VOLUME 90 NO. 6
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014
Cotton MISSISSIPPI
A PUBLICATION OF MISSISSIPPI FARM BUREAU FEDERATION • MSFB.ORG
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MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014
TABLE
of
CONTENTS
november/december 2014 Volume 90 Number 6 November/December 2014
FEATURES
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Mississippi Farm Country (ISSN 1529-9600) magazine is published bimonthly by the Mississippi Farm Bureau® Federation. Farm Bureau members receive this publication as part of their membership benefit. Periodicals postage is paid at Jackson, MS and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to P.O. Box 1972, Jackson, MS 39215 EDITORIAL AND BUSINESS OFFICES 6311 Ridgewood Road, Jackson, MS 39211 601-977-4153
ADVERTISING Angela Thompson 1-800-227-8244 ext. 4242 FARM BUREAU OFFICERS President — Randy Knight Vice President — Donald Gant Vice President — Ted Kendall Vice President — Reggie Magee Treasurer — Billy Davis Corporate Secretary — Ilene Sumrall
Solve the Mystery
Which Bolivar County city is home to the Martin & Sue King Railroad Heritage Museum? Read the clues and make your guess.
FARM BUREAU DIRECTORS Dr. Jim Perkins, Iuka Lowell Hinton, Corinth Tommy Swindoll, Hernando Chris Lively, Clarksdale Tripp Thomas, Batesville Kelcey Shields, Mantachie Herbert Word, Okolona Kenneth King, Ackerman Pepper Beard, Coila Jimmy Whitaker, Satartia Kenneth Thompson, Philadelphia Vander Walley, Waynesboro Quinton Mills, Forest David C. Barton, Raymond Robert Earl McGehee Jr., Brookhaven Mike McCormick, Union Church Bobby Selman, Monticello Larry Jefcoat, Soso J. B. Brown, Perkinston Louis J. Breaux IV, Kiln Betty Mills, Winona Mallory Sayle, Lake Cormorant
Material in this publication is based on what the editor believes to be reliable information. Neither Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation nor those individuals or organizations contributing to the MFBF publication assume any liability for errors that might go undetected in the publication — this includes statements in articles or advertisements that could lead to erroneous personal or business management decisions. FARM BUREAU®, FB®and all Farm Bureau logos used in this magazine are registered service marks owned by the American Farm Bureau Federation. They may not be used in any commercial manner without the prior written consent of the American Farm Bureau Federation.
Cotton is the featured commodity in this issue of our magazine. Come with us as we learn more.
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EDITOR — Glynda Phillips
HONORARY VICE PRESIDENT Louis J. Breaux III
Mississippi Cotton
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Scholarship Recipients
Scholarships have been awarded to a number of college students through the Young Farmers & Ranchers Scholarship Foundation and Berta White Scholarship. Come with us as we meet these deserving young men and women.
DEPARTMENTS
About The Cover
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Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Cotton Advisory Committee Chair Rob Farmer works hard each year to ensure that Mississippi agriculture remains strong. Read about Rob inside this issue of our magazine.
Member Benefits 4 President’s Message 6 Commodity Update: Corn, Wheat & Feed Grains 7 Commodity Update: Cotton 16 Strolling: Sam Scott
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P R E S I D E N T’S M E S S A G E Randy Knight, President, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation
Family in the Best Sense of the Word State convention and the holiday season
are right around the corner. It is hard to believe that another year has come and gone. I always look forward to our annual meeting and the opportunity it gives me to visit with friends I haven’t seen in a while. The fellowship aspect is great. But as I told you last year, my favorite moment is when the Grand Ballroom of the Hilton Jackson begins to fill with the members of our House of Delegates. The hundreds of men and women who shape our policy come from every county and represent every major commodity in the state. They know what agriculture and Farm Bureau need in order to remain strong, and they never fail to set aside any differences they might have to work together for the good of both. It is an excellent process, and one that demonstrates we truly are a family in the very best sense of the word.
them the morals, work ethic, sense of responsibility and wisdom that can only be molded by a farm. Mary and I have enjoyed watching our daughters use their farming backgrounds as they build successful lives for themselves out in the world. It is the same sort of process I have observed with our Farm Bureau family. As Farm Bureau volunteer leaders and staff, we stand on the shoulders of the men and women who came before us. Their legacy informs all that we believe and all that we do, but we must make our own decisions and develop our own programs based upon the complexities of the present world. It is a world that is constantly changing. It is a world that is far different from the world they knew. If we pause and look back for too long, we run the risk of being left behind.
OUR FAMILY
HOLIDAY SEASON
Family is important to farmers. Our family is our shelter in times of storm, our encouragement in times of doubt and our joy every single day of the year. Our family is also our legacy. We pass down to our children not only our possessions but all that we have learned from our many years of living and working on a farm. We know, even if our sons and daughters decide not to farm for a living, they will carry with
State convention also heralds the approaching holiday season, and this year, Farm Bureau has much to be thankful for. We successfully let our collective voice be heard in many arenas and on many state and national issues that will positively impact the lives and livelihoods of our members. One issue that stood out from the rest was the 2014 Farm Bill. For those Mississippi farmers whose operations will
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be affected by this important piece of legislation, its passage was welcome indeed. I made many trips to Washington, D.C., to meet with the members of our congressional delegation about the 2014 Farm Bill and countless other issues. On some of those trips, you came with me, but on others, I took with me your thoughts and ideas. My time in office has never been about myself and my own agenda. It has always been about what you and I can accomplish together for Farm Bureau. In my opinion, that is the only way to effectively get things done.
❧ FAMILY IS IMPORTANT TO FARMERS. OUR FAMILY IS OUR SHELTER IN TIMES OF STORM, OUR ENCOURAGEMENT IN TIMES OF DOUBT AND OUR JOY EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THE YEAR. OUR FAMILY IS ALSO OUR LEGACY. WE PASS DOWN TO OUR CHILDREN NOT ONLY OUR POSSESSIONS BUT ALL THAT WE HAVE LEARNED FROM OUR MANY YEARS OF LIVING AND WORKING ON A FARM.
