October 24, 2014 Vol. 5, No. 18

October 24, 2014 Vol. 5, No. 18 ABOUT THE NEWSLETTER A Comprehensive Pest Management News- Welcome to Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) where we are committed to providing you research-based letter for Farmers across Alabama! information. The main purpose of this newsletter is to provide readers information about critical crop production and pest management IN THIS ISSUE…  Start improving next summer’s garden this fall information for crops grown in Alabama. This newsletter promotes  Sustainable agriculture from a global perspective sustainable agriculture, i.e., successful farming without depleting  Invasive pest found for first time in U.S. natural resources so that future generations can have productive  Scouting report– vegetable IPM report land for food production. Currently, there are over 1,200 subscrib-  USDA expands access to credit ers and many commercial websites that cross-post this newsletter  Reimbursement for organic certification online resulting in a wider readership. Readers can also download or  AFVGA conference coming up view the newsletter at ACES Store ( www.aces.edu/  Southern SARE producer grant IPMCommunicator) Research and Extension personnel from all edu-  2014 AFVGA conference presentations on sale cational institution in Alabama can submit crop production and protection articles of high relevance for immediate release to the audi- AG EVENTS ence; authors should pay attention to the submission guidelines on  Row Crop and Horticultural events are listed by date. the last page of this newsletter. Readers outside Alabama should check with their university Extension before using any recommendation. For additional subscriptions, please visit www.aces.edu/ IPMCommunicator Newsletter Coordinator/Copy Editor: Ann Chambliss, Outreach Administrator

Editorial Board: Chief Editor: Ayanava Majumdar “Dr. A” – Extension Entomologist & State Sustainable Agricultural Research and Education Coordina- tor, Auburn Univ.

Board members: Henry Fadamiro – Associate Professor of Entomology & Plant Pa- thology Department, State IPMARCHIVE Coordinator, Auburn Univ. Rudy Pacumbaba—Ext. Specialist, Alabama A&M Univ. Conrad Bonsi – Professor and Associate Dean, Tuskegee Univ.

NEWSLETTER WEBSITE: www.aces.edu/IPMCommunicator

For queries or to submit articles, please contact thame- [email protected]. Find us on Facebook! EXTENSION PROJECT RESOURCES ALABAMA PEANUT & VEGETABLE IPM PROGRAMS The Agronomy & Commercial Horticulture Extension Teams are constantly working to provide you updated information for profitable farming. Now you can get pest information quickly and interact with the Extension Team using social media apps on your smartphone.

PROJECT WEBSITES Peanut IPM: www.aces.edu/go/88 Vegetable IPM: www.aces.edu/go/87

FACEBOOK CHANNELS TO ‘LIKE’: Peanut producers: ‘ALABAMA PEANUT IPM PROGRAM’ Vegetable producers & gardeners: ‘ALABAMA VEGETABLE IPM’

Make sure you sign-up for Extension IPM workshops and field days close to you for hands- on crop production and pest management training. For more information, email bugdoc- [email protected].

ALABAMA MASTER GARDENER HELPLINE When you want to know how to get that colorful annual bed installed and growing, to whom do you turn for advice? Are you at a loss for solutions to disease and insect problems? If you’ve got gardening questions, we’ve got answers! Call the Master Gardener Helpline. Trained volunteers are ready, willing, and waiting to help! There are 15 Helpline locations throughout the state of Alabama and calls are answered at least one location year-round. In fact, as you read this, Master Gardeners are manning the phone lines in the Southwest and North Central regions of the state. Give ‘em a call! They’d love to help you with all your gardening needs. Dial 1-877-252-GROW (4769) and select your location from the short menu to receive the most accurate, local information. Below is a list of the menu options so you will be prepared when you call. If you do not hear your location option in the menu, please select “3” and a Master Gardener will assist you. Option Location Included area 1 Southwest from the Gulf Coast to Grove Hill and Greenville 2 Central and East from Anniston to Phenix City; metro Montgomery 3 North Central/West from Clanton to Birmingham; Hamilton & Carrollton 4 Northwest from Decatur/Huntsville to the Shoals & Russellville 5 Northeast from Pell City & Gadsden to Cullman and Scottsboro 6 West area of Demopolis, Greensboro, Selma, & Lowndesboro 7 Southeast area of Andalusia, Dothan, Troy, & Eufaula

