Farm & Home 2015

The High Country is home to some of the most beautiful, productive and sustainable farm homes in the world.

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Farm and Home | Niches

How to Raise Cattle

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here’s the beef? It’s at the top of the list. In 2012, the largest category of operations was beef cattle, with 29 percent of all farms and ranches specializing in cattle, according to the government.

If you own enough land and are interested in beginning a cattle operation, there are some factors to consider.

Land, labor, feed and management are the primary expanses for any farming entrepreneur looking to raise cattle, according to the Penn State University College of Agricultural Sciences. The type of operation you choose to oversee also is a main factor to consider, as there are major differences between breeding stock or commercial cattle for market.

Just as with founding any other business, it is critical to sit down and map out your strategy.

Put together your business plan. Consult with a lending professional to cover any financing needs. The research you put in on the front end will pay off.

Type of Operation

Before you get started in the beef business, you will need to ask yourself what type of operation you feel comfortable managing. You probably have some general knowledge on feeder calves or feedlot operations.

If not, set up a meeting with your local agricultural extension center and ask any questions you may have.

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Their advice can be crucial to setting you up on the right path.

Facilities & Equipment

Facilities for beef operations can vary in price and size. Your requirements will depend on if your operation

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will be seasonal and what types of equipment you will need.

Penn State recommends that all operations contain some type of handling system that allows a producer to easily catch and restrain an animal for routine health care procedures.

Smaller equipment you

will need includes syringes, needs, halters and storage options.

Do you plan on growing your own feeds? Then you will need a tractor, as well as planting and harvesting equipment.

A brush hog and mower clip are vital pieces of equipment if your operational

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plans include a pasture, which is made mostly of plants that stop growing once they have produced seeds for the year.

Keeping the seed heads clipped will keep them growing in a vegetative state.

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Farm and Home | Global Trends

Trends in Equipment

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The annual business outlook survey of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers showed a modest 2.8 percent increase for the 2014 buying season after a 2.8 percent boost in 2013.

According to a report by Western Farm Press, the global market for Agricultural Implements and Machinery is projected to reach $122.9 billion by 2017. The market is set to offset sluggish progress in the developed world with growth forecast for developing economies.

Asia-Pacific represents the largest as well as the fastest growing regional market, while plowing and cultivation machinery is expected to register the fastest growth across all segments.

So what’s behind the spending splurge?

Farmers are investing their increase in net incomes in the premium products they may have passed on in less profitable seasons. Even in the face of expenses in other areas, farmers are opting for GPS autoguidance packages, remote vehicle monitoring systems and heavy duty tractors equipped with tracks in place of less-expensive wheeled vehicles.

Tractors

Most of the spending

hile not at the level of the 2011 boom, farm equipment buying in 2013 and 2014 has chugged along at a steady rate.

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activity is within the large commercial farm equipment sector. Large row-crop tractors, four-wheel-drive tractors, combines, sprayers, cotton harvesters and planters and being scooped up as farmers continue the trend of moving to bigger equipment.

The AEM reports that farm

consolidation has required farmers to cover more acres in a season, which makes larger machinery a valuable piece of the productivity puzzle. Even if labor supply dips, large tractors and combines can prove critical cogs in a farmer’s system.

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Trends

Farm Equipment’s 2014 Dealer Business Outlook & Trends survey shows a United States farming community leaning toward technologyguided equipment. Based on the percentage of dealers who expected unit volumes of specific equipment to increase

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in 2014, farm loaders took the top spot at 94.7 percent of dealers’ choice for increasing unit sales.

GPS and precision farming equipment also was in the mid-90s, while lawn and garden products, windrowers and round balers ranked highly.

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Farm and Home | Mountain Kubota

Mountain Kubota:

Local people supporting local

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ountain Kubota of Boone is built on a solid foundation of family and community, and the company’s dedication to both is made evident every day in the way it does business.

“We are local people supporting local people,” said Matthew Jones, co-owner of Mountain Kubota. “Community is very important to us, and we do all we can to support it.