❧ With that in mind, as we approach the beginning of a new year, I am eager to hear from you. Please call me or come see me. And don’t forget to vote on Nov. 4. Let your voice be heard on matters that could affect our farmers and Farm Bureau members. On a final note, Mary and I want to wish for each and every one of you a happy and blessed holiday season. I look forward to talking with you again in 2015. FB NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014
MFBF Annual Meeting The annual membership meeting of the Mississippi Farm
Bureau Federation will be held Dec. 6-8 at the Hilton Jackson hotel in Jackson. The General Store and Young Farmers and Ranchers’ live and silent auctions will be featured throughout convention. At presstime, here’s a schedule of other highlights.
Saturday, Dec. 6 10:30 a.m. Ag in the Classroom Conference 1:00 p.m.
General Session — Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Ambassador Competition and YF&R Discussion Meet Finals
3:00 p.m.
Worker Protection Standard Conference
4:00 p.m.
Farm-to-Table Cooking Demonstration
6:00 p.m.
Farm Families of Mississippi Benefit Dinner
6:00 p.m.
General Session — Presentations will be made to the YF&R Discussion Meet winner and the YF&R Excellence in Agriculture and Achievement Award recipients.
Monday, Dec. 8 8:00 a.m. Business Session and County Recognition Program
Sunday, Dec. 7 7 a.m. Women’s Recognition Breakfast 9 a.m.
Women’s Business Session
9 a.m.
Commodity Market Update Conference
10:45 a.m.
Worship Service — Susie McEntire
1:30 p.m.
General Session — Keynote Speaker is Dr. Temple Grandin. Presentations will be made to Mississippi Pennies and to the Farm Woman of the Year, Friend of Agriculture, Ag Ambassador, Excellence in Leadership and Distinguished Service award recipients.
3 p.m. - 5 p.m. County Promotion Exhibits (Each table will be staffed.)
Calendar of Events
NOV. 4
Election Day
NOV. 13
State Resolutions Meeting, MFBF Building — Jackson
NOV. 21-27 National Farm-City Week DEC. 6-8 MFBF Annual Meeting, Hilton Jackson Hotel — Jackson JAN. 6
Mississippi Legislature Convenes at Noon
JAN. 11-14 AFBF Annual Meeting — San Diego, CA JAN. 23-25 MFBF YF&R Leadership Conference —
MSU, Starkville
JAN. 26-27 Winter Commodity Conference — Jackson JAN. 26 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014
Legislative Reception MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY
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COMMODITY UPDATE: Corn, Wheat & Feed Grains
New Technologies Essential to Success in Agriculture
Larry Killebrew
MFBF Corn, Wheat & Feed Grains Commodity Advisory Committee Chair
As fall approaches once again, there are no greater memories for me as a farmer than the sounds and smells of harvest. All year, I enjoy watching my crops grow and mature before I get out my harvesting equipment to begin bringing in yet another crop. This is one of the most rewarding chores to take place on my farm because it allows me to see firsthand what my yields will be. Many people may think that farming is a simple practice of planting seed and harvesting the mature crop, but the truth of the matter is that many times it becomes very challenging when we must deal with problems that can occur without warning. Take the weather, for example. This is something that is completely out of our control and a key component to the success of crops. I’m sure you’ve all noticed that your lawn during a dry spell tends to wilt and turn brown. Well, imagine that on a grander scale. Imagine watching acres and acres of a crop suffer due to something that is completely out of your hands. This sort of thing directly affects our livelihood. It is disheartening to watch your crop dry up and disappear right before your eyes, and this is just one of the many factors that can affect a crop. Insects are another factor, and this year is a perfect example of how one little insect could potentially be catastrophic for sorghum growers in Mississippi. We could go from potentially record yields this year to drastic acreage reductions next year due to aphid infestations coupled with low prices, which may force grain sorghum growers into that situation. Not only is acreage reduction a possibility, so is yield loss, which in turn translates to lost revenue for farmers. Erick Larson, grain crops specialist with 6
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the Mississippi State University (MSU) Extension Service, said if not for the white sugarcane aphid the state would have one of the largest grain sorghum crops in recent history. “The yield potential is good to excellent, but we will see some severe yield reductions in fields with uncontrolled aphids, especially on farms that had aphid issues early,” he said. “Growers planted the 2014 crop a little later this year because of the wet planting season, and some of the later-planted fields are even more vulnerable to aphid damage.” Larson said growers will likely consider a recurrence of aphids too risky next year to attempt growing much, if any, grain sorghum, which is already a relatively minor crop in the state. Grain sorghum is a niche crop that complements soybeans because of its drought tolerance. This year, the Mississippi Agricultural Statistics Service reported 85,000 acres of grain sorghum for harvest, up 23,000 acres from last year. They also reported, based on Aug. 1 conditions, that yields are expected to average a record 96 bushels per acre, up two bushels from 2013. They forecast a total of 8.16 million bushels, up 40 percent from a year ago. White sugarcane aphids were discovered in 1896 in Hawaii and arrived in the continental United States in 1977. They were detected in Louisiana in 1999 but only on sugarcane. Late last year, they made a host shift to grain sorghum and were detected in Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma and Bolivar County, Mississippi. The infestation occurred late in the season and only caused problems at harvest due to the sticky secretions (honeydew) produced by the aphids. As of mid-July of this year, they have been found in every Mississippi county growing sorghum.
