September/October 2010

Have you heard?

Your annual membership fee includes many valuable member benefits.

Highlighted below are a few of those benefits. To see a complete list, visit our Web site at www.msfb.com. Take advantage of the benefits available to Farm Bureau members ONLY. If you are not a member, joining is simple. Contact the Farm Bureau office in the county where you live, pay your membership dues, and start enjoying these benefits today! For more information, contact Member Benefits Coordinator Dedra Luke at 1.800.227.8244, ext. 4169. ®

www.msfb.com

ACCIDENTAL DEATH BENEFIT Provides for accidental death benefit of $750 for children and $1500 for adults. Benefit increases $150 each year for the member and spouse if the current membership year’s dues are paid before membership year due date (anniversary date). Maximum benefit is $3000. Benefit does not apply to deaths caused by accident while occupying any vehicle which is required to be licensed under applicable state motor vehicle laws; arising out of military activity occurring within a combat zone; suicide; or occurs during, or is the direct or indirect result of injuries incurred during, the commission of a felony by a person covered under this member service. All criteria must be met to receive payment of the accidental death benefit.

ADT HOME SECURITY SYSTEM Southern Security Services is offering an ADT Basic Home Security System installed at no charge (36-month monitoring contract required) to members of Farm Bureau.

Some restrictions may apply.

For more information, call 1.800.960.9119.

ATV DISCOUNTS The following ATV discounts are available to Farm Bureau members: Got Gear ATV of Ridgeland—$500 discount on ATVs, motorcycles and 4-wheel utility vehicles.

Greenville Motorsports—Receive up to $750 in free accessories or $500 discount coupon.

Oxford Outdoors—$500 discount off MSRP on the purchase of ATVs, utility vehicles, and motorcycles. OTHER EXCLUSIONS DO APPLY.

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M I S S I S S I P P I FA R M C O U N T RY

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY Volume 86 Number 5 September/October 2010

CONTENTS

EDITOR Glynda Phillips

Features

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Graphic Arts Coordinator Danielle Ginn Department Assistant/Ad Sales Rep. Angela Thompson

FARM BUREAU OFFICERS

FRUITS & VEGETABLES Mississippi’s commercial fruit and vegetable industries consist of 20,000 to 25,000 acres of traditional and specialty vegetables, 20,000 acres of sweet potatoes, and several thousand acres of fruits. Come with us as we learn more.

AG IMAGE CAMPAIGN The 2010 Ag Image Campaign was a huge success.

Read all about this very important endeavor inside.

SOLVE THE MYSTERY Our Solve the Mystery Contest spotlights the county seat of Sharkey County. Read the clues and make your guess.

We also visit a Clay County man who repairs clocks.

President - David Waide Vice President - Donald Gant Vice President - Randy Knight Vice President - Reggie Magee Treasurer - Billy Davis Corporate Secretary - Ilene Sumrall

FARM BUREAU DIRECTORS Dr. Jim Perkins, Iuka Kevin Simpson, Ashland B.A. Teague, New Albany Bill Ryan Tabb, Cleveland Coley L. Bailey, Jr., Coffeeville Dan L. Bishop, Baldwyn Jeffrey R. Tabb, Walthall Doss Brodnax, Starkville Wanda Hill, Isola Weldon Harris, Kosciusko William Jones, Meridian Max Anderson, Decatur Stanley Williams, Mt. Olive Mark Chaney, Vicksburg Moody Davis, Brookhaven Bill Pigott, Tylertown D.P. O’Quinn, Purvis Wendell Gavin, Laurel Clifton Hicks, Leakesville Tom Daniels, Gulfport Betty Mills, Winona Clint Russell, Cleveland

HONORARY VICE-PRESIDENTS Louis J. Breaux, David H. Bennett, and Warren Oakley

Departments 4 6 7 22

President’s Message Commodity Update: Dairy Commodity Update: Rice

Mississippi Farm Country (ISSN 1529-9600) magazine is published bimonthly by the *Mississippi Farm Bureau® Federation.

EDITORIAL AND BUSINESS OFFICES 6311 Ridgewood Road Jackson, MS 39211 TELEPHONE 601.977.4153 ADVERTISING (National) Paul Hurst 1.800.397.8908 (Southeastern U.S.) Angela Thompson 1.800.227.8244 ext. 4242

Counsel’s Corner

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.

ABOUT THE COVER Jason and Lindsey Ellzey, the 2009 Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation State Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement Award winners, grow blueberries on a diversified family farm near Ellisville. Read their story inside. Also pictured are Colleen, 9, and Colby, 6.

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*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.

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.

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE CONSUMER DEMAND IS GROWING FOR LOCAL FOODS

By David Waide • President, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation

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his issue of Mississippi Farm Country is focused around fruit and vegetable production. This is really becoming a great opportunity for many farmers in Mississippi. It’s an especially exciting time for small-acreage farmers in terms of availability of markets.

With an emphasis being placed on locally grown, markets have emerged that we have not had before. It is virtually impossible now to go into a county and not see locally grown, locally produced vendors sitting on the town square selling their produce. It is really a great opportunity for consumers to know firsthand the producer who grew these products and to know that in their purchase they are getting a real value in healthy, nutritious foods.

This has far-reaching consequences. It provides numerous opportunities for the individual who wants either to supplement their farm income or to focus on making a living from a few acres.

Another market opportunity can be found in the focus being placed in most nutrition programs on reducing the obesity of many consumers. Fruits and vegetables offer a great opportunity for contributing to the USDA goal of reducing the obesity in the United States.

Organic is popular in fruit and vegetable production. I am certainly not one who would criticize methods of organic production. However, I am a realist. I also know that, as a nation, without the capability of having genetically altered plants that have natural resistance to disease through genetically modified organism, we cannot feed this population and still contribute to our foreign trade deficit that we as producers manage to do on an annual basis.

The influx of immigrants into the country

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has caused a huge demand for ethnic foods. This will not change, at least in the immediate future. Producers need to be mindful of the fact that this ethnic demand will create markets that we have not had in the past. In addition, there are products grown traditionally outside Mississippi that need to be looked at from a research perspective to see if that particular product can be made adaptable to our soils and climate and enjoy the profitability that some of those ethnic foods will bring.

Globalization will affect the growth of the fruits and vegetables market. Since we have seen the production of numerous new vegetables in our area, we must take into account the ability and the cost benefits of locally grown for the American consumer.

The most notable area of cost savings would be the fact that, if the product is grown locally, transportation cost is ultimately eliminated. While globalization has a huge impact, it does have its drawbacks, and transportation of product is one of the biggest costs to any consumer in any country. It also provides opportunities that are almost unlimited.

The research that could be done on our various fruits and vegetables needs to be done with our land-grant colleges. I am certainly a huge proponent of land-grant research because this research is unbiased.

It needs to be publicly funded research because the public will be the benefactor in the end. It is the kind of research that causes producers to not have to experiment on their own with the various methods of production that go into the food and fiber we consume.

Even though the opportunities are great for the industry, there are numerous challenges as well. Since we have had e coli and other scares in the fruit and vegetable industries, more people are aware of the production methods and those things

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regulated by USDA and FDA and the impact their regulations have on the accessibility of protectants for their crops.

As consumers, we are going to have to be mindful of those individuals who approve chemicals that are used in crop production and insist that their decisions are sciencebased. This is our job as consumers.

Knowing that farmers are out there producing our food supply and knowing, too, that they are consuming what they produce gives us a degree of satisfaction that, perhaps, we have not realized in our biosecurity effort of food.

Certainly, a farmer is going to put a special interest on producing wholesome, nutritious food. The farmer is also trying to ensure his family a wholesome, nutritious food supply, in addition to improving the family income. This is a noble goal and will continue to cause the locally grown business to prosper and flourish.

All in all, I think the outlook looks bright for this industry for the coming months and years. For all of the reasons I have mentioned earlier and the fact that people are more aware of their health conditions, consumers are going to stress the need for products in their diet that will contribute to that health concern.

The one last thing I would mention that could provide opportunities in the future for many producers is the possibility of growing pharmaceutical plants that may not cure disease but may prevent some of the most dreaded diseases.

This can only be accomplished with research and, hopefully, does not go unnoticed as farmers look to the future for what the consuming public will demand and what we as producers will offer to consumers in the marketplace.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

AG IMAGE CAMPAIGN HUGE SUCCESS By Greg Gibson, MFBF Member Services Director Our Ag Image Campaign for 2010 has finally wound down, and it was a tremendous success, thanks to all of the organizations and individuals who supported this effort with their donations of money, services or time.