“We partner with local Christmas tree producers in the fall for harvest. We provide them with brand new, very reliable equipment to haul trees and get them loaded for delivery.”

As well as new sales and leases, Mountain Kubota offers service for most equipment and provides the added convenience of pickup and hauling.

“We offer the ability to haul equipment for customers who may not have the time, experience or equipment necessary to haul it themselves,” Jones said.

For those interested in purchasing new equipment, Mountain Kubota carries all new tractors, mowers, utility vehicles and compact construction equipment, such as mini-excavators and track loaders. It also offers a line of Echo products, including chainsaws, leaf blowers, trimmers and more.

Jones, who grew up using Kubota equipment raising cattle in his youth, can per-

sonally attest to the quality of the products he sells.

“We got into the Kubota business because of an excellent experience we had with a tractor we bought in the ’90s,” he said. “We knew that they maintain very high standards for their products.”

Kubota has a hand in every part of the design and manufacturing process of its machines, an important quality control method that often goes overlooked in an everexpanding global economy.

“Kubota manufactures the products they design in Kubota factories so the tractors we are selling are a

purebred Kubota product,” Jones said. “Kubota Tractor Corporation not only sells this equipment, they make their own products in their own factories after designing and building them.”

“We enjoy supporting the local community through Watauga County 4H, Hunters Helping Kids and the Ashe County Heart Association,” said Jones.

“We want to partner with

the community,” Jones said.

“We are growing and are excited about the future and what else we’ll be able to offer our customers as time goes on.”

Mountain Kubota of Boone is located at 7698 Old U.S. 421 South in Deep Gap. For more information, call (828) 264-2711, or visit www. mountainkubota.com.

Garrett Price

TODAY WE GIVE THANKS

for the food on our table, the clothes on our backs and the farmers who make it all happen!

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April 22-23, 2015 5

Farm and Home | Looking Forward

The future of farming

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oung farmers may wonder if it’s a good time to enter the industry.

With increasing expenses and weather unpredictability, it’s easy to understand their trepidation.

According to research by the United States Department of Agriculture, farmers young and old can take comfort in the fact that farm equity is projected to reach another near-record level this year and next, despite an expected slowdown in asset growth and boost in debt levels.

Below are the key pieces from the department’s recent studies. The numbers show promise in various sectors of the farming industry, as well as downward trends in others.

• Net farm income was forecast to be $113.2 billion in 2014, down 13.8 percent from 2013’s forecast of $131.3 billion.

• If realized, the 2014 forecast would be the lowest since 2010, but would still remain more than $25 billion above the previous 10-year annual average and would rank fifth-highest since 1973.

• Total production expenses are forecast to be 4 percent higher in 2014, which would be the fifth consecu-

6 April 22-23, 2015

tive increase since last falling in 2009.

• Farm financial risk indicators such as the debtto-asset ratio are expected to continue at historically low levels, indicating continued financial health for the sector.

• Livestock receipts are expected to increase by more than 15 percent in 2014, due to a 21 percent increase in dairy, a 20 percent increase in hog, and a 15 percent increase in cattle receipts.

• Corn receipts are expected to experience the largest dollar decline in 2014 receipts among farm commodity categories. While U.S. corn production is forecast to reach a record level in 2014, the annual corn price is expected to fall by 32.4 percent.

• Higher expected hay receipts reflect forecasts of higher production, drawing down of hay inventories and higher average prices.

• A decline of $2.3 billion is forecast for receipts from fruits and nuts in 2014, reflecting expected declines in production of cranberries, grapes, peaches, pears, grapefruit, lemons, and oranges.

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Farm and Home | Gardening Tips

Simple sustainable gardening tips

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ustainability is a concept that can be applied to many facets of life, and gardening is no exception.

Sustainable gardening involves preserving and protecting resources, which can benefit us both in the present and in the future. Sustainability is especially applicable to gardening, and the following are a handful of ways green thumbers can embrace sustainability in their gardens.