AFVGA WEBSITE & FACEBOOK PAGE REGISTRAION FOR THE 2014 ANNUAL CONFERENCE IS OPEN! PLEASE VISIT THE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS. The Alabama Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association (AFVGA, www.afvga.aces.edu) now has a dynamic Facebook page! Please login to Facebook and then enter ‘Alabama Fruit & Vegetable Growers Associa- tion’ in the search tool. Once on the page, click on the LIKE button. Some benefits of joining the AFVGA Facebook page include rapid access to potentially hundreds of crop producers and gardeners acrossARCHIVE the state, updates regarding upcoming educational workshops with part- nering institutions, and direct communication with AFVGA Board members. For more information about the AFVGA, sponsor- ship of events and memberships, please contact Jackie Cooper, Exec. Sec., AFVGA. ([email protected]).

ALABAMA SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE WEBSITE Organic producers and transitioning farmers can bookmark this website to stay informed of SARE programs, especially grants and special publications. You can also subscribe to the ALABAMA VEGETABLE IPM channel on FACEBOOK. Visit http://www.southernsare.org/SARE-in-Your-State/Alabama

2 START IMPROVING NEXT SUMMER’S GARDEN THIS FALL We receive a lot of questions at the Extension office each year from farmers and home gardeners with many kinds of problems. Oftentimes the problems in a field or garden fall into one or more of the following categories: disease, insect, weed, wildlife damage, nutrition, or disorder. Many times during the year gardeners will contact the Extension office with a plant problem thinking it is a disease when in fact it is a disorder. Examples of plant disorders could be problems related to heat stress, cold stress, lack of moisture, too much moisture, or too much shade. One season’s production will be different from another, but there are things that can be done to encourage better quality crops each year.

I would like to encourage growers to have a soil test on their fields or gardens. A soil test is basically an analysis of the nutrients in your soil. With this analysis, we can determine what nutrients are needed, and oftentimes, not needed in your field or garden. The goal is to apply the needed nutrients for the crops being grown. Crops may not grow well with too little or even too much of certain nutrients. All crops will not need the same amounts of nutrition, and too much of certain nutrients can often times make them less productive. The soil test will tell us what nutrients to apply to what crops and the amounts needed.

A common recommendation would be to apply half the nitrogen, all the phosphorus, and half the potassium at planting. Then add the remaining nitrogen and potassium in one, or even two more, applications later in the season. Without a soil test we would be guessing at how much and what kind of fertilizer to use. The soil test will explain when to apply the nutrients and you can always call the Extension office with soil testing and fer- tility questions. I always recommend commercial vegetable farmers test their soil every year. I sometimes sug- gest home gardeners test each year as well, depending on what nutritional problems they have been having in their garden. Unless a nutritional problem has occurred, testing every 2 or 3 years is often what many gardeners practice.

Our soil test form can be found on our web site at http://www.aces.edu/anr/soillab/ documents/soilform20080609.pdf or by visit- ing your local Extension office. This form has instructions for collecting soil samples, as well as information on how to send the soil samples to the lab in Auburn. Basically all you need is to collect several subsamples from your field or garden, mix the subsamples together, and send a sample of that mixture to Auburn University for an analysis. Taking several subsamples and mixing them together provides an average soil sample from your field or garden which results in a more accurate sample than from taking only one sample from one spot. If more than one field or garden is test- ed, the same procedure of collecting subsamples and mixing them will be conducted. For example, if you have three garden spots you may send three soil samples in three separate containers for testing. There is a $7.00 charge per sample and youARCHIVE get the results back in about a week. When is the best time of year to have a nutri- ent analysis on your soil? If you are having problems or have not had your soil analyzed in a few years, I would do a soil test as soon as possible. However, I like sending soil tests in the late summer and early fall before I plow the garden under and plant cover crops. It takes time for lime to start working in the soil. If lime is needed it could be applied, plowed in, cover crops planted, and the garden would be in good shape for the spring.

