June/July 2023

CO-OP MATTERS

LIFE

YOUTH MATTERS

Le er from the Editor

Summer, summer, summertime!!

Gardens, ower beds and elds are planted and soon we’ll be able to reap the rewards of our hard work in the hot sun.

is issue has tons of tips on how to keep them all — lawns, owers, fruits and vegetables — looking and tasting their best and even lasting for seasons to come through canning.

Check out your local Co-op to see what products it has to help with that.

And while the majority of us are still ge ing our hands dirty by planting in the soil, our feature on Local Appetite Growers shows how you can keep it clean and still grow the most beautiful, fresh and mouthwatering le uce this girl has ever seen. Yes, you read that right — le uce!

We’re also proud to show o the changes made at Central Alabama Farmers Cooperative, Faunsdale a er it was damaged when a tornado tore through the area a year ago.

In honor of National Dairy Month, you’ll nd delicious and creamy recipes in our Co-op Kitchen to satisfy your hunger and sweet tooth. Our regular favorites are still hanging around to keep us entertained (and grasping tissues) whether it be with memories built into a 24-year-old tractor or a Father’s Day message to our readers.

I hope you all take a few moments every day to enjoy the extra sunshine and fresh air while it lasts because Fall and a very busy harvest season will be here before we know it!

As always, thank you for being a loyal reader, customer and part of the AFC family.

Tiffany 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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Cooperative Farming News is published bi-monthly by Alabama Farmers Cooperative, Inc.

121 Somerville Road NE, Decatur, AL 35601-2659

P.O. Box 2227, Decatur, AL 35609-2227

Reproduction in whole or in part without wri en permission is strictly prohibited. e publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertising and will not be responsible for copy errors or misprints in advertising or editorial material, other than to publish corrections of errors in fact. Feature articles, news items and columns are published for the information of our readers from quali ed, reputable sources; however, the editors and publisher make no guarantees and assume no liability for any reader’s decision to implement any procedure, recommendation or advice printed in this publication. Photos are credited to author unless otherwise noted. Advertised sale items may not be stocked by every Quality Co-op store and prices may vary.

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o ce: Cooperative Farming News

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Altha Farmers Cooperative

Blountstown, FL - James Lynn, Gen. Mgr.

Phone 850-674-8194

Andalusia Farmers Cooperative

Andalusia - 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

Atmore - Todd Booker, Gen. Mgr. Phone 251-368-2191

Blount County Farmers Cooperative

Oneonta - Eric Sanders, Gen. Mgr. Phone 205-274-2185

Central Alabama Farmers Cooperative

Tim Wood, Gen. Mgr.

Demopolis - Tom Eunice, Mgr. Phone 334-289-0155

Faunsdale - Bryan Monk, Mgr.

Phone 334-628-2681

Selma - omas Reeves, Mgr.

Phone 334-874-9083

Cherokee Farmers Cooperative

Centre - Seth Eubanks, Gen. Mgr. Phone 256-927-313

Jacksonville - Tommy omas, Mgr. Phone 256-435-3430

Piedmont - Kevin Bobbi , Mgr. Phone 256-447-6560

Clay County Exchange

Lineville - Je 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 Plunke , Gen. Mgr.

Albertville - Brad Childress

Phone 256-878-3261

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

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

Elberta Farmers Cooperative

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

Farmers Co-op Of Ashford

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

Farmers Cooperative Market

Doug Smith, Gen. Mgr.

Frisco City - Tim Goldman, Mgr. Phone 251-267-3175

Fertilizer

Phone 251-267-3173

Leroy - Je Hughston, Mgr. Phone 251-246-3512

Farmers Cooperative, Inc.

Barry Long, Gen. Mgr.

Live Oak, FL - Judd Chancey, Ag Div. Mgr. Phone 386-362-1459

Madison, FL - Virginia Kurtz

Phone 850-973-2269

Genco Farmers Cooperative

Enterprise - Ricky Wilks, Gen. Mgr. Phone 334-347-9007

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

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

West Geneva - Robert Pi man, Mgr. Phone 334-898-7932

Headland Peanut Warehouse Co-op

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

Jay Peanut Farmers Cooperative

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

Luverne Cooperative Services

Luverne - Perry Catre , Gen. Mgr. Phone 334-335-5082

Madison County Cooperative

Hazel Green - Keith Gri n, Gen. Mgr.

Phone 256-828-2010

Meridianville - Ma Dunbar, Mgr.

Phone 256-828-5360

New Market - Ben Smith, Mgr.

Phone 256-379-2553

Sco sboro - Ramsey Prince, Mgr. Phone 256-574-1688

Marion County Cooperative

Steve Lann, Gen. Mgr.

Faye e - Kellie Trull, Mgr.

Phone 205-932-5901

Haleyville - Jessica Steward, Mgr.

Phone 205-486-3794

Hamilton

Phone 205-921-2631

Marshall Farmers Cooperative

Holly Pond - Brian Keith, Gen. Mgr.

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

Goshen - Danny Dewrell, Gen. Mgr. Phone 334-484-3441

Troy - Je Baron, Mgr. Phone 334-566-1834

Quality Cooperative, Inc.

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

Taleecon Farmers Cooperative

Notasulga - Sco Hartley, Gen. Mgr. Phone 334-257-3930

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

Talladega County Exchange

Chris Ellio , Gen. Mgr.

Ashville

Phone 205-594-7042

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

Pell City - Joseph Taylor, Mgr. Phone 205-338-2821

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

Talladega Phone 256-362-2716

Tennessee Valley Cooperative, LLC

John Curtis, President

Athens – Bri Christopher, Mgr. Phone 256-232-5500

Courtland - John Holley Phone 256-637-2939

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

Florence - Reggie Shook, Vice Pres. Robbie Neal, Mgr. Phone 256-764-8441

Grassy - Greg McCannon, Mgr. Phone 256-229-6664

Lynnville, TN - Kyle Dogge , Mgr. Phone 931-527-3923

Moulton - John Holley, Vice Pres. Phone 256-974-9213

Pulaski, TN - Je Wales, Mgr. Phone 931-363-2563

Tuscaloosa Farmers Cooperative

Wayne Gilliam, Gen. Mgr.

Northport - Cole Gilliam, Mgr. Phone 205-339-8181

Walker Farmers Cooperative

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

*Please contact each store directly for all of the services they o er*

AG INSIGHT

BY JIM ERICKSON

Free trade coalition urges action to boost ag exports

More than 50 leading farm and food organizations representing all aspects of the food supply chain have sent a letter to Members of Congress urging action to increase agricultural exports.

The letter asks legislators to pass Trade Promotion Authority legislation regularly approved by Congress to give the administration objectives and guidance in pursuing tariff-cutting trade agreements. Noting that when it comes to trade agreements with tariff reduction, the United States is falling behind global economic competitors including China and the European Union.

“Between 2010 and 2020, China and the European Union enjoyed over twice as much advantage from trade agreement tariff reductions as the U.S. In this decade; the situation to date is far worse. The U.S. has not implemented a comprehensive trade agree-

ment that opens new markets in more than a decade,” the letter asserts.

“The overwhelming bipartisan support for ratification of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) stands as a model for more robust standards in many areas,” the letter observes.

In addition, for decades, the United States has exported dramatically more food and agricultural products than have been imported. For 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture now forecasts that the U.S. will run a food and agriculture trade deficit of $14.5 billion, the coalition warns.

Despite the gloomy forecast, the American agricultural sector posted its best export year ever in 2022 with international sales of U.S. farm and food products reaching $196 billion, according to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

Final 2022 trade data recently released by the Commerce Department shows that U.S. agricultural exports increased $19.5 billion, from the previous record set in 2021.

Researchers seek ways to minimize pesticide drift

To reduce the effects of pesticide drift and protect pollinators, researchers with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Stoneville, Mississippi, are investigating the best ways of using hooded sprayers and conventional (unhooded) sprayers.

Pesticide drift occurs when pesticide dust or droplets move through the air to another place other than the target area during or after pesticide application. This off-target drift can cause crop damage as well as health concerns to humans, animals, and beneficial

With the port of LosAngeles/Long Beach playing a major role, the volume of U.S. agricultural products exported in 2022 was at a record high.

insects such as bees and biocontrol agents exposed to the chemicals.

ARS researchers from the ARS Pollinator Health in Southern Crop Ecosystems Research Unit in Stoneville studied ground-based pre-emergent herbicide applications for corn, soybean and cotton on three regional, commercial-scale farms and four USDA research farms in Mississippi's Washington and Bolivar counties. After collecting samples of the drifted spray droplets, the researchers calculated the drift volume and drift distance from pre-emergent herbicide applications.

According to the research team, there was up to 63% reduction in pesticide drift of pre-emergent herbicide applications using a hooded sprayer in comparison to a nonhooded, conventional sprayer.

Hooded or shielded sprayers attached to tractors effectively minimized the exposure of herbicide spray to wind and led to fewer off-target depositions, the researchers found.

Rule proposed on “Product of the USA” labeling

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released a proposed rule with new regulatory requirements to better align the voluntary “Product of USA” label claim with consumer understanding of what the claim means.

The proposed rule allows the voluntary “Product of USA” or “Made in the USA” label claim to be used on meat, poultry and egg products only when they are derived from animals born, raised, slaughtered and processed in the United States.

The proposal delivers on one of the key actions in President Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting

Competition in the American Economy, and a commitment made in the Administration’s Action Plan for a Fairer, More Competitive and More Resilient Meat and Poultry Supply Chain.

The increased clarity and transparency provided by this proposed change would prevent consumer confusion and help ensure that consumers understand where their food comes from.

USDA’s proposed rulemaking is supported by petitions, thousands of comments from stakeholders and other data. In July 2021, USDA initiated a comprehensive review to understand what the “Product of USA” claim means to consumers and inform planned rulemaking to define the requirements for making such a claim. As part of its review, USDA commissioned a nationwide consumer survey. The survey revealed that the current “Product of USA” labeling claim is misleading to a majority of consumers.

USDA encouraged stakeholders, both domestic and international, to comment on the proposed rule. The measure was open for public comment for 60 days after its March publication in the Federal Register. Public comments were received at www. regulations.gov.

Lack of genetic diversity in honey bees a cause for concern

U.S. agriculture owes many thanks to the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) for its crucial role as pollinator within the nation's food supply. Some of the nation's

food industries rely solely on the honey bee, and it's estimated that the economic value of its pollination role is worth well over $17 billion each year.

With this fact in mind, scientists with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) recently studied the U.S. honey bee's genetic diversity to ensure that this crucial pollinator insect has sufficient diversity to overcome the growing number of stressors such as parasites, diseases, malnutrition and climate change.

What they found is alarming: the U.S. honey bee population has low genetic diversity, and this could have a negative impact on future crop pollination and beekeeping sustainability in the country.

The research, recently highlighted in Frontiers, was accomplished by analyzing the genetic diversity of the U.S. honey bee populations through a molecular approach, using two mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers (DNA specifically from a mother).

Researchers studied approximately 1,063 bees from hobbyist and commercial beekeepers in 45 U.S. states, the District of Columbia (D.C.), and two U.S. territories (Guam and Puerto Rico). The data showed that the nation's managed honey bee populations rely intensively on a single honey bee evolutionary lineage.

In fact, 94% of U.S. honey bees belonged to the North Mediterranean C lineage. Data reflected that the remainder of genetic diversity belongs to the West Mediterranean M lineage (3%) and the African A lineage (3%).

"It's important that we have a realistic and accurate estimation of the honey bee's genetic diversity because this indicates the insect's ability to respond to disease, adaptation to environment and productivity," said ARS

Research Entomologist Mohamed Alburaki.

"Without this pollinator insect, we will witness a drastic decrease in the quantity and quality of our agricultural products such as almonds, apples, melons, cranberries, pumpkins, broccoli and many other fruits and vegetables that we're used to purchasing. We can't wait until a domino effect slowly takes place and affects our food supply."

The lack of genetic diversity creates a vulnerability for U.S. honey bees to survive in shifting climates that are now wetter or drier than usual. There is also concern that a honey bee's inability to fight off disease or parasitic infection could negatively impact beekeeping sustainability.

Accordingly, researchers are interested in the possibility of diversifying breeding stations with honey bee queens from various genetic backgrounds.

Gene discovered to bolster defenses against sorghum disease

A gene discovered by a team of Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Purdue University scientists could help fortify the defenses of sorghum to anthracnose, a disease of the cereal grain crop that can inflict yield losses of up to 50%.

The discovery, as reported in an issue of The Plant Journal, opens the door to breeding disease-resistant sorghum cultivars that are less reliant on fungicides to protect them, reducing growers' production costs and safeguarding grain yields and quality, among other benefits.

Sorghum is the fifth-most widely grown cereal grain crop worldwide, providing consumers not only with a source of food containing 12 essential nutrients but also forage for livestock and material for bio-based energy.

Lack of genetic diversity in honey bees worries entomologists.

Natural resources sometimes need financial resources. That’s why since 1916, Alabama Ag Credit has helped farming families purchase property, replant after a harvest, manage their agribusiness, and refinance property. With the financial support for everything from combines and tractors, to general business operations, we can o er you customized long-term and short-term credit options. Call us today to learn about our competitive rates and how our relationship lending can help

MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FRUIT & VEGETABLE GROWERS

BY WENDIAM SAWADGO

As we near the halfway point of 2023, farmers market season is in full swing. The past couple of years have posed several challenges for farmers, especially fruit and vegetable growers, in the way of high input prices. However, produce demand has remained strong since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, producers have several opportunities for increasing revenues for their

products through their marketing efforts, for instance branding through the Sweet Grown Alabama program.

Prices farmers paid for inputs across all U.S. farms increased by 10% in 2022, driven by large increases in fertilizer and

Prices Paid Index for Chemicals, Fertilizer and Fuels by Year

Source:

USDA-NASS; Updated February 28, 2023

Note: 2011 Prices = 100

chemical prices. As shown in the figure above, input prices started to decline in the latter half of the year into early 2023, but they still remain much higher than they were before 2021. Fruit and vegetable producers have faced the additional challenge of rising labor costs, as labor makes up 20-30% of their expenses. As of the last quarter of 2022, the nationwide average wage rate for field workers increased by 6% over the past year, from $15.92 to $16.90 per hour. The Southeastern U.S. saw even larger jumps, with farm wages increasing from $11.75 to $13.94 per hour over that same period.

Increased commodity prices are one factor that has kept farmers afloat amid these rising input prices. Prices received for all farm products increased by 11.4% over the past year, as of January 2023. This increase amounted to 15.3% for fruit and tree nuts and 31% for vegetables and melons. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, retail-level expenditures on produce have increased, at first due to increased quantities of produce items purchased. In 2022, the quantity of produce purchased declined due to inflation, but produce expenditures increased nonetheless due to the higher prices that consumers paid. While prices received for produce items have increased, farmers can still take advantage of marketing opportunities to obtain a higher price for their products. One option is participating in marketing programs that promote local food, for example Sweet Grown Alabama – our state’s program that promotes Alabama-grown food and agricultural products. Consumers tend to be willing to pay more for local food, and this interest in local food increased further during the summer of 2020.

A recent study by Auburn University’s Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology members Julia Holley, Dr. Joshua Duke, Dr. Wendiam Sawadgo, Dr. Samir Huseynov, Dr. Adam Rabinowitz, and Jose Garcia Gamez evaluated consumer preferences for local products, including those with the Sweet Grown Alabama label. The study, which took place at farmers markets across Alabama, measured consumer willingness to pay for sweet potatoes of different origins. Participants were willing to pay $1.60 more for a basket of five sweet potatoes that came from a farm in Alabama compared to a basket of sweet potatoes that came from a U.S. farm located outside of Alabama, on average. This shows the strong demand for local food among Alabama farmers market attendees. Among in-state products, the participants were willing to pay $1.01 more per basket for sweet potatoes that were from a Sweet Grown Alabama farm compared to sweet potatoes from a farm in Alabama without the Sweet Grown Alabama label, on average, suggesting the appeal of Sweet Grown Alabama to consumers.

With the high input prices, increasing the prices received for commodities sold is crucial for farmers to be profitable. While commodity prices have been strong, it remains important to market in ways to increase prices received. The Sweet Grown Alabama branding initiative is one marketing method farmers can use to potentially increase revenues, as research shows that consumers are willing to pay more for produce marketed under the program. For information on agricultural marketing, the Alabama Cooperative Extension System Farm and Agribusiness Management team is always there to help!

This article was written by Wendiam Sawadgo, a member of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System’s Farm and Agribusiness Management team. This team seeks to collaborate with and provide leadership to agricultural producers, allied industries and local communities to increase knowledge, skills and economic decision‐making abilities designed to improve risk management, enhance resource allocation, and boost economic growth. For more information, please visit https://www.aces.edu/ or contact your local extension office.

