October 2021 by afccooperativefarmingnews

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Cooperative Farming News

IN THIS ISSUE:

pg. 46

CO-OP MATTERS 36 2020 E.P. Garrett Manager of the Year Award 38 Years of Service Awards 40 Pacesetter Awards

pg. 42

pg. 22

28 PALS: West Blocton Elementary Environmental Day

121 Somerville Road NE Decatur, AL 35601-2659 P.O. Box 2227 Decatur, AL 35609-2227 256-308-1618

AFC Officers

AFC Board of Directors

Rickey Cornutt, Matt Haney, Brooks Hayes, Rick Hendricks, Bill Sanders, Jeff Sims, Mike Tate, David Womack

42 Wagyu of Alabama 46 Walt Merrell: Common Ground YOUTH MATTERS On the Cover: 2020 E.P. Garrett Manager of the Year, Wayne Gilliam, Tuscaloosa Farmers Cooperative. Story on page 36. (Photo Credit: AFC Publication Staff)

OUR REGULARS Letter from the Editor................ 4

Weed’em And Reap................... 50

Ag Insight.................................... 8

How’s Your Garden?................... 51

Business of Farming................... 12 Howle’s Hints.............................. 53 Feeding Facts ............................. 14 The Magic of Gardening........... 56 From the State Vet’s Office......... 16 Simple Times.............................. 58 What’s the Point.......................... 18 Food Safety................................. 62 On the Edge of Common Sense... 20 Grazing Grace............................ 65 Outdoor Logic with BioLogic.... 30 The Co-op Pantry....................... 67 Cooking with Stacy Lyn............. 34 What’s Happening in Alabama... 70 www.alafarm.com

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Rivers Myres, President Ben Haynes, Chairman of the Board

LIFE ON THE HOMEPLACE AND IN THE COMMUNITY

22 FFA Sentinel: The Legacy of J.L. Parish 24 4-H Extension Corner: The “Funnest” Thing Ever ...

Editor-in-Chief: Samantha Hendricks Editor: Jessie Shook Contributing Editor: Jade Randolph Associate Editor: Mary Delph

Subscription $15 per year For subscription inquiries or change of address: P.O. Box 2227, Decatur, AL 356092227 or call 256-308-1623 Subscribe online at https://www.alafarm.com/magazine

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Wendy McFarland 334-652-9080 or email McFarlandAdVantage@gmail.com Cooperative Farming News is published 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 written permission is strictly prohibited. The 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 qualified, 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.

www.alafarm.com Postmaster: Please send notice of address change (enclosing latest address label) to publication office: Cooperative Farming News P.O. Box 2227 Decatur, AL 35609-2227

October 2021

October is one of my favorite months. Harvest season is in full swing, the weather is cooler and we celebrate BEEF month here in Alabama! My husband and I, along with his family, raise beef cattle and I have grown to love the process of providing quality animals from our farm. In this issue, you’ll find delicious beef recipes that are perfect for your next gathering or a weeknight at home. Try out these recipes with the delicious beef of Wagyu of Alabama LLC. This beef is produced by a devoted cattleman who focuses on quality. We’re also sharing our second Co-op Cattle-Log. This insert in the middle of your magazine is filled with cattle sales from October to February. Our goal is to highlight and host the cattle sale ads in one place, making it easier for you to find what you’re looking for when buying cattle this fall and winter. We’re proud to produce this publication for a second consecutive year and look forward to growing it in years to come. Join us in congratulating our 2020 E.P. Garrett Manager of the Year, Wayne Gilliam of Tuscaloosa Farmers Cooperative. Wayne is the first and only four-time winner of this prestigious award. We are proud of his accomplishments and applaud him and his staff for a job well done. We have a few exciting announcements coming in the next couple of months and can’t wait to share them with you! We’re also looking forward to releasing our 85th Anniversary cookbook in the spring and hope you’ll pick up a copy when they make their debut! Thank you for being a loyal reader, customer, and part of the AFC family.

Samantha Hendricks Editor-in-Chief 4

Cooperative Farming News

Visit our website to subscribe to our magazine, read online and order our signature Co-op Cap!

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October 2021

Serving gardeners, farmers and everyone in between

Cooperative Farming News

DIRECTORY OF MEMBER COOPERATIVES ALTHA FARMERS COOPERATIVE James Lynn, Mgr. Phone 850-674-8194

FARMERS COOPERATIVE MARKET Doug Smith, Gen. Mgr. FRISCO CITY - William Womack, Mgr. Phone 251-267-3175 Fertilizer / Phone 251-267-3173 LEROY - Jeff Hughston, Mgr. Phone 251-246-3512

ANDALUSIA FARMERS COOPERATIVE Russell Lassiter, Gen. Mgr. Phone 334-222-1851 FLORALA - Pete Blackwell, Mgr. Phone 334-858-6142 OPP - Brandon Bledsoe, Mgr. Phone 334-493-7715

FARMERS CO-OP OF ASHFORD Timothy Tolar, Mgr. Phone 334-899-3263

ATMORE FARMERS COOPERATIVE Todd Booker, Gen. Mgr. Phone 251-368-2191 BLOUNT COUNTY FARMERS COOPERATIVE Eric Sanders, Mgr. Phone 205-274-2185 CENTRAL ALABAMA FARMERS COOPERATIVE Tim Wood, Gen. Mgr. SELMA - Thomas Reeves, Mgr. Phone 334-874-9083 FAUNSDALE - Bryan Monk, Mgr. Phone 334-628-2681 DEMOPOLIS - Tom Eunice, Mgr. Phone 334-289-0155 CHEROKEE FARMERS COOPERATIVE Seth Eubanks, Gen. Mgr. CENTRE Phone 256-927-3135 JACKSONVILLE - Tommy Thomas, Mgr. Phone 256-435-3430 PIEDMONT - Kevin Bobbitt, Mgr. Phone 256-447-6560

FARMERS COOPERATIVE, INC. Todd Lawrence, Gen. Mgr. LIVE OAK, FL - Barry Long, Ag Div. Mgr. Phone 386-362-1459 MADISON, FL - Jerry Owens, Operations Mgr. Phone 850-973-2269 GENCO FARMERS COOPERATIVE Ricky Wilks, Gen. Mgr. HARTFORD - Todd Smith, Mgr. Phone 334-588-2992 WEST GENEVA - Robert Pittman, Mgr. Phone 334-898-7932 ENTERPRISE Phone 334-347-9007 ELBA - Colin Morris, Mgr. Phone 334-897-6972 HEADLAND PEANUT WAREHOUSE CO-OP Jay Jones, Mgr. Chris Hix, Store Mgr. Phone 334-693-3313 JAY PEANUT FARMERS COOPERATIVE Ryan Williams, Mgr. Phone 850-675-4597

CLAY COUNTY EXCHANGE Jeff Kinder, Mgr. Phone 256-396-2097

LUVERNE COOPERATIVE SERVICES Perry Catrett, Mgr. Phone 334-335-5082

COLBERT FARMERS COOPERATIVE Daniel Waldrep, Gen. Mgr. LEIGHTON - Tommy Sockwell, Mgr. Phone 256-446-8328 TUSCUMBIA - Chuck Hellums, Mgr. Phone 256-383-6462

MADISON COUNTY COOPERATIVE Keith Griffin, Gen. Mgr. HAZEL GREEN - Phone 256-828-2010 MERIDIANVILLE - Matt Dunbar, Mgr. Phone 256-828-5360 NEW MARKET - Phone 256-379-2553 Ramsey Prince, Mgr. SCOTTSBORO - Phone 256-574-1688 Patricia Rorex, Mgr. STEVENSON - Phone 256-437-8829

DEKALB FARMERS COOPERATIVE Lance Ezelle, Gen. Mgr. RAINSVILLE - Andrea Crain, Mgr. Phone 256-638-2569 CROSSVILLE - David Tierce, Mgr. Phone 256-528-7188 ALBERTVILLE - Nicholas Byars, Mgr. Phone 256-878-3261

MARION COUNTY COOPERATIVE Steve Lann, Gen. Mgr. HAMILTON - Phone 205-921-2631 FAYETTE - Kellie Trull, Mgr. Phone 205-932-5901 HALEYVILLE - Jessica Steward, Mgr. Phone 205-486-3794

ELBERTA FARMERS COOPERATIVE Justin Brown, Gen. Mgr. Phone 251-986-8103

MARSHALL FARMERS COOPERATIVE Brian Keith, Gen. Mgr. HOLLY POND - Phone 256-796-5337 ARAB - Mark Upton Phone 256-586-5515 MORGAN FARMERS COOPERATIVE Bradley Hopkins, Gen. Mgr. HARTSELLE - Phone 256-773-6832 PIKE COUNTY COOPERATIVE Danny Dewrell, Gen. Mgr. GOSHEN - Phone 334-484-3441 TROY - Jeff Baron, Mgr. Phone 334-566-3882 QUALITY COOPERATIVE, INC. Daniel Salter, Mgr. Phone 334-382-6548 TALEECON FARMERS COOPERATIVE Scott Hartley, Gen. Mgr. Phone 334-257-3930 WETUMPKA - Timothy Richardson, Mgr. Phone 334-567-4321 TALLADEGA COUNTY EXCHANGE Chris Elliott, Gen. Mgr. Phone 256-362-2716 ASHVILLE - Allen Bice, Mgr. Phone 205-594-7042 PELL CITY - Joseph Taylor, Mgr. Phone 205-338-2821 COLUMBIANA - Barry Keller, Mgr. Phone 205-669-7082 RANDOLPH - Tim Brown, Mgr. Phone 256-357-4743 TENNESSEE VALLEY COOPERATIVE, LLC John Curtis, President ATHENS – Britt Christopher, Mgr. Phone 256-232-5500 LYNNVILLE, TN - Kyle Doggett, Mgr. Phone 931-527-3923 PULASKI, TN – Celena Williams, Mgr. Phone 931-363-2563 Reggie Shook, Vice Pres. FLORENCE - Robbie Neal, Mgr. Phone 256-764-8441 ELGIN - Wendell Walker, Mgr. Phone 256-247-3453 John Holley, Vice Pres. MOULTON - Greg McCannon, Mgr. Phone 256-974-9213 COURTLAND Phone 256-637-2939 TUSCALOOSA FARMERS COOPERATIVE Wayne Gilliam, Mgr. Phone 205-339-8181 WALKER FARMERS COOPERATIVE Cody King, Mgr. Phone 205-387-1142

*PLEASE CONTACT EACH STORE DIRECTLY FOR ALL OF THE SERVICES THEY OFFER* PEANUTS

PECANS

PROPANE

PEA SHELLING

CATFISH

October 2021

AG INSIGHT Dairy product mix, farmer strategies change significantly The dairy industry product mix has changed in what may seem like surprising ways over the years but especially during the past two decades, according to a study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (ERS). Among other things: • The average percentages of both milk fat and skim solids in farm milk (cows’ milk from dairy farms) have risen. In 2000, U.S. farm milk contained 3.68% milk fat and 8.72% skim solids on average. By 2020, the milkfat percentage had grown to 3.95%, and the skim-solids percentage had increased to 8.94%. For skim solids, content increased gradually from 2000 to 2020, while milk-fat content began rising in 2011, after remaining relatively steady from 2000 to 2010. • Cheese is the dairy product category accounting for the largest percentage of the U.S. milk-fat supply, and that percentage has been growing. • Fluid beverage milk is the dairy product category accounting for the largest percentage of the U.S. skim-solids supply, but that percentage has been declining. • In response to an increase in demand for products with high milk-fat content, dairy farmers have selected breeds, adjusted feeds and made use of improved genetics to increase milk fat produced by dairy cows. The average milk-fat content of fluid milk varied over the 20-year period, reflecting shifting consumer attitudes toward dietary trends for this dairy product. Fluid milk’s fat content averaged 2.01% in 2000 and fell gradually, reaching a low for the 20-year period of 1.83% in 2012. The decline was due to falling sales volumes of whole milk and rising sales volumes of lower fat milks. However, since then consumers began to look at milk fat more favorably, whole milk sales increased and sales of lower fat milk varieties decreased. In 2019, the total supply of skim solids available for dairy processing and manufacturing was 19.5 billion pounds, 33% more than in 2000. Fluid milk accounts 8

Cooperative Farming News

for the largest portion of skim-solids use, but that allocation has been declining over time. If this trend continues, cheese may overtake fluid milk as the largest use of skim solids within the next few years.

Funding available for multistate specialty crop program The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that $10 million is available for competitive grant funding in the Specialty Crop Multi-State Program (SCMP). “This program is an important resource to strengthen the competitiveness of our nation’s specialty crop industry,” said Bruce Summers, administrator of USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, which manages SCMP. “By working across state lines, grant recipients can share resources and collaboratively address challenges for specific crops.” Grants are awarded to state departments of agriculture to fund collaborative, multistate projects that address food safety, plant pests and disease, research, crop-specific common issues, and marketing and promotion for specialty crops including fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture. State departments must partner with organizations located in at least two different states to qualify. Partner organizations include specialty crop producer

BY J I M E R I C K S O N

associations and groups, state agencies, tribal governments, universities, nonprofits, and other stakeholder groups and organizations. Funding will be available for awarded projects in the spring of 2022 with a period of performance of 36 months. Matching funds are not required. In addition to screening proposals and submitting applications to AMS, participating state departments of agriculture will: • Assume administrative responsibility for any application they submit that is selected for funding. • Establish subgrants and/or contracts with the multistate partners to complete the project. Applications must be received on or before Dec. 6, 2021.

Study shows poverty’s extent, impact A recent study of poverty in this nation identified 310 counties – 10% of all U.S. counties – with high and persistent levels of poverty in 2019. Of those, 86% or 267 counties were rural (nonmetro). Moreover, those rural counties were concentrated in historically poor areas of the Mississippi Delta, Appalachia, the

Black Belt and the southern border regions, as well as on Native American lands. The study’s author, Tracey Farrigan of USDA’s Economic Research Service, notes that living in high and persistent poverty areas presents barriers to well-being for poor and nonpoor residents alike. Those barriers include limiting access to medical services, healthy and affordable food, quality education, broadband and civic engagement opportunities. The longer poverty persists in an area, the more likely it will be that the community may not have adequate support services, private sector disinvestment may take place, social programs may suffer, and the existence of effective social and safety networks may decline. The double exposure phenomenon – the combination of individual poverty and a persistently high poverty rate where the individual resides – can perpetuate poverty from one generation to the next. Opportunities for upward mobility in poor areas are often limited by lack of jobs that pay a living wage, high rates of joblessness, lower high school graduation rates and a host of interconnected social issues (such as crime and teen pregnancy). Rural residents who identify as Black or African American and American Indian or Alaska Native were particularly vulnerable to the double exposure phenomenon. Nearly half the rural poor within these groups resided in high and persistent poverty counties in 2019. By comparison, 20% of rural poor Hispanics and 12% of rural non-Hispanic Whites resided in those counties.