Let me recap some of the things we did this year.

The campaign launched Feb. 15 with three TV spots playing on two stations in the Jackson market. These spots were written and produced in-house so we had very little production costs involved.

Our deal with WLBT was that they would match the total number of spots that we purchased with an equal number of freebies recorded by Chief Meteorologist Barbie Bassett. Barbie has a long history with Farm Bureau, going back to the year she served as Miss Farm Bureau-Mississippi.

We also hosted four cooking segments on the “Mid-Day Mississippi” program, where we prepared a Mississippi commodity. A local farmer joined the group on each segment, talking about that commodity and the Ag Image Campaign. All of these segments are now posted on Farm Bureau’s YouTube Channel.

All told, we ran over 1200 TV spots in the Jackson market.

Another focal point of the campaign was the purchase of billboards throughout the metro Jackson area. Fifteen static billboards and one digital billboard helped spread the word about the job that the farmers of Mississippi do every day for the consumers of our state.

The campaign also purchased radio time on SuperTalk Mississippi, the statewide talk radio network. A schedule of over 800 ads was purchased and, as a bonus, we were able to appear on several of the talk shows to promote the campaign. This allowed us to go into detail about what farmers really do on the farm and the benefits the pubic receives from agriculture.

Another highlight was our promotion with the Mississippi Braves.

The M-Braves are the AA affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and play in Pearl. Our event with them was sponsoring a “Friday Night Fireworks” show. More than 4,000 people attended the game, where local farmers passed out “Farm Families of Mississippi” refrigerator magnets and recipe cards featuring Mississippi commodities.

We also had our TV spots played on the Jumbotron in centerfield, and farm facts were read over the PA system between innings. In addition, we purchased a banner that will hang in the stadium all year.

“Farm Families of Mississippi” also has a Web site promoting many of the things that farmers do for the citizens of the state. The address is: www.growingmississippi.org.

But the most exciting part of this whole campaign came when the follow-up survey results were revealed.

When asked if they remembered seeing, hearing or reading ads promoting Mississippi agriculture recently, 53 percent of the public said yes. According to the research firm, “It is not unusual in SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

commercial studies that recall for specific message campaigns is less than 30 percent.” So we feel like a 53 percent recall is very good.

We also polled the public about specific messages that we were trying to target. Before the campaign began, only 37 percent of the public thought that Americans spend a smaller percentage of their income on food than other countries. One of our commercials specifically dealt with that issue.

After the campaign, 49 percent now agree with that statement – a full 12 percent swing in perception.

We were told beforehand that if we could move the needle 4-5 percent on any one issue, we should be happy.

Before the campaign, only 65 percent believed that most farms in Mississippi are family farms. Now, 73 percent believe it – an 8 percent increase.

Before the campaign, 62 percent held a very favorable opinion of farmers in the state. Now, 72 percent hold a very favorable opinion – a 10 percent increase.

Before the campaign, 60 percent believed that farmers are good stewards of the land. Now, 88 percent believe it – a 28 percent increase.

To sum it all up, we feel that this campaign had a tremendously successful first year. The marketing research firm said, “It is clear that these messages had a strong impact in Mississippi Farm Bureau’s media campaign.”

We hope you agree with us that this is an important undertaking and that the campaign should continue for many years to come. We hope you will continue to support “Farm Families of Mississippi” as strongly as you have so far.

Ag Ambassador Scholarship Offered Beginning in 2010, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) will offer a $2,000 Ag Ambassador Scholarship to recognize a young leader who excels in public speaking and is willing to use their talent to tell the farm story. A first alternate $1,000 scholarship will also be presented. The scholarships are awarded through the MFBF Women’s Program The Ag Ambassador, who will be named at our annual meeting in December, will make select appearances, at MFBF expense, on behalf of agriculture and Farm Bureau throughout the year.

Applicants must be planning to attend or must be attending a community college, college or university in Mississippi. Applicants must be a member of a Farm Bureau family with a current membership. The age limit shall be 19-25 years of age.

A 300-word ag-related essay and an application must be received at the Farm Bureau state office by Sept. 15.

For more information and an application, call your county Farm Bureau office or the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Women’s Department at 1.800.227.8244, Ext. 4245.

M I S S I S S I P P I FA R M C O U N T RY

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COMMODITY UPDATE

Max Anderson

DAIRY

Doug Ervin

State Needs A Strong Dairy Industry Max Anderson, MFBF Dairy Advisory Committee Chair Doug Ervin, MFBF Commodity Coordinator for Dairy

In 2010, we continue to see a decline in the number of dairy farms here in Mississippi. This is primarily due to our state’s many economic challenges.

Many people are concerned about the deterioration of the dairy industry infrastructure. Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) is working to solve the problems facing our dairy industry.

Farm Bureau, at the direction of President David Waide, has formed a Dairy Advisory Committee, comprised of dairy farmers from across the state, to find solutions to the problems. The Dairy Advisory Committee has identified four areas of focus: • • • •

Developing Growth Management Policy Federal Milk Marketing Order Reform Most Efficient Production System for the Southeast Marketing Efforts, Including “Niche Marketing,” in the Southeast

DAIRY INDUSTRY FACTS Here are some interesting facts about the dairy industry:

A WAY OF LIFE All of the recent changes within our dairy industry are distressing, especially to those of us who grew up on a dairy. I can’t help but think back to my own childhood growing up on a Walthall County dairy farm. It was a great way of life.

When you are raised on a dairy farm, you learn a work ethic second to none. A dairy is hard work, and your work is never done!

Taking care of animals and nurturing them brought me great pleasure and taught me a lot about life’s ups and downs, whether it was helping a baby calf be born into this world or having your favorite horse die from old age, which, by the way, was a beautiful black-and-white paint named Cherokee.

Dairy farming is a way of life and a tradition that has been a valuable economic benefit to our rural communities through the

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years, especially my home county of Walthall, where the money turns over several times in the same area with local businesses.

We just hope that this way of life will continue so that generations to come will enjoy that solid foundation that you receive growing up on the rural farms of this great state. We also hope to continue to produce locally grown food and fiber, which is both healthier and less expensive for our consumers.

Mississippi deserves a strong dairy industry. We appreciate your continued support.

• The United States has 9,000,000 dairy cows and 60,000 dairy farms.

• The southeastern United States has 4,000 dairy farms.

• Mississippi has 124 dairy farms.

John Anderson, American Farm Bureau Federation Economist, predicts milk prices will increase as the overall economy improves in addition to an increase in exports due to the weak U. S. dollar.

Forage is crucial to the dairy industry in Mississippi due to the abundance of grass in our area; therefore, we rely on research conducted by our land-grant universities to provide updated information on what will increase milk production throughout the year.

M I S S I S S I P P I FA R M C O U N T RY

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

COMMODITY UPDATE

RICE Gary Fioranelli

Justin Ferguson

Rice Luncheon Celebrates 20th Anniversary

by Gary Fioranelli, MFBF Rice Advisory Committee Chair Justin Ferguson, MFBF Commodity Coordinator for Rice

On Friday, Sept. 17, Delta Rice Promotions will celebrate the 20th anniversary of its annual Rice Luncheon. Through the years, this event has proven to be a real success story and a great tool for promoting Mississippi’s rice industry.

Since 1991, attendance at the Rice Luncheon has grown from 1,000 to an average of around 2,000 participants, with over 300 rice dishes prepared by Delta area residents and restaurants. Not only Mississippians but visitors from other states attend this event each year.

SOME HISTORY Delta Rice Promotions began informally on Aug. 1, 1991, when a group of Extension Service clientele and Farm Bureau members from Bolivar County met at the Bolivar County Extension Service office to discuss how to celebrate the first-ever nationallyproclaimed Rice Month to be held in September of that year.

This first meeting led to expanding the Rice Tasting Luncheon, sponsored in past years by the Bolivar County Extension Service and Bolivar County Farm Bureau.

“Friday the 13th” in September 1991 became a lucky day. The first-ever National Rice Month Luncheon was a huge success, and now the luncheon is held each year on the third Friday of September.

In 1994, Delta Rice Promotions won the first-ever USA Rice Federation Award for Best September Rice Month Promotion.

