive Director of the jects. Coleman has melded Attendees will receive a CD- International Federation of Organic European ideas with his own to ROM containing all of this year’s HIS Agriculture Movements (IFOAM). develop and popularize a complete presentations. Programs and regis- He also advised the USDA on its system of tools and equipment for tration forms are available on the landmark 1979-80 study, Report organic vegetable growers. Horticulture Industries Show website and Recommendations on Organic Coleman’s custom designed at www.hortla.okstate.edu/his.htm. Farming, which formed the basis tools include things like the pinpoint For more information, contact Donna for the current National Organic seeder, Get-A-Grip handle, broad- Dollins at [email protected] Program (NOP) standards. fork, three-tine cultivator, grading or 405.744.6460.

KERR CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE 3 PAST MEETS FUTURE:

Defining Pineywoods Cattle a Breed at the Kerr Center Pineywoods cattle are a landrace breed, which means by Wylie Harris that the breed formed under local conditions for local pur- poses – usually with a great deal of isolation. The result of the isolation of different isitors to the Overstreet-Kerr groups of these cattle makes the cattle within the breed VHistorical Farm and the Kerr Center reasonably variable, and that Stewardship Ranch may note the herds can make defining the breed difficult. One starting point for a of red or speckled cattle with longish definition is that the Pineywoods horns grazing in the sun. cattle have an origin in Spanish cattle, and a long history of Folks sometimes take these cattle for selection and adaptation in Texas Longhorns, and it’s true that the two the Gulf Coast region of the breeds are related. But these are actually Ms. Muriel, named after Mrs. Muriel USA. The important key here Pineywoods cattle – a breed with a history all is the adaptation and environ- Dunn, who sold the Kerr Center its polled its own, and a rich promise for the future of Pineywoods stock. mental resistance of Piney- sustainable agriculture in Oklahoma. woods cattle as major definers of the breed. It is appropriate When the Spanish first arrived in North to include within the breed any America, they brought with them a few In between, in the more open pine cattle of long-term residence cattle that they turned loose into the forests forests of and , a breed in the region, reasonably free of what would become the southeastern emerged that would become known as of recent incursions of outside United States, to be rounded up whenever Pineywoods cattle. breeding (last 100 years, the need for meat required. ideally), humpless (no As the animals spread throughout the A Breed Apart Brahman influence), and well Gulf Coast region, natural circumstances and Pineywoods cattle are generally red, adapted. This is a “short” human needs shaped the adaptations of brown, or occasionally black and white, definition of this important populations in different areas. spotted, or speckled. Their horns are small landrace breed. Longer defini- “You’ve got one breed in three localities to medium in length and tend to curve tions are possible, but this definition includes the core of that has evolved over hundreds of years into inward or upward. Mature weight ranges the breed and its heritage. three separate breeds,” explains Jim Combs, from 600-1000 pounds, occasionally larger, Development Manager at the Overstreet- depending on the environment (see sidebar). from Sponenberg, D.P. Kerr Historical Farm. The smaller structure and horn size are a Pineywoods Cattle Strains. In the western extent of their range, the legacy of breeding to meet the needs of www.pcrba.org/id27.html cattle were bred for longer horns, for ease of farmers and loggers in the deep South. At roping. These became the Texas Longhorns. different times and places in its history, Pineywoods Cattle Registry & In the swampier east, shorter horns that Pineywoods cattle have been called upon to Breeders Association (PCRBA) wouldn’t snare in vines and branches fared provide draft power as well as meat and milk www.pcrba.org better, and dogs replaced lariats as the – a true multi-purpose breed. roundup tool of choice, giving rise to the Historically, the Pineywoods breed flour- Cracker breed. ished because of its adaptations to the

4 FIELD NOTES FALL 2007 forests of the South. The cattle can survive and Holt reproduce despite internal and external parasites, high temperatures and humidity, and poor forage. Palmer Barnes The breed is noteworthy for its reproductive Agricola Popple vigor and longevity. Its varied foraging habits, Conway Bounds extinct low birth weights, and hardiness make the cattle extinct Vice highly self-sufficient. OʼNeal As commercial agriculture became established Seales in the region, though, larger, faster-growing breeds gained in popularity, to the point that Diamond Carter Pineywoods cattle became a rarity. Baylis The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy Hickman Beach Griffen (ALBC) now lists the status of the Pineywoods Ladnier cattle as “critical,” meaning that the breed has fewer than 200 annual registrations in North Ezell Broadus America, and a global population of less than Dedeaux 2,000 head (see sidebar). The ALBC has located less than 500 head The relationships between the different strains of Pineywoods cattle. of pure Pineywoods stock. Finding them can Shaded circles are strains represented in Kerr Center herds. Figure courtesy PCRBA. be something like looking for a needle in a haystack, with the breed scattered in tiny pockets across several states, and the owners often unaware of came to what was then Indian Territory in 1871. The farm they their animals’ unique heritage. homesteaded is now the Kerr-Overstreet Historical Farm, Some of the old families in Mississippi and Alabama main- home to one of the few remaining herds of Pineywoods cattle. tained their own closed herds, giving rise to distinct strains within the breed, each bearing the name of the family that Working a Little Magic originated it (see figure). A few Indian tribes also brought their The long journey of the Pineywoods cattle took a turn Pineywoods cattle west with them as well. toward the future when a herd arrived at the Kerr Center One such pair of westbound wanderers were Missourian through a joint livestock conservation project with the Tom Overstreet and his Choctaw bride Margaret Victor, who American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.