SNAP online purchasing grows in popularity A pilot program enabling participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to purchase groceries online from authorized, participating retailers has grown quickly in popularity, but still accounts for only a small percentage of overall benefits redeemed. Mandated by the 2014 Farm Bill, the pilot program was intended to test the feasibility of safe and secure online SNAP benefit redemptions. Online transactions are subject to the same requirements as in-person transactions. Benefits can be spent only on food at home and cannot be used for additional expenses tied to online grocery shopping, such as tips or fees. October 2021

“Many farmers have told us that cost was a barrier to their ability to get an organic certification.” – Zach Ducheneaux, administrator of USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA)

Online SNAP grocery purchases can be delivered or picked up on-site like other online grocery purchases. USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) originally selected eight states to participate in the online purchasing pilot in coordination with selected retailers and state agencies. The pilot initially launched in New York State in April 2019. As access to the pilot expanded during 2020, so did use of online SNAP purchasing. In February 2020, the earliest month for which data are available, households redeemed less than $3 million in SNAP benefits online, accounting for less than 0.1% of all benefits redeemed that month. This value grew especially rapidly through June 2020, when online SNAP and pandemic-electronic benefit transfer (P-EBT) redemptions totaled $154 million, or 1.6% of total redemptions. Online redemptions grew each subsequent month through December 2020 to $246 million – 86 times the value in February. In addition to expanding access to the pilot, this growth reflects other factors such as changing demand for online grocery purchasing caused by the pandemic. However, despite this rapid growth, online redemptions still made up just 3% of the total $8.1 billion in benefits redeemed in December 2020.

Cost sharing available for organic certification expenses Organic producers and handlers can now apply for USDA funds to assist with the cost of receiving or maintaining organic certification. Applications for 10

Cooperative Farming News

the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) are due Nov. 1, 2021. “Many farmers have told us that cost was a barrier to their ability to get an organic certification,” said Zach Ducheneaux, administrator of USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). “By assisting with the costs, this program can help organic farmers get their certification, along with the benefits that come with it.” OCCSP provides cost-share assistance to producers and handlers of agricultural products for the costs of obtaining or maintaining organic certification under the USDA’s National Organic Program. Eligible producers include any certified producers or handlers who have paid organic certification fees to a USDA-accredited certifying agent during 2021 and any subsequent program year. Producers can be reimbursed for expenses made between Oct. 1, 2020, and Sept. 30, 2021, including application fees, inspection costs, fees related to equivalency agreement and arrangement requirements, travel expenses for inspectors, user fees, sales assessments and postage. For 2021, OCCSP will reimburse 50% of a certified operation’s allowable certification costs, up to a maximum of $500 for each of the following categories (or “scopes”): • Crops. • Wild crops. • Livestock. • Processing/handling. • State organic program fees. Farmers and ranchers may apply through an FSA county office or a participating state agency. Cost sharing will be complemented by an additional $20 million for organic and transitioning producers through the Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. More information on that funding will be available soon. Those wanting more information about the organic certification cost share should visit the OCCSP webpage, usda.gov/organic or contact their local USDA Service Center.

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October 2021

BUSINESS OF FARMING

Managing Expenses for the Farm and the Family Commodity prices for row crops have been on a wild ride in recent years. From the decade lows of 2019 to the spike in prices that is reminiscent of record highs in 2011-2013 (see Figure 1). As higher prices have been maintained throughout the first half of 2021, it can be easy to start thinking about the current market situation as a new norm. It’s only natural to want to remember the highs and forget the lows. Thus, I want to take this opportunity to discuss a few important topics in managing expenses for the farm and the family. Figure 1. Average Annual Nearby Futures Market Prices for Corn and Soybeans 12

Cooperative Farming News

BY ADAM N. RABINOWITZ, PH.D

The Counter to High Prices While prices are high and are projected to remain strong, there is another side of the equation that may limit farm income from following this upward trajectory. Input costs during 2021 have also been increasing. Fertilizer prices have sharply increased to their highest point since 2013. The same is true for some chemical prices and other inputs. A combination of factors is contributing to the rise in input prices, but one persistent reason is the cycle of increasing crop prices leading to higher input costs. The demand pressure for crop inputs increases their price.

Table 1. Major Farm Income and Expense Categories

Major Farm Income Categories • Revenue from Product Sold. • Payments from Government Programs. • Crop Insurance Proceeds. • Revenue from Custom Work. • Other Income.

Major Farm Expense Categories • Seed or plants. • Fertilizer and pesticide treatments. • Hired labor. • Machinery operating expenses. • Land rent or ownership. • Vehicle expenses. • Drying, hauling and marketing. • Utilities. • Taxes.

It’s important to also keep a close eye on land rental rates during times of increasing prices. Landowners may view increased crop prices as an opportunity to increase rents since production on the land yields a higher revenue. Producers need to be careful about locking in long-term contracts at higher rates. There is no guarantee that prices will remain at current levels over the next three years, or longer. Once again, history tells us that we should expect prices to fall. Being locked into high land rents can lead to critical issues in the farm’s finances. Fundamentally, this means that producers need to remember that farm income is not just about the revenue but the expenses, too. A focus on margins can be more informative to the financial situation of the farm rather than a focus on just price, yield and the resulting revenue. This starts by having good documentation on an individual farm’s cost of production. Table 1 details some of the important elements to include for good record keeping. Not only does that help for measuring farm finances today but it also allows for appropriate budgeting when planning for the next crop year. Family Living Expenses Another topic that is often thought to be separate from the farm is family living expenses. These are sometimes also called personal withdrawals. When prices are high it’s easy to start thinking about all the family wants and needs. While vacations and luxury items can be tempting, spending on the more essential items should first be examined. This includes kids’ day care and school activities, groceries, insurance, mortgage, cell phones, utilities, internet and retirement savings. For the vast majority of farmers, the farm and the family are one and the same. Balancing family living expenses when prices are high can help establish a safety net when prices begin to fall. Planning as a Key to Success Setting goals, estimating expenses, and remembering the good financial times and the bad can help keep the farm’s finances on track for long-term success. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) has the resources available to help educate farmers based on scientific research and best practices. Reach out to your local Extension agent or specialist for assistance. October 2021

FEEDING FACTS

The Dangers of Grazing After a Frost As fall weather gets here and the first frost of fall gets closer, anyone grazing livestock needs to pay attention to what type of grasses your animals are grazing and if there are any dangers associated with grazing those particular plants after a frost or freeze. Most of the plants we graze are perfectly fine. Bermudagrass and Bahiagrasses tend to be perfectly safe to graze as long as they are available. Fescue can actually get better after a frost than it was before. However, there are some plants, particularly those in the sorghum families, including Johnsongrass, or sorghum sudangrasses that are well-known for producing prussic acid in times of stress and especially after a frost. Prussic acid is a cyanide-based

Cooperative Farming News

compound that is absorbed into the blood. It binds with hemoglobin and interferes with oxygen transfer. This causes asphyxiation and can kill an animal within minutes. Some of the symptoms of prussic acid poisoning are excess salivation, difficulty breathing, staggering, convulsions and collapse. These symptoms tend to happen rapidly and ruminants are more susceptible than other species because cud chewing and rumen bacteria increase the release of cyanide. When plants freeze, changes occur rapidly in their metabolism. Light frosts that stress the plant but do not kill it entirely are associated with prussic acid poisoning. Cyanide compounds are generally highest in

BY J I M M Y PA R K E R

immature plants and less prevalent in mature plants. Leaves contain higher levels than stems and plants that are growing under high nitrogen levels or in phosphorus- or potassium-deficient soils will be more likely to have high cyanide levels. Luckily cyanide is volatile and dissipates as time passes or as the plant dries. Removing the animals for a period of time is recommended. After 10 to 14 days from the last frost, it is generally safe to resume grazing sorghum plants. If that is not an option, there are other things that can be done. Grazing after three or four days if the plants are 20 to 30 inches tall is usually safe. Keep in mind that new growth at this time will be more dangerous than the mature forages and should be avoided for that 10- to 14-day window. Grazing high risk pastures should be avoided on nights when frost is likely if possible since high levels of prussic acid are produced within hours of a frost. If removal for any significant period of time is not an option, providing good hay and making sure that the animal’s stomachs are full before grazing frost-damaged plants can be helpful in diluting the toxic compounds. These animals should be monitored closely for the first several hours for any signs of prussic acid poisoning.

Alabama farmers typically start seeing frosts sometime in late October and planning now might save you some animals and at least some headaches when that frosty morning arrives. The light frosts can be a problem, but so can a true killing frost. Prussic acid can form then too, and while the cyanide levels tend to drop dramatically after about three days, most experts recommend removing animals from pastures with high-risk plants for five to seven days after a true killing frost just to be safe. Again, if you do not have the option to remove the animals, then provide good hay and maybe some feed to help dilute the cyanide levels in the animals’ diet and watch them closely for a few hours to make certain that you are not seeing signs of prussic acid poisoning. Most farmers typically wait as long as they can before putting out hay, but sacrificing a roll or two when the risk of frost approaches might be money well spent to cut down on the risk of having problems with prussic acid poisoning.

October 2021

FROM THE STATE VET’S OFFICE

It’s All About the

Sausage and Bacon

Alabama is not known to be a pork-producing state. That is because, generally speaking, we are not. And to put this in perspective, the 2019 agriculture census shows Iowa as having 24.5 million hogs compared to Alabama’s 12,000. That was in 2019. I suspect our numbers are considerably lower now. However, a 2020 estimate of the number of feral swine in Alabama was 255,000. So, when we hear about an outbreak of a foreign animal disease like African swine fever being confirmed in the Dominican Republic, it gets our attention. African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious, highly fatal virus that is devastating to swine producers who experience the disease. It can have a 100% case fatality rate in both domestic swine and wild hogs. It does not infect humans and it is not a food safety issue. The virus is usually spread pig-topig through close contact and body fluids. It can be 16

Cooperative Farming News

spread by ticks. The virus can also be spread through uncooked or undercooked pork that may be consumed by hogs. There is probably a handful of people reading this article that remember when we had hog cholera, also known as classical swine fever, here in the United States. An aggressive eradication program helped rid the United States of that virus. Along with an aggressive vaccination program, regulations were put into place that made it illegal to feed garbage from restaurants, lunchrooms and institutions to hogs. The regulations that were put into place because of hog cholera are still occurring. The significance of the garbage-feeding regulation is that the ASF virus can survive for months in the underprocessed pork. Several years ago, I was speaking to someone from the USDA Import/Export who said the amount of food people try to bring into the United

BY D R . T O N Y F R A Z I E R

States from other countries would surprise everyone. He said there are people coming through customs in airports every day who must surrender thousands of pounds of food that they are not allowed to bring into our country. And pork was a very popular food that those visitors try to bring. It is most always not malicious. It is just out of ignorance that they want to bring food from home with them. I once spoke with the director of Homeland Security’s Plum Island Foreign Animal Disease Laboratory about foreign animal disease viruses entering the United States. He said he believed there was a good chance that the viruses may be coming into our country, but, since we have such a small number of people in animal agriculture, the viruses just never make it to their target host. Neither he nor I knew if that was actually happening. But it is certainly a consideration. Now let’s get back to ASF. Of course, I am concerned that we be aware of any disease that could affect our small swine population. If you have a pen full of pigs that you feed out and sell to individuals for processing, I do not want your hogs to be affected by ASF. Another concern I have is that the Dominican Republic is a lot closer to Alabama than it is to Iowa. The ASF virus is not just going to blow in here on a puff of

wind, but I figure the closer you are to the source, the more likely it would be to show up. There are specific safeguards in place by USDA to help keep the ASF virus out of our country. Pork and pork products from the Dominican Republic are prohibited from entering the United States. Also, according to the USDA, the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Patrol has increased inspections on flights coming from the Dominican Republic to make sure that prohibited products are not entering the U.S. We can never afford to let our guard down when it comes to foreign animal diseases. China has been dealing with a severe ASF outbreak since 2018 that has resulted in the death of an estimated 100 million pigs. I haven’t heard how they think the virus got into the swine population in the Dominican Republic or if they even have an idea. But it got there somehow. We should never think it couldn’t happen here. That is why we continually preach, “If you see something, say something.” If you find dead feral swine on your land or if you have a few hogs that you raise and you begin losing them, let us or your veterinarian know. After all, it is all about the sausage and bacon and ham and barbequed pork and ....

October 2021

WHAT’S THE POINT WITH GREENPOINT AG

Cool-Season Forage Considerations for Fall and Winter

As we quickly approach the fall months, it is time to think about your annual cool-season forage production program. Each year presents a different and sometimes unique set of circumstances and challenges, and this year is no different in that respect.

Weather Conditions Increased amounts of rainfall this year have prevented producers from getting into the field for timely hay cuttings, which could lead to a shortage of hay and stored feed going into the winter. Pastures have been able to produce an excess of forage since mid-June. Cattle cannot keep up with this excess growth and have been seen in “brisket-deep grass” losing body condition, especially near the coast due to the dominant species there. The rapid growth and increased water content in perennial grasses has caused the forage to decline rapidly at a much faster pace than what we would expect as we approach the latter part of summer. Because of the wet, humid and lower-than-average temperatures this summer, it has been a perfect setup for increased internal parasite infestations in cattle. Producers should monitor cattle’s 18

Cooperative Farming News

body condition scores closely and may need to implement an additional deworming to what they would usually do in most years. Consider offering your cattle a high-quality protein supplement to help improve rumen microbe function to utilize all of the low-quality, abundant forage that is available and ensure that a high-quality mineral is available at all times to reduce loss of body condition. Products can be found that contain both in the same package. This loss in body condition can lead to expense in trying to catch them up and lost performance in terms of reproduction, calf vigor, overall health and weight gain.

Cost of Production Winter annual forage programs vary significantly across our region, but increased cost of production of cool-season annual forages will certainly affect most producers this year. Increased cost of seed can be attributed to several factors. One major factor is the sheer demand driven by government policies and industries looking to offset their carbon emissions. Cover crops are a big part of this and most of the annual forages used double as cover crops. Another factor is the

P E R RY M O B L E Y

short supply of some winter annuals due to the poor growing or harvesting conditions in the areas of the country where they are traditionally grown. Ryegrass production is projected to be off by 10% due to drought conditions in Oregon. Lastly, fertilizer prices continue to be very strong this year. Budgeting and planning are critical as we head into the fall and winter months.

Insects This summer has proven to be one of the worst armyworm outbreaks in recent memory. Producers in Louisiana and Mississippi have been battling them since May, and they are now being found in most of our region. Producers should be vigilant and diligent in scouting until the first frost as armyworms feed in existing forage for this year’s hay supply, posing a risk for early-planted forages, and can destroy new stands of cool-season grasses. A fairly new threat to our region, the striped grass looper has affected the coastal regions for several years now. They are spotted in late summer to early fall and are less discriminating in their food preferences, eating any grass that is available to them.

Disease Finally, the last thing to be on the lookout for this fall with your cool-season annuals is disease, specifically gray leaf spot. Last fall, a tremendous outbreak of gray leaf spot, also known as “blast,” was seen in ryegrass and a few other small grain species. The common denominator in the worst cases was early planting dates that subjected them to more heat and humidity

than what a cool-season plant can tolerate. Some varieties of ryegrass were affected more than others, with Marshall ryegrass seeing the most damage. The reason for this is twofold. Marshall ryegrass is the most common variety planted, so the law of averages was against it. While Marshall is still a good choice of variety, it’s a very old variety – meaning it has less disease resistance than many others on the market. As for ryegrass in general, there is not one single variety that can claim resistance to gray leaf spot, but there are varietal differences in degrees of tolerance to this disease. The best way to manage disease is to plant when growing conditions are best, which means the conditions for gray leaf spot development will be less conducive. Unfortunately, there are no labeled fungicides on the market for this problem in forage grasses. To summarize, I would encourage every livestock producer to evaluate all aspects of their fall and winter production from a feed and forage standpoint. First, book the seed you might need to ensure against potentially higher prices as we enter the fall months as supplies get even tighter. Next, utilize as much additional forage as possible. Finally, mitigate the risk associated with disease and pests this fall by implementing best management practices. As I said in the beginning, every year brings its own unique set of challenges and opportunities. The problems we face this year are challenging, without question, but the choices we make to manage these can be the difference between winning and losing. If you have any questions, please consult with your local Co-op or GreenPoint Ag location.