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3 I also want to take this time to remind you of planting cover crops. When your garden is done for the year, do not just leave it. The stubble needs to be pulled up and composted or plowed in the soil. Getting rid of the old spent plant parts in the field will help on disease control. But don’t just leave the plowed garden either. Plant- ing a fall cover crop such as rye, wheat, or crimson clover will help keep the garden soil from washing. Even if your garden is level the organic matter that you work so hard to get can float away. Not only does a cover crop help keep the soil in place, but it adds organic matter to the soil as it breaks down, and some cover crops such as clover will add nitrogen to your soil. If you have unused areas in the summer you can plant summer cover crops as well. We have a publication titled “Cover Crops for Alabama” that describes the benefits of cover crops and lists the different cover crops that can be planted, along with the recommended seeding rate and the time of year for planting. From our web site at www.aces.edu, just type in “cover crops for Alabama” in the search box.

One thing to think about before planting cover crops is how they will be removed in the spring. Before planting in the spring, the cover crops may need to be killed so they will not compete with the crops being planted. Mowing and plowing are common methods of killing cover crops, but there are others. If you do not have the equipment to mow or plow cover crops, you may not choose to plant any. Mulch could be applied to the garden in the fall and would help in the spring in the same ways as cover crops. Of course mulch would not provide nitrogen as annual clover would, but anything we can do to keep the soil from washing is a benefit. If you have any questions on soil testing or planting cover crops just give us a call at the Extension Office.

Chip East Commercial Horticulture, ACES ARCHIVE

4 SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE FROM A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE We are all familiar with the term ‘sustainable agriculture’ - it has broad meaning and is open to interpretation from various sources. Over the past decade, entry of large companies (along with mergers and acquisitions) has resulted in new products and services available for the sustainable farming industry. While reviewing some new and old definitions of sustainable agriculture, I came across a food industry-sponsored website that has got sustainable agriculture divided into achievable steps using experience from international agriculture. The website is called ‘Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform’ and it can be found at www.saiplatform.org.

SAI Platform has been active since 2002 when it was initi- ated by Nestle, Unilever, and Danone as an information sharing platform for a global audience. SAI Platform today has over 60 members that include all popular food processors and distributors. The triangular illustration shows the three ‘pillars’ of sustainability defined by the industry which include environmental, economic and social sustainability. Visit http://www.saiplatform.org/uploads/ Modules/Library/whatissustainableagriculture-2.pdf to see the three pillars of sustainability (Profit, Stewardship and Quality of Life) and a nice interpretation from the industry perspective with case studies from the food industry (http://www.saiplatform.org/uploads/Library/short_guide_to_sa_-_final[1].pdf).

SAI Platform also provides a breakdown of sustainable production practices for crops worldwide using various objectives for the whole farm system (http://www.saiplatform.org/uploads/Library/ PPsArableVegetableCrops2009-2.pdf).

SAI platform also categorizes global food production standards based on a market study. For example, in the USA, we have the following sustainable agriculture standards (may sound familiar to many readers):

 Whole Farm Sustainability Standards: Protected Harvest, Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Stand- ard, Food Alliance, and Sustainable Agriculture Practice Standard  Organic Standard: USDA National Organic Program  Food Safety Standard: Safe Quality Food

Again, the best part of SAI is that they took a few pages out of the SARE Program and their official descriptions of sustainable/organic agriculture to create consistency instead of divergence from accepted norms. Visit any of the website links mentioned herein for more information about some unique challenges and opportunities for organic crop production from a global perspective.