The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy: Celebrating 30 Years of Protecting Livestock Genetic Diversity

stablished in 1977, the American Livestock Breeds ■ Recovering: Breeds that were once listed in another category EConservancy (ALBC) is a national, non-profit, membership and have exceeded Watch category numbers but are still in organization based in Pittsboro, North Carolina, dedicated to need of monitoring. the conservation and promotion of endangered breeds of ■ Study: Breeds that are of genetic interest but either lack livestock and poultry. definition or lack genetic or historical documentation. ALBC rates each breed’s endangered status by the following Pineywoods cattle are just one of over 150 breeds that ALBC categories: is working to protect. A few of the others on ALBC’s ■ Critical: Fewer than 200 annual registrations in the United Conservation Priority Watch List include Suffolk horses (critical), States and estimated global population less than 2,000. Choctaw hogs (critical), Myotonic or Tennessee Fainting goats ■ Threatened: Fewer than 1,000 annual registrations in the (threatened), Barbados Blackbelly sheep (recovering), United States and estimated global population less than 5,000. American Mammoth Jackstock donkeys (threatened), and Dominique Chickens (watch). ■ Watch: Fewer than 2,500 annual registrations in the United States and estimated global population less than 10,000. To learn more about ALBC, visit www.albc-usa.org Also included are breeds that present genetic or numerical concerns or have a limited geographic distribution.

KERR CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE 5 To Catch Ruby persuades Historical Farm Development Manager Jim Combs to give her a bite to eat.

A Glimpse… Begun in 1985, the project aims to pre- because the families milked the animals up serve the kinds of livestock used by the through 1942. To reach the Kerr-Overstreet pioneer farmers and Native Americans in the With the Overstreet herd of Pineywoods Historical Farm, go 10 miles area during the late 1800s and early 1900s. cattle, Combs seeks to identify and foster south of Sallisaw on Highway The Kerr Center’s first Pineywoods cattle certain traits – height, length, good udders – 59, then right on Overstreet- arrived at the Historical Farm in 1995. As of 2007, while preserving the Carter-Baylis strain’s Kerr Road. the Overstreet Pineywoods herd numbered unique genetics. The farm is open to the 51 head. “I’m trying to bring them up off the general public on Fridays and The animals are of the Carter-Baylis ground, stretch them out,” he explains. “If a Saturdays from 10 to 4. For strain, purebred descendants of the Spanish person can use the genetics properly, you more information, call cattle of the 1500s that were preserved by can work a little magic over 3 to 5 years.” 918.966.3396. Polled Rescue The Kerr Center Stewardship Combs’ strategy for preserving the Ranch is located on Kerr Road, Carter-Baylis strain has a twist. He’s also on Highway 271, about four breeding in the polled, or hornless, trait from miles southwest of Poteau, a separate strain, called Palmer-Dunn. Oklahoma. Look for the Kerr Overstreet’s 75 grazeable acres, Combs Center sign on the south side says, don’t support enough cattle to keep of the road. more than a single strain going, forcing him Tours of the Stewardship to pick and choose the strain and traits that Ranch are available by will be the focus of his work with the appointment only. Overstreet herd. “I’m interested in polled because it’s only in the one strain, and there is some Rascal, a rare polled Pineywoods bull demand for them,” says Combs. “I’m shooting from the Palmer-Dunn strain. for all polled eventually.” Combs bought Overstreet’s first four the Carter/Baylis family of Mississippi since polled cattle, sight unseen, from Mrs. Muriel 1850. According to Combs, the Carter-Baylis Dunn, the 84-year old widow of Earl Dunn. strain is known for its traits of a strong Mrs. Dunn’s maiden name was Palmer, and mammary system and good disposition, the cattle were of the Palmer-Dunn strain.

6 FIELD NOTES FALL 2007 After a year, Dunn was pleased enough with Combs’ work breeding herds that are tailored as much for production as for that she offered to sell her entire herd to the Kerr Center. conservation.” Kerr Center President Jim Horne gave the go-ahead, and “Composites should be developed and production charac- pushed for an immediate purchase, though it was already late terized. This is important for the entire breed, because the December. “If these are the only polled ones,” he said, breed has a secure future to the extent that production-minded “I want to make sure we get them.” breeders take it seriously and use it for its main strengths.” So Combs and a Kerr Center crew spent one day driving to Dunn’s Mississippi farm, another day setting up pens, and A Taste of the Future loaded the animals early on the third day and made the trip Penick summarizes the rationale for her efforts with the back to Oklahoma. Bad weather set in right after Christmas, Stewardship ranch Pineywoods herd in plainer terms: “You’re proving the wisdom of the rushed trip. never going to save a breed if they’re just hobby cattle.” With Combs working at Overstreet to preserve the Carter- Preserving to Produce Baylis genetics and introduce the polled trait into that strain, “There’s beginning to be more and more interest in Penick is free to use combinations of both Carter-Baylis and Pineywoods,” Combs says, “especially among small farmers with other strains at the Stewardship Ranch to find a mix that produces about 50 acres who want a smaller cow with a gentle disposition.” optimally on grass. Pineywoods The Cattle Manager Mary Stewardship Ranch Penick agrees, noting herd birthed its that the cattle are third crop of calves gentle both as a in 2007. Penick breed characteristic anticipates market- and as a result of ing the meat from daily handling in the the herd within the ranches’ rotational next five years or grazing systems. so. During the “The niche same timeframe, might be people there are plans to who like Longhorns set up satellite pro- but get tired of duction herds of dealing with them,” Pineywoods cattle she observes. in southeastern Penick manages Oklahoma as well a separate as southeast Texas.

