February/March 2023

Mississippi Pinkeye 2 retains the most desirable characteristics of superior yield and disease resistance of Mississippi

Pinkeye, with the additional benefit of improved emergence and survivability in cool, wet soils typical of early spring weather.

“I'll never plant another variety of pinkeye peas if I can't have Mississippi Pinkeye 2. I don't want any other variety. I have tried other pinkeyes, but they don't yield, cook or taste like Mississippi Pinkeye 2. I like the size of this big pea and it shells out easy. It freezes pretty and tastes like you just shelled them.

We planted late and it was a dry year, but the plants still got knee high loaded down with peas. Mississippi Pinkeye 2 - that's my pea.”

- Lisa Holmes

“Planted two varieties of pinkeye peas this year: Texas and Mississippi Pinkeye 2. I planted the second week of March.

Mississippi Pinkeye 2 was the best pea by far. The plant was larger, had longer pods and more pods per plant than the Texas, and was taller and also grew off faster. The pods had a good purple color and shelled out better. They also freeze well. Again, there were more peas per bush than the Texas plant, plus you can pick all season long.”

- Michael Anderson

“Our Mississippi Pinkeye 2 Purplehull peas were really good producers and our customers liked them. They made long pods and the peas were larger than the other varieties we planted. They mature more evenly which makes picking easier and more profitable.

The new Mississippi Pinkeye 2 Purplehull will be a big part of my operation again next year.”

- Bob Compton

Seeds for Southern Soils

“I'll never plant another variety “ I ' l l n e v e r p l a n t a n o t h e r v a r i e t y of pinkeye peas if I can't have o f p i n k e y e p e a s i f I c a n ' t h a v e

Pinkeye M i s s i s s i p p i P i n k e y e 2 .” . ”

“I'll never plant another variety of pinkeye peas if I can't have Mississippi Pinkeye 2 .”

2 Purplehull

CO-OP MATTERS

18 Vicki Paradise: Co-op Wishes Vicki a Happy Retirement

LIFE

46 Scheer Performance Horses: The Grind Never Stops

50 Madelyn Howard: All for the Love of a Horse

YOUTH MATTERS

28 Pell City FFA: Rocking Along!

30 4-H Extension Corner: A Life Filled with Horses

33 PALS: Poster & Recycled Art Contest

er from the Editor

e days are ge ing longer and warmer by the second.

Spring will be here before we know it and with it comes a busy season at the Co-op!

Stop by your local store to stock up on supplies to ensure you grow the best lawn, garden, and/or owerbed in your neck of the woods.

Our Cooperative Farming News team always has fun working on each issue, but we’re not horsing around with this Equine focused edition.

It spotlights the Scheer family as they master the art of cu ing horses. We also have a brand-new column discussing how to best address a horse’s nutritional needs called Horse Sense with Purina.

Other don’t miss articles include information regarding new lab services available for backyard poultry ocks, a story of deep-seated family tradition of 4-H and a special surprise Co-op Corner featuring a shopper turned longtime employee who is now saying ‘see ya later’ as she moves into retirement.

ere are also several quick, easy and delicious eld meal recipes for all of us on the go.

We hope you enjoy this issue as much as we do!

And if you’re on social media, be sure to follow your local store’s page to stay up to date with new inventory and sales in your area.

ank you for being a loyal reader, customer and part of the AFC family.

Lester Editor-in-Chief

Through diversity and strong leadership, Alabama Farmers Cooperative, Inc. has grown to become one of the largest farmer owned agriculture related businesses in the Southeast.

/ALAFARM

VISION

To be a relationship driven partner integrating vital resources to ensure our members/farmers success.

Editor-in-Chief: Ti any Lester

Editor: Jessie Shook

Contributing Editor: Jade Randolph

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DIRECTORY OF MEMBER COOPERATIVES

ALTHA FARMERS COOPERATIVE

James Lynn, Gen. Mgr.

Phone 850-674-8194

ANDALUSIA FARMERS COOPERATIVE

Russell Lassiter, Gen. Mgr.

Phone 334-222-1851

FLORALA - Pete Blackwell, Mgr.

Phone 334-858-6142

OPP - Brandon Bledsoe, Mgr.

Phone 334-493-7715

ATMORE FARMERS COOPERATIVE

Todd Booker, Gen. Mgr.

Phone 251-368-2191

BLOUNT COUNTY FARMERS COOPERATIVE

Eric Sanders, Gen. Mgr.

Phone 205-274-2185

CENTRAL ALABAMA FARMERS COOPERATIVE

Tim Wood, Gen. Mgr.

SELMA - Thomas Reeves, Mgr.

Phone 334-874-9083

FAUNSDALE - Bryan Monk, Mgr.

Phone 334-628-2681

DEMOPOLIS - Tom Eunice, Mgr.

Phone 334-289-0155

CHEROKEE FARMERS COOPERATIVE

Seth Eubanks, Gen. Mgr.

CENTRE

Phone 256-927-3135

JACKSONVILLE - Tommy Thomas, Mgr.

Phone 256-435-3430

PIEDMONT - Kevin Bobbitt, Mgr.

Phone 256-447-6560

CLAY COUNTY EXCHANGE

Jeff Kinder, Gen. Mgr. Phone 256-396-2097

COLBERT FARMERS COOPERATIVE

Daniel Waldrep, Gen. Mgr.

LEIGHTON - Brad Balentine, Mgr. Phone 256-446-8328

TUSCUMBIA - Chuck Hellums, Mgr. Phone 256-383-6462

DEKALB FARMERS COOPERATIVE

Jason Plunkett, Gen. Mgr.

RAINSVILLE - Cody Etherton, Mgr. Phone 256-638-2569

CROSSVILLE - David Tierce, Mgr. Phone 256-528-7188

ALBERTVILLE - James Addison, Mgr. Phone 256-878-3261

ELBERTA FARMERS COOPERATIVE

Justin Brown, Gen. Mgr. Phone 251-986-8103

FARMERS COOPERATIVE MARKET

Doug Smith, Gen. Mgr.

FRISCO CITY - Tim Goldman, Mgr. Phone 251-267-3175

Fertilizer / Phone 251-267-3173

LEROY - Jeff Hughston, Mgr. Phone 251-246-3512

FARMERS CO-OP OF ASHFORD

Timothy Tolar, Gen. Mgr. Phone 334-899-3263

FARMERS COOPERATIVE, INC.

Barry Long, Gen. Mgr.

LIVE OAK, FL - Judd Chancey, Ag Div. Mgr. Phone 386-362-1459

MADISON, FL Phone 850-973-2269

GENCO FARMERS COOPERATIVE

Ricky Wilks, Gen. Mgr.

ENTERPRISE - Ricky Wilks, Mgr. Phone 334-347-9007

HARTFORD - Todd Smith, Mgr. Phone 334-588-2992

WEST GENEVA - Robert Pittman, Mgr. Phone 334-898-7932

ELBA - Colin Morris, Mgr. Phone 334-897-6972

HEADLAND PEANUT WAREHOUSE CO-OP

Chris Hix, Gen Mgr. Phone 334-693-3313

JAY PEANUT FARMERS COOPERATIVE

Ryan Williams, Gen. Mgr. Phone 850-675-4597

LUVERNE COOPERATIVE SERVICES

Perry Catrett, Gen. Mgr. Phone 334-335-5082

MADISON COUNTY COOPERATIVE

Keith Griffin, Gen. Mgr.

HAZEL GREEN - Phone 256-828-2010

MERIDIANVILLE - Matt Dunbar, Mgr. Phone 256-828-5360

NEW MARKET - Ben Smith, Mgr. Phone 256-379-2553

SCOTTSBORO - Ramsey Prince, Mgr. Phone 256-574-1688

MARION COUNTY COOPERATIVE

Steve Lann, Gen. Mgr.

HAMILTON - Phone 205-921-2631

FAYETTE - Kellie Trull, Mgr. Phone 205-932-5901

HALEYVILLE - Jessica Steward, Mgr. Phone 205-486-3794

MARSHALL FARMERS COOPERATIVE

Brian Keith, Gen. Mgr.

HOLLY POND - Phone 256-796-5337

ARAB - Mark Upton, Mgr. Phone 256-586-5515

MORGAN FARMERS COOPERATIVE

Bradley Hopkins, Gen. Mgr.

HARTSELLE - Jason Pealor, Mgr. Phone 256-773-6832

PIKE COUNTY COOPERATIVE

Danny Dewrell, Gen. Mgr.

GOSHEN - Phone 334-484-3441

TROY - Jeff Baron, Mgr. Phone 334-566-3882

QUALITY COOPERATIVE, INC.

Daniel Salter, Gen. Mgr. Phone 334-382-6548

TALEECON FARMERS COOPERATIVE

Scott Hartley, Gen. Mgr. Phone 334-257-3930

WETUMPKA - Timothy Richardson, Mgr. Phone 334-567-4321

TALLADEGA COUNTY EXCHANGE

Chris Elliott, Gen. Mgr. Phone 256-362-2716

ASHVILLE Phone 205-594-7042

PELL CITY - Joseph Taylor, Mgr. Phone 205-338-2821

COLUMBIANA - Barry Keller, Mgr. Phone 205-669-7082

RANDOLPH - Tim Brown, Mgr. Phone 256-357-4743

TENNESSEE VALLEY COOPERATIVE, LLC

John Curtis, President

ATHENS – Britt Christopher, Mgr. Phone 256-232-5500

LYNNVILLE, TN - Kyle Doggett, Mgr. Phone 931-527-3923

PULASKI, TN - Jeff Wales, Mgr. Phone 931-363-2563

Reggie Shook, Vice Pres.

FLORENCE - Robbie Neal, Mgr. Phone 256-764-8441

ELGIN - Blair Shook, Mgr. Phone 256-247-3453

John Holley, Vice Pres.

MOULTON - Greg McCannon, Mgr. Phone 256-974-9213

COURTLAND Phone 256-637-2939

GRASSY - Adam Malone, Mgr. Phone 256-229-6664

TUSCALOOSA FARMERS COOPERATIVE Wayne Gilliam, Gen. Mgr. Phone 205-339-8181

WALKER FARMERS COOPERATIVE

Cody King, Gen. Mgr. Phone 205-387-1142

AG INSIGHT

BY JIM ERICKSON

Agricultural output growth slows markedly

Data collected and analyzed for 1961-2020 by USDA’s Economic Research Service showed that average annual agricultural output growth worldwide has slowed to its lowest rate in six decades and is linked to a slowdown in agricultural productivity growth. Specific measurements showed that:

• Total factor productivity (TFP), which measures the overall efficiency with which agricultural inputs are combined to produce output, grew globally at an average annual rate of 1.12 percent in the 2010s, down from 1.99 percent in the 2000s.

• The slowdown in agricultural output is primarily observed in developing countries, where TFP growth fell by more than half from an average of 2.20 percent in the 2000s to 1.06 percent in the 2010s.

• A slowdown in productivity growth suggests that producers will need to use more land and apply other agricultural inputs more intensively to maintain growth in agricultural output.

The slowdown in agricultural productivity growth may be linked to several factors. First, recent studies have shown that climate change and associated weather shocks such as drought have slowed the growth in or decreased agricultural yields. If weather shocks become more extreme or frequent over time, the negative effects on agricultural productivity are likely to become even larger.

Second, the emergence of new pests and diseases like disease-resistant weeds have in some cases reduced crop yields or required additional inputs or management practices to control.

Third, the rate of development of new productivity-enhancing technologies may be slowing. Previous ERS research has highlighted a decrease in public agricultural R&D spending among high-income countries that could be associated with long-term declines in TFP growth.

At the same time, farmers across different regions of the world may be slow to adopt improved technologies. For example, producers in developing countries often lack access to robust agricultural extension systems, agricultural finance and insurance, or reliable information technology infrastructure that makes it easier to adopt new technologies.

Finally, ERS research has shown that barriers to international trade may limit the transfer of productivity-enhancing technologies between countries and make the import of agricultural inputs more expensive.

Rural America at a Glance: 2022 edition

A number of changes have occurred in rural America in recent years and a new publication provides a detailed review of the issues involved and their impact.

The 2022 edition of Rural America at a Glance looks at the changing structure of economic sectors, the labor force, and job growth in rural areas.

Among other things, the composition of the rural labor force changed over the last two decades due to an overall decline in population growth, aging of the population, and a changing industry structure. Both the urban and rural workforces became more racially and ethnically diverse during the 2010s, though the rural workforce remains less diverse than the urban.

Two mainstay industries of the rural economy, agriculture and manufacturing, have recorded growth in output and productivity, but not jobs. Rural America also has become more economically diverse over time, with increasing employment in health care, hospitality, and other service industries.

The 2022 edition can be accessed at the Economic Research Service portion of the U.S. Department of Agriculture website.

China’s cotton production shift alters trade patterns

China’s cotton production, once focused in coastal and river valley regions, has shifted to the remote western Xinjiang region, disrupting trade patterns established decades ago.

As China’s cotton production has become increasingly concentrated in the more remote Xinjiang region in recent years, farmers in the rest of the country have largely abandoned the crop. As a result, Chinese textile manufacturers now mainly use cotton from Xinjiang — more than 2,000 miles away from most textile mills — because their access to imported cotton is limited by a quota.

The longer physical distance between where cotton is produced and where it is used has created supply difficulties for China’s textile industry. Additional challenges have come from import bans imposed by the United States and other countries on cotton products produced with forced labor in Xinjiang. Cumulatively, these changes are reshaping the global market for cotton.

Although China’s textile manufacturers appear to be eager to import cotton, China’s role as a market for U.S. cotton is diminishing.

In 2021, China imported just 9.5 million bales of U.S. cotton. By comparison, Vietnam, Pakistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Turkey imported 25.4 million bales.

Global food insecurity grew in 2022 but improved conditions are forecast

It was no surprise that global food insecurity grew in 2022 as commodity prices worldwide continued to rise. According to USDA economists, the number of food insecure people in 77 low- and middle-income countries in 2022 rose to 1.3 billion, a 10% increase from 2021. Moreover, almost 33% of the population of those 77 countries was considered food insecure in 2022.

The increase reflects two main factors: food price inflation, which is estimated to outpace growth rates of real per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and uncertainty surrounding exports of feed grains, oilseeds, vegetable oils, and wheat from the Black Sea region following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

However, the good news is that food security is projected to improve in all 77 countries over the next 10 years. By 2032, the number of food-insecure people in the 77 countries tracked by the International Food Security Assessment is projected to be 577.3 million and falling to 12 percent of the population (64.0 percent less than in 2022).

of the state’s leading counties in the production of oranges. The storm made landfall as a category 4 hurricane on Florida’s southwest coast in late September.

Ian crossed the peninsula, again bringing severe winds and rainfall to many of the same counties affected by Hurricane Irma five years earlier. When Irma hit in September 2017, the state’s citrus production was already on a downward trajectory from diseases and other factors reducing acreage and yields. Florida’s citrus production fell by 1.3 million tons from the hurricane-free 2016/17 season, with the total value of production dropping 39%.

Last October, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service released a citrus production estimate of about 1.4 million tons for the 2022/23 crop year. The forecast was 32% below total production from the previous season and did not take into consideration potential losses from Ian.

While the 2017 and 2022 hurricane events are distinct from one another, the effects of Irma can be used as a proxy to estimate the potential impact on value until the impact on the state’s total citrus production can be fully assessed.

Florida citrus growers take major hit from Hurricane Ian

Florida’s declining citrus output received another major hit when Hurricane Ian tore through some

BEING OPTIMISTIC IN 2023

GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALABAMA AND U.S. FARMERS

BY KEN KELLEY

It’s difficult to think outside of what we encounter, but as we move into 2023 there is great opportunity and optimism for Alabama agricultural producers (and consumers). The cattle industry is poised for better prices for producers, the poultry industry continues to increase production, row crop farmers have a chance at market prices that allow them some profit. Our fruits, veggies and green industry continues to benefit from increases in

consuming locally grown products. So, from a big picture standpoint, there are reasons for optimism as we start a new year.

The cattle industry is in a good position to have higher prices for cattle producers. The cattle inventory has been getting smaller for a couple of years due to a normal contraction that goes with lower prices the last few years, but the decrease in the cattle inventory was accelerated during 2022

because of drought across a large part of “cattle country.” With fewer cattle, basic supply and demand indicates that prices will be better for cattle producers. There are, of course, other factors that affect cattle prices such as world wars, the price of corn, the price of competing proteins, and consumer demand. Supply is normally the key driver though, and supply should be lower.

grown in Alabama, peanuts and cotton, will provide an opportunity in 2023 for row crop producers to be profitable. Alabama cotton production in 2022 should actually be at or better than 2021 when all considerations are factored in, but nationally drought had a huge effect on cotton production. The same situation applies for peanuts with 2022 projected at or above 2021, but lower numbers nationally.