In 1996, Delta Rice Promotions was presented with the Award of Excellence by the USA Rice Federation for rice promotions in the state.

Today, Delta Rice Promotions’ mission is exclusively for the promotion of Mississippi-produced rice. Their activities include the annual Rice Luncheon; the writing and publishing of the rice cookbook, “Between the Levees;” the Mississippi Rice Cook-Off

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

contest; educational programs; grocery store promotions; speaking to various groups about Mississippi rice; and exhibits at various expos and trade shows.

RICE LUNCHEON This year’s Rice Luncheon will feature a very special live cooking demonstration hosted by well-known Mississippi restaurateur, chef and food writer Robert St. John of Hattiesburg.

Tickets are $2 and may be purchased at county Extension offices throughout the Delta, as well as local Farm Bureau offices, and will be available for purchase at the door.

Please call 662.843.8371 for more information.

M I S S I S S I P P I FA R M C O U N T RY

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

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By Glynda Phillips

ive years ago, Jones County young farmer Jason Ellzey and his father Joe began growing blueberries on their diversified poultry, cow/calf, hay, soybeans and timber operation near Ellisville. The Ellzeys wanted another income stream on the farm, something that would generate revenue on a small amount of acreage.

The farmers visited several area blueberry operations and talked with now-retired Mississippi State University horticulture specialist John Braswell before putting in about 10 acres their first year. The blueberry operation has since grown to 40 acres with a yield of about 4,566 pounds of berries per acre per season.

“When you are starting out with a new crop like blueberries, you grow 10 acres, and you learn and you fix whatever went wrong. Then you go on and do 10 more acres,” Jason said. “That way, you don’t run the risk of losing a lot of money and failing in a big way.”

The Ellzeys’ success with blueberries can be credited to doing their homework, working hard and using very creative production methods.

GrowinG Creatively Jason says growing up on a row crop farm has helped him understand the importance of adequate water and fertilizer, proper soil, positive hydrogen, and weed control. He and his father have designed equipment and methods of planting and managing their blueberries that have produced some extremely high yields and vigorous growth from some very young plants.

For example, in the early process of preparing the soil, they incorporate pine bark into the soil before planting. While this is a common practice with blueberry production, the way they incorporate it is not at all common. Jason says most farmers would simply pile the bark on the ground in rows then run a tractor-mounted tiller over it to incorporate it.

“While this does work, the benefits of the bark – less soil compaction, aeration and water movement – were not maximized,” he said. “Through a redesign of our cultivator and the small three-point hitch disk we had, we were able to build nice beds and incorporate the bark throughout the entire root zone.”

The Ellzeys also decided to unroll round bales of mulch with a tractormounted bale unroller directly over the prepared beds.

“This gives us a uniform strip of mulch to plant through and promotes vigorous growth due to the lack of competition,” Jason said. “It also saves time, money and the labor of constantly spraying. In addition, it creates a new market for our mulch hay as other farmers are impressed and have started buying our mulch and using it in their blueberry operations.

“You must think outside of the box if you want to succeed in farming today,” he said. “With all of the changes in agriculture and the current economy, that’s the only way that you are going to survive.” aChievement award As the 2009 Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation State Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement Award winners, Jason and his wife Lindsey received the use of John Deere and Kubota tractors. Usually, young farmer winners select larger pieces of equipment. Jason’s tractors are narrow-row.

“They looked at me funny when I asked for the smaller tractors, but these have worked out great for me,” he said. “They are the perfect size for what I do.”

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Jason bought a GPS guidance system with money presented to him by the federation as part of the prize package. The money is designated to be used toward the purchase of technology.

Jason says the GPS system works well and really helps to extend his working hours. In addition, he and Lindsey received a Ford truck from Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company. the Future Looking toward the future, Jason says he and his father plan to make several major improvements to their blueberry operation.

“We may eventually build our own processing shed, but that won’t happen for several years,” he said. “We will see where we are when the time arrives.”

Jason and Lindsey say they will continue their involvement with Farm Bureau well into the future.

They appreciate the organization’s work on behalf of Mississippi farmers.

The Ellzeys are also members of the Gulf South Blueberry Growers Association and local civic organizations. They are active members of their church.

Jason and Lindsey have two children, Colleen, 9, and Colby, 6. FC

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M I S S I S S I P P I FA R M C O U N T RY

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

issippi’s s s i M

Best Burger Contest The Mississippi Beef Council and Mississippi Cattlemen’s Association have teamed up to find the best burger and we need your help.

The Mississippi’s Best Burger contest aims to find the single best hamburger served in a Mississippi restaurant.

Help us out by eating and nominating a great tasting burger from your favorite eatery.

Contest runs from October 1, 2010 thru November 15, 2010.

To nominate your favorite burger go to

www.msbeef.org The winning restaurant will be recognized by MBC with a live Radio Remote, Print advertising and Featured on Our Website!

For more info. contact: Mississippi Beef Council 680 Monroe St. Suite A Jackson, MS 39202 (601) 353-4520 www.msbeef.org

A Great

HOME GARDEN (

By Glynda Phillips

W

hen someone claims to have the best-looking home garden in their county, you just have to take a look at it yourself. On a recent hot July morning, I found myself ankle-deep in Waldo Tadlock’s bountiful vegetable garden, and I have to admit, if it’s not the best in Scott County, it certainly comes awfully close.

Rows upon rows of good-looking sweet corn tower above rows upon rows of good-looking peas, squash, zucchini, watermelons, bell peppers, and tomatoes. Tadlock’s acre-and-a-half garden is a testament not only to his creativity, work ethic and excellent gardening skills but to a generous weather pattern that has brought timely rain and plenty of sunshine to his area of the state.

Tadlock, who is 76, sells a few of his vegetables but mainly just enjoys giving them away. He has a list of about 40 folks whom he says deserve them for one good reason or another. His wife Catherine and mother-in-law Viola also freeze some vegetables for the family to enjoy all winter.

According to experts at the Mississippi State University (MSU) Extension Service, home gardening is a popular hobby in our state.

Some people garden for exercise and some for the enjoyment of harvesting flavorful produce that can be eaten fresh from the garden or preserved for use during winter.

Others garden so they can grow a wider variety of vegetables and herbs than is available at their local grocery store. In recent years, many people are growing vegetables to save money on their grocery bill.

For more information about planting and maintaining fruit and vegetables, view the “Garden Tabloid,” published by the MSU Extension Service, at http://msucares.com/pubs/publications/p1091.pdf. FC

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A retired patternmaker for Gulf Plastics and Piper Industries, Waldo Tadlock is featured in a book by Madison author Jim Hemphill that charts the history of the wood grain plastics industry in our state. The book is on file at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. Waldo and Catherine Tadlock are Scott County Farm Bureau members.

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M I S S I S S I P P I FA R M C O U N T RY

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation’s summer commodity conferences enjoyed excellent participation. Attendees benefited from informative updates on Extension, research, and industry activities and from policy discussions in preparation for the upcoming legislative year.

YF&R Competitions Offer Great Prizes The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Young Farmer and Rancher (YF&R) competitions will offer great prizes in 2011.

The Achievement Award recipient will win a 2011 Dodge Ram pickup, courtesy of Ram Trucks, as well as a paid registration to the 2011 YF&R Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida, on Feb. 5-7, 2011. Each of the four runners-up will receive a Case IH Farmall tractor from CASE IH.

The Discussion Meet winner will receive a 2011 Dodge Ram pickup, courtesy of Ram Trucks, as well as a paid registration to the 2011 YF&R Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida, on Feb. 5-7, 2011. Each of the three runners-up will receive a $6,000 U.S. Savings Bond and a Farm Boss on behalf of Stihl.

Winner of the Excellence in Agriculture Award will receive a 2011 Dodge Ram pickup, courtesy of Ram Trucks, as well as a paid registration to the 2011 YF&R Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida, on Feb. 5-7, 2011. Each of the runners-up will receive a $6,000 U.S. Savings Bond and a Farm Boss on behalf of Stihl.

Winners will be determined during AFBF’s 92nd Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, January 9-11, 2011. For more information about YF&R competition, contact Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation YF&R Coordinator Greg Shows at 1.601.977.4277. Mississippi also offers great prizes.

Membership Drawing Don’t forget to pay your 2011 membership dues by the official payment deadline of Oct. 31, 2010. Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) will conduct a random drawing immediately following the official deadline, and a $250 check will be awarded to an individual Farm Bureau member or member-family in each of MFBF’s eight regions.