Pineywoods herd, at The Stewardship Ranch Pineywoods herd grazing contentedly “The ultimate the Kerr Center in the heat of a July afternoon. goal of this project Stewardship Ranch is to find uses for in Poteau, that was Pineywoods cattle split off from the Overstreet herd at the beginning of 2006. that will entice others to raise these cattle,” she says. “This The Stewardship Ranch herd now counts a total of 73 animals. will spread the genetics of these cattle and reduce the risk of But while the Overstreet herd is devoted to the conservation losing the breed.” There is already a list of people waiting to and preservation of a particular Pineywoods strain and traits, work buy and show Pineywoods cattle, she adds. with the Stewardship Ranch herd is aimed more at developing A recent lecture by Jim Horne carried the title, “Honoring animals that perform well on grass from a mixture of strains, as the Past - Anticipating New Futures in Agriculture.” That well as markets for those animals and their meat. phrase captures in a nutshell the key elements of the Kerr D.P. Sponenberg, a veterinarian who works closely with Center’s mission that are embodied in the Pineywoods project. the ALBC and has consulted with the Kerr Center on its Preserving the genetic diversity of crops and livestock is a criti- Pineywoods program, confirms this approach. “If conservation cal safeguard against increasing genetic uniformity. It’s a line cast is successful and the numbers of the various strains stabilize,” to the past not out of nostalgia, but rather from a keenly pragmatic he writes, “then it is possible and also wise to use cattle in assessment of the future needs of sustainable agriculture.

KERR CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE 7 ◆ OKLAHOMA PRODUCER GRANTS ◆ 2008 Grants Available to Sustainably Innovating Producers

he Kerr Center for Sustainable to think ‘outside the box’ of current con- ture. Healthy soil has a large amount of organic matter, is biologically active, and Agriculture is again soliciting grant ventional production and marketing T fertile. Cover crops and manures add this systems in order to develop successful proposals from producers across Oklahoma and innovative strategies for the future.” essential organic matter to soil, while main- taining adequate fertility. For livestock, who are interested in conducting research To apply for this grant, a farmer/ planned rotations in mixed pastures seeded or demonstration projects. Grants can be rancher can request an information with legumes can maintain soil health and packet to use with this set of guidelines funded for up to $3,500 for a two-year fertility, and reduce erosion. for completing the preproposal from the project and up to $7,500 for a three-year Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture, 2. Conserve water and protect its project. This is the tenth year of the suc- or download it from www.kerrcenter.com/ quality cessful and popular program. HTML/opg.html. Agriculture affects water quality when soil The project must fit into one of eight washed from farmlands enters waterways. To streamline the application for pro- priority areas (listed below). A qualified This sediment damage costs the nation four ducers, the grant process is divided into to five billion dollars annually. Farming/ ranch- independent technical committee reviews two sections: preproposal and full pro- ing methods that prevent soil erosion or filter all preproposals. Farmers are encouraged posal. Selected preproposals will be pollutants before they reach waterways can to link up with extension personnel, asked to complete a full proposal appli- dramatically improve water quality, as does other state and federal agencies, nonprofit cation by the second due date to fencing livestock out of ponds and streams. organizations, and/or other farmers or compete for grant funds. This allows pro- Water quantity, as well as quality, is also specialists to assist with executing and ducers to write down an idea for consid- declining –in some places water is being analyzing their projects. pumped out to irrigate farmland faster than eration without spending long hours it is replaced by surface water percolating completing a full proposal. Priority Areas down. Raising drought tolerant crops and The deadline for preproposals is 5:00 All projects must fit in the priority using irrigation methods such as drip irrigation PM on October 31, 2007. Confirmation areas listed below. It is important to help to conserve water. of receipt of application will be mailed, clearly show how your project fits the emailed or faxed within two working days. 3. Manage organic wastes and farm area you have chosen. The following is a If selected to complete the full pro- chemicals to avoid pollution brief guideline showing in general the posal, the preproposal will be further Organic wastes such as manures and litters can kinds of projects that fit. Because this developed into a full application and be valuable fertilizers if managed correctly. program focuses on innovative methods, Applying them at the right time and at the right returned to the Kerr Center by 5:00 PM feel free to roam outside the examples rate can prevent the water pollution that on December 14, 2007. Award notifica- mentioned here. Please remember that plagues areas with heavy animal concentra- tion will be made by January 16, 2008. developing a program proposal to these tions. Farm chemicals can find their way into The goal of the program is to examples does not guarantee funding. wells and streams, endangering human and advance the use of sustainable farming/ animal health. Applying them at reduced con- ranching practices by Oklahoma producers. 1. Conserve and create healthy soil centrations or in a more precise way (as in Educational programs should be a key Soil erosion is still a problem in agriculture – banding) can protect water quality and wildlife. component of any proposal submitted. half of farmland is losing soil faster than it is All research and demonstration projects formed. Conservation tillage and cover crops 4. Manage pests with minimal environmental impact should have measurable outcomes. help reduce erosion of precious topsoil by Pesticides are costly, can cause farmer health “Agriculture has changed and will keeping bare soil protected from wind and rain. Keeping topsoil both on the farm and problems, and can pollute the environment. continue to change,” said Alan Ware, healthy is essential for a sustainable agricul- Heavy use of pesticides has made some program director. “Producers will need target insects resistant. Using integrated pest