Data Source: USDA-NASS • Livestock Marketing Information Center

The poultry industry continues to be strong in Alabama and increasing in production. The industry seems to be trending toward growing numbers of eggs set for broilers, which leads to more availability of quality poultry protein going forward.

So, there are some positive things happening for the farming industry that are cause for optimism … but there are some negatives as well. Fertilizer prices are at an all-time high, with little anticipated movement in the short term. Seed, chemical, and fuel prices are of concern for 2023 and beyond. Inflation and lower consumer demand can (and will eventually) have an effect on both overall demand and prices. And, for the consumer, with higher prices for the farmer doesn’t that also mean higher prices in the grocery store ? Maybe ... maybe ... but remember this – out of every dollar of food purchased in the United States, only about 16 cents actually goes to the farmer. A lot of the price that is associated with rising food prices can be attributed to things completely out of the farmer's ability to control such as fuel and fertilizer prices.

But, all things considered, 2023 shows great opportunity for Alabama and U.S. farmers. That also means food security for us as U.S. citizens, where, by the way, we enjoy the highest standard of living in the world while spending among the lowest percentage of earned income on food.

RETRACTION

The December/January 2023 issue featured a Business of Farming article with an incorrect author. The article “Thinking Beyond the Farm Gate” was written by Ken Kelley, Regional Extension Agent.

Data Source: USDA-NASS • Livestock Marketing Information Center

Grains such as corn and soybeans are also very positive. These grains are consumed by both people and animals. Supply and demand, not only in the U.S. but across the world, are always key drivers on prices, and forecasts are for a larger corn crop into 2023. This market is important for domestic use, especially when you consider corn is often the majority ingredient in cattle, swine, and poultry feeds. It's also pretty good as cornbread. Our other major row crops

HAY AND GRASS FOR HORSES

MANAGEMENT DECISIONS TO BE MADE

BY JIMMY PARKER

As spring approaches, we need to consider several management decisions for our horses. Some of those things are the changing needs of the animal, changes in forages, both quantity and quality, and changes in typical usage.

Generally, as weather warms up the number of calories needed to maintain a normal body temperature will decrease and extra calories will go to body fat instead of being used for other things unless the animal’s activity level increases enough to offset the decreased need for temperature maintenance. Body condition scoring is a great tool to monitor changes in condition and fat cover and that in turn will help make decisions on feeding strategies. Often animals will come out of winter slightly thinner than most of us would like and the changes in ambient temperature, along with increasing forage quality, will help increase condition to the optimum point, but care should be taken to avoid going too far and adding body condition to a point of causing problems.

springtime than in the cold winter or hottest weather of summer and that tends to help burn some of the extra calories that the animals consume during this time. This will help maintain the animal in a healthy body condition and prevent a number of problems. Utilizing or burning those additional calories with healthy exercise is an ideal way of managing the increase in intake and the decrease in calories needed to stay warm as they go through spring.

Animals that have been consuming all dry forages such as hay and transition to wet type forages such as cool season annuals which contain lots of water can cause a great deal of digestive problems as well.

One other thing to consider when moving to lush spring grazing is trace minerals. Those fast-growing, high-moisture grasses tend to be much lower in some trace minerals than hay or feed and paying close attention to mineral supplementation can be critical. Again, keeping hay and your normal feed in the diet will help offset this lack of some minerals in the fast-growing grasses but even with that, mineral supplementation is recommended.

So, when the weather warms up enough for grass to grow, keep in mind that the grasses are usually

One factor that compounds the situation is that forage quality and quantity both tend to increase a great deal in a short period. Regardless of how good your hay is, in most all cases, spring forages will be better. They tend to be very high in both protein and energy and will result in weight gain, often to the point of causing issues such as founder, especially in ani mals that are particularly susceptible to that type of condition. Animals that have been consuming all dry forages such as hay and transition to wet type forages such as cool season annuals, which contain lots of water, can cause a great deal of digestive problems as well.

There are things that can be done to help transi tion animals to the fresh spring grass and increase in available nutrients. Make sure that pasture horses still have access to plenty of good hay and be careful to fill stalled horses up on hay before they are turned out onto fresh green pastures. This will cut down the amount of higher quality grass that the animal can consume and will help their digestive system accli mate to the change in forage quality over time instead of shocking the system and going from dry hay to an overabundance of high-moisture grasses. Keeping your animals full of the drier forages that they have been used to eating will slow down weight increases and allow you to manage weight gain in a healthy way. Typically, horses get used a bit more during

THE BACKYARD POULTRY FLOCK

LABORATORY SERVICES NOW AVAILABLE

BY DR. TONY FRAZIER

Most everyone who grew up in the 1960s and before knew someone who had what we call a backyard flock of chickens. That was true especially if you grew up in the country. I believe that back before the mid-1950s, most of the eggs and poultry in the grocery stores came from small farm flocks. Then in

the early to mid-1950s, what is now the Alabama Commercial Poultry Industry began to emerge. And for those who can remember, about that time there was a societal shift in our country of people leaving the farm to get jobs in the city. And as I can sit here and think of a large group of neighbors and kinfolks that had backyard chickens

when I was growing up, most of them, by the 1980s or so, were buying their eggs and poultry products at the grocery store.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the backyard poultry industry began to flourish. People had different reasons for raising poultry at home. For several years I had my own backyard flock that I mainly kept to get eggs from. I did it because I enjoyed it. And it may have had something to do with some ancient gene that I was born with that made me want to be a hunter-gatherer. I don’t have my flock anymore. I now make my contribution regularly to the commercial poultry and table egg industry.

A significant part of my job has to do with assuring that producers in the State of Alabama do not have animal health obstacles that can be avoided. Some of this is done through import regulations. Some of it is done by our diagnostic laboratories. Some of it involves our field staff and performing surveillance for certain diseases.

The commercial poultry industry in Alabama is a multi-billion-dollar segment of our economy. I do work closely with those industry partners through providing laboratory services and disease surveillance. But I want the producer who has the small backyard flock to know that our laboratory services and surveillance programs are available for them also.

I don’t buy the groceries at our house, but I hear that the price of eggs has gone up a lot recently because of the loss of commercial table egg layers to the bird flu, or HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza) that is popping up across the United States. With prices between $4 and $5 a dozen, I can certainly see one advantage of raising our own birds. The cases of HPAI that we are seeing over the country is just a continuing event that began back in 1996 in Southern China. It is the same virus that in about 2005 had caused some serious concern about spreading to humans. It is finally making its way to the United States, and we are seeing the negative side of what the virus can cause. Have you seen the price of turkeys lately? It has not been the apocalypse, but losing over 50 million birds to the virus or having to euthanize them because of exposure is certainly adding to inflation at the grocery store.

I cannot predict the future, but I would say that the current HPAI virus is not finished causing problems for us. In the late November/early December timeframe, Alabama had its first case of HPAI. It was on a multispecies noncommercial or backyard flock. The

virus caused the death of several birds on a premises. The owner of the birds had not done anything wrong. They owned ducks and had a pond. The bird flu virus is usually carried and spread by migratory waterfowl. It has been my experience that it is difficult to communicate to migrating ducks and geese to not fly over Alabama or to not have bowel movements anywhere poultry reside.

I do not have any idea how many noncommercial, backyard flocks of chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, or guinea fowl there are in our state, but I would think the estimate of 10,000 flocks would be low. And generally, because of the way these birds are housed or even free ranged, they are more likely to be exposed to the virus. The migratory waterfowl carrying the virus don’t even have to land to drop off the virus when they defecate while in flight.

I want to make the backyard poultry owners aware that our diagnostic laboratory system is ready and available to work with you if you are having a noticeable die-off of birds. Also, I cannot overstress the importance of using strict biosecurity. At a minimum, if you are around your birds, change clothes and disinfect or change shoes before going off your premises or returning. If you do not have a reason to go to other poultry farms, it is better to just stay away. As we have seen with COVID, viruses have a way of moving around undetected. Viruses do a good job of spreading on their own. We just don’t want them hitching a ride to another farm on our shoes, clothes, or anything else they may be on.

Also, I want to put in a plug for the NPIP (National Poultry Improvement Plan). This is a program that is administered by the State of Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries in cooperation with the USDA. The NPIP is a surveillance program for Salmonella Pullorum and avian influenza for breeder flocks. These tests can be performed by our field personnel. There are other tests such as Mycoplasma and Coryza that can be done for a fee if the flock seems to be experiencing respiratory problems. Alabama currently has 607 flocks in the NPIP program. It involves once-a-year testing of a certain number of birds in the flock. Our surveillance not only helps us protect the state commercial poultry industry, but also helps protect the small backyard producer with five to ten birds.

If you have questions about the NPIP program or biosecurity practices, please do not hesitate to contact my office at 334-240-7253.

I want the producer who has the small backyard flock to know that our laboratory services and surveillance programs are available for them also.

CORNERCo-op

VICKI PARADISE

CO-OP WISHES VICKI A HAPPY RETIREMENT

BY JESSIE SHOOK

Vicki Paradise, an avid gardener, has always been a Co-op customer. On a busy spring day in 1996, Paradise stopped by the Scottsboro Co-op to pick up okra seed for her garden. Knowing how well Paradise knew the Co-op, the manager at that time told Paradise to go ahead and dip her own seed. Seeing the need for help, Paradise began dipping seed for other customers as well. By the time she left, the manager

offered Paradise a part-time job. “I ended up working over 50 hours my first week,” Paradise said. “I loved it so much … It never was a part-time job.”

Over the course of 26 years Paradise has held many different roles at the Co-op, including salesclerk, bookkeeper, assistant manager and manager. Of those roles, her favorite has always been salesclerk because of the interaction with customers.

Vicki Paradise with her Co-op family at Madison County Cooperative - Scottsboro.

“I love selling and I love people,” Paradise added. Ramsey Prince, Manager of Madison County Cooperative - Scottsboro, agrees that Paradise is perfect on the front counter. “There’s no one that has ever done it better and there probably won’t ever be anyone else as good as her,” he said.

Paradise’s personality has been a key reason for her success at the Co-op. “She is the perfect example of a people person,” Prince added. “She is customer-oriented; she knows everybody, half of them she is kin to or she’ll find a way to be kin to you before it’s all over with.”

Karen Linker, AFC’s training and development manager, met Vicki Paradise at a booking show and has always praised Paradise for being a sweet and genuine person. “Every manager would love to have a

Vicki at their store,” Linker said.

Paradise has decided it is time to slow down a bit and retire at the end of December 2022. “I made a career out of a part-time job,” Paradise said. “I loved it and decided to stay as long as I could.”

It is easy to hear the love the Co-op has for Vicki Paradise and if it was up to Prince, he’d keep her longer. “We tried to get her not to retire and I hope she comes back this spring,” Prince added. “She will be greatly missed.”

The Co-op family wishes Vicki Paradise good luck as she enters this new chapter of her life!

Paradise has held many positions over the years from the office to the sales floor.

Vicki and Truman Benson

After 26 years, Vicki Paradise is retiring and plans on catching up on things she hasn’t had time for with the hopes to relax and travel.

It’s never a dull day on the farm. Since 1916, Alabama Ag Credit has helped farmers like you finance improvements and upgrades for everything from supplies to tractors to tools that get the job done. Whether you’re starting or expanding your agricultural operation, we o er long-term or short-term credit options. Call us today to learn about our competitive rates and how our relationship lending can help your farm thrive.

Legacy Acres

Brewton, AL

Legacy Acres has been a part of our family for over 140 years. e property has been used to raise ca le, hogs and timber as well as growing corn, hay, peanuts, co on and soybeans. It all started with Coleman Strength, our great grandfather. Seeing an opportunity, he purchased 320 acres from Henry Morningstar on August 30, 1876. Since then we have worked hard to keep the land in our family from one generation to the next by farming and selling timber. In 2013, Legacy Acres was designated as an Alabama Century and Heritage Farm by the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industry. We realized that our family wasn't going to take up the trade of farming when both children went o to become engineers. With that in mind, we wanted to leave a lasting legacy for them to come back and visit. Legacy Acres was born from that. We wanted to provide a place for not only events but learning for children and adults alike. By providing a real "farm experience" we hope to encourage people to start their own farms, get outside and learn more about their own environment. 2016 is our inaugural year in this business, but we are working to provide a quality experience for all that come to our farm.. We look forward to being a part of your legacy!

USE THE S.L.A.M. APPROACH FOR WINTER GRAIN STORAGE

PROPER STORAGE IS CRITICAL IN MAKING A PROFIT ON YOUR CROPS

BY MARK E. JOHNSON

The best practices of growing high-quality and high-yielding grain crops often command the most attention in farm magazines and at agricultural field days, and that comes as no surprise; you must produce the crop before anything else happens. But growing crops is only part of the equation in making a profit. Your harvest must be available and in condition when the markets are high, or else the hard work of producing it becomes all for naught.

This is why proper storage is critical. Ignoring the best practices of grain storage is akin to purchasing a load of expensive holiday groceries and then leaving them in the back seat of your car — nothing good is going to happen.

But before you arrive at the storage question, complete a quick audit of your current crop situation. Which grains are you going to store and in what amounts? Does it make more sense financially to store them or to sell them? What evidence do you have that storing this harvest will make you more

money? Do you have the necessary funds for maintaining the storage conditions throughout winter?

Once you have answered these questions and decided to store your crop, it’s time to plan and execute a storage objective. Most experts agree that there is

Your harvest must be available and in condition when the markets are high, or else the hard work of producing it becomes all for naught.

no single solution to effective grain storage — it is a multi-layered challenge. We recommend that S.L.A.M. approach: sanitation, loading, aeration, and monitoring.

SANITATION

Begin the grain-storing process with a clean slate — literally. Remove old grain from combines, truck beds, grain carts, augers, and anything else used for handling the product. Even a little bit of insect- or mold-infested grain can contaminate a bin of the fresh product.

Remove weeds, debris, and old spilled grain from around your bins to discourage rodents. Inspect your emptied bins carefully for cracks, missing bolts, or corrosion. Place a light inside the bin and walk around the outside at night to spot any cracks or holes you may have missed.

Thoroughly clean fans, exhaust vents, and aeration ducts. If possible, remove dust and fine materials from underneath perforated floors. After thoroughly cleaning your bins, sanitize them with an approved residual spray. If you’re using bags — which are increasingly popular with farmers today — inspect for any holes or tears that might allow insects, rodents, or other pests to invade.

LOADING

Never mix new grain with old. Cleaning grain prior to loading greatly increases its storability, though it may not increase its market price. During filling of the bin, run the unloading auger at least daily to remove peaked grain. Your goal is to create an inverted cone with a diameter of 5 to 10 feet. The grain that is removed can be mixed with other grain and returned to the bin. (Coring does not remove trash and fines but will help redistribute those materials that would normally accumulate near the center of the bin.)

It's important to level the grain after loading. Most dry grains peak at an angle of 18 to 20 degrees when filling the bin from the center. Sure, peaking adds storage capacity, but it also increases airflow resistance, which is a negative. You’ll have to operate a fan 50 percent longer to cool an overfilled peaked bin than a similar bin leveled and only filled to the eave.

AERATION

After you’ve sanitized the bin and loaded it correctly with high-quality grain, the next step is to fight off the inevitable assaults on your product posed by fluctuations in temperature and humidity. Controlling temperature is key. More stored grain goes out of condition or spoils due to a lack of control over grain temperature than any other reason.

When first filled with grain, moisture content and

temperature are relatively uniform throughout the bin. However, as outside temperatures begin to drop, continued monitoring of your grain is required. In the winter, as the ambient temperature outside starts to drop, the bin walls will start to cool, which then cools the adjacent grain and air inside the bin. This cool air creates a current that moves downward through the grain along the outside perimeter of the grain mass, then moves inward to the center of the bin, where it is warmed by the grain. As the air warms, it starts to move upward in the center of the bin, picks up moisture from the grain, and carries it to the top where it starts to cool again. This results in a high moisture zone at the top center of the bin. This is where you can expect spoilage to occur.

This is why the grain temperature in the bin should be lowered to, or just slightly below, the average ambient temperature for that time of year. Generally, grain should be stored at 40-50°F in November and 35-45°F from December to February. Avoid the common mistake of turning off your aeration fan before the cooling or warming front has moved through the entire grain mass. Turn the fan off when the front is complete, and then keep it covered. This limits excessive cooling during winter months and keeps water, rodents, and debris out of the aeration system.