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October 2021

ON THE EDGE OF COMMON SENSE

BY B AX T E R B L A C K , D V M

R.C. and Bud R.C. is an animal lover. Maybe not the kind of animal lover that the term has come to mean in this era, but the kind that requires a greater commitment. He would tell you he’s a farmer. But he’s a horseman and trainer, cattleman, hog producer, corn grower and great-grandfather. He’s also a dog man, with the patience and persistence to deserve a good stock dog. R.C. has had a wide variety of dogs in his life. One day he asked his wife, Doris, to keep an eye out for a Blue Heeler. They appealed to him, but he’d never had one. “Kinda rough dogs,” he thought. Soon she found one advertised in the Albia paper, a two-year-old male lookin’ for a home. R.C. was suspicious. Takin’ on a dog that old was risky. Bad habits would be developed, old loyalties established. One just never knew. “Well, it wouldn’t hurt to look,” Doris chided him. Finally, three weeks later, R.C. went by to look at the dog. As Doris was introducing themselves to the lady of the house, the two-year-old blue merle walked right up to R.C. and looked at him. They exchanged studious looks – something unspoken passed between them. R.C. picked the dog up under his arm and took him to the truck. He just knew. The way some people know when a guitar string is in tune or a steak is cooked just right. R.C. knew the dog would be fine. And, I think the dog must have come to the same conclusion be20

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cause they became constant, outdoor companions. He named him Bud. Two months after Bud had moved in with them, R.C. was out feeding. He slung a bushel basket of ear corn over his shoulder and walked into the pigpen. Bud was dawdling by the gate. Sixteen sows came squealing from the corner as R.C. approached. His foot hit something. He slipped, went down on his back, cracked his head on a rock and was knocked unconscious. His last memory as he fell was a three-ton wall of hungry sows charging. He woke to find himself looking skyward in the pigpen with sticky blood on his face, in his hair and on his shirt. Bud had worn a circle around his sprawled out body. Just a few feet away the sows waited, watching, a dark look in their eyes. Several ears of corn still lay by his head. Bud stood guard. Another true dog story like we hear so often. If R.C. had not been an animal lover, would it have had a different ending? But from their first meeting, dog and man somehow sensed that they would be there for each other. I can’t explain how it works, it’s beyond me. But it wasn’t beyond Bud ... he just knew. www.baxterblack.com

Giving it your all today, Doing it all again tomorrow

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October 2021

FFA SENTINEL

The Legacy of J.L. Parish J.L. Parish, FFA Adviser 1943-1991

Geneva FFA Officers 1955-1956

r. J.L. Parish began his teaching career in 1938 at Wetumpka High School. After one year, he left and taught three years at Goshen High School before coming to Geneva in 1943. He retired in 1991. At one time, Mr. Parish had been the longest tenured teacher in Alabama at 53 years. The vocational building was the first to be built where the current high school sits today. Mr. Parish laid the foundation for decades as one of the best FFA chapters in the state. First and foremost, Mr. Parish was a gentleman. For example, he always opened the car door for his wife, he always used manners, when he met people, he would firmly shake their hand and look them straight in the eyes, and he always dressed professionally. He helped anyone he could and was there for his community and students. As a teacher, Mr. Parish was firm but fair. He treated everyone with respect and could be demanding at times because he expected his FFA students to always do their best. Often he would say, “If you’re going to be a ditch digger, be the best ditch digger you can be!” He did not tolerate laziness or poor character. He taught his students that their word should mean something, and they should stand behind it. He instilled in his students the value 22

Cooperative Farming News

of hard work, and he would constantly remind them that something for nothing was a lazy man’s way. He would tell his students, “Hard work and a good attitude will take you far in life.” Mr. Parish was the true meaning of FFA. Mr. Parish was one of many great teachers that I had at Geneva High School who truly influenced me. I told him one day that I was thinking about becoming an Ag teacher, but I didn’t know how to go about it. After I told him this, he glowed with excitement. He told me that he would guide me and help me any way he could. A few days later, Mr. Parish and his wife rode with me to Auburn University. I will always remember the trip to Auburn: Mrs. Parish told me that I needed a haircut and to quit wearing that stinking perfume. I told her that I had long hair, and had worn my cologne for all my ladies. She told me she hated to see what my ladies looked like. Mr. Parish told her to leave me alone. We spent the whole day on Auburn campus. Everywhere we went, it seemed as if they all knew Mr. Parish. We even walked in and spoke to the Dean of the College. I thought I was visiting there with the governor or president because he was so popular. I was clueless, but Mr. Parish guided me through a lot that

M I C H A E L VA N N

Geneva FFA had its own bus in 1954.

Mr. Parish with a student at a livestock event in 1952.

day. Mr. Parish was getting up in age, but he didn’t complain at all. He was just so excited that one of his students wanted to become an Ag teacher. Needless to say, I didn’t get to make it back to Auburn; life just happened and I make no excuses. My mother got diagnosed with cancer and my life went another direction. Mr. Parish kept encouraging me to work hard and to put my talent to use. He saw potential in me that I definitely didn’t see in myself. I look back at how selfless it was of Mr. Parish to take the time out of his life to help me. How many teachers would really do that today? The FFA motto is “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve.” He truly believed in the FFA motto. Today, as an FFA adviser myself, I am often asked, “What is FFA?” My response is that it is the largest student organization in the world and is based upon work ethics and character in promoting agriculture education. Mr. Parish started Geneva FFA back in the 1940s, and his students went on to win several awards through the decades. These awards are displayed today in the halls of Geneva High School. Not many schools can say they have a state banner from the 1940s. There have been several parents, grandparents and members of the community who have visited Geneva High School and are pleasantly surprised to see that we have not forgotten the many decades of tradition that are displayed. They all say thank you for not forgetting the memories and tradition of our former

students. I will always remember one evening in particular when we had an open house for new students and an elderly woman was crying in the hallway. She could hardly stop crying as she looked at the awards that were hanging on the wall. She said that one of the pictures displayed was of her brother who had passed away and it warmed her heart to see that we had not forgotten the rich history of Geneva High School. Geneva FFA has not forgotten its rich history. That tradition continues on today with its many talented students. FFA is about becoming a better person and asking the questions: What can I do to become a better student? Leader? What can I do to give back to my community that I love? What impact can I make on others? As I look back, I can’t help but reflect on the impact that Mr. Parish had on students that he encountered over his many years teaching. I know this because I was one of those he impacted, and I have also heard from many people over the years who mention how much he influenced their lives, too. One day Mr. Alan Waters, a retired Ag teacher from Enterprise High School, whom I also have much respect for, told me that he never saw Mr. Parish in all those years not wearing a tie. I too never saw him without his tie. He was always dressed professionally. I don’t wear a tie every day like Mr. Parish did, but maybe I can pass down something to my students that can help impact them the way Mr. Parish did for his students. It did take me several years to make it back to Geneva to become an Ag teacher, but I made it. I hope that he would be proud of me continuing the FFA tradition that he started back in 1943. I know Mrs. Parish would be glad that I do not have long hair anymore (or hardly any for that matter), but his wife would still be disappointed because I still wear that stinking perfume she didn’t like. October 2021

4-H EXTENSION CORNER

The

“funnest” thing ever …

Shelby County enjoys Canteen Time.

fter more than a year of isolation and social distancing, 4-H’ers were excited about finally getting to come together at camp. This year’s camp experiences were even more rewarding because the youngsters had missed out on their camp activities last year. Canoeing, a giant swing, team-building activities, a wildlife watch and a sports night: all of these were just some of the many fun activities enjoyed at 4-H Summer Camp this year. Hosted by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System

Cooperative Farming News

Shelby County eating together.

BY C A R O LY N D R I N K A R D

and Alabama 4-H, the three-day camps started in June. Counselors planned nine different sessions for 1,100 kids to have the camp experience. Group activities encouraged campers to work together, build relationships and support one another. “We were able to go outside and be with kids from all over the state,” said Amy Carbone, the administrator for 4-H Science School Outreach Programs. 4-H campers ranged in ages from 9-14. Camp instructors had to have first aid, CPR and lifeguard certifications as well as passing background checks and completing a two-week summer camp training program. The Alabama Extension staff and volunteers, who chaperoned each camp session, had to also clear background checks and complete a 4-H overnight chaperone-training program. Even though 4-H’ers still had to follow COVID guidelines, they were able to experience camp life and have lots of fun, with just a few changes. To follow CDC guidelines, counselors planned all

Session 1

Blount, Cullman, Greene, Lee, Marshall, St. Clair, Sumter

Session 2

Chilton, Coosa, Escambia, Lawrence, Limestone, Marengo, Morgan, Montgomery, Tallapoosa

Session 3

Autauga, Baldwin, Conecuh, Elmore, Franklin, Lamar, Lauderdale, Mobile, Monroe, Pickens

Session 4

Clay, Dallas, Fayette, Jefferson, Marion, Perry, St. Clair, Talladega

Session 5

Jefferson County getting ready to canoe.

Cleburne, Cherokee, Colbert, Coffee, Dale, Geneva, Pike, Wilcox

October 2021

Session 6

Bibb, Butler, Calhoun, Jackson, Lowndes, Madison, Randolph, Shelby

Session 7

Barbour, Calhoun, Chambers, Clarke, Etowah, Russell

Session 8

Bullock, Choctaw, Covington, Crenshaw, DeKalb, Walker, Washington

Session 9

Etowah, Hale, Henry, Houston, Macon, Tuscaloosa, Winston

Cooperative Farming News

activities, except meals, outdoors and kept county groups together. They also split classes and staggered meal times, so the kids were not mixed. At Canteen Time, 4-H’ers ate snacks outside and kept the KONA Ice truck busy! “We staggered schedules for protection,” Amy explained. “This helped everyone feel safe. We had plenty of space to spread out, but still have a sense of normalcy while at camp.” Campers were not disappointed! “I never knew how much fun the outdoors could be!” said Anayeli Castco of Bullock County.

Group activities encouraged campers to work together, build relationships and support one another. Kelly Figueroa of Walker County agreed. “I loved the science center, where I learned about different animals and touched them, which was fun.” 4-H Camp was also a generational experience for Nicole Gowan of Randolph County. “I attended as a 4-H’er, and I am thankful that my children now have the opportunity to attend,” Nicole explained. “My son loves camp. Each year is full of new memories and friendships.” 4-H Camp 2021 was the first time that campers were able to enjoy the beautiful, new facilities, including an additional dining hall with renovations of the older dining facility, an expanded kitchen and a new conference room. With the success of Summer Camp 2021, Amy and her staff have already started to plan 4-H Summer Camp 2022. However, for 4-H’er Kelly Figueroa of Walker County it will be hard to top this year: “Camp made my summer one million times better, “ Kelly said. “It was the funnest thing that has ever happened!”

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marengo County #3285

perry County #3516

Tallapoosa County #3292

cherokee County #3611

384+/- AC - This is one of those rare properties that offers quality fishing opportunities, great deer hunting, and good turkey hunting. You might even be able to catch some ducks using the flooded timber in the back of the large lake. I do not know of a hunting property in the Black Belt currently on the market with newer and nicer amenities and improvements than this place. $1,200,000

172+/- AC - Properties along the Cahaba River are rarely available for purchase, and this tract has approximately 1/2 mile of frontage on what is our longest free-flowing river in the state. The property lies along the east side of the river. The timber on this property is a good mixture of 20–25-year-old pine plantations, 4-8 year old pine plantation, and upland and bottomland hardwoods.$346,400

210+/- AC - Once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase over 200 acres of undeveloped & unrestricted property on beautiful Lake Martin. Imagine waking up every morning with a waterfront view and having endless options of how to spend the day on your property. You could launch the boat and spend the day out on the lake fishing or joyriding. If you like to hunt, you could ease your way through the mature pine and hardwood bottoms in search of a trophy deer in the fall or a weary old gobbler in the spring. $1,495,000

1472+/- AC - This is an extraordinarily rare opportunity to buy a large tract with long tern timber investment and recreational uses. There are numerous recreational opportunities on this property including deer hunting, turkey hunting, duck hunting in the duck swamp, ATV riding and more. The property has of 132+/- acres of hardwoods, 35.75+/- acres of natural pine, 90 acres of open productive land and 1126+/- of pine plantation in varying pre merch age classes planted. $2,395,250

blount County

932+/- AC - Large timber investment opportunity! The tract is comprised of different age classes of planted pine and mature hardwood stands. There is also an 8+/- acre pond and Little Chatahospee Creek flows through the property giving water access for the wildlife year-round. Scattered throughout the property are small food plots and there is a good road system that traverses the rolling topography allowing for ease of access. $1,958,040

1,153+/- AC - An incredible opportunity is available to own one of the highest points in Blount County, McAnnally Mountain! This is a mixture of pine and hardwood with road frontage and internal roads with an excellent deer and turkey population. $2,421,300

covington County #3522

30+/- AC - Property consists primarily of row crop farmland currently planted in corn. This property has the potential to make an excellent homesite for someone wanting to live in the country, build a home, and have their own open land to grow crops/garden, raise cattle, or just to hunt. $110,000

tallapoosa County #3499

304+/- AC - Boulder Creek Plantation is a well-managed and meticulously maintained wildlife preserve situated on 300+/- acres in north-central Tallapoosa Co, Alabama. Located just 10 miles from Alexander City, AL, 47 miles from Auburn, AL, 81 miles from Birmingham, Al, and a short distance to Lake Martin. $3,700,000

chambers County

clay County #3591

60+/- AC - About 55 of those are fenced and currently house cattle. There’s a small creek that runs through the middle of the property that makes it easily accessible for farm animals. Power, water, and County utilities are accessible on the Hwy 49 road frontage. There is also dirt road frontage across the back of the property on Stanford Circle. $220,000

lownes County #3324

255+/- AC - This property has been managed to produce big deer, turkey, and ducks. There is a well established road system throughout the property making all areas easily accessible. $499,000

OVER EASY Farm

NEW LISTING

4 HOUSE BREEDER FARM IN RANDOLPH COUNTY, AL

Over Easy Farm is a 4 house Breeder Hen Farm located in Southern Randolph County near Wadley. This farm has two 40×400 houses built in 2019 and two 40×400 houses that have been updated in 2020 and 2021. The farm has 60+/- acres that includes cross fenced pasture and Cedar Creek frontage. The farm has a three bedroom two bathroom home with an inground pool. There is a shop that has living quarters included. There are several other barns and sheds including a barn with cattle working facilities. Projected Income should be around $300,000-325,000 annually.

