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Cooperative Farming News
IN THIS ISSUE:
Editor-in-Chief: Samantha Carpenter Editor: Jessie Shook Contributing Editor: Jade Randolph Associate Editor: Mary Delph
pg. 22
CO-OP MATTERS 21 Store Spotlight: Jay Peanut Farmers Co-op Celebrates 50 Years LIFE ON THE HOMEPLACE AND IN THE COMMUNITY 36 The Purple Martin Man: Weldon Vickery Has a Special Connection With Purple Martins 40 Youthful Passion for Hunting: Today’s Young Hunters Find the Hunting Gear They Need at Their Local Co-op.
pg. 36
pg. 40
YOUTH MATTERS 22 4-H Extension Corner: Making Lemonade 25 PALS: 33rd Annual Coastal Cleanup 26 FFA Sentinel: Living to Serve: The 20202021 State FFA Officer Team On the Cover: Prepare for hunting season and learn how to stay scent free with Outdoor Logic with Biologic on page 32. (Photo Credit for Cover and Letter From the Editor: Todd Amenrud)
OUR REGULARS Letter from the Editor................ 4
Cooking with Stacy Lyn............. 35
Ag Insight.................................... 10
How’s Your Garden?................... 43
Business of Farming................... 13
The Herb Lady........................... 45
Feeding Facts ............................. 15
Simple Times.............................. 49
Product Spotlight........................ 17
Howle’s Hints.............................. 51
On the Edge of Common Sense... 18
The Magic of Gardening........... 54
From the State Vet’s Office......... 19
Food Safety................................. 56
Busy Bee Activities..................... 28
The Co-op Pantry....................... 59
From Wildlife & Freshwater
What’s Happening in Alabama... 64
Fisheries................................... 30 Outdoor Logic with BioLogic.... 32 www.alafarm.com
Advertising, Editorial, Subscription and Publication Offices 121 Somerville Road NE Decatur, AL 35601-2659 P.O. Box 2227 Decatur, AL 35609-2227 256-308-1618
AFC Officers Rivers Myres, President David Womack, Chairman of the Board
AFC Board of Directors Rickey Cornutt, Brooks Hayes, Ben Haynes, Rick Hendricks, Jimmy Newby, Bill Sanders, Jeff Sims, Mike Tate Subscription $15 per year For subscription inquiries or change of address: P.O. Box 2227, Decatur, AL 35609-2227 or call 256-308-1623 Subscribe online at www.alafarm.com/p/ getconnected/magazine
To advertise:
Wendy McFarland 334-652-9080 or email McFarlandAdVantage@gmail.com Cooperative Farming News is published monthly by Alabama Farmers Cooperative, Inc. 121 Somerville Road NE, Decatur, AL 35601-2659 P.O. Box 2227, Decatur, AL 35609-2227 Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. The publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertising and will not be responsible for copy errors or misprints in advertising or editorial material, other than to publish corrections of errors in fact. Feature articles, news items and columns are published for the information of our readers from qualified, reputable sources; however, the editors and publisher make no guarantees and assume no liability for any reader’s decision to implement any procedure, recommendation or advice printed in this publication. Photos are credited to author unless otherwise noted. Advertised sale items may not be stocked by every Quality Co-op store and prices may vary.
www.alafarm.com Postmaster: Please send notice of address change (enclosing latest address label) to publication office: Cooperative Farming News P.O. Box 2227 Decatur, AL 35609-2227
September 2020
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Letter from the Editor Just a heads up, I understand if you misplace this issue – it’s full of camouflage – but I’m hoping you enjoy reading the content! September is finally here. It has been six months since COVID-19 hit our country and it has felt like six years and six seconds all at the same time. While we have not had a traditional summer of events, meetings and luncheons here at AFC, we have remained busier than ever. As different as this year has been so far, our team has come together and achieved goals beyond our expectations. It has been a turbulent ride, but one that has spurred exponential growth. That’s when you truly discover what you’re made of and what’s important in life – when you’re faced with challenges and overcome them. Our friends at Mossy Oak BioLogic have been sharing their hunting expertise with us for years and now we’re sharing it with you! From wildlife recipes to hunting tips and tricks, this month’s magazine is full of ideas to help the hunter in your life be successful. Our regulars are still bringing quality information, feel-good stories and delicious recipes. Looking ahead, October is Beef Month in Alabama. We’ll not only be sharing wonderful beef recipes, we’ll also be debuting our first ever ‘Co-op Cattle-log.’ This will highlight cattle sales throughout the state and present them to you in one place. We’re proud to support the cattle industry and look forward to spotlighting it in next month’s issue! Thank you for being a loyal reader, customer and part of the AFC family.