• Choose to water more effectively. Oscillating sprinklers may harken today’s gardeners back to the carefree days of their childhoods when they would run through the sprinklers in their parents’ yards. But such sprinklers can lose substantial amounts of water to evaporation. When designing an irrigation plan for your lawn and garden, use drip irrigation or soaker hoses to conserve water. If you must use sprinklers, make sure they are not shooting water too high, as wind can blow the water away from the yard where it belongs, and be sure to posi-

tion them so no water is landing on sidewalks, the driveway or the street.

• Add mulch to flower and plant beds. Many a gardener has gone to bed with a beautiful garden only to return in the ensuing days and see flower and plant beds littered with weeds.

Mulch is perhaps best known for helping flower and plant beds retain moisture, but mulch also prevents the growth of weeds. Preventing weed growth means your water is going to the plants and flowers you intended it for and not to greedy and unsightly weeds. Preventing weed growth also reduces your use of potentially harmful pesticides to curtail the growth of weeds.

• Develop a compost pile. Compost is made up of decayed organic material, and it can be used as a fertilizer. Gardeners can make their own compost piles at home, provid-

ing valuable minerals and nutrients for their lawns, without having to rely on store-bought amendments that need to be produced, packaged and transported before they can make it onto the shelves in your local lawn and garden center.

• Choose native plants. A garden filled with exotic plants and flowers may be stunning, but unless those plants are native to where you live, that beauty is coming at a steep price. When choosing plants for your garden, choose native plants that are fully capable of thriving in your local climate. Non-native plants are likely to need excessive watering and other less sustainable attention that native plants do not need.

• Plant with a plan. When planting trees around your property, plant them in locations that can reduce your reliance on air conditioning in

the warmer months. Plant a tree in a place where it will help to shade common areas inside your home so such rooms are comfortable without the air conditioner cranking all day long. You can go one step further, and plant deciduous trees that will shed their leaves when the weather gets cold, ensuring that sunlight you want to keep out in the summer can get in and warm up the house in the winter, reducing the amount of energy needed to heat your home.

If you ate today...

Thank A Farmer!

Our mountain farmers are very important to our local and state economy.

As a state legislator I want to do everything I can to support our local farmers.

My ear is always open to concerns our farmers have or ideas they want to present.

Come by or call my office any time.

Representative Jonathan Jordan

NC House of Representatives 420 Legislative Office Building 300 N. Salisbury Street Raleigh, NC 27603-5925 919-733-7727 District 93 Office Ashe/Watauga Counties 409-D S. Main Street Jefferson, NC 28694 336-846-1657

Member of the NC Christmas Tree Association Paid for by Committee to Elect Jonathan Jordan

April 22-23, 2015 7

Farm and Home | Agribusiness

Agribusiness in the High Country

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or centuries, hearty mountaineers have protected their precious crops from the harsh conditions of the Blue Ridge.

Looking back in time, one might perceive an impoverished people, depending on what crops could survive the blistering winters for sustenance.

Today, High Country agribusiness tells a different tale.

While it’s now the norm for America’s food to travel hundreds and thousands of miles before reaching the plates of hungry consumers, the emphasis on locally grown food, produce and goods is higher than ever in our area.

Consumers near and far vie for High Country wine and Christmas trees. In fact, the NC Christmas Tree Association reports that the White House Christmas tree comes from Ashe County annually.

In addition to wine and trees, the High Country produces other goods such as hops and ginseng.

In our patch of the Blue Ridge Mountains, farming organically is a practice embraced by farmers while consumers demand produce grown with less pesticides and chemicals.

Agriculture is an important business in the High Country, bringing in tourism dollars through wineries and Christmas tree farms, while locally grown specialty crops keep farmers, and locally sourced restaurants, in business.

Here’s a brief overview of what our agricultural scene has to offer.

Christmas tree farms

According to the NC Christmas Tree Association, the Fraser fir Christmas tree represents over 90% of all species grown in North Carolina, boasting an estimated 50 million trees growing on over 25,000 acres.

Our state produces over 19% of the real Christmas trees displayed in U.S. homes across the nation. Ashe, Avery and Watauga are among the 14 N.C. counties that boast Christmas tree farms.