Remember, the Alabama SARE website is always at your service and it can be found at http:// www.southernsare.org/SARE-in-Your-State/Alabama. Alabama Extension’s Commercial Horticulture Team is committed to assist all producers and more information can be found at www.aces.edu. ARCHIVE Disclaimer: This article is only a recommendation for information source. This article is not an endorsement of the companies involved or their products/services. Ayanava Majumdar Ext. Entomologist & SARE Coordinator at AU 115 Extension Hall, Auburn University Auburn, AL 36849

5 INVASIVE PEST FOUND FIRST TIME IN U.S. AT BORDER CROSSING Moth known to feed on apples, apple buds, leaves, and shoots, is found in a container full of pump valves origi- nating in China.

On Oct. 8, a USDA entomologist confirmed that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists at the Lewiston Bridge border crossing in Buffalo, NY, intercepted an invasive insect, Phaecasiophora fernaldana Walsingham, a moth from the Tortricidae family. This is the first discovery of this pest in the U.S. and is not known to exist in the Western Hemisphere.

This moth poses a potential significant threat to the agriculture industry because it is known to feed on apples, apple buds, leaves, and shoots.

“CBP agriculture specialists in the Port of Buffalo do an excellent job of detecting invasive pests that could cause harm to the United States agriculture industry,” said Randy Howe, Director of Field Operations for the Buffalo Field Office. “We have an excellent working relationship with USDA and Image: Phaecasiophora fernaldana Walsingham this is another example of CBP and USDA working closely moth (Photo credit: U.S. Customs and Border together to protect the nation’s agriculture resources.” Protection)

On Oct. 6, CBP agriculture specialists at the Lewiston Bridge border crossing inspected a truck hauling an ocean container full of pump valves which originated in China. During the inspection, a pest resembling a moth was discovered and forwarded to a USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) — Plant Pro- tection and Quarantine (PPQ) entomologist and identified as Phaecasiopha fernaldana Walsingham.

CBP issued an Emergency Action Notification to the importer and following CBP procedures, the shipment will be re-exported to Canada.

Source: Growing Produce E-News Elina Coneva Ext. Fruit Crops Specialist, ACES

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6 TWO WEEK SCOUTING REPORT – VEGETABLE IPM PROJECT This is a pest alert for producers with leafy greens or cole crops in open field or high tunnel. There have been plenty of imported cabbageworms or cabbage butterflies (Pieris rapae) flying around in our research plots and producer fields scouted. This is a major pest of cole crops and the butterfly is active at day time – unlike cabbage loopers and diamondback moths that are active at dusk. Cabbageworm butterflies are white or yellowish with black spots on the wings. Watch this video (http://youtu.be/2--JZgcZsgU) to see the identification characteristics and flight pattern of the cabbageworm. If you look carefully and follow the butterfly around, you can probably find foot-ball shaped eggs on the top or bottom of the leaves (see photo). A good hand-held magnifying glass is excellent for scouting. Each female butterfly is capable of laying 50-100 eggs over several days. Cabbageworm lar- vae are velvety green and usually feed close to major leaf veins. If not con- trolled, the cabbageworms can destroy foliage along with caterpillars of the other pest species.

Early season management of butterflies and moth by physical exclusion: Small producers and gardeners can use very light shade cloth (woven fabric) or Superlight Insect Barrier (fabric) to keep the butterflies and moths away and minimize egg laying on desirable crop/s. Superlight insect fabric (Gardensalive.com) allows over 85% light penetration and traps heat for fast- er crop production if you are behind in planting. For shade cloth, use the widest opening available, say, 30% or less shading. Take the fabric/shade cloth off if the plants get too big. If you decide to use physical exclusion tactics, make sure to periodically check inside to remove any unwanted pests or weeds for optimum of crop production. High tunnel producers can install 30% or lower shade cloth on the sides to prevent entry of pest butterflies/moths (net house strategy).

Collards can act as trap crops for some of these pests. Plant collards in outside rows and slightly earlier than the main crop to enhance trap crop effectiveness. Make sure to apply synthetic or approved organic insecticides to kill multiple pest species at once. Monitoring and timely use of insecticide on trap crop can enhance beneficial insect populations in the main crop.