Participants were willing to pay $1.60 more for a basket of five sweet potatoes that came from a farm in Alabama compared to a basket of sweet potatoes that came from a U.S. farm located outside of Alabama, on average.

NUTRITION IN DAIRY ANIMALS

TARGETED NUTRITION — WITHOUT EXCESS FOR PEAK PERFORMANCE

BY JIMMY PARKER

Over the past few years there has been an increase in the number of on-farm or homestead dairy animals. Both the number of milk cows and dairy goats has grown across the state and the number of backyard/ home use dairies is growing. Nutrition is essential to success with these animals and can prevent a number of problems and bad experiences especially in small farms that might be new to livestock or have a bit less experience with dairy animals in general. While this is aimed at the homestead dairy producers, there should be some information that is relevant to beef cattle, meat goats or any other livestock production systems that require lactation.

Adequate nutrition is key to a successful lactation, and it starts well before the birth of the offspring that begins the lactation cycle. Feeding programs leading up to the birth of the calf or kid are essential to a good early lactation and that is key to total milk production throughout the cycle. This is true whether the plan is to be completely grassfed or geared toward a more traditional higher feed type production system.

Carbohydrates, amino acids (proteins), fatty acids (fats in general), minerals, vitamins and water are all required by the lactating animal to meet the demands of the mammary gland to produce milk and the basic milk components. Water is the most important nutrient in milk production and the most abundant nutrient in the milk itself. Fresh clean water is essential and often overlooked. A lack of water will limit the consumption of all the other nutrients and severely limit production. Vitamins and the correct mineral balance are also absolutely necessary but probably a bit too complex for an article of this length. There are great mineral and vitamin mixes that are readily available at your local Co-op and there is no need to reinvent the wheel here.

lactating animals, dairy or otherwise, will be using more energy than they take in early in the lactation. This makes having some stored body fat very important, with the note that too much stored fat can be problematic as well.

Fats are also critical. Fat in general is an issue in proper rumen function but a small percentage is critical. It is far more energy-dense than carbohydrates and adds a great amount of energy in small quantities. Fat is truly the fastest way to meet energy needs in theory, but rumen function limits the amount used. Fat will help with energy deficiencies but is rarely effective as the sole fix to poor-quality forages or limited grains. Levels of fat that are too high will coat forages and decrease fiber digestion, decrease feed intake, and effectively decrease both milk yield and the level of fat in the milk itself.

Protein is the most often discussed nutrient in animal feeds and it is one of the most critical nutrients in milk production. It is required for almost all body functions and plays a role in total milk production as well as milk fat and milk protein concentrations in the milk itself.

If your animals are too fat and not producing as much milk as you would like, then you can increase the protein intake and sometimes increase milk production.

Protein is made up of amino acids and the source of the feeds will determine which of those amino acids will limit total production. In corn- and soybean-based diets lysine and methionine are often the two amino acids that limit production. In grass-based diets histidine will likely limit milk production before lysine or methionine becomes a limiting factor.

Carbohydrates are the primary energy source for almost all animals. Ruminants such as cattle, sheep, goats and deer typically get a large amount of their carbohydrates from the digestion of fiber sources that humans cannot digest. Depending on the feeding systems and philosophy, grains and sugars can be a great source as well, though it is highly recommended that these be fed in smaller quantities multiple times each day to avoid digestive upset if they are added in substantial quantities. Excess carbohydrates, whether from grass or grain, will be stored within the animal as fat and having the correct amount of internal fat stored beforehand is critical to early lactation as energy needs tend to increase much faster than feed intake. Most all

Now for the commonsense portion of management. Always provide fresh clean water. This is especially important during the hot summer months. If your animals are too fat and not producing as much milk as you would like, then you can increase the protein intake and sometimes increase milk production. If the animals are too thin, you can reduce the protein levels and increase the calories by increasing carbohydrates or fats. While you will likely get less milk, you will improve body condition over time and help with rebreeding which can be a common issue in thin lactating animals. Keep in mind that as summer goes by, forage quality will decrease in most cases and supplementation may be required to maintain adequate production and body condition in the animals. Finally, pay attention to what you are feeding. Try to stay away from beef feeds, or meat animal feeds in general, as they often contain ingredients that are not labeled for dairy animals and could result in trace amounts of some medications reaching your milk tank if fed to your lactating animals.

AVIAN INFLUENZA UPDATE

BY DR. TONY FRAZIER

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) continues to be in the news and across the landscape. And unless you have chosen to just not pay any attention to the news to reduce stress in your life, you are familiar with what has become the costliest animal disease response in the history of the USDA. Nearly 59 million birds in 47 states have

been lost due to the disease.

By the time you read this article, the spring migration from South America through North America back to Canada will hopefully be winding down. That just means that the migratory waterfowl carrying the virus will have moved on. The issue that remains for us is the unique nature of this virus to have

set up shop of sorts in several of our resident wildlife species. Now the virus has been found in not only resident waterfowl, but also in other wild birds such as black vultures, red tailed hawks, red shouldered hawks and bald eagles. Each of these native wildlife species have been found positive in sick or dead birds.

The fact that our native birds may be carrying the virus makes biosecurity even more important. It seems that the agriculture community was credited with being the first to use the word back in the 1980s to describe the sum of risk management practices in the defense of biological threats. Since the early 2000s, biosecurity has become a very important area in animal agriculture. With growing threats of foreign animal diseases and even the threat of deliberate introduction of diseases by terrorists, biosecurity is a must if you are an animal agriculture producer. While many generic biosecurity plans are available online, here are some basic principles that should be included in a biosecurity plan:

egg production, or soft- or thin-shelled or misshapen eggs. Purple wattles, combs and legs are common with HPAI. It is also common to see swollen heads, necks and eyes as well as ruffled feathers, lethargy and listlessness. These signs are not exclusive to HPAI but should not be ignored if they are present in your flock.

Alabama has had one positive case in backyard birds. We have had no positive cases in the commercial poultry industry in our state at the time I am writing this. That could all change at the drop of a hat though.

It is important to know that the virus is not affecting humans in the United States. Back in the early 2000s, a survey conducted on consumers revealed that 41% of the respondents would not eat poultry products if we had a case of HPAI. I believe we have done a decent job in educating the consumer concerning this disease. Birds that show any signs of the disease will never make it into the food chain. It is still always a good practice to cook poultry to 165 degrees, which will kill all pathogens.

• Allow only essential personnel to access your property and your birds. Disinfect any vehicles that enter your farm.

• Don’t lend or borrow equipment from other farms. Bring only cleaned and disinfected items into your bird area.

• Avoid contact with other poultry. If you cannot avoid contact, change clothes and shoes before working with your own birds.

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before entering your bird area.

• Use footbaths when entering or leaving your bird housing (change disinfectant frequently)— or wear disposable boot covers.

• Keep poultry separate from wild birds. Don’t let them share water sources or have access to common areas frequented by wild birds.

• Eliminate standing water on your farm and clean up feed spills to avoid attracting wild birds.

If you are a non-commercial or backyard producer, it is important that you are aware of the signs of illness that may be associated with HPAI. Decreased water consumption, sudden increase in bird deaths in the flock, and respiratory problems such as sneezing, gasping for breath, coughing and nasal discharge. Other signs may include a drop in

As I mentioned in my previous article in this publication, Alabama has had one positive case in backyard birds. We have had no positive cases in the commercial poultry industry in our state at the time I am writing this. That could all change at the drop of a hat though.

We continue to iron out the wrinkles in our response plan in case we are hit by the disease like some other states have been. We are planning several exercises around proper depopulation and disposal of infected birds in partnership with USDA, Alabama Poultry and Egg Association, Alabama Cooperative Extension and the poultry industry. We have been fortunate so far and I think it is easier to prepare for the storm when the sun is shining and the wind isn’t blowing.

If you suspect that you may have any signs of HPAI in your flock here is a list of important contacts:

• Report to the ADAI Poultry section 334-240-7255, ext. 4 or any of our diagnostic labs

• Thompson Bishop Sparks State Diagnostic Laboratory Auburn, AL (334) 844-4987

• Boaz Diagnostic Laboratory Boaz, AL (256) 593-2995

• Hanceville Diagnostic Laboratory Hanceville, AL (256) 352-8036

• Bryan Taylor Diagnostic Laboratory Elba, AL (334) 897-6340

We will continue to keep you informed concerning this disease.

CORNERCo-op

CENTRAL ALABAMA FARMERS COOPERATIVE, FAUNSDALE

ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF EF-1 TORNADO

BY JESSIE SHOOK

In March of 2022, Central Alabama Farmers Cooperative of Faunsdale, Alabama, was tragically hit by an EF-1 tornado. The Co-op sustained damage to the warehouse walls, fertilizer house roof, sign, and garage doors. “I didn’t think there was any way we would salvage any of it,” said Bryan Monk, Faunsdale location manager.

The Faunsdale location is a one-stop shop for many farmers in the area and is one of the largest bulk feed dealers in the state. The continuation of this store has been vital to the community and agriculture in this region. “It is critical that this operation runs because this

is a rural part of the state where agriculture is very important,” explained Tim Wood, General Manager of Central Alabama Farmers Cooperative. “We need a source of fertilizer, feed, seed and chemicals.”

Management and the board of directors reinvested nearly half a million dollars into repairing the damage and making improvements to the Co-op. They upgraded from a smaller, outdated, 50-foot scale to a new 70-foot scale. They also replaced the air-conditioning units, added new roofing and paint, and updated the garden center. About $15,000 worth of work was invested in fertilizer blender equipment

which has allowed the Co-op to increase capacity. “We have numerous farmers and large farms in this area, and a lot of cattle. We’re just glad to be back and improved bigger and better than ever for our local farmers,” Monk said.

Faunsdale Mayor George Kelley described how the recommitment of funds back to the Faunsdale store was important to the whole community. “The tornado was a very, very troubling thing because it involved every business in Faunsdale and in 15 minutes, the town of Faunsdale was shut down and we’ve come back good from it. I think the businesses are better than they ever were,” he said.

March 2023 was the one-year anniversary of the tornado. Because of the repair and remodel, the location received a huge improvement in its appearance and functionality. They have come back stronger and ready to fulfill the needs of their customers. “The improved parking, and lawn and garden area has opened

our company up to new clientele. With the storage yard size increase, we are able to purchase larger quantities of items to ensure that we have what our patrons need.” Wood explained. “The overall appearance is something that the community can feel proud of.”

Shown here are some of the aftereffects from the devastation that took place at Central Alabama Farmers Cooperative.

The Co-op replaced their 50-foot scale with a new 70-foot scale.

The Co-op also has more room for storage, which helps fulfill the needs of their customers.

Faunsdale City Council Member Robert McKee, General Manager Tim Wood, AFC Honorary Director Sam Givhan, Faunsdale Mayor George Kelley and Location Manager Bryan Monk stand in front of the new doors of Central Alabama Farmers Cooperative, Faunsdale.

The Co-op garden center has expanded and improved after the remodel.

WHAT’S THE POINT WITH GREENPOINT AG

DON'T LET SPRAY DOLLARS DRIFT AWAY

ADJUVANTS HELP YOUR VALUABLE HERBICIDE, INSECTICIDE, AND FUNGICIDE GET TO WHERE IT’S GOING AND DO ITS JOB

BY MATT HENDERSON

Now that we’re in the thick of the 2023 growing season, it’s high time to address the efficiency of your tank mixes. One easy mistake to make is to focus on the stars of the show — the herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides — while overlooking the supporting cast that needs to be present to make the whole production come off as it should.

These are the adjuvants.

Simply put, an adjuvant is any material added to a tank mix that aids or modifies the herbicide, insecticide, or fungicide. They allow the “star” to shine by helping it go where it’s supposed to go and do what it’s supposed to do. Conversely, adjuvants save money by allowing you do the job properly the first time (canopy penetration and herbicide uptake) and keeping your product from catching a breeze and ending up in neighboring fields (drift agent). Data from WinField United’s patented Spray Analysis System has shown that without an adjuvant, up to 54 percent of spray volume can be lost before it even

reaches its intended target. Think of those spray droplets as dollars — your dollars — that can drift away if you’re not careful.

Adjuvants save money by allowing you do the job properly the first time (canopy penetration and herbicide uptake) and keeping your product from catching a breeze and ending up in neighboring fields (drift agent).

Before you make your decisions about which adjuvant to use, first consider two things: your water and your target weed. Water conditioners are one class of adjuvants that can make a huge impact on herbicide efficacy, especially weak acid herbicides such as glyphosate, glufosinate and 2,4-D. It’s easy to forget that your water has its own, unique composition, and minerals in water can tie up a product’s active ingredient in the spray tank, making it less effective on weeds. In addition, water conditioners help keep herbicides active on the leaf surface, where free cations (positively charged ions) from the soil and the plant bind up herbicide active ingredients. Also, some weeds have leaf hairs or a waxy cuticle that make it more difficult for a herbicide to penetrate. In that case, non-ionic surfactant, methylated seed oil or crop oil added to the tank can help get the active ingredient into the plant for better

weed control.

So now that you’ve considered your water and your target weed — if you’re spraying herbicide — let’s address the adjuvants themselves. Adjuvants can be placed into multiple types of categories, but for the purpose of this article, we will look at WinField® United’s top five adjuvant products: Class Act® NG®, Destiny HC®, Masterlock®, UltraLock®, and StrikeLock®.

Class Act® NG®

This is a liquid spray tank additive designed to promote fast and aggressive weed control. Acting as a hard-water conditioner, Class Act® NG® meets the ammonium sulfate (AMS) requirements of glyphosate- and glufosinate-based herbicides while also protecting the herbicide from cation deactivation on the leaf surface. It contains a non-ionic surfactant and CornSorb® technology that works on the leaf surface to drive the herbicide into the plant. CornSorb® is designed to increase humectancy (the ability to retain moisture) and improve herbicide uptake.

Destiny HC®

Destiny HC® is a HSOC-MSO, or high surfactant oil concentrate methylated seed oil. Used with many oil-loving herbicides, it is most effective during hot, dry conditions by slowing the evaporation time of the water droplet and increasing its spread, which allows better herbicide uptake. During those brutal, Southern summer conditions, the wax on the weed leaf surface tends to thicken to protect the plant, and Destiny HC® helps the herbicide penetrate that waxy layer.

Masterlock®

MasterLock® is referred to as a drift-reduction agent and a surfactant spreader sticker. Made for use with fungicides and insecticides, this adjuvant improves spray deposition (how the droplets fall), canopy penetration, and helps to keep the product from drifting off course. MasterLock® also enhances droplet sticking and spreading on the leaf surface, allowing for the proper uptake of the herbicide or fungicide. Even with V8-VT applications in corn, MasterLock® is the go-to choice in those applications without worry of increasing arrested ear syndrome, a physiological disorder that can significantly reduce corn yields. This is because the DropTightTM surfactant technology in MasterLock® is NPE free and does not contribute to arrested ear syndrome.

UltraLock®

UltraLock® is an all-purpose drift-reduction agent that was specifically designed for in-crop applications on the dicamba acre. This patent-pending formulation reduces fine particles and delivers more droplets in the ideal diameter without thickening the spray solution. UltraLock® has been proven to reduce drift with dicamba tank mixes through ultra-coarse nozzles and it is an approved DRA.

StrikeLock®

Like Destiny HC®, StrikeLock® is a HSCO-MSO, but adds drift and deposition technology to be used specifically with oil-loving herbicides. It also offers better-flowing oil versus a traditional, high-surfactant MSO.

I encourage not only row-crop farmers to use adjuvants in their tank mixes, but also livestock producers. These products will work equally well when spraying pasture herbicides and pre-emerges. Even landscaping companies use adjuvants to get the best coverage when spraying lawns for broad-leaf weeds.

For more help choosing the proper adjuvant for your spraying application, visit with the professionals at your local Co-op.

HOW TO KEEP HORSES COOL IN HOT WEATHER

AS SUMMER DRAGS ON, HEAT CAN BECOME A SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR MANY HORSES.

KELLY VINEYARD, M.S., PH.D.

Sweating is the primary way horses cool themselves. Experts believe that prolonged, consistently high sweat rates can lead to “exhaustion” of the sweat glands. In horses, this may result in anhidrosis, or the inability to produce sweat adequately. It is crucial to

address anhidrosis and find other ways to keep horses cool because it can pose a serious health risk to horses in warm climates.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when trying to keep your horses cool this summer.

FRESH, COOL WATER

Hydration is critical during hot weather, but poor water quality can severely limit your horse’s intake. Most horses don’t like to drink hot water, so it is best to provide fresh, cool water daily. Dark-colored troughs or buckets placed in direct sunlight will absorb heat and warm the water quickly.