8 FIELD NOTES FALL 2007 management can cut frequency of applica- 6. Encourage biodiversity from price increases or fluctuations that will tions. Other approaches include enhancing Encouraging biodiversity of wild plants and occur as fossil fuel supplies continue to habitat for beneficial insects, and using bio- animals helps the farmer take advantage of decline. The use of solar systems for fence logical or mechanical controls. Multi-species possible natural controls of pests. Leaving charging, water pumping, or any other prac- grazing can control weeds without chemicals. strips uncultivated provides habitat for endan- tice reduces the cost of operating a farm. One gered grassland birds, which eat many harmful might demonstrate the energy savings of 5. Select crops and livestock adapted insects. Fencing cattle from ponds and water- growing one’s own fence posts to save the to the natural environment ways protects aquatic life. Rotations of hay and energy of manufacturing metal fence posts. Crops suited to the climate and soil type, and grain crops maintain small game populations. livestock adapted to natural forages, require Planting a variety of cultivars, including non- 8. Increase profitability fewer costly inputs such as pesticides and hybrids, and raising old breeds preserve and reduce risk water in order to produce well. Adapted crops Diversifying farm enterprises provides pro- genetic diversity among domesticated plants and livestock often produce well under adverse tection against price fluctuations and crop and animals. Preserving genetic diversity conditions. One of the questions posed in this failures. Growing new or unusual crops may reduces the likelihood that disease will wipe area is whether we should change the soil to bring greater profits. Reducing costly inputs out whole crops or populations of animals. grow a particular crop, or should we be (which may account for over half of operating selecting species that grow well under good 7. Conserve energy resources costs) and capital expenditures on machinery management without the input cost of Cutting the direct use of fossil fuels (diesel, also improve the bottom line. Preserving changing the soil? gasoline) and costly inputs (fertilizers, pesti- healthy soil guarantees a farm’s viability into cides) made from fossil fuels protects producers the future.

GUIDELINES FOR PREPROPOSALS

n the preproposal process, a producer will use the following What are the objectives of your project and expected outcomes? guidelines to complete a two or three page preproposal depicting What measurements will be taken in your research or demonstration Ithe proposed project activities. project? How will the measurements be taken? What is your outreach plan - how will you share information from your Projects that are innovative, applicable to many farms, and useful project with other producers? Outreach plans may include workshops, beyond the length of the project have the best chance of being funded. field days, fact sheets, or brochures. All projects must have a strong outreach plan for providing other producers, researchers, extension personnel, and the general public Give an estimate of your cost for the project. Provide a short explana- with the opportunity to learn from project results. Outreach plans may tion of the cost figures; this needs to be brief, but should be given some include workshops, field days, fact sheets, or brochures. thought before just writing down numbers. Black and white project maps highlighting important areas of the project Preproposals must be received by 5:00 p.m. on October 31, 2007 may be submitted with the application. Maps must be capable of being to be considered for review. Send preproposals for the Oklahoma photocopied for review by committee members. Producer Grant Program to: For other helpful information, refer to the information packet, available Alan Ware, Director of Oklahoma Producer Grant Program at www.kerrcenter.com/HTML/opg.html or by calling 918.647.9123. The Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture producer must answer the following questions in the following format: P.O. Box 588 Poteau, OK 74953 FORMAT Phone 918.647.9123 Cover Page Fax 918.647.8712 Title, Name, Address, e-mail, phone, estimated grant request amount e-mail: [email protected] Website: www.kerrcenter.com Preproposal body No more than three typewritten pages, using 12-point font, single TIMELINE spaced, 1-inch margins, addressing the following questions: Call for Preproposals Released September 28, 2007 Briefly describe your farm/ranch operation. Preproposals Due (Received by 5:00 p.m.) October 31, 2007 Describe the problem you want to address. Describe your possible sus- Notification to develop full proposals November 15, 2007 tainable solution(s) and what you will do to test them. Full Proposals Due (Received by 5:00 p.m.) December 14, 2007 Explain how your project relates to the selected priority area. Award Notification January 16, 2008

KERR CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE 9 FUELING THE FARM: Biofuels Conference Maps Agricultural Energy Strategies CONFERENCE Stories by Wylie Harris

eventy people gathered at switchgrass may only be economical as an energy crop at a fairly small scale of SLangston University’s Oklahoma distribution. “It may be better to think of BIOFUELS City campus on August 3rd for a con- smaller power plants and more of ference on farm-based production and them, like they have in Japan,” he said. use of alternative energy sources. The Other speakers also echoed Morris’ 2007 2007 points, focusing on ways for farms to Kerr Center and Langston University meet their own energy needs, and sponsored the conference, in partnership emphasizing the importance of energy with the USDA Risk Management Agency conservation and efficiency measures as complements to alternative means (RMA), an equal opportunity provider. of energy production. The day’s discussions ranged far For example, Thad Doye turns his beyond the conference’s theme, sunflower crop into biodiesel to run his Marvin Burns, Dean of the School of “Biofuels: Could They Benefit Your farm equipment. But he also plants the Agriculture and Applied Sciences at sunflowers between wheat crops, Farming Operation?” toward a broader Langston University, welcomes participants range of strategies to help farms to the biofuels conference. Additional breaking up pest and disease cycles. weather the next energy crisis. welcoming remarks came from Langston Moreover, the sunflower’s deep NCAT’s Mike Morris capped the University Assistant Administrator of roots help to break up the subsurface exchange of ideas with a question: Extension Outreach Programs Dennis soil, doing some of Doye’s plowing for Howard, Kerr Center President Jim Horne, “How should we strike the right him and thus cutting his fuel use. From and National Grazing Lands Association the meal left over after pressing the balance between energy from farms for President Bob Drake. society, and energy from farms for their sunflower seeds for oil, Doye makes own needs and the needs of their com- livestock feed. munities?” us,” Morris observed, “we’ll probably Likewise, Alabama farmer Wayne “Will farm energy production follow see them follow the same path looking Keith, whose main subject was the the same path as food production?” 10 to 20 years out.” wood-powered pickup that he developed, he wondered aloud, pointing out that “As the cost of energy and the also devoted time in his talk to his while farms’ share of the retail price of cost of food go up – and those things farm’s other energy-wise ways. food has declined for decades, the work with each other – we may need A windmill that Keith built from return to other sectors such as marketing more decentralized systems,” said scrap pipe generates nearly a third of and transportation has increased. Morris. “We may need farms and the household’s electricity. The house In 1980, farms received 31 cents communities to make their own food itself, built of thick wooden beams, out of every dollar spent on food; in and their own energy.” uses its own mass to minimize indoor 2000, that was down to 19 cents. Brad Venuto, a USDA-ARS temperature swings. The plumbing “If we treat these bioenergy crops researcher who studies switchgrass at detours through the attic, taking as commodities and sell them to the El Reno, agreed. Given current produc- advantage of the high temperatures same companies to market them for tion and transporation costs, he said, there to heat water at no cost.