Conventional producers have a wide selection of products to choose from after confirming the presence of eggs or caterpillars on the crop. Good knock-down chemicals ae flubendiamide (Belt), spinetoram (Radiant) and Bacillus thuringiensis (Xentari). Stay away from use of harsh synthetic pyrethroids that can drastically re- duce beneficial insect populations. Stop using the products once the pest is under control. Check the insecticide label and any precautions for best results.

Organic producers should first think about prevention (physical exclusion) and alternative pest management strategies (trap crops) rather than insecticidal control – although some organic insecticides are extremely effective as well. Use Bt product (Xentari or Dipel), pyrethrin (PyGanic), or spinosad (Entrust or Monterey product) when the caterpillars are small. Rotate insecticides and stop using them once pest pressures are down. Ensure proper coverage of plants and repeat spraying as needed to prevent caterpillar outbreak. While Bt products are pest-specific, pyrethrin and spinosad have broad action. ARCHIVE

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7 TWO WEEK SCOUTING REPORT – VEGETABLE IPM PROJECT (CONTINUED) Organic producers should first think about prevention (physical exclusion) and alternative pest management strategies (trap crops) rather than insecticidal control – although some organic insecticides are extremely effective as well. Use Bt product (Xentari or Dipel), pyrethrin (PyGanic), or spinosad (Entrust or Monterey product) when the caterpillars are small. Rotate insecticides and stop using them once pest pressures are down. Ensure proper coverage of plants and repeat spraying as needed to prevent caterpillar outbreak. While Bt products are pest-specific, pyrethrin and spinosad have broad action.

While scouting cole crops, also watch for aphids on the underside of leaves (see photo, image courtesy: Colora- do State Univ.). Aphids are a major cause of crop contamination and they can be difficult to control in an outbreak. The migrating adult aphids has wings and appears as a small dot on the back of the leaves. Don’t let aphids escape your attention and mark the hot-spots for insecticidal or manual removal when the clusters are small. Large number of aphids are extremely difficult to control with approved organic insecticides – they will slow down with repeated use of neem oil and/or paraffinic oil-based products. However, conservation of natural en- emies (lady beetles, lacewings, etc.) is one of the most sustainable ways of managing aphids. Conventional producers should shift to using or incorpo- rating selective insecticides like pymetrozine (Fulfill) in their spray sched- ule rather than repeated applications of synthetic pyrethroids. Stop using organic or conventional products once the pest populations have crashed.

For further information about vegetable IPM tactics, visit the Alabama Vegetable IPM website www.aces.edu/go/87. Use your smartphone to take pictures or collects an insect sample for proper identification. To learn more about alternative pest management strategies or conventional IPM please attend Extension educational events near you. Subscribe to the IPM newsletter using the website linked above and stay abreast with latest happenings around the state.

Disclaimer: Mention of product names is only for example only – names do not indicate endorsement of those products or the company by ACES or this author. Always read the insecticide label because it is the LAW!!

Ayanava Majumdar Ext. Entomologist and State SARE Coordinator

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8 USDA EXPANDS ACCESS TO CREDIT TO HELP MORE BEGINNING AND FAMI- LY FARMERS Changes Increase Eligibility and Financing Options for Hard Working Families WASHINGTON, Oct. 7, 2014 – Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will improve farm loans by expanding eligibility and increasing lending limits to help more beginning and family farmers. As part of this effort, USDA is raising the borrowing limit for the microloan program from $35,000 to $50,000; simplify the lending processes; updating required “farming experience” to include other valuable experiences; and expanding eligible business entities to reflect changes in the way family farms are owned and operated. The changes become effective Nov. 7.

“USDA is continuing its commitment to new and existing family farmers and ranchers by expanding access to credit,” said Harden. “These new flexibilities, created by the 2014 Farm Bill, will help more people who are considering farming and ranching, or who want to strengthen their existing family operation.”

The microloan changes announced today will allow beginning, small and mid-sized farmers to access an additional $15,000 in loans using a simplified application process with up to seven years to repay. Microloans are part of USDA’s continued commitment to small and midsized farming operations.