There are two older 40×400 houses on the farm that are in the process of being torn down and the pads could be rebuilt on. Making this a six house farm or could be split into several ownerships. The farm has several acres of pasture with recently updated fencing. Over Easy Farm is a bio-secure area. No farm visitors without an appointment and a PoultrySouth Team member present. All farm visitors must abide by PoultrySouth and Koch’s Foods biosecurity procedures.

RANDALL UPCHURCH PoultrySouth Co-Founder 256-239-5379 randall@selandgroup.com

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PROCESS AT WWW.POULTRYSOUTH.COM

ROBERT KING

PoultrySouth Co-Founder 844-855-0680 robert@selandgroup.com

S O U T H2021 .COM October 27

PALS

BY J A M I E M I T C H E L L

West Blocton Elementary Environmental Day In a recent article, I mentioned that I was only able to visit one school in person last school year. That school was West Blocton Elementary for their Environmental Day! I was able to present to seven groups that day ranging from K-4 to fifth grade. Each group watched the new Clean Campus video first; then we took time to discuss and answer questions about what all they saw. The video covered topics ranging from why litter is bad, to how long litter lasts, to where does our trash end up after the garbage truck picks it up. Knowledge is key to prevention! During West Blocton Elementary’s Environmental Day, the students rotated to different stations to learn more about soil, animals, litter and recycling. As a part of the recycling station, the students filled their baseball field with plastic bottles they had collected for 28

Cooperative Farming News

weeks. The students counted and bagged the bottles and delivered them to their local recycling facility! This hands-on activity will help the students remember the importance of recycling for years to come! We are so grateful for schools like West Blocton that are active members of the Clean Campus Program! If a school near you would like to learn more about the Clean Campus Program or schedule an in-person visit, have them give me a call at 334-263-7737 or email at jamie@alpals.org. I am so excited to be back in the classroom this school year, but the video and Zoom are always available for schools that are not having visitors just yet. Check out our website at www.alpals. org for more information on joining the Clean Campus Program.

L ive s t o c k Brands

Jeff Register Building & Truss

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RegisterBarns.com October 2021

OUTDOOR LOGIC WITH BIOLOGIC

Should We Lower the

“Antler Bar”?

If obvious mature bucks like this one make you happy, then the news is good! Bucks with antlers this size are very obtainable in most regions of the country. (Photo Credit: Dean Bouton)

It seems that many hunters have developed unrealistic expectations for the whitetail woods. I blame myself, the rest of the hunting industry, the internet and outdoor programming for making it this way. People watch hunting shows on TV or online and think they should have the same success as the outdoor stars they see in videos. Are these improbable outlooks? Is it even possible for “Joe-hunter” to experience the same success on any property? Isn’t it really about what makes you, your family and friends happy? It just so happens that I am one of those nuts who likes to hunt big-antlered whitetails, but it doesn’t define my success. It seems things have gotten so serious … too serious. If you can’t duplicate what you see online or on your favorite hunting shows, 30

Cooperative Farming News

some believe they’ve failed. Sometimes it causes youth to lose interest, or longtime hunters to give up. This is disastrous for the outdoor industry. We may all need to “hit the reset button” on all of this “antler-mania.”

Acreage, Density, Neighbors and Reality Is it even possible to grow, let alone see and harvest, record-class whitetails every year? First, what do you consider “record-class”? Since I’m a bowhunter, I originally thought of things using the Pope & Young minimum of 125 inches as my mark. I think if you do things right, your odds of hitting this benchmark are very good! Many three-year old bucks will easily make this score – and to some, a 125-inch buck is big … but

BY T O D D A M E N R U D to others it is not. When some refer to “record-class bucks,” they’re referring to the Boone & Crockett minimum of 170 inches. When trying to grow, or even see bucks of this size in the wild, your odds decline precipitously! Keep in mind, from three to five years old, a buck should increase in antler size 30 to 40%! However, it should be all about what makes you happy. How many acres does it take to consistently harvest mature bucks? Every situation is different, so there is no exact answer. However, do you really think that with a small property you should have five-year-old bucks with world-class genetics running everywhere? It depends upon your neighbors, the topography of the surrounding area, the quality of your soil and numerous other details that you may or may not have control over. With a small property, can you influence whitetail management or make hunting better? Absolutely! However, you must have a realistic outlook. With a much larger parcel, it is easier to control many aspects of your management efforts and better influence others, especially the “harvest” portion of the management equation. “Selective harvest” will have a huge influence. Killing the right deer and removing the correct amount of animals are both essential for numerous reasons. To many, the premise of modern whitetail management is to let small bucks live to maturity (five years

old) and harvest an acceptable number of female deer to keep the density at healthy, stress-free levels. However, if your neighbors are killing the young bucks and they aren’t helping with the doe harvest, it can become very frustrating.

A Look at the Numbers Densities vary widely throughout the country – anywhere from a few on up to over 50 animals per square mile. As an example, let’s use the generous estimate of 30 deer per square mile. That means with 640 acres in a square mile and 30 deer in that square mile, if you own an 80 acre property it’s likely to hold four whitetails. If you do things right, you most certainly can hold more, but you can see my point. How many are likely to be bucks, and, of those, how many “wall-hangers”? According to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, the average lifespan of a wild whitetail is 4.5 years. If we break it down by sex, the average life expectancy of a buck is 2.9 years and the average life span of a doe is 6.5 years. So if you think about all of the mortality causes like predation, car/deer collisions and poaching, combined with causes that specifically impact males like expiring from rut-related stress or fighting injuries, the odds of a buck making it to five years old seem long. Producing mature bucks requires knowledge, skill and time, and harvesting one is even more difficult.

Compare Apples to Apples

Antler scoring is a somewhat unjust process. You may have a huge 4x4 that looks much more impressive than this beautiful 6x6, but because of those two extra tines per side, you are able to add 8 more measurements to the total score – making significant difference. If a buck has made it to this age, we should be grateful for whatever is growing on top of its head. (Photo Credit: Agnieszka Bacal)

When it comes to hunting whitetails and outdoor TV programming, I don’t think anyone does it better than the Drurys. We should all remember, they don’t just show up one day and video a hunt. They work very hard all year long to bring you the exciting hunts you see during a viewing season, which is anywhere from 13 to 20 or more episodes. If you work as hard as they do, you obviously CAN have hunting like that, but there are other considerations, too. They understand what they’re doing better than most, have more opportunities presented to them because of their success and custody of more ground than the average gamekeeper. Back during the ‘90s, I had a brief television career with a 30-minute syndicated network show called “In the Outdoors.” The pressure to produce success for every show was immense! After three years, hunting became more of a chore than fun. Much of that was because the 22 minutes of actual content you saw October 2021

during a typical show might take a week, two weeks or more to put together. So understand that things don’t always fall into place as they may seem to during an episode of your favorite show. Typically, you don’t get to see all the “fails.” Therefore, if you’re a weekend warrior who has a few acres in food plots and are able to hunt a few days a month, you can’t compare yourself with experts with vast properties who do it every day.

You Can’t Manage Mother Nature

I have been managing wild whitetail properties for over 35 years. I planted my first food plot specifically for whitetails in 1984. Even back then, I understood that bucks required age to produce the big antlers I was after. I worked very hard at passing young bucks and getting them the best nutrition possible. It worked! Beautiful 140- to 160-inch racks started showing up in my “grip-n-grin” photos. It was time to step up another rung on the ladder. I tried letting those 140-inchers go (which was very difficult for my itchy release finger) in hopes that somehow they would grow bigger, or by not “dropping the string” on the first 140-incher to pass by I would eventually have a chance at a 200-incher. It didn’t work! In fact, it still hasn’t. While I’ve killed a few over 170 inches, they’ve not come off of prop-

erties that I’ve managed. Either I traveled to some exceptional whitetail destination, or they’ve come off friends’ properties. While I have numerous trail camera photos confirming that bucks over 170 inches were living on my old Ontario property, I never harvested one before I sold it. On my home property that I’ve been managing since 1984, while I have killed 140s and 150s, I’ve only taken one buck over 165 inches. Believe me, it is not for the lack of trying. Because of certain limiting factors, you simply may not be able to get bucks to grow antlers over a certain mark. After researching record book entries and a number of state harvest archives, considering ALL hunters in one group, your odds of harvesting a buck that scores over 170 inches is less than 0.05%. And that’s after researching only the very best states for producing huge bucks like Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Kentucky, Missouri and Ohio. If you looked at the entire country, I would estimate your odds are less than 0.01%. You can see that maybe you should temper your expectations and perhaps use “age” as the biggest determining factor rather than “antler size.”

Even the Age Rule Can Be Bent

I didn’t start out killing five-year-old bucks. My first buck was a spike, and it was followed up by numerous yearling basket-racks. As a young boy, I was

Here is the author (left) and hunting partner, Mike Berggren, with two bucks from the author’s old Ontario property. Two years before, at 5 years old and then with a 5x5 frame and matching split G-2s, the buck on the left would have scored around the 170-inch mark. Now at seven, the 4x4 antlers score much less, but the author is no less happy. (Photo Credit: Todd Amenrud)

Cooperative Farming News

Most first-time hunters don’t harvest bucks this big. Colt Delano harvested this Tennessee buck at only seven years old! Colt was fixing to kill a less-mature, smaller 8-point when this buck charged into the food plot. That smile would likely be just as big regardless of which buck fell that day. (Photo Credit: Austin Delano)

very proud of every one of them. Young hunters watch the same shows that we do and they understand that there are “rules to the game.” We must make sure that we don’t discourage youth or first-time hunters. If the bar is so high, why even try? I can tell you that even this grizzled veteran still gets excited when I draw back on a doe. That rush is one big reason why I hunt. That anticipation and exhilaration is something we should try to bring with us on every hunt and something we need to convey to those we teach and mentor. If it makes you happy, that’s what counts! A few years ago, I had a very nice three-year-old buck that had already reached the 140-inch range. My plan was to hopefully get the buck through two more years. That’s the kind of buck that could possibly make it to the Boone & Crockett threshold. Opening weekend of firearms season came and I got an excited phone call from one of my neighbors telling me he’d just shot a big one and asking if I’d like to come and see it. I’m sure you can see where this is going … I drove to his place and as I pulled into his driveway I could see the buck hanging on a gambrel in one of his trees. My heart sank. I felt like laying into him with my “benefits of QDM” speech, but he had an ear-to-ear grin and was so ex-

cited he immediately began telling me the story. This was the biggest buck he had ever taken and he was ecstatic. I couldn’t “rain on his parade.” I was in a bit of a funk for a few days, but I couldn’t begrudge his decision. He took the deer legally and he was pleased as punch. It taught me a lesson that maybe I should look at things a little differently. I love to hunt. Being depressed because someone ruined my “gamekeeper dream” wasn’t right. I want to enjoy all the hunting time I have left, so I needed to find a different standard by which to rate my experiences and to keep it challenging at the same time. I believe that antler size may be causing too much heartache. I don’t want to discourage anyone from trying to produce bucks with the antlers of their dreams – there’s always the chance. But if antlers are all you’re hunting for, you may be doing it for the wrong reason. Much of how you view all of this probably has to do with “why you hunt.” The need for food, camaraderie, to manage the herd, to experience Mother Nature or the challenge are all legitimate reasons. Regardless, it all boils down to your satisfaction. As long as you abide by the law, it really doesn’t matter the size of the animal or the antlers, the profundity of the experience is what matters. Maybe we should put more emphasis on that and less on antler size. October 2021

Parmesan Venison Ingredients • 1-1/2 pounds venison loin • 2 cups all-purpose flour • 2 teaspoons kosher salt • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper • 3 extra-large eggs • 2 cups breadcrumbs, dried and seasoned • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving • 1 cup basic tomato sauce Instructions Slice venison into 1-inch pieces. Pound to 1/4 inch thick. In a plate, mix together flour, salt and pepper. On a second plate, beat the eggs with 1 tablespoon of water. On a third plate, mix breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese. Lightly dredge venison in the flour mixture, then the egg wash and then the Parmesan breadcrumb mixture. Heat oil and butter in large cast-iron skillet or sauté pan. Cook for about 2 minutes over medium heat on each side or until browned. Place pieces on cooling rack. Place each piece of venison on a plate and serve with basic tomato sauce or your favorite marinara sauce.

Cooperative Farming News

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.

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October 2021

2020

E.P. Garrett Manager of the Year Award

Wayne Gilliam BY JESSIE SHOOK

AFC President and CEO Rivers Myres calls Wayne Gilliam to the platform to receive the coveted E.P. Garrett Manager of the Year Award.

From the cotton field, to the battlefield, to the Coop and now the first four-time E.P. Garrett Manager of the Year award recipient, Wayne Gilliam overcame the challenges of 2020 to win the highest honor awarded by Alabama Farmers Cooperative. “I am fortunate to win this award,” Wayne said. “I was just the leader of the people who did all the work.” A few words AFC President and CEO Rivers Myres used to described Wayne included passionate, devoted, visionary and a mentor. This passion and devotion have kept his cooperative profitable for 48 consecutive years. While 2020 was a year full of obstacles, Tuscaloosa Farmers Cooperative remained successful through 36

Cooperative Farming News

adaption and innovation. The Co-op generated $2 million in net income in 2020 and paid out $1.1 million in patronage over the last five years. With a gross margin of 27% and net margin of 4%, this Co-op turned their inventory 6.19 times. “He is not afraid to reinvent his business and has done what it takes to survive and succeed,” Myres said. Born and raised in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Wayne’s passion and work ethic began on the farm and continued during his time in the military. “I went from the cotton field to the battlefield,” Wayne said. “I worked long hours in the cotton field and then joined the military and served in the Vietnam War.”

In 1971, Wayne began his career at the Tuscaloosa Co-op as a truck driver. Fifty years later, he is still happy to be a part of this industry. “It doesn’t matter to me if I’m sitting here doing a PO, outside driving a truck or on a loader loading fertilizer,” Wayne said. “I like having many different roles and wearing all the hats the Co-op has to offer.” To Wayne, putting in the hours and communicating with your customers are the keys to success. He works seven days a week and is always available to his customers. “You should never go to bed until you return all your phone calls,” Wayne added. “We are on call 24/7. We work when the farmers work.” Wayne’s son, Cole Gilliam, now works alongside his dad as store manager. Cole graduated with a degree in finance but returned home to the Co-op to follow in his father’s footsteps. “I’ve been here for 14 years now, and my dad has taught me things I never learned in school,” Cole said. “We have a name here and I’m not going anywhere.” Although Wayne works long hours, he has always made time for his family. “He always showed up for us,” Cole added. “He never missed a ballgame.” Cole said that growing up watching his dad as a Co-op store manager inspired him and his brother to work hard and make something of themselves. “It definitely rubbed off on us and was good to see growing up,” Cole said. “Those same habits I saw in him, I

AFC President and CEO Rivers Myres poses with Manager of the Year Wayne Gilliam after receiving his award plaque.

wanted to do, I wanted to be like him.” Wayne said that he appreciates all the support they receive from Alabama Farmers Cooperative and he loves the family atmosphere the Co-op offers. “My most memorable moments of the Co-op are the people,” Wayne said. “We work together but we are family.” The success of this manager is not hard to understand. In Wayne’s words, “Just always treat everyone the way you want to be treated.” This philosophy has made Wayne the outstanding manager that he is today.