Britton Hatcher
MFBF Commodity Coordinator for Corn, Wheat & Feed Grains
Jeff Gore, an entomologist at the MSU Delta Research and Extension Center, said only one chemical has had any success controlling these new pests, and that control is still limited. The Environmental Protection Agency granted growers an emergency exemption for two applications of Transform, which has been used in the past to control aphids in other crops. As the problem has persisted, EPA recently amended the exemption to allow producers the option of a third treatment if needed. Gore said, “We have been frustrated not to have the research to provide the best advice for growers, but we have never had these aphids in grain sorghum.” Gore, who works through the Extension Service and Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, said a huge research effort is underway this year. The concerns are not only about yield losses but also harvest complications caused by sticky secretions from the aphids, which can cause major mechanical problems in combines. As a producer, I know that challenges will always be a part of farming. Having the proper tools to combat the issues that arise is critical. Advances in crop technologies, such as GMOs (genetically modified organisms), have allowed farmers to stay in business by allowing them to weather storms that could potentially put them out of business. As farmers try and feed the world, it is critical we embrace technologies that move agriculture forward. FB A special thanks to Linda Breazeale, MSU Ag Communications, for helping with this article as well as all of the MSU specialists who contributed. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014
COMMODITY UPDATE: Cotton
GMOs Crucial to Cotton Industry
Rob Farmer
MFBF Cotton Commodity Advisory Committee Chair
As most of our readers are probably aware, there is an ongoing national debate on the benefits and safety of food or products derived from GMOs (genetically modified organisms) or GM (genetically modified) crops. Food derived from GMOs is seen as some taboo form of science or production practice. The reality is there are thousands of studies and broad scientific consensus internationally that conclude food on the market derived from GM crops poses no greater risk to human health than any other types of food. In fact, you’ve eaten food derived from GM crops and have done so for years. There are three federal agencies, USDA, FDA and EPA, which regulate the use of GM crops. Just in the last few years, many groups with a hidden agenda have been able to distort the truth and convince the public that “GMO” is a bad word. In fact, polling data shows that most people genuinely support biotechnology. However, when asked about “GMO” or “GM,” most respondents can’t even explain what it stands for or what it means. Yet they know beyond a shadow of a doubt that food made from “GM” crops is bad or bad for you. Once again, an uninformed public has fallen victim to the marketing ploy of organizations with a hidden agenda. From a father and a farmer’s perspective, I believe food and products derived from genetically modified crops are sound scientifically, safe for consumption and have drastically improved the way we farm. Throughout the 1990s, cotton farmers in Mississippi were devastated by a small pest called the bollworm. This pest would literally destroy the NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014
cotton crop. Farmers were forced to spray insecticides in any one field over 20 times throughout the growing season in hopes of fighting away this destructive pest. Unfortunately, this disaster put many cotton farmers out of business in the 1990s. However, in 1996, after extensive regulatory approval, seed companies released a cotton seed variety that was resistant to the bollworm. Through careful genetic modification, scientists were able to insert a tiny protein into the cotton seed that would essentially kill the bollworm when it consumes a portion of the cotton plant. This modification, which is only harmful to the bollworm and no other insects, literally helped save the cotton industry in Mississippi. It drastically reduced insecticide applications and the environmental footprint made by the farmer in that same cotton field that he normally had to spray 20 times in the growing season. Additionally, in the late 1990s, seed companies introduced soybeans that are resistant to herbicides like glyphosate (commonly referred to as Roundup). Today, over 80 percent of crops grown in the U.S. have some form of genetic modification. Experts calculate that these technologies have reduced herbicide and insecticide applications by 18 percent from 1996 to 2011 and reduced fuel consumption equivalent to the tune of taking 10.2 million cars off the road annually. Without the introduction of these key genetic modifications to seed, I feel confident farming would look much different today and food prices would certainly be much higher for the consumer. The future of
Justin Ferguson MFBF Commodity Coordinator for Cotton
genetic modification in crops holds many exciting prospects (drought resistance being one of these). And as we look into the future, genetically modified crops will be key to meeting the demands for food production as we try to feed 9 billion people on the planet by 2050. In the next 35 years, we will need to produce as much food as has been produced in all of human history. Genetically modified crops will be a major component of managing this need. So, the next time you hear that genetically modified crops are unsafe and have no benefit, I hope this article will induce more thought and study into this topic and encourage you to keep an open mind about genetically modified crops. We encourage you and your family to visit a website that helps to explain more about GMOs at www.gmoanswers.com. FB
COTTON AG MAG
In this issue of our magazine, you will find our latest Ag Mag newsletter for children. This edition features cotton. You can order copies of Ag Mag for your local classroom or ag promotion events from our Ag in the Classroom Program. Dairy, corn, poultry, horticulture and cotton editions are now available for purchase. The cost is $5 for 20 copies. To order, contact Pam Jones at pjones@msfb.org or (601) 977-4854. MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY
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“IT IS WHEN YOU GET TO SEE THE FRUITS OF YOUR LABOR — THE RESULTS OF A LONG, HOT GROWING SEASON — AND THAT MAKES IT ALL WORTHWHILE.” ROB FARMER
I S S S S I I P M P I G C N O I TTON W O R G B Y G LY N D A P H I L L I P S