In addition to farm related experience, other types of skills may be considered to meet the direct farming experience required for farm loan eligibility such as operation or management of a non-farm business, leader- ship positions while serving in the military, or advanced education in an agricultural field. Also, individuals who own farmland under a different legal entity operating the farm now may be eligible for loans administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). Producers will have an opportunity to share suggestions on the microloan process, and the definitions of farming experience and business structures through Dec. 8, 2014, the public open comment period.

FSA is also publishing a Federal Register notice to solicit ideas from the public for pilot projects to help increase the efficiency and effectiveness of farm loan programs. Comments and ideas regarding potential pilot projects will be accepted through Nov. 7, 2014.

Since 2010, USDA has made a record amount of farm loans through FSA — more than 165,000 loans total- ing nearly $23 billion. More than 50 percent of USDA’s farm loans now go to beginning farmers. In addition, USDA has increased its lending to socially-disadvantaged producers by nearly 50 percent since 2010.

These programs were made possible by the 2014 Farm Bill, which builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past five years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for tax- payers. Since enactment, USDA has made significant progress to implement each provision of this critical legislation, including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America. For more information, vis- itwww.usda.gov/farmbill. ARCHIVE

9 CERTIFIED ORGANIC FARMERS AND HANDLERS;MAKE SURE YOU ARE GET- TING REIMBURSED FOR YOUR CERTIFICATION COSTS After a break in funding in 2013, the National Organic Certification CostShare is back for ALL Certified Farmers And Handlers in the ENTIRE United States. For the foreseea- ble future this program will be available for certified entities EACH YEAR. For more information: Contact your Certifier or your State Department of Agriculture. Procedures may differ in each state. Things you should know: All organic certified entities – farmers, handlers/processors – are eligible receive cost share reimbursement of 75% of the actual cost paid to your certifier up to a maximum of $750 per certification category.

To qualify, applicants must be certified organic by a USDA-accredited cer- tifying agency.

You are eligible to receive a payment for each category you are certified under. If you make one payment for all, your state should simply divide the total payment and give you the total of 75% (up to $750) for each. This may result in a reimbursement more than $750.

There are 4 eligible categories: Crops, Livestock, Processing/Handling, and Wild Harvest.

This reimbursement is annual, just like your certification payment. You must re-apply each year.

Ask your certifier – they may apply for you – or they have the information on how you can apply. Most programs are run through your State Department of Agriculture, but some are administered through the certifier.

Because the federal government runs on a fiscal year October 1 through September 30, and state deadlines may vary, your deadlines may get confusing – Make sure you apply for each year you are certified (and have paid), and this should get worked out at the state level.

This is a partial reimbursement for money you have paid to comply with this federal program; it is not a subsi- dy or a handout.

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10 2015 AFVGA ANNUAL CONFERENCE & TRADESHOW Once again it is time for the fruit and vegetable growers’ association conference. This conference provides un- paralleled learning and networking experience for producers, gardeners, educators, industry representatives, state and nonprofit agencies. The conference will take place February 6 & 7, 2015 at the Marriott Grand Na- tional, 3700 Robert Trent Jones Trail, Opelika, AL 36801. You can book your stay now at (http://www.marriott.com/hotels/fact-sheet/travel/csgab-auburn-marriott-opelika-hotel-and-conference-center- at-grand-national/).

20 Pesticide Points will be available for the full conference. There will be a wide variety of workshops and educational sessions featuring vegetable production, fruit production , cover crops, commercial greenhouse crops, organic gardening and many more. You can see our tentative agenda for this meeting on our website here Basic Meeting Agenda (2015).

Online registration for Members, Sponsors, and Exhibitors will be available after October 15. Thank you in advance for your support! For any further details at this time, please contact Jackie Cooper (AFVGA Exec. Sec.), [email protected], 334-728-4117 OR Ann Chambliss (Conference Coordinator), [email protected], 334-707-4923 Visit our website for more information: www.afvga.aces.edu

Ann Chambliss AFVGA event coordinator, ACES

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11 SOUTHERN SARE PRODUCER GRANT CALLS FOR PRO- POSALS RELEASED GRIFFIN, Georgia – The Calls for Proposals for the 2014 Producer Grants, in- tended for farmers/ranchers and farmer/rancher organizations throughout the Southern region, are now available from the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SSARE) program.