Keep horse water troughs and buckets clean and free of algae to encourage drinking. Remember, it can be hard to see accumulated algae and debris at the bottom of a dark-colored trough. Another tip: overfill water buckets and troughs to provide moisture for your horse’s hooves, especially in dry climates.

SALT AND ELECTROLYTE SUPPLEMENTATION

Feeds do not contain enough salt to meet a horse’s daily sodium requirement. Therefore, an additional source of salt is always recommended. At a minimum, a salt block should be available free choice. However, horses are not natural lickers and may not lick enough voluntarily. Top-dressing their feed with 2 oz plain salt per day is a good way to ensure they get enough.

If there are no trees in your turnout areas, providing a run-in shed or even a fabric sunscreen as a horse shelter can make a big difference in helping to keep your horses cool.

In the “sweating season,” whether due to temperature or workload, salt should be switched to a quality electrolyte. This will supply important minerals like potassium and calcium, in addition to salt, that your horse loses through sweat. The best electrolytes will be mostly minerals, not sugar.

SUMMER HORSE SHELTER

We can all appreciate how much cooler it is under the shade tree in the middle of summer versus being out in the full sun, and your horse feels the same way. If there are no trees in your turnout areas, providing a run-in shed or even a fabric sunscreen as a horse shelter can make a big difference in helping to keep your horses cool.

Horses cool themselves primarily through evaporative and convective cooling. To help them, apply cool baths or use sprinklers to keep your horses more comfortable and to decrease their need to sweat as much. Moving air increases both convective and evaporative cooling. If the breeze isn’t blowing, provide a fan to move the air. Some farms even use large golf course fans to keep their horses cool in pastures. Finally, remember it may be more comfortable outside in the sun than inside a stuffy barn with poor airflow.

EXERCISE AND HEAT STRESS IN HORSES

Metabolic heat from exercise is another primary heat source for horses; therefore, it is best to confine strenuous exercise to early morning or later evening hours when ambient temperature and humidity are the lowest. Alternatively, you can give yourself and your horse a break from hard training during the hottest summer months.

To avoid additional heat stress, postpone events such as vaccination, weaning, changing barns, moving horses between groups, etc. If any of these events must occur during the hottest days of summer, try to do them during the coolest hours of the day.

Even though summer can be a sweaty, uncomfortable time, these tips can help your horse stay healthy and happy year-round.

FFA STUDENTS RECOGNIZED AT NATIONAL CONVENTION

BY JOSHUA BRYAN

The Benjamin Russell High School FFA Chapter recently had two members who were recognized as finalists at the 95th Annual FFA National Convention held in Indianapolis, Indiana in October 2022. Camden Adair was a national finalist in the Forestry Management and Products proficiency award area and Wyatt Allen was the national winner in the Equine Science Entrepreneurship proficiency award area. Both members put in countless hours of hard work and preparation on the road to achieving these honors. Camden and Wyatt are the first two FFA members from Benjamin Russell to achieve the goal of making it to the national finals in any area of FFA competition.

Camden takes trees that have to be cleared for management reasons and splits them for fire wood that he sells to the public.

Creating fire breaks around his timber land is essential in allowing Camden to care for and improve his timber.

As Camden monitors his stand of trees, he marks trees that need to be removed or harvested to better the health and production of his stand.

Camden was ranked second in the nation in the Forestry Management and Products proficiency area. Camden actively maintains 32 acres of land that he inherited from his granddad in 2018. The land is a mixture of pine and hardwoods that has been passed down for generations but had not been actively managed until Camden inherited and started managing the property for future timber production. When he first began his Supervised Agricultural Experience and managing the property in 2018, he worked to clean up the property, get the overgrown forest under control and remove any undesirable plant growth. Since then, he has implemented practices learned in his forestry and ag classes to improve the quality of timber on the land. He has also added firebreaks to protect the timber and trails throughout the property to make accessing and maintenance easier.

Wyatt was the first ever national winner for Benjamin Russell. His Supervised Agricultural Experience in Equine Science began at an early age because he grew up being part of an active farming operation with his family. By the time Wyatt was in the ninth grade, he was already part owner of 5A Ranch located in Dadeville, Alabama. On the ranch, he currently manages 14 head of horses. He purchases the horses from quality bloodlines at an early age in order to be able to train them to ride and operate in the way he needs them to for competitions. Wyatt and his

horses actively compete in team roping events at rodeos across the country. On average, Wyatt spends four to five hours each day riding and training the horses along with ensuring they receive high quality health care and providing them with a specialized diet to allow them to compete at high levels.

Camden and Wyatt have made Alexander City proud with their accomplishments. Seeing these two achieve recognition at the National FFA Convention will hopefully encourage other Benjamin Russell FFA members to strive for excellence in hopes of also being recognized at the national level.

Wyatt has worked hard to maintain proper shelter for his horses. This enables him to keep them safe from harsh weather and to inspect them frequently.

Wyatt spends countless hours each day exercising and working with his horses to prepare them for competition.

Camden currently manages 14 head of horses on the 5A Ranch located in Dadeville, Alabama. (Photo Credit: Maggie Edwards)

SEEING WITH NEW EYES 4-H

STEM

LEAGUE

BY CAROLYN DRINKARD

Madeleine Yocom, Shelby County, activates a green concoction for eager participants at 4-H STEM Camp

The STEM League is a teen leadership program for youth ages 12 and up. The youth are selected through an application and interview process, and are chosen based on their experience and leadership in their county 4-H programs (especially STEM).

Alabama has 31 STEM League members who lead monthly Zoom meetings. These 4-H'ers present a different STEM activity each time, using items that most have at home.

“The biggest reason I am a member of the Alabama 4-H STEM League is to show youth the opportunities the STEM field holds,” said Sarah Sloughfy. “I love being able to see kids and teens light up when they solve a problem or perform their experiments, because those experiences allow them to see math and science from a whole new perspective.”

Some of the topics the League has covered this year are Oobleck and Slime, Coding in Python, Catapults, Clouds, Making Plastic and Marshmallow Towers.

Janet Lovelady serves as the sponsor of the STEM League. The co-sponsor is Michael Dillon, 4-H Foundation Regional Extension Agent for Madison County. Michael and retired STEM Specialist Dr. Tony Cook developed the program and recruited the initial group in 2019-2020.

“The 4-H STEM League has made it a priority to offer accessible STEM programming statewide,” Michael explained. “We want to give youth the opportunity to lead through expressing creativity and subject matter expertise. I could not be more proud of what the young people have accomplished in ensuring

STEM is a relevant component of Alabama 4-H."

The STEM League has hosted a number of events this year. On February 18th, 4-H Day was held at McWane Science Center in Birmingham, Alabama. On May 13th, 4-H Day was held at Dauphin Island Science Museum. On August 5-6th, 4-H STEM Camp will be held at the Alabama 4-H Center.

“Being an active member of the 4-H STEM League and leading STEM activities have taught me valuable leadership and communication skills,” Sarah

Gavin Yocum, Shelby County, mixes his potion for an experiment at 4-H STEM Camp. Hattin Berryman, Lauderdale County, looks on.

Sarah Sloughfy, Calhoun County, demonstrates an elephant toothpaste activity at 4-H STEM Camp.

Elijah Crawford, Russell County, presents a Tech Changemaker program at the Alabama 4-H Center.

added. “Science, engineering, math, and technology holds the key to our future, and youth all over the country deserve to have the opportunity to potentially discover their passions.”

Many of the STEM League youth are also participating in the 4-H Tech Changemakers, a teen leadership program. This group of passionate teen leaders is bringing awareness to the digital divide

through presentations to civic organizations. They are working to bridge the digital divide by teaching digital skills to adults. This is a grant project, funded through the National 4-H Council. It has a different focus each year, and this year’s focus is job skills: helping adults look for and apply for a job online, or helping adults learn new job skills, using online resources.

Members of the 2023 STEM League include:

• Sarah Sloughfy - Calhoun;

• Rachel Allen - Colbert;

• Briar Bennett, Cody Bennett, Sierra Bennett, Cody Day, Kameron McElrath, Grey Stephens, Tyler Vincent and Nicholas Weis - Etowah;

• William McCollum - Fayette;

• Jasmine Hill - Jackson;

• Colton Naylor and Corey Naylor - Lawrence;

• Caroline Brown - Limestone;

• Graham Brewer, Max Patterson and Kloe  Robb - Madison;

• Alyssa Rios - Marengo;

• Zachary Hancock - Marshall;

• Jeremy Speros and Wittarw Speros - Pike;

• Remington Dix, Arianna Sullivan and Matthew Sullivan - Russell;

• Charlotte Bell, Samantha Huggins, Gavin Yocom, Hannah Yocom and Madeleine YocomShelby.

Nick Weis, Shelby County, presents a Tech Changemaker activity at the Alabama 4-H Science School. Ashley McCollum (r), from Clay County, assisted him.

Kloe Robb, Madison County, leads a Strawberry DNA extraction activity at the 4-H Midwinter Teen Leadership Retreat.

Willay Sayles and Grey Stephens enjoy slimemaking at 4-H STEM Camp. Both members are from Etowah County.

HONORING RETIRING TEACHERS

BY JAMIE MITCHELL

This month we are recognizing two schools that I have visited many times before and had the chance to visit again this spring … Millry Elementary School in Washington County and Crestline Elementary School in Morgan County. Although these schools are on opposite ends of the state, they have something in common this year. The two ladies that I have worked with at these schools are both retiring, and we are thrilled for them, yet so sad to lose them at the same time!

Melanie Stokley is a lifelong resident of Washington County and retired as a school teacher many years ago. Melanie stayed very active in her community serving on the ALFA Women’s Committee and attending many of the state’s farming events, as well as being very active in her church and countless other activities! We were very fortunate that she took on the Clean Campus Program for the past 10 years and helped all the elementary schools in Washington County learn more about litter prevention and get involved in our contests. Under Melanie’s leadership, students from Washington County participated and placed in our statewide contests for many years! I have told her many times that I wish I had a Melanie in every county! Melanie won the Don Hines Memorial Award in 2019 at the Alabama PALS Governor’s Awards for outstanding volunteer work and leadership. She will be truly missed!

Barb Helton decided to retire at the end of the school year from Crestline Elementary in Hartselle. Barb is one of the most dynamic and committed teachers I have ever met. She has also run the Clean Campus Program at Crestline for the past 10 years and she, too, has had many contest winners under her leadership. With the exception of the COVID years, Barb had me come speak at the school every year to kick-start their environmental education units. She was responsible for creating an outdoor classroom at the school as well as creating the coolest interactive science lab inside. Barb won a Governor’s Award for her leadership in the Clean Campus Program, and Barb is also featured in the Clean Campus learning video. We will miss Barb and wish her all the best in her retirement!

Do you know a teacher or volunteer like Melanie and Barb? I would love to connect with them and help them get the Clean Campus Program started in your community! Please give me a call at (334) 2637737 or email at jamie@alpals.org to get started. 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.

IMPROVING FAWN RECRUITMENT

SIX PHILOSOPHIES TO FURTHER FAWNS

BY TODD AMENRUD

Do you want more deer on your property? If so, you need to remember that females are our “production department.” Sure, they need a little help, but very little. One buck can service numerous females during one breeding season. It’s almost impossible to know for certain

how many unless the area was fenced and you took DNA from the buck and all the fawns within the enclosure. However, simply having lots of females to create more fawns doesn’t mean more fawns will eventually be recruited into the herd. There are numerous considerations.

The first month of a fawn’s life is the most vulnerable. By the time a fawn reaches approximately one month old it does a pretty good job at escaping predators.

First you need to determine, “Do you really want more deer on your property?” It may not be an issue of simple population dynamics and “trigger finger management.” Habitat, pressure (social or from other influences like predators) or environmental issues may be the lowest common denominator. Regardless, helping all of our newborn fawns make it to an age where they are considered recruited into the herd (six months old) should be the goal for most gamekeepers. This information should help.

1) Improve Nutrition

Everyone should have guessed this solution. Better nutrition means healthier deer and better survival of all age classes. This is not only true for each individual animal, but ponder a pregnant doe. “Epigenetics” is a biological occurrence where certain environmental conditions a doe may experience during pregnancy can switch genes on or off in a growing fetus. Once these fetal genes are turned on or off that condition stays with the animal for the rest of its life — no matter if the environmental conditions improve! If a doe is given excellent nutrition during the winter months when her fawns are developing, the fawns will have the potential to exhibit superior physical traits, like larger antlers and bigger body size later in life.

Then consider the nutritional requirements after the fawn(s) are born and the doe is nursing them. Most fawns are born in May and June. Healthy fawns average four to eight pounds at birth, and they will double

that weight in approximately two weeks — a period during which they survive solely on their mother’s milk. However, by two weeks of age, rumination begins in their stomach, and they begin to supplement their milk diet with forage. They will triple their birth weight within a month. Even though they can eat forage during this time the doe will continue on nursing them through the summer.

Fetal growth and milk production are two of the most nutritionally demanding periods for whitetail does due to the high nutrient demands of each production stage. Understanding the doe’s fluctuating nutrient requirements at different times allows us to more accurately provide what they will need to ultimately produce larger, healthier fawns. Whitetail deer milk contains approximately 7.5% fat, 8% protein and about 80% water. Removing water and evaluating the milk on a dry matter basis shows approximately 40% protein and 37% fat. Better nutrition means healthier does, healthier fawns and better recruitment.

2) Balanced Sex Ratio (Harvesting Does)

Many think that killing does is like killing next year’s fawns. While it’s obviously true for the specific doe you kill, it’s not true for the overall herd. In most cases, doe harvest on properties that have moderate- to high-quality nutrition and cover will help fawn recruitment overall. To keep a population stable at current levels, if you have good food and cover you will need to harvest 25 to 30% of the does. It’s a fact that taking the right number of does can actually increase fawn production. With increased deer densities, habitat degradation will follow. The reason fawn recruitment increases with proper harvest is because healthy does raise more fawns. Does in poor habitat give birth to fewer fawns. Even if they do give birth to two or three fawns, those fawns then suffer lower survival rates due to decreased milk production, stress, less quality forage when weaning and greater vulnerability to disease, severe weather and predators — let alone what we discussed above about epigenetics.

High quality habitat means health is good and stress is low. The National Deer Association (NDA) says that with conditions such as these, does will give birth to twins, and as many as one in four does can even produce triplets. Those fawns are much more likely to survive to fall and be recruited into the herd.

The NDA cites one example among many of the master’s research of Charlie Killmaster, who is now the Deer Project Leader for the Georgia DNR. In 2004, a high-density population on a non-hunted state park in Georgia was reduced through doe harvest. The

The health and nutritional intake of the mother doe has a great deal to do with the health, survivability, and future for her fawns. By two weeks old, rumination begins in the fawn’s stomach, and they begin to supplement their milk diet with forage. However, the doe will continue to nurse them throughout the summer.

Many think that harvesting does is like killing next year’s fawns. While it’s obviously true for the specific doe you kill, it’s not true for the overall herd. It’s a fact that taking the right number of does can actually increase fawn production.

harvest took place after the breeding season in 2004. At that point, Killmaster found 0.79 fetuses per doe. After the next rut that number jumped to 1.44 fetuses per doe, almost doubling the first year! Forage quantity, deer body weights and other health factors also improved rapidly.

3) Balance Habitat with Herd Numbers

You have two ways to balance your herd with its habitat. You can either increase the quantity and quality of habitat or you can reduce the deer numbers. As stated, you need to remove 25 to 30% of the females just to keep the population level. Food plots, producing more early successional forage (via mowing, chain saw, fire, disking or herbicide), or supplemental feeding are all ways we can bolster nutrition. If you’re not doing that, you’d better get busy with your “trigger-finger management.”

You can keep track of this and notice if you have problems simply by paying attention and keeping records. Are your food plots browsed-down lip-high before the hunting season is over? Are lower body weights coming in on your records? Are you seeing browse lines on preferred browse species? So, should you worry about your habitat or the herd numbers? My suggestion would be to pay attention to “all of the above.”

4) Predator Deterrence

A big variable that can amplify the problem is predators. If everything we talked about above is working well for you, but coyotes or other predators are killing a lot of fawns, you have to reanalyze. If fawn predation is significant, then continuing to kill does under these circumstances could lead to a population decline. The easiest option is to reduce your doe harvest.

For a fawn, being “recruited” into the herd means they have survived through their first six months of life. While the life of any wild whitetail isn’t an easy one, they’ve made it through the most vulnerable time in their life. Gamekeepers should try to make it as easy as possible for the fawns born on their property to make it to this point.