MONITORING

Failing to monitor grain conditions throughout the entire storage period is a common mistake. Even a small area that begins to heat or otherwise go out of condition can quickly spread to the entire bin. During the winter months, grain should be inspected at least once a month, and temperatures should be checked and recorded with each inspection. Use a deep bin probe to determine moisture content, the level of trash and fines, and the general condition of the product. Also check for condensation on the grain surface, the presence of mold and insects, and condensation on the bin roof.

Keep in mind that an old or inexpensive moisture meter can return inaccurate readings, so it’s best to occasionally test them against those at your local elevator.

Finally, give your grain the old smell test. At your bin site, turn on aeration fans for a minute to get a good whiff of the first air coming out of the bin. If it smells bad, there’s a problem. By the time you can smell it, though, the problem is significant, so let’s avoid getting to this point.

For more help and details on winter grain storage and the S.L.A.M. technique, visit with the professionals at your local CFE location.

THE NUTRITIONAL NEEDS OF PERFORMANCE HORSES

HOW EXERCISE AFFECTS NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS OF PERFORMANCE HORSES

When feeding performance horses, it is important to provide fuel for energy expenditure, replenish nutrients for muscle function and repair, and support optimal health through a balanced diet.

Specific nutrient requirements that are affected by exercise include:

1. Energy

2. Water

3. Electrolytes

4. Protein and amino acids

5. Vitamins and minerals

ENERGY

The primary energy sources in a horse’s diet are carbohydrates and fat. There are two general categories of dietary carbohydrates: non-structural and structural.

Non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) include sugars and starches digested in the small intestine. Structural carbohydrates include fibers digested in the hindgut (cecum and large colon). The end-product of NSC digestion — blood glucose — serves as a readily available source of muscle fuel, or it can be stored as fat or glycogen. This makes sugar and starch useful components in the performance horse diet. The end-products of fiber digestion—volatile fatty acids—are primarily used for maintenance energy requirements but can also be used less efficiently as fuel for exercise.

Fat, the other primary energy source, contains 2.25 times more energy than an equal amount of carbohydrate and is the most abundant source of stored energy in the horse’s body. It also provides essential fatty acids, which are important components of cell membranes and are vital for skin, coat and hoof health, and to certain aspects of immune function. Good sources of fat include vegetable and marine oils, flaxseed and rice bran.

WATER

Water is one of the most overlooked nutrients affected by exercise. A horse can ingest water by drinking or eating moist feed, which can contain anywhere from 10 to 80 percent water. Horse hay and grain contain around 10 percent water, whereas fresh grass is approximately 80 percent. A horse loses water through urine, feces, sweat and the respiratory tract. Lactating mares also lose water through milk.

Loss of water through sweat is greatly affected by the environment. For every hour of exercise, a horse will lose 1 to 2 gallons of sweat when temperatures are below 68°F, and up to 3 to 4 gallons when temperatures are above 86°F. To maintain proper hydration,

an exercising horse should consume 10 to 20 gallons or more of water per day. Keep water buckets and troughs clean while providing adequate electrolytes through the diet to promote water intake and help prevent dehydration.

ELECTROLYTES

A horse’s body cannot store electrolytes; they must be provided through the diet to replenish what is lost in sweat each day. Horse sweat contains a high concentration of sodium chloride, as well as potassium, calcium and magnesium. Maintaining the correct electrolyte balance is essential to support the horse’s thirst reflex and proper muscle function.

Generally, proper electrolyte levels can be supplied by the horse’s diet if the daily ration consists of moderate-quality forage, a fortified commercial grain mix and if supplemented with 1 to 2 ounces of salt or commercial electrolyte preparation.

Supplemental salt should be plain white salt (iodized or non-iodized is acceptable) provided in block or loose form for free-choice consumption. Offering a salt block for horses may not deliver enough for the diet because horses are not natural lickers. Instead, loose salt for free-choice consumption or as a topdress may be preferable.

Avoid over-supplementation of electrolytes in diets for performance horses. For example, forages generally contain 1 to 2 percent potassium, meaning typical horse diets have too much and supplemental potassium may not be required. Administering additional electrolytes to an already-dehydrated horse can cause significant problems, and repeated oral administration of electrolyte solutions has been shown to exacerbate gastric ulcers.

PROTEIN AND AMINO ACIDS

Not all protein is created equal, and horses have an amino acid requirement rather than a protein requirement. Feeding a commercially prepared concentrate containing high-quality protein sources, like soybean and alfalfa meal, along with additional individual amino acids, will promote muscle tone and a strong topline.

Horses in low-to-moderate work often do not receive adequate protein in their diet. These horses do not require additional calories and are fed primarily grass hay and little to no concentrate. They have plenty of rib cover and are potentially overweight at a 6.5 to 7 body score, but have a poorly developed topline, especially over the loin, due to protein deficiency. These horses would benefit from a ration-balancing feed, such as Purina® Enrich Plus®, to supply the necessary protein, vitamins and minerals needed for work

without unnecessary calories.

Feeding excess protein to performance horses is also common, especially for horses with high energy demands. Excess occurs when feeding high-quality, alfalfa-based hays in large quantities, or by adding protein supplements to a diet that already has enough. Horses are tolerant of a moderate excess of protein because it can readily be eliminated through the urine. However, once the total protein level of the diet approaches 25 percent, athletic performance can suffer from the resulting increased sweat loss, heart rate and respiratory rate caused by excess dietary protein. The total protein concentration of a performance horse diet (forage plus concentrate) should be between 10 to 16 percent to prevent the negative effects of protein excess.

Certain amino acids, such as lysine, threonine and methionine, are significant components of muscle protein and are essential for muscle growth, development and repair. They are considered essential, as horses cannot make them, and they must be supplied through the diet.

Purina® SuperSport® amino acid supplement offers a blend of amino acids, vitamins and minerals proven to support muscle performance in exercising horses. Horses fed Purina® SuperSport® have shown improvements in muscle development, exercise recovery and overall athletic fitness and performance when compared to horses not receiving the supplement.

VITAMINS AND MINERALS

The increased vitamin and mineral needs of the exercising horse can generally be met with a well-fortified diet. Feeding a concentrate from a reputable feed manufacturer formulated specifically for the performance horse will ensure these needs are met. Because of the complex nature of balancing a diet for proper nutrient levels and ratios, it becomes more challenging when attempting to meet a horse’s vitamin and mineral needs through straight grains and/or individual supplements.

Vitamin E is important for performance horses because of its role in combating muscle damage caused by free radicals produced during exercise. The moderately exercising horse should receive at least 1000 IU of vitamin E per day. There is some evidence that vitamin E supplied at levels up to 3,000 IU per day may provide additional benefit, especially for horses suffering from neurological or muscle abnormalities.

BOTTOM LINE

By taking time to understand how exercise affects the nutrient requirements of your horse, you can more effectively choose a nutrition program that will complement your training program. Seeking advice from professionals is also a good option when you have a specific question.

Looking for the right feed to meet nutritional requirements for your performance horses? Use the Feed Finder to try a Purina® horse feed at: https://www.purinamills.com/horse-feed/feed-finder.

NOT ALL PROTEIN IS CREATED EQUAL, AND HORSES HAVE AN AMINO ACID REQUIREMENT RATHER THAN A PROTEIN REQUIREMENT.

”

ROCKING ALONG! PELL CITY FFA

BY JOSHUA BRYAN

The Pell City FFA Chapter is rocking along with another busy year! Our year “started off” with our annual PCFFA Officer Leadership Camp. Many state FFA associations across the country have leadership camps where FFA Members from chapters across their respective states can send their FFA officers to undergo leadership training and prepare for their upcoming year of service. This has led us to form and adapt our own FFA camp for our officers every summer to help further develop our chapter leaders. Not only does this week directly benefit the chapter officers, it also impacts the entire Pell City FFA Chapter as we will coordinate and collaborate together to write our yearly Program of Activities, which serves as a guide for our chapter activities

for the upcoming year. During FFA Officer Leadership Camp 2022, chapter officers and advisers spent a week in the Smoky Mountains in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. This week was filled with leadership training and development, team building activities, social interactions and personal growth ventures, as well as countless other planning and growth encounters.

Our next undertaking for the year, according to our Program of Activities, was the 6th Annual Pell City FFA Alumni Bulls on the Lake Rodeo. Several years ago, Pell City FFA Alumni and Supporters were approached by the Pell City Fire Department about potentially taking over running the rodeo. And to say that our hard-working FFA Alumni chapter hit the ground running with this

Another great aspect to the Pell City FFA Alumni Bulls on the Lake Rodeo is the ability to reward Senior FFA Members with scholarships. Pictured from left to right are Trevor and Lacey Carleton, honorees of the Tanner Carleton Memorial Scholarship, PC FFA Alumni Board Member Cason Davis, Triple H Bucking Bulls President Mark Hale, 2022 Scholarship Recipient Mason Hollis, and PCFFA Adviser Ben Castleberry.

rodeo would be an understatement! Partnering with Mr. Mark Hale and Triple H Bucking Bulls, Pell City FFA Alumni have been able to run and produce this professional rodeo event ever since taking it over and it has been such a great event for our community, while also benefiting our FFA Chapter financially. In this year's event we had professional bull and bronc riders from all across the country, which included four-time world champion bareback rider Josh Cragar! This year we were able to add a youth rodeo event on Friday night, which added a special feel to this year's production. Youth competitors, as well as local youth, regardless if they had rodeo experience or not, were able to enter events and compete alongside the more experienced youth competitors. This event is a blessing for our community and FFA chapter because it provides a great night of family-friendly entertainment for our local Pell City community, as well as serves as our sole fundraiser for our FFA Alumni chapter which is a massive financial supporter of our FFA chapter.

With a new school year comes a new “show season” for the Pell City FFA Livestock Team. Under the direction of PCFFA Advisor and Ag Teacher Ben Castleberry, several FFA Members raise and exhibit livestock projects across the Southeast. This year we have members showing hogs and lambs. These motivated students apart from this team show great dedication to their Supervised Agricultural Experience projects by being committed to working with their animals daily. Students are the sole operators of their projects where they are responsible for managing feeding operations, record-keeping, facility maintenance, skin and hair maintenance, as well as countless other aspects of livestock production. This year, with the generous support of the PCFFA Alumni, the St. Clair County Farmers Federation, and County Commission, we were able to purchase a 24’ Barrett Aluminum Livestock trailer. PCFFA has never owned their own livestock trailer and with the purchase of this trailer the burden of members having to provide their own transportation for their livestock projects is removed. We look forward to a great year! Forever Blue!

The Pell City FFA Alumni Bulls on the Lake Rodeo is held annually during the third weekend of July at the Pell City Sports Complex. Sitting right on the shores of Logan Martin Lake, our rodeo environment is truly unique and attracts professional riders from across the country, while also supporting and benefitting the Pell City FFA Chapter.

Pictured above is a check presentation on behalf of the St. Clair County Farmers Federation and St. Clair County Commission to assist in the purchase of a livestock trailer for the Pell City FFA Chapter. From left to right are PCFFA Treasurer Bailey Baker, PCFFA Vice President Gavin Santiago, ALFA Organization Director Steven Blackmon, St. Clair Farmers Federation Board Member Roland St. John, St. Clair County Farmers Federation President Matt Smith, PCFFA President Ciara Bradberry, County Commissioner Tommy Bowers, County Commissioner Jeff Brown, PCFFA Alumni President Tori Castleberry, PCFFA Reporter Anna-Brooke DeLoach, PCFFA Sentinel Garrett Knight, and PCFFA Adviser Ben Castleberry.

Pictured above is Pell City FFA’s 24’ Barrett Aluminum Livestock Trailer. Now students, regardless if they have their own personal livestock trailer or not, can raise and show a livestock project.

Also new to Pell City FFA this year is one of our newest Ag Teachers/ FFA Advisers, Ms. Ashton Gibson. Ms. Gibson is a former FFA Member from the Moody FFA Chapter and is a 2019 Auburn University graduate majoring in Agriscience.

A LIFE FILLED WITH HORSES

BY CAROLYN DRINKARD

Gage Hudson won the State 4-H Junior Speed event in 2022 on Sharpie, the daughter from the mare that Angela Hudson, his mother, rode when she competed in 4-H events in 1999. Gage Hudson won in Perry, GA, at the 4-H Regionals, qualifying in both barrels and poles, two of the speed events.

When Gage Hudson signed up for the Tuscaloosa County 4-H Horse Club at the age of nine, he was already an accomplished horseman. He had learned early in life that horses just make life better.

Gage lives on Magnolia Farm in Eutaw, Alabama, with his parents, Angela and Billy Hudson. The Hudsons also own Double Creek Rodeo Company, and they produce rodeos in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee. Gage is homeschooled so that he can travel and rodeo with his parents.

In 2022, at the Alabama State 4-H Horse Show, Gage won first overall in the Junior State Speed Division. These events included the arena race, barrels, poles and stake race. He qualified for the Regionals in Perry, Georgia, where 4-H'ers from 9-18 competed together. This year, 75-80 riders, from nine Southeastern states, competed. The top 15 then went on to the finals.

Gage qualified in both the barrels and poles, but he missed qualifying for the stake race by a tenth of a second. He finished “Reserve” in both classes he had qualified for, however.

Angela Hudson was also in the 4-H Horse Program. Her childhood horse, Victoria Cardinale, is the mother of the horse that Gage now competes on, A Sharper Cardinale, or “Sharpie,” as Gage calls her. Angela Hudson bred, raised and trained Sharpie.

Gage also has his own pony training business, called “GH Pony Training.” He helps his mother sell horses for youth to ride. Angela runs a training barn and teaches lessons at their farm. She only keeps 4-5 boarders and outside training horses, however.

“Gage falls right in to our business,” Angela said proudly. “He likes to work. He feeds, waters, cleans stalls and helps with whatever is needed.”

For the Hudson family, 4-H is a family tradition. Gage attends meetings with the Tuscaloosa County 4-H Horse Club, either at the Extension Office or on a farm. This group has 20 members, and they are led by volunteer Denee Dockery. The riders practice on

Gage and Sharpie sliced through the poles at a Little Britches Rodeo event. In the 5-8 age category, Gage was a World Champion in Pole Bending.

Gage Hudson (c) and his two horses, A Sharper Cardinale (l) and Sam Cardinale (r) show off some of the many ribbons they have won. Gage has won so many trophies and ribbons in his career that his parents plan to build a trophy room to house his awards.

Gage and Sharpie show their skills as they round a barrel. The close connection between horse and rider has helped Gage win many awards and ribbons.

their own, but meet together for the fall and spring trail rides.

The 4-H'ers also learn about caring for horses and training them. Angela Hudson speaks to the Tuscaloosa Horse Club, and she is an active supporter. She believes that 4-H helps her son become a better person. Gage has also joined the Tuscaloosa County 4-H Shotgun Club this year.

“Kids are only young once,” she said, “and the 4-H values, like leadership, sportsmanship and stepping up, are what we want Gage to learn.”

Gage Hudson loves to compete. He is now roping and plans to ribbon rope in the Alabama Little Britches Rodeo events in Rainsville and Andalusia. He has also gotten into bull riding. He started with sheep, calves, and steers, and then he moved on to the bulls. He won the Junior Bull Riding event in Rainsville.

“I like to rodeo,” he stated, “because I get to meet new people, travel, and ride my horses.” He has won so many awards that his family is now planning to build a trophy room. He has also won scholarship money, which pleases him most.

Gage has learned many life lessons from living on the farm. At home, he has chores and responsibilities that teach discipline. Working with his animals has made him aware that his animals come first,

because they depend on him. Gage takes care of his 20-25 head twice a day, before he takes care of his own needs.

Gage Hudson plans to stay in the horse business, simply because he loves it. He lives by the motto of always trying his best and having fun in whatever he does.

Gage Hudson won this buckle competing with 4-H'ers from nine Southeastern states who were much older than he was. He won Reserve Champion in the speed events.

Gage Hudson holds the envelopes and buckles he won at a show in Calera. Gage now works with his mother, Angela Hudson (r), to train ponies.

POSTER & RECYCLED ART CONTEST

BY JAMIE MITCHELL

Alabama PALS Annual Poster and Recycled Art Contests are due in April every year, and we are always delighted to receive colorful and creative works that convey our anti-litter message! The contest seems to get harder to judge year after year with a large number of entries and so many talented students in our state! The first-place winner in each category of the statewide contest receives $200, and every winner is invited to our Annual Governor’s Awards to receive their prizes. Last year’s winners were honored at our Governor’s Awards back in November, and a few of their posters are pictured.