Wayne’s family was there to watch him receive the 2020 E.P. Garrett Manager of the Year award. (L to R) Wayne’s son Timmy and wife, Sydney; Wayne’s wife, Annabel; Wayne; Wayne’s son, Cole.

October 2021

YEARS OF SERVICE AWARDS

Brandon Amos – Madison County Co-op

Allen Bice – St. Clair Farmers Co-op, Ashville

NOT PICTURED

Sharon Cunningham – AFC Risk Management

Bart Payne – AFC Grain Division

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Tommy Sockwell – Colbert Farmers Co-op, Leighton

Mary Grier – AFC Executive Offices

Chris Wisener – AFC Feed

NOT PICTURED

Jeff Hughston – Farmers Cooperative Market, Leroy

Eddie Roberts – Tennessee Valley Cooperative

Jessica Steward – Marion County Co-op, Winston

NOT PICTURED

Jamie Vann – Madison County Co-op

Wendell Walker – Tennessee Valley Cooperative

Rivers Myres – AFC Executive Offices

John Sims – AFC Feed

NOT PICTURED

Jay Jones – Headland Peanut Warehouse Co-op 35 YEARS

Tina Johnson – AFC Executive Offices 40 YEARS

October 2021

PACESETTER AWARDS

GreenPoint Ag, CPP Top Dollars: Tennessee Valley Co-op, Moulton: John Holley

GreenPoint Ag, CPP Largest % Growth: Taleecon Farmers Co-op: Scott Hartley

GreenPoint Ag, CPP Largest % Growth WU Proprietary: Cherokee Farmers Co-op: Andrew Dempsey

GreenPoint Ag, Seed Volume: Tennessee Valley Co-op, Limestone: Jeremy Williams

GreenPoint Ag, Seed Growth: Cherokee Farmers Co-op: Andrew Dempsey

GreenPoint Ag, Seed Largest % Increase: Andalusia Farmers Co-op: Russell Lassiter

GreenPoint Ag, CN Volume: Tennessee Valley Co-op, Limestone: Britt Christopher

GreenPoint Ag, CN Growth: Genco Farmers Co-op: Ricky Wilks

GreenPoint Ag, CN Sales and Support: Blount County Farmers Co-op: Eric Sanders

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GreenPoint Ag, Pro Products Volume: Tennessee Valley Co-op, Limestone: Jeff Wales

GreenPoint Ag, Pro Products Growth: Talladega County Exchange: Chris Elliott

GreenPoint Ag, Pro Products Sales and Support: DeKalb Farmers Co-op: Lance Ezelle

Bonnie Spring Plant Sale: Tennessee Valley Co-op, Florence: Reggie Shook

SouthFresh Feeds, Largest Sales Volume: Pike County Co-op, Troy: Jeff Barron

SouthFresh Feeds, Largest Year Over Year Increase: Madison County Co-op, Scottsboro: Ramsey Prince

John Deere Financial, Largest Loan Volume: Madison County Cooperative: Keith Griffin

John Deere Financial, On the Rise: DeKalb Farmers Co-op: Lance Ezelle

Biologic Service Award: Central Alabama Farmers Co-op: Tim Wood

AFC Feed, Top Purina Sales: Blount County Farmers Co-op: Eric Sanders

AFC Feed, Top Co-op Sales: Andalusia Farmers Co-op: Russell Lassiter

Faithway Alliance, Alabama Co-op Dealer of the Year: Blount County Farmers Co-op: Eric Sanders

October 2021

BY: JESSIE SHOOK

hen asked why being a cattleman is important to Andy Tipton, he quoted George Washington, “I had rather be on my farm than be the emperor of the world.” Tipton began Wagyu of Alabama, located in Dallas County, in 2008, with the goal of bringing the public a superior-eating experience through the intense flavor of Wagyu beef. “I believe that all efforts put toward the pursuit of producing beef that is of the highest quality is somewhat of a noble effort,” Tipton added.

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After hearing about a herd of Wagyu beef in Colorado from his brother, Tipton began researching and immediately became intrigued by the quality of beef produced by this Japanese breed of cattle. “I had been involved in the cattle business with my father-in-law, Harrell Watts Jr., for several years,” Tipton said. “Mr. Watts has also emphasized carcass merit in the SimAngus herd for many years, so as cattlemen in the food business, producing the highest quality food was not a new concept.”

Andy Tipton began Wagyu of Alabama in 2008 with the goal of bringing a superior eating experience to Alabama. He wants to continue producing quality beef for his loyal customers and keep expanding to bring more people Wagyu beef.

After a year of research, Tipton asked Watts if he could purchase his top heifers to artificially inseminate to a Wagyu bull. “That’s when the partnership began as well as Wagyu of Alabama, LLC,” Tipton said. Wagyu cattle are a Japanese beef cattle breed that are known for their superior marbling. “Marbling is fat and fat equals flavor,” Tipton said. “The marbling/intramuscular fat of wagyu cattle has a fat profile that is slightly different from other cattle, in that the ratio of unsaturated to saturated fats are much farther in the direction of unsaturated. Ratios of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are at a level that leans to the positive.” Genetics and feed contribute to the marbling present in Wagyu beef. “Genetically, Wagyu beef has a higher propensity to marble at a higher level than most other cattle,” Tipton added. Harvest dates for Wagyu cattle can fluctuate depending on marbling. “While some are harvested around 18 months, like other cattle, the average age of harvest is 24 months,” Tipton said. “Historically, we have used real-time ultrasound to determine quality grade in order to schedule processing.” When it comes to nutrition, there’s not much difference from regular cattle. “As my nutrition professor at Auburn said – they’re still cattle,” Tipton said. “Our cattle are given high-quality feed, a clean and abundant water supply, access to shade and a vaccination program.” Meat quality can be correlated to stress, therefore, creating a stress-free environment during all stages of production is also an important factor.

The public can purchase Wagyu of Alabama beef by direct or private sales. Their meat is also available at Mark’s Mart located in Selma and Northport, Alabama; Vintage Year and Sweet Creek Farm Market in Montgomery, Alabama; and Sea Market in Dothan, Alabama. “We offer most of the traditional cuts as well as a few value-added cuts and is sold by the whole beef or the cut,” Tipton said. Some value-added cuts available are the flat iron, tri-tip and rancher steak among others. “Tender muscle groups are isolated and separated from a traditionally lower-value cut, we cut in a manner that would be a more pleasurable eating experience than if left in the form of a roast,” Tipton said. “Value-added cuts will originate from the chuck or round, which are traditionally used for roast or burger.” While most Wagyu beef may sell at a higher price, it is based on the value of the meat. “This beef is more valuable because of the extreme marbling and flavor,” Tipton said. “I did not start raising Wagyu for the health benefit, I started raising Wagyu because of the eating experience but the potential for health benefits is another positive of the breed.” These added health benefits include being extremely high in monounsaturated fatty acids which include omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. “These

Wagyu beef is known for its superior marbling which means superior flavor. Marbling is seen as the white lines running through the beef.

October 2021

Wagyu beef also has added health benefits. This beef has extremely high monosaturated fatty acids that can lower bad cholesterol.

monounsaturated fats may lower LDLs (bad cholesterol) and raise HDLs.” Tipton added. The saturated fat in wagyu has some unique qualities as well. “Approximately 40% of the saturated fat in Wagyu meat consists of stearic acid, which may

have a positive effect in maintaining lower cholesterol levels,” Tipton said. “Wagyu beef contains the highest level of conjugated linoleum acid (CLA), approximately 30% more than any other foodstuff. CLArich foods have been associated with many health benefits such as cardiovascular, diabetes and weight loss.” Wagyu of Alabama is a family business from the partnership with Tipton’s father-in-law to marketing help from his wife Peggy and his children and their spouses. “The next generation has already started making changes in concepts and contributions to the business,” Tipton added. “I have no doubts that they will exceed all expectations with the business.” Tipton has plans to expand in the future. “It has been a slow process to maintain and improve the quality grades of the product,” Tipton said. Tipton’s goals for Wagyu of Alabama always have been to improve on the quality of the products produced for the consumer each year. He will not expand in numbers unless quality is increasing as well. “Quality of the product will always be the farm’s legacy,” Tipton said. “In the future, we want to continue to increase in quality of product, herd expansion and allowing the next generation to follow up on our initial concepts of ‘quality first and the rest will come.’”

Nicely done, beef. In Alabama, you get an entire month dedicated just to you.

Cooperative Farming News

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October 2021

WALT ME R R E LL

Common Ground BY C A R O LY N D R I N KA R D

Walt Merrell does quite a bit of thinking and writing on this quiet creek bank with Lincoln, his faithful black-and-tan hound, keeping him company. Walt drinks coffee and enjoys a warm fire in the old stove, especially on cold winter mornings. It’s his “secret place” to reflect and pray.

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My home is in Alabama, and home is where my heart is. But it has nothing to do with “where” I lay my head ... and everything to do with who holds my heart … and the “rest” they offer to me. These words came from “Shepherding Outdoors,” a popular Facebook forum written by Walt Merrell. Walt lives in Andalusia, Alabama, and those who “hold his heart” are Hannah, his wife; and Bay, Cape and Banks, his daughters. Walt Merrell describes himself as a writer and a servant. In “Shepherding Outdoors,” he chronicles “a father’s family adventure journal of factional fiction and fictional faction about family and faith.” Walt’s stories are heart-warming recollections of how he found ways to connect to his three girls through the outdoors. With this in mind, he chose to name his forum, “Shepherding Outdoors.” After all, he was “shepherding” his daughters, just as Jesus, the Good Shepherd, does. He wanted to invoke the image of the “outdoors” being the original teaching opportunity, free of life’s many other distractions. … and we are always shepherds … ”Teach a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it. ” … We all need a shepherd … let us be good shepherds. A spiritual man, who sees fatherhood and parenting as a personal ministry, Walt Merrell worked hard to develop a personal relationship with his daughters. However, as they grew, he realized that he could not compete with the “outside forces” that enticed his children to pursue things he could not relate to. Thus began Walt’s quest for a connection, a bond, which the forces of the world could not break. “I had to find something that lipstick, glitter and technology wouldn’t compete with,” he said. “I realized everybody loves God’s creations,

Cape and Walt Merrell enjoyed fishing together on the Cahaba River. This river is part of the larger Mobile River Basin.

like mountains, sunsets, trees. I could find common ground with my girls in God’s creations!” Out there … in the woods, it is just us – each other – free from distraction and extraction. The only thing that can capture our attention is the entertainment God provides and each other … that’s why we go outdoors … so I can have a better chance to shepherd.

in the great outdoors, the rewards were amazing! “The girls saw things that they had never seen before,” he explained. “I discovered that things in the outdoors helped us find common ground!”

Even though he was not an experienced outdoorsman, Walt Merrell was willing to try. After he poured his heart and soul into engaging his young daughters

Being a dad is tough. Competing with all the modern distractions our kids face is even tougher. And finding ways to bond with them can sometimes be the most challenging thing of all. Thankfully, God gives us the great outdoors as a way to find common ground with them ... boy or girl. Let’s go shepherding outdoors, and take back the influence of our children!

When the Friday night lights come on in Andalusia, the Merrell family is at the stadium with a cheerleader and a majorette. (L to r front) Banks, Cape (back) Walt, Bay and Hannah.

With their father, Bay (l) and Cape Merrell (r) paddled and waded in the waters of the Mobile Delta to get to the State’s Grand Champion Cypress tree at a closely guarded location in the Delta. This beautiful giant tree dwarfs the girls below.

October 2021

Faith and family are the most important things to Walt. “The battle with those outside forces has gotten harder as my girls have gotten older,” he admitted. Nonetheless, this family has built a foundation on solid rock and has held tightly to the things that really matter. We are torn so much … ball practice, work demands, ballet, church efforts, and so much more … it is essential that at some point in the day, we take each other by the hand and declare “this is our circle” and this circle “will remain unbroken.” That is what we do at every meal …. Even on days when we are mad with someone within the circle … we set that aside, and take our stand, together. When Walt started his Facebook forum in 2017, he had three goals. First, he prayed that his readers would see what Jesus looked like through his stories. In addition, he wanted parents to understand the importance of their bonds with their children. Finally, he hoped that long after he was gone, his three daughters might pick up his writings and realize that his words were love letters to each of them. So, through this forum ... Shepherding Outdoors, I want to encourage you to get outside with your kids. Regain your God ordained influence in your kid’s life … the journey is the important part … seize what is rightfully meant to be yours, and influence your kids to the exclusion of pop culture! Values, morals, life lessons and faith are not dead ... as long as you teach them!

A pair of overalls, a good dog, a loving and beautiful wife and the Lord as his Shepherd is all Walt Merrell could ever want!

Thousands liked, shared and commented on each post. Suddenly, Walt Merrell had also found “common ground” with over 225,000 fans, and they rewarded him with words of encouragement, stories of how he had impacted their lives and even pictures of their own memorable adventures outdoors. “What happened over the last six months is that I have made many more connections with people,” he added. “I believe that God is using me to bless their hearts!” A devoted family man and father, Walt Merrell also serves as the district attorney for Covington County, the 22nd Judicial Circuit of Alabama. He was elected in 2011, but he has been a prosecutor for 20 years. “I see how when men fall short, there is a ripple effect,” he said. “If I have to send a father to prison, his children have no father. “ And too often, because kids don’t have family and no one teaches them “the ropes,” unfortunately too many kids find their way into the prisons of adulthood without knowing the true value of family, friends, faith and ethics .... I see this everyday in my profession. 48

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Walt Merrell did not grow up as an outdoorsman. He turned to the great outdoors to connect with his girls. Walt sees the outdoors as the original entertainment that God provides.

Let us all be good shepherds … There may be a time for work, but there has to be a time for worship and for parenting and for love and for making memories. Don’t miss this time ....

Coloring eggs is a fun time for Hannah (l) and Banks (r). Whatever the activity, the family joins together to support one another.

Recognizing the divide of children growing up without a better father, Walt Merrell and Chris Jackson created Iron Works, a men’s ministry designed to bring the Gospel to unchurched men and move them toward a Christ-centered life. Walt noticed that many men didn’t do things outdoors with their children, simply because the men, themselves, had never done things in the outdoors. “I realized lots of dads were trying to find ways to have commonality with their children,” he explained, “so we had to create a platform to teach men that it’s better to try and fail, rather than not try at all.” I believe our children only “settle” for a life of confinement indoors, glued to a game system or a television. They still crave more ... but they just don’t know what. It is our job as fathers to show them what else the world has to offer. It is our job to show them how to experience life. Whether it is building a fire in the backyard or hiking through the Conecuh National Forest, there are any number of outdoor activities that even the most novice of dads can engage his kids with. It’s time men ... time for us to spend more time with our kids than Super Mario does. It’s time to teach them what all He created for us to explore and enjoy. Come on men, let’s go ... shepherding outdoors. Walt Merrell is active in both his church and community. A deacon at Bethany Baptist Church, Walt also serves as the chaplain for the Alabama District Attorneys Association (ADAA). He is a founding member of Crossover Ministries and has been on the board for the past 17 years. Crossover Ministries is a nonprofit, faith-based, residential, addiction-recovery ministry dedicated to offering hope of clean and sober living through the teaching of life skills and through the understanding of certain immutable biblical principles. Located in Opp, Alabama, the program works with men, 18 and older, with the goal of putting each man back into the place God intended: his home.