Trapping or hunting predators just prior to the fawn drop can reduce predation by coyotes. However, predator removal can be a relentless, never-ending pursuit. A popular analogy often used when describing it is, “It’s like trying to plug all the holes on a strainer.” Either way, you must first track fawn recruitment to determine whether you have a problem, and you may be better off spending your resources on synchronized birthing and bolstering fawning habitat to give the predators a much more difficult time.

5) Synchronized Birthing / Predator Swamping

You may ask, “How can I have any influence at all over synchronizing fawn births?” This has to do with your “trigger-finger management.” It has to do with balancing your buck to doe ratio. If you have too few bucks, does are bred over a much wider timeframe and thus will also give birth over a longer period. Some may not be successfully bred at all during their first estrus cycle, meaning they’ll try again about 28 days later. This makes each individual fawn easier to pick off.

Predator swamping refers to a high synchronization of births. There is strength in numbers. If the predators are overwhelmed by too many fawns at one time, they can’t get them all. If all the young are born at the same time, it’s like an “all you can eat buffet” for the predators — their guts are too full to continue. They can’t eat all of them, so overall, young have a better chance of survival. After a fawn reaches about a month old they do pretty well at escaping predators.

6) Bolster Fawning Habitat / Predator Avoidance

The “predator avoidance hypothesis” predicts asynchronous (not simultaneous or concurrent in time) births. If your main defense against predators is hiding, then fewer individuals playing hide and seek will make it more difficult for a predator to find an individual than if everyone is playing at the same time.

So which strategy should you put your resources behind, “predator swamping” or “predator avoidance?” Are there data to support either? If the predator avoidance hypothesis was in play, population level survival probability would increase with more spread out births and individual fawn survival would not be affected by its birth date relative to peak fawning. However, this is not the case! In nine studies done by Penn State it was shown that patterns of fawn survival better support the predator swamping hypothesis, not predator avoidance. With all of that known, I still believe that bolstering fawning habitat will pay off big.

So what is good fawning cover? Fawn bed sites can be found in many different habitat types including grasslands, wetlands, forested areas, crop fields and

pastures. Typically, good whitetail habitat IS good fawn birthing habitat.

Fawns need cover in which to hide, but they also need a way to escape. While grasses are great fawning cover, you don’t want a thick mat of grass. Native warm-season grasses or bunch grasses are great for both fawn birthing and rearing areas. They’re also great for turkey nesting and poult rearing areas. These bunch grasses grow in clumps rather than a thick mat, so the fawns or poults can still easily navigate through them.

It sounds like a lot of work, but it doesn’t have to be. I believe the habitat end of it is actually easier than the trigger-finger part of it. Once your habitat is healthy and progressing like it should, just keeping up with the amount of does you need to harvest to keep the population level can be a daunting task. As an example, a 300- to 400-acre property with healthy populations and good habitat may need to remove 20 to 50 does or more each season just to keep the population stable. So be careful what you wish for.

Balance is what I try for — balancing the buck to doe ratio and the herd with the habitat. I must admit that I have not kept up with the doe harvest on my home property for the past two years, and now it’s gotten to the point where next year I HAVE TO do something. I’ve already begun to line up extra people who need venison and some extra hunters to help me with harvesting an acceptable quota to bring that balance back.

NO FAIL JALAPEÑO CHEDDAR HUSHPUPPIES

Serves 10 - 12

2 cups self-rising cornmeal

1/2 cup self-rising flour

2 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup onion, finely chopped

1 jalapeño, finely chopped

1/2 cup corn, fresh or canned

1 cup cheddar cheese

1 1/4 cups buttermilk

1 large egg

1 quart of vegetable or peanut oil

Optional: 4 dashes of Tabasco Hot Sauce

In a large bowl, whisk cornmeal, flour, salt, and pepper, removing any lumps. In a separate bowl, add onion, jalapeño, corn, cheese, buttermilk, egg, and a few dashes of Tabasco. Mix well. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir well. Allow the batter to stand at room temperature for 8 to 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a deep, heavy skillet, or deep fryer, heat oil to 375 F. Make sure there is enough oil for the hush puppies to float. Set a wire cooling rack over a baking sheet lined with paper towels. Drop the batter by tablespoon into the hot oil until golden brown. Remove the hush puppies to the cooling rack and continue frying in batches and sprinkle with extra salt.

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.

PRACTICING BEST MANAGEMENT

BY BILLY RYE

The phrase “Best Management Practices” is used frequently in the forestry community. According to the National Association of State Foresters, Best Management Practices (BMPs) are used to protect water quality during timber harvests and other forest management activities.1 Most states began developing BMPs in the 1970s in response to passage of the Clean Water Act. This Act established the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into all waters in the United States that may be used in interstate or foreign

commerce. The good news for those in the forestry community is that there is no federal law that requires forestry BMPs; in fact, the Clean Water Act exempts normal silvicultural (forest management) activities from permitting requirements under most circumstances.

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) is authorized to enforce water quality standards, regulations, and penalties to carry out the provisions of state and federal water quality laws in Alabama. ADEM Administrative

This is an example of a temporary stream crossing. They are permitted under Alabama's BMPs as long as they do not impede the flow of the stream and are removed when harvesting is complete.

Code prohibits the deposition of pollutants into or the degradation of waters of the state. A “water of the state” is any water that is not wholly contained on the property of an individual or corporation. Pollutants associated with forest management include, but are not limited to, sediment, organic materials, temperature, trash, pesticides, and nutrients that are man-induced. While ADEM has the authority to propose measures to clean up polluted waters, they prefer avoiding environmental problems through voluntary application of preventative techniques.

Through a Memorandum of Understanding with ADEM, the Alabama Forestry Commission has agreed to prepare recommended preventative techniques known as Alabama’s Best Management Practices for Forestry.2 These BMPs are non-regulatory guidelines suggested to help Alabama’s forestry community avoid violating state and federal water quality laws. However, rational on-site judgement must be applied to ensure that water quality standards are maintained. Responsibility for maintaining water quality standards during a forestry operation has been broadly interpreted to include all parties involved in the authorization, planning or implementation of the operation. The responsible parties may include professional forestry practitioner(s) such as forest resource managers, timber purchasers, loggers, vendors, forest engineers or others.

The most current version of Alabama’s BMPs may be obtained from your local office of the Alabama Forestry Commission or online at https:// forestry.alabama.gov/Pages/Management/ Forms/2007_BMP_Manual.pdf. These BMPs address seven aspects of forest management which have the potential to impact water quality. Below is a quick overview of the recommended BMPs. However, the most recent version of this publication should be referenced for the specific requirements of each activity before forest management is implemented.

Streamside Management Zone (SMZ). 3 An SMZ is a strip of land immediately adjacent to a water of the state that is managed to protect the integrity of surface water. SMZs should be maintained at least 35 feet on each side of perennial and intermittent stream banks. The width of SMZs should be increased with the erodibility of the soils or steepness of the terrain. While timber harvesting is permitted within the SMZs, at least 50% of the original canopy should be retained. Mechanical site preparation and fertilization should not be conducted inside SMZs and herbicides should be used consistent with their label.

Stream Crossings.4 The crossing of streams by roads, skidder trails, and fire lanes should be avoided when possible. In those cases where it is unavoidable, streams may be crossed where the bank and SMZ will be least disturbed and installed at right angles to the flow of water. Temporary crossings made of logs or logging debris may be used if their installation does not impede the flow of water and must be removed upon the completion of harvesting. The specifications for other forms of stream crossings such as bridges (permanent and portable), fords, and culverts are provided in Alabama’s BMPs.

Forest Roads.5 Alabama’s BMPs encourage proper planning and location of roads to minimize the potential for polluting waters of the state. Roads should avoid SMZs where possible and grades should be minimized for highly erodible soils or where topography is steep. Dredge and fill operations may require a permit from the Corps of Engineers. Adequate drainage is the most important factor in controlling soil erosion and keeping roads in a serviceable condition. The implementation of broad-based dips, water bars with turnouts, in- and out-sloping techniques, and the value of crowned roads are all discussed in Alabama’s BMPs.

Timber Harvestings.6 The location of logging roads, skid trails, and landings should be planned before harvesting is initiated to reduce their potential impact on water quality. Landings should be kept as small as possible, consistent with safe and efficient operation. Logging roads and landings must be located on firm ground, outside of SMZs and above the ordinary high-water mark of streams. Landings must be located to prevent the adverse impact of skidding

The forester responsible for laying out this timber sale has a good understanding of BMPs. The areas marked in blue indicate the location of Streamside Management Zones as they are marked on the ground.

on water quality. Trash disposal must be properly handled throughout the operation in accordance with all applicable laws. Fuel, lubricants, and other toxic chemicals must never be drained into the soil. Food and drink containers, discarded equipment parts, and used fluids must be properly removed and disposed. Trash must not be burned or buried on-site.

Reforestation/Stand Management. 7 Mechanical site preparation applied outside of the SMZs must be applied in such a manner as to minimize impact to waters of the state. Drum chopping should always be done up and down hill so that sediment can be trapped in the slits created by the chopper blades. Bedding, subsoiling, discing, and machine planting should follow the contour. Shearing requires that the operator keep the blade out of the soil to minimize soil disturbance. Debris may not be piled into any water of the state. Under no circumstances should herbicides be applied directly onto or allowed to drift or wash into surface waters unless labeled for such applications. Firebreaks should be stabilized with water diversion devices and revegetated to minimize their impact on water quality.

Forested Wetland Management. 8 The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers allows “normal” forest management activities within jurisdictional wetlands. Howev-

er, landowners should work closely with a registered forester to determine if a permit is needed for their planned activities. SMZs should be established and managed around the perimeter of all major drainages and open bodies of water (i.e., mainstream courses, oxbow lakes, sloughs) contained within wetlands. Timber harvesting using normal methods and equipment may be appropriate if harvesting is timed during dry periods. Minor drainage, roads and stream crossings, reforestation, land clearing, the use of herbicides, bedding, species composition change, and removal of beaver dams are all allowed in jurisdictional wetlands if the proposed activities meet the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers baseline BMPs and do not convert a wetland into an upland. Silt screen and hay bales can be used to filter runoff water from closed roads and skid trails to prevent or stop sediment from flowing downslope into waters of the state.

Revegetation/Stabilization.9 Some forestry-related soil disturbing activities require the establishment of a vegetative cover to stabilize mineral soil. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service can provide information on the site preparation, use of limestone and fertilizer, plant species recommendations, and the use of mulch for revegetating these sites. Finally, the best method of avoiding reactiva-

This landowner not only has a high-yielding timber investment, she also has protected the water resources which flow through her property. The gray areas are hardwood SMZs which were retained during the past timber harvest.

tion of existing gullies is to neither operate in nor apply site preparation techniques to those areas. The forestry community in Alabama has taken a proactive approach to avoiding degradation of the state’s water resources. The Alabama Professional Logging Manager (PLM) program strives to improve the practice of sustainable forestry through training and education programs for loggers.10 While participation in Alabama’s PLM is voluntary, it is encouraged by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Alabama Forestry Association, Alabama Forestry Commission and the Alabama Loggers Council. In addition, most forestland owners require the imple-

mentation of BMPs in all forest management and harvesting contracts.

Alabama’s Best Management Practices for Forestry are recommended to protect the water resources of our state and to help the forestry community avoid violating federal and state water quality laws. By becoming knowledgeable about specific recommendations and requirements, landowners can ensure that they are practicing best management on their property.

References

1 National Association of State Foresters. Best Management Practices. https://www.stateforesters.org/bmps/ . Accessed March 14, 2023.

2 Alabama Forestry Commission. Alabama’s Best Management Practices for Forestry. https://forestry.alabama.gov/Pages/Management/Forms/2007_BMP_Manual.pdf. Accessed March 20, 2023.

3 Alabama’s Best Management Practices for Forestry. pp 4-5. https://forestry.alabama. gov/Pages/Management/BMP_Practices.aspx . Accessed March 20, 2023.

4 Alabama’s Best Management Practices for Forestry. pp 6-8. https://forestry.alabama. gov/Pages/Management/BMP_Practices.aspx . Accessed March 20, 2023.

5 Alabama’s Best Management Practices for Forestry. pp 9-13. https://forestry.alabama. gov/Pages/Management/BMP_Practices.aspx . Accessed March 20, 2023.

6 Alabama’s Best Management Practices for Forestry. pp 13-14. https://forestry.alabama. gov/Pages/Management/BMP_Practices.aspx . Accessed March 20, 2023.

7 Alabama’s Best Management Practices for Forestry. pp 15-16. https://forestry.alabama. gov/Pages/Management/BMP_Practices.aspx . Accessed March 20, 2023.

8 Alabama’s Best Management Practices for Forestry. pp 17-21. https://forestry.alabama. gov/Pages/Management/BMP_Practices.aspx . Accessed March 20, 2023.

9 Alabama’s Best Management Practices for Forestry pp 22-23. https://forestry.alabama. gov/Pages/Management/BMP_Practices.aspx. Accessed March 20, 2023.

10 Alabama Forestry Association. PLM-Professional Logging Manager. https://www.alaforestry.org/general/custom.asp?page=PLMGeneral . Accessed March 18, 2023.

This landowner failed to require the implementation of BMPs in his timber sale contract. The road would likely still be passible and the adverse impact on water resources would have been much less had the road been stabilized according to BMPs.

Wetlands are unique areas and should be protected while conducting forest management activities. Work with a registered forester to ensure that your efforts comply with the required U.S. Corp of Engineers Baseline BMPs.

Photograph by Ed Travis.

OLE BETSY

BY WALT MERRELL

"O'Brrrreeeerrrrr” … the big six-cylinder Perkins diesel engine roared to life. The entire red frame of the big Massey Ferguson shook under my rear end and the floor plates vibrated to a numbing pace under my feet as the tractor transformed from a sedentary red rock, quiet and still, to a fire-breathing amber dragon billowing smoke as she roared … all with the simple twist of a key.

"Betsy" … as I affectionately refer to her – well, truth be told I affectionately referred to every truck, boat, tractor, canoe, kayak, lawnmower or other device which I could ride on or in as "Betsy." My Old Towne canoe is Betsy. My black Dodge truck is Betsy. And yes, my Massey Ferguson 4263 is Betsy. I don’t exactly know why I have such an affinity for "Betsy” … it is what it is.

This Betsy … she was a shiny, red, 1999, 100 horsepower tractor. No cab or fancy air conditioner … this Betsy was a working man’s tractor. An open cockpit so you could smell the dirt, feel the summer blaze

and get stung by yellowjackets. And she was my first tractor.

Now my daddy owned several tractors on his small horse and cattle operation in Baldwin County. He harvested pecans too, but mostly used his tractors for hay and such. A Kubota and a Ford 5000 sat side by side for several years in the barn. I remember how much my 13-year-old self felt like a "man" when I climbed up on top on that big Ford. I used to volunteer to bushhog, especially out by the road.

“All the cute girls always wave to a boy on a tractor,” I’d tell myself. And they did. I’d smile big as the moon and wave like a dog’s tail as they passed by. Occasionally, I’d get a horn honk and every once in a while, some group of teenage girls might holler as they passed. On those days I could barely get my puffed-out chest and big head through the barn doors to put the tractor up. “Pretty girls and driving the tractor,” I once thought to myself, “this has to be the best day ever.”

Years later I shared some of those recollections with my dad. He laughed and remarked that he already knew of my predilection for waving at girls from the tractor, “so I got some of the girls from up the road to drive by and wave and honk, ‘cause I knew you’d keep bushhogging ‘til sundown on the hope they might come back by.” Then he belly laughed himself into a near coughing fit. At the time I thought he was joking. Surely that old man wasn’t smart enough to outwit the likes of a "man" like me … and what girl wouldn’t want to honk and wave simply out of sheer admiration. Now though, I am not so sure …

That old Kubota of his … well, let’s just say my daddy liked orange tractors before most anyone else had ever heard of Kubota. It was small … maybe a 30-horsepower tractor, with big fat turf tires on the back. I honestly don’t ever remember “working” with it, but I lost count of how many laps I made around the imaginary dirt track in the pasture … especially when the grass was still wet and the dirt still muddy from fresh rain. Of all the things my daddy did get mad at me about, he never fussed about me driving the Kubota like I was Tony Stewart at Watkins Glen.

I couldn’t drive Betsy like that though. She is too big and though she is fast … faster than the Kubota … one sharp turn and her big agricultural tires would cut deep and flip her right into a rollover. Betsy is more of

a log truck than she is a racecar. Plus … I’m way too old to drive my tractor like an idiot.

I plowed my first “real” garden with Betsy. Not one ear of corn came out and the stalks looked like the variety of clowns you’d expect to find at the circus. This one tall that one short; this one with long leaves and this one with none. I sort of enjoyed bushhogging those sterile cornstalks in the fall. Gave me some satisfaction knowing that the tractor did manage to do something productive. But the next year corn grew plentiful, and for years since, so has the potatoes and onions, sunflowers and zinnias. Ole Betsy has turned many a row in her life.