The 2023 poster theme is “Better Not Litter!” It is our hope that the students will put some thought into what this means to them and create a poster accordingly. We love posters that look like the students did most of the work themselves and have really original ideas. The categories for posters are K-3rd and 4th6th. The Recycled Art Category is 7th-12th, and any

student at any school in the state may participate. Entries will be due this year on April 21, 2023, and can be mailed or delivered to the PALS office at 340 N. Hull Street, Montgomery, AL, 36104. All specific rules and details may be found in our Winter Newsletter at www.alpals.org.

The Annual Poster and Recycled Art Contests are a great way to get a local school involved in our efforts to keep Alabama litter-free! If a school near you would like to participate this year, please give us a call at (334) 263-7737 or email to jamie@alpals. org. There are also a few speaking dates available for a Clean Campus presentation in the spring. Contact me to schedule a 30-minute presentation at your local school or organization. Schools are always a great place to start with litter prevention and education through the Clean Campus Program. Alabama PALS programs are free to schools thanks to our state partnerships and corporate sponsors.

KEYS TO EXCELLENT SOIL HEALTH

GREAT FOOD PLOTS BEGIN HERE

BY TODD AMENRUD

One of my biggest passions in my life has been growing and hunting big, healthy whitetails, and my job has enabled me to learn so much that has helped me in this pursuit. My uncle first taught me the importance of soil health and many of the techniques used to help improve it. I learned growing up on a farm that I could use crops to attract whitetails, and I’ve since learned from others how to take that to new levels.

The agricultural industry has come a long way over the past century with new equipment, techniques and knowledge and I try to stay on top of most new information. It’s been known for millennia that the health of plant-eating animals is affected by the plants, which in turn are influenced by the soil. After looking at it more closely in recent years, soil health may be the most important fundamental to growing great food plots and big, healthy whitetails (and other animals).

We all know that all life on earth depends upon

water, but did you know that all life also depends upon soil? Dr. Charles E. Kellogg, Soil Scientist and once Chief of USDA's Bureau of Chemistry and Soils, sums it up by saying, “There can be no life without soil, and no soil without life.” That’s a very profound statement. The simple carbon sugar glucose molecule formed during photosynthesis is the basis for our entire food chain. As all of nature is interrelated and connected in some way, healthy soil means healthy animals. Following are a few ways you can improve soil health on your property…and it can save you money on food plots.

Keep it Covered

Since not all of us “food plot farmers” have sophisticated equipment like no-till drills, many of us need to use traditional tillage methods. However, when doing so, it means that bare soil will often be left exposed. On top of that, we likely use herbicide to kill anything

Healthy soil grows nutritious, attractive plants, which produce big, healthy whitetails. Besides the moisture that plants need, stable, healthy soil is the most important detail in growing great food plots. (Photo Credit: Tony Campbell)

that might sprout up that the tillage didn’t destroy. While this may be our most affordable, effective means of getting a crop in the ground, neither the continued tilling nor the use of herbicides are healthy for the soil. Let me be clear, I till the soil and I use herbicides. However, the more I learn, the less I do of each.

Soil cover (plant growth) is a protective layer for the soil – like “armor” for the soil. It provides an environment that guards the soil and allows life to prosper even under tough conditions. It makes soil much more durable to extreme weather like drought, flooding, extreme heat or punishing cold. Plant life feeds the microbes in the soil. It isn’t necessary for the plant life to be living. Dead plant residue feeds the soil and then the next crop to be grown. However, both living and dead plants are necessary for the long-term health of the soil.

Good soil cover limits moisture evaporation from the sun and wind, and helps to bank soil moisture. We can’t make it rain when we need it to, but we can do something to limit how much moisture leaves the ground. On the other side of the “moisture transfer coin,” the plant growth also limits the impact that hard rains can have. Did you know that a raindrop can hit the soil at over 90 mph? Tiny soil particles actually become displaced when this happens (even when raindrops are traveling much slower) and actually plug up the soil pores (small holes) that currently exist. This actually prevents water permeation of the soil. Instead, the water runs off rather than soaking in and it can also lead to serious erosion. You want a proper covering of the soil along with plant roots, both living and decaying - this will keep those soil pores open for proper water infiltration.

Minimize Soil Disturbance

I love “tractor time!” The diesel engine droning, the smell of freshly worked soil and the subtle rocking

back and forth in the tractor seat put me in a comfortable zone. To me, it’s almost as soothing as sitting in a treestand. However, all that turning of the soil is bad for the soil! Even if using no-till equipment, tillage is necessary sometimes, but minimal disturbance is one of the key principles of soil health.

That “freshly turned soil smell” that I just mentioned is the microbes in the soil, and you just killed a bunch of them by turning the soil. In order to “build” the soil, we must improve the living space of the microbes and increase the biological diversity in the soil. Think if someone destroyed your home repeatedly. Would you be able to prosper?

By planning proper crop rotation and possibly planting several crops together, rather than a monoculture, we can reduce the need to consistently rip up the habitat of these valuable microbes. You will likely have less problem with weeds, too. If you don’t turn the soil you’re not stirring up new weed seeds in the native bank or giving any floating in from surrounding areas a place to take up residence. Besides fewer weeds and fuel savings, you’ll likely also see lower fertilizer bills because of the improved soil biology.

Both plowing and disking (or tilling) are necessary at times. Plowing cuts, granulates, and inverts the soil, creating furrows and ridges, distributes nutrients deeper and breaks up hardpans. Additionally, disking breaks up clods and surface crusts, thereby improving soil granulation and surface uniformity, but it must be done at the correct time and sparingly.

Plant Diversity

Crop rotation is important. A good rotation plan consists of growing a diversity of crops in planned sequences to take advantage of each crop's nutrient and growing characteristics, and reduce overall risk. Soil Health magazine says, “One of the most important roles of a crop rotation is to mimic the natural water

Plants and microorganisms (microbes) are involved in critical cooperative relationships. The area around the root zone is packed with microbes. The plants’ roots release chemicals, providing sugars, starches and amino acids for the microbes. In return, microbes decompose organic matter, which allows plants to take up nutrients and mycorrhizal fungi concentrate the nutrients at the roots of plants. (Photo

Crop rolling (crimping) is an advanced technique used in place of herbicide. The rolling and crimping process itself should kill, or partially kill, the crop. This means burn-down herbicides can be reduced or eliminated. This has been used for decades on millions of acres in South America, but has yet to see widespread adoption in the U.S.

Credit: Katrina Leigh)

(Photo Credit: Eric Metzger)

and nutrient cycle while maximizing the amount of sunlight captured.” This means plant diversity is key. In nature, monocultures are rare.

Cash crop farming rotations would vary somewhat from us “food-plotters,” and have become less diverse over recent years because of economic issues like mechanization, herbicides and pesticides, and the advance of nitrogen fertilizer. However, plant diversity in a planned rotation can dramatically reduce the costs for cash crop farmers, too.

Different plants have different characteristics they can provide to your rotation system. Ideally, you would want to follow one planting with another that will help to replace what the previous crop may have pulled from the soil. This is why a plan is important – think proactive rather than reactive, possibly considering several years into the future. Periodic soil testing is important to stay on top of things.

When plant diversity can’t be added to the picture through rotation, consider a diverse multi-species cover crop. Since much of what a gamekeeper plants isn’t going to be harvested by mechanical means, instead it will be left for wildlife, our crops can have diversity of species in the actual blends themselves.

Living Roots as Often as Possible

Feeding the soil microbes is essential for soil health. Having living roots growing in the soil reduces erosion, builds carbon, increases water and oxygen infiltration, cycles nutrients, and provides nutrient sources for following crops. Living roots feed soil microbes through carbon-rich root exudates. However, plant diversity of both annuals and perennials is necessary.

Living plant roots swap their carbon-rich root exu-

dates to soil microbes in exchange for nutrients. This relationship forms stable soil aggregate formations, which increases soil infiltration and water holding volume and creates a perfect habitat for these valuable soil microbes. The problem with planting only annual monocultures is that the microbes are fed only for a portion of the year (where plant growth is possible all year long). Even where the topsoil is frozen solid during the winter, microbes are still functioning producing carbon, albeit at a slower rate than during summer. If you are only planting annuals, this growth is absent for several months during the year, and why perennials are important. It leads to minimal amounts of biological activity and diversity, which causes the soil to weaken. This opens you up to problems, possibly big ones, in the future.

Again, here we go with cover crops – if you’re only growing annuals your soil is going to be missing out sometime during the growing season. Cover crops become essential for the cycle as they maintain a carbon flow during the off-season. The more diverse the cover crops are, the more diverse root exudates are produced, thus feeding a more diverse microbe community.

When it comes to this, more is better than less, but something is better than nothing is. As an example, let’s say it’s late in the season and you don’t have the time or temperatures for growing a diverse blend. In this case, a monoculture of a cereal, like wheat, rye or oats, will still give a carbon boost to the soil.

I have mentioned “double-cropping” in this publication before. It simply means growing two crops from the same soil during the same growing season. For me, it usually consists of a spring planting like corn or beans (or other annual legumes) followed with a late summer planting of brassicas, cereals or Winter Peas. With corn, you will have to make sure you inter-seed between the rows before the corn gets too tall. With the beans or other annual legumes it all depends upon how dense the current stand is as to when it can or should be inter-seeded (or I guess you could call it over-seeded). The amount of wildlife food that you can produce per acre dramatically increases with this technique. However, you can even take it further.

“Regenerative food-plotting” is an understanding that we must work with nature instead of against her. Much has been understood in recent years about “regenerative agriculture.” Gamekeepers need to take these principles and apply them to managing wildlife and the food plots we plant for them. It should be about “direction” over “perfection.” Once you begin to understand this, you will spend less money on fuel, fertilizer and herbicide, and your crops will benefit… that means your wildlife will, too.

Do you want to save money on nitrogen fertilizer? Grow legumes! Here you see the small round nitrogen-fixing nodules on the roots of a soybean plant. More biological nitrogen fixation and less nitrogen through fertilizer is healthier for the soil and can increase sustainability. (Photo Credit: Tomasz Klejdysz)

VENISON HAMBURGER STEAK WITH MUSHROOM GRAVY

Ingredients:

1 pound ground venison

1 pound ground chuck

1/3 cup breadcrumbs

½ Vidalia or sweet onion, finely minced

3 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 Tablespoon ketchup

1 teaspoon Kosher salt

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon black pepper

2 teaspoons fresh thyme

2 Tablespoons vegetable oil

Mushroom Gravy

2 Tablespoons butter

12 ounces white button or cremini mushrooms or a mixture, sliced

1 garlic clove, minced

3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 ½ cup beef broth

1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

¼ cup chopped parsley

Crispy Fried Onions

Directions:

Place the first 9 ingredients in a large bowl and gently mix until incorporated. Divide meat mixture into 6 portions shaping each portion into 6 meat patties.

In a cast-iron skillet, heat oil until shimmering and add the meat patties. Cook for 4-5 minutes per side or until browned. Remove the patties from the skillet and tent foil over the top to keep them warm.

Add butter to the skillet and allow to completely melt over medium heat. Add the sliced mushrooms and sauté 5 to 6 minutes, or until mushrooms are tender and golden. Add the garlic and cook another 30 seconds. Add the flour and stir with a wooden spoon about 2 minutes or until the flour is well incorporated into the mushrooms.

Slowly add the broth to the skillet and whisk until gravy is smooth. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce. Reduce heat to medium-low and add the hamburger patties to the pan. Cook for about 7 minutes, or until the patties are cooked through. Top the patties with Crispy Fried Onions and serve over rice or potatoes. Sprinkle parsley over each serving.

About Stacy Lyn Harris

Stacy Lyn Harris is a best-selling cookbook author, blogger, TV personality, public speaker, wife and mother of seven children. She currently lives in Pike Road, Alabama, with her husband Scott and their children. Stacy Lyn regularly appears on cable and broadcast television as a guest chef and sustainable living expert. Her critically-acclaimed “Harvest Cookbook” was published in 2017 and contains many of her family’s favorite recipes, along with stories from her life growing up in the Black Belt and tips she’s learned along the way.

VOLATILE TIMBER MARKETS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR FUTURE FOREST MANAGEMENT

BY BILLY RYE

Markets for standing timber have historically been volatile and difficult to predict. This has been especially true over the past three years. Most timber markets skyrocketed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Forest product mills feared the worst at the outbreak and either slowed or shut down all production. At the same time, toilet paper supplies were depleted, and many Americans took on home improvement projects as they became bored with the

lockdowns. This simultaneous decrease in supply and increase in demand created a short-term bubble for most forest products which helped landowners see a brief spike up in prices for standing timber. Unfortunately, all bubbles must burst, and the prices have now returned to their pre-pandemic levels.

Predicting the future value of timber is difficult since it is such a long-term investment. New or unforeseen influences on either supply or demand can

Improved site preparation techniques, increased amount of planting, and improved cultural treatments have all led to an oversupply of pine in some areas of Alabama.  This increase in supply has dampened prices and made it difficult for landowners to move their wood.

cause significant changes in return on investment. Even the experts can miss projections. Using the information available during the mid-1980s, some forest economy experts predicted a shortage of pine by the early 2000s. Obviously, there were some unforeseen influences on the supply end. While future influences on the supply or demand are difficult to predict, most foresters believe the following forces have the potential to impact future prices.

POTENTIAL NEGATIVE INFLUENCES

Pine overgrowth. Some portions of the state are growing far more pine than is being harvested. The increase in tree planting from 1985-2000, the application of site preparation techniques, improved genetics, and intermediate treatments such as the use of fertilizer and thinning all pushed current pine volumes well above their projected levels. Experts believe this oversupply of wood will produce lower prices and tighter quotas for landowners well into the future.

Pending recession. Depending on who you listen to, we are either headed toward a recession or are already in one. Regardless of the official definition

of a recession, hardwood lumber buyers are pessimistic as reflected in the lower prices. Also, it often takes years after the official end of a recession for standing timber prices to rebound.

Substitute products. Substitutes for many forest products are already being developed. Metal barrels for whiskey, steel beams for construction, composite wood for trim, and painted cabinets all lead to a reduction in demand for forest products and loss of markets for landowners.

Asian market losses. China imports a large portion of the red oak harvested in the South and is paying far less than in recent years. Whether it is to control the market or because of their weakening economy, the effect to landowners is the same. Lower prices for red oak will probably continue for the next several years.

Increased efficiencies of forest industries. Both loggers and mills are constantly striving to become more efficient to improve their bottom line. As a result, the supply of both harvested wood and finished forest products can increase resulting in lower prices for landowners' timber. This increase in efficiency can also reduce competition as the demand for wood is more easily met. This reduction in competition between buyers of wood results in lower prices for landowners.

POTENTIAL POSITIVE INFLUENCES

Increase in mill capacity. Several areas in Alabama have seen an increase in new mill announcements and expansion of existing mills over the past five years. The South is an attractive area for most forest industries due to the favorable business climate and the abundant supply of wood. This increase in mill capacity should help improve the demand for wood which will help landowners move timber when needed and at a better price.

Reduced availability of wood. Just because there is a huge surplus of timber in some areas does not mean that it is all available. Many new forest landowners have purchased their land for recreational

Once prized for its distinctive color variation, red oak prices have declined significantly over the past six months.  China has lowered its imports and most cabinets are now constructed with cheaper wood that is painted.

PREDICTING THE FUTURE VALUE OF TIMBER IS DIFFICULT SINCE IT IS SUCH A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT.

and even therapeutic purposes. They like to hunt, fish, ride ATVs, and enjoy the aesthetics of their forests. While they are interested in thinning pines and selectively harvesting hardwoods, they often are not interested in the traditional “final” harvest. Researchers have yet to calculate the impact on the wood available for harvesting caused by these changing objectives.

Reduced reforestation. Some areas of the state have experienced a significant decrease in the acres reforested in pine over the past 20 years. Landowners in those areas where pine markets have been depressed for a prolonged period are the ones less likely to reforest. If existing mills remain in operation, this may result in better markets for pine in the future.

Emerging markets. Foresters are excited about the potential of new and emerging markets for forest products. Engineered wood for the construction of tall buildings and nanotechnology which improves existing forest products both look promising. Landowners in some areas of the state will see new mills which manufacture pellets for home heating. Further, the market for carbon trading seems to be improving and may be a viable option for some landowners.

Even though it is difficult to predict future markets and their impact on management strategies,

most foresters believe the following tweaks will help landowners experience success when it comes to land management.