Only memberships for the 2011 membership year that are paid on or before Oct. 31, 2010, will be eligible for the drawing. MFBF employees are not eligible to participate. The member does not have to be present to win.

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

Extraordinaire

By Glynda Phillips arty Bost is a tomato grower extraordinaire.

Each year, he makes a point of growing tomatoes that are juicy, delicious, and very much in demand. No cardboard-tasting tomatoes for this Lafayette County farmer.

Marty has a lot of experience growing tomatoes. When he was just a kid, he began helping his grandmother grow her popular tomatoes, and he hasn’t stopped since. He also looks for the very besttasting varieties available.

“I’ll try a new variety, and if it doesn’t taste good, I won’t use it,” he said. “I have grown some I didn’t like, and I have disked them under; whereas, other people might go on and try to sell them.

“Customers today are interested in healthy, locally grown foods that taste good,” he said. “My vegetables have to be good enough to make people want to come back again and again.”

A TYPICAL SEASON Each year, Marty grows about 40 to 50 acres of vegetables. In addition to the tomatoes, he plants sweet corn, squash, eggplant, peas and beans, to name just a few. In the fall, he puts in cool season vegetables, and, in late December, he grows cabbage. Marty markets his produce on his farm and at the Mid-Town Farmers Market in Oxford.

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“Every year, you learn something new,” he said. “It is an ongoing process.”

Growing and harvesting vegetables is labor intensive.

Produce must be hand-picked, and it must be sold before it spoils. In addition, vegetables are vulnerable to weather, insects and disease.

Marty says his area of the state is not the easiest for growing fruits and vegetables.

“Up here in the hills, we have this red clay,” he said.

“Plus, we have weather conditions that can be harsh. We sometimes have unexpected freezes in the spring and excessive rainfall, like last year.

“I like dry, sunny weather,” he said. “I pair that with drip irrigation, and I’m happy. Those are the very best conditions for growing vegetables.”

In July, Marty opens up two fields for U-pick customers.

Advertising is primarily word of mouth.

“We have repeat customers, and we enjoy visiting with them,” he said. “Your customers become your friends, and you look forward to seeing them year after year.”

SOMETHING YEAR-ROUND Marty stays busy year-round. When he’s not planting and harvesting, he’s working with seed in two greenhouses on the property. This past winter, he also built a trailer to display his vegetables on the farm and at the farmers market. The trailer is customer-friendly with a metal roof that overhangs a bit so people will have shelter from the sun and rain while browsing through the vegetable bins.

In addition to the vegetable greenhouses, the Bost farm

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boasts a greenhouse that Marty’s mother Aileen uses for her flowers. On the day of my visit, I got to see Aileen’s field of zinnias and it was absolutely beautiful. She sells the zinnias as cut flowers at the Mid-Town Farmers Market.

A GOOD SIZE “This is my 11th year of growing vegetables,” Marty said.

“I plan to do this as long as I am able. I can make a living on just this much acreage and by retailing my vegetables both on the farm and at the local farmers market.

“If you are a small farmer, you shouldn’t try to wholesale your crop,” he added. “You will go broke. Sell what you have at farmers markets and on your farm. That’s the way to go.”

Marty is often assisted by family members. Aileen, who serves on the Lafayette County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, makes a point of helping out on the farm as does Marty’s wife Rachel, who works at Ole Miss. Marty and Rachel’s children, Taylor, 11, and Cody, 4, enjoy shelling peas and shucking corn.

“We’ve grown about as big as we want to be,” he said in conclusion. “By commercial wholesale standards, we are small. But we are big enough to make a living for our family.” FC Aileen is interim director of the Mid-Town Farmers Market in Oxford. She invites you to visit the market, which is open Wednesdays, from 12 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturdays, from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., from mid-April to October. The Web site is www.mtfarmersmarket.com.

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MISSISSIPPI F r u i t s & Ve g e t a b l e s

By Glynda Phillips

Mississippi’s commercial fruit and vegetable industries consist of approximately 20,000 to 25,000 acres of traditional and specialty vegetables, 20,000 acres of sweet potatoes, and several thousand acres of fruit. Among the more popular commercial fruits are blueberries, muscadines, peaches and strawberries.

In 2010, the state’s approximately 3,000 acres of commercial blueberries represented the largest concentration of fruit crop acreage in the state.

Strategic Marketing Mississippi is home to several large wholesale fruit and vegetable operations; however, most fruit and vegetable farms are fewer than 50 acres in size.

“Our large growers market their crops locally and nationally,” said Dr. Rick Snyder, a vegetable specialist with Mississippi State University’s Truck Crops Experiment Station in Crystal Springs. “For small-acreage growers, finding markets is more of a struggle.

“All farmers, but especially those with small acreage, should figure out their markets before they begin growing anything for commercial sales,” he said. “Some type of strategic marketing plan is good for both farmers and buyers.”

Snyder says small growers should steer clear of trying to market their crops wholesale. He says a better price can be gotten through farmers markets, by selling off the farm, or through direct marketing to mom and pop grocery stores.

“This is an exciting time for small fruit and vegetable farmers in terms of availability of markets,” Snyder said. “There exists an interest on the part of consumers and the government in fostering local foods. As a result, farmers markets have really taken off.

Mississippi currently boasts about 52 farmers markets scattered across the state.

“With a farmers market, a producer doesn’t have to travel far and neither does the consumer,” he said. “If you have a market in your own county and in neighboring counties, that’s a great situation.”

“We’re seeing two segments in particular who are interested in farmers markets – older folks and young professionals,” said Dr. David Nagel, a Mississippi State University Extension horticulture professor. “These people don’t mind the expense and trouble it might take to travel to a farmers market to purchase their foods.”

Something for Everyone Mississippi fruit and vegetable farmers are growing something for everyone.

“Some farmers are concentrating on one or more traditional crops, while others have a good mix, including traditional crops and SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

specialty items such as cilantro, papaya, basil and garlic chives,” Snyder said. “We are also seeing more cut flowers. Vegetable growers can grow flowers along with their produce and sell them for 50 to 75 cents a stem.”

According to Snyder, growth opportunities exist for wholesaling blueberries, strawberries and persimmons. Retail specialty crop opportunities exist for fruits, vegetables, herbs and cut flowers.

Nagel says lettuce has the potential to become an important crop of the future.

“There’s a lot of interest in lettuce on the part of both the consumer and the lettuce industry,” he said. “But it’s difficult to grow here because of weather patterns.”

Nagel says a strong demand also exists for specialty crops like 30-pound-or-larger seeded watermelons.

“Some growers specialize in the larger melons,” he said. “We are the last state growing mostly seeded watermelons.”

Approximately 6,000 acres of commercial watermelons are grown each year in Mississippi, primarily in George, Green, Smith, Simpson and Wayne counties.

Greenhouses & High Tunnels Mississippi greenhouse production has declined significantly in recent years.

“Our state currently has about 100 commercial greenhouses, but that represents an annual six-million-dollar crop,” Snyder said.

“Greenhouse production is still a successful enterprise, it’s just that our existing growers are getting older. Some are retiring while others are experiencing health problems. New growers are just trickling in.

“Over 99 percent of our greenhouse producers grow tomatoes.

Some tinker with lettuce, but the market is always good for tomatoes. It’s lucrative.”

The high tunnel, a relatively new structure for the Deep South, is designed to shelter crops grown in the ground, thus extending the growing season for some types of fruits, vegetables and cut flowers.

In Mississippi, the main advantage of the high tunnel lies in a farmer being able to grow a crop during the six weeks before the last frost in the spring and the six weeks after the last frost in the fall.

“We have 30 or 40 growers in Mississippi with five acres or less of produce, and the high tunnel serves them well, although some farmers with larger acreage also use it,” said Dr. Bill Evans, leader of a team of Mississippi State University researchers who are studying the feasibility of this type of structure.

For more information about state fruit and vegetable production, contact Snyder or Evans at 601.892.3731 or Nagel at 662.325.4558.

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SOLVE THE MYSTERY

Which lower Mississippi Delta town is the seat of government for Sharkey County? Read the clues and make your guess.

Each year, our mystery town recognizes the famous Sharkey County bear hunt, where Theodore Roosevelt refused to kill a captive bear. That historic moment eventually gave birth to the popular Teddy Bear. Many chainsaw-carved wooden bears can be found scattered throughout this town.