Samantha Carpenter Editor-in-Chief
4 Cooperative Farming News
September 2020
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DIRECTORY OF MEMBER COOPERATIVES ALBERTVILLE FARMERS COOPERATIVE Branch of DeKalb Farmers Cooperative Mark Searels, Mgr. Phone 256-878-3261
FARMERS CO-OP OF ASHFORD Timothy Tolar, Mgr. Jerome Hinson, Asst. Mgr. Phone 334-899-3263
ALTHA FARMERS COOPERATIVE Blountstown - James Lynn, Mgr. Phone 850-674-8194
FARMERS COOPERATIVE, INC. Todd Lawrence, Gen. Mgr. Live Oak, FL - Barry Long, Ag Div. Mgr. Phone 386-362-1459 Madison, FL - Jerry Owens, Operations Mgr. Phone 850-973-2269
ANDALUSIA FARMERS COOPERATIVE Russell Lassiter, Mgr. Phone 334-222-1851 ATMORE TRUCKERS ASSOCIATION Todd Booker, Mgr. Phone 251-368-2191 BLOUNT COUNTY FARMERS COOPERATIVE Eric Sanders, Mgr. Phone 205-274-2185 CALHOUN FARMERS COOPERATIVE Branch of Cherokee Farmers Cooperative Jacksonville - Tommy Thomas, Mgr. Phone 256-435-3430 Piedmont - Kevin Bobbitt, Mgr. Phone 256-447-6560 CENTRAL ALABAMA FARMERS COOPERATIVE Tim Wood, Gen. Mgr. Selma - Thomas Reeves, Mgr. Phone 334-874-9083 Faunsdale - Bryan Monk, Mgr. Phone 334-628-2681 Demopolis - Tom Eunice, Mgr. Phone 334-289-0155 CHEROKEE FARMERS COOPERATIVE Andrew Dempsey, Gen. Mgr. Seth Eubanks, Mgr. / Phone 256-927-3135 CLAY COUNTY EXCHANGE Jeff Kinder, Mgr. Phone 256-396-2097 COFFEE COUNTY FARMERS COOPERATIVE Enterprise - Ricky Wilks, Gen. Mgr. Phone 334-347-9007 Elba - Colin Morris, Mgr. Phone 334-897-6972 COLBERT FARMERS COOPERATIVE Daniel Waldrep, Gen. Mgr. Leighton - Tommy Sockwell, Mgr. Phone 256-446-8328 Tuscumbia - Chuck Hellums, Mgr. Phone 256-383-6462 DEKALB FARMERS COOPERATIVE Lance Ezelle, Gen. Mgr. Rainsville - Andrea Crain, Mgr. Phone 256-638-2569 Crossville - David Tierce, Mgr. Phone 256-528-7188 ELBERTA FARMERS COOPERATIVE William D. Carlew, Mgr. Phone 251-986-8103 ELMORE COUNTY COOPERATIVE Branch of Taleecon Farmers Cooperative Timothy Richardson, Mgr. Phone 334-567-4321
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Cooperative Farming News
FARMERS COOPERATIVE MARKET Doug Smith, Gen. Mgr. Frisco City - William Womack, Mgr. Phone 251-267-3175 Fertilizer / Phone 251-267-3173 Leroy - Jeff Hughston, Mgr. Phone 251-246-3512 FAYETTE FARMERS CO-OP Branch of Marion County Cooperative Kellie Trull, Mgr. / Phone 205-932-5901 FLORALA FARMERS AND BUILDERS CO-OP Branch of Andalusia Famers Cooperative Pete Blackwell, Mgr. / Phone 334-858-6142 GENEVA COUNTY COOPERATIVE Hartford - Todd Smith, Gen. Mgr. Phone 334-588-2992 GOSHEN FARMERS COOPERATIVE Danny Dewrell, Mgr. / Phone 334-484-3441 HEADLAND PEANUT WAREHOUSE CO-OP Jay Jones, Mgr. Chris Hix, Store Mgr. / Phone 334-693-3313 JACKSON FARMERS COOPERATIVE Branch of Madison County Cooperative Ramsey Prince, Mgr. Scottsboro - Phone 256-574-1688 Patricia Rorex, Mgr. Stevenson - Phone 256-437-8829 JAY PEANUT FARMERS COOPERATIVE Ryan Williams, Mgr. / Phone 850-675-4597 LAUDERDALE COUNTY COOPERATIVE Reggie Shook, Gen. Mgr. Florence - Robbie Neal, Mgr. Phone 256-764-8441 Elgin - Wendell Walker, Mgr. Phone 256-247-3453 LAWRENCE COUNTY EXCHANGE John Holley, Gen Mgr. Moulton - Greg McCannon, Mgr. Phone 256-974-9213 Courtland - Phone 256-637-2939 LIMESTONE FARMERS COOPERATIVE John Curtis, Gen. Mgr. / Phone 256-232-5500 Britt Christopher, Location Mgr. Giles County Co-op - Celena Williams, Mgr. Lynnville, TN - Kyle Doggett, Mgr. Phone 931-527-3923 Pulaski, TN / Phone 931-363-2563 LUVERNE COOPERATIVE SERVICES Perry Catrett, Mgr. / Phone 334-335-5082
MADISON COUNTY COOPERATIVE Keith Griffin, Gen. Mgr. Hazel Green - Phone 256-828-2010 Meridianville - Matt Dunbar, Mgr. Phone 256-828-5360 MARION COUNTY COOPERATIVE Steve Lann, Gen. Mgr. Hamilton - Phone 205-921-2631 MARSHALL FARMERS COOPERATIVE Brian Keith, Gen. Mgr. Holly Pond - Phone 256-796-5337 Arab - Phone 256-586-5515 MID-STATE FARMERS COOPERATIVE Branch of Talladega County Exchange Columbiana - Barry Keller, Mgr. Phone 205-669-7082 MORGAN FARMERS COOPERATIVE Bradly Hopkins, Gen. Mgr. Hartselle Phone 256-773-6832 Decatur - Jamie Staudt, Mgr. Phone 256-353-4663 NEW MARKET AG SUPPLY Branch of Madison County Cooperative Phone 256-379-2553 OPP’S CO-OP Branch of Andalusia Farmers Cooperative Brandon Bledsoe, Mgr. Phone 334-493-7715 PIKE FARMERS COOPERATIVE Troy - Wayne Ward, Mgr. Phone 334-566-3882 QUALITY COOPERATIVE, INC. Greenville - Daniel Salter, Mgr. Phone 334-382-6548 RANDOLPH FARMERS COOPERATIVE Tim Brown, Mgr. / Phone 256-357-4743 ST. CLAIR FARMERS COOPERATIVE Branch of Talladega County Exchange Ashville - Allen Bice, Mgr. Phone 205-594-7042 Pell City - Joseph Taylor, Mgr. Phone 205-338-2821 TALEECON FARMERS COOPERATIVE Scott Hartley, Gen. Mgr. Phone 334-257-3930 TALLADEGA COUNTY EXCHANGE Chris Elliot, Gen. Mgr. Phone 256-362-2716 TUSCALOOSA FARMERS COOPERATIVE Wayne Gilliam, Mgr. / Phone 205-339-8181 WALKER FARMERS COOPERATIVE Cody King, Mgr. / Phone 205-387-1142 WEST GENEVA COUNTY COOPERATIVE Branch of Geneva County Cooperative Robert Pittman, Mgr. / Phone 334-898-7932 WINSTON FARMERS COOPERATIVE Branch of Marion County Cooperative Haleyville - Jessica Steward, Mgr. Phone 205-486-3794
Quality Co-op: Specialty Products & Services For more information, contact your local Quality Co-op CatďŹ sh Fillets All Year Albertville Farmers Co-op Altha Farmers Co-op - Blountstown Andalusia Farmers Co-op Atmore Truckers Association Blount County Farmers Co-op Calhoun Farmers Co-op - Piedmont Calhoun Farmers Co-op - Jacksonville Central AL Farmers Co-op - Selma Central AL Farmers Co-op - Faunsdale Central AL Farmers Co-op - Demopolis Cherokee Farmers Co-op Clay County Exchange Coffee County Farmers Co-op - Enterprise Coffee County Farmers Co-op - Elba Colbert Farmers Co-op - Tuscumbia DeKalb Farmers Co-op - Rainsville DeKalb Farmers Co-op - Crossville Elberta Farmers Co-op Elmore County Co-op Farmers Co-op Inc. - Live Oak, FL Farmers Co-op Inc. - Madison, FL Farmers Co-op Market - Frisco City Farmers Co-op Market - Leroy Fayette Co-op Florala Farmers & Builders Co-op Goshen Farmers Co-op
Pea Shelling Seasonal
Pecan Cracking
Seasonal
Propane All Year E&R
Seed Drills All Year
R
B B B B
R&E R&E R&E
B B B B B
R R S, E & R R&E R S&R S&R S&R
B B B B
S&R E S&R
B
Geneva County Co-op - Hartford Headland Peanut Warehouse Co-op Jackson Farmers Co-op - Scottsboro Jackson Farmers Co-op - Stevenson Jay Peanut Farmers Co-op Lauderdale County Co-op - Florence Lauderdale County Co-op - Elgin Lawrence Co. Exchange - Moulton Lawrence Co. Exchange - Courtland Limestone Farmers Co-op Giles County Co-op - Pulaski Giles County Co-op - Lynnville Luverne Cooperative Services Madison County Co-op Marion County Co-op Marshall Farmers Co-op - Arab Marshall Farmers Co-op - Holly Pond Mid-State Farmers Co-op Morgan Farmers Co-op - Decatur Morgan Farmers Co-op - Hartselle Opp’s Co-op Pike Farmers Co-op Quality Co-op Inc. St. Clair Farmers Co-op - Ashville St. Clair Farmers Co-op - Pell City Taleecon Farmers Co-op Talladega County Exchange Tuscaloosa Farmers Co-op Walker Farmers Co-op Winston Farmers Co-op www.alafarm.com