Shorter rotations for pine plantations. The traditional pine plantation management utilized by many foresters used to include commercial thins at ages 15 and 25 with a clear-cut at age 35. As pine sawmills move toward equipment that increases their efficiency, most of them prefer smaller logs. This reduction in the maximum size log accepted by these mills will necessitate a shorter rotation to harvest trees before they become too big. Many foresters across the state are projecting one thin at age 15 and a final harvest between 24-28 years to maximize return on investment.

Manage for white oaks and tie-logs in hardwoods. White oaks are versatile and are used for lumber, staves (barrels), and veneer. Markets for this product are anticipated to remain strong well into the future. Tie-logs are intermediate quality and size hardwoods that are suitable for making crossties for the railroad industry. Railroad companies have tried everything from concrete to tropical wood for their crossties but seemingly always come back to wood grown in the Midsouth.

Mutual fund approach. To help offset volatile commodity markets, many successful landowners have employed a mutual fund approach to land man-

Foresters recommend managing for white oak and tie-logs in hardwood stands.  Landowners should work with a consulting forester to improve their existing stands and to regenerate new ones.

agement. Diversifying their land use into pasture, row crop, pine plantation, and hardwood helps lower the risk of loss when compared to producing a single product. However, smaller landowners may have limited options for diversification as production loggers often require a minimum of 30 acres to harvest.

Successful landowners across Alabama have certain practices in common. They have implemented the practices and adopted the mindsets below.

Remain fluid. A missionary once said that they had to remain fluid in their profession as flexible was way too rigid. The same is true for forest management. The volatile markets, regulations affecting management, and the ever-changing conditions of the forest can make it difficult for landowners to reach their objectives. Successful landowners are adaptable and tend to see changes as opportunities rather than challenges.

Manage your land. Many landowners have fallen into the trap of postponing timber harvests in anticipation of higher prices. These landowners fail to consider the opportunity costs of postponement such as a net loss in growth, the risk of damage from pests or natural events, and the time value of money. In addition, postponing harvests could delay improvements in wildlife habitat or game harvesting opportunities. While some landowners have benefited by postponing harvests on a seasonal basis, they rarely benefit by postponing a needed harvest more than a year.

Use a forestry consultant. The Association of Consulting Foresters of America (ACF) defines a consulting forester as “an independent professional who manages forests and markets forest products for private woodland owners.” Consulting foresters serve as agents for landowners and have certain legal obligations to their clients. In Alabama, consultants must also be registered foresters. Landowners should use consultants that have experience in their area and with their specific needs, that practice consulting full-time, and who receive good reviews from other landowners. Consultants can use their education and experience to help landowners navigate the volatile timber markets and their implications on future management.

Timber markets are expected to remain volatile as there are forces which have the potential to either increase or lower prices in the future. While managing forestland in anticipation of future markets may be difficult, most foresters believe managing pine plantations for shorter rotations, managing for white oak and tie-logs in hardwood stands, and diversifying land use will result in positive outcomes for landowners in the future. By imitating successful landowners that respond to change in a positive manner, harvest timber when it suits their land management needs rather than waiting on better timber markets, and which use forestry consultants to help reach their goals, landowners are more likely to enjoy the ownership of their natural resources.

Diversifying land use is a good method of lowering the risk of loss from producing a single product.  This landowner in Lawrence county has pasture, row crop, young pines, old pines, and hardwood.

“THE PONIES, DAD… THE PONIES”

BY WALT MERRELL

The wind ripped at my facemask and bit at my cheeks. My mittened fingers felt good as a second layer of insulation over my face and my breath ran away from my mouth like a long white ribbon dangling in the slipstream of my exhale.

“How fast is the wind blowing, Daddy?” Banks, my 12-year-old youngest daughter, yelled through the roaring blow.

“25 or 30 miles per hour would be my guess,” I hollered back as if to howl. Then I pointed to a rock outcropping a hundred yards or so further down the trail and nodded. Banks didn’t need another prompt. She understood that the leeward side of those rocks would give us shelter from the wind

that raged over the peak of this mountain. Earlier that morning we left our base camp and began an ascent to the peak of the highest mountain in Virginia. Snowfall the previous two nights had silted in the landscape and with temperatures not predicted to surpass freezing today, the veil of white should remain throughout the day. At 5,729 feet above sea level, Mount Rogers is twice as high as the summit of our home state’s champion, Mount Cheaha. Twice as high, and much, more formidable. The initial ascent was, quite literally, breathtaking. Banks took it all in stride as I labored through, gaining 800 feet in elevation in the first mile of our hike. Fit and trim, she

hopped and leaped from one rock to the next, kicking patches of snow and, occasionally, bombarding me with a snowball. I laughed along with her, praying through my cardiovascular strain that sooner or later, this mountain would decide to start leveling out … and thank the good Lord, it finally did.

On our approach to Wilburn Ridge, one of three points we expected to make on the expedition, we found our juncture with the Appalachian Trial. After a couple of pictures and a brief respite, we continued up the AT, along the back of the ridge, towards the summit of Pine Mountain, the little brother to Mount Rogers, and also the necessary gatekeeper to the summit of the higher of the two. Wilburn Ridge, as one might expect, is the swaybacked ridge that divided the world into two segregated pieces behind the backbone of the mountain ... all that lay to the East and all that lay to the West. And it was magnificent. For the sky was particularly blue that day… the kind of blue sky that one only finds in winter. A winter blue that is unlike any other. It is deeper, brighter and clearer than the sky at any other time of the year. And the air was crisper and clearer, too. Refreshingly crisp at times, and standing in the swayback of the ridge, I was certain we could see for a hundred miles in either direction.

“Have you ever seen ‘this’ far before, Banks?”

She shook her head and never uttered a word. She simply gazed at the wide wonder and held my hand. “How many states can we see?” she finally asked.

“That’s North Carolina,” I pointed. “And there’s Tennessee. And out there is Kentucky.” And swinging my arm back over my shoulder … “and all of that is Virginia.”

She nodded again as she slowly turned a full 360 degrees. “It’s pretty cool that God made all of this for us,” she offered. “It sure is,” I quickly agreed. “But it’s ours to take care of, for the next generations. He calls us to be good stewards.” She nodded her head once again. She understood. That was all that really mattered to me ….

Hours passed, as did the miles. We summited Pine Mountain at 5,525 and made it to Mount Rogers, as well. The view, however, was less than expected. Completely shrouded by spur and evergreen pines, the summit’s view of God’s creation was far less appealing than that of Wilburn Ridge and Pine Mountain. Mission accomplished, though; it was time to start back. Low on water, snacks and sunlight, time was beginning to work against us. And the weather was too .…

Coming back across Wilburn Ridge was the first time we were exposed to the near gale-force wind that had haunted us through the trees for the previous hour. We knew it was fast and furious, but as it did nothing more than harass us in the treetops, we paid it little attention. I knew we’d bear the brunt of the wind’s wrath on some portion of our return hike back down the mountain, but I hoped to duck over the swayback of Wilburn Ridge and escape its brutality without much ado.

Which brings us to our present point .…

Banks made her way towards the rock outcropping hoping to find some shelter from the wind. I followed close behind. Communication was difficult, at best. The wind roared in our ears such that we could only hear each other if we were facing directly towards one another. Nevertheless, Banks talked nonstop. After the third time, I simply quit asking her to repeat herself, and kept urging her to the safety and refuge of the rocky wind break. A few moments later and the rage of the wind ceased its ever-present squelch in my ears. A large boulder to our back pushed the roaring winds up and over us. As big as a school bus, this boulder pushed the wind so far upwards that the drone of the wind simply hummed overhead. It was, all at once, peaceful and serene. As if we had come in from the storm.

“We can see for forever from up here,” Banks exulted in utter amazement at the view. The sunbaked rock slab that we perched on was warm and inviting, as was the wide expanse that lay before us. We were quite content to lay there and soak up the panorama and the solar bath from the slab. Content and still … all, almost seemed quiet. Yet still, in the serenity of it all, I caught movement out of the corner of my eye in the spruce grove below us.

“Dark brownish-black fur,” I observed, without uttering a word to Banks, as the movement shifted out of sight and behind a clump of spruce boughs. Bears were known to frequent the area, but whatever this was, it was at least a hundred feet away … “Best to live and let live,” I thought to myself, “and not worry Banks with it either.”

Over the next few minutes, we shared an apple and a few slices of cheese, along with some water. I was a bit concerned that the savory sweetness of the Granny Smith apple’s scent might draw in our furry friend, but upon further consideration, deduced that whatever “it” is … is dead downwind anyway. It knows we are here, apple or not. Still, though, no reason to linger at the thought of a lurking Black Bear, so I didn’t give Banks time to get too comfortable after we snacked and enjoyed the view.

“Back into the hurricane,” I giggled. She smiled and lowered her head into her windward shoulder as she edged out around the safety of the boulder. We only needed to make another quarter of a mile before I was certain that we could drop down off of the swayback and out of the wind … but then again, the only thing that stopped us from dropping down now was that patch of fur. We trudged on another hundred yards or so until I saw an off-the-trail short cut that would get us out of the wind and cut back through to the main trail. “Come on,” I grabbed Banks by the hand and led her down out of the wind, quartering away from the trees where I saw our mysterious guest.

Safely into the confines of another spruce grove, the wind howled through the tree tops above us.

Patches of snow and ice blotted the tundra’d pasture land of this meadow. Spits of greenish grass … greenish, like spinach might be greener than it is brown … dotted the landscape too. Accompanied by swaying sage, the meadow was trying to come into the newness of Spring growth, but the still harsh wintery nights of February had reminded Mother Nature that Old Man Winter was not quite ready to relinquish control. The high temperature that day at the summit of the mountain was 27 degrees…. not exactly "planting" weather back home in Alabama.

“Dad,” Banks’ voice commanded me to stop walking. Looking back over my shoulder, I found her gaze

transfixed through the spruce trees. She was frozen… not even a shiver.

“What’s wrong?” I didn’t actually wait for an answer … instead, whipping my head around to try to determine what had captured her attention, but I couldn’t immediately see anything. My fear though, was that the mystery guest with the dark brown fur may have made another appearance. Within a split second, I was to my knees next to her … trying to “see” as only she could “see.”

“You see it?” She whispered. She dared not move a muscle for fear she might betray our secreted position.

Craning my neck slowly, I found a cantaloupe-sized hole in the spruce boughs … and I too finally set my gaze upon the object of her mysterious affections. A few yards away, standing broadly on all fours, stood one of the rarest animals in the world … a Grayson Highlands Wild Pony. In retrospect, I don’t suppose they are actually rare. Introduced to the region in the 1950s, the ponies have lived in these Virginia Highlands ever since, and have become a novelty attraction of sorts for hikers in the area. This particular pony … with deep brown fur as thick as an untrimmed sheep’s wool … and was close enough that I could hear him chew. Foraging in the light snow, the pony worked methodically and paid us little attention.

I took Banks by the hand and we made our way out of the spruce grove and stood below this bear-colored equine, watching him graze. Banks made her way closer … just so she could say "hello." And he returned the gesture, allowing her to scratch his head. Not long into their conversation, we realized there were two more ponies just up the slope … a blonde and a white pony.

Banks grinned from ear to ear as she looked back at me for a quick glance. I gestured that we need to be moving on … not wanting to disturb the animals for too long. She hesitated for another minute or two and finally relented. But I could tell by the look on her face that it was a moment that would stay with her forever ....

We found several more ponies in a lowland pasture near where our base camp was … Banks enjoyed watching them there as much as she did standing on top of the world and surveying all of Appalachia.

There is a certain love affair that some folks have with equine animals …. And I admit, I don’t necessarily understand it. My middle daughter Cape has that equine fascination … and I’m fairly certain, after watching Banks' eyes dance with fascination at the Grayson Highland ponies … that she does too.

Facts is, a few days later we were driving home after a week sojourning through the mountains. I asked, "What was your favorite parts of the whole trip?” She thought about it for a few minutes until she finally leaned back into her seat with a huge crescent-shaped smile of contentment and said, “The ponies, Dad. The ponies.”

Walt Merrell writes about life, family and faith.  An avid hunter and outdoorsman, he enjoys time “in the woods or on the water” with his wife Hannah, and their three girls, Bay, Cape and Banks. They also manage an outdoors-based ministry called Shepherding Outdoors.  Follow their adventures on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube at Shepherding Outdoors.  You can email him at shepherdingoutdoors@ gmail.com.

SCHEER PERFORMANCE HORSES

TC and Brandi Scheer are chasing the dream (and cattle) with their business, Scheer Performance Horses. Located in Altoona, Alabama, the couple, along with their son BA (8), start, train and show cutting horses.

TC and Brandi originally met in their home state of Idaho where they both competed in high school rodeo. They went on their own adventures after high school, each getting extensive experience with horses. They reconnected in 2002 while TC was working at Haythorn Land and Cattle in Nebraska and Brandi at Santa Fe Reiners in New Mexico.

BY JESSIE SHOOK

THE GRIND NEVER STOPS

After they married in 2004, the two winding roads they were on eventually led them to starting Scheer Performance Horses in 2008 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, with TC as the trainer and Brandi as the loper/office manager/every-

TC riding Cat On A Hot Tinroof (Doll), a coming 6-year-old mare. Doll is owned by Southern Cattle Company of Marianna, Florida, and has NCHA earnings of $60,000 plus.

thing else. “It has taken a lot to get where we are now,” Brandi said. “We had a lot of times in our lives where it was time to move on. We’ve taken a lot of leaps of faith but have had a lot of God-meant-to-be opportunities.”

While the Scheers have a very diverse equine background, their sole focus now is on cutting horses, and they offer a full list of services around this discipline. "I still start 2-year-olds, while also training nonpro and amateur horses," TC added. “We also offer lessons and help with sales.”

TC explained how training these performance horses is a long, slow process. Every horse is different. They are started under saddle, trained to be soft and supple, and then the cow is introduced slowly. “I let the cow tell them where to go,” he said. “The end goal for us as cutters is to let the horse take over and do it on their own. They read the cow; they do what the cow does. It’s a very long, time-consuming process but a fun one. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.”

Cutting originated hundreds of years ago on big ranches as the cowboys sorted cattle to ship to markets. Cowboys eventually made a sport out of it. “One cowboy said to another, ‘My horse is better than yours’ and from there it became a competition,” Brandi said.

The technical aspects of cutting may be different these days, but the need remains the same. “We’re the last tie to the West,” Brandi added. “Cattle is the reason we do this. If you go off the main road, cattle are

everywhere and there are still modern-day cowboys working these cattle every day. Most of the world lives entirely different from that but I think people like the thought of the western cowboy still having a place in our society. It’s something that people crave.”

Brandi reiterated how cutting continues to make horses a valuable commodity in today’s society. “Cutting is more than just a tangible good. It’s not just a ceramic you put in your house to look at,” she said. “Cutting is important because it continues to create a connection between people and horses.”

Cutting is a sport that has a place for all levels of experience. The Scheers mostly have client horses. Some of the owners will show their own horses, while others are shown by TC. Cutting has classes based on the horse’s age and rider's amateur, non-professional status. “It’s equal for the horse and rider,” Brandi added.

TC explained how important their clients are and how it takes people who get excited about this sport to allow them to do what they do. “Cutting is a hobby, it’s no different than a boat,” he said. “There’s no reason anyone would have to show cutting horses, the customers we have enjoy the horses and the sport.”

The Scheers travel to 25 to 30 shows a year; about half the weekends out of the year. Some of these shows are weeklong shows. It’s hard work without much time off. Brandi explained that it takes someone with a certain personality. “A lot of horse trainers get credited for being really dry, not overly friendly and ‘better with animals,’” she said. “It’s drive – you have

TC and Brandi’s son, BA, is an integral part of their business. He helps his dad by turning back cattle while TC is working the cutting horses. He also will help Brandi lope horses at shows to get them ready for TC to show.

(Photo Credit: Erin Johnson, Snapshot Ranch)

TC, Brandi and BA.

definitely that sense of ‘you’ve never arrived.’”

to have your head down, going after it all the time.” TC added, “You hear that saying ‘It’s Monday, back to the grind’ – we never stop grinding here. That’s what has made us successful, it’s the reputation that we work.”

The Scheers have built their own facility on their land that includes a 20-stall barn, 100’x100’ indoor arena, mechanical flag, 125’ round outdoor arena, cattle pens and horse turnouts, with plans for more additions in the future. Blount County Co-op, located in Oneonta, Alabama, has been there every step of the way to help the Scheers with their building needs, while also supplying TC with ropes for weekend events.

Cutting originated hundreds of years ago on big ranches as the cowboys sorted cattle to ship to markets. Cowboys eventually made a sport out of it.