10 FIELD NOTES FALL 2007 “It just doesn’t make any sense for 2007 me to pay the power company to heat my water when there’s anyplace in my

house that’s 133° F,” Keith explained. BIOFUELS The articles on the following pages summarize the different speakers’ pre- sentations, offering a range of ideas that can help farms cut their energy use and/or supply more of their own energy needs. CONFERENCE This event is presented in partnership with the USDA Risk Management Agency

From left to right: Damona Doye, Kerr Center President Jim Horne, and Thad Doye. This institution is an equal opportunity provider

CRUSHING SEEDS AND CRUNCHING NUMBERS: Sunflower Biodiesel

few years ago, Lawton-area farmer assuming an at-the-pump price of $3 AThad Doye began experimenting for diesel. Thad Doye’s actual produc- tion costs of $82 per acre – “probably with making biodiesel from his sunflower about as low as you could go,” she said crop, and running his own farm equipment – went into the equation. She allowed a credit for the meal on that homemade fuel. left over from pressing the sunflower Doye started in 2005, with the help seeds, because Thad uses it as feed for of an Oklahoma Producer Grant from his livestock. the Kerr Center (see Field Notes, With those assumptions, converting Thad Doye with his biodiesel refinery. Summer 2006). During that time, as he 30 tons of sunflower seed to biodiesel reported at the biofuels conference, would net a loss of $5.08 per hundred- the cost of his biodiesel would drop to he’s seen the extremes of raising sun- weight. Put another way, Thad Doye’s $3.62 per gallon. flowers – from a bumper crop of 1600 homegrown biodiesel is costing him The next step in making sunflower lbs. per acre in the first year, to a failed $4.38 a gallon, compared to the $3 biodiesel more profitable might be to harvest during 2006’s droughty summer. price he’d pay at a filling station. process other farmers’ seed. Under a Following on the heels of that pro- Dr. Doye pointed out a number of share agreement, Doye estimates that duction update, Dr. Damona Doye, an potential ways to improve that figure. her brother could come out ahead if he Extension Economist and Regents One would be a lower imputed cost for received half of the output. Thad Doye Professor at OSU (and Thad Doye’s Thad’s labor – say, $5.75 an hour has been reluctant to pursue this, due sister), presented her analysis of the instead of $8.50. both to concerns about liability and to economic viability of his homegrown Additionally, Doye’s biodiesel refin- gray areas in the tax-credit code. sunflower biodiesel project. ery is equipped to recapture the (see sidebar, p.12) methanol required for the process, Dr. Doye also pointed out that crop Running the Numbers though he doesn’t currently use that insurance may be available for sunflowers, Dr. Doye used averages from the feature. If he did, recovering 60% of providing another possible cushion 2005-2007 period for her calculations, the methanol, and “paid” himself less, against poor harvest years.

KERR CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE 11 “He’s not making money. This is not a get-rich scheme,” 1.800.522.3755, or online at agecon.okstate.edu/ifmaps. she said in summary. However, she pointed out, “This is the Doye also pointed to other potential funding sources for worst-case scenario in terms of yield, and it’s not costing him farmers interested in experimenting with biofuels: the a lot of money to do it.” Oklahoma Ag-Link Deposit Program, and the Oklahoma Ag Enhancement and Diversification Program (see sidebar below). Getting Paid to Innovate? Jason Harvey, who followed the Doyes’ presentations, Doye jokingly noted that the budgets she worked out for gave more details on the Ag Enhancement and Diversification her brother’s sunflower biodiesel operation did not include Program. Harvey, who is Market Development Coordinator CONFERENCE payment for the time she spent doing the economic analysis with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and – but pointed out that all Oklahoma farmers and ranchers, not Forestry, oversees the program. just those with economists in the family, do have access to a “The program is not focused explicitly on renewable free, confidential financial planning service known as IFMAPS. energy/biofuels projects, but has several opportunities for Agricultural producers can contact IFMAPS through their them,” he said. county Extension offices, at the IFMAPS office in Stillwater at BIOFUELS Resources Supporting