Peanuts All Year B B B
S&R B
B R R
B
S&R E S&R B S&R B B B B B
S, E & R S&R R S S&R
Thanksgiving & Christmas season
All Year E B *Alligator also sold
Peanuts: Raw B: Raw & Roasted
Propane: R = Recharge
S = Sell E = Exchange
September 2020
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Cooperative Farming News
September 2020
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AG INSIGHT Exports to China improve but still lag earlier levels
Alabama educator named to USDA committee
U.S. agricultural exports to China are projected to total $13.0 billion in fiscal year 2020, up from $10.1 billion in FY 2019, according to projections by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service. However, the expected increase still leaves overall exports to China far below the record amount set in 2014, as well as the volume in 2018 when the current trade war with the Far Eastern nation began. The rise in expected exports is primarily due to growth in Chinese purchases of U.S. soybeans and pork with expected additional purchases of sorghum and cotton also playing a role. The growth, much of which is expected as a result of relaxed barriers in the U.S.-China trade partnership, is projected to prevail in FY 2020 even considering the fiscal strains brought on by COVID-19. Portions of China’s economy are expected to continue growing while its economy as a whole is still being negatively affected by the global slowdown, especially with respect to international trade. Even with the negative economic effects of COVID-19 on China’s consumption of U.S. agricultural goods, China’s purchases of U.S. pork, soybeans, cotton and other products rose in the first half of FY 2020.
Dr. Duncan Marson Chembezi, professor and director of the College of Agricultural, Life and Natural Sciences at Alabama A&M University, is one of the 15 persons recently appointed by Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to the Minority Farmer Advisory Committee. The committee includes representatives for socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, nonprofit organizations, civil rights organizations or professions, and institutions of higher education. Congress authorized the committee in 2008. Since its inception, it has served to advise the Secretary and USDA on the implementation of Section 2501 Program of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990, methods of maximizing the participation of socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers in USDA programs, and civil rights activities within the agency. The newly appointed members serve terms of up to two years through 2022.
Covid-19’s impact on household food sufficiency To keep track of the rapid changes in the U.S. economic landscape due to COVID-19, researchers at the Economic Research Service — along with those at five other Federal agencies — have teamed up with the census bureau to produce the Household Pulse Survey. The weekly, online data collection, which began April 23 and concluded at the end of July, asked respondents about their current educational, employment, health, housing and food-related situations. ERS researchers used data available from the new survey during the June 18-23 period to examine food sufficiency for U.S. households. Food sufficiency is distinct but related to food security in that it can reveal disruptions in the quantity of foods consumed in a household. Households were classified as being “food insufficient” if they sometimes or often in the last seven days reported not having enough to eat.
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Cooperative Farming News
BY JIM ERICKSON
At a number of listening sessions this summer, USDA sought public comment on a series of regulatory reforms known collectively as the OneRD Guarantee Loan Initiative. Under the initiative, USDA will eliminate duplicative processes and launch a single platform for four key loan programs: • Water and Waste Disposal Loan Guarantees Program • Community Facilities Guaranteed Loan Program • Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program • Rural Energy for America Guaranteed Loan Program
Food insufficiency is comparable to the classification of “very low food security” used in USDA’s annual assessments of food security. Nationally, 9.7% of U.S. households were food insufficient the week studied – similar to the 9.8% U.S. average during April 23-May 5. Fifteen states had food insufficiency rates below 9.7% while four states had rates above this national average. The remaining 31 states and the District of Columbia had rates of food insufficiency statistically comparable to the national average. By comparison, according to USDA’s latest food security statistics, an estimated 4.3% of U.S. households experienced very low food security at some time during 2018 when the food intake of some household members was reduced and normal eating patterns were disrupted due to a lack of money or other resources.
USDA to streamline four loan programs USDA is taking steps that it believes will increase private investment in rural communities by making it easier for lenders to access four flagship loan programs.The actions are designed to cut red tape and enhance customer service.
USDA also will standardize requirements for credit reviews, loan processing, loan servicing and loss claims. These measures will make the application process simpler and faster for lenders. Among the reforms, USDA intends to: • Launch a common loan note guarantee application and consistent forms for lenders to use across the four programs. • Issue loan note guarantees to lenders within 48 hours after they provide documentation to prove the requirements of the conditional commitment have been met. • Provide guaranteed percentage and fee requirements to lenders through a single annual notice at the beginning of each fiscal year. • Allow lenders to obtain approval for a loan guarantee before the beginning of construction projects. A one-time fee and other requirements may apply. • Provide automatic approval to lenders in good standing who are supervised or created by state or federal regulatory agencies to participate in all four programs. This expands the base of eligible lenders for the four guaranteed loan programs. Nonregulated lenders may seek approval to participate through a single certification process that will be valid for five years. The changes will take effect Oct. 1. Interested parties may join the OneRD Guarantee Loan Initiative subscription list to receive updates on the regulatory change. September 2020
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Large and very large farms relied most on hired labor, which provided 64 and 74% of the labor hours on those farms, respectively. By comparison, hired labor provided about 12% of labor hours on small farms and 39% on midsize farms.