From the perspective of TC and Brandi, this lifestyle comes with many ups and downs. “It seems like you’re always chasing something,” Brandi said. “The industry has really progressed, the quality of horses and level of competition just keeps going up – there’s

With that, the Scheers want to continue to grow their name in a positive way that represents the industry well. “I feel like we’re in a really good place right now, but we can always do better,” Brandi said. “When we started doing this, I had an exact picture of what I wanted to achieve in my mind, and I didn’t think we would be successful until we reached it. I realized that there’s a lot of different levels of success – we will always want to go and win more.” TC added, “Even with that, if all this business has done is just paid for our house and land, and let us have a comfortable lifestyle and have fun doing it – it's all been worth it. We’ve been really blessed. As long as it keeps taking care of us, and we can help keep this sport alive, I'm happy."

For more information on Scheer Performance

Horses visit their website www.scheerpreformancehorses.com.

Brandi in action. (Photo Credit: Seth Petit)

BA helping his dad by turning back.

Photo Credit: D'Albor Photography

Photo Credit: TruPhotography

Photo Credit: Emily Thurner Photography

Photo Credit: Emily Thurner Photography

MADELYN HOWARD

DRINKARD

CAROLYN

BY

ALL FOR THE LOVE OF A HORSE...

Madelyn Elaine Howard (Maddie) cannot remember a time when she didn’t love horses! Maddie’s first riding experience was many years ago when she rode her aunt’s paint horse. After that, Maddie was hooked. In fact, her passion for horses has gotten even stronger through the years.

Maddie grew up in the small community of Tibbie, Alabama, where she loved country living and “fooling with animals.” She constantly followed her grandpa, John Ray McDowell, and even

developed his delightful “gift of gab.”  Maddie attended Washington County High School until the ninth grade, and then she chose homeschooling. This gave her the opportunity to keep up with her studies but also work with a local horse trainer, gaining valuable hands-on experience in caring for and training horses. She learned from the bottom up, starting with menial chores, like cleaning stalls, bathing horses and washing tack. Soon, she moved to saddling and unsaddling

Maddie and Suzy have been best friends for many years. When learning her trade, Maddie often used Suzy as a “crash test dummy.” Maddie would practice new things on Suzy. (Photo Credit: Am Heath)

horses. Finally, she started to ride and train.

“I wanted to learn as much as I could,” she said. “I did everything that was thrown at me.” With each trick she learned, Maddie came home to try it on her own 18-year-old mare, Suzy. “Suzy was my crash-test dummy,” she laughed. “She’s a jack-ofall-trades.”

After high school, Madelyn thought about becoming a large animal vet; however, years of schooling did not appeal to her. Instead, she opted for trade school, but not just any trade school. Madelyn chose to attend a farrier school in Purcell, Oklahoma, to master the art of trimming and shoeing horses.

For thousands of years, people have understood the value of a good horse and keeping it healthy. Horse owners learned early that “no foot; no horse.” In other words, a horse was only as strong as the feet it stood on.

Horsemen turned to farriers to clean, trim and take care of their horses feet by applying some sort of foot protection. A farrier is a skilled craftsman who cleans, trims and shapes the hooves of horses and then makes shoes and mounts them on the hooves of all kinds

of equine feet. The kind of work that a horse does determines the kind of shoe that a farrier will use. For example, a racehorse will require a different shoe than a farm plow horse.

Farriers must also try to correct a foot abnormality by making specialized shoes for any defect or injury. Madelyn was quite familiar with a horse that had a defect in her footing, as Suzy, her beloved mare, had a clubfoot at birth. Through the years, Madelyn had difficulty finding someone to trim Suzy’s feet correctly.

In the past, the art of farriery has been male-dominated, but that is changing. Currently, female farriers make up about 10% of the 250,000 farriers in the U.S. In her training classes, Maddie was one of only four other females. Nevertheless, she knew that she wanted to learn trimming and shoeing, and she had the grit and determination to reach her goal.

Maddie learned quickly that horse shoeing is not for the faint of heart. The work is hard, dirty and demanding. In addition, farriers work in both hot and cold weather, often in a barn or outside under a tree for shade. The large animals they work with are not always gentle and well-behaved.

From the first day of the eight-week course, Maddie and the other students trimmed and shoed horses six days a week. “I soaked up everything my instructors showed us,” she laughed. “They threw us right in the fire when I got there. This is a trade that you’ve really got to love and have a knack for.”

The course started with students learning to use flat pieces of bar stock to forge different types of

Suzy is Maddie’s 18-year-old mare. The twosome work well together, and Maddie meets many potential customers at these local shows.

(Photo Credit: Am Heath)

Maddie concentrates closely on her job as she trims a horse’s foot. A clip into the quick is painful for the horse and often results in lameness. (Photo Credit: Am Heath)

all aspects of a horse’s health, as well. Instructors from all over the country came to teach different techniques and procedures, giving the students a more eclectic view of this craft.

“It was neat to learn how to help horses,” Maddie stated. “Since I liked helping any animal, I wanted to learn all I could.”

After completing her studies, Maddie came back home to start her own business, “HSR Farrier Service.” In this area

of Southwest Alabama, there are very few trained farriers. At first, her business started slowly, but after people had heard about her work, requests for her services increased. HSR serves the counties of Clarke, Escambia, Monroe, Washington and Mobile. However, Madelyn travels to other areas, as needed.

Horse lovers are very conscious of their animal’s health, and they keep a close watch on their feet. Most horses need trimming every 4-6 weeks, but shoes are changed according to the wear on the shoe and the needs of the owner.

Maddie has also added another talent to her repertoire. After her grandmother asked for help with her sheep’s feet, Maddie trimmed a few sheep and goats. Now, she gets many requests from area farmers. Once she even trimmed a pot-bellied pig.

Maddie hopes to expand her horse shoeing business by adding her own equipment trailer. This would allow her to travel to larger events, set up and work there on the premises.

“I’m a people person like my granddaddy,” she laughed. “I like to get outside and meet people. I will talk to anybody who will talk back to me!”

It has been said that at least once in their lives, all horses deserve to be loved by a little girl. One ride years ago on a paint mare changed Maddie Howard’s life. Now, as an adult, she keeps her passion alive through her farriery work and her riding. She takes pride in telling people that she shoes horses for a

“It’s a fun job,” she explained. “I love it!”

AM HEATH PHOTOGRAPHY

Shoeing a horse is hot, dirty, demanding work, but Maddie Howard finds great satisfaction in helping a horse. (Photo Credit: Am Heath)

One ride years ago on a paint mare changed Maddie Howard's life forever. (Photo Credit: Am Heath)

BY LOIS TRIGG CHAPLIN

AMERICAN GARDEN ROSE SELECTIONS

Rose gardeners, a.k.a. rose collectors, are usually always happy to try a new rose. This year, three of the five winners of the American Garden Rose Selections (AGRS) are well suited to the Southeast. AGRS roses earn recommendation based on performance, beauty, disease resistance, and easy maintenance. Brindabella Pink Princess grows 3 to 4 feet tall and wide in a dense, shrub-like form that works well in the landscape, and it also has excellent resistance to black spot and powdery mildew. All that and the pretty pink blossoms smell good, too! OSO Easy Urban Legend is another landscape rose of similar size, but this one is red with bright yellow stamens in the center reminiscent of a camellia blossom. The plant bears handsome, dark green, disease-resistant foliage. The third is Petite Knock Out, the first miniature in the Knock Out series at only 1 ½ feet tall with blooms 1 ½ inches in diameter. This is one better suited for containers.

The AGRS was established about 10 years ago to recommend rose varieties based on testing and objective evaluation at trial gardens in different regions of the U.S. Learn about the AGRS program and the location of test gardens at americangardenroseselections.com.

PRUNE LANDSCAPE ROSES

Landscape roses are roses that behave more like landscape shrubs than the traditional hybrid tea rose, which is prized for cutting. These include well-known names such as Simplicity, Brindabella, the Fairy, Pink Pet, OSO Easy, and Knockout roses. It’s important to prune mature plants to keep them full, vigorous and free of disease. Always prune in winter, before the leaves begin to bud. First, remove dead wood and any that looks diseased or discolored. Then remove stems that overlap and rub each other. Plants more than two or three years old benefit from cutting back all the remaining canes by one third of their current height yearly to keep them full and bushy. Winter is

OSO Easy Urban Legend rose

Brimdabella Pink

also a great time to clean under the plants. Remove old mulch, leaves, and debris along with cuttings because decaying litter from last season harbors pests that will increase insect and disease pressure on the plants next season. Lay fresh mulch to start off the growing season.

THIS BOK CHOY IS PURPLE

Bok Choy is the cabbage of choice for folks who like to eat sauteed and stir-fried vegetables. Even if you don’t, it’s a beautiful leafy green for pots and spring flower beds. Purple Boy choy is particularly striking with its bright green veins. This is one for the red category for folks who eat a variety of colors of fruits and veggies because each pigment group contains different antioxidants. Easy to grow and fast, purple bok choy can be started indoors under lights now and planted into the garden about a month before the last frost. Just be prepared to cover it if there is an overnight deep dive in temperature.

trees. They also love hackberry, black cherry, red cedar, American holly , and mistletoe berries. The beautiful, sleek birds are named for their waxy red wing tip. Be on the lookout for them as they finish their winter stay here and head back north to raise their young in the spring. To attract flocks to your yard, plant some of their favorite berry trees.

REPURPOSING PINE LOGS

What to do with the extra pine trunks left behind after a tree falls or is taken down? One gardener turned lengths of trunk into a vertical log pile in the woods. In the summer it makes a good resting place for potted houseplants that need shade. The logs will eventually decompose leaving a little bit richer soil for wildflowers.

IT’S CEDAR WAXWING SEASON

Every year for a short time, flocks of cedar waxwings descend in our yard for a few meals, cleaning every berry from nearby cherry laurel and yaupon

Purple Bok Choy

Cedar waxwings

Fallen logs

BY JOHN HOWLE

SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE

Best known for his book Walden Henry David Thoreau spent much time reflecting upon simple living in natural surroundings. He was the leading Transcendentalist of the time, and his quotes about simplifying life and enjoying nature adorn the walls of many offices and buildings today.

One of the best pieces of advice I find from Thoreau is to simplify life. “Our life is

frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify, simplify! I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand; instead of a million, count half a dozen, and keep your accounts on your thumb-nail.”

Thoreau also added that time could be saved and life enjoyed more if we spent less time preparing and eating three meals a day.

“Simplify, Simplify. Instead of three meals a

As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler, solitude will not be solitude, poverty will not be poverty, nor weakness weakness.”

- Henry David Thoreau

day, if it be necessary eat but one; instead of a hundred dishes, five; and reduce other things in proportion.” I guess if we followed this rule, there would be less money being generated by diet companies and weight loss programs. In addition, think of all the prep time and cleanup time that could be saved by doing no more than changing from three to two meals a day.

Squirrel Hunting and Shooting Accuracy

That down time between deer hunting and turkey hunting is often overlooked, but it can be an exciting time to introduce youngsters to the outdoors in the form of squirrel hunting. Before hitting the woods, it would be best to spend some time on the range familiarizing the youth with the firearm and getting some valuable target practice time in. Nothing frustrates a kid more than finally getting a shot at a bushytail and missing the mark.

A fun way to target practice with youth is with balloons. Simply blow up a few balloons and tack or tape the balloon spout to a backboard with an appropriate backstop. A hit is obvious when the balloon bursts, and this adds a higher level of interest for the youth when target shooting with a .22 rifle.

Once a fair level of marksmanship is achieved,

the youth is ready for the woods and ready for the hunt. Make sure both you and the youngster are wearing the appropriate amount of blaze orange for added safety during the hunt. Even after deer season is over, you want to make sure that you are highly visible even during squirrel hunts.

Game Plan for Gobblers

This is a great time to plan for your upcoming turkey hunt. If you have spotted a tom or two while feeding cows or scouting your hunting property, a bit of preplanning can increase your odds of harvesting

Allowing a youngster the chance to hit target balloons makes it obvious when they are on target.

After target practicing, the author's daughter was able to harvest a squirrel with a .22 rifle.

Create a ground blind with trees and debris on a high elevation to increase your chances of a harvest.

a fine tom. First, recognize that the higher elevations on your property are the best for calling in toms. With that in mind, you can make a few ground blinds with tree limbs and debris on these higher elevations to give yourself a few calling options and locations.

If you have a gobbler answer your call and start heading your way, remember to use an approach similar to John Wayne’s advice, “Talk low, talk slow, and don’t talk too much.” For calling in gobblers, call low, call slow, and don’t call too much.

Have your shotgun in position so as to avoid unnecessary movement when the gobbler is within

range. They have incredible eyesight to notice detail and movement. Keep in mind that you want the gobbler to be looking for you instead of finding you as you quietly imitate a lovesick hen. He needs to be in “search mode” as the distance closes for a shot.

Work Smarter Not Harder

Even with all the fun of squirrel and turkey hunting, work still needs to be done around the farm. Sometimes this involves hands-on manual labor with a shovel. Whether you are digging holes to set out sawtooth oak trees or cleaning out a drain ditch to keep water out of the barn, a sharp shovel makes the job easier. If you buy a new shovel in a store, you might notice how dull the blade is. This is mainly for in-store liability to keep customers from cutting their hands. It may keep the customers safe, but it results in extra work digging holes and cutting through roots. To make the digging quicker and more efficient, take a flat file and put a sharp edge on the cutting face of the shovel. This will greatly improve your ability to dig a hole or clean out a ditch fast.

This winter, build relationships with your neighbors and farmers. In an age of digitally created isolation, meeting with folks face to face is a much-needed improvement.

The author with a tom harvested from the family farm.

Don't call aggressively when trying to entice a gobbler into range.

Putting an edge on a shovel with a flat file greatly increases digging ability of the tool.

SPRING TASKS FOR EVERY GARDEN TYPE

BY BETHANY O’REAR

One of the things I love about early spring is that it encourages the gardener to get back outside without requiring it. I can dip a toe back into vegetable gardening without committing the time (and love) required for frost-sensitive plants like tomatoes and cucumbers. In February and March, it’s all about leafy greens and roots which laugh at the cold.

Leaf lettuce is one of those easy-to-grow vegetables that makes a novice gardener develop confidence. It’s a great crop for school and community gardens because it germinates quickly, performs with

little difficulty, and can be harvested in March, April, and May with successive plantings. Seed can be sown from mid-January through February. Set seed ¼ inch deep and thin to 12 inches apart in rows. “Blackseeded Simpson” and “Red Sails” are good leaf lettuce choices for Alabama gardeners. Root vegetables are another rewarding spring crop. Radish seed can be planted from the beginning of February all the way through March. “Cherry Belle“ is a classic round red variety while “White Icicle” forms a white tap root. Radish seedlings must be thinned to 1 inch apart shortly after

germination or the roots won’t develop fully. They can be harvested within 30 days of sowing. Carrots can be planted throughout the whole month of March and should be spaced 1- 2 inches apart. Shorter varieties like “Lady Fingers” and “Thumbelina” more easily produce uniform roots than longer varieties and mature quickly — between 52 to 60 days, before temperatures start to really heat up. I recommend that longer-maturing varieties only be planted in the fall. Any root vegetable appreciates fertile, well-tilled, loamy soil. Irish potatoes like “Red Pontiac” and “Superior” can be set out in February. Irish potatoes are planted through seed

cuttings with at least one “eye” or bud on each. Only use certified seed stock or eyes — grocery store potatoes, even if they have already started to sprout, will not produce reliably. Eyes are initially planted 3 inches deep, and as they emerge, additional soil is mounded on top of the plants. This is an ongoing process until they have at least 6 inches of soil on top. Potatoes can take up to 120 days to mature so it’s important to make sure they remain buried deeply and do not suffer sun scald. If you’ve never planted in a “grow bag,” Irish potatoes are a great starter crop. Grow bags come in many sizes and colors but essentially all brands are made of weather-resistant fabrics that allow for uniform “hilling” over the emerging plants and are breathable, thereby preventing overheating in June just as the potatoes come to maturity. Harvesting couldn’t be easier as it’s simply a matter of tipping over the bag with no risk of piercing tubers with a fork or tine. Roses deserve some attention this time of year. Hybrid tea roses are typically given their hard prune around Valentine’s Day. Fertilization and spray programs begin in March. We got a lot of questions about the best time to prune popular self-deadheading shrub roses. Unlike hybrid teas which are geared to producing fewer but maximum-size blooms, many shrub roses can simply be “shaped” throughout the year. The general rule of pruning is applicable to all types of roses — dead and diseased plant material can always

Carrots can be planted throughout the whole month of March and should be spaced 1-2 inches apart.