Shepherding Outdoors chronicles the adventures and misadventures of a loving father who found ways to connect and bond with his family in the great outdoors. Whether paddling across the Everglades or gigging for frogs, hunting alligators or selling onions and sunflowers at the local farmers market, Walt Merrell delightfully recounts the entertaining escapades of one small-town, Southern family as they live life to the fullest. Shepherding Outdoors is all about family … about leading your kids in a path that is not theirs ... and not yours ... but it is common ground. The great outdoors is always common ground. You can find Walt Merrell on Facebook @waltmerrell and @waltmerrellda, and on Instagram at @waltmerrell. You can email him at shepherdingoutdoors@ gmail.com.

Cape Merrill (l) and Catherine Pettie (r) helped Walt Merrell (c) gig for sucker fish on Cottle Creek in Covington County.

October 2021

Tips for your Garden for October - December PLAN:

PREPARE & MAINTAIN: Prune evergreen trees and summer-blooming shrubs. Apply mulch around newly planted trees and shrubs.

Cooperative Farming News

PLANT: In October clean up flowerbed after first killing frost. Plant half-hardy annuals.

TIP: Bring potted plants inside or a protected area to avoid the first hard freeze.

REMOVE: In October, clean up flowerbeds and remove dead stems and trash.

PREPARE: Clean and flush gasoline out of lawn equipment before storing them for the winter.

STORE: Place unused pesticides in freeze-protected locations for the winter.

TIP: Look for off-season deals on lawn and garden equipment in December.

HOW’S YOUR GARDEN BY L OIS T R IG G C H A P L I N

Fast-Growing, Cool-Weather Harvests

we get a proper ID. But the climbing aster (Ampelaster carolinianus) is easy to distinguish. It’s one of the few that makes a vine. The plants have sparse, woody stems that grow 8 to 12 feet long, but when pruned it turns into a sprawling shrub. It can be trained either way. This is a native aster that blooms very late. At our house, the blooms seem to survive the first frosts in fall, too, usually staying in bloom into December. Because it blooms so late, it is especially valuable in gardens for nectar and pollen for pollinators late in the season. Some of the bees that visit include sweat, leafcutter, bumble and mining bees. Butterflies that visit the flowers include sulphurs, buckeyes, swallowtails, fritillaries, common buckeyes and others. Try climbing aster on a fence, let it drape over a wall, or

SIMPLE TIMES

THE CO-OP PANTRY Cilantro

There is still time to plant cilantro, radishes and scallions for harvests this fall and winter. These three items are best and most economical when you can pluck just the amount needed fresh from the garden. Fall is the best season for cilantro because it doesn’t bolt until spring. Onion transplants sold now are long day, so they won’t make bulbs but instead are perfect for scallions all winter. Bonnie Plants offers cilantro transplants and onion bunches in the fall. Popular small round, red radishes such as Cherry Belle mature in only a month and will hold in the ground for a while. Start those by sowing a few seeds in the garden each week this month so that they mature in succession.

An Aster That Climbs! There are so many aster and aster relatives that they can be hard to keep straight. “It’s one of those aster things” is what my garden circle usually says until

Climbing aster

October 2021

prune it and let it mound upon itself as a sprawling shrub. It’s a great garden addition anywhere you have full sun and decent drainage, although it will tolerate the kind of standing water that drains off in a day or two after a deluge.

when they have made roots and probably a few leaves, pot them in soil and keep them indoors in a sunny spot. After the last frost in spring, your plant will be ready for a sunny spot in the garden where it is sure to be a show-stopping way to end the season.

Fast, but Not Furious Confederate Rose

Mulch and Soil Certification Helps

The close of warm-season blooms is marked by Confederate rose. A giant perennial in most of the state, Confederate rose bursts from the ground in spring, easily growing 8 feet tall or more, but makes us wait all summer for its giant carnationlike blooms. The fascination of this plant is how the blooms tell their age, starting out white then turning pale pink to deeper pink as they age. Not really a rose but a mallow (Hibiscus mutabilis), Confederate rose also goes by the name cotton rose because the leaves look like those of the cotton plant and the seeds look like a cotton boll. Frost ends its flowering season, so along the coast it stays in bloom longer than in North Alabama. This is the ultimate passalong plant, as it is very easy to start from cuttings rooted in water, but not as easy to find for sale at most garden centers. The easiest way to get one is to ask a friend or neighbor for a piece before freezing weather. Take stem cuttings about a foot long from a large diameter stalk and just stick the cutting in a quart jar of water in a sunny window. In a couple of months

Confederate Rose

Cooperative Farming News

Good garden mulches and soils are sophisticated blends of natural forest products, other organic materials such as peat moss and special additives such as lime. They can be varied and complex in order to meet the specific needs of gardeners: for example, a sandy cactus soil, a bark orchid soil or organic garden soil for raised beds. However, it is impossible to distinguish a good product from a bad one just by its appearance. If you’ve ever bought potting soil that ended up like a brick in the pot, you know. One way to buy is to choose a product certified by the Mulch & Soil Council (MSC). MSC Certification is a major step in any manufacturer’s customer assurance that its product label is truthful, accurate and that product claims have been verified to conform to certain quality guidelines which include proper labeling, lab testing, greenhouse growth testing and chemical testing for CCA-treated wood contaminants in mulches. Label claims on packaged products are reviewed and verified by generally accepted industry criteria or independent research testing. Products must pass stringent screening at the time of application and are subject to random field testing directly from the marketplace. To purchase an MSC-certified product, look for the MSC logo and certification label on the bag. A list of certified brands of potting soil, garden soils and mulches is available at https://www.mulchandsoilcouncil.org/ certification.php.

Soil

HOWLE’S HINTS BY JOH N HOW L E

THE HERB FARMER HOW’S YOUR GARDEN October “Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.”

SIMPLE TIMES

October is a great time to reflect on the past growing season. Whether you grew a garden, a food plot or a pasture full of grass, it took hard work to have a productive growing season. I’ve always enjoyed reading the proverb about oxen providing the power even though there’s a lot of cleanup involved. Yes, the barn would be clean without the oxen, but there would be no fruit from your labors. Another way to look at it is with the expression, “There is no free lunch.” If you want success from the things you’ve put your hands to, there will be a lot of hard work, and it can be messy. It’s a lot of trouble to clean the manure from the barn and fill the trough with feed, but the hard work pays off in food, security and happiness. Only the lazy and shortsighted would do away with the ox.

- Proverbs 14:4

Get Smarter With Your Solar Fencing

Solar-powered electric fencing has revolutionized the world of intensive grazing. Being able to subdivide paddocks can extend your grazing and allow you to run more cattle on less land. Gallagher has led the way for many years with solar-powered fencing systems. The SmartFence Portable Fence System is a completely self-contained and portable fence system that combines the posts, reels and polywire in one fourwire system. Once you secure the end post in the ground and anchor it with the guideline, simply roll four wires out at the same time as you step in each post as you go. This allows you to create a quick portable corral or roadside grazing area. Set an energizer on a T-post and hook the hot wire to the polywire and

THE CO-OP PANTRY

October 2021

This is the setup SmartFence with the energizer placed on a T-post. Simply connect the red (hot) wire to the turbowire and connect the green (ground) to a metal step-in post for a ground. The unit comes with guide wires for anchoring corners or bends in the fence.

The SmartFence is lightweight and portable.

attach the green, ground clip to a metal step-in post for a ground. Turn the energizer on and let the livestock in for grazing. The four-line system uses polywire lines with conductive filaments for a fence 328 feet in length and 36.5 inches high. The lower wire can also be adjusted to allow for higher forage to keep from grounding out or reducing the charge. You can attach it to a permanent fence, another SmartFence system or simply set up a

standalone corral. It’s easy to carry and store. All you need is a solar-powered energizer to create the charge. I recently used the SmartFence System to fence out an area along the side of the road that was growing white clover and Dallisgrass. Having four strands of charged wire gives you more safety and confidence when allowing cattle to clean up grass in along the rural road right of ways. When the animals have grazed the area down, rolling the fence back up is quick and easy. It took me approximately seven minutes to take down and roll up the entire fence.

The SmartFence allows quick setup for grazing anywhere.

It took no more than seven minutes to detach and roll up the entire fence.

Cooperative Farming News

Other uses for the system are excluding hay bales or subdividing pastures for more efficient grazing. Traveling horse owners can use the horse trailer as one wall and roll out a paddock for grazing in an open field in minutes. Visit your local Co-op to order a Gallagher SmartFence system. To find out more about this innovative grazing product, you can also visit www. gallagher.com, and check out more products offered by Gallagher animal management systems.

Fall Food Plots Now that October is here, it’s not too late to get a couple of food plots planted on your property to draw and hold deer, turkeys and other wildlife. One of the best things to include in your food plot is clover. Clover has nodules on the root system that fix nitrogen, and this nitrogen is made available to the companion grasses in an organic, ready-to-uptake form. Two of the best varieties of clover to plant in Alabama, in my opinion, are white and red clover. White clover such as Durana is quick to establish, and a stand can last eight to 10 years if managed properly. Red clover is often referred to as cow clover because of its ability to withstand grazing and create plentiful regrowth. Both varieties are quite palatable to deer. If

you don’t believe me, simply taste different varieties of clover. White and red clover have an almost sweet taste like fresh baby spinach. Clovers such as crimson clover are often found in the median of the interstate and have a characteristic crimson-colored bloom. When you taste crimson clover, however, it has quite a bitter taste compared with the previous two. Now that you have your clover choice, what else can be planted with and grow in companion with clover this time of year? Some of the best options are oats, winter wheat and rye. If planted now and you get plenty of rain, these food plot choices should give some solid late-season growth growing well into late winter and early spring. One of the things I like best about oats planted in rich soil is the high profile growth of the plants. Oats grow high enough to provide travel corridors for deer apprehensive about entering food plots that grow low to the ground. Finally, plant some winter greens such as kale, rape and turnip greens. Even if you don’t harvest a deer, you can still enjoy winter greens yourself with some pepper sauce and cornbread during the cold days around the corner. This October, don’t fret if your livestock are making a mess in your troughs and barns. It is simply a byproduct of productivity.

This Durana white clover fixes nitrogen and provides lush grazing for all wildlife.

October 2021

THE MAGIC OF GARDENING

Great Small Trees for Alabama Landscapes – PART 2

Last month my article was about good replacement small trees for the much overused crapemyrtles. I listed the following 10 small trees that I think are worth consideration and I covered the first five in some detail. I will pick up in this article and cover the remaining five trees. 1. Sevenson flower (Heptacodium miconioides) 2. Titi (Cyrilla racemiflora) 3. Buckwheat Tree (Cliftonia monophylla) 4 Chastetree (Vitus agnus-castus) 5. Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) 6. T ree-formed Loropetalum (Loropetalum chinense) 7. Possumhaw Viburnum (Viburnum nudum) 8. Deciduous Holly (Ilex decidua or I. verticillata) 9. Flowering Crabapple (Malus spp) 10. Redbud (Cercis Canadensis) Loropetalum runs a similar risk of being overused in Alabama landscapes. Like crapemyrtle, the loropetalum is a very beautiful and tough plant that is available in many sizes from small trees all the way down to very low-growing groundcover. I first saw this plant used as a large shrub and it was often planted in locations that 56

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it quickly outgrew. Later breeders developed the semidwarf and very dwarf forms that were more appropriately sized for foundation plantings. However, I believe this plant is at its most beautiful form when trained as a multitrunk small tree. The first loropetalums in America were green-leaf, white-bloom forms. Later purple foliage and purple blooms became available and popularity exploded for these easy-care plants. One advantage loropetalums offer over crapemytles is that they are evergreen. The blooms occur in late winter much like their American cousins the witch hazels which are a great native alternative to consider planting as well. This family of plants prefers a well-drained slightly acidic soil and are fairly drought tolerant once established. Possumhaw viburnum does not roll off the tongue easily but it is a great native Viburnum species. Unfortunately, the next plant on my list (Ilex decidua) also is commonly called Possumhaw. Make sure you know which Possumhaw you are talking about when you go shopping at the nursery. That is why scientific names are so important. According to a North Carolina State website, it is a great “native deciduous shrub to small tree growing in

BY T O N Y G L OV E R savannas, low, wet woods and bogs and may reach 12 feet tall and wide. It prefers sun to part shade in acidic, moist, well-drained soils but can be adaptable. The opposite wavy-edged leaves are nicer leaves than other native viburnums with good fall color. The blooms are showy and fragrant in flat-topped clusters and give way to showy berries of various colors. Berry production is best if more than one shrub is planted.” I snuck an extra plant in by grouping two similar plants together. Deciduous hollies (Ilex decidua or I. verticillata) are beautiful small trees with multiseason interest. When the plants lose their leaves in the fall, the female plants show off beautiful red fruit that often remain until very late spring. The cedar waxwings and bluebirds will eventually feast on the very ripe, often fermented fruit. It is a host plant for Henry’s Elfin butterfly. Butterflies and other insects nectar at the blooms in spring. The best cultivar of Ilex decidua for tree form is Warren’s Red. The related Ilex verticillata, commonly called Winterberry, is also a great small tree choice. There are several good cultivars to consider but the Proven Winners release called Berry Heavy is known for the heavy fruit crop. To ensure good fruiting, plant a male cultivar nearby for pollen. Two male selections that will work are the Proven Winners cultivar called Mr. Poppins and another selection called Jim Dandy. Flowering crabapples are beautiful small trees with showy blooms. North Carolina State website says, “This plant blooms early to mid-spring and is usually self-sterile. Buds are a darker shade than blooms. Tree appears to change color as it cycles through stages of new (reddish) growth, full (pink to white) growth, mature leaves (green), and autumnal color (red-varies). Small fruits ripen in the fall.” This is also a multiseason interest plant. The small fruit makes a good food source for birds and small animals in the winter. The limb structure is much better than the overused Bradford pear. Do some research and look for the most disease-resistant cultivars you can find. One very interesting disease-resistant unique cultivar is called Royal Raindrop. It has magenta-pink blooms, deep-purple cutleaf foliage, sparkling red fruits and bright fall color which give all-season appeal to this great flowering ornamental. Last but not least is our native Redbud tree. This leguminous plant will grow in very poor soils but it is the shortest-lived tree of all those on my list. Nevertheless, you may want to consider using it in sites with low fertility soils. There are some beautiful cultivars to choose from. Forest Pansy is a beautiful purple-leafed selection that is very popular. Another great section is Merlot which offers excellent drought tolerance and thicker,

glossier leaves that stand up to summer heat. This list is not exhaustive by any stretch but it hopefully gives you some additional choices to start reducing and replacing the overused crapemyrtle in Alabama landscapes. Well, speaking of being overused and needing a replacement, I would like to announce my retirement from this column. I have been writing “The Magic of Gardening” column for over 10 years and I have greatly enjoyed doing so. However, I have recently retired from my position with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and it’s time to pass the torch to another writer. When I started writing this column, I submitted my first article and the editor emailed me and asked me what I wanted to call it. Since that article was about a statewide Master Gardener conference called “The Magic of Gardening,” I emailed back with that name thinking I was just providing a name for that month’s article, but from then on, the column has been called “The Magic of Gardening.” Not a bad name after all. Starting next month Bethany O’Rear, a Regional Extension Agent based out of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, will add some new magic and her own gardening knowledge. Be looking for Bethany’s first article next month and drop her a note of encouragement.