AGRICULTURAL AREA Primarily an agricultural community, Sharkey County was organized in 1876 and presently boasts a population of 6,580 residents. Our mystery town is the site where the first acre of cotton was cultivated in Sharkey County in 1828. The cotton was grown on the spot where the courthouse, built in 1902, now stands.

Back in those early years, our mystery town was a railroad hub.

Deer Creek, a 159-mile-long stream that winds through the Delta and this town, was once an active waterway with regular traffic carrying goods and passengers up and down it.

During the Civil War, Deer Creek was large enough (when flooded) to allow five Union gunboats to infiltrate the town. In retreat from Confederate forces, the boats were forced to back their way out of the creek.

BLUES & ART Our mystery town is located on Highway 61, also known as the Blues Highway. Sharkey County is the birthplace of McKinley Morganfield, better known as blues great Muddy Waters. A Blues Trail marker and a memorial marker honoring Muddy Waters can be found in our mystery town. The Muddy Waters Blues Cabin can also be found here.

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Our mystery town boasts a downtown square, where you will find artists hard at work under the guidance of renowned artist Pat Walker-Fields. You may also visit a wonderful restaurant named Highway 61 Coffee Shop, Deli and Art Gallery. This restaurant is owned and operated by Mica Joiner, a local artist who has painted murals in the downtown area.

One of the state’s oldest newspapers, the Deer Creek Pilot, established in 1867, is located just off the square on First Street.

In our mystery town, you will find a fascinating shop called Lee’s Cotton Picker Art. Lee Washington sells unique folk art he makes from quirky items such as cotton spindles. He is a member of the Mississippi Craftsman Guild.

You may also visit Blu Boutique at the historic Four Pillars Inn. Local craftsman Lisa Smith’s beautiful handmade jewelry is available there.

MONT HELENA When you plan your visit to our mystery town, make a point of visiting Mont Helena. This beautiful home was built around the turn of the 20th century atop a ceremonial Indian mound. Its original owners were Helen Johnstone Harris, the infamous Bride of Annandale, and her husband George Harris, an Episcopal rector whose previous church was Chapel of the Cross in Madison County.

In its day, Mont Helena was one of the premier homes of the Delta.

Although the house fell into disrepair through the years, it is being lovingly restored by Drick Rodgers, a distant relative of the original owners. Our mystery town plans to stage an historic play in the home each year. The first such production was a resounding success.

A small Methodist Episcopal Church that was built on the property in 1878 still stands. Its bell tower boasts the original bell.

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Pictured, opposite page, is the historic Red Barn. On this page, from left and clockwise, are a chain-saw-carved wooden bear, Mont Helena, and the Muddy Waters Blues Cabin.

SPECIAL EVENTS Two great opportunities to visit this town are the Deep Delta Festival, held the second Saturday in April, and the Great Delta Bear Affair, held the fourth Saturday in October.

Our mystery town is home to several Native American mounds. They are located just north of the famous Red Barn (an historic mule barn, circa 1918, and later a barn for gated show horses) on Highway 61.

Farmer Jim’s Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze can be found on Highway 16 on the outskirts of our mystery town. It is open during the month of October. Pick your own pumpkin and make your way through the 5acre winding corn maze.

Sharkey County boasts abundant hunting, fishing, biking, bird watching and other outdoor recreational opportunities. The only bottomland forest in the U.S. Forest System, Delta National Forest, is located entirely in Sharkey County.

Name this town.

A writer couldn’t ask for a better trio of hosts during my visit to our mystery town than Emily Carter, Meg Cooper and Leslie Miller. Thanks so much for your help.

CORRECT GUESSES Mail guesses to Solve the Mystery, Mississippi Farm Country, P. O. Box 1972, Jackson, MS 39215.

You may also e-mail your guesses to FarmCountry@MSFB.com. Please remember to include your name and address on the entry. Visit our Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Web site at www.msfb.com.

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 the 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 September 30.

JULY/AUGUST The correct answer for the July/August Solve the Mystery is Pontotoc.

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COUNSEL’S CORNER

ONE SAFE PLACE Sam E. Scott, MFBF General Counsel

Though national attention is currently directed toward the selection process for justices of the United States Supreme Court, many other judges are chosen each year who are likely to have a more profound effect upon most of us.

Our country has a dual system of jurisprudence – state and federal in both civil and criminal law. All federal judges are appointed for life or good behavior by the President and must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate except federal magistrate judges, who are appointed to specific terms of eight years by sitting judges. In order to remove a federal judge with life appointment, he or she must be impeached and then tried by the U.S. Senate.

In Mississippi, there is yet another dual system, law and equity, which harks back to English common law, and we are one of only two states which retain that system.

All of our judges – justices of the peace, county court, circuit court, chancery court, court of appeals and supreme court – are elected with the one exception of municipal judges. All are elected for specific terms from specific districts. Two main differences between law courts and equity courts is that equity courts do not handle criminal cases and, except on rare occasions, juries are not used. In law courts, most all criminal cases are jury trials as are a majority of civil trials.

Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, was considered an independent swing vote and was well respected. She recently wrote an article in the New York Times advocating what she called “taking justice off the ballot.” She favors a merit selection system

for state court judges that involves a selection system by an open nominating committee, appointment by the governor, and regular retention elections or referenda by voters to decide whether to keep the judges in office. A number of states use this process.

Justice O’Connor provides some startling statistics. Each year, more than 100 million cases are filed in state courts, running the gamut from child custody, business disputes and divorces to criminal offenses. This year, 16 states will hold contested elections for seats on their highest courts. In 2008, candidates spent nearly $20 million in television advertising to fill 26 state

after winning the election, a move that few of us could view with anything other than intense suspicion.

Both the judiciary and the legal profession in Mississippi have justifiably suffered severe criticism and disapprobation.

Lawyers have been the butt of jokes for longer than my almost half-century career.

No one knows what effect the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision on campaign spending may ultimately have on state elections. The situation could get worse, not better.

Changing our system for judicial selection would require an amendment to the Mississippi Constitution of 1890 and would also require approval by the voters statewide. Given our long tradition of elected judges, that is not likely.

Given the cost of judicial elections today, however, it deserves consideration. Costs in our legal system have increased to the point of being beyond the means of average citizens – much like healthcare. Our judges must be independent and accountable, as well as qualified.

Popularity should not be a qualification for judicial service. What kind of judge would you want to judge you or your case?

As Justice O’Connor concluded, “Courts are supposed to be the one safe place where every citizen can receive a fair hearing.”

How do we best make it that way?

Our judges must be independent and accountable, as well as qualified.

Popularity should not be a qualification for judicial service. Courts are supposed to be the one safe place where every citizen can receive a fair hearing.

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supreme court seats. Closer to home, a candidate for our intermediate appeals court told me he expected a campaign for that position to cost about $500,000, about as much as the salary for the entire 6-year term.

Judicial elections in Mississippi are said to be non-partisan. Further, campaign contributions are supposedly not made known to the candidate. That is akin to saying that federal judicial appointments are non-political. There was an instance in which a state court judge had a campaign deficiency of hundreds of thousands of dollars. His solution? Raise the shortfall

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Sam E. Scott is general counsel for Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) and practices law in the law firm of Samuel E. Scott, PLLC, in Jackson. The foregoing information is general in nature and is not intended as nor should be considered specific legal advice, nor to be considered as MFBF’s position or opinion.

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ENVIRONMENTAL

THE EVER-CHANGING SEASONS

By Andy Whittington MFBF Environmental Programs Coordinator It’s that time again! It’s the time of year when our thoughts are no longer on the beach and the baseball fields but focusing on the woods and football fields. Honestly, by now, most of us are just sick and tired of the oppressive heat and can’t wait for the sounds and smells that come with fall.

The transition to fall means that we start to think about, and pray for, the cool nights we cursed a mere six months ago. After several months of being held hostage to the indoors and air conditioning, it’s when that itch to get outdoors to do some hunting and fishing becomes unbearable.

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) and their wildlife biologists have the responsibility of conserving and protecting our wildlife resources. One of the most important responsibilities they have in order to achieve these goals is to recommend and set bag limits.

Bag limits are based on several factors, including population size, population density, and the herd’s sex and age. Higher bag limits are usually an indication that we need to remove some animals from the herd. For deer, bag limits may indicate the type of deer that needs to be managed to ensure the health and future of our deer population.

