GM 1.12

MidWest n Edition

Section One of One

January 2012

GROWER

Volume e 11 r1 Number

$2.50

Serving All Aspects of Commercial Horticulture

Greenhouse e • Nursery y • Garden n Centerr • Fruitt & Vegetable e • Farm m Marketss • Landscaperss • Christmas

Farm Preservation Summit ~ Page A2

Classifieds . . . . . . . . A22 Today’s Marketing. . A5

Great Lakes Fruit & Vegetable Expo ~ Page 27

Page 2 - Section A • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER MIDWEST • January 2012

Farm Preservation Summit focuses on food supply

by William McNutt It’s no secret that a huge amount of prime farmland has been used for urban development in this country during the past 50 years, led as might be expected by Texas and California. However Ohio’s farmland depletion is 6th on the list, just behind Florida and Arizona. In the past 60 years, Ohio has lost 7.5 million acres of farmland from its original 20 million, and ranks second in amount of acreage converted to development. These figures were of primary concern for the 12th annual Ohio Farmland Preservation Summit, taking place in Columbus last Fall.

With world population expected to increase by a billion in the next 25 years, even while one-third of them will continue to live in “third world” food deficient poverty stricken areas, the question of available food supply is paramount, according to American Farmland Trust executive Jon Scholl, who keynoted the conference. AFT’s concern is with food distribution, first in the U.S., then the world, plus the ability of American farmers to continue growing sufficient food in the face of changing domestic agriculture.

Production trends have shifted from farms occupied by half the population down to perhaps 2 percent currently, a small population working very large farms, with a very large number of small farms operated by families who rely on offfarm jobs to make a living. It is their future welfare that is of concern to preservationists, whether they will be forced to leave the farm or can remain with some shifting of economic priorities.

AFT is concentrating on government programs that would increase income from small to medium size farms, primarily by adding value to specialized crops suitable for smaller acreage, plus reducing costs through regional and community based food marketing systems. Such farms now provide 22 percent of agricultural production in this country, and over half of this group are not making a profit from farming but rely on off-farm jobs. They call for amending the upcoming 2012 Farm Bill to emphasize both value added and locally grown emphasis. The alternative would be larger production units taking over current small to medium acreage farmlands.

The 2012 Farm Bill amendments being proposed ask for consolidation of all community based grant applications to the

Ohio General Assembly Rep. Bob Peterson, left, with Jonathon Farbrache, Fairfield Conservancy District.

Photos by Bill McNutt

USDA, for local and regional farm and food systems.

Replacement of the current Farm Market Promotion Program with an overall local and regional farm and food systems program is also requested, in light of at least 20-25 percent probable budget cuts. Retaining and enhancing the current specialty crops block grant program is requested, as well as more information on local and regional food enterprises available for potential lenders to specialty crop growers, so they can properly evaluate the enterprise for which loans are requested.

Making a living on smaller farm acreage, without having to resort to off-farm employment, has drawn attention to sustainable, less costly agricultural production, with less emphasis on chemical and pesticide usage. The higher value and yield of specialty small fruit and vegetable crops, plus locally produced meat and bakery products, are all helping feed the current local foods direct market trend, but still account for less than 5 percent of food sales in this country. With many cities attempting to consolidate housing and remove no longer occupied buildings, land that can grow food crops becomes available. Government grants, many authorized under the last Farm Bill, or proposed in the 2012 edition, have or will become available to speed up the process. Ohio has available cleanup funds for “brown fields”, already being utilized in major urban areas.

Before community based agriculture on this available land is undertaken, leaders in that community need to organize and plan, including the recruitment not only those

who will do the preparation and planting, but attend to the harvest a few months later, when enthusiasm may have dwindled. Decisions need to be made as to what will be grown, where and how much, plus who is to receive it, where the equipment will come from, and how long the growing season will last.

Conventional large scale agriculture has not been forgotten by Congress, with many proposals for the 2012 Farm Bill aimed at them, but they are also subject to proposed budget cuts of $20 billion or more. This includes a $15 billion reduction from commodity programs responsible for providing 200 food banks in the U.S. Last year nearly a million pounds of food went from USDA to 37 million Americans in need, about a quarter of the 3.3 million pounds provided, much of it provided by retailers and manufacturers, who are also cutting back their donations while observing stricter inventory controls.

Federal spending cuts have already cut food donations from all sources by 45 million pounds, at a time when one in four American children are estimated to lack proper nutrition, and 14 million adults are unemployed. The question immediately comes to mind whether local community backed types of agriculture can even begin to support these needs.

The head of Feeding America, largest food-relief group in the U.S. recently stated that 6 billion pounds of produce in this country are going to waste each year, either “tilled up or tilled under.” The organization is trying to add a million pounds of new produce to their network, in a bid to improve nutritional needs of

low income populations who rely on food banks for supplies. They are working closely with local and national farm groups to get this job done, nowhere more effectively than in Ohio where Second Harvest Food Banks are being supplied with healthy and nutritious food that would not be utilized otherwise.

North and South America are already the major suppliers of food crops sufficient enough to be processed and exported, rather than primarily consumed domestically.

There is little question we need to preserve farmland in order to continue on this path, but will it be enough? A glimpse into the future comes from a recent announcement

by Monsanto Corporation that they are developing new seeds for vegetable production through scientific technology, that may well revolutionize supermarket produce sections.

Among those mentioned are the possibility of larger yields with less use of chemical fertilizer, built in weed control, melons bred for single serving size, onions that can be peeled with no tears, plus extending vegetable shelf life with no loss of taste, plus lowering cholesterol input with vegetable consumption. The company also pointed out that arable land is decreasing just as world population is increasing, with China and India’s fast growing economies importing more food. Monsanto claims they are not utilizing genetic engineering as such, but transferring favorable traits, such as flavor and taste, from one type

of plant into the DNA of another. Opponents, including many scientists, claim this is genetic modification by another name, and should not be used for widely consumed fresh produce, but limited to highly processed or animal food — as is the case with already widely accepted genetic transfers in soybeans and tomatoes for processing, which are Monsanto staples.

Perhaps a combination or at least coordination of effort, is needed to at least partially resolve what now appears to be a continuing and long time problem.

Preservation of farmland will be necessary not only to provide fresh and local production of food by those wishing to remain in farming on a smaller scale, but also to provide ever growing food needs of an expanding world population.

Increasing yields through scientific research designed for greater acreage of farmland under the control of fewer growers, will continue; hopefully, there will be a place for the alternative smaller producer, selling local products to local consumers.A tousand new direct farm marketers came into existence last year, raising the U.S. total to over 7000. Many of them are pooling their wares at central collection points, so individual transportation costs can be cut. Even supermarkets are getting into the act of buying locally, lowering costs for both them and their suppliers.

What the future will bring is not clear, but much effort is in effect right now to develop the best course for all concerned.

Ameena Salahuddin, of Stiletto Gardens, Urban Farming Project, left, conferring with Valerie Montoya, Brownfield Specialist with Ohio Department of Development, one of the featured speakers.

Broom Orchard has become an agritourism destination

Jeff Broom, owner, and one of his employees, Shirley Heller. peaches here for around a decade,” he told Country Folks Grower. “I had earned a degree in industrial technology, but the job market was in a slump so I started working at the farm, helping my family with the business that I had grown up in.”

It didn’t take long for Jeff to realize that his heart was and had always been in growing.

He quickly took to the lifestyle and decided to make Broom Orchard his permanent place of employment.

In 1996, Jeff and his wife Lisa bought the orchard from his parents and they have been running the operation ever since.

Peaches and apples remain the core crop there. But the new owners have implemented other changes to keep up with the modern market.

“My parents had sold a lot of their fruit into the wholesale market, but over time, that became increasingly difficult,” explained Jeff. “Lisa and I decided to focus our efforts more on retail and agritourism. We began

promoting fresh peaches and pick-your-own apples and other fruits that are also for sale in the retail market.

They put in a playground area, mazes and offered hayrides to visitors as well.

The orchard encompasses 120 acres of land, with approximately 50 acres in apple production and 20 acres of peaches. Around one and a half acres are dedicated to u-pick strawberries and customers can also pick pumpkins in the fall.

For those who prefer to purchase pre-picked produce, Broom Orchard has a well-rounded retail stand on site with packing equipment, storage and fruit, including nectarines, plums and pears.

“We also sell apple cider that we make in house,” noted Jeff. “My father bought the cider press in 1980 and we create blends of different apples, depending on what is ripe at the time.

We also pasteurize the cider in accordance with pasteurization regulations.”

The ciders are made using carefully selected blends of sweet, tart and dark apple varieties. The orchard also sends some of its apples to an Amish gentleman in the southern part of the state who uses them to make apple butter for sale at Broom Orchard’s retail market.

Preserves and jams are sold there. So is popcorn, cider slush and caramel apples made by the company’s own staff.

“We have a lot of different fruits, value-added products, gift items and snack foods for people throughout the year, but we also sell quite a bit during two festivals we host each fall,” said Jeff.

“On the fourth weekend in September, we host an Apple Festival that promotes all of our apple varieties and showcases

local craft vendors and food vendors. We also have pony rides, bouncy houses, a corn maze, live entertainment and hayrides.”

Several weeks later, in the middle of October, Broom Orchard hosts its annual Pumpkin Festival, with many of the same amenities and attractions — substituting pumpkins as the main item of focus. They also open their doors to school groups that travel to the farm to learn about apple and pumpkin production.

While much of the customer activity takes place in the fall, there is plenty for the staff to do during other seasons too.

“In December, the strawberry patches are covered with straw to help protect them from the elements,” said Jeff.

“We start fertilizing and working on the trees and strawberries in March and open up to the public for u-pick strawberries in June.”

Jeff and Lisa do much of the work themselves.

But during peak harvest season, they hire upwards of eight people to help with the extended workload. The couple’s three children also help throughout the year.

According to Jeff, running Broom Orchard is truly a family affair.

“This is our livelihood.

Not just for me and Lisa, but for our three kids too,” he said. “We have pulled together as a family to make the business work. Broom Orchard is thriving and that is wonderful, but the family togetherness is what is the most valuable thing to us.”

Broom Orchard employee Jim Knapp explains how apples are processed to a group students on a school field trip.

Photos courtesy of Broom Orchard

Special farm family relationships webinar set MENOMONEE FALLS, WI — A special webinar focusing on dealing with the complex issues that can arise in family farm relationships will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 11, beginning at 2 p.m. CST. The 2-hour program is being hosted by the American Society of Agricultural Consultants.

Titled “Dealing with the Complexity of Family and Business Relationships that Exist on Family-Owned Farms,” the webinar will cover these discussion points: • Estate Planning – active and non-active family mem-

bers in the farm business; • Farm Transition – ownership and control; • Organization – multiple family members working together; and • Exit strategies for the retiring farmer without a successor.

Time will also be spent on discussing the value of farm peer groups.

Leading the discussion will be Joe Kluender, founder of Farm Family Dynamics. A third-generation Minnesota farm owner, Kluender has a certificate in Family Business Advising. He also served as an

agricultural business consultant for LarsonAllen, LLP. Farm Family Dynamics specializes in facilitating estate plans and exit strategies for retiring farmers, farm transition plans, farm family business organizations and strategic planning.

“My role is to facilitate the development of a plan to address the natural changes by a family farm,” Kluender says. “A plan provides an orderly process that provides clarity and relieves the stress to the farm family. As an independent consultant, I wear the ‘farm hat’ and sell no products.

I work for the family farm.”

Questions on all the items listed above will be welcomed in advance and Kluender will attempt to work them into his presentation. Question should be submitted to c.merry@agconsultants.org at least 10 days prior to the event.

There is both an individual and group site fee for participating in the webinar. Details are available at www.agconsultants.org. As a professional courtesy, organizations wishing to set up group participation will be allowed to register at the ASAC Member Group

Site Fee. “We feel the topic is extremely timely and it is important for as many as possible to take part in the webinar,” says Gary Wagner, CAC, president of ASAC. “We would very much encourage organizations who work with farm families to host the webinar and invite their clients to attend as guests,” Wagner says. “ASAC has prepared a simple ‘how-to’ brochure that companies can use as a guide to set up such a program. It is available on the homepage of the ASAC site as well.”

January 2012 • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER MIDWEST • Section A - Page 3

by Kelly Gates For many decades, Stanford Broom grew fruit in southern Illinois in a small town called Alma. His main crop was peaches and he raised his children in the family growing business, teaching them everything he knew about proper peach production.

Eventually, Stanford’s son Bill developed a liking for the business and decided to start an orchard of his own in Carlinville, IL. He named the company “Broom Orchard.”

“Broom Orchard was started in 1968,” said Jeff Broom, Bill’s son and current owner of Broom Orchard. “When my dad bought the land here in Carlinville, it was filled with older trees that needed replanting.

So, he started taking them out one-by-one and replanting with newer varieties that were more suitable for the market at the time.”

As Bill waited for his new trees — mostly peach trees — to mature, he shipped peaches in from the Alma orchard to sell at a small market in Carlinville.

Because there weren’t any peach growers in the area, Broom Orchard quickly became the place to go for some of the freshest peaches around.

According to Jeff, the trees in Carlinville eventually produced fruit, enabling the family to begin a tradition of selling its own peaches and apples.