Farm groups join in summer town hall sessions
Labor mix varies greatly with farm size
U.S. farms on average used about 59% operator, spouse and family labor, compared to 41% paid labor. However, farms of different sizes relied on much different mixes of labor, according to an Economic Resources Service study. The U.S. agricultural workforce consists of a mixture of two groups: 1) self-employed farm operators and their family members, referred to as “unpaid labor” because their remuneration comes out of farm profits rather than a wage; and 2) paid labor such as hired and contract workers who receive wages. During the study period, principal operators and their spouses provided most of the labor hours (76%) used on small farms – those with annual gross cash farm income under $350,000. That share fell to 43% on midsize farms (GCFI between $350,000 and $999,999), 17% on large farms (GCFI between $1 million and $4,999,999) and 2% on very large farms (GCFI of $5 million or more).
A group of national farm organizations and state agricultural groups are using the summer months for jointly conducting a series of town hall discussions focused on the future of the industry. Heading up the effort are Farmers for Free Trade, the National Milk Producers Federation, the Corn Refiners Association, the National Corn Growers Association, the U.S. Dairy Export Council, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, the Iowa Soybean Association, Minnesota AgriGrowth, the Plant Based Products Council, KCoe Isom and World Strategies. The AgTalks series are focusing specifically on the big challenges American agriculture faces on trade, international supply chains and global competitiveness. The town halls have been led by ag leaders from Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. In the absence of state ag fairs and conventions, where farm and ag leaders typically engage in dialogues on industrywide challenges, the AgTalks series was arranged to provide a chance for discussion on trade and its importance to the health of rural economies. The town hall format has featured 90-minute to two-hour events that have included panel discussions about the impacts of trade disruptions and recommendations for steps to help American agriculture to moveforward. The sessions also have included input and questions from audience members and have gathered input through online polling and other web-enabled tools. Town halls are being recorded for viewing after the events have concluded. News media also have been invited to participate.
U.S. farms on average used about 59% operator, spouse and family labor, compared to 41% paid labor. However, farms of different sizes relied on much different mixes of labor, according to an Economic Resources Service study. 12
Cooperative Farming News
BUSINESS OF FARMING
BY JESSICA KELTON
Not Just Financial Health
For the most part, this column covers finances, costs, profits or something else related to farming finances, but I want to change it up just a little for this article. It’s not a controversial topic, but it isn’t necessarily something we like to discuss. It’s an issue and it’s one we need to start addressing in the agriculture community because, ultimately, it affects the success of our farms and farming communities in Alabama. We need to be discussing the health of those in agriculture, both the mental and physical health, and what we can do to educate those in the agriculture community about taking care of themselves. Like I said, it’s not something we like to talk about. We talk prices and weather all the time, but how many people are comfortable having discussions about personally dealing with anxiety or stress or managing diabetes or heart problems? Just because we don’t talk about it, doesn’t mean it isn’t affecting people. If we aren’t talking about it, are we taking time to address any health concerns or seeking medical treatment? Admittedly, I’m no expert on health topics, but because of low commodity prices and pressure on farm finances, agricultural educators across the country have recognized in the past few years that there is a growing need for us to be able to talk about mental health concerns and have resources to share with the producers that need them. This year, the pandemic has added even more financial pressure, but also revealed some of the physical health issues that the agricultural community must address. Case in point, Colorado State published a COVID risk assessment by state and job type. For Alabama’s animal and crop producers, the risk based on underlying health conditions such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes, etc.
was an astonishing 75%. While age and male gender were also risk factors, those underlying health problems are a real concern that will not go away even if/ when a vaccine is available. That’s a lot of talk about the problem, but not a lot about how we fix it. Talking about it is one of the first steps to addressing it. The stigma of mental health issues, whether it be anxiety or depression, or any number of issues, can prevent people, whether farmers or not, from reaching out for professional help. While there may not be a negative association with seeking treatment for physical illnesses, we don’t stress the importance of self-care in the overall success of a farming operation and, often, producers just have other things that take priority. We must keep talking about the importance of health. If it becomes part of the conversation, then what? Finding resources and knowing who to talk to or who can help, particularly with mental stresses, can be difficult. Like I pointed out, most agricultural educators are not equipped with this knowledge. However, there are a lot of resources out there that can help. The University of Alabama’s group, Vital, offers a great online resource for mental health assessments, providers, etc. at www.vitalalabama.com. There are also national hotlines such as the National Suicide Hotline 800-273-TALK or the Farm Aid Hotline 800-FARM-AID. As technology and broadband improves, telehealth options also become an option for producers to utilize when getting away from the farm just seems to take too much time. We might not be talking about it like the weather or crop prices, but health is just as important, because if you’re not there to run the farm, it won’t matter about those things anyway. September 2020
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. s e t a r t a e r g g n i h c t a h w o N
AlfaInsurance.com 14
Cooperative Farming News
FEEDING FACTS
B Y J I M M Y PA R K E R
Finishing
Your Own Hogs Last month we talked about finishing cattle for freezer beef and I thought this month we would address growing hogs for home consumption. As with the beef, it won’t likely be as cheap as buying pork from a retail meat case, but with the current state of world affairs, at least you will know you have food to eat if you grow it yourself. Typically, hogs are easier to grow out than cattle; they take less time and a lot less feed, but are harder to find in Alabama. Although
during the pandemic, I know of at least 2,000 small piglets that came into Alabama from Midwestern states and were dispersed out. They also are much smarter and can be a bit more aggravating to deal with and generally require a more secure pen, although it can be a small one. There are several different ways that people currently choose to keep farmstead pigs. For the past several years, we have seen a push toward a “pastured
September 2020 15
pig” scenario and, while that works, they do require a fair amount of space and tend to be less efficient than pigs in a “confinement” scenario. In the confinement-type operation, you will need a small pen that is secure enough to hold a small 30- to 40-pound pig and strong enough to hold a 250-pound hog. Midwestern University Extension folks will usually tell you that a finished hog will require eight to 10 square feet and as long as you have a concrete floor, that is probably enough space. It will generally take six months (give or take a month) to finish a hog with decent genetics and good feed. Of course, how big the pig is when you start and what your finished weight will be are major factors. They will need plenty of shade and constant access to good clean water, which can be a challenge in some cases. Water is often overlooked and is really the most important of the nutrients. Without water, animals die quickly, especially on a hot summer day. With limited water, animals will not eat feed and will not grow. So, keep water in mind as the first limiting factor and something that must be addressed before you begin. Small pigs, 20 to 40 pounds, tend to not eat a great deal of feed, mainly because their stomachs are small, and they just can’t hold big quantities. Pigs this size will gain half to 1 pound per day in weight and will eat 1.5 to 3 pounds of feed. They will need a feed with properly balanced amino acids and an overall protein content of around 18% along with a calorie-rich diet. This means that going from 20 to 40 pounds will take somewhere around three to four weeks and each pig will need around 50 pounds of a high-end starter type feed.