The Watauga Christmas Tree Association, based in Boone, reports that local Christmas trees are grown as a renewable crop, with up to three seedlings being planted for every Fraser fir that’s cut down.

In addition to the environmental benefits of Christmas tree farming, the practice also brings in tourism to the High Country as families from all over the southeast come to the area to pick their own Christmas tree.

Fraser firs are native to the Southern Appalachian region and are well adapted to the extreme environmental conditions of the High Country.

For more information on local Christmas tree

8 April 22-23, 2015

farms, or for a list of farms in the High Country, visit www.wataugachristmastreees.org or www.ncchristmastrees.com.

Wineries

Within the High Country (Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties), there are three wineries: Banner Elk Winery & Villa, Grandfather Vineyard & Winery and Linville Falls Winery. Each one brings its own flavor to the High Country.

In the winter, Banner Elk and other areas of the High Country offer winter sports, ranging anywhere from black diamond skiing to laid-back snow tubing. During the summer, a different attraction brings folks up the mountain.

In addition to all of the outdoor activities a High Country summer presents, such as hiking and tubing, with summer comes wine tours and festivals, such as the Blue Ridge Wine & Food Festival in Blowing Rock.

Tourism is no doubt a huge player in the High Country economy, and year-round wine tours give visitors an excuse to journey up to the area for our beautiful, mountainous vineyards.

Organic farming

Susan Owen, garden manager for the Garden Spot that provides produce to local nonprofit F.A.R.M. Café, said that growing food locally and organically has a number of benefits for consumers, producers and the environment.

Local farming feeds back into the local economy, helping small town farmers continue to make a living off of the land as families have for generations.

Locally grown and organic produce is also extremely fresh. Although some of the plants up here aren’t particularly native to the area, strains of tomatoes, kale and other vegetables grow very well in the High Country.

The High Country is host to a plethora of organic farms, many of which belong to New River Organic Growers, the High Country’s farm cooperative of over 65 farms in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Va. and N.C. For a list of some of the organic farms in the High Country, visit www.newrivergrowers.com.

Erika Giovanetti erika@mountaintimes.com

Farm and Home | Agribusiness

The many ways buying locally grown foods pays dividends

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he popularity of organic foods and stores that cater to customers who prefer such foods continues to grow, and that growth has contributed to a growing awareness among shoppers of where the food they eat comes from.

Many consumers now recognize the impact that food production has on the environment, and that recognition has spurred interest in locally grown foods.

Locally grown foods are those that are grown within your community or a community nearby. Such foods do not need to be shipped hundreds of miles before they ultimately find their way onto your plate, and many people find that contributes to meals that are more fresh than meals made up of foods shipped from afar. But freshness is not the only benefit to purchasing locally grown foods, which pay various dividends for people and the planet.

• Locally grown foods benefit the environment. The phrase “field to plate” is significant to consumers who prefer locally grown foods. That phrase refers to the distance food travels from the grower to the plate on your dinner table. Estimates vary depending on the source, but advocates of locally grown food suggest that it reduces the field to plate distance by an average of 1,300 miles. That’s a significant feather in locally grown foods’ cap, as the Council on the Environment of New York City notes that it takes 435 fossil-fuel calories to fly a single five calorie strawberry from California to New York. Buying locally preserves that energy that is used to transport foods from afar.

• Locally grown foods fuel your local economy. In addition to benefitting the environment, locally grown foods stimulate your local economy.

Local, independent farmers have largely fallen by the wayside in the 21st century, as industrial agribusinesses have taken over the produce sections in grocery stores across the country. But local, independent farmers are making a comeback, thanks in large part to consumer demand for organic foods. Supporting such farmers who grow their foods locally means you’re putting money back

into your own community, a worthwhile effort at a time when so many small communities are struggling economically.

• Buying locally grown foods contributes to biodiversity. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, more than 75 percent of agricultural genetic diversity was lost in the 20th century.

That’s thanks in large part to industrial agribusinesses that cultivate fruits and vegetables that are bred for fast maturation. But small, local farms typically grow a wider variety of fruits and vegetables in an effort to extend their growing seasons. That means consumers of locally grown foods have access to more fruits and vegetables, and therefore more flavor.