“By the time I graduated from college in 1983, my parents had been growing and selling

Spotted Wing Drosophila has spread across the U.S.

by Sanne Kure-Jensen The small fruit fly, Spotted Wing Drosophila, attacks healthy fruit just as it begins to color or ripen and has been found across New England in 2011. SWD larvae, secondary insects and fungi then develop and devastate ripening fruit, making them unsalable and inedible. Nearly 50 growers and vineyard managers recently attended a presentation given by Dr. Richard Cowles of the Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station (CAES) called “Spotted Wing Drosophila Update and Importance for Small Fruit Growers.”

Cowles said, “New England agriculture offers conditions perfectly suited to this pest.” There are small diversified farms with multiple fruits all season long. Many farms have hedgerows of native and invasive shrubs offering extended season fruit and winter habitat. Favorites include brambles, wild

strawberries and pokeweed, each very common on farms as well as in neighboring wild areas.

Burial and composting of fruit pumice is not an effective control technique so wineries and other producers are urged to cover crop waste with plastic and solarize them in midsummer and when conditions permit.

Threat The SWD may have about seven generations per year in the Northeast, with about 10 days per generation during peak activity. Females lay about 10 eggs per day from April through November. This is a 50-fold increase every 10 days. To prevent a population explosion and control the population, 98-99 percent control must be maintained. This pattern makes developing pesticide resistance likely so a varied treatment plan is recommended.

Cover photo by Joan Kark-Wren The newly crowned 2012 Michigan Apple Queen Marissa Tidey and First Runner-up Emily Heeren take a moment for photos at the Great Lakes Fruit & Vegetable Expo.

Country Folks The Monthly Newspaper for Greenhouses, Nurseries, Fruit & Vegetable Growers

Page 4 - Section A • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER MIDWEST • January 2012

(518) 673-3237 • Fax # (518) 673-2381 (ISSN # 1065-1756) U.S.P.S. 008885 Country Folks Grower is published monthly by Lee Publications, P.O. Box 121, 6113 St. Hwy. 5, Palatine Bridge, NY 13428.

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Originally from Southeast Asia, Japan and Korea, scientists have projected the likely zones where SWD is adapted and will easily overwinter and thrive as the entire eastern half of the U.S. as well as a narrow band along the West Coast.

The SWD was first sighted in California in 2008. It quickly spread to Oregon, Washington and Florida by 2009. It is estimated to have caused one-half billion dollars of losses annually in West Coast states. By 2010 SWD was found in Utah, Michigan, Louisiana, Georgia, South and North Carolina. In 2011 SWD had spread up the remaining East Coast aided by the Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. Previous work in Japan and the Pacific Northwest has found the following cultivated fruits are at risk from the SWD: apples, Asian pears, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cherries, kiwi, elderberry, figs, grapes, Italian prunes, mulberries, nectarines, peaches, persimmons, plumcots, satyma plums, raspberries, strawberries and tomatoes (especially split fruit).

Heather Faubert of the University of Rhode Island and Chris Maier of CAES have found these wild or ornamental plants to host SWD: American pokeweed, autumn olive, beach plum, climbing nightshade, crabapple, fox grape, Japanese yew, Kousa dogwood, porcelain berry and seaside rose, giving added incentives to remove the invasive species.

Monitor Cowles recommends monitoring for SWD with baited traps, which can be homemade or purchased. If making traps, a red band over the top twothirds of the container increases effectiveness.

Since the SWD overwinters as adults, it may be possible to trap them on warm winter days reducing the spring population. Cowles recommends keeping traps out year-round or as temperatures indicate.

Prevention Blueberries may be protected with fine netting (0.98 mm opening or less).

Cowles suggests treating the netting with pyrethroids and to pick and remove all overripe fruit. It is important to allow native pollinators, bumblebees and honeybees to complete their work before installing the netting, and to enclose bees within the netting if pollination is still required for crops.

Treatment Options Cowles provided an overview of conventional approaches tested in other states. These methods involve spraying in the fruit zone just as the fruit begin to change color; there is no need to spray the whole plant canopy. Apply a full spray of malathion, pyrethroid, spinosyn or dinotefuran per label directions. Be sure to follow Days to Harvest precautions. Alternate row spraying and a 50 foot border spray can be effective. Repeat applications should be made at five to seven day intervals per label directions.

Organic operations have only one approved and effective treatment (spinosyn insecticides) and complete

Dr. Richard Cowles of the Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station presents options for controlling the Spotted Wing Drosophila to a group of nearly 50 growers and vineyard managers at a recent presentation on the invasive fruit fly.

Photo by Sanne Kure-Jensen reliance on this class of insecticides risks rapid resistance development.

Rotating active ingredients, diligent sanitation and exclusion netting are their best hopes of control.

The USDA is working with parasitic wasps, some of which are native. It will be some time before quantities of the wasp grow to effective numbers.

Cowles said a fungus would be the most likely biological control to be effective because fungi can increase so rapidly; this is being researched. A Beauveria bassiana strain, effective on some flies, is currently allowed in animal operations but is not yet approved for use with fruit crops.

Research Continues When fruit flies’ feet ‘taste’ something sweet, a feeding response is triggered. Cowles and other researchers will be testing sweetened (sugar, molasses or artificial sweeteners) pesticide treatments for increased effectiveness. This approach may allow the use of lower chemical concentrations.

Cowles discussed using 20 pounds of sugar, corn syrup or molasses dissolved in warm water in a 50 gallon sprayer with lower pesticide concentration then normal; a fine mist sprayer will also reduce pesticide needs saving growers money.

Other treatment approaches are being tested. Boric acid has been effective in laboratory tests and could be used in bait stations. Red sticky traps using sugar-laced, vinegar-based bait should also be effective, but need to be tested. Using artificial sweetener rather than traditional sugar would reduce the risk of sooty mold and does not provide calories to the fruit flies.

Another option is use of desiccant dusts. Cowles pointed out that a dry dislodgable dust is more effective than material stuck to plant surfaces applied through conventional wet sprays.

Today’s Marketing Objectives By: Melissa Piper Nelson Farm News Service News and views on agricultural marketing techniques.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained ~ evaluating new market opportunities Producers direct marketing to consumers have benefitted from a number of new selling options over the past decade.

Farm-gate sales, community supported agriculture programs, buying clubs and new types of farmers’ markets have presented many opportunities to consider.

In marketing workshops, a primary question is still frequently asked by many producers. How do I know if a new venture will actually work for my operation?

Several key elements factor into the decision and more formal processes include time studies, advanced market research and sales projections. Before you launch into these elements three basic questions could provide a starting point to evaluate any new venture.

Does it fit into my personal philosophy of doing business? If a new type of selling opportunity presents itself, is it something that will align with how you currently operate your business, or does it take a sharp turn away from

your comfort zone? If you enjoy spending a day a week as family time, will the new venture preclude you from doing so? Will it require you to change how you think about serving your customer base or require you to hand over sales responsibilities to others? Many farm operations have written and are guided by a vision statement for the business. If a new opportunity is in direct conflict with that philosophical decision then it is possible that the new venture will either take you in an entirely new direction or put you in serious conflict with your established business premise.

Will it interfere or enhance your present operations? As enticing as new opportunities may be, you have to ask yourself how a new operation will affect what you are doing now. Will you be required to purchase new equipment?

Will your method of packaging and distribution change? Will you need to hire more employees — if so, how many and at what salary? Do you need to open another store or farmers’ market stand?

With new farmers’ markets opening almost daily, producers are en-

couraged to operate at several each week. The question is how to do this effectively without spreading your operation too thin.

When will the new operation pay for itself?

How long will be it before you begin making a profit from the venture and all your obligations are covered? The opportunity to make some quick cash or a little more profit is enticing, but you must consider when sales are more than cash flow and become actual profit. A new operation may look good on paper until you begin to outline the real costs of labor, equipment, harvesting, storage, transportation, marketing and time on the ground. Producers sometimes underestimate the all the costs involved with starting new side ventures and then must pull-out of a marketing situation early or cover the costs by borrowing from another part of the business. You may have interns that can provide help during the summer, but what about the fall season when you might need to recruit regular employees to cover that your interns have done

Marketing 6

January 2012 • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER MIDWEST • Section A - Page 5

Marketing from 5 throughout the spring and summer. Labor issues are frequently the deciding factor in taking on new sales opportunities. Making an overall plan for labor distribution is extremely important for the flow of your business.

Ask your business team of employees, accountants, tax professionals and family members to contribute to discussions about new ventures. While you may feel a new opportunity is worthy of consideration and deployment, others may have differing opinions and show where challenges could present problems. Likewise, the team is also able to offer encouragement and suggest ways to take on sales situations that will profit the business in the long run.

Today producers are benefitting from many new types of direct sales methods, and these opportunities often are tempting ways to make a little more cash. Without considering how new ventures

will affect others parts of the business, however, is a set-up for failure. While you may not need to do considerable and time-consuming studies, you should opt to review how new ventures impact your own business philosophy,

what inputs you will need to have in place and how soon you will be able to achieve a positive return on your investment. These three elements will give you the ability to judge how a new or divergent operation will fit into your

overall business plan.

In this case, doing the homework actually does pay!

The above information is presented for educational purposes and should not be substituted for professional business and legal counseling.

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Page 6 - Section A • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER MIDWEST • January 2012

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Learn Market Magic at 2012 Iowa Farmers Market Workshop DES MOINES, IOWA — Mercedes Taylor Puckett will be the key presenter at the 14th annual Iowa Farmers Market Workshop. The Workshop is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. It will run from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m, at First Christian Church, 2500 University Ave., Des Moines, IA. The workshop registration fee is $30 and includes lunch.

Advance registration is recommended; walk-ins can register at 8:30 a.m. for a fee of $40.

The presentation, “Making Market Magic” will cover creating and promoting a thriving market.

“With a wave of the market manager’s wand

— POOF! — a farmers market materializes,” Taylor -Puckett said.

“To the public, this is what appears to happen. But market folk know the reality behind the illusion: much work goes into the creation of a vibrant atmosphere that’s conducive to robust vendor sales. Market magic takes solid research, innovative collaboration, strong planning, and first-rate implementation.

“We’re in an exciting time for farmers markets,” she added. “The number of markets across the nation has exploded. Consumers are recognizing the value of great food raised in their own communities. More

young people are interested in becoming farmers. But, farmers markets are about more than fresh fruit and vegetables. At their core, markets are about relationships.”

Taylor-Puckett is the Local Food and Farmers Market Coordinator for Kansas Rural Center’s Farmers Market Project, which supports more than 75 markets in Kansas through conferences, workshops and the www.ksfarmersmarkets.org website.

Her current projects include expanding SNAP access at farmers markets, as well as launching the local food branding program, Our Local Food, for the state of

Kansas. In addition to serving as the Kansas co-lead for the National Farm to School Network, Mercedes is involved with farm food safety and the Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) Program. She contributes to the Great Plains Growers Conference as a member of the planning committee, develops manager and board training, and

organizes the annual Kansas Farmers Market Conference. Mercedes is also the administrator of www.ksfarmersmarkets.org.

Prior to joining KRC, she was the coordinator of the Downtown Lawrence Farmers Market and served as the local food forager for the 2008 National SARE Conference in

Kansas City.

The workshop, sponsored by the Iowa Farmers’ Market Association (IFMA), provides training and information for farmers market managers and vendors.

For more information visit www.iafarmersmarkets.org or contact Ginny Gieseke, IFMA president, vrgieseke@q.com or 515-277-6951.

Great Plains Growers Conference 2012 slated for January munity gardening, and a farmers’ market track.

There will be a meeting for the Kansas City Growers Association and Missouri Horticultural Society on Thursday ,along with Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska Vegetable Growers associations held on Friday.

There will be educational information from all five states — Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota, along with vegetable specialists and growers from those states. There are over 50 exhibitors in a trade show with the latest seeds, supplies, equipment, and grower information. There will be ample opportunities to visit with other growers, exhibitors and speakers. Copies of the registration program, along with fees are posted online at http://greatplainsgrowers.org/2012%20program/Registration%20for m%20for%20web.pdf.

Morning and afternoon snacks, including the Wine and Snack Reception, and the lunch buffet with endless options, are included in the fee.

For more information, visit www.greatplainsgrowers.org/

January 2012 • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER MIDWEST • Section A - Page 7

The Great Plains Growers Conference has been scheduled for Jan. 57, 2012 in St. Joseph, MO. The conference will be held at the Fulkerson Conference Center, Missouri Western State University, 4525 Downs Drive, St. Joseph, MO. Check out the program for new all-day workshops presented by engaging speakers throughout the conference. Again for 2012, this will be a combination of two conferences — the Great Plains Vegetable and Mid-America Fruit conferences.

Room has been added for an additional new workshop and track to accommodate the increasing attendance. On Friday, topics of interest will be small fruit, tree fruit, beginner organic growing, conventional vegetable pest management, marketing and agritourism. Successful growers, Paul and Sandy Arnold of Pleasant Valley Farm, Saratoga Springs, NY, will be the keynote presenters on Friday morning. Saturday will feature an all-day cut flower workshop, conventional vegetable and advanced organic growing tracks, urban horticulture and com-

HIGHLIGHTS OF MFB 92ND ANNUAL CONVENTION

Page 8 - Section A • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER MIDWEST • January 2012

Monroe County’s Paul Marks is Agricultural Promoter of the Year GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Few facets of agriculture in the southwestern corner of the state haven’t benefitted from the work of Paul Marks. Through 4-H, FFA, Michigan State University Extension and Farm Bureau, Marks’ efforts to promote Monroe County agriculture span five decades and form a legacy many agriculture educators can only aspire to.