Proposal submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. EST on Nov. 17, 2014. Announce- ment of funded grants will take place in late February 2015.

Producer Grants are used to conduct sustainable agriculture research projects that solve agricultural production challenges farmers face and to develop information on what works and what doesn’t so that other farmers and ranchers facing those same challenges can benefit from the results of the funded project.

Producer grants are not designed to pay a farmer to farm; buy livestock, equipment, or land; make per- manent farm improvements or support private enterprises through capital investments. Southern SARE Producer Grants are research grants, designed to take some of the financial risk away from trying a solution to an agricultural production issue.

Projects may be funded for up to two years for a project maximum of $10,000 for an individual producer or $15,000 for a producer organization. Producer organizations should be comprised primarily of farmers/ranchers and must have a majority farmer representation on their governing board.

For detailed information on how to apply for a Producer Grant, download the current Producer Grant Call for Proposals.

The Producer Grant Call for Proposals includes application information, use of funds, proposal submission instructions, and contact information. Be sure to carefully follow the information in the Call for Proposals when submitting your proposal. Failure to follow the submission guidelines may result in your proposal being reject- ed.

Published by the Southern Region of the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program. Funded by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Southern SARE operates under cooperative agreements with the University of Georgia, Fort Valley State University, and the Kerr Center for Sus- tainable Agriculture to offer competitive grants to advance sustainable agriculture in America's Southern region. ARCHIVE

12 AFVGA 2014 CONFERENCE VIDEOS AND PRESENTATIONS NOW ON SALE!

If you missed the 2014 conference or you want to see and hear the information from speakers, AFVGA is offering videos from many keynote and educational sessions on a flash drive for your convenience. Below is a list of available topics bundled as videos and presentations on each flash drive. Place your order for the flash drive with the order form attached to this newsletter. Please fill it out and mail it along with your check or money order. The flash drive is only $20.00 for members and $50.00 for non-members for all these important and informative talks. Don’t miss out on a great opportunity! Order today and get a AFVGA bumper sticker free of cost!

Topics on the flash drive: Videos Presentations  No till vegetable production  Weed control  Strawberry production and pest management  Water management  Weed control recommendations in vegetable  Agritourism crop  No-till vegetables  Tomato production and pest management prac-  Citrus production/propagation tices  Soil quality  Fruit crop pest management (peaches, blackber-  High tunnel diseases and economics ries, etc.)  Marketing produce  Kudzu bug identification and management  High tunnel crop production  Small farm equipment

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ORDER FORM Please make checks payable to AFVGA, mailing address P.O. Box 2081 Auburn, AL 36831-2081

Your Name:______Your E-mail:______Phone:______Your Mailing Address:______Quantity:______x $50.00 each = $______(total non-members)

Quantity. ______xARCHIVE $20.00 each =$______(total members)

VOLUME 11, ISSUE 1 Page 13

13 EDUCATIONAL EVENTS

Row Crops, Forage & Stored Grains (more at AlabamaCrops.com)

Specialty Crops (Fruits/Vegetables)  Year-round Webinar series: All Bugs Good and Bad (agenda included)

Other Events  October 14– December 4, 2014: Food and Farm Forums October 14 2014: Linden, AL October 28, 2014: Auburn, AL November 10, 2014: Falkville, AL December 4, 2014: Foley, AL  October 28, 2014: OTCP & OTPS study session meeting, Auburn, AL (flyer included)  October 28-30, 2014: Annual turfgrass conference, Auburn, AL (flyer included)  November 6, 2014: Demonstration and research in-service and training, Shorter, AL (flyer included)  November 7-11, 2014: Restricted use dealer meetings, multiple locations (flyer included)  November 2014: “Train the Trainer” workshops on organic high tunnels (flyer included)