• Buying locally maintains beautiful landscapes. Farmland has been on the decline for decades, as cement and asphalt have made millions of acres of once beautiful farmland disappear. Buying locally helps to maintain the green space your community and surrounding communities have left. That makes for great road trips and even helps to sustain local wildlife populations.

• Locally grown foods can be more nutritious. Fruits and vegetables can rapidly lose nutrients once they are harvested. That’s problematic when buying such foods from industrial agribusinesses that need substantial time to get their products from the farm to the shelves at your local grocery chain. But buying from local farmers increases the likelihood that the fruits and vegetables you purchase were just picked and therefore have yet to lose a significant amount of nutrients.

Locally grown foods are growing in popularity, and that popularity can be traced to the freshness of such foods as well as the numerous additional benefits that locally grown foods provide.

April 22-23, 2015 9

Farm and Home | New Era

New Methods in Farming F arming for years has been undergoing a progressive evolution across planning, machinery and productivity.

Climate and market challenges have shifted farming strategies into more efficient and cost-effective models.

Such trends are evident within the 2012 Census of Agriculture, which has told the story of American farming since 1840.

At the base of many new farming methodologies is technology, as pointed out by the 2012 Census: • Farms with Internet access rose from 56.5 percent in 2007 to 69.6 percent in 2012 • 57,299 farms produced on-farm renewable energy, more than double the 23,451 in 2007 • 474,028 farms covering 173.1 million acres were farmed with conservation tillage or no-till practices.

Trends

Precision Planting: Automatic row shut-off and variable-rate seeding are two of the main factors driving farmers’ decisions to trade in their older, smaller planters for newer ones equipped with the latest in precision-planting technologies.

Vertical Tillage: This relatively new method of tillage is centered upon sizing and optimizing crop residue with light incorporation at high speeds.

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Diversity

Non-technically speaking, one of the largest driving factors in new methodologies can be found in an analysis of the farming age shift. Young, beginning principal operators who reported their primary occupation as farming increased 11.3 percent from 36,396 to 40,499 between

2007 and 2012, according to the 2012 Census.

Principal operators were on average 58.3 years old and were predominantly male, while second operators were slightly younger and most likely to be female. Cultural diversity also is sweeping the farming industry, with all categories of minority-operated

farms increasing between 2007 and 2012. Hispanic-operated farms had a significant 21 percent increase.

Small Acreage

Approximately 294,000 U.S. farms operated on 10 or fewer acres in 2007, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, catalyz-

ing what is labeled by experts as the small-farming revolution.

Many of these small operations make up the approximately 144,530 farm operators who reported selling products directly to consumers. In 2012, these sales totaled more than $1.3 billion (up 8.1 percent from 2007).

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Farm and Home | Lawn Care

A more eco-friendly lawn

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aintaining a lush lawn is a healthy and rewarding hobby that affords homeowners to spend some time outdoors in nature.

Lawn enthusiasts can make their hobby even healthier by adopting several eco-friendly lawn care strategies that not only make for a healthier lawn, but a healthier planet as well.

Responsible landscaping has grown increasingly popular in recent years, as more and more homeowners are adopting eco-friendly lawn care practices in the same way they have embraced environmentally conscious behaviors in other areas of their lives.

The following are a handful of ways lawn care enthusiasts can incorporate eco-friendly practices into their landscaping routines.

• Maintain an appropriate grass height. When tempera-

tures start to peak in summer, homeowners may be tempted to cut their grass as close as possible so they can reduce the number of afternoons they spend riding or pushing a mower in the hot sun. But cutting too low makes the grass increasingly susceptible to infestations and disease, and such problems may need to be remedied with potentially harmful pesticides if no other approach proves effective.

Even if it means an extra afternoon or two mowing under the hot sun, maintaining an appropriate grass height can lead to a healthier lawn, as longer grass soaks up more sunlight, allowing it to grow a deep root system that will help a lawn survive drought and other potential problems.