In recognition of a lifetime spent bridging the gap between farmers and consumers, Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) presented Marks with its 2011 Agricultural Promoter of the Year Award Dec. 1 at the organization’s 92nd annual meeting in Grand Rapids.

The award, which includes a $500 grant for future promotion efforts, recognizes MFB members who do exceptional work voluntarily promoting agriculture and educating the non-farming public about the industry.

Marks was nominated by the Monroe County Farm Bureau and chosen by the MFB state Promotion and Education Committee from 14 nominations submitted from across the state.

“Paul is a voice for all farmers — grain, livestock, vegetables, retailers,” said Donald Sahloff, president of the Monroe County Farm Bureau.

“He has great knowledge of the industry, based on experience, and tirelessly looks for opportunities to share his knowledge and expertise with the general public and the agriculture community alike.

Paul is very approachable and encourages communication between the people who grow the food and those who consume it.”

Marks has deep roots in Monroe County agriculture, beginning as an FFA advisor in the 1950s and ‘60s. By the mid1970s his career with MSU Extension was already well seasoned, and he had begun the Country Charmers 4-H group.

Throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s his involvement stayed intense and consistent, not even flagging after his retirement from Extension in 2001.

“For me Farm Bureau

has been a natural extension of my professional career as an educator and as an Extension person,” Marks said. “It’s allowed me to continue after my retirement in terms of volunteerism, in terms of leadership development, in terms of trying to have an impact on our county.”

As head of the county Farm Bureau’s communications efforts, Marks restarted a long-dormant quarterly newsletter for members. He also dove into media relations to help connect local farmers with the greater community and coordinated a well-received Adopt-aFarm project between the Monroe Evening News and a local dairy farm.

“He has helped to educate the staff and writers at Heritage Papers about what the agriculture community is doing — to educate them and the community about how food is grown and kept safe, and how the environment is protected,” Sahloff said. “Educating the reporters has helped get out the message that agriculture is a vital part of this economy.”

Marks was also instrumental in the development of a DVD profiling Monroe County agriculture and farmers, the diverse commodities they produce, the economic impact of their businesses and the environmental issues they navigate to keep their farms sustainable. The DVD has seen widespread viewing by the county Farm Bureau’s Community Action Groups, at the county fair

and among various community groups interested in learning more about this vital component of the community.

“That DVD is available to all members,” Marks explains. “If the local Kiwanis or Rotary club wants a program on agriculture, this is a standalone presentation the Farm Bureau member can take to that meeting.

It gives them a visual tool to use to promote agriculture to a group of people who are primarily not involved in it.”

For younger audiences, Marks has played a key role in Monroe County’s Ag Awareness Day since its inception. Marks’ honeybee presentation has been a fixture from the start, when the fledgling event consisted of a mere 10 exhibits. Now four times that size and sprawling through 14 barns at the county fairgrounds, Ag Awareness Day this year drew 1,100 second and third-grade attendees from almost 20 area schools. Still deeply involved in its coordination — and still manning the honeybee exhibit — Marks’ role has expanded to include working with ally organizations to produce agriculture education packages for participating teachers to take back to the classroom.

Marks’ efforts are as diverse as they are successful. As the longtime clerk of the county 4-H fair large animal auction, he put in countless hours to ensure all sold animals got where they needed to go after the sale. Originally a tangled web of paper-

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work, Marks worked with 4-H members to develop a simple computer program to manage the task, ultimately safeguarding relations between buyers and sellers.

Rounding up speakers from MSU Extension, MFB and the Michigan Quarter Horse Association, he organized a social media workshop for county members interested in getting up to speed — and in touch — on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and other online resources.

Marks also worked with the county Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer group to arrange a tour of local operations using innovative technology and practices. He has also arranged Community Action Group tours of Chelsea Milling Company, Applewood Orchards and Groeb Farms, a large

local honey producer.

“I get a lot of enjoyment out of helping people learn things they didn’t know before,” Marks said. “Volunteering in

agriculture has given me the opportunity to help people who are not farm people to learn the importance of the industry that I’m involved in.”

Michigan Farm Bureau Promotion and Education Committee Chairman Larry Walton presents Monroe County Farm Bureau member Paul Marks, at right, with the 2011 Agricultural Promoter of the Year Award Dec. 1 at MFB’s 92nd annual meeting in Grand Rapids. The award recognizes MFB members who do exceptional work voluntarily promoting agriculture and educating the non-farming public about the industry.

Local farmers take active role in developing MFB policy LANSING, MI — Delegates from Michigan’s 67 county-level Farm Bureaus represented their local agriculture industries at Michigan Farm Bureau’s (MFB) 92nd Annual Meeting, where they spent four days fine tuning and approving the policies that will define MFB’s 2012 agenda.

Policy development sessions were at the core of the annual meeting, held Nov. 29 through Dec. 2 in Grand Rapids.

Delegates voted on more than 148 resolutions concerning state, national and organizational issues. These were consolidated from hundreds of proposals submitted by county Farm Bureaus

across the state.

The proposed New International Trade Crossing (NITC), wildlife management, youth agriculture employment, seasonal labor, the farm bill and national dairy policy were just some of the matters addressed.

Resolutions adopted at the meeting dealing with state issues will direct MFB action in 2012. Adopted resolutions dealing with national issues will be forwarded to the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) for consideration at the AFBF 93rd Convention and Annual Meeting in Honolulu, Jan. 8-11, 2012.

On the issue of the

NITC, the delegate body reaffirmed their support for the proposed bridge between Michigan and Canada. Narrowing the focus of a previous general highways policy, delegates emphasized the NITC will allow for more efficient and easier access from highways and shorter delays at international customs inspections.

Delegates were once again asked to consider the sensitive issue of feral swine. Striking a delicate balance between members who raise hogs and the organization’s support of independent small businesses such as game farms and hunting preserves, the dele-

gates reaffirmed that MFB supports the elimination of feral swine in Michigan as well as regulation of swine hunting facilities. New to the policy, MFB supported the Oct. 8 order by the DNR which names certain species of pigs as invasive. Additionally, MFB maintained opposition to artificial baiting and feeding of freeranging deer.

On the national front, members composed policy opposing recent proposals from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to restrict children from employment in agriculture settings. To support their policy, more than 480 members submitted comments to the

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agement program.

Beyond policy development, Farm Bureau members attended educational workshops about the farm bill, Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program, and how to better inform the non-farming public about agriculture.

Members also heard from Gov. Rick Snyder, who complimented the organization on its policy process and introduced his new Pure Michigan Talent Connect, a job recruitment program.

Attendees also rubbed elbows with more than a dozen legislators who visited to witness the organization’s grassroots policymaking and partake of the annual Taste of Michigan reception.

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DOL opposing the proposed changes.

In other national issues, delegates said Farm Bureau should support a simple guest worker program to provide a regulated, legal work force for agriculture and oppose any mandates on employers to use electronic verification until a guest worker program is in place for workers not currently authorized.

In preparation for anticipated farm bill negotiations in 2012, members recommended farmers be ineligible for disaster assistance payments from the government if they did not purchase crop insurance.

Also, the delegate body approved of national dairy policy opposing any type of supply man-

Van Buren’s Wallace Heuser honored for distinguished agriculture service GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Ask consumers about the greatest name in American fruit lore, and they’ll likely think of Johnny Appleseed. But there’s a Michigan born-andbred individual who deserves more thanks for modern-day apple quality and abundance than any folk hero.

His name is Wallace

E. Heuser, and he’s the recipient of Michigan Farm Bureau’s (MFB) 2011 Distinguished Service to Agriculture (DSA) Award.

MFB named Heuser, of Lawrence, the DSA award winner during a Dec. 1 ceremony at the MFB 92nd Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids. The DSA award is MFB’s highest honor and recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the state’s agriculture industry.

DSA award recipients

are selected by the MFB board of directors based on nominations submitted by county Farm Bureaus and representatives of the agriculture industry. In considering applicants, the board looks for individuals who have made differences which have improved the economic status and image of Michigan agriculture.

“Hundreds of people can list Wally Heuser’s contributions to the fruit industry,” said MFB President Wayne H. Wood, “and every

Michigan Farm Bureau President Wayne H. Wood, at left, applauds Wallace E. Heuser, the 2011 recipient of the Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award, MFB’s highest honor. Heuser, of Van Buren County, was recognized for his long career promoting the value of high-quality, high-efficiency fruit production and revolutionizing the apple industry worldwide through the introduction of new apple varieties.

person he influenced felt his genuine, personal interest in them — not just as fellow fruit growers but as human beings.”

During Heuser’s remarkable career, he has introduced nearly 100 new apple varieties which have revolutionized the industry by offering better color, flavor and growth characteristics, including the patented Golden Delicious, Red Delicious and Paulared varieties.

Heuser has also traveled the globe to promote the value of highquality, high-efficiency fruit production.

“I know of no other individual who has so greatly influenced the present commercial tree fruit industry,” said Jerome Hull, Michigan State University (MSU) professor emeritus in the horticulture department.

William Baird, professor and chairperson of the MSU horticulture department, agrees, calling Heuser’s contributions “unparalleled.”

“He is recognized worldwide as an authority on deciduous fruit varieties, rootstocks and orchard management systems, and an expert horticulturalist, nurseryman, innovator and marketing specialist,” said Baird.

Page 10 - Section A • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER MIDWEST • January 2012

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Heuser’s passion for fruit has spanned decades. He grew up on a fruit farm in Hartford and earned a degree in pomology from MSU, where he led his student pomster club to install a refrigerated apple vending machine in the horticulture building.

Even fresh out of college, Heuser was willing to stretch conventional limits, recalls MSU classmate Paul Rood.

“Dwarf trees were just an idea a college department head had,” Rood said, “but Wally took hold of it, grew dwarf trees and helped the whole industry change. It was a radical idea, but he recognized the possibilities. And when he concentrated on being a nurseryman, everything he propagated was made better.”

Heuser’s foresight into the movement toward smaller fruit trees led to the creation of the International Dwarf Fruit Tree Association, now known as the International Fruit Tree Association (IFTA), of which he was founding president. IFTA serves a vital function in educating fruit growers worldwide and in promoting advancements in orchard technology.

“Nearly all of the nation’s orchards today are planted on dwarfing rootstocks, yielding trees smaller in stature, more precocious, and more efficiently managed,” said Hull.

Heuser is an equally strong supporter and innovator in the sweet and tart cherry industries.

“He was one of the first nurseryman to re-

alize the merits of the German cherry breeding program and the potential of some of the dwarfing cherry rootstocks for sweet cherry production, especially for fresh marketing,” said Hull.

Heuser has also been as much a businessman as a horticulturalist.

Upon graduation from MSU, Heuser returned to his family farm, Hilltop Orchards and Nurseries, where he was responsible for dramatically increasing the farm’s acreage, adding a state-of-the-art packing house, and making other technological improvements. He also established Hilltop International to market the farm’s patented plant materials.

In 1989, Heuser established and became president of Summit Sales Inc., and International Plant Management Inc. Summit Sales provides horticultural knowledge, fruit variety and rootstock selection to commercial fruit growers worldwide. International Plant Management’s mission is to test, protect, introduce and market new deciduous fruit tree selections.

After more than 50 years in the industry, Heuser remains a personable leader who helps everyone who asks.

“He’s one of the most humble people I know,” said Trever Meachum, a young fruit industry leader who counts himself fortunate to learn from Heuser’s instruction. “If you call a fruit industry person in Europe, they’ll say the same. It will take a team to fill his shoes.”

MFB board welcomes new district director, young farmer rep

Brian Preston

LANSING, MI — The Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) has a new district director and young farmer representative on its 17member board of directors that governs the state’s largest general farm organization.

On Dec. 2 at the MFB 92nd Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids, Farm Bureau members elected Leelanau County fruit grower Ben

LaCross, of Cedar, to the position of District 9 director. In this role, LaCross will serve a two-year term representing Farm Bureau members in Benzie, Kalkaska, Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee and Wexford counties.

Meanwhile, MFB’s Young Farmer Committee, which represents Farm Bureau members between the ages of 18

and 35, selected Branch County dairy farmer Brian Preston, of Quincy, as committee chairman. In this position, the 33-yearold will serve a oneyear term as the young farmer representative on the MFB board.

In other races, MFB members re-elected the following individuals:

Ben LaCross

NE W CONSTRUCTION O R R E N O VAT I O N. . .

• Brigette Leach, of Climax, was re-elected to a two-year term as District 1 director, representing members in Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Van Buren counties.

• Mike Fusilier, of Manchester, was reelected to a two-year term as District 3 director, representing members from Livingston, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne counties.

• Alan Garner, of Lansing, was re-elected to a two-year term as District 5 director, representing members in Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Ingham and Shiawassee counties.

• Charles Mulholland, of Coral, was reelected to a two-year

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term as District 7 director, representing members in Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana and Osceola counties.

• Dave Bahrman, of Skandia, was re-elected to a two-year term as District 11 director, representing members in the Upper Peninsula.

• Jennifer Lewis, of Jonesville, was reelected to a two-year term as director -atlarge.