Limits on antler beam length or width and limits on anterless deer can tell hunters a great deal about the deer population in their area.

In addition to MDWFP, hunters and fishermen play a crucial role in the management of our wildlife resources. In other words, MDWFP determines how we manage our resources, but it’s up to us to do it.

Deer management means more than just growing big-rack buck deer. It involves making sure that the natural habitat can sustain a deer population. It also involves minimizing human-animal conflicts.

This will probably come as a surprise to many of you, just as it did to me, but Mississippi has around 990,000 cows and a deer population of between 1.7 and 1.8 million. There were over 14,000 deer/car collisions on Mississippi roads and highways last year alone. Each year, farmers face thousands of dollars in economic loss from deer damage.

One of the most common complaints comes from people who have recently moved to rural areas. At first, there is the excitement of seeing deer in the backyard as homeowners are having their morning coffee. Six months later, come the complaints of deer eating garden and landscape plants. Much of this damage can be mitigated through proper deer management during the hunting season.

Fisheries management is another area where outdoorsmen can play a significant role in protecting, conserving and improving our resources. Unlike deer, birds, and other creatures of the land and air,

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fish, for the most part, have a defined habitat. Ponds, lakes and reservoirs will only sustain a certain number of fish. Managing your pond for a certain type of fish, whether it’s bluegill, catfish or trophy bass, requires knowing what’s in the pond and knowing what needs to come out.

MDWFP fisheries biologists study and sample waters to determine fish populations, and will often set creel or slot limits to maintain a balanced fishery. Just like bag limits, creel and slot limits give an indication of management goals. For instance, unless otherwise posted, the creel limit for bass in state waters is ten. If you happen to visit a state lake where the creel limit is 30, then that is a good indicator that some fish need to be removed.

Slot limits dictate a certain size range of fish that may legally be taken, everything over and under this size must be released. This will ensure that the remaining fish have an adequate supply of resources to grow, reproduce and sustain a hatch that will provide future fish.

Now, I am as guilty as anybody about not doing my part – although I have been on dove shoots when I was off so bad that my friends called me a “conservationist.” Many late afternoons, I have started to take a deer, and my mind has started thinking of all the work I’m going to create for myself. Looking through the scope, I hear whispers of “you’re gonna have to get it out of the woods, clean it and put it up. It’s cold, and you’re not going to get home until 9:30.”

I know it sounds lazy, but, sometimes, I hear the same voices about cleaning fish. But I am starting to realize that, “I am part of the wildlife management process.” Catch and Release is a great program as long as we are catching and releasing the right fish for the body of water we are in. The “don’t shoot does” mentality needs to change in areas where the deer have overpopulated their natural habitat and resources.

The changing of the seasons happens naturally, whether we like it or not. If only our mindset about our role in the environment were so easily changed. It wasn’t very many years ago we realized that in order to continue to have abundant wildlife resources we had to “let ’em walk” (remember when we had “doe days?”). In order to maintain healthy and balanced wildlife resources, we have to realize that too many can be just as bad as not enough.

If you would like more information on managing your pond, managing your deer herd, or improving the wildlife habitat on your property, call and talk to the biologists at MDWFP at 601.432.2400, or visit their Web site at http://home.mdwfp.com/.

And, by all means, take a kid hunting or fishing. I promise you’ll be glad you did.

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Just An Acre

I

D’Nella, Gracie and Maggie Cavin

By Glynda Phillips

t’s just an acre of berries. But through the years, this blueberry patch has meant a lot to the McCurley family of Wilkinson County.

Some 30 years ago, Dunbar and Mary Ann McCurley of Woodville planted one of the first U-Pick blueberry plots in the area. All five McCurley kids – from Forrest Dunbar to Marti to Virginia to D’Nella to little brother Clay – took their turns either picking berries or taking customers’ coins.

The old blueberry patch made a big impression on all of the kids, teaching them the value of hard work. But it really seemed to stick with Virginia and D’Nella. They’re still pickin’ and sellin’ blueberries after all these years.

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morphed into an opportunity for them to work together to earn extra spending money now that they are married with kids of their own.

Their husbands, Brian and Neal, help with the mowing, and they helped with the recent replanting of about 100 bushes. In addition, they do a lot of babysitting during blueberry season.

“It’s just an acre of blueberries, and it will never be any larger,” said Virginia. “But we love it, and we will probably keep right on doing what we’re doing for many years to come.”

THE TRAMPOLINE When they were small, Virginia and D’Nella charged $6 to pick a gallon of blueberries for their customers. The girls got to keep $2, and $4 went into a school account. Customers could pay $4 to pick the berries themselves.

“We really wanted a trampoline,” Virginia said. “Our parents told

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Of BerrIes

Virginia McKlemurry us they would match whatever we made off the berries that season.

They didn’t think we’d make enough. But we surprised them and got our trampoline.”

They were also able, through the years, to set aside a substantial amount of money to purchase supplies and clothing for both high school and college.

Today, the girls sell pre-picked berries for $10, and their customers pay $5 to pick the berries themselves.

“D’Nella and I work and have families of our own now so we can only pick in the afternoons or on the weekends,” Virginia said. “We push to get 200 to 300 gallons picked a season, and we encourage people to come and pick themselves.

STRONG WORK ETHIC McCurley Blueberry Farm sends out a yearly letter to all of its established customers. Beyond that, the advertising is word SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

of mouth.

“We used to be open one or two days a week,” Virginia said.

“Now, we are open daily from dawn to dusk, from late May through mid-July. But we encourage our customers to call first to verify the availability of berries.

“People ask us why we keep doing this,” she mused. “I know we do this for our customers. But we also enjoy working together, appreciate the extra money, and enjoy the berries ourselves.”

She thought for a moment then added, “Maybe it’s because our parents used this blueberry patch to instill in all of us a strong work ethic, and we want that for our own kids.”

Virginia and Brian McKlemurry have two children, Tyler, 4, and Bryson, 16 months. D’Nella and Neal Cavin have three children, Maggie, 8, Gracie, 6, and Austin, 8 months.

For more information about McCurley Blueberry Farm, call 601.888.4434 or 601.888.6574. FC

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Vegetables

&Berries W

By Glynda Phillips

hat started out as a hobby some 30 years ago has turned into a successful and satisfying business for fruit and vegetable farmer Tim Cooper of Cooper Farms and Vineyards near Morton. Juggling an off-the-farm job with his farming interests, Cooper has slowly grown his operation to its present-day size of 35 to 40 acres of vegetables, muscadines, blackberries and blueberries.

It has been a long and interesting journey.

BERRY PRODUCTION

“Right out of college in 1981, I began growing blackberries,” he said. “I continued to do that for about 15 years until disease wiped me out. At that time, I expanded into muscadines.”

Tim says he was growing muscadines for the fresh fruit market when Commissioner of Agriculture Jim Buck Ross began encouraging farmers to grow the smaller muscadines for a processing facility that was being built in South Mississippi.

“I was asked numerous times if I would consider growing the smaller berries, but I refused,” he said. “I told them I could make more money off the larger fruit that people enjoy eating rather than the smaller fruit that is used to make juice.”

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Cooper currently grows 20 varieties of muscadines on 14 acres of farmland. He says he is one of the largest fresh fruit muscadine growers in the state.

“I usually sell an average of about 75,000 to 80,000 pounds a year,” he said. “I market my berries here on the farm, through several farmers markets in the Jackson area, and through independent grocery stores in Mississippi, Tennessee and northern Louisiana.”

At harvest, in August and September, everything is hand-picked.

“I hire labor seasonally to pick the fruit,” he said. “There are mechanical pickers, but you have to have a different type of trellis system for the pickers, and you must wash the berries when you are finished. When you hand-pick, you don’t have to wash them, you just grade them, box them and put them in a cooler.”

VEGETABLE PRODUCTION

Scenes from the Cooper Farms & Vineyards booth at the Mississippi Farmers Market in Jackson

In 2005, Cooper lost most of his muscadine crop to Hurricane Katrina. At that time, he decided he was through concentrating on one agricultural commodity.

“I began to diversify,” he said. “I got into vegetable production, and we grew slowly as we built our markets.

Today, I sell my vegetables here on the farm, at the Mississippi Farmers Market in Jackson, and through one or two local independent grocery stores. The Mississippi Farmers Market has been very good to me.”