Leaf lettuce is easy to grow and makes a novice gardener develop confidence. It is very tolerant of colder temperatures.

be removed, no matter the time of year.

If fruit trees are your fancy, then you probably already know that many types should be fertilized in February. In addition, all remaining fruit debris and old mulch should be removed from under trees to try and suppress overwintering diseases. Fruit-specific spraying schedules could fill a book, so I recommend writing out a growing season calendar so as not to miss key dates. Lastly, have a plan for late-season frosts which can impact or even shut down fruit development for the season. Peaches are a particular worry in this regard.

Warm sunny days in March send folks to the garden centers in droves. It’s tempting to buy a lawn product which delivers a one-two punch of weed suppression and fertilization. “Weed and Feed” products, however, are often a bad bet. Only St. Augustine and tall fescue grasses should be fertilized in March. More common turf types like Bermuda and Centipede will not benefit from fertilization this early in the year, in fact they may even be harmed. Better to save your

money for a weed-specific pre-emergent, which needs to be applied now to be effective, and take the time to perform a soil test and apply lime as might be recommended.

Let me wrap up with an appreciation of one of nature’s great wonders, the hummingbird. The tiny miracle known as the ruby-throated hummingbird migrates north to Alabama in the first two weeks of March. By mid-month there are numerous sightings in Birmingham and reliable sightings in Huntsville by the end of the month. Birdwatchers suggest you set out clean feeders and nesting material before they appear in your area. You can make your garden a hummingbird haven by planting their favorite flowers. These include perennials and biennials such bee balm, foxglove, and cardinal flower. After frost, plant annuals such as zinnias and red salvia. One caution, however, about trumpet creeper vine. Many bird lovers recommend this as an irresistible planting for hummingbirds — this may be true, but it is an invasive plant through all the Southeast and should be avoided. There are plenty of other beautiful flowers to share. I hope your 2023 garden is off to a great start.

Make your garden a haven for hummingbirds by planting their favorite flowers in March. Cardinal flowers are one of the hummingbird's favorites.

Hybrid tea roses are typically given a hard prune sometime around Valentine's Day.

In the warm, sunny days of March, invest your money in a weed-specific pre-emergent for grasses such as Bermuda and Centipede.

LAWN & GARDEN CHECKLIST

February Garden Checklist

Fruits and Nuts

• Planting season continues for dormant trees.

• Fertilize fruit trees.

• Apply half of the fertilizer recommended for grapes now; apply the other half soon after fruit sets.

• Continue dormant pruning and grafting.

• Start strawberry plantings.

Shrubs

• Planting season continues.

• Visit camellia shows to learn of hardy varieties in your area.

• Graft camellias in central and south Alabama.

• Spray all shrubs with a fungicide before new growth starts.

• Prune all shrubs before new growth starts.

• Don’t prune early-blooming species because flower buds will be removed.

Lawns

• Apply preemergent herbicides if forgotten in September and if spring weeds were a concern last year.

• If South Alabama’s winter was mild, centipedegrass may not be fully dormant. Monitor for fungal disease.

Roses

• Prune hybrid tea roses in South Alabama; delay pruning for a few weeks in North Alabama.

• Continue planting.

Annuals and Perennials

• Replant early plantings of hardy annuals.

• Prepare beds for summer annuals.

Bulbs

• Plant cannas, amaryllis, gladiolus, and zephyranthes in South Alabama; delay planting for a few weeks in North Alabama.

Miscellaneous

• House plants are beginning to show signs of activity. Fertilize with liquid or soluble fertilizer according to manufacturer’s

directions.

• Remember Valentine’s Day. Why not send roses or a potted plant?

Vegetable Seeds

• South and Central: Plant the same vegetables listed for January. Add carrots, Swiss chard, kohlrabi, lettuce, spinach, radishes, turnips, and additional plantings of leafy greens.

• North: Plant kale. Wait until the end of February to plant beets, carrots, collards, garden peas, kale, kohlrabi, mustard, spinach, Swiss chard, radishes, and turnips.

Vegetable Transplants

• Whole state: Plant asparagus, cabbage, broccoli, onion sets, kale, lettuce, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts.

• South and Central: Plant asparagus, cabbage and broccoli, and certified seed potatoes for Irish and red-skinned varieties.

• North: Wait towards the end of the month to plant certified seed potatoes for Irish and red-skinned varieties and asparagus.

March Garden Checklist

Fruits and Nuts

• Continue strawberry and grape plantings.

• Bud apples and peaches.

• Start planting blackberries. If weather conditions prevent prompt planting, heel the plants in by placing the root system in a trench and covering the soil.

Shrubs

• Fertilize shrubs (except azaleas and camellias) according to a soil test.

• Late plantings may be made, particularly if they are container grown.

• Monitor shrubs for harmful insects.

Lawns

• Plant bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, and centipedegrass in south Alabama.

• Soil test and add limestone as recommended.

• Fertilize fescue lawns at 1 pound slow-release nitrogen per 1,000 square feet.

• South: If daytime temps are consistently above 70 degress F, consider applying

fire ant bait. Read label carefully for best control.

Roses

• Watch new growth for aphids.

• Begin a spray or dust program.

• Begin fertilizing.

Annuals and Perennials

• South: Plant half-hardy annuals.

• Check garden centers for bedding plants such as geraniums and petunias.

Bulbs

• Plant gladiolus every 2 or 3 weeks if a long blooming season is desired.

• Plant tuberous begonias in pots. Plant dahlias.

Miscellaneous

• Check and repair sprayers, dusters, and lawn mowers.

• Control lawn weeds with chemicals as needed. If weeds are deemed a serious problem, send a soil sample for testing as weeds can indicate the lawn is unhealthy.

• Delay pruning of fruiting shrubs such as cotoneasters, pyracanthas, and hollies until after flowering.

Vegetable Seeds

• Central and North: Plant all hardy crops recommended for January and February (garden peas, leafy greens, and root crops).

• Central and South: Continue planting carrots, lettuce, and radishes. Plant sweet corn and squash. South Alabama can start planting beans, melons, and southern peas in late March.

Vegetable Transplants

• Central and North: Plant asparagus, onion sets, and lettuce. Plant certified seed potatoes for Irish and red-skinned varieties in early March.

• South: Harden off tomato, pepper, and eggplant transplants. Plant when the soil has warmed above 65 degrees F and the threat of frost is over.

See other months from Alabama Gardener’s Calendar at www.aces.edu.

The Lawn and Garden Checklist is provided by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.

Organic & Natural Seed Starter

BY SUZY M c CRAY

WORK WITH YOUR HANDS

Some of you may recall that several years ago my niece Jeanne made the simple statement to me that “Your hands look just like Granny’s,” causing me to reflect on how my hands DID look exactly like my mama’s.

I bit my fingernails for many years and only in my thirties broke that awful habit. But in the more than 40 years since then, while my fingernails certainly don’t look as ragged, my poor hands still will never cause me to star in a commercial for beautifying lotion,

unless my hands are featured in the BEFORE segment showing what needs to be corrected.

I have somewhat short stubby fingers. Decades of typing, playing the piano, and quilting and sewing have left my hands and fingers with noticeable bumps and bulges that certainly aren’t the most attractive. But you know, I wear all those bulges and knots kind of like badges of honor, kind of like the snowy gray hair that now tops my once raven-black head!

I can’t recall my mama ever polishing her finger-

nails, although she probably did that as a teen growing up with a houseful of brothers and sisters.

But in my mind, Mama’s hands were always busy. They were often red and chapped when I was little from washing and bleaching clothes and running them through the old wringer washer and then hanging them to flop on the clothes line until they dried.

I was a sickly little kid and some of my sweetest memories are of Mama rubbing salve on my chest or in the “hollow hole” of my throat to help me breathe, and often her bare work hands almost felt scratchy against my tender young skin. But oh what a comforting feeling, the scratchiness didn’t matter one bit because I could feel the love!

She didn’t do a lot of “busy work” like my Great Aunt Cora Lowry who was always crocheting or tatting with her fingers flying, but Mama did teach me the basics of embroidery AND how to carefully move the fabric under the needle while my short legs pumped the metal treadle on that old Singer machine!

My daddy’s hands were just as rough. He spent his days crafting beautiful houses for folks in our county. Often at night I’d use a needle to pluck splinters from his fingers. A local doctor once saved Daddy’s hand with more than 500 stitches after Daddy did battle with an angry table saw ….

I remember sitting on the slide pulled behind Old Pete the mule as Daddy prepared the soil in our garden, then his dirty fingernails after he’d hand planted all those seed.

My parents had working hands. Hands that toiled to not only to provide for their family but help others when they were in need. My grandparents’ hands were also just as work-weary but that never stopped them from enjoying life and serving their God.

My brother was nearly 10 years older than me. I

can remember him as a young teen coming home on Saturday nights just as the "Gunsmoke" television theme song played across our little black and white TV. He would have spent a long day carrying groceries to folks’ vehicles and stocking shelves in the old Cornelius Grocery Store in nearby Oneonta. He also worked as a carpenter alongside Daddy during school vacations and other holidays.

I worked at a local “dime store” when I was still in high school, taught piano during my teenage years and worked the counter at our then-local Dairy Queen to pay my senior year expenses.

Mack likewise worked hauling hay in the summer time, worked with his daddy on carpentry and painting jobs, and then worked after school on a truck making deliveries for Brown Furniture.

We weren’t the exceptions. It seemed most all our friends worked similar jobs as we were growing up. My kids fell right in line. Working odd jobs, fast food, detailing cars, and even working at a quick change oil place while still being homeschooled. Most of you reading this article probably have similar stories.

If a parent or other family member didn’t work, it was usually because of a devastating illness or accident. If mamas didn’t work “paying” jobs, they worked so much around the house tending their families and farms, canning and freezing produce, and more that they put in as many hours or more than those with outside jobs.

It was the good old American work ethic. It was simply what people did, did not just to get by, but did to have pride in their work.

And there’s still mamas and daddies and kids of all ages who work hard in our county and in our country. Sometimes it seems farm kids work a little harder, even at jobs away from the farm. Maybe it’s

MY PARENTS HAD WORKING HANDS. HANDS THAT TOILED NOT ONLY TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILY BUT HELP OTHERS WHEN THEY WERE IN NEED.

because they see what hard work produces and also see the pride that comes.

I have a granddaughter who had a baby while she was quite young. But she went to work every morning at 4 a.m. and worked every day until just after lunch at a barbecue restaurant in another state. About a decade later, she has worked her way up through the ranks in a couple of companies and still finds time to make herbal salves and other needful things on the side.

But it seems that in the last couple of years there have been some very huge but scary changes … Just about every store, restaurant, and business in our area has had “help wanted’ signs outside their doors. And many businesses have had to cut hours and even close at time because they simply don’t have enough employees. It’s a whole different world than when we were in high school and competed for job openings in our rural areas.

And too many times those who are working don’t seem to have been taught the manners of “customer service.” I guess I’m still naïve enough that when I’m talking to someone on the phone or in a store seeking help and they are rude to me, then it puts a damper on my entire day! But I try to think about what may be

all the difference to a young mother who may have been up all night with a sick child, or a young man who is working two jobs to support his family and is simply exhausted.

I don’t know all the answers to what this country is experiencing but I do know the One who has those answers, just like Paul in the New Testament did. Paul was evidently well-educated and from a well-to-do family. He could have probably lived out his life much more easily if he hadn’t chosen to follow God’s bidding. He had learned in whatever situation he found himself, to be content. So many of the early disciples worked as fishermen as their trade and even Jesus grew up in a carpenter’s shop. So Paul paid his own way with his learned skill as a tentmaker.

I think one of my very favorite verses and one that I’m struggling to live by even at this older age is this simple admonition of Paul: “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

(Suzy and husband Mack live on a homestead in

Alabama Farmers Cooperative,

AFC’s Future Leaders Program is designed to provide our cooperative system the next generation of key employees, equipped to handle the challenges of agribusiness management. FLPs will be exposed to all aspects of the Co-op, as well as the opportunity to attend organized training sessions. rough a variety of store experience and continued education, the FLPs will gain the tools needed to be successful in the agribusiness sector.

SHELF LIFE OF CANNED GOODS

HOW TO INCREASE SHELF LIFE AND QUALITY

BY ANGELA TREADAWAY

Canned foods in this article refer to foods canned in liquid.  Dry pack canned goods are not included.  Canned foods are safe alternatives to fresh and frozen foods and help meet dietary needs and avoid preservatives. Proper storage can greatly increase the shelf life and quality of canned foods.

Quality & Purchase. Canned foods can either be purchased commercially or home canned.  Home

canned foods should be canned using research-tested recipes and processes like those found in the USDA Complete Guide to Canning or in Cooperative Extension publications.  Use only the best quality foods to can at home.  Home canning processes can never improve the quality of foods. Commercially canned foods are superior to home canned for food storage.  Commercial canners can closely control quality and safety to produce the best product.  Commercial-

ly canned foods for storage can be purchased at grocery stores and similar outlets.   Avoid budget resellers (e.g., scratch and dent sales, dollar stores, etc.).  Purchase canned foods in either cans or jars.  Avoid rusted, dented, scratched, or bulging cans.

Packaging. Foods are commercially canned in glass jars with lids, metal cans, or special metal-Mylar®-type pouches.  All of these materials are suitable for food storage.  Home canners should only can in Mason-style canning jars with two-piece metal lids as recommended by the USDA Complete Guide to Canning.  Home canning in metal cans or metal-Mylar®-type pouches requires special knowledge and equipment.  Improper processing of home canned foods could lead to Clostridium botulinum food poisoning.

Storage Conditions. Carefully label all home canned or commercially canned food containers.  We recommend labeling purchase date (month & year) on can lid with marker.  Store all canned food in cool, dark, dry space away from furnaces, pipes, and places where temperatures change like un-insulated attics. Do not allow sealed cans or glass jars to freeze. Freezing changes food textures, and leads to rust, bursting cans, and broken seals that may let in harmful bacteria. Always store metal cans off of the floor, especially bare concrete.  Moisture can wick up to cans and encourage rusting.

Nutrition & Allergies.  Canned foods maintain mineral content for entire shelf life. Vitamins A & C will decrease rapidly after fruits and vegetables are picked and cooked. Vitamins are lost during heating processes; however, once canned, vitamin A & C loss slows to 5-20% per year. Other vitamins remain close to fresh food levels. Salt or sugar are not necessary

for safe canning and only added for flavoring. Be sure to label canned goods with ingredients when canning mixed foods like sauces.

Shelf Life. As a general rule, unopened home canned foods have a shelf life of one year and should be used before 2 years.  Commercially canned foods should retain their best quality until the expiration code date on the can.  This date is usually 2-5 years from the manufacture date.  High acid foods usually have a shorter shelf life than low acid foods.  For emergency storage, commercially canned foods in metal or jars will remain safe to consume as long as the seal has not been broken. (That is not to say the quality will be retained for that long.)  Foods “canned” in metal-Mylar®-type pouches will also have a best-if-used by date on them.  The longest shelf life tested of this type of packaging has been 8-10 years (personal communication, U.S. Military MREs).  Therefore, storage for longer than 10 years is not recommended.

Use from Storage. Always use FIFO (First-in, first-out), meaning use your oldest cans first.  Before opening, discard any badly dented, bulging, rusty, or leaky cans or jars that have broken seals. Open cans or jars to view and smell contents.  When opening, discard any can that spurts.  Discard contents (do not taste) if there is a strange odor or appearance.

If there is no strange appearance or odor, taste a sample.  For added safety, in the case of older canned foods, you may wish to boil the food for 10 minutes before tasting.  Discard if there is an off-flavor. High-acid foods may leach metal or metallic flavors from cans if food is stored in open cans; remove unused portions and store covered in the refrigerator. Low-acid foods should be heated to 165 degrees F° or boiled for 5-10 minutes before eating. Once opened canned foods may last between a day and a week depending on the food.

Purchase canned foods in either cans or jars.  Avoid rusted, dented, scratched, or bulging cans.

JUST A PIECE OF PAPER

BY GREG A. LANE

It was just a piece of paper taped to the front door of the diner. In big, bold letters the message had been written, “We’re understaffed. Please be patient with us.” When I saw that piece of paper, I said to my two friends who were with me, “Maybe we should go elsewhere for breakfast since they’re understaffed.” But, they replied, “It’s okay if we have to wait a little bit. We’re not in a hurry.” So, we took a seat and waited patiently for the waitress to come to our table. It was just a piece of paper laying on the diner table. It had been laminated to protect it from spills and food stains. It was a menu filled with items that I and my two friends could choose from for our morning meal together. After deliberating on what we were going to order, we made up our minds and told

our choices to the waitress who had finally come to our table several minutes after we sat down. Although the situation seemed rather hectic in the diner, our waitress was still very cordial and friendly.