Farm Bureau offers programs designed to train the agricultural leaders of tomorrow. It is one of the things we do best. Past Young Farmers & Ranchers program participants have gone on to serve Farm Bureau and other agricultural organizations in various capacities on the county, state and national levels. Rob Farmer is a perfect example. A fourthgeneration Delta farmer, Rob has given generously of his time and energy not only to Farm Bureau but to other groups that have shaped the course of Mississippi agriculture. Rob currently serves as chair of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Cotton Advisory Committee. He says some of the issues he and his fellow committee members are working with right now include Farm Bill decisions and their impact on farmers; changes within the industry, including the possibility of new cotton varieties; and the recent market collapse in cotton. “Reasons for the market crash in the last few months, among others, include a bumper cotton crop in 2014 and a reduction in purchases of cotton by China, a top cottonimporting country,” Rob said. “We are really feeling the impact of those things.” As for agricultural changes, they are constant. “If I looked back over the years at how much cotton production has changed, it is unbelievable,” Rob said. “That’s what I was just telling my oldest son, Bo. In 1996, we had our first Roundup Ready variety, which simplified weed control. Then we got Bt and Bt2 genes for worm control. Now, we are looking at the 2,4D herbicide tolerant variety. “We also have larger and more efficient
machinery. We used to run seven tractors during planting season, and now we run four,” he said. “At harvest, the baling cotton picker revolutionized everything. Used to, we would send nine workers to the fields. Now, we send two.” Adding new equipment and technology might get expensive, but Rob says you must keep up with change or you will be left behind. Gone are the days when farmers could afford to be slow about adopting new technology and farming methods. “What I do at night and in my free time is read up on changes,” he said. “But it is industrywide. Change is constant.” FARM BUREAU
Another constant is Farm Bureau and its continuing efforts to help Mississippi farmers. Rob sits on the board of directors of Holmes County Farm Bureau. For several years, he served as county president. He has also served as a voting delegate to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual meeting. Rob is a past Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmer of the Year. “I can remember the day Jack Alexander came out here to talk to me about Farm Bureau. I was 20 or 21, and I only knew about the insurance program,” said the 47-year-old. “He got me involved, through the Young Farmers & Ranchers program, in the total Farm Bureau organization, and I discovered that Farm Bureau is excellent. “An active membership in Farm Bureau is a great way for farmers to communicate our needs and educate people about what we do,” he said. “Plus I enjoy the people. We truly are a family. We share the same interests and
the same hopes and dreams for agriculture. I have made many lifelong friends through my involvement in Farm Bureau.” A BORN FARMER
Rob says his name says it all. He is a born farmer. It is in his blood. “I think I’m doing exactly what I was called by God to do,” he said with a smile. “I can’t imagine doing anything else. A good year makes it all worthwhile.” Ask him about growing cotton, and he becomes expansive, like most farmers who have ever grown it. He tells you that cotton is not a difficult crop to grow and that it is a beautiful and beautifully consistent crop. “I love cotton. It got us to where we are now, and it will always have its place,” he said. “Besides, it’s just better for our economy. Sure, there have been times when I’ve grown frustrated with cotton, but I’ve gotten over that real quick.” Rob’s family grew cotton exclusively until 2009, when they added soybeans and corn to the mix. The farm had lost 50 to 60 percent of their cotton crop to hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and at that time, the family began thinking about diversifying. Still, Rob and his son grew some 1,200 acres of cotton this year on their 1,915-acre farm near Cruger. Rob’s favorite part of the year is harvest season. “It is when you get to see the fruits of your labor — the results of a long, hot growing season — and that makes it all worthwhile,” he said. “I usually go out on my Gator at 7 or 8 in the evening and just ride around the fields and look at them. I enjoy that so much.” FB
Rob and his wife, Melanie, have four children, Katie Webb, who is married and a dental hygienist; Bo, who is married and works on the farm; Karlee, a sophomore at Mississippi State University; and Brett, a senior at Pillow Academy in Greenwood. Rob served as a Cruger alderman for 20 years and is a deacon at North Greenwood Baptist Church. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014
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h i t C t o e u G g i n o B B Y G LY N D A P H I L L I P S
S
ome of the most productive farmland in the state can be found in our state’s Black Belt Prairie Region. Located
near the Alabama border and extending through several counties, the fertile soil of this mostly flat, but sometimes rolling, parcel of land seems to be able to grow anything, from corn, soybeans and cotton to farm-raised catfish, horses and cattle.
On an overcast day in mid-August, the farms just outside Macon in Noxubee County are beautiful, spanning out for as far as the eye can see. In fact, you are so busy enjoying the scenery you are startled … and you swallow down a lump in your throat … when a large cotton gin with an 80-foot-tall seed house rises up on the horizon. The 2 ½-year-old gin is a fine testament to the hardworking men and women who farm this area of the state. But more than that, it is symbolic of the eternal optimism of the American farmer. “Farmers in this area had had some really great cotton crops in recent years and not many options to take the cotton to be ginned,” said Aaron Litwiller, general manager of the newly-minted Bogue Chitto Gin Inc. “This situation kept more farmers from growing cotton in our area. “Diversity is a necessity in farming,” he pointed out. “For farmers to have another viable option as far as the types of commodities they can grow just makes for better farming.”
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home and started holding meetings. “A lot of farmers showed up at the meetings,” Aaron said. “In the end, there were 25 investors, and with earnest money on the table and a lot of help from Mississippi Land Bank, construction began in April 2012.” The state-of-the-art Bogue Chitto Gin Inc. is completely computerized and includes
COTTON COMES THROUGH
2011 SEASON
In the fall of 2011, the Noxubee County area experienced a tremendous cotton crop. That was the year Tyler Huerkamp of Macon graced the cover of this magazine, standing in a field of cotton. Aaron says the 2011 season was a game changer for local farmers. “It was such a great year for cotton that the old gin didn’t finish ginning our farmers’ crops till January 2012,” he said. “Some local farmers approached this gin and asked if they could invest in it, but they were turned down. So that same year at the Mid-South Farm & Gin Show in Memphis, they inquired about the possibility of building a gin with a few of the vendors, most importantly Cherokee. Cherokee said they could get a gin up and running by 2012 harvest, so the producers returned NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014
to dairy cows as part of their feed ration,” Aaron said. “High in protein, the seed makes for good, rich milk.” Extra funds from the sale of seed are rebated back to farmers. The gin is owned by the 25 farmers who are involved with it at different levels. But many more farmers bring their cotton here. It is not an operation exclusive to investors. “We are willing to gin anyone’s cotton,” Aaron said.