And so has my father-in-law’s old John Deere. The green tractor isn’t nearly as big as Betsy, but plenty strong still. He taught me how to turn rows on that tractor. He also taught me how to log. And we’ve pulled more logs than I can count out of the woods to the Woodmizer saw-mill.

Yes sir … I’ve spent many an hour on an orange tractor, a blue tractor and a green tractor. But Betsy … she was "my" first tractor. Not my daddy's … not my father-in-law’s … but mine. And it wasn’t until I had "my" tractor that I came to appreciate what they mean for a family …

“Don’t you drop her,” Hannah yelled over the growl of the motor. Banks screamed like my hands were ice

cold and she tried to lurch away from me. She was maybe six months old, and meant she was madder than a hornet. I swaddled her up in the blanket and coddled her in my left arm. I pulled her close to my chest and she tried to worm her legs back and forth against the pull of the blanket.

“Come on girl … we are going to make laps like Watkins Glen,” I whispered in her ear. She had been crying for an hour. She was going through a phase where it made her mad to fall asleep. Hannah was nearing her wits' end that afternoon. When she came out on the back porch of our tiny farm house, I knew she was spent. I throttled the tractor down to idle and shifted it out of gear. Hopping down I walked over to the porch and said, “Come on, I have a plan.” Bewildered, and probably mad that I didn’t take the baby from her immediately, I said, “Follow me” and led her back to the still growling tractor. I climbed back up to my seat and held my hands out … “Hand her to me.” And she did, with the admonition I mentioned earlier about not dropping the baby.

I shifted Betsy into a lower gear and eased off the clutch. We crawled forward at no more than a dog’s trot. Banks settled down a little as the world started passing her by. I steered out into the pasture, and we made our first turn. The tractor bumped and burped along, never absorbing any of the divots or holes her wheels found. And with each jolt, Banks head rested heavier and heavier on my chest. By turn three of our four-mile-an-hour racetrack, Banks’ eyes were closed and by the time I did the second figure eight, she was sound asleep and limp as a wet noodle.

I drove around the pasture for another 30 minutes as Hannah watched from the swing on the back porch.

My arm was cramping but I fought through the discomfort, knowing that Hannah was enjoying the peace and the scenery. I laughed at myself as we passed near the house, and she waved and blew me a kiss …. “Still got it,” I chuckled. I grinned from ear to ear and said out loud, “Cute girls like boys on tractors.”

Betsy has been a good tractor. She still is. We still plant with her and do our food plots. Once, Bay got my truck axle deep stuck in the mud and ole Betsy pulled it right on out. Cape still likes to drive Betsy around sometimes too. Banks has a time or two as well. That old John Deere is still around too. We use her pretty regular also … but not for the big jobs. And we added a little orange to the mix too with a Kubota mini excavator. Cape can run it better than most operators I know.

Those tractors have a lot of miles on them. A lot of hours too, turning rows and plowing fields all so we can feed our stomachs. But they are so much more than machines, because best of all we’ve made a lot of memories on those tractors … and that feeds the soul.

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.

FARM-CITY CELEBRATIONS CULMINATE IN BIRMINGHAM

BY MAGGIE EDWARDS

Present and future generations of agriculturalists were honored for outstanding outreach efforts and creativity during the annual Farm-City Awards Luncheon and Program April 13 in Birmingham.

Over 400 attendees gathered as students, families and county committees were recognized for hard work and dedication to agriculture.

Alabama Farm-City Committee Chair Jeff Helms said Farm-City is among the most impactful programs the Alabama Farmers Federation supports and has the potential to touch all segments of society.

“Students learn the importance of agriculture and

forestry through contests, and they carry those lessons with them into adulthood,” Helms said. “Government and business leaders are reintroduced to farming in their counties through tours, banquets and other events. Meanwhile, our farm families are encouraged through shared service, fellowship and recognition. This awards program is an annual celebration of all these activities.”

The 2022 theme was Sustaining For The Future, a play on the “Down To Earth: Agriculture Sustains Alabama” campaign that encouraged conservation awareness throughout 2022.

First Place, K-3rd grade - Kaitlyn Williams, Tallapoosa County

Second Place, K-3rd grade - Eliza Joy Hunter, Houston County

Creative Students Honored

During the awards program, Kindergarten through 12th-grade students were honored for participating in poster, essay and video contests.

Winners and runners-up received medals and cash awards from Alabama Farmers Cooperative, which also provided matching cash awards for schools of first- and second-place entries.

The winners’ works were showcased during the awards luncheon, and the Top 12 posters will be featured in the 2024 Alabama Farm-City Calendar.

Poster Contest, Kindergarten-Third Grade

• First place and $200: Kaitlyn Williams, Reeltown Elementary School, Tallapoosa County

• Second place and $100: Eliza Joy Hunter, Bethel Christian Academy, Houston County

• Third place and $75: Lilli Norris, Bagley Elementary School, Jefferson County

• Fourth place and $60: Ryen Espana, First Assembly Christian School, Clay County

• Fifth place and $40: Anslee Russell, Lynn Elementary School, Winston County

• Sixth place and $25: Charlee Bea Stone, American Christian Academy, Tuscaloosa County

Poster Contest, Fourth-Sixth Grade

• First place and $200: Mattox Blankenship, Ariton School, Dale County

• Second place and $100: Easton Marable, Radney Elementary School, Tallapoosa County

• Third place and $75: Pruitt Woods, Moulton Elementary School, Lawrence County

• Fourth place and $60: Alex Coy Owens, Prattville Intermediate School, Autauga County

• Fifth place and $40: Addison Heath, Sulligent Elementary School, Lamar County

• Sixth place and $25: Hannah Grace Aldridge, Homeschool, Fayette County

Essay Contest, Seventh-Ninth Grade

• First place and $300: Zach Doty, Corner High School, Jefferson County

• Second place and $200: Madelyn Kaley, Ragland High School, St. Clair County

Essay Contest, 10th-12th Grade

• First place and $300: Lydia Maple, Lakeview Christian, Lee County

• Second place and $200: McKensie Sanford, Corner High School, Jefferson County

Video Contest Winners

• First place and $300: Christian Burks, The Well Christian Academy, Marshall County

• Second place and $200: Emily Smith, Houston County Career Academy, Houston County

Outstanding Counties, Leaders Honored

In addition to student winners, local leaders and Farm-City committees were recognized for their efforts to bridge the gap between farmers and their urban neigh-

First Place, 4th-6th grade - Mattox Blankenship, Dale County

Second Place, 4th-6th grade - Easton Marable, Tallapoosa County

bors through creative projects, events and outreach.

Alabama Farm Credit provided cash prizes for winning committees. Division winners received $300 while runners-up earned $200. Additionally, category winners received $100 per category.

Division I represents counties with a population of more than 35,600, while Division II represents smaller-population counties.

Division I Winners

• Cullman County: Best Farm-City Committee; Best Civic Club Activities; Target Award

• Autauga County: Runner-Up Best Farm-City Committee; Best Farm-City Tour; Best Media Coverage & Proclamation

• Coffee County: Scrapbook Award

• Houston County: Best Farm-City Dinner

• St. Clair County: Best Special Activities; Innovative

• Barbour County: Innovative Idea Award; Target Award

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Zach Doty of Corner High School in Jefferson County scored first place in the 2022 Alabama Farm-City Committee Essay Contest for Seventh through Ninth Grades. He is pictured with AFC’s Tiffany Lester, teacher Erika Armstrong and Alabama Farm-City Committee Chair Jeff Helms of the Alabama Farmers Federation.

Haynes Family Earns Farm of Distinction Title

To conclude the program, Haynes Farm of Cullman County was named Alabama’s 2023 Farm of Distinction. The Haynes family, led by Darrel and Lydia, prioritizes land stewardship on their 4,000 acres of pasture for beef cattle and 1,500 acres of row crops. They will represent Alabama during the Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year contest this fall.

Darrel and Lydia farm alongside their sons, Ben and Bart, in Fairview.

“There’s nothing I deserve any honor about,” Darrel said. “You know, I’ve just gotten to be a caretaker for a little bit of God’s stuff. He gave me Lydia, and he gave me Ben and Bart, and gosh, they are such fine men, such hard workers.”

The Hayneses are raising the seventh generation on the farm, too, through Ben and wife Whitney’s six children — Jack, Lola, Charlie, Caroline, Pruett and Rueben.

“We wean and background the calves we raise,” Ben said. “Our product is an 800- to 900-pound feeder calf, and we sell those in load lots that are bound for feed yards north and west of here. As far as the row crop operation,

about a third of our ground will be in corn, a third full-season soybeans and a third will be planted in wheat we will follow with soybeans. We will take a lot of wheat to combine as well, but a lot of ground we will come back and plant a summer crop on is also land we’re grazing feed cattle on in the winter.”

Lydia, who serves on the Federation’s State Women’s Committee, said she appreciates the honor to represent Alabama farm families regionally. A retired physical therapist, she said she’s grateful to spend each day on the farm.

“How many women in this world have the opportunity to work with their husbands, work with their sons — side by side — and can look back at the end of the day and say, ‘Goodness, what a job well done'?" she said. “There’s so much satisfaction in that.”

As the Farm of Distinction, the Haynes family nets an engraved farm sign from the Federation and Alfa Insurance; a John Deere Gator from SunSouth, TriGreen and John Deere; $1,000 gift certificate from Alabama Farmers Cooperative; and $1,000 from First South Farm Credit.

Local Appetite Growers:

JUSTWATERADD

BY JESSIE SHOOK

When you think of farming, what two ingredients do you think would make a plant thrive? Soil and water. For Will Mastin and Karl Brantley, owners of Local Appetite Growers, they just add water.

On 3.5 acres of land, with only an acre under greenhouse plastic, Local Appetite Growers is able to harvest 2,000-2,300 heads of lettuce per week through hydroponic farming. “Hydroponics trans-

lates simply to water working – plants are grown without traditional soil,” said Will Mastin, co-owner of Local Appetite Growers. “This can mean growing in just water with dissolved nutrients, called water culture, or in a soil-like media, such as coco fiber or perlite, called media culture.”

Local Appetite Growers is located in Fairhope, Alabama, and they specialize in hydroponic lettuce

Local Appetite Growers has approximately 12,000 lettuce heads growing in their system right now, and are currently retrofitting another greenhouse to an NFT lettuce system to add about another 30% to that.

and other leafy greens, including Swiss chard, pak choi, kale, arugula and mizuna. “We began our business selling almost exclusively to restaurants and at farmers markets,” Mastin said. “We now sell to grocery stores, school systems, farm stands and through a local delivery system on our website.”

Mastin started experimenting with hydroponic farming on a small scale next to his house. He built a small table with a water culture system for growing lettuce and herbs. “I had seen this type of system at Epcot as a child, and the growing method was gaining popularity with lettuce growers in Florida and around the country,” Mastin said. “The plants did really well, and I just kept expanding my system.”

One of the main benefits to hydroponic farming is the quality of the plants and seed production. “The plants are delivered consistent moisture and nutrients. This helps them deal with heat and cold stresses better,” Mastin added. “Also, the plants are removed from many soil-borne pests such as nematodes and larval stages of many beetles and caterpillars.”

On the other hand, what tends to drive people away from this growing method is the large amount of upfront cost for the growing equipment. Hydroponic systems require greenhouse or tunnel structures to protect the plants, pumps, growing infrastructure, growing media, fertilizers, and the plumbing and power systems. “Our water culture system also requires some babysitting,” Mastin said. “If something goes

Will Mastin (Co-owner) was first introduced to hydroponics as a kid, at Epcot. He made his own system similar to this next to his house, then he began to expand.

Local Appetite Growers specializes in hydroponic lettuce and other leafy greens, including Swiss chard, pak choi, kale, arugula and mizuna.

HYDROPONIC SYSTEM TYPES

wrong, such as a busted pipe or a grow channel overturned, it can leak a lot of your water out quickly and then you can lose a lot of plants easily if you don’t have a system in place. Nutrient imbalances can also happen, and the grower has to be able to recognize this and make adjustments swiftly.”

Local Appetite Growers utilize the Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) to grow their lettuce. This is a water culture-type system. The plant roots grow primarily in water with dissolved nutrients. “The ‘film’ is the thin sheet of water that flows over the roots of the plants to nourish them,” Mastin explained. “This method has been around since the 1960s or 1970s but is gaining popularity today because of its simplicity and productivity.  Seeds are planted in a small cube of foam-like material, and once the roots emerge from the foam, we put the seedlings into the NFT grow channels.  The channels are irrigated with a recirculating nutrient solution, and the plant roots grow in the channels in the thin 'film' of water and nutrients.”

Hydroponics is a very hands-on farming technique. “Most everything we do is by hand,” Mastin said. “Everything is done standing up, there is no stooping and squatting to harvest lettuce heads, which is much easier on everyone. We also work on a weekly schedule of planting and harvest small areas of the greenhouse.”

Local Appetite Growers harvest three times a week. “We have two guys that harvest most of the lettuce, and we pack them and get them into the walk-in cooler as quickly as possible to maintain freshness,” Mastin added. “There are also the chores of washing our growing channels, re-planting lettuce transplants and sowing more seeds for the next week’s planting.”

The biggest efficiency in this system is the speed of growth and the ability to replant quickly. “We are able to harvest a plant from its growing space, wash

In a wick system, plants are nestled in growing media on a tray that sits on top of a reservoir.

In a deep water system, plants are suspended in aerated water.

Nutrient film technique (NFT) systems suspend plants above a stream of continuously flowing nutrient solution that washes over the ends of the plant’s root systems. This is the technique used by Local Appetite Growers.

Ebb and flow hydroponics work by flooding a grow bed with a nutrient solution from a reservoir below.

In a hydroponic drip system, the aerated and nutrient-rich reservoir pumps solution through a network of tubes to individual plants.

Aeroponics systems suspend plants in the air and expose the naked roots to a nutrient-filled mist.

Local Appetite Growers is located in Fairhope, Alabama, on 3.5 acres with an acre of green houses.

the channels and re-plant lettuce in the same spot in that same day,” Mastin said. “This allows us to get seven to eight crops out of each growing space each year.”

Local Appetite Growers have plans to continue growing the greenhouse footprint and expanding into the agrotourism market. “We are currently converting an old tomato greenhouse into another lettuce growing house,” Mastin said. “We are also offering farm tours, growing a small area of u-pick flowers, and we have a barn facility that we will be offering as a venue and hosting some events of our own in the future.”

For Mastin, he loves hydroponic farming because of the productivity, the cleanliness and the high quality of the products that are grown. “It’s satisfying to see a healthy crop of lettuce or greens at its peak about to go out for our community to enjoy,” he said. “This system grows some of the healthiest and happiest plants that you will ever see. Our hydroponic system just gives us the advantage to grow exceedingly beautiful and healthy plants, and watching a really great crop of lettuce and other greens develop is what is our real love.”

For more information on Local Appetite Growers, visit localappetitegrowers.com.

Local Appetite Growers is offering farm tours to teach the public about hydroponics.

BY CAROLYN DRINKARD

In a family known for athletic prowess, it seemed a foregone conclusion that Carvel William Rowell, III (Trey), would follow in the footsteps of his predecessors. After all, his grandfather, Carvel “Bama” Rowell, was a legend in Citronelle, where he grew up, and Mobile County, where he often played baseball. Bama had an outstanding career at LSU, and then he moved on to professional baseball, where he made quite a name for himself in

TREY ROWELL THE NATURAL

baseball circles. Trey’s father, Carvel Rowell, Jr., was also an outstanding athlete, named to the Livingston University (now

UWA) Hall of Fame in both football and baseball. After college, Carvel Rowell became a beloved coach, winning a state championship in football at Excel High School and a state championship in baseball at Thomasville High School.

With this lineage, it was just natural to expect Trey to become an athlete. As a child, he loved all sports, but he preferred to pretend he was broadcasting a sporting event, often giving a play-byplay account. In high school, Trey played football, basketball and baseball, but after graduating from Marengo Academy, Trey moved away from sports and into another world.

Trey Rowell attended the University of Alabama and majored in telecommunications and media broadcasting. At the age of 19, Trey’s life changed forever when he bought a guitar and taught himself to play.

“From the second I touched the guitar and started writing songs, I knew this was what I was

supposed to be doing in my life,” he said.

Trey played with various bands in and around the Tuscaloosa area, gaining both confidence and experience with each appearance. “Being in front of a crowd really helped me,” he explained. “I

In “Between Floyd and Hank,” Trey Rowell tells the story of a “country boy and a hippy girl” who fell in love. This song was based on his own love story with Whitney, now his wife.