October 2021

SIMPLE TIMES BY SU Z Y Mc C RAY

THE CO-OP PANTRY Too Busy Being Busy We’ve all been there. Just too busy being busy! One of my oldest granddaughters, Cali Holmes, is in her late 20s and now lives in Southeast Georgia. She has a wonderful husband, busy with his own career and helping care for their family, and she not only manages a big rental business in her town but is working toward a herbal home-based business, which is requiring a lot of self-study, wild-crafting excursions and more! Although she has three kids under age 11, she still finds time to read at least 30 books a month and do all sorts of other creative things.

Cooperative Farming News

Although I don’t get to see her and her family often, we stay in touch just about daily through social media and we also rely a lot on the old-time U.S. Postal Service (canning and herbal books going from this old granny to inspire her in her quest!). Many of her social media posts, and her ideas in general, are far beyond not only most folks her age, but most folks in general. And the following I found not only hilarious, but so TRUE! Cali is more meticulous, like her mama, with home decorating projects and more. (I’m more a slap-it-together and move-on-to-something-else gal!) While her mama went back to Alabama to get another load of furniture, rushing because she needed to get Cali’s younger brother and sister enrolled in their new South Georgia school, Cali volunteered to paint the bedrooms and have everything ready. Cali recently noted, “After a very long and stressful week, I laughed so hard I couldn’t breathe! “Between my stressful job, painting my mom’s new house, roof leaks, compliance audits at work, messing up electrical systems, four nights at the gym, being a mom/wife/friend, Jessica Elaine Warner decided to come help me finish painting tonight! “I was SO GRATEFUL for the help and companionship! We were literally down to the LAST coat of paint on the trim – and she DROPPED THE BUCKET! “I tell you it looked like something out of ‘Ghost Busters’”! Paint went everywhere! Splattered on the walls, windows, carpet, the side of my head, the side of hers and all in our hair! “Now anyone who’s ever painted with me knows I am super OCD about straight lines, not making a mess. Not touching the trim with the color of the wall … crazy perfection … it drives me crazy! “But when I opened my eyes and saw paint everywhere, after three days of meticulously painting FOUR different colors at weird hours of the morning and night, I laughed so hard I couldn’t breathe! Crying-till-it-hurts laughing, obviously a little spilled paint never hurt anyone and nothing is perfect. That carpet was UGLY anyway! “It felt so good to be reminded that, when we get too busy being busy, just trying to make it through life and get things done, to STOP and ENJOY THE MOMENT! “Every moment happens for a reason. It’s all part of the plan.” Oh Cali, what a wonderful lesson you taught and are teaching us! It is way too easy to get “too busy being busy!” Even though we are technically both retired, we still have this farm and its small general store. Mack is ALWAYS busy doing something, whether it’s repair-

ing the drawer of an antique dresser for a friend, to tending this HUGE garden and all the animals, studying to teach in church, clearing land and more. This week I have baby quilts to finish for our little store; just moved plantain and echinacea from the dehydrators and are now drying sage and catnip; canning vegetable soup; freezing corn; writing my articles; making black drawing salve; and practicing the piano for church. It is way too easy to get too busy being busy! Even with church work! I can remember one time in my younger days having something to do at the church every night of the week for a couple of weeks. When we are that busy, we often lose sight of why we are doing whatever we are doing to begin with! I don’t need to get so busy practicing new music for church that I lose the JOY of why we are worshiping to begin with! Preserving food for our extended family is important, but I don’t need to lose sight of WHY this is so important and lose the JOY of simple meals together! A granddaughter doesn’t care if a quilt is stitched perfectly; she only wants to cuddle with something soft that is made with Granny Suzy’s love! I bet Brock, Brice and Willow (and her husband Chris) enjoyed Cali coming home with a smile on her face and joy in her heart and didn’t mind the paint in her hair one bit!!!! The holidays are coming up. Too many times we stress over family meals at Thanksgiving and Christmas, worry that presents aren’t wrapped “just so,” and fret the house may not be as clean as we’d like! But you know I don’t remember a time when I thought about how clean or not my grandparents’ houses were when I used to visit! I remember sitting in my Grandpa Lowry’s lap as he rocked me in his rocking chair in his extremely simple two-room house! He sang songs like “Black-eyed Suzy” to me and I didn’t worry that his voice wasn’t radio-ready! He cooked me pork and gravy out of a can on his wood-burning cook stove and I gobbled it up like it was the best meal ever! (It was!) My Inmon grandparents lived in town but still had a little homestead there with a garden on three sides, a worm bed in the back (Grandpa sold worms to fishermen), and squeaky metal chairs on the front porch and out back under the tree so we could move according to which direction the sun was shining at whatever part of the day to stay cool because of course there was no air conditioning. I only spent the night with them about four times when I was growing up because they also lived so near, just when my October 2021

daddy was having surgery in a bigger hospital in Birmingham. I don’t remember anything about that four-dayand-night stay except my grandpa taking me to school every morning in his little black, round car after me sleeping in the softest bed imaginable surrounded by love. They were never too busy for any of the grandkids and I can remember how SHOCKED I was when I finally became old enough to realize I wasn’t the only grandchild! At that time, they had about 40 grandkids besides me! That granny and grandpa raised seven children of their own. I don’t recall my mama or any of my aunts or uncles talking about how clean the house was, or whatever grandpa had done to stay busy. What they talked about was how my granny always planted flowers beside the swept-clean dirt sidewalk at each of their sharecropper houses and how my grandpa ALWAYS loved practical jokes! Even with seven kids and living in what many would consider poverty, they never were too busy being busy to enjoy the truly important things in life! While the Bible tells us to keep busy with our hands and not depend on others by our laziness, Jesus also often noted the importance of spending quiet time in prayer away from our busy lives. In Luke 10:38-42 we read the story of Mary and Martha. Mar-

tha was busy and distracted making preparations for their meal, but Mary sat at Jesus’ feet, soaking in all His words! The Got Questions website on the internet notes: “If we are honest, most of the time we resemble Martha more than Mary. We rush around doing ‘what needs to be done’ while missing the glimpses of Jesus” and true JOY – all around us! So I’m trying to remember Cali’s lesson every day and I’m striving not to be “too busy being busy” in these days forward! (Suzy and Mack live on a small homestead in Blount County and can be reached on Facebook or at suzy.mccray@yahoo.com.)

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Turnip Green Know How I have gotten several calls in the last several weeks on preserving turnip greens because they have such a bounty in their fall gardens, so I decided to do an article on the great benefits of turnip greens as well as how to preserve them. Turnip greens, the leafy, green tops of turnips, are considered a delicacy in the

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South and have grown in popularity across the rest of the United States thanks to their assertive flavor and hearty, nutritional profile. When you’re buying turnip greens, choose ones with consistent color, crisp leaves and slender stems. They are available from October to March because they produce much better in cooler weather.

BY A N G E L A T R E A D AWAY

The Facts One cup of cooked turnip greens has 1.2g of protein, 4.4g of carbohydrates and 3.5g of dietary fiber. A cup of turnip greens also has 27mg of vitamin C, 118mcg of folate, 203mg of potassium and 137mg of calcium. In 1 cup of turnip greens, you’ll get about 20 calories.

Significance Turnip greens are a good addition to a healthy diet because they are low in calories, cholesterol, fat and sodium. They can be prepared in a variety of ways, including steaming, blanching and sauteing; and used in salads, stews, casseroles or served on their own.

Benefits Turnip greens contain many nutrients that benefit overall health. Vitamin C in turnip greens helps protect cells in the body from damage by free radicals. Folate helps with the production of new cells and strengthens bones. Potassium helps your body maintain normal kidney function and plays a role in conducting nerve information through the body. Calcium helps strengthen bones and teeth.

Considerations Turnip greens contain calcium oxalates, which can cause health problems if they accumulate and crystallize in the body. If you have a history of gall bladder problems or kidney stones, you may want to avoid turnip greens because of their high oxalate content. The least enjoyable part of preparing fresh greens is getting all the grit off the leaves, and these days you might find prewashed greens. The easiest way to clean them is in the sink or a very large pot filled with cold water. After

If you have a history of gall bladder problems or kidney stones, you may want to avoid turnip greens because of their high oxalate content.

The easiest way to clean turnip greens is in a sink filled with cold water.

cutting the stems and heavy ribs out, place the leaves in the cold water. Let them soak for a few minutes then swish around to loosen grit and sand; drain. Repeat the process two or three times, depending on how gritty the leaves are. Please do not wash in your washing machine. There can be detergent residue that could be dangerous.

Preserving You can preserve them in two different ways: canned or frozen. Frozen is more nutritious because it does not require a lot of cooking. To Freeze: You simply wash to remove the grit and blanch for about 5-7 minutes to wilt the leaves; then cool off quickly and place in freezer-safe containers, cover with liquid that you blanched them in and put in the freezer. To Can: You wash to remove grit, blanch 5-7 minutes to wilt the leaves and then put in heated standard canning jars; cover with hot liquid from blanching, put on heated lids and screw bands and process in a pressure canner – pints 70 minutes and quarts 90 minutes. Please do not pressure can in less time than this because turnip greens are a low-acid food and could contain botulism which is very deadly and requires a specific amount of time to eliminate. All greens such as spinach, collard, kale, etc. can be preserved in the same manner. October 2021

Greens and Cheese Bake

with salt and pepper. Transfer to a bowl and set aside. Heat the remaining 1 cup of broth and half-andhalf in a saucepan, just until bubbles form around the edge of the pan. In the large skillet, melt the butter over low heat. Add the flour and cook, stirring, for one minute. Add the hot broth mixture all at once and stir over medium heat until the sauce is smooth and thickened. Whisk in the grated Parmesan and ricotta cheeses. Stir the greens into the cheese sauce and pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with the breadcrumbs and then sprinkle the grated mozzarella over the top; bake for 20 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbling and the mozzarella is melted and lightly browned. Serve immediately. Serves 6. (Recipe from About.com Southern Foods)

A casserole with spinach or other greens and mozzarella cheese, along with ricotta cheese, and breadcrumbs. Ingredients: • 1-1/2 pounds greens, washed and trimmed (kale, mustard greens, turnip greens, collard greens or mixed) • Salt and black pepper • 1-1/2 cups chicken or vegetable broth, divided • 1 cup half-and-half • 4 Tablespoons butter • 1/4 cup flour • 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese • 1/2 cup ricotta cheese (whole milk or part skim) • 3 Tablespoons dry bread crumbs • 2 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded, about 1/2 cup Preparation: Butter a 1 1/2-quart baking dish or casserole; heat the oven to 375 F. Cut out and discard the tough stems; if using kale or collards, cut out thick center ribs. Rinse all the greens and shake off any excess water, chop them into 1/2-inch pieces. In a large skillet, cook the greens over low heat, adding them by handfuls and stirring them down as they wilt. Add 1/2 cup of chicken broth, then cover the skillet; braise for 10 to 15 minutes, or until tender. Pour off any liquid left in the skillet, then season the greens 64

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For more food preservation info, please contact Angela Treadaway, Regional Extension Agent with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, at 205410-3696.

The Power of a Shield Several months ago, the owner of a local golf course invited me to take my daily morning walks out at his course before opening hours. I was more than happy to take him up on the offer. The course is nestled away in a cove area, at the foot of several adjoining mountains. The sunrises out there are absolutely beautiful. There are several stocked ponds surrounded by cattails on the property, making for some awesome photo opportunities, so I bring my camera along each morning to take nature shots. What an awesome way to start off each day: getting much-needed exercise, spending time in prayer, and taking in the beauty of God’s creation! After a few days of walking along the trails, however, I discovered one minor irritation that prevented me from fully enjoying my time there. There were several places along the trail where I was being attacked by

pesky gnats. One moment I’d be in prayer and meditation, walking along taking in the beauty of Mother Nature, and the next moment I’d be swatting and waving my hands frantically, trying to get rid of the irritating “dive-bombers.” All the benefits of a peaceful morning walk and prayer time were diminished by the aggravating pests. There were a few times when a gnat actually flew, to its death, directly into my eyeball. If you’ve lived in the South for any length of time, you’ve probably experienced this same thing, yourself. One morning I had my worst battle with the pesky insects to date. I don’t think I walked more than 100 yards of my 2.5 mile journey without swatting at the irritants. I had killed more than a dozen of the gnats just by clapping my hands together in front of my face. I’m sure I was a sight to behold, walking along the path, clapping my hands in front of my face! To

September October 2021

make matters worse, I actually smacked myself in the face a couple of times while swatting at them. How embarrassing! “How’d you get that bruise on your face?” “Um … I hit myself swatting at a gnat!” I definitely wanted to continue taking my morning walk at the golf course, but I had to figure out a way to combat the gnat problem. So, I got on the internet that day and did some research to find out why gnats are drawn to our faces. I discovered that gnats are attracted to the lacrimal secretions from our eyes. To put it in simple terms … THEY FEED ON OUR TEARS! That’s why they will dive-bomb, like a kamikaze pilot, directly into our eyeballs. They’re trying to get a drink of precious tear juice! Armed with this newfound information, I came up with a plan to conquer the gnat problem on my morning walk. I found a pair of safety glasses that were given to me several weeks earlier. The glasses were the rounded kind that conform to the curvature of a person’s face. So they fit nice and snugly around my face. I brought them with me the next day on my morning walk. When I got to the place on the trail where the gnat problem was heaviest the day before, I pulled out my safety glasses and put them on. There were only a few small gaps between the glasses and my face. I was hoping the gnats wouldn’t be able to squeeze through those gaps to get to my eyes. With an air of confidence, I called out to the gnats, “Here I am. Give me your best shot.” I guess the gnats actually heard the challenge and accepted it, because about a half dozen gnats began an aerial attack. I could see them flying out in front of my face as I walked along. I could see them hitting the glasses as they tried to dive-bomb into my eyes. At first, I felt the need to swat at them, but then realized that was not necessary. They couldn’t penetrate through the “shield” that surrounded my eyes, so there was no need for me to even concern myself with their presence. I continued to walk along and pray, completely unhindered by the pesky varmints. Several minutes later, realizing that my plan had succeeded, I was overcome with a feeling of victory over my tiny enemies. With a note of triumph in my voice, I proclaimed, “Yesterday I fought you with my sword, but today I brought my shield!” There have been times when I’ve said things like that just for fun … for my own personal amusement. But when I said those words that day, there was something spiritual about it. It was like those words, spoken in jest, were actually inspired by God. You see, the Bible tells the Christian that they are supposed to “put on the whole armor of God” (Ephesians 6:11). Two important parts of that armor are the sword (which symbolizes the Word of God) and the 66

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shield (which symbolizes the Christian’s faith). For several weeks, I had been dealing with my tiny enemies with my own offensive maneuvers. My hand was the “sword” with which I fought my battle. But, until I brought my safety glasses along (my shield), I was still vulnerable to attack. Now, let me put all this together into a spiritual context. We all face an enemy in life. The Bible calls this enemy “Satan” or “the devil.” We’ve been given both a sword and a shield with which to fight against this enemy. There are many who have memorized passages from the Bible and are able to effectively use the scriptures like a sword against the enemy. During the wilderness temptations of Jesus found in Luke chapter 4, we see our Lord Himself using the scriptures, wielding them like a sword, in His battle against Satan’s temptations. But, for the believer, there is just as much need for the protection that the shield of faith brings when we find ourselves in one of life’s battles. To use one without the other results in only partial victory. We must utilize both of these pieces of armor in our arsenal to be victorious when facing our enemy. Just like those pesky gnats, our enemy feeds on our tears. He loves to bring pain and heartache into our lives. He longs to hear us cry in defeat. He loves to see teardrops falling from our eyes. They’re food for him. We can wave our sword, the Word of God, in an attempt to thwart his attacks. But, until we learn how to protect ourselves using our shield of faith, we can’t achieve ultimate victory. Yes, the sword of the Spirit is effective in battle … but let’s never underestimate the power in the shield of faith God has given us! “For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our FAITH.” - I John 5:4

THE CO-OP PANTRY BY M A RY DE L P H

“Beef cattle production ranks second behind broilers in cash receipts among Alabama farm commodities. Alabama cattle producers sold $499.9 millions worth of cattle and calves last year. Cattle are produced in every county and cattle production represents a $2.5 billion industry in Alabama. The state’s climate and land are ideally suited for growing forages and raising cattle.” Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Beef is big business in Alabama and October is Beef Month. The following recipes come from https:// www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/map/alabama. They have all kinds of recipes and hints for beef dishes, along with sauces and rubs to make your meal even better.