“WE BELIEVE WE ARE LOOKING AT A PROMISING FUTURE FOR COTTON PRODUCTION IN OUR AREA AND FOR OUR NEW GIN.” AARON LITWILLER — GENERAL MANAGER
two Cherokee 244 gin stands. The Cherokee 244 is the largest model available, and the two stands are capable of producing 50 bales of cotton an hour. Most of the ginned cotton is warehoused at Staplcotn and Federal Compress & Warehouse in Greenwood as well as at Olam Cotton in Memphis. The 80-foot-tall seed house can hold up to 8,000 tons of cotton seed. The sale of seed is how the gin is compensated. “The majority of our cotton seed is trucked to a rail loading facility then shipped by rail mostly to Western states and is fed
Bogue Chitto Gin Inc. operates 24 hours a day, six days a week, for 2½ months. During the rest of the year, employees clean and repair. Gin stands must be broken down and the saws sharpened. Anything that has given the workers trouble during the year has to be fixed. “It is too costly to have breakdowns during season, so we try to minimize them with a good preventative maintenance program,” Aaron said, surveying the gin, which is ready for the 2014 harvest season with floors that look clean enough to eat off of. Three full-time employees work at the gin in addition to Aaron. One is Doug Dahlem, who does all of the ginning. Seasonal help inflates the number to about 25 employees, if you include the drivers. “We believe we are looking at a promising future for cotton production in our area and for our new gin,” Aaron said. “The first year, 35,000 bales of cotton were ginned. The second year, we produced 36,000 bales. We hope to increase last year’s production level, and with cotton acreage up 10 to 15 percent, it’s a real possibility. “We are excited about the upcoming harvest season,” he concluded. “With corn prices where they are now, it looks like there could be another shift next year to either soybeans or cotton.” FB MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY
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DELTA BLUES RICE B Y G LY N D A P H I L L I P S
An increasing number of consumers are demanding fresh locally grown foods. Tapping into that market is a multi-generational Mississippi Delta farm family, who grows, mills, packages and sells their own rice products, including white long-grain rice, brown rice, rice grits and rice flour. The brand name is Delta Blues Rice. “There is a lot of talk now about knowing the farmers who grow your food,” said David Arant Jr., who manages the mill. “Our products speak to that desire. The name, Delta Blues Rice, ties in with the blues because this is blues country. My wife came up with the slogan: Feed the body. Feel the soul.” David Jr. is the grandson of the late Hugh Arant Sr., who served as president of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation for 16 years, from 1972 to 1988. Hugh’s sons, third-generation farmers Hugh Jr. and David, are also involved in the project. David Jr. graduated from Mississippi State University with a degree in civil engineering and worked for a firm in Jackson before returning to the family farm. ADDING VALUE
This season, in Leflore and Sunflower counties, the Arant family farmed some 2,000 acres of soybeans and 1,100 acres of rice. The rest of their 4,000-acre operation was devoted to corn. The men say that milling and selling their rice is a way of adding value to it. “We had always heard we needed to add value to what we grow,” Hugh Jr. said. “We had been milling our rice for many years then giving it away to friends and family. Now, we have decided to sell it. The variety we sell was developed right here in Mississippi at Stoneville, and it has a taste that people love. Our rice is not your average rice, and its flavor NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014
is far superior to your typical grocery brand. “Since the mid-1960s, we have farmed Because we use only one variety of rice, the rice continuously,” said David. “Used to, flavor is rich and consistent.” farmers had to have an allotment to grow New rice varieties developed at Stoneville rice. Then in 1974, the allotment system was are inspected by the Mississippi Seed taken off. Still, it was always a concise, select Improvement Association. The Arants, who group of farmers who grew rice back in those are also partners in a seed company, have their early years. Since 1979, never a year has gone rice inspected in the field and at their plant by that we haven’t grown at least 1,000 acres after harvest. Once the rice seed of it. We know rice, and we is certified, the Arants sell it as know how to grow it.” seed to be planted by farmers “We are farmers in every the next spring, and they mill a good sense of the word,” Hugh portion of it for Delta Blues Rice. Jr. said. “We are stewards of the “We are milling a good, highland, using zero-grade leveling quality variety of rice. The people and a few straight levees for our we have given it to have wanted fields as well as surface water from more,” Hugh Jr. said. available lakes, bayous and canals “We’ve upgraded our mill, and for our irrigation needs. We have we are packaging the products ourpumps in the Quiver River, and selves,” David said. “We are whatever drains off our the first folks around here to THE VARIETY WE SELL WAS DEVELOPED land, we pick up and reuse. try this with rice, and we are RIGHT HERE IN MISSISSIPPI AT STONEVILLE, We reuse our neighbor’s striving to take this above AND IT HAS A TASTE THAT PEOPLE LOVE. runoff, too.” the farmers market level. We OUR RICE IS NOT YOUR AVERAGE RICE, AND “Our entire industry hope to get a premium for it.” ITS FLAVOR IS FAR SUPERIOR TO YOUR has become more efficient The Arants mill rice as it TYPICAL GROCERY BRAND. BECAUSE WE at using the land and water,” USE ONLY ONE VARIETY OF RICE, THE is needed. As the demand David said. “It is someFLAVOR IS RICH AND CONSISTENT.” grows for their products, thing that our state and HUGH ARANT JR. they expect to devote more nation can be proud of.” time and energy to this aspect of their farmThe Arant family is involved in agriing operation. cultural organizations on the county and “As we get further into this, we will see state levels. Hugh Jr. and David serve on what we need, and we will learn as we go,” the board of directors of the Leflore County said David Jr. Farm Bureau. In the past, Hugh Jr. served The rice products are sold online at www. as county president. David Jr. is a member deltabluesrice.com. They are also in stores of the Greenwood Farmers Club and the in Jackson, Hernando, Cleveland and Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation’s Water Starkville. Some restaurants have expressed Advisory Committee. Hugh Jr. serves as vice an interest in them. chair of the Farm Families of Mississippi Producer Steering Committee and will serve SOME BACKGROUND as its chair next year. The Arant family has operated the same For more information about Delta Blues family farm for some 90 years. Rice, visit www.deltabluesrice.com. FB MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY
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Seafood Rice Salad
Recipese Spinach Rice Salad
Easy Dirty Rice
1 (8-oz.) pkg. frozen cooked shrimp 1 (7-oz.) can tuna, drained 3 c. cool cooked rice ½ c. finely chopped onion ½ c. finely chopped sweet pickles 1½ c. thinly sliced celery ¼ c. diced pimientos 3 boiled eggs, chopped 1 T. lemon juice 1 c. mayonnaise
2 c. cooked rice ½ c. Italian dressing 1 T. soy sauce ½ tsp. sugar 2 c. fresh spinach ½ c. sliced celery ½ c. chopped green onion ¼ tsp. salt ¼ tsp. pepper 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 lb. bulk spicy breakfast sausage 1 (14-oz.) can chicken broth ½ c. long-grain rice 1 tsp. dried, minced onion
Combine all ingredients and toss lightly. Season to taste. Chill. Serve on salad greens and garnish with tomato wedges.
Combine salad dressing, soy sauce and sugar. Betty Kelly Stir in rice. Cover and chill at least two hours. Hinds County Cut spinach julienne-style (long, narrow strips). Add spinach, celery and onion to rice and toss gently. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Top with bacon prior to serving. Yield: 8 servings.
Shirley Miller Sharkey County
Brown sausage in skillet until pink color disappears. Crumble with a fork. Stir in broth, rice and minced onion. Simmer gently, covered, for 18-20 minutes or until rice is tender and most of the broth is absorbed.