Whitney Gaston Rowell (r) follows her husband to his many venues and handles his scheduling. She is his biggest supporter and constant encourager.

learned how to select songs to fit an audience, and I developed a good catalog of music.”

Trey interned at a country radio station in Tuscaloosa and then accepted a job at WIN 98.5 in Linden, Alabama. Working as a disc jockey and playing music on the side went hand in hand.

In 2008, Trey started to write his own songs. He reached deep inside himself, and a wellspring of creativity came out. His words and rhymes gave voice to things he saw and heard and felt. Country life, love and loss, and the trials of the workingman echoed throughout his lyrics.

“I fell in love with poetry and songwriting,” he stated. “As a child, I had always loved to write stories, so I enjoyed the process of figuring out a chord or progression and a melody, and then trying to take a lyric and turn that into a song.”

While his day job as a DJ opened a wide world of music genres, it also brought him inspiration. At times, a single word, a well-turned phrase or a novel guitar lick in another song would spark his own imagination and creativity.

In 2011, Trey returned to Thomasville to anchor the “Morning Rush Show” at WJDB 95.5. He was

also the station’s sportscaster for high school baseball and softball games, something he was quite comfortable doing.

Back at home, Trey reconnected with other local musicians. He started to work with William (Bill) Blakeney, a songwriter from Nanafalia. The

Trey Rowell’s talents have been showcased at venues all over the South. This amazing singer/songwriter is a standout talent, a breath of fresh air.

Doing what comes naturally to him, Trey Rowell has impacted the music scene with his powerful vocals and heartfelt lyrics.

two co-wrote the song, “Two Wings and a Prayer” and submitted their project to a competition in Muscle Shoals, where they won third place. Trey still plays this song at various personal appearances and song-writing festivals. He always gets a positive response, because people can relate so well to the words and music.

Songwriting not only took Trey down another musical pathway, but it also introduced him to a whole new audience. “Songwriting helped me get out and meet more people in music,” he explained. “I got invited into other venues in Louisiana and Mississippi. I also went to the Flora Bama. I made a lot more connections, and I got into a circle of songwriters who supported and encouraged me.”

Trey still continued to perform solo, too. Along with his original music, he developed an extensive set of songs that ranged from classic rock and country to 90s alternative and more. He performed for numerous public and private venues, as well as business meetings and corporate events. One of his favorite venues has been the Orrville farmers market, where he has entertained on many occasions.

In 2019, Casey Combest, a music producer from Blue Sky Studios in Jackson, Mississippi, contacted Trey about recording some of his original songs. “I was nervous about recording my own stuff,” he said, “because I didn’t think it was good enough.”

After submitting some samples, Trey received an invitation to come into the studio to record. The staff and crew were extremely supportive and helpful. A year later, Trey went back into the studio to record again. One of the singles was a tribute to his grandfather, Carvel “Bama” Rowell, who played major league baseball with the Boston Bees/ Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies. Trey’s original song, “The Natural,” tells the story of “Bama” hitting a ball to the Ebbets Field scoreboard, shattering the big Bulova clock. This event happened in 1946, but it inspired Bernard Malamud to use a similar scene in his book, "The Natural.” Later, the book was made into a movie, starring Robert Redford. In the movie version, Redford’s character, Roy Hobbs, hits a baseball that shatters a clock, just like “Bama” Rowell had done years before.

Trey’s recorded singles, "The Natural," "Between Floyd and Hank" and "Honky Tonk Voodoo Woman," were released on all social media platforms. He also has videos available on YouTube.

Trey Rowell writes and sings songs about rural, hard-working people and everyday hardships. His fans can relate to lyrics about dirt roads and country life in Southwest Alabama.

Performing in front of different crowds really helped Trey Rowell to get better. He learned how to select songs to fit an audience, and he developed a good catalogue of music.

Trey plans to go back into the recording studio again; however, he wants to write more songs. He has his heart set on lyrics that stroke the soul with hope and faith. He is currently working with AMP Music Promotions and Kandy Shoults, who helps to promote songwriters and musicians.

Trey wants to explore a wide range of genres and not be pigeonholed in one. “With the way I talk,” he laughed, “most people think I’m country, but I want to explore more classic rock and do a blend of music.”

Trey plans to keep on writing and crossing his fingers that a well-known artist will hear one of his songs and record it. “I want people to hear my music,” he stated, “and I want to keep getting better!”

Trey feels blessed to have a supportive family that always has his back. “My wife, Whitney Rae Gaston Rowell, and my parents, Carvel and Cindy Rowell, are behind me all the way,” he said proudly.

Trey Rowell’s talents have been showcased at venues all over Southwest Alabama and other Southern states, but there is much more music on the horizon. When this amazing singer/songwriter performs, he sings with all his heart, his soul and

BY LOIS TRIGG CHAPLIN

POWDER PUFF IS A POWDER KEG

That marvelous mimosa aka powderpuff tree that we grew up loving for its sweet fragrance, soft flowers and ferny foliage turns out to not be so sweet after all. It’s taking over in many places where it was not planted and is not wanted. Spreading from seeds, mimosa (Albizia julibrissin) sprouts in shrub and flower beds where it becomes a weed that we must pull. But the serious pain comes from its spread to abandoned properties, roadsides, sunny streams and other areas where the soil has been disturbed and there is nothing to check to its growth. This time of year small groves of them are all too visible along interstates and other roadsides where they sprouted after the land was disturbed by construction. Seed pods, which appear in late summer, wash or blow into nearby fields, too; there the seeds can lie dormant for years. So although

the flowers smell wonderful and are attractive to butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds, this dainty tree has a dark side, choking out slower growing native species such as sumac, sourwood, dogwood, and redbud. To clear mimosa from an area, cut it at ground level and paint the stump with a brush killer or glyphosate immediately, while the stump is still wet and fresh, making sure to paint the cambium along the outer edge of the stump. For more information on stump treatments for mimosa and other invasives such as Bradford pear check Alabama Extension brochures ANR-1465 and ANR-1466 about treatments.

TOMATO STEMS REACT TO WEATHER

When the weather is rainy and damp, tomato plants may develop odd little bumps along the stems.

Bumps on tomato stem

Mimosa

This is completely normal. It is not a disease or other problem, but just the beginning of adventitious roots – the same that grow into functioning roots when tomato stems are buried. Short, bristly roots may appear, too, especially during prolonged periods of rain. Certain varieties are more likely to do this, especially heirlooms. So, if you notice little bumps on the stems of your tomato plants, rest easy. They are just being tomatoes.

PURPLE CONEFLOWER CHECKS MANY BOXES

One of our native perennial wildflowers turns out to be one of the most beautiful garden flowers, too. And, it’s been hybridized and selected for varied heights and even colors such as yellow, orange and magenta. However, it’s hard to beat the basic, 3-foot tall, old-fashioned purple- to pink-flowered form (Echinacea purpurea) for garden performance. Sturdy stems stand up well in rainstorms. It starts blooming as the heat begins bearing down and lasts for weeks. Butterflies and bees visit the flowers for nectar and pollen. When the petals finally drop, the cone-shaped seedheads for which it is named provide seeds for summer’s new

generation of goldfinches. And all the while, roots are growing larger underground providing a harvest for herbalists. After two to three years a clump can be divided, which is the fastest way to get one going in your own garden. Potted coneflowers are easy to find in the retail trade and many are available in bloom through summer. However, if you have a large space to fill, they are also easy to start from seed, especially in the fall because the seeds sprout more reliably after several weeks of exposure to cold weather.

RECYCLING AN OLD FOUNTAIN

Old fountains and birdbaths sometimes have unrepairable cracks or other damage that keep them from holding water. When this happens to a prized old piece, consider how it might be recycled for other uses. One way is to turn the problem into an asset – it becomes a planter with drainage. Choose tough plants that will grow in shallow soil such as succulents, sedges and grasses, or set the planter up with drip irrigation for more demanding flowers. This photo from a fine old garden that I once toured is a good example of a sentimental and beautiful old piece given a new purpose in the garden.

Purple coneflowers

Don't throw it away just because it has an unrepairable crack

BY JOHN HOWLE

TOMATOES, SQUASH & CORN

Songwriter Guy Clark wrote an interesting song about the wonders of homegrown tomatoes,

“Homegrown tomatoes homegrown tomatoes, what’d life be without homegrown tomatoes. Only two things that money can’t buy, that’s true love and homegrown tomatoes.”

Tomatoes are fun to grow. A few well-tended plants can yield lots of fresh, summer eating as well as long-term frozen or canned eating

through the winter. For some reason, I’ve never liked the taste of a raw tomato.

Once it’s cooked, however, the whole flavor changes to a delicacy for me. I’ve been accused of not being a true country boy because of this. When I’ve sat down to eat with guests, and the food that is placed in front of me is a BLT (bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich), I simply grab the bacon, put mayonnaise on the bread with a slab of lettuce, and eat the sandwich sans tomato.

“It’s difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato.”

- Lewis Grizzard

This time of year finds the garden in full swing. Tomatoes, corn, green beans, and peas can have you working early in the morning plowing, hoeing, picking and canning fresh vegetables to enjoy all year. It’s best to get out there first thing in the morning before the midday sun begins beating down.

Once the physical labor of the morning is complete, you have the rest of the day to do things like cut, rake and bale hay. June and July are busy months as far as growing food for your family and your livestock, but when cold weather eventually returns, you and your livestock will be glad you put in all that summer work. It’s the kind of work that makes you sweat profusely, eat heartily, and sleep soundly.

Tomato hornworms are a major pest of tomato crops. They blend in perfectly on the tomato plant because they are pale green with white and black markings and a horn-like protrusion stemming from their rear. According to the Farmer’s Almanac, these worms are the caterpillar stage of the sphinx or hummingbird moth and can get to be five inches long. The first sign to look for on your tomato plants are missing or wilted leaves. The easiest way to remove them is picking them off by hand. They will not sting. Also,

powdering the plants occasionally with Sevin will help prevent re-infestation.

Squash is considered one of the original “three sisters” crops raised by American Indians. According to the USDA National Agricultural Library, “The Iroquois and the Cherokee called corn, bean, and squash the three sisters because they nurture each other like family when planted together.” The beans can run up the corn, and the squash thrives below because of the shading from the intense sun.

Squash can be eaten fresh during the summer, and it holds up well to canning and freezing for longterm storage. Boiled with butter and onions, sliced thin and fried, or put in a squash casserole, squash is a favored fruit in the South.

The towering member of the three sister plants is corn. Whether planted alone or allowing green beans to run on them, corn provides a healthy, diverse staple to the diet. If you have a large field of corn come in at one time, turn corn picking into a neighborhood event. In exchange for a mess of corn, your neighbors can help you pick the corn, shuck and silk it saving hours of time. My young preacher friend, Cody Shelton, showed up on picking day and we spent the

This green pest can decimate a tomato plant if not picked off.

One of the three sister plants, a squash is actually a fruit.

entire day picking, shucking, and silking enough corn to last a family all winter. In exchange, he took home plenty of corn for his own family.

With all the produce you pick and prepare for the year, don’t forget the meat. If you can, process some of your own meat and freeze it long term. This can be wild game such as deer and turkey, or farm-raised meat such as chicken, beef, and pork. Obviously, if you don’t have freezer space, you might want to invest in a deep freeze. There are many choices out there, but hopefully, you can make an informed, financial decision because freezers aren’t cheap.

When deciding on chest or upright freezer, they both have pros and cons. The chest freezer of equal cubit foot can store more food. When you close the door on a chest freezer, you know it’s closed because of the weight and gravity of the horizontal door. With an upright, you might not always get the door completely closed since it stands vertical. Finally, a chest freezer takes more floor space, but in my opinion, it is well worth it. A chest freezer is just one more way you can help show your food independence and protect your family against supply chain issues and food shortages.

This summer, get up early enough to watch the sunrise with a cup of coffee before you start the hot

work of the day. After the work is done, maybe you can treat yourself to a homegrown tomato – cooked of course.

A chest freezer is ideal for long-term storage of bulk items such as meat and garden produce.

Have friends or neighbors help with the picking, shucking and silking of the corn in return for a take home mess of corn.

Everything on this plate was raised in our garden and on our farm. Steak, peas, corn, green beans, and okra.

BUSY AS A BEE

BY BETHANY O’REAR

Early summer and the natural world are buzzing with activity. Flowering shrubs are finishing a first flush of bloom or getting ready for a show. Warm season vegetables are setting fruit. Lawns are green and lush. Flower beds are filling out. So much going on, so much to do, not enough time. Where to start? Let me help you prioritize your garden tasks to help your lawn and garden perform their best and you can work smarter not harder.

Homeowners often make things more difficult for themselves than is needed when it comes to lawn care. How? By picking the wrong mowing schedule and fertilizing at the wrong time. Lawn care needs are very specific to turfgrass type. Let’s look at five of the most popular types. For example, Bermudagrass likes a short haircut to a height of 1-2 inches and so does Zoysiagrass, but it’s recommended that Bermu-

dagrass be mowed every 5-7 days while the schedule for Zoysiagrass is twice as long—10-14 days. St. Augustine should be clipped to 2-3 inches every 7-14 days. Tall Fescue should be permitted to grow, well, tall — mow to a height of 2 to 3 1/2 inches every 7-14 days. Centipede prefers a height of 1 1/2 -2 inches (though shorter is better) every 10-14 days. So, if you’re in the habit of mowing weekly, you might cut yourself some slack. Also, when the summer heat is bearing down, consider raising your mower ½ inch, no matter what the turf type. As for fertilizer, timing depends on turf type as well. Warm weather grasses like St. Augustine, Bermudagrass and Zoysiagrass appreciate an application of fertilizer in July, when their growth surge is strongest. Tall Fescue shouldn’t be fertilized in the early summer after April and no later than May for Centipede.

By late June, Nature has been so kind to us that your garden may look a little too lush for your taste. If you like a formal appearance, it may be tempting to get out there and “clean up” a bit but resist that temptation when it comes to flowering shrubs. For example, many azaleas set their flowers for next year in early July. Pruning now could reduce next year’s bloom. The rule of thumb for azaleas is to prune in late spring after bloom, cut for a natural shape, not a “poodle cut,” and avoid over-fertilizing. Gardenias are another flowering shrub which should be pruned after bloom in the spring flush. Oakleaf hydrangeas don’t need to be pruned annually, though many gardeners do so to increase productivity. If you do choose to prune, do so in the early summer just after bloom. Oakleaf hydrangeas set next year’s bloom buds in late July and early August so delaying pruning until late summer could cut off next year’s display. Roses are a mixed bag because of the wide selection we can grow in Alabama. Generally speaking, though, hybrid tea roses should be pruned hard in late winter, heirloom and species roses should be pruned after bloom in the spring and shrub roses (like “Knockout”) can be shaped all year long.

So, you’ve saved time by not pruning in June and July. Where should you focus your attention - preven-

tative maintenance and planning for the fall. That may sound like dull stuff but for minimal effort you can get gangbuster results. In the flower garden it means deadheading perennial flowers like Coreopsis and Shasta daisies to encourage fall re-bloom (if you’re short on time, skip the purple coneflowers as they’ll rebloom without pruning). Trim annuals and tender perennials that respond to pruning like “Cut and Come Again” Zinnias, Marigolds, Geranium and Cosmos. Back away from the Begonias and Russian Sage, however, as they don’t need trimming. Now is also the time to get a handle on weed control. Hand pull weeds and apply or supplement with an organic mulch. Mulch is a magical ingredient—it suppresses weed growth, moderates soil temperatures, adds to the fertility of the soil and retains moisture. Organic mulches take many forms including pine straw or pine bark. No need to pay extra for dyed mulches as they add no greater benefit than ordinary wood mulches and need to be topped off more frequently to maintain constant color.

In the vegetable garden, preventative maintenance means spraying for diseases on a regular basis before significant disease impacts tomato, pepper, squash and similar plants. Spraying of tomato plants for foliar diseases should be started within a week of

Oakleaf hydrangeas should be pruned well before late July.

Happily, most garden stores and retail centers sell 3-in1 sprays, both in traditional and organic compositions. No matter which product you select, be sure to read the label to ensure that it is the correct choice for your particular plant and your particular pest. Additionally, the product label includes important information related to spray rate, frequency and precautions. Of course, you can give yourself a head start by planting varieties of any vegetable that are bred for disease-resistance and making sure to rotate your garden so that crops in the same family (which carry the same diseases) are not repeated from year to year. Two of the most commonly grown “families” of vegetable crops should be rotated but they may not be obvious “kin.” The nightshade family includes eggplant, Irish potato, pepper and tomato while the gourd family includes cucumber, summer and winter squashes, honeydew and pumpkin. The point of crop rotation is to avoid replanting any member of the same family in a garden section two years in a row. If all this preventative maintenance doesn’t sound like a lot of fun, planting the fall garden sure does. In July, you can sow your fall garden with beans (lima and pole), cucumbers and winter squash. You can also set out another round of some of our favorite transplants – eggplants, peppers and heat-tolerant tomatoes, like Bella Rosa and Amelia. Enjoy these

Now is a good time to trim annuals and perennials, like zinnias.