• Larry Walton, of Sturgis, was re-elected chairman of the MFB Promotion and Education Committee. In this role, he will serve another one-year term as the promotion and education representative on the board.

Indiana beekeeping school announces classes statewide Backyard beekeeping is a longstanding tradition in Indiana. If you go back far enough you’ll find that many Hoosiers kept beehives on their homesteads in the 19th Century as their source for sugar.

But it was only in the last half of the 20th Century that people under-

stood the value of honeybees to agriculture and gardens. Because of their pollination efforts, honeybees are responsible for up to $20 billion dollars in increased agricultural output in the U.S. every year. The recent and well-publicized honeybee population crash has both scientists

Page 12 - Section A • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER MIDWEST • January 2012

Students as young as 10 have attended the class with a parent and have consistently become successful beekeepers. Frequently their beehive project, along with photos of them managing their bees, have won prizes at county fairs and at the Indiana State Fair.

Photo courtesy of Indiana Beekeeping School

and farmers concerned.

As a result more and more Indiana residents are taking the situation into their own hands, and resuming the tradition of backyard beekeeping in cities and towns across the state, and the honeybee crisis has been reduced.

The Indiana Beekeeping School is holding its 15th Beginner Beekeeping Class on Jan. 28 in Indianapolis, Terre Haute, Fort Wayne and Columbus. The 12-hour class is coupled with ongoing education. The class is held only once a year and includes presentations in the classroom, hive construction workshops and ongoing education via the Internet. Students will receive all the training necessary to become successful beekeepers.

The school has been featured on television news and magazine articles and used as a model by schools and beekeeping clubs across the country.

In this area, the class is being held at Ivy Tech Community College,

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Illinois Specialty Crops, Agritourism and Organic Conference SPRINGFIELD, IL — The Illinois Specialty Crops, Agritourism and Organic Conference will be held Jan. 11-13, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield, IL. The conference, which features more than 100 speakers and 50 trade

show exhibitors, will again host four concurrent preconference workshops, general sessions and breakout sessions aimed at helping Illinois specialty growers cultivate their operations.

On Wednesday, Jan.

11, participants may attend one of four preconference workshops, including Getting Started: Guidelines and Resources for New Growers, Scaling Up Local Food Systems, Expanding Farmers’ Market Opportunities and Legal Is-

sues for Specialty Crop Producers.

The conference opens Thursday, Jan. 12, with a general session and keynote speach titled, “Foods that Heal — How Eating Local Foods Can Lead to a Sustainable and Healthier Commu-

nity,” featuring Michael McGreal, chef and culinary educator, Joliet Junior College.

Participants are invited to attend breakout sessions Thursday, Jan. 12, and Friday, Jan. 13, featuring: • Agritourism;

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2012 SESSIONS WILL INCLUDE:

Finger Lakes Community Health • 936 Fingerlakes Construction Co • 800 Fingerlakes Trellis Supply • 605, 607 Food Bank Assoc of NYS • 504 Friends of Natural Gas • 811 Frontlink, Inc • 941, 942 Gowan Company • 501 Grimes Horticulture • 304 Growers Mineral Solutions • 319 Growers Supply • 217 Growth Products • 210 GVM, Inc • 723, 725, 820, 822 Hansen-Rice, Inc • 904 Harris Seeds • 901 Haygrove Tunnels, Inc • 307 Hill & Markes, Inc • 808 Hillside Cultivator Co., LLC • 301 Hillside Orchard Farms • 419 InterCrate Inc • 603 IPM Laboratories, Inc • 112 J&M Industries, Inc • 703 Kepner Equipment, Inc • 1005, 1006 Koppert Biological Systems • 805 Kube Pak Corp • 706 Lambert Peat Moss, Inc • 938 Lansing Sales & Service, Inc • 929 Lee Shuknecht & Sons, Inc • 906 Lucas Greenhouses • 520 Maier Farms • 305 Mankar Ultra Low Volume Sprayers • 1000 Marrone Bio Innovations • 701 MAS Labor H-2A, LLC • 203 Mid-Lantic Labeling & Packaging • 903 Mike Weber Greenhouses, Inc • 809 Miller Chemical & Fertilizer Corp. • 316 Monte Package Company • 206 N. M. Bartlett, Inc • 801, 803, 900, 902 Natural Forces, LLC • 221 Natural Industries • 321 New York Center for Agricultural Medicine & Health-NYCAMH • 623 Nichino America, Inc • 506 Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York • 109 Nourse Farms, Inc • 707

NTI Global • 1001 NY DOL - Rural Employment • 122 NYS Department of Ag & Markets • 1013 NYS Department of Ag & Markets-Crop Insurance Education • 204

NYS Flower Industry • 111 NYS Vegetable Growers Association • 950 O. A. Newton • 819, 821, 920, 922 OESCO, Inc • 525, 624 Oro Agri Inc • 202 Paige Equipment Sales & Service, Inc • 711, 713, 810, 812 PCA - Supply Services • 418 Penn Scale Manufacturing Co • 116 Pennsylvania Service & Supply, Inc • 937 Phil Brown Welding Corp. • 323 ProducePackaging.com® • 502 RE & HJ McQueen • 209, 211, 213, 215, 308, 310, 312, 314 Reed’s Seeds • 407 Rupp Seeds, Inc • 406 Rockford Package Supply • 302 Seedway, LLC • 318 Siegers Seed Company • 400 Sinknmore Div - Polyjohn Enterprises Corp • 618 Spectrum Technologies, Inc • 625 Stark Bro’s Nurseries & Orchards Co • 207 Stoke Seeds, Inc • 401 Stokes Blueberry Farms & Nursery • 212 Summit Tree Sales • 507 Suterra, LLC • 505 Syngenta • 702, 704 Targit Sales Associates, LLC • 807 Tew Manufacturing Corp • 935 The Horticultural Society • 907 Treen Box & Pallet • 919 Tuff Automation • 802 USDA NY Agricultural Statistics Service • 113 Valent U.S.A. Corp • 306 Van Ernst Refrigeration • 620, 622 VirtualOne • 500 Wafler Nursery • 404 Wessels Farms • 601 W. H. Milikowski, Inc • 722, 724 White’s Farm Supply, Inc • 619, 621, 718, 720

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January 2012 • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER MIDWEST • Section A - Page 13

• Flower Production • Flower Marketing • Labor • Potatoes • Tree Fruit • Tomatoes & Peppers • Cultural Controls • Direct Marketing • Pesticide Safety • Vine Crops • Leafy Greens • Cover Crops • Soil Health • Reduce Tillage • Berry Crops • Cabbage • Cole Crops • Food Safety • Onions • Garlic • Peas & Snap Beans • Greenhouse & Tunnels • Pesticide Safety • Sweet Corn

Acadian AgriTech • 910 Adams County Nursery, Inc • 115 Advanced Sprayer & Water Tech • 931, 932, 933, 934 Agraquest, Inc • 705 Agricultural Data Systems, Inc • 602 Agrisolar Solutions NA • 813, 815 Agro-One Soils Lab • 421 Amaizeingly Green Value Products, ULC • 108 American Takii, Inc • 709 Andre & Son, Inc / Nature Safe • 114 Applied Agricultural Technologies • 214 Arctic Refrigeration Co. • 518 BASF - The Chemical Company • 402 Bayer Crop Science • 201, 300 BCS Shop • 325, 424 BDI Machinery • 403, 405 Bejo Seeds, Inc • 320 Belle Terre Irrigation, LLC • 519, 521, 523 Biagro Western Sales • 700 Blackberry Patch • 106 Burgess Baskets • 107 Business Lease Consultants, Inc • 604 CAS Pack Corporation • 103 Chemtura • 208 Clifton Seed Co • 303 Community Bank, NA • 924 Community Markets • 200 Compac Sorting Equipment • 423, 425, 522, 524 Conklin Agro Vantage • 806 Cornell Pesticide Management Education Program • 804 Cornell University-NYSAES • 100 CropCare Equipment by Paul B LLC • 719, 721, 816, 818 Crop Production Services • 600 Country Folks Grower • 1014 Dow Agro Sciences • 606 DuBois Agrinovation, Inc • 503 DuPont Crop Protection • 909, 911 Durand-Wayland • 205 Empire Tractor • 117, 119, 121, 216, 218, 220 Farm Family Life & Casualty Insurance Co • 101 Farmer’s Choice Foods • 915 FB Pease • 102 Fidelity Paper • 219

• Fruits; • Vegetables; • Herbs; • Organic Foods; and • Emerging Issues and Opportunities.

Following Thursday’s breakout sessions, the annual banquet will include a keynote speech titled, “A Lifetime of Resource Conservation on Farm and Home — Doing it the Easy Way,” presented by Jerry Mills, Mills Apple Farm, Marine, IL. The 23rd Annual Apple Cider Contest and 10th Annual Hard Cider Contest will again be held in conjunction with the conference, with winners being announced during Thursday evening’s festivities.

To receive registration materials or to obtain exhibitor information, contact Diane Handley at 309-557-2107 or dhandley@ilfb.org. A detailed conference agenda and cider contest details can be viewed at www.specialtygrowers.o rg. A block of rooms has been reserved at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at a rate of $87 per night.

Call the hotel directly at 217-529-7777 and ask for the Illinois Specialty Crops, Agritourism and Organic Conference room block to make reservations at the conference rate.

Indiana Green Expo to be held Jan. 11-13 in Indianapolis

Page 14 - Section A • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER MIDWEST • January 2012

The Indiana Green Expo (IGE) is Indiana’s most comprehensive green industry educational conference and trade show.

Slated for Jan. 11-13, it is a time of education, new products and networking with industry members.

The IGE features exhibiting companies from around the country. The attendees are from Indiana and the surrounding states, which include business owners, managers and staff of wholesale and retail nurseries, landscape management firms, greenhouse growers, golf course superintendents and staff, grounds maintenance departments, landscape design and installation firms, garden centers, consulting firms, educational institutions, suppliers and more.

The IGE is sponsored by the Indiana Nursery and Landscape Association and the Midwest Regional

Turf Foundation along with various green industry partners. All proceeds from the IGE are used directly to better the industry through research, educational programming,

and other supporting functions.

2012 sponsors are Midwest Groundcovers, speaker sponsor, and Brehob Nursery, signage sponsor.

The tradeshow will open Thursday, Jan. 12, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Friday, Jan. 13, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

For more information visit www.indianagreenexpo.com.

See Us At CENTS, Booth #2314

NAFDMA slates annual Networking Bus Tour North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association announces its annual Bus Tour. The Networking Bus Tour is part of the 27th Annual NAFDMA Convention, which will be held on Feb. 10-16.

This School on Wheels is a popular feature of the NAFDMA convention. The tour will begin

on Saturday, Feb. 10 in Williamsburg, Virginia.

It will then spend the next three days traveling to farm direct marketing and agritourism locations throughout Virginia.

The bus tour is unique this year, in that each individual bus will have a specific focus and discussion

topics. In actuality, there is not one bus tour, but six. Each bus has a pair of tour guides that have expertise and experience in various aspects of farm direct marketing and agritourism. They will use that knowledge to facilitate discussions and promote the sharing of ideas among everyone on the bus.

At its core, every bus provides a world-class learning and networking experience blended from the tried and true recipe that NAFDMA members have come to expect. Past attendees of the NAFDMA bus tours know that the networking, sharing of ideas and friendships made while on tour are invaluable to their

businesses.

Those new to the NAFDMA bus tour experience last year expressed their appreciation at the group’s willingness to share. What has worked, or not worked on their farms; success stories and disheartening failures are all discussed by bus delegates with frankness and a willingness to learn from each other. As one tour guide says, “Learn through laughter and honest conversation. No topic is off limits!”

Cynthia Chiles, owner of Carter Mountain Orchard in Charlottesville, VA, states that one of things that is so great about NAFDMA is, “It’s the only

January 2012 • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER MIDWEST • Section A - Page 15

place where you can be around other people who understand what it’s like when the tractor breaks down, or your donut machine can’t keep up; it’s great to have support system of like-minded folks.”

Carter Mountain Orchard is one of the stops for some of the buses on the tour. Cynthia and her staff plan to crank up the donut machine to have hot cider donuts on hand when the NAFDMA buses stop by.

Three of the buses focus predominately on farm retail. The buses will stop at farms with a concentration on produce retail and on-farm markets. Highlights of those tours will be Marker -Miller Orchards, Saunders Brothers Farm Market and Virginia Farm Market. Participants on these buses will overnight in Charlottesville.

The remaining three buses will spotlight agritourism and on-farm entertainment. Belvedere Plantation, Cox Farms and Westmoreland Berry Farm are just some of the stops that will be featured. These tours will overnight just outside of Washington and will spend some of the tour exploring The National Mall and its monuments.

The bus tour is a great opportunity for those seeking new ideas or ways to improve what they already do on their farms at home.

The tour will appeal to those at all levels of the farming business.

Those new to agritourism, those looking to diversify their produce operation and those looking for a new on-farm activity all will find something that can enhance the experiences they offer to their customers.

Registration is now open, with a discounted rate available to those who register early. A list of tour stops for each tour option and all other details are on the NAFDMA Convention website at www.nafdma.com/VA2012.