• Cut back on harmful pesticides. Many homeowners now prefer to avoid pesticides at all costs, but sometimes pesticides are a last resort when lawns are falling victim to harmful insects and organisms. Homeowners who want to embrace more eco-friendly lawn care practices can cut back on their use of pesticides, first trying more environmentally friendly options.

For example, biopesticides are made from naturally occurring materials, including animals, plants, bacteria, and certain minerals. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, biopesticides are often inherently less toxic than more conventional pesticides. In addition, biopesticides typically

affect only the pest causing the problem, whereas broad spectrum pesticides may affect surrounding organisms, such as birds and mammals, in addition to the targeted pest. The EPA (www.epa.gov) advises homeowners hoping to use biopesticides first learn about managing pests so they can effectively remedy problems on their properties.

• Lay mulch down around trees, shrubs and flower beds.

Trees, shrubs and flower beds need water, especially in the summer when rising tempera-

tures pose a threat to plants.

Homeowners can cut back on the water they use to protect those plants by laying organic mulch in the spring. Organic mulch conserves moisture in soil, promoting stronger roots in plants and helping homeowners cut back on the amount of watering they need to maintain a garden that’s both healthy and pleasing to the eye. Organic mulch, which might be made of bark, is also heavy, making it hard for ugly weeds that rob plants of water to thrive.

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Farm and Home | Going Green

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Organic Farming mong the key reasons consumers are buying more organic foods is the positive impact on the environment. They also may contain more anti-oxidants and fewer pesticide residues.

The British Journal of Nutrition found that organic crops contain 17 percent more anti-oxidants than non-organically grown crops, meaning more of the key agents crucial in fighting cancer and prevent heart disease are preserved.

Such reports are igniting increases in product revenues, as organic farmers reported $3.12 billion in sales in 2012, up from $1.7 billion in 2007, according to the 2012 Census of Agriculture released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Growing Organic

For growers of organic products, it’s all about the soil. Farmers build healthy soils by nourishing the living component of the soil with various natural materials. Organic matter can be built with compost and cover crops.

Weeds can be controlled without the use of harmful chemicals through various methods. The Organic Farming Research Foundation identifies these as viable options: crop rotation, mechanical tillage, hand-weeding, mulches and flame weeding.

Raising Organic

Certified organic meat,

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dairy products and eggs must be produced from animals that are fed organic feed and allowed routine access to the outdoors. Their living conditions must be up to par with specific standards that accommodate the natural behavior of the animal.

Organic livestock and poultry may not be given antibiotics, hormones or medications, unless afflicted with

an illness. They may, however, be vaccinated against disease, which is generally controlled through preventative measures such as rotational grazing, balanced diet, sanitary living conditions and stress reduction.

From Farm to Table

One way organic farm-

ers have capitalized on their craft – especially operators of smaller farms – is by monetizing their products via direct sale. Customers across America have taken notice of the organic food market as they attempt to improve the overall eating habits of themselves and their family members.

If you grow organic fruits, for example, you may con-

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sider turning it into a jam, jelly, cider or butter. You may need a certified kitchen for this purpose, so check in with your local health department.

Additionally, many organic farmers also are able to offer tourist-like attractions. Some options may be a general store with crafts and goods, a petting zoo or a pumpkin patch with corn mazes.

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April 22-23, 2015 13

Farm and Home | Safety

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Safety in the Field ould you guess that farming is the most hazardous industry in the nation? You would be correct, according to the National Safety Council.

Every year, thousands of farm workers are injured and hundreds more die in farming accidents – most of which involve machinery.

Other health and safety hazards on farms include chemicals, pesticides, dust, electricity, grain bins, hand tools, livestock handling, ponds, heat and toxic gases.

Creating, maintaining and communicating clear policies regarding all aspects of your farming operation is a great start to ensuring farm-wide safety.

Vulnerability Factors

Age is the most critical factor in the occurrence of farming accidents. Hazards that may affect children and the elderly are the most important to have under control for any principal farm operator.

You can start by making a conscious effort to increase your awareness of farming hazards and prepare for emergency situations. These dangers include fires, vehicle accidents, electrical shocks from equipment and wires, and chemical exposures.