2007 2007 On-Farm Biofuels Projects

Oklahoma Ag-Link of up to a maximum of of loans or grants for the purpose of expanding the Deposit Program $350,000. Giving the state’s value added pro- The Oklahoma To be eligible to obtain a cessing sector and to Tax Man Agricultural Linked Deposit Linked Deposit Alternative encourage farm diversifica- Program helps Oklahoma Agricultural Products loan, tion. Funds, provided on a His Due farmers and ranchers. Linked the farm, ranch, or agri- cost-share basis, must be Before farmers start squeezing deposit loans are available business must certify in the used for marketing and uti- their sunflower seeds for to at-risk farm or ranch loan application that the lization, cooperative mar- biodiesel, they need to take operations or to alternative loan will be used for keting, farm diversification precautions to keep the IRS agricultural products opera- expanding or starting the and basic and applied from squeezing back. tions who are residents of production, processing or research. All funding pro- Producers wishing to make the State of Oklahoma and marketing of a product posals must clearly demon- biodiesel from their own crops whose business operation named as an alternative strate the ability to directly are required to register with is located in this state. agricultural product. The benefit Oklahoma farmers the IRS. Failure to register can Department of Agriculture and ranchers. A ten For an at-risk farm or result in a fine of $10,000, plus determines what qualifies member Advisory Board ranch to be eligible for an $1,000 per day until registra- as an alternative agricultur- evaluates proposals and Agricultural Linked Deposit tion is completed. al product. The maximum submits funding recom- Loan, the following criteria funding for an alternative mendations to the must be met. The percent To register, use Form 637, agricultural products opera- Oklahoma State Board of of gross income from Application for Registration tion is $1 million. Agriculture. The four cate- farming must have been for Tax-Free Transaction Under gories of available funding 60% or more in at least one More information and Chapter 32 of the Internal are Farm Diversification out of the two previous tax applications are available at Revenue Code, available Grants, Marketing and years. The consolidated www.ok.gov/~sto/rblink.html. online at www.irs.gov/busi- Utilization Loans, business/ family debt-to- nesses/mall/article/0,,id=9951 Cooperative Marketing asset ratio must be at least 7,00.html. Oklahoma Ag Loans, and Basic and 55%. The linked deposit Enhancement and Applied Research For further information or loan must be for the Diversification Program Loans/Grants. questions, contact Julie purpose of operating the Sellers, IRS revenue agent business or for refinancing The Oklahoma More information and and excise tax specialist, at loans made to operate the Agriculture Enhancement applications are available at 405.297.4860 (pager business. An at-risk farm or and Diversification Program www.oda.state.ok.us/mkt 1.866.812.5809). ranch may request funding provides funds in the form dev-loanshome.htm.

12 FIELD NOTES FALL 2007 2007 TREES IN THE TANK:

Wayne Keith’s Wood-Powered Pickup BIOFUELS

shortages, wood gasification for ouldn’t it be nice if there transportation fuel became rapidly “Wwere some way to take all and briefly widespread, both in the U.S. that solar energy, condense it down, and abroad. CONFERENCE and use it when we need it?” Where the Timber Meets the That’s a thought Wayne Keith has Road heard many a time. Here’s his response: Keith’s converted pickup starts on “What’s a block of wood? What’s gasoline. As a supercharger pulls air biomass?” through the gasifier, he tosses a piece By converting his pickup to run on of burning newspaper into the bottom scraps of wood from his Alabama of the unit. “I’ve never cut a tree to run my sawmill, Keith has indeed devised a way The burning paper ignites the char- truck or heat my house,” he says. to power his transportation with the coal, and 45 seconds later, the engine Keith says he has no plans to stored solar energy of biomass. is running on wood gas alone (though develop his homemade gasifier unit for it takes longer to get to full power). commercial production, since operating It’s A Gas With two separate accelerators, it requires more skill than a standard The heart of the wood-powered Keith says, the pickup can switch from gasoline or diesel engine. pickup is a gasifier, which basically gasoline to wood fuel “in the blink of “This whole system is kind of compli- converts solid fuels into gaseous ones. an eye.” cated to build and drive,” he explains. “The Though the fuel in their tanks is liquid, The gasifier looks like a 55-gallon knowledge is a lot more important than the gasoline and diesel engines actually run drum standing upright in the bed of the apparatus itself. It’s kind of like if some- on vapor. pickup. Keith has added five layers of body gave you an operating table and a Thus, the wood gas produced in a insulating material around the outside knife and asked you to do heart surgery.” gasifier (also known as ‘producer gas’ of the unit, so that even with tempera- A better use for the technology, he or ‘syngas’) will burn in a gasoline or tures reaching 2500°F inside, he can says, would be stationary wood gasifiers diesel engine with only minor modifi- stack bales of hay next to it without for generating electricity. Located cations to the motor itself. risking a fire. throughout a county and staffed with When heated in the absence of Thus equipped, the pickup easily trained operators, he says, such small oxygen, wood gives off a mixture of reaches cruising speeds of 60 miles per units could be tied into the electrical gases made up of about 20% hydrogen, hour. A similarly modified truck pulls a grid to provide power from scrap wood, 20% carbon monoxide, and small trailer loaded with 17 round hay bales, spoiled hay, and other unused biomass. amounts of methane, with nitrogen weighing 1,000 pounds apiece. accounting for the rest. Do It Yourself? The gasifier keeps the gas from Power Poles In 1980, the Federal Emergency combining with oxygen until it reaches “I’ve driven 30,000 miles in the Management Agency published a the engine, where it combusts, giving last three years,” Keith says. “I’ve step-by-step guide to constructing off carbon dioxide and water vapor as done 90% of that on wood.” a wood-gas generator for fueling waste products. At 2 miles per pound of wood gasoline-powered vehicles. This technology is not new. Wood burned, it takes 20 pounds of wood to The publication is available free at gas has been produced for heating since replace a gallon of gasoline. That works www.webpal.org/webpal/b_recov- at least the late 1700s, and has been out to around 4,000 miles per cord of ery/3_alternate_energy/ woodgas/ used to run engines since the 1880s. wood, says Keith, whose entire fuel fema_wood_gas_generator.pdf. During World War II’s petroleum supply comes from his sawmill’s leftovers.