Registration open for the Ninth Annual Michigan Family Farms Conference

Page 16 - Section A • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER MIDWEST • January 2012

Registration is under way for the ninth annual Michigan Family Farms Conference to be held Saturday, Jan. 14 at Lakeview High School in Battle Creek, MI. This year’s theme is “Building Your Success with Local Products, Partnerships and Planning.” The daylong conference is packed with 18 educational sessions to connect family farmers with resources to build their farm’s successful future. Register online now at www.miffs.org/mffc.

The Michigan Family Farms Conference is a forum for beginning, small-scale and culturally diverse farmers to network, learn and build sustainable family farms. It provides a unique opportunity to connect with other growers and resources and learn about topics important to family farms and learn about

topics like pesticide certification, social media marketing, the Cottage Food Law, hops production, careers in agricultural and natural resources, hoophouses, free-range poultry, cheese-making and more. See a full list of sessions, speakers and descriptions at www.miffs.org/mffc/se ssions.asp.

Dan Carmody, president of the Eastern Market Corp., is this year’s keynote speaker.

Eastern Market has been feeding Detroit since 1891 and has grown and evolved with the times, from the boom of the automotive industry to today’s slow economy. It is still offering fresh produce to Michigan families each Saturday.

Because this is the Michigan Family Farms Conference, we also have a youth track for young farmers that will

include educational topics like nutrition, careers in agriculture and natural resources, and the dollars and cents of farming. This track also includes a field trip in the afternoon to Binder Park Zoo. V i s i t www.miffs.org/mffc or contact MIFFS at (517) 432-0712 or miffs@msu.edu for more information or to register. The registration deadline is Jan. 10. Some scholarships are available.

Partners and sponsors so far include Michigan Food & Farming Systems (MIFFS), the Farm Research Cooperative, USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA), W.K. Kellogg Foundation, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), Michigan State University (MSU), MSU Extension, the

Potawatomi Resource, Conservation & Development (RC&D) Council, the C.S. Mott Chair

for Sustainable Agriculture, the MSU Product Center for Agriculture and Natural Re-

sources, Morgan Composting, and the Calhoun Conservation District.

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CENTS and OSU Short Course featured at Ohio Nursery Conference

by William McNutt More than 100 educational sessions along with

the leading nursery trade show in the Midwest, will take place in Greater

George Irwin, founder and CEO of Green Living Technologies International LLC, will address the topic: Green Roofs and Living Walls.

Columbus Convention Center from Jan. 23-25, when the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association annual convention, and the associated Ohio State University Nursery Short Course, takes place. The unique partnership of OSU and ONLA will be entering its 80th year. In that period of time, advances in science and technology have made this the place to come to focus on current Green Industry needs, while providing the latest in research and development accomplishments to shore up the profit picture for the industry. Re-

tailers, landscapers, and growers will benefit from the 3 day intensive educational meetings, plus interaction with 400 industry related companies who will staff 800 trade show displays. Recent conventions have seen attendance rates of over 8000 industry affiliated people.

ONLA has maintained registration costs at last year's levels, given the current economic state of affairs, that has lowered profits for any industry dependent on home building, remodeling and landscaping.

Garden center operations, landscape contractors, nursery stock growers of ornamental plants and tree liners, plus greenhouse growers, are examples of operations benefitting from the OSU Short Course and Trade Show, according to ONLA, each offering numerous updated informational sessions designed help their members operate more

efficiently.

General “all industry” pre-conference workshops are scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 22, designed to appeal to varying specialty groups.

This includes traditional tactics and new trends in the Green Industry, focusing on managers of ornamental landscapes, nurseries, retail operations, city parks and other urban related areas, with concentration on weed control identification and treatment. Another segment on marketing trends is designed to appeal to those interested in taking advantage of social media as a marketing tool, and evaluation of current media usage. All Sunday workshops take place on the OSU Campus, with an additional registration charge, which includes parking, class materials and lunch.

The Monday morning kickoff breakfast will appeal to those wishing to become more involved in

the Green Industry trend. George Irwin, founder and CEO of Green Living Technologies International LLC, will address the topic: Green Roofs and Living Walls. Attendees will hear how incorporation of plants into walls and/or roofs can be included into a business plan, drawing new customers and new jobs.

Other management related sessions will focus on sessions such as how to manage and motivate the business team through expanded training of human resources personnel.

Basic and advanced techniques for gains in productivity are stressed throughout, including greenhouse energy issues, marketing more with less, human resource essentials for small business, building an employee team; detection and control of insects common to green industry growing, along

CENTS 18

January 2012 • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER MIDWEST • Section A - Page 17

Grafting tomatoes brings better yields naturally Exciting new research shows that U.S. tomato growers may not have to choose between plant varieties that produce high-value fruit and those that are resistant to troublesome soilborne pathogens. Researchers and farmers alike are demonstrating that grafting shoots of one plant to the root system of another is a cost-effective, environmentally sound way for growers to both manage diseases and cash in on improved yields.

For example, one Pennsylvania farmer growing grafted toma-

toes in high tunnels boosted his yields 20 percent — or $9,024 per high-tunnel acre — compared to his standard practices. Separately, North Carolina State University researchers determined that grafting with organic and heirloom tomatoes can increase profit by 38 cents per plant.

SARE has released a new fact sheet, Tomato Grafting for Disease Resistance and Increased Productivity, that helps farmers and agricultural educators learn how to graft tomatoes to fight disease and im-

prove the health and vigor of tomato crops. It is available for free download from SARE'sLearning Center.

Growers interested in experimenting with this novel approach of improving resistance to soil-borne pathogens will find: • Helpful tips for grafting plants, including variety selection based on resistance to particular diseases, step-by-step grafting techniques and caring for grafted plants; • Instructions for building a healing chamber for newly

grafted plants, and for transplanting them to the field; and • An analysis of the economic viability of grafting under different conditions.

Still a relatively uncommon practice in the United States, researchers around the world have demonstrated that grafting can protect plants against a variety of soil-borne fungal, bacterial, viral and nematode diseases, such as Verticillium and Fusarium wilt (FW), corky root rot, root-knot nematodes, bacterial wilt, southern blight

number of women assuming the role of leadership in the industry makes it essential for them to become proficient in leadership.

Whether participants are part of an already established business set up, or interested in assuming such a role, this meeting will offer additional information and help .

Monday is Special Awards night, when ONLA will give recognition for distinguished contribution, plus

awards for outstanding educator and public service. Nearly $20,000 in scholarships will be granted to multiple recipients. ONLA will also host the annual job fair on Tuesday, a one stop career marketplace where prospective employers can connect with job seekers, who can also network with colleges, seek mentorship, and promote green industry careers.

For further information on OSU Short Course contact John-

son.294@osu.edu, or ph.614-247-4353. Registration information can be obtained at cents@expressreg.net, ph 508743-8510. CENTS contact information on exhibits and events can be found at traciezody@onla .org.

CENTS from 17

Page 18 - Section A • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER MIDWEST • January 2012

with what growers need to know about herbicides. Back to basics classes will be offered each afternoon of the convention, with more advanced educational sessions on tap throughout the 3 day meeting.

Women are playing an increasingly challenging role in Green Industry expansion. A Wednesday morning breakfast addresses this issue in a presentation by Nancy Stoll, an expert in the development of women in business. The increasing

and other diseases.

Grafting is on the rise in the United States, since it has been shown to successfully manage bacterial wilt in tomatoes, even in severely infested soils. In western North Carolina, for example, a resistant rootstock was used to reduce bacterial wilt in tomatoes: At season's end, nearly 90 percent of the control plants died while 100 percent of the grafted plants not only survived, their yield was more than two fold that of the surviving non-grafted plants.

Tomato grafting shows particular promise for high-tunnel, heirloom and organic growers. With little opportunity for extended crop rotation intervals in a high tunnel, disease pressure can be very high. Heirloom varieties are not bred for resistance, and, in organic systems, other disease management practices are limited.

Due to the phase-out of methyl bromide in the United States, grafting could become a widespread pest management strategy for a large segment of growers.

Small Farm Works Plant over 250 seedlings in less than a minute with the paper chain pot transplanter. See the video at

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MFB Harvest for All yields positive results for local food banks County Farm Bureaus honored for innovation, donations, volunteer service GRAND RAPIDS, MI — For the seventh consecutive year, Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) members are sharing agriculture’s bounty and helping neighbors in need through Harvest for All. Harvest for All is a national program that encourages county Farm Bureaus to help fight hunger in their local communities by donating surplus agricultural commodities, non-perishable food products, money and/or volunteer hours to local food banks.

Coordinated under the leadership of MFB’s Young Farmer and Promotion and Education Committees in partnership with the Food Bank Council of Michigan, the 2011 MFB Harvest for All cam-

paign yielded: • Nearly 167 tons of surplus agricultural commodities; • 6 tons of non-perishable food products; • $22,402 in monetary donations; and • 3,625 hours of volunteer time.

On Nov. 30 at the MFB’s 92nd Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids, MFB recognized the top two county Farm Bureaus with the most volunteer hours of service and most donations of surplus agricultural commodities.

Each winning county received a cash prize to donate to a food bank of its choice. The winners are as follows.

For the most volunteer hours of service: • Oakland County placed first with 1,662 volunteer hours. The county Farm Bureau was awarded $350.

• Eaton County Farm Bureau took second-

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place and a prize of $150 for 812 volunteer hours.

For the most donations of surplus agricultural commodities: • Wayne County placed first with nearly 136,000 pounds of surplus commodities. The county Farm Bureau was awarded $350.

• Monroe County Farm Bureau took second-place and a prize of $150 for 77,709 pounds of surplus commodities.

The Eaton County Farm Bureau also took the spotlight as the 2011 recipient of the Most Innovative Award, earning a $500 cash prize to donate to a food bank of its choice.

The Most Innovative Award honors county Farm Bureau Harvest for All initiatives that are “unique, impactful, productive, and can be replicated in other counties wishing to have a greater impact on hunger relief in their communities.”

MFB recognized the Eaton County Farm Bureau for partnering with the Mid-Michigan Food Bank, Greater Lansing Food Bank and St. Vincent DePaul Food Bank to host the fifth annual “Pick a Peck for People” at the Country Mill Or-

The Eaton County Farm Bureau received the Most Innovative Award, earning a $500 cash prize to donate to a food bank of its choice. chard in Charlotte, owned by Eaton County Farm Bureau member Steve Tennes.

The county Farm Bureau worked with the local food banks to determine their need for fresh fruit, and then hosted volunteers from several community organizations at the Country Mill to pick excess apples from the orchard’s U-pick operation that otherwise would go to waste.

“As farmers we are always looking for ways to use all that we produce and not waste the blessings we have been given from the harvest,” said Tennes. “As an orchard that allows the public to pick apples off

the trees, we have areas of our orchard that are not totally harvested. It may be a handful from one tree and a few from another, but in the end it totals many pounds of apples.”

At the one-day event, volunteers reached high and low to pick the still fresh but previously overlooked fruit and loaded the apples into storage bins to be delivered to the area food banks. As a reward for their effort, volunteers took a hayride or received a ticket to the farm’s corn maze, free of charge.

In the end, the 2011 “Pick a Peck for People” gathered 6,936 pounds of apples for the local food banks and invest-

ed more than 800 hours of volunteer time.

“The day had people leaving with a sense of joy in giving to others and brought together a sense of community for a common good,” said Tennes. “Now we have customers and volunteers who schedule this day on their calendars to come back each year.”

Organizers replicated the event last year by hosting “Pick a Pint for People,” also at the Country Mill, during the summer blueberry harvest.

Customers were encouraged to pick extra pints of fresh blueberries which were also donated to local food banks.

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January 2012 • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER MIDWEST • Section A - Page 19

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by Tracy Taylor Grondine They say that charity starts at home. And for nearly 15,000 people in the Washington, D.C. area and beyond, that sentiment was wholeheartedly felt in early December as they laid wreaths on graves in Arlington Cemetery. In the true meaning of Christmas, people from all walks of life joined together to honor nearly 100,000 of America’s

fallen heroes.

The effort, known as Wreaths Across America, was started by Farm Bureau member Morrill Worcester in 1992.

Worcester, who owns a wreath company in Harrington, ME, had extra wreaths at the close of that holiday season and wanted to put them to good use. His idea was to honor America’s soldiers buried at Arlington Cemetery. And, as good

deeds are contagious, once word got around about Worcester’s goal, others from the community joined in to make it a reality.

A local trucking company stepped in to transport the wreaths, volunteers gathered to decorate them with red ribbons and even more people joined forces to place them on older graves that were becoming less and less visited.

That was nearly 20 years ago.

Today, through the nonprofit 501c3 Worcester formed in 2007 to expand the program, national and state cemeteries also receive Worcester wreaths — nearly 600 locations in the U.S. and beyond.

Further, during the annual pilgrimage from Harrington to Arlington, the Wreaths Across America organization makes pit stops at schools, veterans’ organizations and cemeteries to teach, honor and remember. Seeing the police-escorted caravan of tractor trailers transporting the wreaths down the highway is a sight to behold.

In 2011, Americans from far and wide came by the busloads, in carpools, by Metro and on foot to Arlington Cemetery. There were so many volunteers wanting to help out that wreaths became scarce.

And that’s a good thing. What was even more special was the amount of time people spent at individual gravesites reading the headstones and talking with their children about the sacrifices of those soldiers.