Heat large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Add ground beef and bell pepper; cook 8 to 10 minutes, breaking into 3/4-inch crumbles and stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Pour off drippings. Add lettuce, cheese, dressing and olives to beef mixture; toss to combine. Top pitas with equal amounts of beef mixture. Cook’s Tip: Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed ground beef. Ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 F. Color is not a reliable indicator of ground beef doneness. This should be followed at all times for all recipes in this article.

Mediterranean Beef and Salad Pita

Grilled Rib-eye Steaks and Potatoes with Smokey Paprika Rub

1 pound ground beef 1 medium red bell pepper, chopped 4 cups chopped romaine lettuce 1/3 cup crumbled, herb-flavored feta cheese 1/ 3 cup prepared regular or reduced fat noncream Italian dressing or other vinaigrette 1/4 cup Kalamata or ripe olives, chopped 4 pita breads, toasted

2 beef rib-eye steaks boneless, cut 1-inch thick (about 12 ounces each) 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 large russet potatoes, cut lengthwise into 8 wedges each 1 Tablespoon minced green onions Sour Cream and Onion Sauce (optional)

October 2021

Sour Cream and Onion Sauce: Combine 1/2 cup dairy sour cream and 2 tablespoons minced green onion. Sprinkle with smoked or Spanish paprika, as desired. Yield: 1/2 cup. Smokey Paprika Rub 2 Tablespoons smoked or Spanish paprika 1-1/2 teaspoons sugar 1-1/2 teaspoons chili powder 1 teaspoon ground black pepper 1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper Combine seasoning ingredients in small bowl; remove and reserve 2 tablespoons. Press remaining seasoning evenly onto beef steaks; set aside. Combine reserved seasoning, oil and salt in large bowl. Add potatoes; toss to coat. Place steaks on grid over medium, ash-covered coals; arrange potatoes around steaks. Grill steaks, covered, 10 to 14 minutes (over medium heat on heated gas grill, 9 to 14 minutes) for medium-rare (145 F) to medium (160 F) doneness, turning occasionally. Grill potatoes 14 to 17 minutes (over medium heat on heated gas grill, 13 to 15 minutes) or until tender, turning occasionally. Carve steaks into slices; season with salt, as desired. Sprinkle green onion over potatoes. Serve potatoes with Sour Cream and Onion Sauce for dipping, if desired.

Combine ground beef and corned beef, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Lightly shape into six 1/2-inchthick patties. Place patties on grid over medium, ash-covered coals. Grill, covered, 8 to 10 minutes (over medium heat on heated gas grill, covered, 7 to 9 minutes) until instant-read thermometer inserted horizontally into center registers 160 F, turning occasionally. Evenly top with cheese during last minute of grilling. About 4 minutes before burgers are done, place bread on grid; grill until lightly toasted, turning once. Spread mustard over each slice of rye bread and cut in half. Place burger on one side of bread; top with pickles. Close sandwiches. Cook’s Tip: Reduced-fat Swiss cheese may be substituted in this recipe.

Beef Jerky Trail Mix

Deli Burgers 1 pound ground beef (93% lean or leaner) 8 ounces deli corned beef, coarsely chopped 6 slices Swiss cheese 3 Tablespoons yellow mustard 2 ounces dill pickle slices 6 slices rye bread, toasted

1 cup chopped beef jerky 1/2 cup whole almonds 1/4 cup dried cranberries 1/4 cup sunflower seeds Mix all ingredients in medium bowl. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Cook’s Tip: You may substitute any nut for almonds, any dried fruit for cranberries and any seed for sunflower seeds. 68

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Wranglers Beef Chili 1 pound ground beef (93% lean or leaner) 1/2 cup chopped onion 1 can (15 ounces) pinto beans, drained and rinsed 2 cans (8 ounces) no-salt added tomato sauce 1 cup frozen corn 1 cup water 2 teaspoons chili powder 2 teaspoons ground cumin 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves 1/4 teaspoon pepper Hot cooked whole wheat macaroni (optional)

Carolina Barbecue Burgers 1 pound ground beef (93% lean or leaner) 1/4 cup packed brown sugar 1/4 cup yellow mustard 1/4 cup beer 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar 1 cup thinly sliced cabbage 4 toasted hamburger buns, split

Toppings: Crushed baked tortilla chips, chopped green or regular onion, chopped tomato, chopped bell pepper, chopped fresh cilantro, reduced-fat shredded Cheddar cheese, nonfat Greek yogurt (optional) Heat large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Add ground beef and onions; cook 8 to 10 minutes, breaking beef into 3/4-inch crumbles and stirring occasionally. Pour off drippings, as necessary. Stir in beans, tomato sauce, corn, water, spices and herbs. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve over macaroni, if desired. Garnish with toppings, as desired. To prepare barbecue sauce, combine brown sugar, mustard, beer and vinegar in small saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 15 to 17 minutes until thickened and reduced to 1/2 cup, stirring occasionally. Lightly shape ground beef into four 1/2-inchthick patties. Place patties on grid over medium, ash-covered coals. Grill, covered, 8 to 10 minutes (over medium heat on heated gas grill, covered, 7 to 9 minutes) until instant-read thermometer inserted horizontally into center registers 160 F, turning occasionally. About 2 minutes before burgers are done, place bun, cut sides down, on grid. Grill until lightly toasted. Spoon 1 tablespoon sauce on bottom of each bun; top with burger. Evenly spoon remaining sauce on burger. Evenly top burgers with cabbage. Close sandwiches. Cook’s Tip: Packaged coleslaw mix or shredded lettuce may be substituted for the shredded cabbage. October 2021

ANTIQUES AT THE GARDENS October 1-3, 2021 Mountain Brook - Birmingham Botanical Gardens - Admission Friday: 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sunday - 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Call 205-414-3950 FALL BIRD MIGRATION October 1-30, 2021 Dauphin Island - Audubon Bird Sanctuary Call 251-861-3607

ANNUAL TENNESSEE VALLEY OLD TIME FIDDLERS' CONVENTION October 1-2, 2021 Athens - Athens State University Admission Call 256-233-8185 ANNUAL HARVEST FESTIVAL October 1-2, 2021 Boaz - Main Street 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Call 256-593-8154 ALABAMA FROG LEVEL FESTIVAL October 1-2, 2021 Fayette - Main Street Friday: 4:00 - 10:00 p.m. Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Call 205-932-4587

OKTOBERFEST October 2, 2021 Moody - City Park 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Call 205-640-6262

BELLE MONT QUILT SHOW October 1-30, 2021 Tuscumbia - Belle Mont Mansion Admission - 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Call 256-381-5052

OLD CAHAWBA CEMETERY WALKING TOUR October 2, 2021 Orrville - Old Cahawba Archaeological Park - Admission 10:00 a.m. Call 334-872-8058

SCARECROWS IN THE PARK October 1 - November 30, 2021 Opp - Frank Jackson State Park 6:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Call 334-493-6988

OXFORDFEST October 2, 2021 Oxford - Downtown - Benefits local charities - 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Call 256-310-7500

ARX MORTIS HAUNTED ATTRACTION October 1-31, 2021 Killen - 4051 Hwy. 72 Admission Call 256-710-6811

CLAYBANK JAMBOREE ARTS & CRAFTS FESTIVAL October 2, 2021 Ozark - Downtown 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Call 334-774-9321

CENTRE FALL FESTIVAL October 2, 2021 Centre - Main Street 7:00 a.m. - Noon ALABAMA BUTTERBEAN FESTIVAL Call 256-927-5222 October 1-2, 2021 SMITH LAKE PARK BASS FEST Pinson - Historic Main Street October 2, 2021 Friday: 6:00 - 10:00 p.m. Cullman - Smith Lake Park Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Admission Call 877-691-6088 Call 256-739-2916 RUSSELL COUNTY STAMPEDE RODEO October 1-2, 2021 Phenix City - Twin Cities Horse Park Admission - 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. Rodeo starts at 7:00 p.m. Call 334-298-6535

40TH ANNUAL MADISON STREET FESTIVAL October 2, 2021 Madison - Downtown 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Visit www.madisonstreetfestival.org

8TH ANNUAL DADEVILLE FALL FESTIVAL October 2, 2021 Dadeville - Downtown 8:00 a.m - 4:00 p.m. Call 256-825-4019

LANDMARK PARK BENEFIT ST. FLORIAN OKTOBERFEST CAR SHOW October 1-2, 2021 October 2, 2021 St. Florian - Town Park Dothan - Landmark Park Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Sunday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Call 334-794-3452 Call 256-767-3690 70 Cooperative Farming News

ST FLORIAN OKTOBERFEST October 2-3, 2021 St. Florian - McFarland Park Call 256-767-3690 TOWN OF TERROR October 2 - November 1, 2021 Foley - OWA Call 251-933-2111 MOUNDVILLE NATIVE AMERICAN FESTIVAL October 6-9, 2021 Moundville Archaeological Park Admission - Wednesday - Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Call 205-371-2234 ALABAMA COASTAL BIRDFEST October 6-9, 2021 Spanish Fort - Five Rivers Alabama’s Delta Resource Center Fee for participants 6:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Call 251-625-0814

ART NIGHT October 7, 2021 Northport - Kentuck Park Call 205-758-1257 MARBLE VALLEY VFD OPEN HOUSE & YARD SALE October 7-9, 2021 Sylacauga - 2373 Coosa County Road 5 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Call 256-404-2057 NATIONAL SHRIMP FESTIVAL October 7-10, 2021 Gulf Shores - Gulf Shores Public Beaches Call 251-968-6091 CULLMAN COUNTY FAIR October 7-16, 2021 Cullman - Cullman County Fairgrounds - Admission Call 256-734-0661 BLOUNT COUNTY QUILTERS GUILD QUILT SHOW October 8-9, 2021 Oneonta - Palisades Park Admission 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Call 205-994-4749 PIONEER DAYS October 8-9, 2021 Troy - Pioneer Museum of Alabama Admission - Friday is School Day 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Call 334-566-3597 16th ANNUAL BARBER VINTAGE FESTIVAL October 8-10, 2021 Birmingham - Barber Motorsports Park - Admission Call 205-298-9040 SHOALS DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL October 9, 2021 Florence - McFarland Park Admission 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Call 256-740-4141 BLOUNT COUNTY COVERED BRIDGE FESTIVAL October 9, 2021 Oneonta - Downtown 9:00 a.m. Call 205-274-2153

WESTERN COWBOY DAY AT OLD BAKER FARM October 9-10, 2021 Harpersville - Old Baker Farm Admission 9:00 a.m. 0 5:00 p.m. Call 205-672-7209 THE BEACH BOYS AT THE AMPHITHEATER October 14, 2021 Tuscaloosa - Tuscaloosa Amphitheater - Admission Call 205-248-5280 FALL GIRLS' NIGHT OUT AT THE WHARF October 15, 2021 Orange Beach - The Wharf 5:30 - 9:00 p.m. Call 251-224-1000 LANDMARK PARK QUILT SHOW October 15-17, 2021 Dothan - Landmark Park Admission Friday: 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Sunday: 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Call 334-794-3452 CHICAGO STREET SUPPER CLUB October 15-17, 2021 Foley - North Chicago Street 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Call 251-943-3291 OPELIKA SONGWRITERS' FESTIVAL October 15-17, 2021 Opelika - Various Locations Admission Friday: 5:00 p.m. Saturday & Sunday: 11:00 a.m. Call 334-575-7347 FALL FARM DAY October 16, 2021 Dothan - Landmark Park Grounds 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Call 334-794-3452 ALABAMA CLASSIC BASS TOURNAMENT October 16, 2021 Eufaula - Lake Eufaula 4:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Call 334-355-5057

THE GREAT ESCAPE: RIVER RUN FROM CROCKETT October 16, 2021 Empire - 5840 Sipsey Road 7:00 a.m. Call 205-317-5374 8TH ANNUAL NOCCALULA FALLS POWWOW October 16-17, 2021 Gadsden - Noccalula Falls Park 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Call 256-293-6464 SPOOKY MOVIE ON THE LAWN October 23, 2021 Orange Beach - The Wharf Call 251-224-1000

***Please note that some of these events may be postponed or canceled due to COVID-19. Please contact the event directly in order to find out more information about the event.***

“What’s Happening in Alabama” Policy The AFC Cooperative Farming News publishes event listings as space allows, giving preference to agricultural events of regional or statewide interest and those that are annual or one-time events. The magazine assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of information submitted for publication and advises calling ahead to confirm dates, locations, times and possible admission fees. To be included in the calendar, send listings to: Cooperative Farming News Calendar of Events P.O. Box 2227 Decatur, AL 35609 -oremail to Calendar of Events at subscribe@alafarm.com *Please include name of event, where it will be held (both town and physical location), a phone number for more information, and an email or website.* *Event Listings must be received at least two months in advance and will be accepted up to a year in advance.*

October 2021

Agricultural Land Solutions WHAT WE OFFER: • Purchase or Refinance of Real Estate Farmland, timberland and pastureland (no minimum acreage size)

• Purchase or Refinance of Homes with Larger Acreage Preferably 10 acres or more

• Finance of Improvements to Real Estate

Construction, greenhouses, grain bins, barns, etc.

For more information contact: Rachel Holland 251.446.6022 – Terri Metts 251.267.3161 – John Winters 251.743.3161 – Dawn Hollingsworth 850.675.6066 *Subject to credit approval. Rates may vary based on credit history and terms. Rates subject to change without notice. Additional terms may apply.

Cooperative Farming News

October 2021

Articles inside

The Magic of Gardening

Feeding Facts

The Power of a Shield

How's Your Garden

Business of Farming

Food Safety

What's the Point with GreenPoint Ag

Howle's Hints: October

WALT MERRELL: Common Ground

Wagyu of Alabama, LLC

October Ag Insight

The Legacy of J.L. Parish

Should We Lower the “Antler Bar”?

2020 E.P Garrett Manager of the Year Wayne Gilliam

Wagyu of Alabama

2020 E.P. Garrett Manager of the Year Award

FFA Sentinel

Pacesetter Awards

PALS