Middle weight pigs weighing from 40 to 100 pounds will eat considerably more. They will eat twice as much feed per day and should average just over 4 pounds of feed per pig per day. Clearly, they will eat less than that at 50 pounds and much more than that at 80 pounds, but those numbers should be fairly accurate as you work through this life phase. This size pig will average gaining about 1.5 pounds per day; that should take about six weeks and it will require 160 to 180 pounds of feed to grow through this weight range. This feed should be 14 or 15% protein, with balanced amino acids and high energy levels for the animal to grow efficiently. Larger pigs or hogs that weigh from 100 to 250 pounds will require a great deal more feed. They will typically consume six to eight pounds of feed on average through this finishing phase and gain around 2 pounds per day. They will require a feed that is 12 to 14% protein with balanced amino acids and still have a high energy level. This phase will take 11 or 12 weeks and somewhere around 500 pounds of feed per animal. So, when it is all tallied up, growing your own hog will take about five to six months and around 700 pounds of feed. Those things will be greatly affected by the genetics of the pig, the weather, the access to good water and plenty of shade. They will not likely produce the cheapest pork you can buy, but it will be a good safe source of bacon and pork chops that you can count on. One word of caution about finishing your own pork: you need to make your animal an appointment at your local harvest facility as soon as you start feeding one.
So, when it is all tallied up, growing your own hog will take about five to six months and around 700 pounds of feed.
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Cooperative Farming News
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
BY JOHN SIMS
P URINA ®
ACCURATION® H I - FA T B L O C K
• Self-fed product • Poured-molasses tub • 25% protein Balance nutrient deficiencies in forages Maximize forage use
Feeding Directions: • 1.0 – 3.0 pounds per head daily • Intake regulated by nutritional needs
• 10% added fat High energy nugget delivers additional fat to maintain body condition and support reproduction Concentrated rumen-protected fat source for optimal energy utilization
When your forages just don’t cut it, rely on Purina®Accuration® Hi-Fat Block with 10% fat. Help your cattle reach their fullest potential.
To find a Quality Co-op store near you, go to www.alafarm.com.
September 2020
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ON THE EDGE OF COMMON SENSE
B Y B A X T E R B L A C K , DV M
Hind
Speak “Hey buddy, maybe you’ll rope better after your horse foals. Ha ha!” “Thanks, pal. I had a horse like yours once. But his brain was so small his head caved in and he bit his own ears off! Look, it’s starting in yours ... see that indention.” The quick retort. That clever comeback, the snappy rejoinder that puts the annoying smart mouth in his place. The French call it “Esprit d’Escalier” – the wit of the stairway. In my case, it would be better called Esprit d’ Much Later. I don’t think of what I wished I’d said till I’m tossing and turning at 2 o’clock in the morning. My normal response to the roping chides would have been more like, “Huh? Oh. It’s a gelding. Yeah, I guess you know, I get it. Ha, ha. Duh!” The trick is to let the tormentor step into his own trap: “My gosh, Bill, if I had a bull that threw calves like that I’d sell’im as quick as I could!” “You had ... you did. I bought him at yer yearlin’ sale two years ago!” “This is ridiculous havin’ to nearly undress to get through airport security.” “I’ve never heard anyone say that who’s been hijacked.” “I’ve been tryin’ to call you for three weeks to tell you about this great networking investment opportunity. How do you expect people to get ahold of you if you have an unlisted phone number?” (A visual Esprit d’Escalier ... the raised eyebrows.) 18
Cooperative Farming News
“How can you live without a computer?” “Somebody’s gotta think up all that stuff you read on that little screen.” “Ugh ... how can you wear that fur coat?” “I’m doing research on lunatics and this seems to be good bait.” “Dear, why do you always undercook my bacon? You know I like it crisp.” “Yer mother always cooked it crisp and said you were difficult to potty train. I don’t want you to revert.” “I hope you don’t mind us joining you. Looks like yer catchin’ all the fish.” “Not a bit, have y’all been vaccinated for leprosy?” “I run every day. Are you familiar with running?” “Yeah, I saw ‘The Fugitive.’” “How could anyone be so stupid?” “Maybe it’s the company I keep.” Now that you’ve got the idea, try this on ... “Did you make that bridle yourself or is your kid learning leatherwork in kindergarten?” www.baxterblack.com
FROM THE STATE VET’S OFFICE
BY DR. TONY FRAZIER
Where the Buffalo Roam
In Hollywood, I guess it is a symbol of success if a movie gets a sequel or part 2, 3, 4, etc. Like for example, “Back to the Future” or “Indiana Jones” or “Star Wars.” I would have to admit I’m a bit excited to see “Top Gun II” due out sometime this summer. But sometimes those second and third tries should have been left alone. I mean, do we really need to see “Sharknado 5”? Sometimes there is a successful movie project and then they produce a prequel that tells us how we got to where we are today. I feel like I know how Batman got to be who he is more than he does! What I am getting around to is that last month our article was about our meat inspection program and I decided to give a reminder of how the meat inspection programs came to be. This will likely sound like a history lesson and could take a couple of sequels that may or may not be as successful as “Mission: Impossible.”