In his agricultural pursuits through the years, Cooper has received help from Mississippi State University Extension fruit and vegetable specialists, John Braswell (now retired) and Rick Snyder, and various MSU plant pathologists. He says his best advisor was now-retired MSU Extension county agent Bill Goodwin.

“We all grew up together, learning about commercial fruit and vegetable production here in Mississippi,” he said with a smile. “We had very little available research back then and got most of our information from the University of Georgia. Times have changed, and, sometimes, it’s hard to believe that I’ve been farming for 28 or 29 years.”

ADVICE TO GROWERS Cooper advises small produce growers to find markets before they plant seeds.

“If you get out and establish your markets before you plant your seed, you will be successful,” he said. “Too many people plant the wrong thing and they can’t sell it.

“It’s also important to remember that it’s a learning process,” he said. “You start out small, and you grow as you learn. And, every year, you add something new. Two years ago, I began growing carrots. Now, carrots and beets are two of my best sellers at the farmers market.

“I’ve seen the number of small truck crop farmers here in Mississippi increase substantially in the last few years,” he said. “There’s room for more growers if their operations are managed properly and if they all work together. There are enough markets for everyone.”

The Cooper operation is a family affair with Tim’s wife Vivian, his mother Barbara, and his brother Ricky helping out on the farm.

His daughter, Brittany, manages the booth at the Mississippi Farmers Market, and his daughter, Miranda, helps out with marketing. Cooper says he hopes at least one of his daughters will take over eventually and keep the operation, or parts of it, going and growing.

“Produce farming is very time consuming and very labor intensive,” he said. “But I enjoy doing this. It has been very good to me and my family.” FC

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Clocks Are A Fascinating Hobby

By Glynda Phillips Millard Long of West Point enjoys collecting and repairing clocks. It’s a hobby he finds both fascinating and rewarding.

“I love history and I have a mechanical bent,” explained the retired mechanical engineer. “I can spend a whole afternoon just working on clocks.”

Through the years, Millard has repaired a variety of clocks made in a good cross-section of countries, including Germany, France, Switzerland and America. One of his favorite clocks, which he owns, is an original N. L. Davis clock sold by the N.L. Davis Clock Company of Columbus, Mississippi, in the mid-1800s.

The Davis clock was actually made by the Gilbert Clock Company of Winstead, Connecticut. In the years immediately following the Civil War, Southerners wouldn’t buy Northern clocks, so Gilbert Clock Company established distribution centers under other names in both Columbus, Mississippi, and Texarkana, Arkansas.

Gilbert Clock Company teamed up with N. L. Davis to distribute clocks at the Columbus center. The Davis clock owned by Millard possesses its original wooden parts.

WOODEN & METAL PARTS In America’s early years, clocks were made by individual craftsmen or family-owned companies. The parts were wooden, clocks were expensive, and owning one was a luxury. It wasn’t until the Industrial Revolution of the 1800s to 1900s that metal parts began to be used in clock-making. During that time, clocks were mass-produced and became affordable to one and all.

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Through the years, Millard has repaired clocks with wooden parts and clocks with metal parts. He’s worked on grandfather clocks (tall case clocks), store regulator clocks (used at the turn of the 20th century to advertise products), parlor clocks, calendar clocks, cuckoo clocks, schoolhouse clocks, and simple kitchen clocks, to name just a few.

REPAIRING CLOCKS “When I repair a clock, I clean the whole movement with an ultrasonic cleaner so I can determine if there has been much wear to it,” he said. “I mark each place where a bushing (bearing) is required. I ream out the plate so I can press in the new bushing (s).”

To do this, Millard must disassemble the entire movement. In the process, he cleans the springs with steel wool. If a spring is damaged, he replaces it.

“When I reassemble the movement, I test run it for several days to make sure that it is working properly,” he said.

“Then I lubricate it and reinstall it in the clock.”

One interesting piece of equipment Millard uses when repairing clocks is a pair of “optimizer eyeglasses.”

These glasses greatly magnify all of the parts and pieces that he must examine. He also hooks up his clocks to an “amplifier” in order to listen to the rhythm of their ticking, much as a doctor listens to a patient’s heartbeat. He says you can tell a lot about how well a clock is working by the rhythm of the ticking.

“Some of the newer clocks have built-in mechanisms that automatically ensure that the clock beats in-rhythm,” he said. “With the older clocks, if the rhythm is off, I have to set the beat to get it back in proper working order.

“Most of the older clocks must be kept perfectly level in order to work properly,” he added. “An unlevel surface will throw the beat off.”

HISTORICAL LORE A lover of history, Millard enjoys the various stories attached to the clocks he has repaired or collected through the years. For example, in the old days, many clocks were made with a large hole in the face so that customers could peer inside to determine whether the movement was metal or wooden.

“Some people felt that clocks with metal movements were superior to clocks with wooden movements,” he said. “But it really shouldn’t have mattered because the old wooden movements have stood the test of time.

They work well still today.”

Millard also notes that some early clocks had a reverse painting or a mirror in the lower glass. Sometimes, the clock mirror was the only mirror in the house. It was used by the women of the household to fix their hair or apply cosmetics or by the men to shave.

MORE INFORMATION Millard is a member of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors.

“We have two chapters in Mississippi – one in Brandon and one in Meridian,” he said.

“We have programs about clock collecting, how to repair watches and clocks, and how to refinish the cases.”

If you are interested in clocks, Millard invites you to contact him at 662.494.6937. FC

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

M I S S I S S I P P I FA R M C O U N T RY

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PROGRAM TO SUPPRESS COGONGRASS Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) is an invasive, non-native grass that occurs in the southeastern United States.

A pest in 73 countries and considered to be one of the "Top 10 Worst Weeds in the World," Cogongrass affects pine productivity and survival, wildlife habitat, recreation, native plants, fire behavior, site management costs, and more.

Cogongrass is currently documented in 62 of the 82 counties in Mississippi and has become a serious problem for land managers in the southern part of the state. But something is being done to help stem the tide of this invasive plant scourge.

Mississippi now has a Landowners Assistance Program to help suppress the spread of Cogongrass. It is the Mississippi Invasive Plant Control Program (MIPCP). The program is COST-FREE to eligible landowners.

MIPCP is a publicly-funded project made possible through an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) stimulus grant.

This ARRA grant is administered, with oversight, by the USDA Forest Service. The grant program is being implemented by the Mississippi Forestry Commission (MFC).

The mandate of this grant is to suppress invasive plant species, primarily Cogongrass, through specific strategies in targeted areas of Mississippi, while allowing for the creation and retention of employment opportunities.

As of July 16, 2010, the MFC Invasive Plant Control Landowner Assistance Program for Cogongrass suppression affects the following counties: Attala, Choctaw, Clarke, Clay, Kemper, Lauderdale, Leake, Lowndes, Neshoba, Newton, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Scott, Webster and Winston.

Applicants from these counties may be eligible for COST-FREE herbicide application. The MFC Web site, www.mfc.ms.gov, has all the details.

The following link will help you learn about Cogongrass: www.mfc.ms.gov/ fh_cogongrass.htm. This link is about MIPCP and how to apply: www.mfc.ms.gov/ FH_C_landowner_assistance_program.htm.

The toll-free phone number for those without Internet access is 1.877.708.7651.

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Helbon Htg & Cooling (601) 483-8156

Pearl Comfort Designs, Inc. (601) 932-7555

Olive Branch Air & Heat Services Co., Inc. (662) 838-8088

M I S S I S S I P P I FA R M C O U N T RY

SUMMER INTERN Andy Brown of Starkville recently completed a six-week summer internship with the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, spending time with each program and learning all about the organization.

Brown is majoring in Ag Economics at Mississippi State University with an interest in the public policy arena.

Students interested in the summer internship should visit www.msfb.com to download an application and instructions for applying.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

FARM BUREAU

EVENTS

Keyonna Jenkins of Bolivar County is the State Coloring Contest winner. She is pictured with her winning artwork and her regional and state medals. The coloring contest, designed for second-graders, features an agricultural scene that depicts some aspect of farm life.

Teachers and volunteers attending the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) Ag in the Classroom workshops in June learned about state agricultural commodities through lectures and activities. The workshops, held in Verona, Collins and Jackson, were hosted by the MFBF State Women’s Committee.

Making a presentation is Jody Bailey, Region 4 Women’s Committee Chair.