Peggy McKey Hinds County
COUNTRY COOKING VOLUME IV These recipes are from “Country Cooking Volume IV,” available at most county Farm Bureau offices. The cost is $15. If you order from the state office, you will pay $15 plus postage. • For more information, contact Women’s Program Coordinator Clara Bilbo at (601) 977-4245. 14
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OLLING R ST
Maize Magic We all know how important corn has been in our history. Without being taught how to grow it by Native Americans, our early settlers would likely have perished. It has always been a major agricultural product, perhaps more so now than ever. I love corn cooked every way, but my very favorite is cornbread. My grandfather loved it and ate it with every meal. My aunts claimed that I inherited my love for it, and who am I to by Sam Scott argue about it? I love cornbread, hot or cold, buttered or not, with molasses or not, in skillet, muffin or fritters form, crumbled up in buttermilk or sweet milk1 (children and grandchildren roll their eyes) or any other way it can be served. If it is not food for the soul, I don’t know what is. If you want to know all — and I mean all — about cornbread, read the book “Cornbread Gospels,”2 which is a living, teaching encyclopedia of what it calls “soul in a skillet.” It contains the history of cornbread, yellow cornmeal vs. white, seasoning a cast iron skillet and the difference between Southern and Northern. It contains over 200 recipes for cornbread and numerous derivatives thereof. This wonderful book begins with: “What if, in a world where news is often bad, where the future, never certain, seems especially tenuous and fraught at the present moment, there 16
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were a happiness-giving magic word that automatically brought forth love, enthusiasm, recognition, and pleasure? There is such a word. Cornbread.” When you think of cornbread, don’t you smile? Most everyone does. And don’t you think of a Sunday dinner (not supper) at your grandmother’s house? I remember sitting at the big table with the Sears, Roebuck and Montgomery Ward catalogs in my chair. It would not be unusual for the minister and his wife to be there, but Granddad always said the blessing, short and sweet. The doors and windows were open, and in the summer, it was hot and there was no air conditioning, but as the great blues singer Muddy Waters said: “You can’t miss nothing you ain’t never had.” How true! We always had fresh vegetables because my grandfather was a country lawyer, times were hard and some of his clients had no other way to pay him. He, as many, was a great fan of cornbread and “pot likker,” the juice of cooked vegetables. I also inherited this. Life just would not have been the same without cornbread, and it reminds us of home, which is in danger of losing its meaning and value in a world of instant gratification, internet, email, Instagram and social media. My other grandmother made what she called “dog bread,” a corn pone cooked in a skillet and was it good! At Grand Junction, Tennessee, where the bird dog national championships have been held for over a hundred years, the trainers fed their finest setters and pointers cornbread along with chopped beef.
Now, that is just a memory like so many other once-good things in life. Recently, I asked my wife to find some stone-ground yellow cornmeal, but she couldn’t find any. I ordered some, and I think it does make a difference. But that is like beauty in the eye of the beholder. There are a lot of beholders as witness the National Cornbread Festival in South Pittsburg, Tennessee. One of the favorite dishes there is Patsy’s Cornbread Salad (see page 272 of “Gospels”). Eleven years ago in 2003, this is what it took to make it for that year’s festival: 4,000 corn muffins 250 pounds of bacon 34 gallons of mayonnaise 16 gallons of sweet pickle relish 14 cases of Vidalia onions 12 cases of fresh green bell peppers 30 cases of fresh tomatoes No doubt cornbread is people’s food. And the world is a better place for it. FB
Retired attorney Sam Scott worked with Farm Bureau for many years and continues writing for Mississippi Farm Country. You may contact him by emailing kdroge@msfb.org. 1
This is an ancient term, I think, but no older than “light bread” or “soda crackers.” 2 “The Cornbread Gospels” by Crescent Dragonwagon (adopted but real name — author of over 50 books), Workman Publishing, New York 2007. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014
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Mystery SOLVE
Which Bolivar County City is home to the Martin & Sue King Railroad Heritage Museum? Read about the museum and make your guess. RAILROAD MUSEUM
Back in the 1800s, the railroad played an important role in opening up Mississippi’s forests and swamplands so that settlers could build homes, farms and small towns across the state. It also connected many of these communities with larger cities, playing an important role in strengthening our economy. The Martin & Sue King Railroad Heritage Museum, which has been in operation for five years, preserves and promotes the history and culture of the railroad as well as its impact on the establishment, growth and development of our mystery city, Bolivar County and the Mississippi Delta. The museum houses and displays many railroad artifacts, photographs and documents, donated by folks from around the state, that capture the history of railroading — from tools used by crews known as “Gandy Dancers” to the timetables and schedules used in depots and railroad offices. Here, you will also find a few fossils and Native American artifacts depicting the years before the railroad came through as well as some blues history from during the height of the railroad period. The Peavine, Yellow Dog and other railroads served as a form of transportation and inspiration
for blues musicians like W. C Handy and Robert Johnson. Best of all, the museum houses the largest O-gauge model train layout in Mississippi.
The display includes 20 to 25 trains. Each year, the museum tries to purchase two new engines — some of them are steam engines and some are not. The trains are maintained and operated by two teams of two men, who rotate their time at the museum. The museum was the vision of and is named for a longtime mayor of our mystery city, the late Martin King, and his wife, Sue. A grant from the Mississippi Department of Transportation helped with establishing it. Outside the museum, you will find a thriving patch of cotton and a lovely rose garden.
MODEL TRAIN
MORE INFORMATION
Measuring 71’ x 17’, the model train layout’s attention to detail and history is amazing and ever-changing. Representative of “Anytown, Mississippi” and depicting not only the Delta but Mississippi’s red clay hills, the layout shows the countryside and just about every facet of small-town life built around the railroad and this type of transportation from the 1940s through the 1960s. The core of the O-gauge model train display was purchased by the city from a local resident, the late James Albert Wiggins, and meticulously refurbished by volunteers.