KERR CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE 13 SWITCHING AWAY FROM CORN: Switchgrass Research for Biofuel Production

uch of the biofuels furor is make it a viable energy crop. Venuto’s research tackles some of those, selecting

CONFERENCE focused on ethanol made M and evaluating productive cultivars and from corn. Lately, though, a native integrating them into cropping systems. Switchgrass is a widely adapted Oklahoma prairie plant has been native species, though it is not neces- drawing attention as another sarily productive everywhere. There are potential ethanol source. both upland and lowland types.

BIOFUELS While no supplemental nitrogen, Brad Venuto, a research agrono- phosphorus, or potassium are normally mist, studies switchgrass at the USDA- needed to establish a switchgrass ARS Grazinglands Research Lab in El stand, said Venuto, rain every 7-10

2007 2007 Reno. He shared some of his findings days is required, and in some cases at the biofuels conference. establishment may take 2 to 3 years. Switchgrass’ raw materials are the Brad Venuto discusses switchgrass. plant’s leaves and stems, instead of a Getting the N in starchy seed. Breaking those tissues’ Once switchgrass is established, tough cellulose down into something recommendations range from 50-125 That’s only about half the yield of fermentable requires a more complicat- pounds of nitrogen per acre to replace sorghum, a common forage and hay ed procedure than that used for corn. what is removed with the harvest. crop. However, as an annual, sorghum Such cellulosic fermentation tech- “Less nitrogen is removed in single-cut, – like corn – lacks one of switchgrass’ nology is not currently available at an late harvest systems,” Venuto said. key advantages: a deep, thick root economic scale. “We’re probably at “One-third to one-half the nitrogen is system that holds soil in place all year least 4-5 years from having a plant on removed in a 2-cut system.” long, reducing soil erosion. the ground and running,” Venuto said. Other experiments at El Reno are Reducing soil erosion is one of the evaluating the ability of nitrogen-fixing main reasons for the Conservation From Grass, What Kind of leguminous crops, such as vetch and Reserve Program, which pays farmers to Gas? bundleflower, to supply nitrogen when plant highly erodible fields with peren- He pointed out that there are other planted with switchgrass. nial crops. There has been a great deal ways to produce energy from switch- He pointed out that a 2-cut system of interest in using the nation’s 39 grass and other biomass crops, includ- could be grazed early, rested during the million acres of CRP land to grow ing both direct burning and gasification middle of the growing season, and then switchgrass for biofuels. (the technology used by Wayne Keith’s cut for biomass after frost. “Late har- However, Venuto pointed out, that wood-powered pickup; see p. 13) to vests trade lower yields (up to 20%) for idea has limited potential in Oklahoma. produce electricity. higher fuel quality and reduced nutrient The state has 1 million CRP acres, “It’s interesting to go to other removal,” he said. mostly west of I-35, where rainfall is countries and see what they’re doing,” less than the 20” annual minimum nec- Venuto observed. “Europeans can’t Holding on to the Soil essary for good switchgrass production. understand why we’re so focused on In such a system, about half the “Most CRP acreage is in the corn ethanol when they’re burning biomass in total yield would be available for biofu- belt,” Venuto said. “It would be better gasifiers. The technology’s there now.” els. Switchgrass yields in studies from to plant switchgrass there than corn,” Regardless of how switchgrass is various locations around the country he said, to help reduce erosion and fer- ultimately used, there are many produc- averaged about seven tons per acre, tilizer runoff, “but with the price of corn tion issues that must be addressed to with a maximum around ten tons. now, that’s not very likely.”

14 FIELD NOTES FALL 2007 2007 BIOFUELSCONFERENCE 15 One is a farm energy area added to energy area added One is a farm we “Some of the best resources Morris also alerted the audience to Most importantly, Morris advised, FROM THE KERR CENTER: Greenhouses and Cold Frames for Year-Round Local Vegetable Production (Using Warm/Hot Water from Power Plants) by Edwin Kessler www.kerrcenter.com/coldframe.htm Renewable Farm Renewable Resources Energy ATTRA Farm Energy Webpage attra.ncat.org/energy.php Small Farm Energy Primer (free from the Center for Rural Affairs) www.cfra.org/node/680 Conference: Food and Energy from the Ground Up: The Role of Efficiency in Sustainable Agriculture Feb. 20-22, 2008 Des Moines, Iowa www.aceee.org/about/0707conf.htm Bergey Windpower Company 405.364.4212 [email protected] www.bergey.com the ATTRA website within the past year, the ATTRA website energy search tool. which includes a farm of the 1970s, have are from the period energy crisis,” he in response to that are collected on said. Many of these Primer,” origi- the “Small Farm Energy Center for Rural nally issued by the now available free Affairs in 1980, and online (see sidebar). a conference that he’ll be co-chairing early next year, with a focus on increas- ing energy efficiency in the agricultural sector (see sidebar). “Become keenly aware of how you use energy. Most of the time you don’t need to hire an engineer.” : NGENUITY , I Morris pointed to several sources of Turning from energy conservation to Turning from energy like passive solar He cited examples Routed through a photovoltaic (PV) This is often appealing in remote With such a system, ranchers can Small wind turbines can be another However, he said, “It’s tough to FFICIENCY Where to Turn Where Supply Side Supply more detailed information for those inter- ested in developing energy conservation measures, as well as alternative energy sources, for their own farms (see sidebar). energy generation, Morris began with energy generation, as an inexpensive passive solar energy, and water. way to heat both air from recycled sheet grain dryers made walls used to metal, solar heat collecting food dryers, warm homes, and solar heaters. greenhouses, and water panel, sunlight can also be a source of electricity. One common agricultural application of this technology, Morris said, is solar water pumping: “getting the cows to the grass on the hill.” areas, where the cost of extending a power line might be several times more than the $5,000 required to set up a five gallon-per-minute solar pumping system. cut costs further by avoiding batteries altogether, and investing instead in oversized tanks to store water for times when the sun isn’t shining. “It’s cheaper to store water than electricity,” Morris explained. source of electricity. In fact, Morris mentioned, one of the largest manufac- turers of small wind turbines, Bergey Windpower, is located right in Oklahoma (see sidebar). make wind energy pay for itself on energy alone. It’s more site-specific than solar.” E