I’ve been reading a book entitled “Cattle Kingdom, The Hidden History of the Cowboy West” by Christopher Knowlton and find the details very interesting, especially about the iconic cattle drives to beef markets. There are some dated facts mixed with philosophical thoughts about that part of American history that I think are worth a revisit. As our former lab director Dr. Pugh used to say, “I hope this doesn’t make you mad but here’s the truth and the truth shall set you free,” but it seems the rise of the vast cattle ranches would not have taken place without the decline of the buffalo. For the first hundred years or so of our nation getting started, apparently most people thought the West was a wasteland with little or no value when the fact is this area provided grass for tens of millions of buffalo. Native Americans as we all know depended on the buffalo for clothes, food, housing and September 2020
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most likely many other things. There is the idea brought out in this book that the Native Americans in some areas may have sort of “managed” herds of buffalo by burning forested areas to allow more growth for grass. This would encourage grass production and seemed to treat the Great Plains as a giant pasture. That would certainly have been something to see. Those who did see those great buffalo herds report experiences as in 1839 a guy named Thomas Farnham wrote it took him three days to pass through a single buffalo herd that covered 45 miles. At one point, he could see bison for 15 miles in every direction, suggesting a herd that covered 1,350 square miles! In 1859, Luke Voorhees claimed to have traveled for 200 miles through a single herd somewhere along the Colorado and Nebraska border. Colonel R.I. Dodge reported passing through a herd along the Arkansas River that was 25 miles wide and 50 miles long.1 Just imagine a sea of brown-hided bison from horizon to horizon. I wonder if modern-day environmentalist groups suggesting ruminants are the main cause of global warming would convict these herds of having too large of a carbon footprint by belching and passing gas, but let’s move along. Along about this time, just before the Civil War, there were several things that began to change the ideas of those in the East about the West. This included the collapse of the fur trade, the discovery of gold, the expansion of the railroad and the westbound flow of immigrants over the Oregon, Santa Fe and Mormon trails. While it may have seemed unlikely at the time with what looked like infinite numbers of animals, the buffalo herds were brought nearly to extinction in less than 20 years. Now I want to remind you that I’m not writing on this to stir up some ecological debate, but it is a historical fact that one great bovine herd was replaced by another great bovine herd – just as the mule and wagon was replaced by the automobile. I believe modern-day beef production has become one of the most efficient machines for converting indigestible plants and grass into highly digestible protein. By using scientifically-based breeding systems, enhanced feeding programs, and parasite and disease control methods, beef and dairy farmers produce the best products in the world. I heard an ag statistic that declares that one dairy cow in the U.S. produces the same amount of milk as four dairy cows in Mexico, and I believe it. Back to the history lesson. No one will argue that the wholesale slaughter of the buffalo was a reality and without any conservational government oversight their numbers were severely reduced. There were several other factors going on at the same time. Apparently, buffalo cow hides were more sought after than 20
Cooperative Farming News
bull hides for robes and blankets. So, the uncontrolled removal of females reduced the breeding herd. Then there was the introduction of the breech-loading rifle with improved cartridges that made shooting the animals much easier. Not to mention that the buffalo seemed unfrightened by hunters that slowly approached the herd. Not so for anyone who like me remembers deer hunting back in the ‘60s and ‘70s in south Alabama. You might see a white-tailed deer every now and then. There were likely other factors some of which may be more controversial that were part of the decline of the American buffalo herds. It has also been suggested that the great herds had reached numbers that were unsustainable and set to decline at some point. So, with the American western range emptied of buffalo, the end of the Civil War and one Southern state (Texas) hit particularly hard by the War, the stage was set for the next great bovine herd. It seems that Texans realized they had one commodity in abundance – wild longhorn cattle, and that’s where we will pick up the story next month! “Cattle Kingdom, The Hidden History of the Cowboy West,” Christopher Knowlton, 2017. Chapter One: “The Demise of the Bison.”
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STORE SPOTLIGHT BY C O R E Y E S P Y
Jay Peanut Farmers Co-op Celebrates 50 Years Jay Peanut Farmers Cooperative celebrated its 50th Along with the physical growth of Jay Co-op, it has year of service to the producers in the Florida panhandle also grown by implementing the technology that is bein 2019. Jay opened its doors as an Alabama Farmers coming more prevalent in agriculture. Having a close Cooperative member Co-op in 1969. Before that, the lo- working relationship with Agri-AFC has benefited the cation served as an Anderson’s Peanuts buying point. stores in allowing the tools to provide services such This buying point was a key facility for the producers as pan testing, grid soil sampling, and precision fertilin and around Jay since peanuts are a izer application. Many customers said that predominant crop in the coastal plains this technological growth has been one of the driving factors in the improvement of of Northwest Florida. Original board of director, Wayne Godwin said that “In the their farming operations. AFC and Jay Coearly days, when the buying point was opop Board Director Ricky Hendricks attesterating, people would have peanut trailers ed to this by saying, “Growth is the key to lined up down the road behind the store success in agriculture and this Co-op has waiting to drop off their harvest. The lines the ability to grow with the technology and would get so long that the people in the serve the needs of the farmer.” neighborhood would start calling the DeThrough talking with some of the mempartment of Transportation to come and bers of the Jay Co-op, it was evident that break them up.” In the years following this growth could not have been achieved General Manager Ryan Williams the store’s opening, the buying point was speaks with Ryan Jenkins about his without the leadership that has guided the upcoming corn harvest. shut down, but the store continued to store through the years. Former managers grow and improve despite this. of the Co-op include Jimmy Hall, Steve Bray In 1976, Jay built the farm supply store showroom and Chris Casey, all who have racked up accolades inand warehouse that is still the main store today. During cluding two E.P. Garrett Manager of the Year awards: this same year, the store also updated other portions of Steve Bray in 1995 and Chris Casey in 2015. Currently, the existing facilities. Through the years the store has Ryan Williams is the manager at the Jay Co-op, who added an upgraded fertilizer storage facility on-site, as himself holds an E.P. Garrett Manager of the Year award well as purchasing a former peanut buying point just for his leadership at Quality Co-op, Inc. in Greenville, outside of town for added grain storage for producers Alabama. In the words of member Ryan Jenkins, “The along with extra lime and gypsum storage. The location leadership that has been put in place has made a day in of the facility has made it easily accessible from the field the life of a farmer easier. You truly feel like you are beand helps keep a smooth flow of equipment coming in ing taken care of and are appreciated.” Board member and out during busy times. All these things combined Lewie Joe Smith also commended Jay on their service have allowed Jay to better serve their members by pro- throughout the years. He said, “the Co-op has always viding them with the necessary products and support to provided the services that we need regardless of the succeed on the farm. store hours. If I need something on a day that the store is closed, I know that someone will pick up the phone and come help.” Manager Ryan Williams followed that up by saying, “having a great crew in the right places throughout the store makes that kind of customer service happen.” With a 50-year history of excellence and a hard-working attitude to continue providing for their members, the future is bright for Jay Peanut Farmers Cooperative. September 2020
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4-H EXTENSION CORNER
Making Lemonade ... The Junior Livestock Show has been an integral part of Washington County for the past 60 years. Each local community rallies to support students who take on raising and training their steers or heifers for this show. In addition, the Washington County Cattleman’s Association and Tommy Fuller step forth to support not only this show, but also any other animal programs that students take. At their annual cattlemen’s dinner, they always “pass the hat” and divide the donations among the participants of the Junior Shows. In September 2019, 10 Washington County 4-H’ers weighed in their eight steers and nine heifers to begin a 180-day journey of finishing off the animals and showing them in the annual show April 6, 2020. To help students be successful, Sam Phillips, the agri-science teacher at Millry and president of the Washington County Junior Livestock Association, joined Stacey Ferguson, the Washington County 4-H Foundation leader, to conduct educational workshops in shearing, injections and showmanship. Then the youngsters worked with their animals, getting them ready to show. When the world changed in March 2020, Phillips postponed the show until May 11. He knew, however, that students needed to show the livestock when the animals were at their peak, so time was of the essence. Then, Governor Kay Ivey announced that everyone must practice “social distancing,” which meant the show had to be canceled. Instead of focusing on the problem, Phillips and Ferguson focused on finding a solution. “We decid-
Abbeigh Gibson’s steer was the Grand Champion and weighed 1,305 lbs. A freshman at Washington County High School, Abbeigh has shown for three years. She placed first with her cow/calf pair in the 3rd division. She also won second place in the second division with her heifer.