Because of the generous donation of wreaths and volunteer manpower, many gravesites are decorated, from those in the older section of the

cemetery to those that are but a few months old. And Wreaths Across America is hoping to more than double its number of wreaths in 2012 to ensure more fallen soldiers are remembered during the holiday season.

It’s people like Morrill Worcester, who gave something that was so much more than just surplus wreaths, who represent the true spirit of Christmas — that of giving, remembering and honoring. It just happens that sometimes the holiday spirit is made even more special when it’s wrapped in balsam and tied with a red ribbon.

2012 Nebraska Green Expo

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Jan. 23-25, Mid-America Center, Council Bluffs, IA The 2012 Nebraska Green Expo Committee is very excited to have David Cabela of Cabela’s – World’s Foremost Outfitter, as the keynote speaker on Tuesday, Jan. 24.

David Cabela will be presenting on The Cabela’s Story: A Handful of Flies, A Passion for the Outdoors, and a Belief that the Combination of Hard Work and Freedom Makes Anything Possible.

David Cabela’s parents founded Cabela’s 50 years ago when they began selling hand-tied fishing flies through classified ads. Today, Cabela’s employs more than 14,000 people, has 34 retail stores across North America, and clears more than $2.7 billion in annual sales. David has written four books, three of which are about the Cabela’s and the outdoors. He is a graduate of the University of Nebraska and lives in Nebraska with his wife, Shari, and their three young children.

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The Cabela’s Story shows how hard work, knowing your customers and continuing to adventure into new products can help your business grow. This is a presentation that you will want to be sure to attend.

The Green Expo Committee has worked hard to make this year’s conference the best ever. The conference schedule reflects a great line up of speakers. There will also be many exhibitors available on Monday and Tuesday to talk with you about their new products, equipment and services.

Please consider being a sponsor and/or donating an item for the silent/live auction. Contact the NNLA office for additional information on how you can help.

Sign up soon to enjoy the early bird registration rates.

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Register now for Second Annual Beginning Farmer Conference The Second Annual Beginning Farmer and Rancher Conference will take place Feb. 18-20 in Grand Rapids, MI, at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel & DeVos Place Convention Center. The conference is presented by the American Farm Bureau Federation and Start2Farm.gov.

Beginning farmers and ranchers interested in all types of agriculture are encouraged to attend.

Farm Bureau membership is not required. The conference provides an opportunity for attendees to network with other farmers from around the country and

learn from experts about how to start and maintain a thriving farm or ranch business.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman said beginning and young farmers and ranchers are integral to U.S. agriculture’s future.

“America’s farmers recognize that providing food that satisfies the tastes and preferences of today’s consumers is more important than ever before,” said Stallman. “We welcome into our ranks and extend a helping hand to beginning farmers who are just starting their careers as food pro-

ducers,” he said.

The cost of registration is $250 per person. The registration fee includes conference materials, farm tours and meals for Saturday lunch, Sunday lunch and dinner, and Monday lunch and dinner. Attendees are responsible for their own hotel reservations.

The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Conference will be held in conjunction with the annual American Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Conference.

Attendees at both conferences will have the opportunity to attend sessions at the other meet-

ing. For more information, including online registration and hotel information, visit http://2012bfrconference.eventbrite.com or email questions to info@start2farm.gov.

The Start2Farm

website and program are a project of the National Agricultural Library in partnership with AFBF. Start2Farm is funded through a Beginning Farming and Ranching Development Program grant

funded by the Agriculture Department’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, to assist people new to farming or ranching and those who have less than 10 years experience.

Save the date for the Minnesota Organic Conference Annual conference scheduled Jan. 13-14, 2012 in St. Cloud ST. PAUL, MN — Plan now for a mid-January jaunt to St. Cloud and the 2012 Minnesota Organic Conference. The

annual event will grow in 2012 to include even more trade show vendors, educational breakout sessions, and nationally renowned keynote speakers.

Scheduled January 13-14, 2012, at the River’s Edge Convention Center (formerly the St. Cloud Civic Center), the conference is a great opportunity for organic farmers and processors to network and to showcase their products.

“This conference attracts more people every year because there’s something for everyone,” says Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) Organic Specialist Meg Moynihan. “We make it worthwhile for those farmers just starting out in organic, those who are in transition and those who’ve been doing it for years. People tell us they love the education at the conference, but they also like seeing

old friends and meeting new people.”

Featured speakers this year include Chuck Benbrook, Chief Scientist for The Organic Center in Boulder, CO; Jim Goodman, a journalist and organic farmer from Wonewoc, WI; and Elaine Ingham, President of Soil Foodweb, Inc., and Chief Scientist at the Rodale Institute in Kutztown, PA. In addition, Minnesota farmer, conservationist, and author Jim VanDerPol will read from his new book Conservations with the Land.

Nearly 36 breakout sessions at the conference will cover timely topics like weed control, water management, soil biology, poultry production, beef genetics, vegetable season extension, contracting, and market outlooks.

Check www.mda.state. mn.us/organic for the most up-to-date information.

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or email classified@leepub.com

F O R SALE

CHRISTMAS TREES & CEDAR POSTS CHRISTMAS TREES FRASER FIR BALSAM FIR CEDAR R POSTS POSTS: 7', 8' 4x4 POSTS: 8', 9' RAILS: 12'6" (pheasant fencing) 16" shingle block

Duane e orr Janett Olson Antigo, WI 54409

Announcements

Announcements

# # # # #

CHECK YOUR AD - ADVERTISERS should check their ads. Lee Publications, Inc. shall not be liable for typographical, or errors in publication except to the extent of the cost of the first months insertion of the ad, and shall also not be liable for damages due to failure to publish an ad.

Adjustment for errors is limited to the cost of that portion of the ad wherein the error occurred. Report any errors to Peg Patrei at 518-6733237 ext. 111 or 800-8362888.

ADVERTISERS

Page 22 - Section A • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER MIDWEST • January 2012

Get the best response from your advertisements by including the condition, age, price and best calling hours.

Also we always recommend insertion for at least 2 times for maximum benefits. Call Peg at 1-800-836-2888

Number / Classification 35 Announcements 50 Applicators 80 Auctions 110 Bedding Plants 120 Bees-Beekeeping 130 Bird Control 155 Building Materials/ Supplies 165 Business Opportunities 210 Christmas Trees 235 Computers 330 Custom Services 415 Employment Wanted 440 Farm Machinery For Sale 445 F a r m M a c h i n e r y Wanted 470 Financial Services 500 For Sale 505 Forklifts 510 Fresh Produce, Nursery 515 Fruit Processing Eq. 530 Garden Supplies 535 Generators 570 G r e e n h o u s e Plugs/Cuttings 575 Greenhouse Supplies 580 Groundcover 605 Heating 610 Help Wanted 680 Irrigation 700 Lawn & Garden 805 Miscellaneous 820 Nurseries 840 Nursery Supplies 855 Orchard Supplies 910 Plants 950 Real Estate For Sale 955 Real Estate Wanted 1035 Seeds & Nursery 1040 Services Offered 1130 Tractors 1135 Tra c t o r s, Pa r t s & Repair 1140 Trailers 1155 Tree Moving Services 1165 Trees 1170 Truck Parts & Equipment 1180 Trucks 1190 Vegetable 1205 Wanted

NEED BUSINESS CARDS? Full color glossy, heavy stock.

250 ($45.00); 500 ($65.00); 1,000 ($75.00). Call Lee Publications 518-673-0101 Beth bsnyder@leepub.com YARD SIGNS: 16x24 full color with stakes, double sided.

Stakes included. Only $15.00 each. Call Beth at Lee Publications 518-673-0101. Please allow 7 to 10 business days when ordering.

Farm Equipment FOR SALE: 1981 2440 John Deere 65hp, diesel utility tractor, very good condition, used for mowing, can deliver. 319372-8756, 319-371-6851

Feed, Seed, Grain & Corn

BUCKWHEAT SEED NEW CROP Improves Soil Tilth & Phosphorus Plant Nutrient Builder = Green Plow Down Bee Keepers = Buckwheat Honey 50 Lb. Bags $30.00 each Delivery Available Ph. 517-403-6092

Phone:: 715-623-6590 E-mail: olsonsbalsams@hotmail.com Website: www.olsonsbalsams.com

Fruits & Berries

Fruits & Berries

WHOLESALE NURSERY, INC. 9555 North Gast Road, P.O. Box 116 - Bridgman, Michigan 49106 Phone: 269-465-5522 Fax: 269-465-4822

WHOLESALE GROWERS OF QUALITY SMALL FRUIT PLANTS BLUEBERRIES ARE OUR SPECIALTY

Grapevines Blueberries Jostaberries Gooseberries

Red Raspberries Purple Raspberries Yellow Raspberries Black Raspberries

Black Currants Red Currants White Currants Asparagus

www.kriegersnursery.com ALL STOCK GRADED TO AAN STANDARDS

®

Specializing in Edible Landscaping.

Blueberries, Blackberries, Raspberries, Grapes, and Fruit Trees.

TN: 931-467-3600 • Fax 931-467-3062 email sales@freedomtreefarms.com www.freedomtreefarms.com

67 YEARS RAISING SUPERIOR NURSERY STOCK FOR GROWERS.

2-3-’x96’ Freestanding Greenhouses, roll-up side curtains; 2-18’x96’ Freestanding Cold Frames, roll-up side curtains; 22-44”x44”, 80” high, Seven Shelf Plant Racks, heavy duty, for flats or baskets w/6” steel swivel caster wheels, 2 years old, built by a local welder; 2 50-flat aluminum 4 wheel plant carts and 5 other carts.

517-403-6092 FOR SALE: 1500 & 5000 gallon woodfired stove/boiler, 4500 gallon double wall fuel tank; 4 Jaderloon greenhouses. Call Kat at 434-793-3605

FLORASEARCH, INC.

In our 3rd decade of performing confidential key employee searches for the nursery, greenhouse, and horticulture industries and allied trades worldwide. Retained basis only.

Candidate contact welcome, confidential, and always free.

FLORASEARCH, INC. 1740 Lake Markham Road Sanford, FL 32771 407-320-8177 7 (phone)) • 407-320-8083 3 (fax) Email: search@florasearch.com Web Site: www.florasearch.com

GREENHOUSE: 84,000SqFt. IBG Arch II structure for sale, gutter connected, disassembled & ready for shipping, 303-915-8589 (Colorado). For photo’s kpriola@hotmail.com

Greenhouse Plugs/Cuttings

Blueberry Plants are VIRUS TESTED, and State of Michigan Certified.

All Plants are grown using TISSUE CULTURE TECHNIQUES by Hartmanns.

We can provide the grower with personal cultural advice in the first stage of preparation and beyond. Order Now your Future investment.

Blueberry, Raspberry, Blackberry and other Small Fruits.

CONTACT DANNY, TERI OR BOB FOR A FREE CATALOG AND PERSONAL ADVICE. P.O. Box 100 Lacota, Michigan 49063 ph. 269-253-4281 fax. 269-253-4457 email: info@hartmannsplantcompany.com web: www.hartmannsplantcompany.com

VINCA VINE (3ppp) DRACEAENA, SPRINGERI: 2.5” SVD pots $1.00 each (2% Net 10). Green Earth Nature Center, LLC®, Grown

by Rock Valley Garden Center, Inc., Prime Season Inventory, 100,000 vinca vine, 40,000 draceaena+, 785 N. Bell School Road, Rockford, IL 61107 www.rockvalleygardencenter.com 815-398-9419

Fan Us On Facebook

Greenhouse Supplies

Facebook.com/CFGrower

CARLIN HORTICULTURAL SUPPLIES, 800-657-0745.

Greenhouse, Grower, Lawn & Garden and Landscape S u p p l i e s. O r d e r o n l i n e ! w w w. c a r l i n s a l e s. c o m info@carlinsales.com

1-800-836-2888 To place a Classified Ad

Country Folks Grower Classifieds

( 800 ) 836-2888 PO Box 121, 6113 State Hwy. 5 ( ) Fax: 518 673-2381 Palatine Bridge, NY 13428 E-mail: classified@leepub.com Native Plants

Plants

Plants

NATIVE GRASSES, sedges, rushes, wildflowers, and herbaceous plants for use in wetland mitigation, restoration, and landscape design.

Contract growing available.

Signature Horticultural Services, Freeland, MD. Call 410329-6466 or fax 410-3292156.

E-mail announcements of your regional event(s) to: jkarkwren@leepub.com We must receive your information, plus a contact phone number, prior to the deadline that’s noted under the Announcements heading on the 1st page of these Grower Classifieds.

Nursery Liners A R B O RV I TA E RO OT E D CUTTINGS: One year old.

Techny, Emerald, Green Giant, Pyramid, Nigra,Little Giant. 6-9” .44ea., 5-6” .32ea.

Free Shipping. Quantity discounts. RENS NURSERY, N11561 County MM, Waupun, WI 53963. 920-324-9595 www.rensnursery.net COMPLETE LIST of deciduous and evergreen seedlings and transplants at www.hramornursery.com or call 231-723-4846 Hramor Nursery LLC, 2267 Merkey Rd., Manistee, MI 49660

Refrigeration

Refrigeration

AMERICAN WHOLESALE CO.

NEW/USED WALK-IN-COOLER ~ FREEZER BOXES ~ REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS ~ EQUIPMENT Large Inventory ~ All Sizes • Buy • Sell ~ Nationwide • Wholesale Prices

Phone: (216) 426-8882 • www.awrco.com

Nursery Stock LARGE VARIETY of Evergreens, Flowering Trees, Shrubs & Natives in larger sizes. Pre-dug trees available.