It was just a piece of paper that our waitress wrote upon as she took our orders. It was the same ticket book she had been tirelessly writing on all morning for all her other customers. There was only one other waitress working alongside our waitress that morning. Both of them had their hands full waiting on well over 40 customers. They also were having to serve as hostesses and cashiers since they were short-staffed. I even saw

them bussing tables after customers had left.

It was just a piece of paper that the waitress handed us after we were finished eating. It was the bill for the breakfast that we had eaten. It amounted to $40. The waitress who served us, along with the other waitress, had been working so hard. The amount of the bill didn’t seem enough to compensate them for all their hard work. I wanted to do something to let our waitress know how much we appreciated her.

It was just a piece of paper I pulled out of my wallet and handed to the waitress who served us. It had the face of America’s first Secretary of the Treasury on it … Alexander Hamilton. As I handed her the $10 tip, and thanked her for being so good at her job, she smiled and thanked me in return. Hopefully that piece of paper encouraged her during the difficult morning she was having.

It was just a piece of paper one of my friends handed to me. It had the face of the 18th U.S. president on it … Ulysses S. Grant. My friend said, “I’m paying for our meals today, but can you stay and pay the bill, ‘cause I’ve got to run? You can keep the change.” “Sure thing,” I replied, “And, thanks for paying for my meal!” I patiently waited for the other waitress to come to the cash regis-

ter so I could pay our bill. After seating customers and cleaning a couple of tables, she finally made her way to the cash register. I could see a look of weariness on her face as I handed her the $50 bill. She began digging in the cash drawer to give me $10 back in change.

But, it was just a piece of paper she was trying to hand to me … a piece of paper with ol' Alexander Hamilton’s face on it. It was just like the one I had given to the other waitress earlier. I told her, “Keep that as a tip.” She replied, “Okay, I’ll see that your waitress gets this tip.” “No,” I replied, “This tip is for you! I’ve seen how hard both of you have been working this morning and I want to bless you.” Oh, I wish you could have seen how her face lit up when I said those words. The look of weariness on her face departed. A bright smile took its place. She thanked me for the extra little blessing as I turned and walked through the front door to the diner … the door upon which the very first piece of paper had originally greeted me with the words, “We’re understaffed. Please be patient with us.”

What a joy it was to brighten someone’s day! It made me feel so good inside to make someone else feel good inside. And to think … all it took was JUST A PIECE OF PAPER.

BY JESSIE SHOOK

FIELD MEALS

On-the-go meals for the busy farmer or rancher

In this month's Pantry you will find recipes that are great for your busy farmer or rancher that can be eaten on-the-go, one-handed or on the back of a horse. Check out these great field meals!

Banana Bread Overnight Oats

1 medium banana

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 Tablespoon maple syrup

1 cup 2% milk

1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

1 Tablespoon flaxseed

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Pinch of sea salt

1/2 Tablespoon mini chocolate chips

1 Tablespoon pecans, chopped

In a small Mason jar, add banana. Smash well with a fork. Add in vanilla, maple and milk to mashed banana. Mix together. Add oats, flaxseed, cinnamon and salt. Stir and mix together. Add chocolate chips and nuts if using. Fold in. Cover with a lid, and place in the fridge overnight. Open the jar the next morning and enjoy!

Egg and Sausage Breakfast Bombs

16 ounces prepared pizza dough

6 eggs, beaten

6 sausage patties, cooked

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 egg, beaten, for egg wash

Heat oven to 375 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Heat a medium-sized nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the beaten eggs and cook over medium-low heat, stirring with a rubber spatula, until cooked to your liking. Remove from heat and set aside. Using a rolling pin, roll the pizza dough into a rectangle approximately 18 inches by 12 inches. Use a pizza cutter to cut the dough into 6 pieces. You'll have six equal-sized squares.

Place a sausage patty on the center of each dough square. Top the sausage patties with equal portions of scrambled eggs. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the center of each. Stretch the dough for each piece and bring the corners and sides up to the top of each bagel bomb. You can use your fingers to pinch the seams shut. You may need to pull and manipulate the dough to get around the toppings. Use a silicone pastry brush to brush the remaining beaten egg over the top.

Bake in the oven for about 30 minutes, until tops are light golden brown. You may want to rotate your pan halfway through, as ovens have different hot spots. Cool on the pan for 5-10 minutes before removing the bagel bombs to a wire cooling rack.

Best Chicken Salad

1/2 cup blanched slivered almonds

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 Tablespoon lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 cups chopped, cooked chicken meat

1 stalk celery, chopped

Place almonds in a frying pan. Toast over medium-high heat, shaking frequently. Watch carefully, as they burn easily. Mix together mayonnaise, lemon juice and pepper in a medium bowl. Toss with chicken, toasted almonds and celery. Eat as a sandwich or on crackers.

Chicken Bacon Wraps

1 Tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon dried dill

1 teaspoon dried parsley

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 pounds chicken tenders (about 8 tenders)

8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

1/4 cup ranch dressing

4 lettuce leaves of your choice

4 large flour tortillas

In a small bowl, combine olive oil and dried spices. Stir to combine. Place chicken pieces in a dish or a gallon-sized freezer bag. Add the marinade and coat

the chicken. Marinate in the refrigerator for 30-60 minutes. Heat a skillet or grill over medium-high heat. Remove the chicken from the marinade and cook until the chicken is done and registers a temperature of 165°F when measured with a meat thermometer. Remove from the pan and set aside. Lay the tortillas out flat. Lay down a lettuce leaf on each. Add 2 cooked chicken tenders to each tortilla. Add pieces of bacon, then drizzle each with a tablespoon of ranch dressing. Roll the wraps by tucking in the sides to roll them like a burrito. Grab a heavy-duty pan (you can use the same one you cooked with) and heat it to medium. Place the wraps on the heated pan for 1-2 minutes. The heat will help seal the seam and leave nice grill marks! Cook until the tortilla is a nice golden and toasty color.

Roast Beef Roll Ups

Horseradish Cream Sauce

1/4 cup Greek yogurt

2 Tablespoons mayonnaise

1/8 teaspoon horseradish

Wrap

4 12" flour tortillas

1 pound roast beef, leftover from roast or from deli

1/2 cup shredded cheddar

Lettuce leaves, optional

Slightly warm tortillas so they're pliable. Lay flat and spread with horseradish cream sauce. Add lettuce, cheese and warmed roast beef to each wrap. Wrap burrito style and serve.

Ham and Cheese Sliders

1 pound deli ham, sliced

1/4 cup butter, melted

6 slices of Swiss cheese cut into fourths

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 package sweet dinner rolls (Hawaiian rolls)

Cut entire package of rolls in half horizontally. Place bottom half in a 9×9 ovenproof glass dish. Layer ham and Swiss cheese over bottom half. Replace the top of the rolls. In a medium bowl, whisk together Dijon mustard, melted butter, onion powder and Worcestershire sauce. Pour sauce over the rolls, just covering the tops. Cover with foil and let sit for 10 minutes. Bake at 350 F for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Uncover and cook for additional 2 minutes until tops are slightly browned and crisp. Serve warm or at room temperature.

ANNUAL EAGLE AWARENESS

EVENT AT LAKE GUNTERSVILLE STATE PARK

January 20- February 5, 2023

Guntersville - Lake Guntersville State Lodge & Convention Center

Admission - Various Times Call 256-571-5444

MARDI GRAS IN MOBILE

January 21- February 21, 2023

Mobile - Various Locations and Various Times

Call 251-208-2000

CHOCOLATE WALK

February 4, 2023

Athens - 107 N Jefferson Street

Self Guided - 1:00 - 6:00 p.m. Call 256-232-9040

ROAD TO FREEDOM WAGON TOUR

February 4, 2023

Orville - 9518 Cahaba Rd Call 334-872-8058

MARDI GRAS PARADE AND CELEBRATION

February 4, 2023

Prattville - Main Street Call 334-595-0850

OWA KREWE DU KIDZ PARADE

February 11, 2023

Foley - OWA Call 251-923-2111

SOPHISTICATED SOUL EXPLOSION

February 14, 2023

Alys Stephens Center - Admission

7:00 p.m.

Call 205-975-2787

SYMPOSIUM ON THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT

February 14 - 21, 2023

Montgomery - 300 Tallapoosa Street

Admission - 4:00 p.m. civilrightstourism.org

BEST OF ENEMIES

February 16 - 26, 2023

Tuscaloosa - Theatre Tuscaloosa

Admission - Times vary Call 205-391-2329

MIDDAY MUSIC

February 17, 2023

Birmingham - Cathedral Church of the Advent

12:30 - 1:00 p.m. Call 205-226-3505

MAIDS OF JUBILEE

February 17, 2023

Fairhope - Fairhope Civic Center

6:45 p.m. Call 251-990-0040

GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT

February 17 - 20, 2023

Huntsville - Botanical Gardens

Admission Call 256-830-4447

SNOW WHITE AND THE 7 LITTLES

February 17 - 19, 2023

Huntsville - Von Braun Center

Admission

Friday: 7:00 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday: 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Sensory Show: 10:00 a.m.

Saturday February 18th

Call 251-923-2111

BLACKBERRY SMOKE

February 18, 2023

Montgomery - Montgomery

Performing Arts Center

Admission - 8:00 p.m.

Call 334-481-5100

OWA PUPPY GRAS

February 18, 2023

Foley - OWA Call 251-923-2111

MARDI GRAS DAY IN MOBILE

February 21, 2023

Mobile - Various Locations

Various times

Call 251-208-2000

ORCHID REPOTTING 101

February 23, 2023

Huntsville - Botanical Gardens

Admission - 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Call 256-830-4447

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S THE TEMPEST

February 23 - March 12, 2023

Montgomery - Alabama Shakespeare Festival - Admission

Various Times

Call 334-271-5353

RUSSELL FOREST RUN

February 25, 2023

Alexander City - Russell Crossroads

Admission - 7:45 a.m.

Call 256-397-1019

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, JR.

February 22 - 25, 2023

Dothan - Dothan Opera House

Admission - 7:00 p.m.

Call 334-615-3175

AZALEA BLOOM OUT AT BELLINGRATH GARDENS AND HOME

March 1 - 31, 2023

Theodore - Bellingrath Gardens and Home - Admission

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Call 251-973-2217

MONROEVILLE LITERARY FESTIVAL

March 3 - 4, 2023

Monroeville - Monroe County

Museum - Admission

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Call 251-575-7433

DAUPHIN ART TRAIL

March 4, 2023

Mobile - Dauphin Island

Admission

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Call 251-861-2473

FESTIVAL OF TULIPS 2023

March 4 - 25, 2023

Montevallo - American Village

Admission

Monday - Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Sunday: Noon - 4:00 p.m.

Call 205-665-3535

VICTOR WOOTEN featuring STEVE

BAILEY & DERICO WATSON BASS

EXTREMES

March 10, 2023

Birmingham - Alys Stephens Center

Admission - 8:00 p.m. Call 205-975-2787

FOLEY BBQ & BLUES COOK-OFF

March 11, 2023

Foley - Heritage Park

Admission

11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Call 251-943-3291

ST. PAWTTY’S DAY

March 11, 2023

Foley - OWA

Call 251-923-2111

2023 ALL SPORTS EXPO

March 11, 2023

Andalusia - Kiwanis Center & Covington Arena

9:00 a.m.

Call 334-222-0613

ORANGE BEACH FESTIVAL OF ART

March 11 - 12, 2023

Orange Beach - Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach

10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Call 251-981-2787

JR BEEF EXPO

March 15 - 19, 2023

Montgomery - Garrett Colliseum

Admission - Various Times

Call 334-288-3900

MOBILE AZALEA TRAIL FESTIVAL

March 15 - 31, 2023

Mobile - Royal Street

Various Times

Call 251-479-9970

SLE RODEO

March 17 - 19, 2023

Montgomery - Garrett Colliseum

Admission - Various Times

Call 334-288-3900

MUSTANG & MEGA CAR SHOW

March 18, 2023

Foley - OWA

Call 251-923-2111

71ST ANNUAL FAIRHOPE ARTS & CRAFTS FESTIVAL & 51ST ANNUAL OUTDOOR ART SHOW

March 17 - 19, 2023

Fairhope - Downtown

10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Call 251-229-1874

ASA ARCHERY TOURNAMENT

March 23 - 26, 2023

Fort Mitchelle - Uchee Creek Campground Activity Center - Admission

6:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - all times are

Eastern Time

Call 334-298-6426

FESTIVAL OF FLOWERS 2023

March 23 - 26, 2023

Mobile - Ascension Providence Hospital Campus - Admission

10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Call 251-266-2050

MOBILE OPERA PRESENTS

“LA RONDINE”

March 24 - 26, 2023

Mobile - The Temple Downtown

Admission - 7:30 p.m.

Call 251-432-6772

TOUR OF HOMES

March 25, 2023

Pine Apple - 203 County Road 59

Admission

10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Call 256-975-7616

GARDEN PREP FOR SPRING

March 25, 2023

Huntsville - Botanical Gardens

Admission

10:00 a.m.

Call 256-830-4447

ALABAMA MEDIEVAL

FANTASY FESTIVAL

March 25 - 26, 2023

Greenville - 4776 Fort Dale Rd.

Admission - 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Call 251-423-1257

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 101

March 30, 2023

Huntsville - Botanical Gardens

Admission

10:00 a.m. - Noon

Call 256-830-4447

CLAY COUNTY STOCKYARD

1050 Airport Road - Ashland, AL

Sale Every Tuesday at 12:30 p.m.

Tad and Kim Eason, Owners

Barn: 256-354-2276 Tad: 397-4428

Hauling available

Check us out on Facebook!

SAND MOUNTAIN STOCKYARD, LLC

19509 AL Hwy 68 - Crossville, AL 256-561-3434

Cattle Auction - Every Wed. & Sat. at 11:30 a.m.

Call for any hauling & catching needs

VALLEY STOCKYARD

13130 AL HWY 157 - Moulton, AL

Cattle Auction - Wed. at 11:00 a.m.

Benjy McCafferty (C) 256-740-9648

Phone: 256-974-5900

Fax: 256-974-5899

Your Full Service Stockyard

MID STATE STOCKYARDS

TOP RANKED MARKET RECEIPTS

SINCE 2006 8415 State HWY 97 South

Letohatchee, AL 36047

Sale Day: Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. 1-877-334-5229 or 334-227-8000

www.midstatestockyards.com

If you would like to advertise your stockyard, please contact Wendy McFarland at mcfarlandadvantage@gmail.com

Pick

Top Pick Top

Pinkeye Pinkeye Cream Cream Brown Crowder

Crowder

“In the six plus years I have observed peas growing, the Top Pick Pinkeye’s and Top Pick Creams are two of the best peas. They have excellent germination; seedling vigor; high yielding and easy to pick. Plus their food quality is great.

They are good for “U Pick” operations because the peas set on top and the outside of the plant making a real showy bush type plant, which makes it easy for picking by hand and by machine. They are also easy to shell by hand or by sheller and make a good shell out. There are also no problems with disease.

If you have a market operations, you definitely need both types of peas – Top Pick Pinkeye’s and Top Pick Creams. These are by far the best peas on the market today. They are exceptional peas.”

Jason Barkett - J.E.B. Agriculture Consultant

“I grew up farming and I’m impressed with Top Pick Pinkeyed peas. We had early rains and the Top Pick peas loaded up. Some we planted late; some we no-tilled; plus we had more rain, but they really made peas. They pick great and shell out good and best of all they taste great.

We sold them at the Fresh Market, along with shelled peas. The customers came back asking for Top Pick peas. We will plant more Top Pick Pinkeyed peas next year and years to come.”

Bo Levins - Planterville, Alabama

“I first saw Top Pick Pinkeyed peas growing at the E. V. Smith Research Center and really liked the way they put out on top and around the outside of the plant. They were really loaded up with peas.

I have been planting these pinkeyed for ten years now. They produce more than the old bush running pinkeyed purple hull peas. They just out produce any other pinkeyed on the market. They shell out great and taste great.

Top Pick Pinkeyed peas work for me and there is no need to plant any other pinkeyed pea.”

Rob Peacock - Pike Road, Alabama

Seeds for Southern Soils

Top Pick Peas gives you top yields plus pods on top of the plant.

“My Top Pick Pinkeye Peas just plain out-yield any other variety I have planted...”

“My Top Pick Pinkeye Peas just plain out-yield any other variety I have planted...”