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Cooperative Farming News
Cole Newell had the Reserve Champion steer. The steer was first in the Middle Weight division and weighed 1,370 lbs. Cole is a fifth-grader at Millry, and this was his second year to be in the show ring.
ed to make lemonade from our lemons,” Ferguson laughed. That “lemonade” became a virtual judging and sale that the 4-H youngsters would never forget. First, Phillips, Ferguson and Robin Paul, Washington County Extension Coordinator, provided a way for the 4-H’ers to show their animals, while social distancing. They staggered the times for each family to show up at the barn, so that no one would interface. Both steers and heifers were split into different weight categories. Then, each 4-H’er got into the show ring and did everything they would have done in a regular show while Ferguson filmed. The videos were then sent to a judge who determined the winners.
Ethan Wright won first place in the Heavy Weight division with his steer weighing 1,490 lbs. Ethan has shown for the past nine years. As a senior at Millry High School, this was his last WCJL show. He also won a scholarship from the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.
B Y C A R O LY N D R I N K A R D
Abbey Panther won first place in the Light Weight division with her steer that weighed 900 lbs. Abbey is in the fourth grade at Fruitdale, and this is her second year to show.
Reaghan Tisdale showed her steer in the Middle Weight category. The steer weighed 1,315 lbs. and placed second. She is a junior at Millry High School, and this was her first year to show.
At the virtual auction, held on May 11, 12 buyers registered to bid. Four steers were presold. The steers sold from $1.55-$2.15 a pound, and were taken to Homestead Processing in Lucedale, Mississippi, after the sale. Abbeigh Jo Gibson, a freshman at Washington County High School, had the Grand Champion Steer at 1,305 lbs. In addition, Gibson took home the title of Grand Champion Heifer with her cow/calf pair. “What is important is hard work, confidence, passion and desire to succeed,” Gibson explained. “It’s about the people you meet that become friends along the way. Most of all, it’s about the animals you build a friendship with and the bond you worked so hard to create. These things mean more than a prize ever will!” For Ethan Wright, a senior at Millry High School, this show was bittersweet, because it was his last one. “I
believe this year’s show happened for a reason and we made the best of it,” he stated. “Mistakes make you wiser, heartbreaks make you stronger and wrong turns often take you to the right place. It all serves a purpose.” Ferguson explained the importance of making the show a reality. “I knew these 10 youth had worked hard to get to the end of this project. I didn’t want them to be disappointed or feel like something could have been done to give them closure. Besides, these are our future farmers and we wanted to encourage them.” Ethan Wright and Madison Stewart also won the Poarch Band of Creek Indian Scholarships, which normally would have been awarded at the SLE Rodeo; however, this year they were mailed to the two senior 4-H members. When faced with uncertainty, caring adults in Washington County once again found a way to help young
Peyton Crager placed second with his heifer. Peyton is in the fourth grade at Fruitdale. This was his first year to be a part of the livestock show.
Jacob Beech won second place in the Middle Weight division with his steer weighing 1,375 lbs.
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people. Joining hands, the Washington County Extension Office, the Washington County Commission and the Washington County Farmers’ Federation put on a virtual 4-H livestock show and sale that no one will ever forget!
SHOW RESULTS: Grand Champion Steer: Abbeigh Jo Gibson Reserve Champion Steer: Cole Newell Steers:
Light Weight 1st: Abbey Panther (900) Middle Weight 1st: Abbeigh Jo Gibson (1,305) 2nd: Reaghan Tisdale (1,315) Middle Heavy Weight 1st: Cole Newell (1,370) 2nd: Jacob Beech (1,375) 3rd: Conner Wright (1,375)
Conner Wright placed third in the Middle Heavy Weight division with his steer weighing 1,375 lbs. Conner attends Millry High School.
Hayden Phillips won first place in the first division with his heifer.
Ethan Wright, a senior, stands with 4-H agent Stacy Ferguson. Ethan showed both a heifer and a steer at his last WCJL show.
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Cooperative Farming News
Heavy Weight: Ethan Wright (1,490)
Heifers:
1st division 1st: Hayden Phillips with heifer 6/28/2019 2nd: Peyton Crager with heifer 3/2019 2nd division 1st: Abbey Panther with heifer 1/5/2019 2nd: Abbeigh Jo Gibson with heifer 12/5/2018 3rd: Conner Wright with heifer 1/8/2019 4th: Ethan Wright with heifer 1/6/2019 5th: Conner Wright with heifer 11/11/2018 6th: Ethan Wright with heifer 12/20/2018 3rd division 1st: Abbeigh Jo Gibson with cow/calf pair
PALS
BY JAMIE MITCHELL
33rd Annual Alabama Coastal Cleanup The 33rd Annual Alabama Coastal Cleanup may look a little different than years past, but it is still moving forward with a few adjustments to reflect the current health crisis. This year’s cleanup is Sept. 19 through Sept. 27, 2020. The official cleanup will last the full week to allow volunteers time, location and distance to participate safely. The kickoff, keeping with tradition, is the third Saturday of the month, Sept. 19. Participants can expect confirmation of most cleanup zones in the two coastal counties. As in past years, recycling efforts will include clean plastic #1 (clear plastic bottles) and aluminum. New this year, debris data will be tallied using the Ocean Conservancy’s “Clean Swell” app available in the App Store or Google Play. With the weeklong event, participants can choose when and where to clean up, including their neighborhoods. Organizers expect more event details to become available closer to cleanup time. They are asking volunteers to be patient as they work out event safety details. Get information on the Alabama Coastal Cleanup on the Facebook page or website, www.AlabamaCoastalCleanup.com. Any scout groups, school clubs or students that plan to attend this year’s Alabama Coastal Cleanup should check the Coastal Cleanup website regularly for updates as well. Please encourage your local schools to sign up for the Alabama Clean Campus Program for the 2020-2021 school year also at www.alpals.org. Even though our
school year is looking a little different this year, too, the Clean Campus Program is still a great way to incorporate litter and environmental education into your local community. Teachers looking for more information may contact me directly at jamie@alpals.org or by phone at 334-263-7737. As always, the Clean Campus Program is available at no cost to schools thanks to our wonderful corporate sponsors.