700 acres of quality field grown material. 40 years experience. Roger Coffey & Sons Wholesale Nursery P h : 8 2 8 - 3 9 4 - 2 2 5 9 Fa x : 828-758-2240 email: sales@rogercoffeyandsons.com www.rogercoffeyandsons.com

Nursery Stock

Calendar of Events

Seeds

Trees

V I S S E E D C O M PA N Y: Specializing in flower seeds from around the world.

Seeds, plugs, cuttings.

Offering the best annual, perennial, vegetable & herb seeds. Celebrating 25 years!

Contact us for a current catalog. PO Box 661953, Arcadia, CA 91066. (P) 626-4451233, (F) 626-445-3779, hvis@visseed.com, www.visseed.com

Forest Nursery Co. Inc. McMinnville, Tennessee

931-473-4740 OAK LINER SALE Call for Prices & Availability

JAN 4-6 Northern Green Expo Minneapolis Convention Center. On Internet at www. northerngreenexpo.org JAN 5 The Illiana Vegetable Growers’ School Teibel’s Restaurant in Schererville, IN. This school offers commercial vegetable growers and market farmers opportunities to learn more about pest management, production practices, variety selection and marketing; to visit with vendors and network with other growers.

Contact Liz Maynard, 219531-4200 ext. 4206 or email emaynard@purdue.edu.

JAN 8-9 2012 National Green Centre Overland Park Convention Center,6000 College Blvd, Overland Park, KS. Call 888233-1876 or info@nationalgreencentre.org.

JAN 10-12 Minnesota Apple Growers Association Meeting La Crosse Center, La Crosse, WI. On Internet at www.minnesotaapple.org

JAN 11 MIFMA’s Business Planning & Market Growth Management Session of the Market Manager Certificate Program GreenStone Farm Credit Services, East Lansing, MI. 9 am - 4 pm. Single sessions will be $75 for MIFMA members and $150 for nonMIFMA members. Individuals can register for single sessions, but will not receive certification. Program registration closes Dec.31, 2011.

The fee is $300 for all six sessions for MIFMA members and $600 for all six sessions for non-MIFMA members. Individual session registration closes two weeks before the session. Call 517432-3381.

Special Farm Family Relationships Webinar 2 pm. CST. “Dealing with the complexity of family and business relationships that exist on family owned farms,” the webinar will cover these discussion points: • Estate Planning - active and non-active family members in the farm business; • Farm Transition - ownership and control;

5 EASY WAYS TO PLACE A COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER CLASSIFIED AD IT IN - Just give Peggy a call at 1. PHONE1-800-836-2888 FAX IT IN - For you MasterCard,Visa, 2. American Express or Discover customers... Fill out

Call 888-596-5329 for Your Subscription

Nursery Stock

the form attached completely and fax to Peggy at (518) 673-2381 MAIL IT IN - Fill out the attached form, calculate the cost, enclose your check or credit card information and mail to:

Country Folks Grower Classifieds PO Box 121, Palatine Bridge, NY 13428

Sprayers

IT IN - E-mail your ad to 4. E-MAIL classified@leepub.com www.cfgrower.com 5.andON-LINEfollow- GothetoPlace a Classified Ad button to place your ad 24/7!

Spray Without Booms....

Up to 140’

Nursery Stock Available - Fruit, Shade, Ornamental Trees - Flowering Shrubs, Small Fruits, Roses, Vines - Rhubarb, Asparagus, Horseradish And More!

• Mosquito (West Nile), fly & tick control!

• Fruit & vegetable applications: sweet corn, pumpkins, tomatoes, strawberries, blueberries, melons & small orchards

High Performance PTO & Engine Driven Mist Sprayers, Blowers, Foggers, Parts & Accessories Spray Under Trees...Roadside Ditches... Forestry Weed & Pest Control...

VISIT US AT WWW.KELLYWSN.COM Bareroot - Containerized - Packaged Small Minimum Orders/Free Color Picture Tags

TR Boss ATV Utility Ranger X-Treme A1 Mist Sprayers Resources 877-924-2474 Email resources@mistsprayers.com • More Info Also At: www.mistsprayers.com

3 Pt Terminator Box 66 Phelps NY 14532 • 877-268-2151 • Fax 315-548-8004 USE CODE # SB1211 FOR $10 OFF YOUR INITIAL ORDER.

Look for us at the MANTS Show and the CENTS Show

FOR BEST RESULTS, RUN YOUR AD FOR TWO ISSUES!

Cost for each Issue per Zone: $9.25 for the first 14 words, 30¢ each additional word.

(Phone #’s count as one word) # of issues to run______ Total Cost $________ Zone(s) to run in: East Midwest West

$9.25 $9.55

$9.85

$10.15

$10.45

$10.75

$11.05

$11.35

$11.65

$11.95

$12.25

$12.55

$12.85

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$15.25

Name: (Print)_____________________________________________________________ Address:________________________________________________________________ City:________________________________________St.:_________Zip:_____________ Phone:_________________________________Fax:______________________________ Cell:___________________________E-mail:____________________________________ I have enclosed a Check/Money Order Please charge my credit card: American Express Discover Visa MasterCard Acct#:_________________________________________________Exp. Date:_________ (MM/YY) Signature:_______________________________________________Date:____________ Required w/Credit Card Payment Only

If you have used equipment for sale, ask about our group of weekly farm newspapers that cover from Maine to North Carolina.

January 2012 • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER MIDWEST • Section A - Page 23

3.

Sprayers

• Organization - multiple family members working together; and • Exit strategies for the retiring farmer without a successor.

Question should be submitted to c.merry@agconsul tants.org at least 10 days prior to the event.

JAN 11-13 Illinois Specialty Crops, Agritourism and Organic Conference Crowne Plaza Hotel & Convention Center, Springfield, IL. Contact Diane Handley, 309-557-2107 or dhandley @ilfb.org.

JAN 11-14 National No Tillage Conference St. Louis, MO. Registration is $279/person, with a special $252 rate for additional farm or family members. On Internet at www.NoTillCon ference.com JAN 18-19 Certified Crop Adviser Exam Training Session Shelby County office of Ohio State University Extension, 810 Fair Rd., Sidney. Registration deadline Jan. 10. $225. Call 937-484-1526 or e-mail watters.35@cfaes .osu.edu.

JAN 18-20 Tropical Plant Industry Exhibition Broward County Convention Center, Fort Lauderdale, FL. See the latest trends in variety, color and lifestyle. Call 407-295-7994. On Internet at www.TPIE.org JAN 20-21 Iowa Christmas Tree Growers Winter Meeting Best Western Motel, Marshalltown, Iowa. Contact Jan Pacovsky, 641-394-4534 or 641-330-3237.

In Memoriam

John A.A. Thomson, PH.D., D.A.

John A.A. Thonpson Dr. John Ansel Armstrong Thomson, inventor of the world-famous horticultural vitaminshormones solution SUPERthrive®, passed away

peacefully on Nov. 28, five days after his 100th birthday. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Thomson developed the SUPERthrive® formula in 1939. Seventy-two years later, he was still engaged in the daily operations of his company, Vitamin Institute, actively selling worldwide. As the new president, his daughter Patrisha Thomson will continue her father’s legacy of improving horticultural and agricultural crops with the firm’s sole

product.

Holding a doctorate in biochemistry, Thomson collected awards and commendation for his lifetime of work. In 1940, he earned the Science & Industry’s only Gold Medal at the San Francisco World’s Fair Golden Gate International Exposition. In 2006, Dr. Thomson became the first chemist to be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Lawn & Garden Marketing & Distribution Association. Other honors include Lifetime Environmental Awareness Award from Sustainable Environmental Education and

APPLE GROWERS & FARM MARKETERS Plan Now To Increase Your Profits in 2012!

• Expand Your Product Line • Reduce Your Labor Costs www.fbpease.net • Increase Your Output Per Unit of Time

Make the Pease Apple Peeler/Corer/Slicer Machine Central to Your Operations!

SIMPLE TO USE: Place apple on machine and turn crank 3 times.

Pares & cores the apple, then slices into 4-24 even slices.

Great for preparing Apple Slices, Applesauce, Apple Pies, Apple Dumplings and Dried Apples Apple Processing Equipment Since 1875

Page 24 - Section A • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER MIDWEST • January 2012

P.O. Box 93178, Rochester, NY 14692-8178 Phone 585-503-2300 • Fax 585-563-7582 www.fbpease.net • dudley.pease@yahoo.com

No more hoeing!

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y: b d ol

See Us At The Empire State Expo

ECO The weeder you must have!

- Adjustable 3pt. linkage - P.T.O. Driven - Requires no hydraulic outlet on the tractor - Eliminates 95% of any length of weeds - Can work around and between the plants - Adjustable wheels for different cultivations - Eliminates the need of herbicides for weeding

Roeters Farm Eq., Inc. 565 E. 120th St., Grant, MI 49327 231-834-7888 www.roetersfarmequipment.com

induction into the “Nursery Retailer” magazine’s Hall of Fame.

Throughout World War II, his SUPERthrive® was used by five U.S. government departments — Army Corps of Engineers, Air Force, Navy, Department of Agriculture and

Forest Service — to transplant mature trees for defense plant camouflage, plant and sustain low-dust turf landing fields, improve soil conditions where salt interfered with plant success, develop vital drug- and oil-bearing plants domes-

tically and increase production of necessary guayule rubber.

When asked about his primary philosophy of life, Dr. Thomson summed it up saying, “My whole idea is to try to leave the world better off for wherever I touch it.”

A little known agricultural resource Exchange Visitor J1 Visa program provides alternatives for seasonal help Finding quality labor or seasonal help is an issue that many agricultural producers struggle with.

Many farms and rural businesses are aware of the H-2A visa program, including the obstacles, that allows U.S. employers to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary agricultural jobs for which U.S. workers are not available. However, fewer are taking advantage of the Exchange Visitor J1 Visa program, which enables experienced international interns and trainees to be placed on U.S. farms and agricultural operations and creates opportunities for a cross-cultural exchange of ideas.

Those farms that have hosted J1 interns typically become long term repeat participants in the program. “Fernando’s work ethic and desire to succeed far exceeded my expectations,” explains CAEP host Renee Smith, owner of Santa Lucia

Farm in Santa Ynex, CA, about their 2011 intern Fernando Luna. “He is extremely responsible and professional.”

A key difference with the J1 program is the education or experience requirement. The intent is that the foreign national will arrive experienced, gain additional training, share their knowledge with the U.S. host farm, and return to their home country to further their agricultural career and improve their community.

“My biggest dream is to have my own organization working on solving agricultural and environmental issues back home in Haiti,” said CAEP trainee Ronel LeFranc, currently placed at Cedar Circle farm in New Hampshire. “I would like to get as much knowledge as possible in these fields through CAEP ... work hard, and be an example for my little brothers and children from low in-

Luis Navasquillo Dalmau, a CAEP J1 intern from Spain and Felipe da Silva Santos, a CAEP J1 intern from Brazil, pick berries at a host farm in Massachusetts.

Andril Bedoshvili, a CAEP J1 intern from Ukraine, and Pedro Ribeiro Tannus, a CAEP J1 intern from Brazil on a host farm in Massachusetts.

come families to encourage them to take their education seriously because it is the key to success.”

Two types of J1 visas are allowed for agricultural workers; Trainees or Interns.

A Trainee must be a foreign national who has:

Resource 26

Sary Paola Murcia Reyes, a CAEP J1 intern from Columbia, works at a host farm orchard in Iowa.

12MX PLANTER

EXCELLENT FOR PLANTING Squash, Pumpkins, Gourds, Watermelons, Pickles, etc

ROETERS FARM EQUIPMENT, INC.

TEW W MANUFACTURING G CORP. FRUIT & VEG. CLEANING & SIZING EQUIPMENT QUALITY LATEX & POLY SPONGE DRYING DONUTS TUFF FOAM® PROTECTIVE PADDING BRUSHES - BEARINGS - SIZING CHAINS - SCRUBBER RUBBER STANHAY, TEW JR.™ & TEW MX™ VEGETABLE SEED PLANTERS

CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION: 800-380-5839

TEW MFG. CORP.

585-586-6120

PO BOX 87 PENFIELD, NY 14526

FAX: 585-586-6083 EMAIL: tewmfg@aol.com

January 2012 • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER MIDWEST • Section A - Page 25

565 E.120TH ST. GRANT, MI 49327 PHONE: 231 • 834 • 7888 FAX: 231 • 834 • 8655 www.roetersfarmequipment.com

Resource from 25 • A degree or professional certificate from a foreign post-secondary academic institution and at least one year of prior related work experience in his or her occupational field outside the United States; or • Five years of work experience outside the United States in the occupational field in which they are seeking training.

An Intern must be a foreign national: • Who is currently enrolled in and pursuing studies at a foreign degree- or certificategranting, post-secondary academic institution outside the United States, or has graduated from such an institution no more than 12 months prior to his or her exchange visitor program start date. The

Intern also must have a minimum of one year of prior related work experience in his or her occupational field.

Trainees and Interns are allowed to work in J1 Agricultural placements in the United States for up to 12 months.