ike Morris joked that his conference ike Morris the warning invitation had included

“Before we get too excited about He noted, though, that “everything Morris’ position as Farm Energy Morris’ position as “Nine times out of ten,” he Morris referred to such basic conserva- Taken all together, these recom- The audit identified 21 different To illustrate that principle, Morris

Conservation Farm on the Alternative and Energy solar and wind energy,” he said, “it’s good to remind ourselves that there are very good savings to be had on the energy conservation side.” else” includes conserving energy as well as producing it. Team Leader with the National Center Team Leader with the for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) requires him to be familiar with the “everything else” of alternative energy. That includes solar, wind, and geother- mal energy, all areas in which Oklahoma has excellent resources, Morris said. that biofuels was the theme, and that his that biofuels was the cover “everything own presentation should of an hour and a else.” Within the span to do just that. half, Morris managed KERR CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

Conservation First M explained, “that’s where you get the fastest and greatest energy savings.” tion measures as “Energy Efficiency 101.” mendations would reduce the farm’s energy usage by 22%, and cut its power bill by $7,000. ways that the farm could save energy, ranging from burning waste oil for heat and improving insulation to simply changing thermostat settings. pointed to a recent energy audit of North Carolina’s Cherry Research Farm that he coauthored. CALENDAR: FALL/WINTER EVENTS

2007 Oklahoma Meat Goat selection of rare breeds at local FIELD DAY: Organic Fruit Oklahoma Farm-to-School Forage Buck Performance Test farms, as well as seminars on rare Production program. The information will be Field Day & Sale breed production, processing, November 9 - Fayetteville, AR of interest to both small and large- October 27, 1-6 products, marketing, and breeding The University of Arkansas’ scale growers and marketers. Dr. Poteau Horticulture Department and strategies. For more information, Fred Schneider, Professor Emeritus, The 2007 buck test will close out Cooperative Extension Service visit www.albc-usa.org. (See p. 5.) University of North Dakota will with a field day featuring presen- invite growers and other interested present his work on cucurbit crops tations on herd health, forages, persons to this field day, designed CONFERENCE: as an introduction to the basics used by Native Americans and the nutrition, and fencing. Learn Oklahoma Agritourism and and challenges of organic fruit preservation of these crops. Other about Oklahoma’s 1st annual Alternative Agriculture speakers will present information forage-based performance test for November 6-7 - Ardmore and high tunnel production. meat goat bucks. A private treaty The workshop is free and includes on the 2007 Oklahoma specialty Sponsored by the Kerr Center, the sale follows the field day beginning lunch. For more info go to Oklahoma Department of melon trials, an update on the at 4:30. Pasture walks of the test www.kerrcenter.com. RSVP by Agriculture, Food, and Forestry, health benefits of cucurbit crops, site will be available during the November 2nd to Heather and an overview of cucurbit sale, weather permitting. and the Noble Foundation, this Friedrich at 479.575.2798 or vegetable disease management For more information, visit conference will begin with a series [email protected]. research. Food safety–what osukerrbucktest.typepad.com. of farm and agritourism tours and conclude with seminars on reduc- MEETING: growers can do to insure their CONFERENCE: ing insurance premiums and 2007 Oklahoma produce will be safe for their American Livestock Breeds financing alternative agriculture Cucurbit Meeting customers–will be discussed, as Conservancy 30th Anniversary ventures. Cost is $125, with dis- December 13 - Chickasha will labor and hiring issues. November 2-4 - Sanford, NC counts for single-day attendance. This free meeting, with lunch pro- For more information contact ALBC celebrates 30 successful Register at 580.224.6501 or vided, is for farmers and gardeners Dr. Jim Shrefler at 580.889.7343, years of conserving livestock [email protected]. who want to learn more about jim.shrefl[email protected] or go to genetic diversity with a conference For more information, visit squash, watermelon, specialty www.lane-ag.org including hands-on workshops on www.oklahomaagritourism.com. melons, and cucumbers. This year To be included in lunch count, husbandry, management, and there will be a focus on the call 405-224-2216.

Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Poteau, Ok 74953 The Kerr Center for PERMIT No. 64 Sustainable Agriculture, Inc. P.O. Box 588 Poteau, OK 74953