OSHA Tips

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration offers the following tips on how you can foster a safer farm environment, which will lead to higher morale and productivity in your workforce.

• Read and follow instructions in equipment operator’s manuals and on product labels; • Inspect equipment routinely for problems that may cause accidents; • Discuss safety hazards and emergency procedures with your workers; • Install approved rollover protective structures, protective enclosures, or protective frames on tractors; • Review and follow instructions in material safety data sheets and on labels that come with chemical products; and • Be aware that methane gas, carbon dioxide, ammonia and hydrogen sulfide can form in unventilated grain silos and manure pits, causing explosions or suffocating workers.

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Farm and Home | Healthy Soil

Amendments can help produce healthy soil

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other Nature provides plenty to grow healthy lawns, gardens and landscapes. But as many homeowners know, some lawns sometimes need a little extra boost to complement nature.

Soil sometimes must be amended so plants can thrive. Only after the right composition is created can plants take root and perform to the best of their abilities.

The Colorado State University Extension defines a soil amendment as any material added to soil to improve its physical properties. The goal is to provide a better environment for roots. Depending on what you are starting with, any number of ingredients must be added to the soil recipe. Water retention, permeability, drainage, aeration, nutrients, and water infiltration are some of the things amendments can improve when added to soil.

Before homeowners add anything to the soil in their yards, it is first important to determine what that soil needs. Homeowners may notice if soil is overly sandy or full of clay, but further testing can confirm what the soil is lacking. Soil tests are often available through local cooperative extension offices or private laboratories. Speak with a nursery or garden center about where you can get your soil tested. A comprehensive test may cost between $5 and $10 and can provide invaluable information that saves you hundreds of dollars in wasted plants and materials, not to mention effort. Some labs also can tailor their recommendations based on the type of planting you will be doing. For example, a vegetable garden may need different amendments than a row of azalea bushes.

Organic matter is a preferred soil amendment used by professional and novice gardeners alike. The decaying remains of plants release nutrients that are absorbed into the soil and

used by microorganisms and bacteria, creating a healthy environment for plants. Organic material may break up compacted soil to increase drainage.

In sandy soil, organic material serves as a sponge to keep water from washing away. Compost and manure are two examples of frequently used organic materials. Both of these materials are readily available at little cost.

Compost can be produced at home from food and plant scraps. Raked leaves and small amounts of grass clippings can be added to compost. Over time, the decomposition process will turn scraps into a nutrient-rich, dark brown substance that provides many plants with all they need to thrive. Compost is particularly useful in vegetable gardens.

Manure should come from herbivores, or those animals that sustain themselves on grass and other plants.

Carnivores can produce harmful bacteria in their waste, which is not safe to use in gardens, particularly food-bearing gardens. Manure can be commercially purchased, or avid gardeners can work out arrangements with nearby livestock owners and farms. These people may be more than willing to give you manure for little to no cost if you cart it away. Dried manure is preferred because it will have minimal odor.

Additional forms of organic amendments include wood ash, sphagnum peat, wood chips, sawdust, and worm droppings.

Inorganic amendments also may be used, and are usually relied on to improve water retention and drainage. Vermiculite, perlite, pea gravel, and sand are examples of inorganic amendments. A combination of or-

ganic and inorganic amendments can create the perfect mix for your needs.

Soil amendments typically are added to new and unplanted beds.

Peat moss and shredded bark take years to decompose and will serve as long-term amendments in the soil.

Compost breaks down quickly and may need to be worked in more frequently.

Experts recommend spreading amendments on the planting bed and then using a rake or tiller to work it in to a depth of about nine inches. Particularly sandy soil or soil with a lot of

clay may need more amendments.

Permanent plants, such as trees or shrubs, also can benefit from the extra nutrient boost amendments provide.

Sometimes it is sufficient to spread the material over the soil surface and let rainwater and wildlife help distribute it to the plant roots. Otherwise, work it into the top inch or two of the dirt with a hand cultivator.

Soil amendments can be the difference between a thriving garden and healthy landscape and one that has seen better days.

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