In carrying out the responsibilities of the Exchange Visitor Program, the Department of State (DOS) designates public and private entities, such as the Communicating for Agriculture Scholarship and Education Foundation (CA), to act as exchange sponsors.

CA, which was established in 1981 as a 501c3 nonprofit organization for the purpose of encouraging young people to further their careers in agriculture, sets up internships

and training opportunities through its administering organization CA Education Programs (CAEP).

Over 30 programs are available through CAEP in Agriculture, Horticulture, Enology and Equine. CAEP has created training opportunities for over 20,000 young adults from 50 countries around the globe in order to further their career knowledge and personal strengths, and to experience life in another cultural setting.

CAEP has placed J1 interns and trainees in all size operations around the U.S., from family run farms to larger rural businesses such as Bartlett’s Ocean View Farm in Massachusetts or The Chef’s Garden in Ohio.

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“We match qualified interns and trainees based on the needs of the host farm or operation,” states CAEP Coordinator Craig Schmuck. “The program provides the vocational component to agricultural education for the participant, and hosts often learn as much from them.”

As the sponsoring organization, CAEP facilitates the entry of foreign nationals into the U.S. as exchange visitors, and ensures completion of necessary visa paperwork and program objectives set by the U.S. State Department. By handling the visa logistics, travel arrangements, prearrival training and technical support,

CAEP makes it easy for host companies looking for J1 placements under the categories of Agriculture, Horticulture, Enology and Equine.

The Exchange Visitor J1 Visa Program promotes mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by educational and cultural exchanges. It is a way for fruit and vegetable growers to gain an experienced and motivated seasonal worker, and provide life-long opportunities for a cultural exchange of ideas.

About CAEP: CAEP offers practical, onthe-job training, cultural experience and

education benefitting interns, trainees and host businesses around the world. The company is based in Fergus Falls, MN, and primarily places international trainees in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

To find out more information about hosting an intern or trainee, contact CAEP at 866560-1657 (toll free in the U.S.) or e-mail Craig Schmuck at craig@caep.org . More information can also be found on the web at www.caep.org . For more information about the Communicating for Agriculture Scholarship and Education Foundation, visit www.cafoundation.com .

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• SEEDS WATERMELON TO RAW PETUNIAS IN PLUG TRAYS AS WELL AS CELL PACKS. CUSTOM DESIGNS AVAILABLE. • NO MOTORS, SOLENOIDS, BEARINGS, OR ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS TO BREAKDOWN OR WEAR OUT...EVER!!!

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Available From: BERRY SEEDER COMPANY 1231 Salem Church Road, Elizabeth City, NC 27909 Phone: (800) 327-3239 Fax: (252) 330-2343

Page 26 - Section A • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER MIDWEST • January 2012

e Got You Covered We’v “Specialists” in “Out-of-the-Ordinary” Farming Needs

Representing these quality lines

3Pt. Sprayer w/Folding Boom

MULTIVATOR

P E R F E C T

U LV - S P R A Y E R S UNDILUTED Wi t h o u t w a t e r

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VISIT US AT NW MI ORCHARD & VINEYARD SHOW Jan. 24th & 25th Grand Traverse Resort 269-657-3735 • Fax: 1-269-657-2110 Toll Free: 1-866-214-6135

Gas burners available to convert your SunDair from oil to LP or Natural gas

Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo Grand Rapids, MI, Dec 6-8, 2011

Debi Clover with Stark Bros. Nursery looks up availability for a customer at the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo.

David Steiner stands next to the ‘last seeder you’ll ever need to buy’ — the Turbo/Needle Seeder from the Blackmore Company.

Bill Pitts of Wafler Nursery was on hand to help customers with their spring fruit tree needs.

Attendees sample the winning ciders — first place went to Sietsema’s Orchard in Ada, MI. Hill Bros. Orchard, Grand Rapids, MI took second place and Engelsma’s Apple Barn in Walker, Mi placed third.

Dudley Pease explains to an attendee at the Expo how the F.B. Pease apple parer can increase profitability.

Sukie Kindwall discusses the benefits of OESCO’s Smart Net Systems with Andy Nevill.

January 2012 • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER MIDWEST • Section A - Page 27

Tom Shibley, Aaron Day and Kim Deardorff of Nachurs Alpine Solutions were ready to answer any questions on their line of liquid fertilizers and other fertility amendments.

Mark Machetems, Red Wing Software, goes over the CenterPoint Accounting and Payroll Software benefits with an attendee.

Country Folks

GROWER SWEEPSTAKES

John Deere Gator 825: 4x4

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Any of the forms below can also be brought to the Empire Fruit & Vegetable Expo in the Oncenter, Syracuse, NY January 24-26, 2012.

1

Buy a subscription to Country Folks

2

Name ______________________________________________

Page 28 - Section A • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER MIDWEST • January 2012

Business/Farm Name ____________________________________ Address _____________________________________________ City ___________________State _______________Zip Code ___________ PHONE ( NEW

) _____________ RENEW

CANADIAN 1 YEAR

Payment Method Check (#

)

Cash

2 YEARS

Exp. Date __________

Acct. # Signature ___________________ Date _____________ Please fill out the optional questionnaire below. All information is confidential.

A. Do you grow vegetables? Acres: 1-3 3-10 Over 10 Beets Onions Tomatoes Broccoli Cabbage Celery Cauliflower Pumpkins Beans Potatoes Sweet Corn Cucumbers B. Do you grow fruit? Acres: 1-3 3-10 Over 10 Grapes Cherries Strawberries Peaches Apples Pears Cranberries Blueberries Melons Brambles C. Do you operate a greenhouse?

Sq. Ft. Up to 5,000 5-10,000 over 10,000 Bedding Plants Vegetables Foliage Plants Cut Flowers Potted Flower Plants Other D. Do you operate a nursery? Acres 1-3 3-10 Over 10 Wholesale Retail Christmas Trees Shade Trees Fruit Trees Mums Shrubs Perennials Herbs, Drieds, Cuts E. Other Crops F. Is there any aspect of horticulture that you would like to see more of in Country Folks Grower?

PAYMENT RECEIVED BY: _____________________DATE ____________

Place a Classified Ad in Country Folks 5 EASY Y WAYS S TO O PLACE EA Y FOLKS S GROWER COUNTRY D AD CLASSIFIED

it in - Just give Peggy 1.Phone a call at 1-800-836-2888 - For you MasterCard,Visa, 2.Fax it inAmerican Express or

Discover customers...

Fill out the form attached completely and fax to Peggy at (518) 673-2381 Mail it in. Fill out the attached form, calculate the cost, enclose your check or credit card information and mail to: Country Folks Grower Classifieds PO Box 121, Palatine Bridge, NY 13428

3.

FORR BESTT RESULTS,, RUNN YOURR ADD FOR TWOO ISSUES!

E-mail your ad to 4. classified@leepub.com 5.Use our forms on our web site, www.cfgrower.com.The forms will calculate your charges for you. All you have to do is fill out the form and submit!

Cost per edition: $8.00 for the first 14 words, 30¢ each additional word.

(Phone #’s count as one word) # of issues to run______ Total Cost $___________

$8.60

$8.00

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$8.90

$9.20 $10.10

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$10.70

$11.00

$11.30

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$12.20

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$13.70

If you have used equipment for sale, ask about our group of weekly farm newspapers that cover from Maine to North Carolina.

Signature_______________________Date________ Payment Method

Acct#________________________Exp. Date______ Name:______________________________________ (Print)______________________________________ Address:____________________________________ City:_____________________St.:______Zip:_______

This Sweepstakes 3 Mail in Entry Form

Name Co./Farm Name

_ _ _

Address

_ _ _

City State Phone( ) E-Mail Birth Date

Zip

/

_ _ _ / _

Entries must be dated before June 1st, 2012. Employees & relatives of employees of Lee Publications Inc., John Deere, Zahn & Matson are not eligible. Must be 18 years of age.

Mail to Country Folks Grower, PO Box 121, Palatine Bridge NY 13428

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WINTER EDITION • January 2012 Supplement to Country Folks GROWER

MARKETPLACE

January 2012 • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER MARKETPLACE • Page 2

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WINTER EDITION • January 2012

MARKETPLACE Quality Since 1983

Network of Service

WHOLESALE * RETAIL PRIVATE LABEL * VALUE ADDED CONTRACT PACKAGING 100% JUICES & CIDERS ** NO SUGAR ADDED WE MAKE OVER 600 PRODUCTS INCLUDING JAMS, JELLIES, SAUCES, RELISH, PICKLES & BAKERY ITEMS 105 Mitcham Circle, Tiger, GA 30576 www.hillsideorchard.com

See Us At EMPIRE E STATE E FRUIT T & VEG.. EXPO,, Booth 419

One-Piece and Portable Skid-Mount Systems, HydroCoolers, Medical and Process Chillers, Blast Freezers, Vacuum Coolers, Refrigerated Dehumidifiers.

Custom Built Designs - Domestic and International Markets

1-866-748-7786 www.kooljet.com

Visit our website to view our complete line

BAG YOUR OWN MULCH Economically priced mulch bagger, ideal for point-of-sale bagging of mulch and related materials. Allows Garden Centers and Nurseries to buy mulch in bulk and bag it as needed. 1 person can fill up to 100 bags per hour - double the output with 2 people.

LANDSCAPE MULCH Cut mulching time and put mulch where you want it with the KB 1300 Straw Mulcher.

Processes small square straw bales in 30 seconds. Heavy-duty construction for dependable operation.

For more information contact

Weaverline, LLC at 877-464-1025

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WINTER EDITION • January 2012

MARKETPLACE Kurt Zuhlke & Assoc. Inc.

PO Box 609, Bangor, PA 18013-0609

email: sales@producepackaging.com

Over 55 Years In The Industry For over 55 years, Kurt Zuhlke & Assoc., Inc. has been a part of the many innovative packaging concepts utilized by the produce industry.

High Quality Products And Services Our packaging is designed to protect produce, provide excellent visibility to the consumer, reduce shrinkage and enhance the product.

We also offer professional labeling design and application.

Earth Friendly Packaging Made of Recycled PETE

KEEPING IT GREEN Our Clamshells are Recyclable!

Whether you are ordering a case or a truck load, you can rest assured that we have the ability and capacity to service your orders quickly.

www.producepackaging.com

GATHER. PREPARE. PROCESS. PRESERVE. PACKAGE. ADD VALUE. Whether harvesting a garden plot or a whole field, we are your preferred source for harvesting and preservation tools. We supply: * Pea shellers * cabbage shredders * Corn Cutters * apple peelers * Stainless steel dehydrators * butter churns * Vacuum sealers-external, chamber, * grain mills bags & pouches * cherry pitters * pressure canners * wine & cider presses And a whole lot more at commercial * nutcrackers quality and competitive prices. If you * smokehouses don’t see what you need, give us a call * vegetable slicers and we will find it. * tomato squeezers

Order online at www.homesteadharvest.com for all your harvest and homestead needs. Check us out online or call toll free 877-300-3427 or 360-756-5045 P.O. Box 31125, Bellingham, WA 98228

Plug Dislodger Vandana Tubeless Seeder

Designed to accommodate several sizes of plug trays, using a common frame.

See Us At TPIE Jan. 18-20, 2012 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Booth # 1007

Sows entire tray at one drop Templates easy to change Will handle any tray size.

Travelling Irrigator Custom-built to fit your greenhouse or crop shelter from the highest quality component parts.

Growing Trays Available in many sizes and styles to match a wide variety of needs.

Growing Systems, Inc. 2950 N. Weil St. Milwaukee, WI 53212 Ph (414) 263-3131 Fax (414) 263-2454

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WINTER EDITION • January 2012

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MARKETPLACE

(preserves, butters, jellies, sauces, mustards and salsas)

WWW.DILLMANFARM.COM • 800.359.1362 {label design by: www.flow-design.com}

Gardner Pie Company is dedicated to baking and selling only the very best pies. We use only the finest and freshest ingredients and adhere to time-honored, old-fashioned recipes.

Located in Akron, OH. we’ve been family owned and operated since 1945. We provide a wide variety of quality pies to farm markets, in-store bakeries, and the food service industry.

For ordering information call: 330-245-2030

Gardner Pie offers more than 50 pie varieties: Traditional Fruit Pies Crumb Topped Pies Topped Fruit Pies Mixed Fruit Pies Harvest Addition Pies

Sou uth of the Border Pies Cream Pies No Sugar Added Pies Colonial Pies Savory Vegetable Pies

Visit our Website at: www.gardnerpie.com for specific varieties in each category, as well as completee nutrition information.

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WINTER EDITION • January 2012 Supplement to Country Folks GROWER

This Could Be Your Ad

MARKETPLACE

Country Folks Grower Will Have A Marketplace Glossy Section In The July, Summer Trade Show Issue

Full Coverage Special Rates Great Look

There is limited space available so contact us early to reserve your spot.

Deadline June 1.

For more information 800-218-5586 • 518-673-3237 dwren@leepub.com

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WINTER EDITION • January 2012

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January 2012 • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER MARKETPLACE • Page 6

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WINTER EDITION • January 2012

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1 1/9 Bushel Vegetable Wax Box As Low As $1.39

1/2 Bushel Vegetable Wax Box As Low As 79¢

$79.00 / case • 1/2 peck

AVIS BAG .COM TOLL FREE 1-800-815-5282

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