The museum is open from 8 a.m. until noon and from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday. The model trains are operated from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. each day. Admission is free. The museum plays host to thousands of visitors each year. Plan your own visit and name our mystery city. For more information, call (662) 8433377, visit our mystery city’s website or become a fan of the train museum on Facebook. FB
CORRECT GUESSES Mail your guesses to Solve the Mystery, Mississippi Farm Country, P. O. Box 1972, Jackson, MS 39215. You may also email your guesses to FarmCountry@MSFB.org. Please remember to include your name and address on the entry. • Visit our Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation website at www.msfb.org. • When all correct guesses have been received, we will randomly draw 20 names. These 20 names will receive a prize and will be placed in the hat twice. At the end of the year, a winner will be drawn from all correct submissions. The winner will receive a Weekend Bed and Breakfast Trip, courtesy of Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation. • Families may submit only one entry. Federation staff members and their families are ineligible to participate in this contest. THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING YOUR ENTRY IS NOVEMBER 30.
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CO LO
NS DE
COTTAGE G L U AR RF
Colleen Wilkins lives in a cottage on a hill
surrounded by a white picket fence and dozens of rose bushes. The house and gardens are beautiful, but for someone who lived in 13 different places as a child, they also say “home” in the very best sense of the word. B Y G LY N D A P H I L L I P S
†¢ ROSEHILL
Colleen’s cottage, fittingly named Rosehill, is located in Natchez and dates back to 1950. In recent years, the gardens were featured on the Natchez Garden Tour and in several local and state magazines. Still, they weren’t always so pretty. When Colleen bought the cottage in 2007, Rosehill needed a lot of work. She was busy renovating the interior and that was progressing nicely, but she found she couldn’t stand the way the outside looked. So, up went the white picket fence and into the ground went dozens of Knock Out® roses, which her sister Bonnie and a friend helped her plant. Never mind that it was summer and sweltering hot, and never mind that the ground was hard and her helpers weren’t so experienced at planting rose bushes. They got the job done, and the roses survived. Today, Colleen’s yard boasts over 60 rose bushes and a variety of other flowers, including salvia, zinnias, iris, azaleas, daffodils, dahlia, daylilies, iris, poppies and much more. “I have always valued curb appeal,” Colleen said in what might possibly be one of the biggest understatements of all time. The visual impact of Colleen’s yard goes way beyond simple curb appeal. It takes your breath away, especially if you catch it in the late spring and early summer, when it is at its most beautiful. Step inside the cottage, and you are transported back in time. The cottage, with its graceful old-world NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014
look and feel, is filled with antique furnishings as well as thrift store treasures, oil paintings and sculptures. The possessions were collected through the years, and some are old and some are new. All of them go together nicely around Colleen’s color scheme of red with some navies and creams thrown into the mix. OUT BACK
Now, step out back and see the quirky side of Colleen Wilkins. Here, you will find a flagstone patio, a huge handmade fire pit and more flowering plants, including begonias, climbing roses, angel trumpet, lunar hibiscus, hydrangea, zinnias and cosmos plus a cherry laurel that will be loaded down with tiny cherries this fall. Each year, migrating birds sit in the tree, flashing their plumage and gobbling down the fruit. Colleen doesn’t mind one bit. “The birds are beautiful,” she said. “I enjoy watching them, and I consider them an important addition to the color in my gardens.” You will also find a few vegetables, an herb garden and lots of colorful yard art, including large metal butterflies, hand-painted signs, bright birdhouses, moss-covered sculptures, a metal birdcage and a metal pig. And if all of that isn’t enough, she also has chickens. A chicken coop out back houses a half-dozen or so laying hens, including Americanas, Plymouth Rocks and Rhode Island Reds. Some of the hens follow Colleen around as she works in the yard. Once a day, she lets them swarm across the
patio and eat bugs off her plants. They favor the pink begonias. “I got the chickens two years ago. It is such a trend now to eat healthy, and I just love fresh eggs. I use the manure in my compost heap, and the hens take care of some of the insects that plague gardeners. Plus, they follow me around and talk to me. Hear them muttering?” Yes, I do. They are saying, “Isn’t our owner a talented gardener?” DECORATING/GARDENING
Colleen is a full-time remodeler, who helps homeowners realize the decorative dreams and visions they have for their houses. She says she uses her artist’s eye, her skill as an interior designer and a team of carpenters, painters, electricians and plumbers who make it all happen. Colleen says many of the rules for color she uses in her work also apply to gardening. She is a dedicated Master Gardener, who serves as vice president of the Adams County Master Gardeners. “We have one of the largest, if not the largest, programs in the state,” Colleen said. “I enjoy socializing with and learning from these men and women, and they are an eclectic group, indeed. I have taught many of the programs myself, and it has been a great experience.” FB For more information on how to use color in your own gardens, read the article by Colleen Wilkins on the following pages. MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY
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BY CO LLEEN WI LKI NS
I
have friends who ask if I would help them landscape. My reply is, “I am not a landscaper. Besides, I prefer the term colorscape.” To me, the main element of garden design is the color, something that will draw the eye immediately to take another look. This can be achieved not only in the plants and their placement but in other design elements, such as garden furniture, pots, umbrellas, fences, etc. My two primary color choices for plants are pink and red. To that, I love to add purples and blues. For some reason, yellows and oranges are not my first choices; however, some plants, like dahlias and daffodils, are very showy. Blue salvia is
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perfect to add with any flower. This perennial is hardy and blooms all summer. My second tip for having a beautiful garden is to plant for all seasons. The spring holds azaleas, forsythia and spirea, along with foxglove, snapdragons, dianthus and others. Summer is the time to add annuals, including vinca, begonias, zinnias, cosmos, mandevilla, moon vine and others. Roses are in bloom. The fall continues with dahlias, angel trumpet and ginger. For winter, you can plant pansies and petunias, which I plant only in pots. Camellias are preparing to bloom, and what a treat to look forward to. In late fall and winter, you can begin planting for the next year. It is the best time to plant your trees and shrubs as