Candy Harvison, a fifth-grade reading teacher at Liberty Elementary School in Amite County, won the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Teacher Grant Award for 2010. Candy received an expense-paid trip to the National Ag in the Classroom Conference in Baltimore, Maryland, and is pictured at the conference with Region 5 Women’s Committee Chair Betty Edwards.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

Young farmers attending the Region 1 Summer Young Farmer Leadership Meeting in Cleveland learned all about “Telling Agriculture’s Story.” The keynote speaker for the event was Stewart Doan, Senior Editor of Agri-Pulse in Little Rock, Arkansas.

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2010 COUNTY ANNUAL MEETINGS Adams County Farm Bureau Thursday, Nov. 11, at 9 a.m.

Farm Bureau Office, Natchez Alcorn County Farm Bureau Tuesday, Sept. 14, at 6:30 p.m.

County Extension & 4-H Bldg.

(Bring your favorite dessert.)

Amite County Farm Bureau Thursday, Oct. 14, at 6: 30 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office, Liberty Attala County Farm Bureau Thursday, Nov. 4, at 6 p.m.

County Extension Center (Behind building.)

Chickasaw County Farm Bureau Thursday, Oct. 7, at 7 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office, Houston Choctaw County Farm Bureau Thursday, Oct. 14, at 6 p.m.

Choctaw County Community Center Claiborne County Farm Bureau Thursday, Sept. 16, at 1 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office, Port Gibson

George County Farm Bureau Monday, Sept. 13, at 7 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office, Lucedale (Serving cake and coffee.)

Hancock County Farm Bureau Saturday, Sept. 25, at 4 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office, Kiln (Bring lawn chair! Door prizes!)

Harrison County Farm Bureau Saturday, Oct. 2, at 6 p.m.

Harrison Central High School Hinds County Farm Bureau Monday, Sept. 27, at 1 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office, Raymond Itawamba County Farm Bureau Tuesday, Sept. 21, at 6:30 p.m.

Jamie Whitten Center, Fulton (All members are asked to bring a dish.)

Lawrence County Farm Bureau Tuesday, Nov. 2, at 8 a.m.

Farm Bureau Office, Monticello Lincoln County Farm Bureau Tuesday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office, Brookhaven Madison County Farm Bureau Tuesday, Sept. 16, at 10 a.m.

Farm Bureau Office, Canton Marion County Farm Bureau Thursday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m.

Columbia Exposition Center, Columbia Monroe County Farm Bureau Tuesday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office, Aberdeen

(Bring a covered dish. Meat, bread and drinks will be provided.)

Quitman County Farm Bureau Tuesday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m.

Marks Community House, Marks Rankin County Farm Bureau Monday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m.

County Farm Bureau Office, Brandon (Refreshments will be served.)

Scott County Farm Bureau Thursday, Sept. 9, at 6:30 p.m.

Roosevelt State Park, Alfredo Lodge $4 per plate (Tickets must be purchased by Sept. 2.)

No Carry-Outs!

Montgomery County Farm Bureau Thursday, Oct. 21, at 6:30 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office, Winona

Simpson County Farm Bureau Tuesday, Sept. 21, at 6:30 p.m.

Simpson County Livestock Barn (A light meal will be served.)

Jackson County Farm Bureau Saturday, Sept. 25, at 4 p.m.

East Central Community Center, Hurley

Neshoba County Farm Bureau Tuesday, Oct. 12, at 6:30 p.m.

Neshoba County Coliseum

Smith County Farm Bureau Tuesday, Sept. 21, at 6:30 p.m.

County Ag Complex, Raleigh

Jeff Davis County Farm Bureau Tuesday, Oct. 5, at 7 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office, Prentiss

Newton County Farm Bureau Thursday, Oct. 28, at 6:30 p.m.

Coastal Plain Experiment Station (51 Coastal Plain Road, Newton)

Tallahatchie County Farm Bureau Thursday, Oct. 21, at 6 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office, Charleston

Clarke County Farm Bureau Thursday, Oct. 21, at 6:30 p.m.

County Multipurpose Bldg.

(Please call the office to RSVP.)

Jones County Farm Bureau Tuesday, Oct. 5, at 7 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office, Laurel

Clay County Farm Bureau Tuesday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office, West Point

Kemper County Farm Bureau Tuesday, Sept. 21, at 6:30 p.m.

County Farmers Market Bldg.

Copiah County Farm Bureau Monday, Sept. 27, at 6 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office, Hazlehurst

Lafayette County Farm Bureau Tuesday, Sept. 14, at 6 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office, Oxford

Covington County Farm Bureau Thursday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m.

Collins Multipurpose Building

Lamar County Farm Bureau Monday, Sept. 20, at 6 p.m.

Okahola Voting Precient

Pearl River County Farm Bureau Saturday, Oct. 2, at 11 a.m.

Old Armory Bldg, County Fairgrounds (Food and entertainment provided.)

Winston County Farm Bureau Thursday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m.

Winston County Shrine Club, Louisville

Forrest County Farm Bureau Tuesday, Sept. 14, at 6 p.m.

MSU Extension Office

Lauderdale County Farm Bureau Tuesday, Oct. 5, at 6 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office, Meridian

Pontotoc County Farm Bureau Thursday, Sept. 9, at 7 p.m.

Pontotoc Community House

Yazoo County Farm Bureau Thursday, Nov. 18, at 10 a.m.

Farm Bureau Office, Yazoo City

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Noxubee County Farm Bureau Tuesday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m.

Noxubee County Civic Center Panola County Farm Bureau Monday, Sept. 20, at 7 p.m.

Panola County Extension Bldg.

RSVP by Sept. 10 @662-563-5688 Meal: $5 for adults & $3 for kids (Door Prizes!)

M I S S I S S I P P I FA R M C O U N T RY

Tippah County Farm Bureau Monday, Sept. 20, at 7 p.m.

Tippah County Fairgrounds (Ladies, bring a dessert.)

Tishomingo County Farm Bureau Thursday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m.

County High School Cafeteria Wayne County Farm Bureau Thursday, Oct. 14, at 6: 30 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office, Waynesboro

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

BOB MOORE JOINS STAFF Bob Moore of Corinth has joined the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) staff as Legal Advocacy Coordinator in the Public Policy Department, effective July 27, 2010. He succeeds Billy Brake, who now works with USDA/GIPSA in Atlanta, Georgia.

Bob holds a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law and is a member of the Mississippi Bar. He previously practiced as an associate attorney with the law firm of Daniel Coker Horton & Bell, P.A., in Jackson.

Bob also holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Mississippi State University.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Sept. 17 Rice Luncheon Delta State University Cleveland Nov. 11

State Resolutions Meeting MFBF Building Jackson

Dec. 4-6 Annual Meeting Hilton Hotel Jackson

WHAT IF YOUR LOCAL ANIMAL AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY DISAPPEARED?

Jan. 9-12 AFBF Annual Meeting Atlanta, GA Jan. 20

Winter Commodity Conf.

Livestock and Forestry Jackson

Jan. 21

Winter Commodity Conf.

Row Crops and Aquaculture Jackson

What else would disappear with it?

Well, to start, the millions of dollars that livestock and poultry producers generate to help build and restore your local schools and parks.

Then there’s the locally produced meat that we trust to be part of the safe and healthy meals we feed our families.

And of course saying goodbye to your local poultry and livestock industries would also mean saying goodbye to the number one customer for U.S. soybean meal.

Animal agriculture helps our community thrive. That’s why it’s important that we continue to give them our support.

Because a safe and secure food supply and a safe and secure rural community both come from the same place – inside the barns and out in the fields of America’s farmers and producers.

Soybean farmers helping livestock and poultry producers just makes sense. www.animalag.org

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

© 2010 United Soybean Board. (38420-MFC-7-10)

M I S S I S S I P P I FA R M C O U N T RY

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M I S S I S S I P P I FA R M C O U N T RY

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

FINALLY A

TOUGH

FLEET VEHICLES FOR SALE If you are interested in a used federation vehicle, please visit our Web site at www.msfb.com for more information. Click on the About Us link, then click the Fleet Vehicles for Sale on the drop down menu or contact Merlene Partridge at 1.800.227.8244, ext. 4233.

These vehicles are late model, usually one - two years old.

NADA retail, wholesale, and loan values are used to calculate price.

Farm Bureau offers many benefits that you may not know about. For more information, see page 2.

Start taking advantage of the valuable benefits offered by your Farm Bureau membership!

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