November 10, 2014: Falkville, AL November 12, 2014: Ariton, AL November 13, 2014: Tuskegee, AL

 December 15-16, 2014: Alabama Corn and Wheat short course, Auburn, AL (flyer included)  January 14-17, 2015: Southern SAWG Conference, Mobile, AL (flyer included)  February 6-7, 2015: Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association Conference, Opelika, AL (flyer included)  February 20-21, 2015: Georgia Organics Conference and Expo, Athens, GA (flyer included)

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2014 Demonstration and Research In-Service Training and Test November 6, 2014 EV Smith Research Training Center Shorter Al. Demonstration & Research Permit Training Course Demonstration & Research applicators are individuals that demonstrate the use of pesticides or supervise their use and applicators conducting field research (e.g. Extension agents, Faculty members specialists, and commercial representatives). If you are interested in receiving your D&R permit or D&R points this is the program for you. The program includes a full day of training, lunch and the option to test at the end of the training. The course is $10.00 for REAs, Extension Specialists, Agents and CECs but you are still required to register. If you are interested in registering for this course please contact me for the special code. Registration is $160.00 for all others and this includes lunch and testing fee. To register please visit this site: https://alpsep.aces.edu/

Agenda

8:30 - 8:45 Introductions and Welcome

8:45 - 9:45 Forage Insect Update Kathy Flanders

9:45 – 10:30 Department of Agriculture and Industries Rules and Regulations

10:15 - 11:15 IPM Pests and Pest control Sonja Thomas

11:15 – 12:00 Pesticides and the Environment Sonja Thomas

12:00 – 1:00 Lunch Provided

1:00-2:00pm Pesticide Application Fudd Graham Break

2:00 - 2:30 Break

2:30 - 3:00 Calibration Fudd Graham

3:30 - until ARCHIVED & R Examination: Alabama Department of Agriculture Inspectors

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See next page for more information

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20 November 7, 2014- Montgomery, AL November 10, 2014-Alabama Green In- November 11, 2014- Wiregrass Re- Richard Beard Bldg Auditorium dustry Training Center (AGITC) search and Extension Center PROGRAM 5521 Cahaba Valley Road Birmingham, Headland, Al. AL 35242 PROGRAM PROGRAM 9:30-10:15 Sonja Thomas- WPS Updates, Private Applicator Updates, PPE 9:30-10:15 Charles Mitchell- 9:30-10:15 Charles Mitchell- Under- Understanding Soil Sample Results 10:15-11:00 Kassie Conner -New standing Soil Sample Reports Diseases of Concern in Alabama

10:15-11:00 Kassie Conner - New Dis- 10:15-11:00 Tim Reed 11:00-11:15 Break eases of Concern in Alabama

11:00-11:15 Break 11:00-11:15 Break 11:15-12:00 Tim Reed- Crop pests/ pesticide update 11:15-12:00 Tim Reed-Crop pests/ pesticide update 11:15-12:00 Kassie Conner

12:00-1:00 Lunch 12:00-1:00 Lunch 12:00-1:00 Lunch 1:00-2:00 Eve Brantley- Water Quality and NPDES permitting 1:00-2:00 Fudd Graham or 1:00-2:00 Eve Brantley Water Qual- Brenda Ortiz ity and NPDES permitting 2:00-2:30 Updates from ADAI 2:00-2:30 Updates from ADAI 2:00-2:30 Updates from ADAI- & 2:30-2:45 Break Sonja Thomas WPS Updates, Private Appli- cator Updates, PPE 2:30-2:45 Break

2:45-until Dealer Examination 2:30-2:45 Break 2:45-until Dealer Examination ARCHIVE2:45-until Dealer Examination

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Early bird registration cost will be $20, and then please register online at: https://mell-base.uce.auburn.edu/CourseStatus.awp?&course=C141215

See agenda on next page.

ARCHIVE For more information, please contact: Kay Holloway or Brenda Ortiz Phone: 334-844-3899 Email: [email protected] or [email protected] We will offer Certified Crop Advisor-CEUs Pesticide units will be also available.

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