well as your spring blooming bulbs. I love roses. My home is named Rosehill and was given that name because of the roses. I use a lot of Knock Out® roses because they are so hardy and disease tolerant. These roses begin blooming in May and will bloom all summer. I deadhead them about twice a year. Very little watering and fertilizer are needed to have color throughout the summer. I have been adding more varieties of roses the last couple of years. One of my favorites is an antique thornless climber named Peggy Martin. It is a fast grower and will fill your fence or arbor in one season, not to mention offer profuse blooms in the spring. I absolutely love iris and daylilies. You
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can get them in all colors and in beautiful new and old varieties. Some are repeat bloomers, and some are fragrant. You can start with a few clumps and divide and share with your friends before you know it. The other thing that I like about these plants is the texture and shape of the leaves. Think about this when you are planting. Mix them in with your other plants. Life would be boring if everything was planted in a row. I call zinnias and cosmos my little “happy faces.” The more the merrier. Both of these plants are great for cutting. By all means, bring them inside to enjoy. And talk about bees and butterflies, you will have them. These are two of their favorites. Angel trumpet and ginger are two other great perennials. You will find varieties in a number of colors. You will want to pull up a chair and smell. Hummingbirds love these. How can you not admire the large flower heads on hydrangea? A lot of new varieties have been introduced in the last few years. Limelight is an easy one to start with. It is more sun- and drought-tolerant than some of the others. Cut a few of these and bring them inside … wow! Nothing is sweeter than something you grow yourself. With limited space, I don’t have room for a dedicated vegetable garden,
but I will add some things to my flower love my chickens. Even in my small space, beds like eggplant, peppers, tomatoes and the “Chicken Girls” are a part of my colokra. I love to cook, so fresh herbs are a orscaping. They are allowed to come into must and can easily be planted in a con- the patio area every day for a limited time. tainer garden. These girls ensure that composting, ferMy favorite trees are the bloomers. tilizing and debugging are taken care of Crape (crepe) myrtles, crabapples and, yes, organically. They love the begonias, especherry laurel have their time of year to shine. cially the pink ones. Cherry laurel attracts thouIn conclusion, gardenTO ME, THE MAIN ELEMENT sands of migrating birds in ing at Rosehill changes a OF GARDEN DESIGN IS THE December, and they are little each year. Some plants COLOR, SOMETHING THAT WILL beautiful. Space considered, thrive while others don’t fruit trees, along with beauty, DRAW THE EYE IMMEDIATELY TO fare as well. Sun and shade provide a taste treat; magno- TAKE ANOTHER LOOK. THIS CAN change, along with the BE ACHIEVED NOT ONLY IN THE lia trees, with their smell and growth of trees, while other PLANTS AND THEIR PLACEMENT visual beauty, would also be a trees outgrow the space. great addition to your garden. BUT IN OTHER DESIGN ELEMENTS, I am a big believer in SUCH AS GARDEN FURNITURE, As far as your patio is composting. (Here is where concerned, when design- POTS, UMBRELLAS AND FENCES. the “Chicken Girls” come ing it, think of comfort and, in). About the only comagain, color. Don’t be afraid to buy a can of mercial product of any kind that I use is for paint and have fun. Umbrellas, pots and, yes, black spot to treat some of my roses. I have even yard art can add to the visual comfort quit using pesticides. and appeal. Outdoor rooms are a must in Caterpillars are welcome in my garden, your patio landscaping. Destinations can be even though they can have a devastating planned for the weather, mood, time of day effect on some of my plants. The leaves will and occasion. One of my “rooms” has a fire come back so there is no permanent dampit, which I really enjoy in the cool weather. age to the plant. In a few weeks, caterpillars And last but not least, here are some are replaced by beautiful swallowtails, comments on my backyard chickens. I monarchs and unusual moths. FB
2014-2015 Young Farmers & Ranchers Foundation Recipients
Christian Good
Noxubee County MSU $3,000 Hugh Arant Scholarship
Etta Kathryn Jennings Leflore County MSU $3,000 YF&R Scholarship
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Lee McCoy
Prentiss County MSU $3,000 Don Waller Scholarship
Rodrick Patterson Jr. Claiborne County ASU $3,000 YF&R Scholarship
Chloe’ Henson
Alcorn County MSU $3,000 David Waide Scholarship
Andrew Tucker
Leake County MSU $3,000 YF&R Scholarship
Jessica Wilson
Rankin County MSU $3,000 YF&R Scholarship
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Berta White Scholarship
Berta White Scholarship recipients include Abigail Bufkin of Bolivar County, Danielle Welch of Simpson County, Rachel Wilson of Rankin County and Ashley Ivy of Jones County. The $3,000 scholarship is annually presented to deserving female college students. Pictured at a special luncheon honoring these young women are, from left, State Women’s Committee Chair Betty Mills; Bufkin; District 3 Women’s Chair Peggy McKey; State Women’s Committee Vice Chair Shelby Williams; District 5 Women’s Chair Betty Edwards; Welch; District 8 Women’s Chair Wanda Hill; Wilson; District 7 Women’s Chair Carolyn Turner; and Ivy.
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Protecting Honey Bees
M
ississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF), in cooperation with several other agricultural organizations, has launched the Mississippi Honey Bee Stewardship Program. This program outlines the basic standards that should exist between farmers and beekeepers when bees are located in or near agricultural production areas. One component of the program is the development and distribution of the “Bee Aware” flags that will be used to clearly identify hive locations that are
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near farmers’ crops. The flag, colored like the body of a bee, should be placed in a location that is highly visible by farmers operating ground-driven spraying equipment or by aerial applicators. Farm Bureau developed the Mississippi Honey Bee Steward-
ship Program with the support and cooperation of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC), Mississippi State University Extension Service, Mississippi Agricultural Aviation Association, Mississippi Beekeepers Association, Mississippi Agricultural Consultants Association and Mississippi Ag Industry Council. Pictured displaying the “Bee Aware” flag are, from left, MFBF Environmental Coordinator Andy Whittington, Mississippi Agriculture Commissioner Cindy HydeSmith, MFBF President Randy Knight and MDAC Bureau of Plant Industry Director John Campbell. FB
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Ag Mag Issues Available
Farm Bureau offers a children’s
agricultural newsletter called Ag Mag. Each issue features one Mississippi commodity through facts, activities, games and more. You can order copies of the newsletter for your local classroom or ag promotion events from our Ag in the Classroom Program. Dairy, corn, poultry, cotton and horticulture editions are now available for purchase. The cost is $5 for 20 copies. To order, contact Pam Jones at pjones@msfb.org or (601) 977-4854.
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