LAWN & GARDEN CHECKLIST

June Garden Checklist

Fruits and Nuts

• Layer grapes and continue spray programs.

• Thin apples and peaches if too thick.

Shrubs

• Lace bugs may be a problem on azaleas, pyracanthas, dogwoods, cherry laurels, and other shrubs.

• Water as needed. Fertilize now.

• Keep long shoots from developing by pinching out tips.

• Take cuttings from semi-mature wood for rooting.

Lawns

• Apply 1 pound nitrogen per 1,000 square feet to bermudagrass and St. Augustinegrass. Skip this month for fertilizing centipedegrass and zoysiagrass.

• If dollar spot disease is detected, reduce water and fertilizer

• Mow often (5 to 10 days) to remove just 1/3 the grass height at each mowing.

• Water lawns as needed (grayish color or curling leaf blades).

• Planting may continue if soil is moist.

Annuals and Perennials

• Keep old flower heads removed to promote continued flowering. Plant garden mums if not already in.

• For compact mums, keep tips pinched out.

• Monitor for insects and diseases.

• Fertilize with water-soluble fertilizer for a mid-season boost.

Bulbs

• Foliage may be removed from spring bulbs if it has yellowed and is becoming dry.

• Watch for aphids and thrips on summer bulbs.

Miscellaneous

• If scale insects continue on shrubs, use materials other than oils.

• Set house plants on porch or outdoors in shade and pay close attention to the need for water.

• If desired, air layer house plants.

Vegetable Seeds

• Whole state: Continue plantings of beans, sweet corn, southern peas, melons, and okra.

Vegetable Transplants

• Whole state: Continue planting April transplant crops.

July Garden Checklist

Fruits and Nuts

• Protect figs and other ripening fruit from birds.

Shrubs

• Continue to root shrub cuttings until late in the month and mulch to keep soil moist.

• Remove faded blooms promptly from crape myrtle and other summer-blooming plants.

Lawns

• Apply 1 pound nitrogen per 1,000 square feet to all warm-season lawn types: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, St. Augustinegrass, and zoysiagrass.

• Mow often (5 to 10 days) to remove just 1/3 the grass height at each mowing.

• Water lawns as needed (grayish color or curling leaf blades).

Roses

• Keep roses healthy and actively growing.

• Apply fertilizer.

• Wash off foliage to prevent burning if any fertilizer falls on plants.

Annuals and Perennials

• Water as needed to keep plants active.

• Deadhead or cut back for later summer blooms.

Bulbs

• Plant iris and spider lilies late this month.

Miscellaneous

• Keeping flowers, shrubs, trees, and lawns healthy is the major task this month.

• Observe closely for insects and diseases.

• Water as plants indicate need.

Vegetable Seeds

• Whole state: Plant pumpkins for fall harvest. Continue plantings of beans, southern peas, squash, and cucumber.

• North: Plant cabbage, carrots, and cauliflower. Wait until late July to plant beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, collards, and kohlrabi, or start them in flats for transplant later.

• South and Central: Start seeds in flats for August and September transplants, including beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, collards, kale, lettuce, mustard, radishes, and spinach.

Vegetable Transplants

• Whole state: Plant a second season of tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant for fall harvest.

• North: Plant certified seed potatoes for Irish and red-skinned varieties in late July.

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.

BY SUZY M c CRAY

A PART OF THE PAST FOR THE FUTURE

When Mack and I married, he couldn’t understand why I needed so many bookcases and bookshelves. He studies his Bible a great deal (and has a good selection of biblical reference books) and he enjoys reading news and sports articles on his tablet, but he couldn’t quite understand why I kept so many books and magazines, some that I read and reread multiple times!

Right now beside my side of our bed, there are

back issues of several older homesteading magazines. Single articles torn out and raggedly stacked nearby include some on making herbal tinctures, the pros and cons on whether a hoop house needs a secondary heating source, why smaller species of milk goats are the best fit for many small homesteads, and how aquaponics are replacing conventional farming in an agricultural state where I lived for three years in the 1970s.

72 Grace Livingston Hill books are now at home in my sewing room.

Yes, we can question any search engine and find free YouTube videos about every subject we need on this homestead, but there’s just something about holding a book or magazine in my hand that helps the information jump from the printed page into my aging brain.

I’m basically a nonfiction girl. I like to read about actual folks who solve problems, maintain happy families and serve the Lord. Although I did write a little fiction for children’s Sunday School literature back in the 1980s, the majority of my writing through nearly four decades has basically been nonfiction. Even the four books to my credit are entirely nonfiction as they include many of the articles that have been featured in these Simple Times articles.

But it saddens me to read statistics provided by GoodeReader.com where they note that 33% of high school graduates never read another book the rest of their lives. Forty-two percent of college grads never read another book after college.

This is in spite of Tom Corley’s findings in "Change your Habits, Change your Life" that 88% of financially successful people read at least 30 minutes a day! And telegraph.co.uk notes that numerous studies show that some sort of daily reading reduces stress by 68%!

Another study shows that people in the United States spend 10 times more time watching TV than reading ANYTHING! And I would guess that number is even higher than the folks they studied.

Even in a church group when we were discussing the importance of Daily Bible Reading, one man in his early 50s noted, “We don’t have any kids at home anymore, so we don’t do it.”

But if you’re reading this magazine and this article, you are already on the way up! And even the Audiobooks folks note that nearly one in five Americans listen to Audiobooks, often while doing other tasks such as driving. So all is not completely lost!

So, in what is usually one of the biggest times of the year on our homesteads and farms, why in the world am I writing about reading? Who has time to sit down between weeding the garden, planting a second crop of tomatoes, mowing the lawns, chopping firewood for NEXT year, and making sure all the chickens, ducks, turkeys, guineas and goats have sufficient clear clean water as the days grow hotter. And soon there will be harvesting all sorts of vegetables and fruits that need to be “put up” by pressure canning, drying or freezing.

But here I go….

My mama was a reader (and my daddy to a point although he often went to sleep with a Zane Grey book

or his Sunday School quarterly laying across his lap!).

One thing my mama and several of her friends enjoyed reading were novels by Grace Livingston Hill so being an avid reader, I read many of the books Mama collected, borrowed, and checked out of the Oneonta Library. They were good books, always teaching a moral, often containing a love story, and always turning out well in the end!

And oh, later on, how I could identify with Hill’s reasoning for her big output of stories. Her husband died leaving her with two young children and no means to support them other than her writing!

This was after her first books as a young adult were written in 1887 to earn enough money for her family to attend the summer Chautauqua gathering (kind of a religious revival type event) at Chautauqua, New York. That book was published in time so that when they reached the event from their then-home in Florida, the book was available at the meeting for the price of 60 cents each!

So I enjoyed books by this hard working, hard writing woman all through my teen years and early adult hood. My mama began a collection of Grace Livingston Hill paperbacks after she was widowed. But after Mama’s death those books were lost when a relative

A First Edition of "The Search," written by Grace Livingston Hill and published in 1919.

left them in a home that was cleaned out before she could retrieve them. But just this past week, I was given a gold mine and I don’t mean financially!

A dear friend asked if I would like to have her ma ma’s Grace Livingston Hill books because she had no where to properly enjoy them after her mother’s death. Of course I agreed but I was in for a major surprise!

When my friend Cara arrived this week she brought 59 hardback books and 13 paperbacks! The hardbacks include at least two Grace Livingston Hill First Editions and many others that are scarce and hard to obtain! Many of the books go back to the 1920s and a couple even earlier!

Two of the first books I pulled out of their big boxes are listed on eBay for more than $100 each because of their rarity! But they are certainly not for sale! They are permanently ensconced on shelves in my sewing room so that I can just look up at them and smile and be encouraged!

I love the fact that Mrs. Hill was a woman before her time but one who clung to the traditions and hopes of the past. When one of her publishers began to back away from publishing “so much religion” in her fiction books, she found another publisher! And when that newest book became a huge bestseller (including

the Gospel presentation that Mrs. Hill ALWAYS included in her books) the first publisher backed down and never censored her books again!

So in between shelling beans and “putting up” corn this summer, and in between making goat milk soap for our little farm store, I imagine there will be some fiction reading in my future again!

Try reading a little bit every day if you’re not used to reading. Whether you’re interested in sports, farming, hunting, fishing, herbs, cooking, or any number of other subjects, return to books and magazines and see what you’ve been missing! Maybe there’s some of you that are just like me and love the smell of a hardback book…

And I love the FEEL of the pages of my daddy’s Bible where he marked 2 Timothy 3:16-17 about the importance of reading the Scripture. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

Happy reading!

(Suzy

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

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

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Phone: 256-974-5900

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www.midstatestockyards.com

If you would like to advertise your stockyard, please contact Wendy McFarland at

mcfarlandadvantage@gmail.com

and husband Mack live on a homestead in Blount County, Alabama and can be reached on Face-

"Marigold," published in 1938, "The Seventh Hour," published in 1939 and "The Challengers," published in 1932.

FOOD PRESERVATION SEASON IS COMING SOON

BY ANGELA TREADAWAY

Growing and preserving your own food lets you enjoy delicious, in-season fruits and vegetables throughout the year. For many of us, who may not have our very own home garden, there is still a way we can capture the great quality and flavor of fresh fruits and vegetables to enjoy all year round. Fruit and vegetable growers offer a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables; notably squash, okra, green beans, corn, tomatoes and of course those sweet watermelons during the summer months at local farmers markets and roadside stands. If you are thinking about canning to preserve your food this summer, there are a couple of things you should have in place before getting started.

Recipes:

All home canned foods should be prepared using research tested recipes. Research is done continually to provide the latest, most up-to-date recommendations. Many new guidelines have been released over the last couple of years, so make sure your recipes have the latest information to keep your family safe. Using your grandmothers’ old canning recipes is probably not safe anymore and please be careful with social media in following recipes there unless they are from an educational source.

Equipment:

Review the equipment needed for canning and make sure they are ready in advance. A water bath canner is needed for processing fruits, jams, jellies, tomatoes, and pickle products. A pressure canner is essential for vegetables, meats, and fish. If you have a dial gauge pressure canner you want to make sure you have it tested at your local county extension office every year before starting to can. Be sure to call before going to make sure they can test it or to set up an appointment.

You should also have a sharp knife, jars, measuring cups, new lids, a funnel, sugar, salt, rings, and a jar lifter. Check your jars for chipping, check gaskets for damage. If you have a dial gauge pressure canner it is wise to have it tested at your local County Extension Office every year before you start canning. The Extension Office also has all kinds of handouts with guidelines and recipes for preserving foods.

Canning Process:

The canning process should begin as each fruit or vegetable is being harvested. For a nicer product, try to use fruits or vegetables without any sign of insect damage, bruising or wilting. The first step will be to sterilize your jars. As you prepare your recipe, get your canner on the stove. Next, fill your jars according to the directions and then seal and process in a water bath canner or pressure canner. After removing them from the canner, put them onto a dry, clean, cloth where they can sit for the next 24 hours. The following morning, you should check to make sure you got a good seal. The lid should be concave and when pressed on should not pop.

Storage:

You want to make sure that you have a good storage area; after all you’ve put in a lot of work. Most

canned food items are good for up to a year. For a complete list, you may download an Extension Publication, “Better Safe than Sorry Food Storage Chart,” or request one from your County Extension Office. There are many other publications available for home food preservers at this website: www.aces.edu. You may also visit the University of Georgia website for more information at the National Center for Home Food Preservation: www.uga.edu/nchfp/.

Resources for Preserving:

When looking for information to preserve your fresh produce you always want to go to a reliable safe resource to get recipes and procedures. When searching on the internet be sure to use an educational source such as the Extension Service in any state, the National Center for Home Food Preservation, or USDA. Please do not use social media because a lot of times their recipes are not tested, and you can get into a big mess or put your family in danger of getting Clostridium botulinum which can be deadly. There is an Extension Service in each state through that state's land grant university and this organization is the only one that still educates and provides publications on tested recipes and processes for preserving foods in your home.

ACES Food Safety Regional Agents will be teaching and providing hands-on training at Food Preservation Camps in three locations in the state this summer. If you are interested in attending one, please register early because the camps will be limited to 20 people a day because of the number of things we will be teaching and providing the students. You will be preparing products each day and will have several to carry home to share and enjoy with your family. We will be teaching pressure canning, water bath canning, jams and jellies, pickling, drying and freeze-drying and fermentation.

Home Food Preservation Camps in

3 Locations:

• Marshall County - Albertville Al June 28 & 29, 2023

• Houston County - Dothan Al July 12 & 13, 2023

• Tuscaloosa County - Tuscaloosa Al July 19 & 20, 2023

Fee for class each day $20

To register please follow this link or QR code to register

www.aces.edu/go/preservationcamp23

BIG BOYS DON'T CRY?

A FATHER'S DAY STORY

BY GREG A. LANE

When I was an older teenager, I remember watching a parenting seminar at my church called “Focus on the Family” featuring the well-known author and psychologist, Dr. James Dobson. I wasn’t even contemplating marriage at the time, but, for some reason, my heart was warmed by the thought of one day becoming a father. I remember taking notes while watching that seminar. A 17-year-old kid taking notes on parenting … imagine that! I knew one day I was going to be a father, and I wanted to be a good one.

Ten years later, I met the “love of my life” … the woman who would become my wife. I knew I couldn’t live without her. The way my heart skipped a beat when I was with her let me know I had found the true meaning of the word “LOVE.” In April 1989 we were married and began a life together.

Two years later, my wife announced the news: “We’re going to have a baby!” I didn’t know how to react at first. I was shocked. But, then I realized, “This is what I’ve always wanted … I’m going to be a FATHER!” I went out and bought a video recorder so I could document all that was about to transpire as my wife and I were about to bring a brand-new life into the world.

When the day of my daughter’s birth finally came, I experienced a flood of emotions. Seeing that little pink bundle of flesh “that I helped create” was overwhelming. I wanted to hold her, love on her and protect her.

When people came in the hospital room to see her, I was adamant that they must wear a hospital gown and face mask before they could hold her. The protective feeling I had toward her was unlike anything I had ever experienced before. Later that day, when the nurse came to take her back to the nursery so my wife could rest, I asked, “Where are you taking her?” It didn’t sit well with me that they were taking my baby away. I

My most-favorite photo of me with my kids, goofing off at Cade's Cove in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

was almost angry, but my wife calmed me down.

I went home that night, after a full day of video recording all that had taken place. I put the video in the VCR and plopped down on the couch to watch it. As I sat there and watched the video of my baby girl being born, something completely unexpected happened. I began to cry … uncontrollably. In my mind I was thinking, “What’s going on here! What’s happening to me?” Yet, I continued to cry louder and more fervently as each second of video footage passed by. They were tears of sheer joy!

Though our daughter was very colicky and cried a lot in her first few months, none of that deterred the passionate love I had in my heart for her. I remember many nights rocking her in my arms, listening to lullabies, trying to get her to go to sleep. When she’d finally stop crying and go to sleep in my arms, I’d continue to rock her and listen to the lullabies … and then I’d begin to cry. Once again, they were tears of joy.

One year later, my wife made another announcement, “We’re going to have another baby!” This time, though, the news wasn’t as welcomed as you might expect. You see, in my mind I thought, “How can I love another child as much as I love my daughter?” I was happy, of course, but slightly concerned. I kept all of this to myself, though.

On the night before my son was to be born, my father came by to see me. Before he left, he gave me a hug and said something like, “This time tomorrow there will be another member in the Lane family.” When he said those words I broke down and cried. (I know. I know. I’m a big baby.) My dad said, “Why are you crying, Greg?” I replied, “Because I don’t know if I can love another child as much as I love Erica.” He reassured me that everything would be okay.

The next day, when my son Ethan was born, I discovered something special that happens when you’re a father. You don’t have to divide your love between your children … God expands your heart and capacity to love so you have more to give. I mistakenly thought I was going to have to take love and attention away from my daughter to give some to my son, but that’s not the way it happened. Instead, my capacity to love had doubled. Raising two children that I could love, nurture, protect and provide for brought a whole new understanding to me about the “Father Heart” of God. I remember praying, “God, no wonder You like for us to call you ‘FATHER.’ What a wonderful feeling it is!”

The next several years will always be remembered as my most favorite of my whole life. There were

trips to zoos and museums. We built forts and played Hide-and-Seek. They laughed at my corny “Dad Jokes.” There were swing sets, see-saws and bike rides. There were fishing trips, campouts, and movie nights complete with freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. I went with them on their school field trips. I made clever costumes for them for Halloween. I frequently went to their schools during lunch hour so I could eat lunch with them. I coached their soccer teams. I sat with them at the kitchen table to help them study for tests in school. I hugged them and comforted them when their feelings were hurt by friends. I stayed up late hours helping them with science fair projects and health fair posters. I loved every minute of it!

Then, one day it happened. My heart sank a little when my daughter said, “You don’t have to come eat lunch with me at school today, Dad.” I choked back the lump in my throat and said, “Oh … Okay.” One of my babies was growing up and didn’t need me as much as they used to. My son was still happy for me to be a part of his life, though, so I continued going to lunch with him, and continued with his field trips all through elementary school.

But, then came Junior High. I remember going on one of my son’s field trips and noticed that he kept his distance from me the whole time. I knew then it was time for me to step aside and let him grow up, too. Oh, it was painful!

So, just as much as I felt and experienced the joy of being a father, I was now feeling the pain that goes with the territory. I began to understand even more of what God goes through when His children go their own way and don’t depend on Him the way they once did. Of course, we want our kids to grow up and be independent ultimately, but there’s never a time when we (as God’s children) outgrow our need for our Father in Heaven.

The day my daughter was to drive off to Atlanta for her first year of college, I called her aside to the kitchen. I told her, “When I first met your mother, I thought I really understood what LOVE was … then along came you. You opened up my heart so I could see there was a deeper love inside me than I ever imagined. I’ve learned so much about the Father Heart of God because of you. So, just remember this. No matter how old you get, I’ll always be your Daddy … and you’ll always be my little girl.” You’ll never guess what happened next. Then again, maybe you will … I cried … actually, we both cried.

Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers who are reading this article.

Simply Southern TV explores all of Alabama, from barnyards and backroads to metros and highways, to bring you the best stories focused on farming, gardening, forestry, rural living and youth in agriculture.

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BY JESSIE SHOOK

Dairy Month

June is national dairy month! We are celebrating the hard work and dedication that goes into dairy farming. Those early mornings and long hours can’t be easy, but we sure do appreciate the delicious and healthy product dairy farmers bring to our table!

Savory:

Herbed Goat Cheese

Stuffed Mushrooms

12 ounces cremini or button mushrooms

4 ounces goat cheese

2-3 ounces whipped cream cheese

1/2 Tablespoon fresh parsley

1 Tablespoon fresh chopped scallions or chives

1/4 cup Italian-seasoned panko, optional

Extra virgin olive oil for drizzling, optional Sweet balsamic glaze for drizzling

First up, do you have a hand mixer? FAB! Use it to whip your goat cheese into fluffy amazingness. You could also use a small food processor to do the trick or let the goat cheese get ultra soft at room temperature, add a little drizzle of honey, and mix it up with some elbow grease and a fork.  Game on. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Clean mushrooms with a damp paper towel + remove stems. If using panko, lightly toast it by bringing a skillet to medium high heat with a drizzle of oil. Add panko and toast until golden, stirring frequently for about 1-2 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside. Combine goat cheese, whipped cream cheese, green onion, parsley, and mix well. A drizzle of honey would also be delicious

here! Spoon a dollop into each mushroom. You can also add the filling to a piping bag or plastic bag with the corner cut off and pipe the filling into the mushrooms – this method is super speedy if you're making a bunch! Arrange on a baking sheet lined with foil and bake at 350 degrees F for approx. 15-20 minutes, or until filling is warm and mushrooms are tender. Top with panko (optional) and garnish the tray with some extra parsley for a burst of color. Drizzle with balsamic glaze and you’re good to go!

Baked Mac and Cheese

16 ounces elbow macaroni, cooked (or other tubular pasta)

1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

6 Tablespoons unsalted butter

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

3 cups whole milk

1 cup heavy whipping cream

4 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded 2 cups Gruyere cheese, shredded Salt and pepper to taste

1 1/2 cups panko crumbs

4 Tablespoons butter, melted 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika (or regular paprika)

Heat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease a large 3 qt or 4 qt baking dish and set aside. Combine shredded cheeses in a large bowl and set aside. Cook the pasta one minute shy of al dente according to the package instructions. Remove from heat, drain, and place in a large bowl. Drizzle pasta with olive oil and stir to coat pasta. Set aside to cool while preparing cheese sauce. Melt butter in a deep saucepan, Dutch oven, or stock pot. Whisk in flour over medium heat and continue whisking for about 1 minute until bubbly and golden. Gradually whisk in the milk and heavy cream until nice and smooth. Continue whisking until you see bubbles on the surface and then continue cooking and whisking for another 2 minutes. Whisk in salt and pepper. Add two cups of shredded cheese and whisk until smooth. Add another two cups of shredded cheese and continue whisking until creamy and smooth. Sauce should be nice and thick. Stir in the cooled pasta until combined and pasta is fully coated with the cheese sauce. Pour half of the mac and cheese into the prepared baking dish. Top with remaining 2 cups of shredded cheese and then the remaining mac and cheese. In a small bowl, combine panko crumbs, Parmesan cheese, melted butter and paprika. Sprinkle over the top and bake until bubbly and golden brown, about 30 minutes. Serve immediately.

Beer Cheese Dip

1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 cup milk

2/3 cup beer

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

2 cups sharp cheddar, shredded

1 cup Gruyere or Swiss cheese, shredded

Melt butter, flour, onion powder, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper over medium heat in a saucepan. Cook 1 minute. Stir in milk and beer a bit at a time, whisking until smooth after each addition. Continue cooking over medium heat, add in mustard and Worcestershire, cooking sauce until thick and bubbly. Reduce heat to low, add cheeses, and stir just until melted and smooth. Serve warm with vegetables, tortilla chips or soft pretzels.

Homemade Alfredo Sauce

1/2 cup butter

1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream

2 teaspoons garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Add the butter and cream to a large skillet. Simmer over low heat for 2 minutes. Whisk in the garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper for one minute. Whisk in the Parmesan cheese until melted. Serve immediately.

Sweet:

Homemade Ice Cream

Yield: About 1½ pints

2 cups heavy cream

1 cup whole milk

2/3 cup sugar

1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt

6 large egg yolks

Your choice of flavoring

In a small pot, simmer heavy cream, milk, sugar and salt until sugar completely dissolves, about 5 minutes. Remove pot from heat. In a separate bowl, whisk yolks. Whisking constantly, slowly whisk about a third of the hot cream into the yolks, then whisk the yolk mixture back into the pot with the cream. Return pot to medium-low heat and gently cook until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon (about 170 degrees on an instant-read thermometer). Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl. Cool mixture to room temperature. Cover and chill at least 4 hours or overnight. Churn in an ice cream machine according to manufacturer's instructions. Serve directly from the machine for soft serve, or store in freezer until needed.

Cheesecake

Graham Cracker Crust

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

2 Tablespoons sugar

1 Tablespoon brown sugar (can substitute white)

7 Tablespoons butter, melted

Cheesecake

32 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature

1 cup sugar

2/3 cups sour cream

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon salt

4 large eggs, room temperature, lightly beaten

Heat oven to 325 F. Prepare graham cracker crust first by combining graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and brown sugar, and stirring well. Add melted butter and use a fork to combine ingredients well. Pour crumbs into a 9” springform pan and press firmly into the bottom and up the sides of pan. Set aside.

Cheesecake: In the bowl of a stand mixer or in a large bowl (using a hand mixer) add cream cheese and stir until smooth and creamy (don’t over-beat or you’ll incorporate too much air). Add sugar and stir again until creamy. Add sour cream, vanilla extract, and salt, and stir until well combined. If using a stand mixer, make sure you pause periodically to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl with a spatula so that all ingredients are evenly incorporated. With mixer on low speed, gradually add lightly beaten eggs, one at a time, stirring just until each egg is just incorporated. Once all eggs have been added, use a spatula to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl again and make sure all ingredients are well combined. Pour cheesecake batter into prepared springform pan. To

insure against leaks, place pan on a cookie sheet that’s been lined with foil. Transfer to the center rack of your oven and bake on 325F (160C) for about 75 minutes. Edges will likely have slightly puffed and may have just begun to turn a light golden brown and the center should spring back to the touch but will still be Jello-jiggly. Don't over-bake or the texture will suffer, which means we all suffer. Remove from oven and allow to cool on top of the oven for 10 minutes. Once 10 minutes has passed, use a knife to gently loosen the crust from the inside of the springform pan (this will help prevent cracks as your cheesecake cools and shrinks). Do not remove the ring of the springform pan. Allow cheesecake to cool another 1-2 hours or until near room temperature before transferring to refrigerator and allowing to cool overnight or at least 6 hours. I remove the ring of the springform pan just before serving then return it to the pan to store. Enjoy!

Red Velvet Cake Trifle

1 box red velvet cake mix

1 cup whole buttermilk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

3 eggs, room temperature

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

4 Tablespoons butter, softened

1 cup powdered sugar

1 batch Hot Chocolate Whipped Cream

Heat oven to 350 F. In a large mixing bowl or bowl of a stand mixer, combine cake mix, buttermilk, water and eggs. Beat on medium speed until well combined. Pour into greased 13×9-inch baking pan and bake per box directions. Remove and let cool completely. Cut or break up into small chunks. Cake can be made a day ahead of time. In a large mixing bowl combine cream cheese and butter. Beat on medium speed with electric mixer until well combined. Grad-

ually beat in powdered sugar. Set aside. Prepare a batch of Hot Chocolate Whipped Cream.

Hot Chocolate Whipped Cream

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1/2 cup (3 packets) powdered hot chocolate mix

Place metal bowl and whisk in freezer for about 15 minutes. Pour the heavy whipping cream into mixing bowl and beat on high for 2 minutes or until soft peaks form. Add hot cocoa mix, mixing on low speed just until incorporated and then increase speed to high and continue to beat until stiff peaks form. Use right away and then keep refrigerated.

Gently fold Hot Chocolate Whipped Cream into the cream cheese mix. Cover and chill until ready to use. To assemble the trifle, place a layer of cake pieces into bottom of trifle bowl followed by whipped frosting mix. Keep layering until all cake is used making sure to end with whipped frosting. If needed, press down on cake layer each time before adding frosting mix to ensure it all fits in bowl. If desired, top with chocolate shavings, chopped chocolate pieces or chopped pecans.

Did you try one of these recipes?

Snap a picture and share it on social media! Tag us and use the hashtag #CoopPantry!

MUSIC AND A MOVIE/HERITAGE PARK MARKETPLACE

June 2, 2023

Foley - Heritage Park

4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Music begins at 6:00 p.m. and the movie starts at dusk

Call 251-943-1200

44TH ANNUAL HANK WILLIAMS SR. FESTIVAL

June 2-3, 2023

Georgiana - 127 Rose Street

Admission

Call 334-376-2396

NORTH ALABAMA AFRICAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL

June 2-3, 2023

Tuscumbia - 609 South East Street Call 256-381-1797

SHIPS ACROSS AMERICAMUSEUM SHIPS WEEKEND

June 2-4, 2023

Mobile - USS Alabama Battleship

Memorial Park - Admission

5:00 p.m.

Call 251-433-2703

MUSCLE SHOALS STREET ROD FESTIVAL

June 3, 2023

Tuscumbia - Spring Park Road Call 256-381-3518

MADE ON THE MOUNTAIN FEST

June 3, 2023

Albertville - Downtown

10:00 a.m.

Call 256-878-3821

PROPAGATION 201: INTERMEDIATE PROPAGATION TECHNIQUES

June 3, 2023

Huntsville - Huntsville Botanical Garden - Admission

10:00 a.m. - Noon

Call 256-830-4447

VULCAN’S 119TH BIRTHDAY BASH

June 4, 2023

Birmingham - Vulcan Park

Admission - Noon - 4:00 p.m. Call 205-933-1409

WORLD OCEANS DAY

June 8, 2023

Mobile - Dauphin Island

Virtual - all day

MUSIC AND A MOVIE

June 9, 2023

Foley - Heritage Park

4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Music begins at 6:00 p.m. and the movie starts at dusk

Call 251-943-1200

2023 ALEXANDER CITY JAZZ FEST

June 9-10, 2023

Alexander City - Various Locations

6:00 - 10:30 p.m.

Friday: Downtown

Saturday: The AMP on Lake Martin Call 256-397-1019

HYDRANGEAS UNDER THE STARS 2023

June 10, 2023

Hoover - Aldridge Gardens

6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Call 205-682-8019

CARIBBEAN FOOD AND MUSIC FESTIVAL

June 10, 2023

Bessemer - DeBardeleben Park

11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Call 205-683-5324

GREENSBORO ALABAMA

BICENTENNIAL TOUR

June 10-11, 2023

Greensboro - Various Locations

Admission

Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Sunday: 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Call 334-624-8618

40TH ALABAMA STATE GAMES

June 9-11, 2023

Birmingham - Various Locations Various Times Call 334-280-0065

BARBER SMALL BORE

June 9-11, 2023

Birmingham - Barber Motorsports Park - Admission

Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

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

Sunday: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Call 205-699-7275

ALABAMA BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL

June 17, 2023

Brewton - Jennings Park

Admission

8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Call 251-867-3224

PICNIC IN THE PARK

June 17, 2023

Geraldine - Kermit Machen Street

3:00 p.m.

Call 256-659-2122

FATHERS DAY WEEKEND

June 17-18, 2023

Foley - Downtown OWA

Various Times

Call 251-923-2111

ART OF THE DISH EXHIBIT

June 22-24, 2023

Tuscumbia - Belle Mont Mansion

Admission - 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Call 256-381-5052

PEACH JAM JUBILEE 2023

June 24, 2023

Clanton - Clanton City Park

Admission - 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Call 205-755-2400

HELEN KELLER FESTIVAL

June 22-25, 2023

Tuscumbia - Various Locations

Concerts: $5.00

Various Times

Call 256-383-0783

GUNTERSVILLE LAKE HYDROFEST

June 24-25, 2023

Guntersville - Lake Guntersville

Admission

Venue opens at 8:00 a.m.

Call 256-582-7015

SUMMER CAMPS 2023

June 5-30, 2023

Hoover - Aldridge Gardens

Admission - 9:00 a.m. - Noon

Monday - Friday

Call 205-682-8019

ARTI GRAS

July 1 - 2, 2023

Alexander City - Russell Crossroads

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Call 256-212-1431

4TH OF JULY WEEKEND PARTY

July 1 - 2, 2023

Foley - OWA

Call 251-923-2111

FRIDAYS AFTER FIVE

July 1-28, 2023

Athens - Historic Downtown

5:00 - 8:30 p.m.

Call 256-232-9040

49TH ANNUAL GRAND BAY

WATERMELON FESTIVAL

July 3-4, 2023

Grand Bay - Odd Fellows Festival

Park - Admission

10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Call 251-865-3456

AWW SHUCKS

3 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

July 4, 2023

Birmingham - 4120 Messer Airport Highway - Admission Call 205-346-1999

40TH ANNUAL SHOALS SPIRIT OF FREEDOM CELEBRATION

July 4, 2023

Florence - McFarland Park

3:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Fireworks follow show at 9:00 p.m. Call 256-740-4141

4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS AND CONCERT AT THE AMP

July 4, 2023

Eclectic - The AMP on Lake Martin

Admission - 6:30 - 10:30 p.m.

Fireworks at 9:00 p.m. Call 256-397-1019

JULY 4TH CONCERT & FIREWORKS

July 4, 2023

Phenix City - The Amphitheater

6:30 - 11:00 p.m. EST

Call 334-448-2701

RUSSELL MARINE’S 4TH OF JULY BOAT PARADE

July 4, 2023

Alex City - Kowaliga Marina

10:00 a.m. Call 334-857-2111

2023 SADDLE UP FOR ST. JUDE

July 13-15, 2023

Tuscumbia - Gardiner Farm

Admission

Gates open at 7:00 a.m. Call 256-446-5392

LIONS LAKE MARTIN

CHARITY POKER RUN

July 15, 2023

Alex City - Starts at Kowaliga

Marina and ends at The Ridge

Marina - Admission

8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Call 256-743-0208

CAPITAL CITY SHAPE

NOTE SINGING

July 20, 2023

Montgomery - Old Alabama Town

9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Call 334-242-4076

CARIBBEAN DAY

July 22, 2023

Foley - OWA

Various Times

Call 251-923-2111

W.C. HANDY MUSIC FESTIVAL

July 23-29, 2023

Florence - Various Locations

Admission varies by events

Various Times

Call 256-766-7642

MUSIC AT THE MANSION

July 29, 2023

Tuscumbia - Belle Mont Mansion

Admission - 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Call 256-766-7642

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 a end 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.