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FFA SENTINEL
LIVING TO SERVE:
THE 2020-2021 STATE FFA OFFICER TEAM For most National FFA Organization members, the memory of receiving their first blue corduroy jacket is one that is seldom forgotten. This jacket proudly displays their name, state and chapter and gives them a sense of belonging to a family of FFA members that is currently over 750,000 members strong. Many of these members take full advantage of the numerous activities available through the organization and seek to serve in a greater capacity. Each year, the 12 brightest leaders in our state go through rigorous interviews in hopes of wearing a new jacket for an incredible year of service. Through a series of interviews, six of these 12 individuals are selected to serve as Alabama State FFA Officers and wear the prestigious “Alabama Association� jacket. The Alabama FFA Association is pleased to introduce you to the 2020-2021 State FFA Officer Team.
President - Millie Grace Drake FFA Chapter: J.B. Pennington FFA Chapter FFA Activities: North District President, National FFA Delegate, Livestock CDE Winner, Equine Proficiency, Horse Evaluation Favorite FFA Memory: Representing Alabama as a National FFA Delegate was an experience I will never forget. I was able to meet with members from across the nation and discuss ways to improve our great organization. What are you most excited about this year: I cannot wait to get out and meet members from across the state and have a positive impact on their lives while showing them what Agriscience Education has to offer them. Future Career Plan: I plan to attend Auburn University this fall and major in animal science with the goal of becoming a veterinarian. 26
Cooperative Farming News
Vice President - Maggie Bush FFA Chapter: G.W. Long FFA Chapter FFA Activities: South District Treasurer, Forestry CDE, Envirothon CDE, Creed Speaking LDE, State FFA Delegate, Ag Sales Proficiency Favorite FFA Memory: I was very inspired by my first National FFA Convention and seeing all of our members come together. That experience encouraged me to pursue service as a district and now state officer. What are you most excited about this year: I am excited about having the ability to help move our state association forward through new opportunities with the help of my team. Future Career Plan: I am excited to pursue a degree in Agriscience Education with the hopes of becoming an Agriscience teacher.
Secretary - Brooke Perry FFA Chapter: Pell City FFA Chapter FFA Activities: Central District Sentinel, Creed Speaking LDE, Prepared Public Speaking LDE, Livestock CDE, Agriscience Education CDE winner. Favorite FFA Memory: Attending my first High Point Conference last year as a district officer was a great memory. I enjoyed meeting all of the other district and state officers and feeling that sense of family. What are you most excited about this year: I am excited about having a broader audience to share my love of FFA with this year as we work to
J OY A N N A L OV E
encourage members from across the state. Future Career Plan: I plan to major in Ag Communications at Auburn University.
Treasurer - Lee Enfinger FFA Chapter: Dale County FFA Chapter FFA Activities: Creed Speaking LDE, Extemporaneous Speaking LDE, Ag Sales Proficiency Favorite FFA Memory: My favorite memory was seeing President Trump speak at the National FFA Convention in 2018. It was great being at such a historical moment as very few sitting presidents have spoken in person at the convention in our 93-year history. What are you most excited about this year: I am excited to visit new chapters across the state to meet members and not only share my experiences but also hear their FFA story. Future Career Plan: I plan to pursue a degree in Agribusiness and Economics.
Reporter - Corley Williams
them discover their “Why” within FFA. FFA reaches so many students and I can’t wait to help them discover the many opportunities waiting for them. Future Career Plan: I am interested in pursuing a degree in Ag Law.
Sentinel - Case Edwards FFA Chapter: Wetumpka FFA Chapter FFA Activities: Central District Secretary, Small Engines CDE winner, Ag Mechanics Repair and Maintenance Proficiency winner Favorite FFA Memory: I remember attending my first Central District Eliminations and seeing how impressive the district officers were. I knew from that day that I wanted to pursue the same opportunities and level of professionalism. What are you most excited about this year: I am excited to show our members that even in trying times, there are numerous opportunities for them to grow as leaders. Future Career Plan: I plan to attend Auburn University and obtain a degree in Agriscience Education.
FFA Chapter: Arab FFA Chapter FFA Activities: North District Reporter, Vet Science CDE winner, Livestock CDE, Horse Evaluation CDE, Beef Proficiency Favorite FFA Memory: I loved taking part in my first Chapter Officer Leadership Workshop as a district officer. I was able to work with chapter officers across the North District to help them prepare to be leaders in their local chapters. What are you most excited about this year: I am really excited to meet with members and help September 2020
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Busy Bee Activities
Did You Know? The Alabama Agri-Tourism Trail currently lists more than 120 sites and links to agri-tourism opportunities. encyclopediaofalabama.org
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September 2020
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FROM WILDLIFE AND FRESHWATER FISHERIES
The Newest Deer Hunting Zones for 2020 Earlier rut yields earlier hunting opportunities.
Isn’t it amazing what good data will do for hunters and fishermen in Alabama? Take the red snapper fishery for example. It wasn’t too many years ago that Alabama fishermen had a three-day snapper season. Thanks to the hard work of the Marine Resources Division and fishermen participating in Snapper Check, recreational fishermen have a 35-day season this year. Likewise, until the 2013-14 deer season, the entire state fell under one management regimen. Due to quality data, the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division was able to diversify opening dates to allow hunters to take advantage of variations in the Alabama rut. Hunters in eight Alabama counties will enjoy a new deer hunting opportunity during the 2020-21 season. Parts of Barbour, Calhoun, Cleburne, Cullman, Franklin, Lawrence, Russell and Winston counties will be included in the newly created Deer Zones D and E. Hunters in these zones will be able to start hunting deer two weeks earlier than hunters in other parts of the state, which means they will be hunting before and during the peak of the rut for those areas. This was not possible with the previous season structure. The creation of Zones D and E follows many years of data collection to determine conception date windows for deer populations all over Alabama. Between 1995 and 2019, WFF’s biologists and their partners collected and examined data from 3,696 does on 281 sites across Alabama. As more data were collected, a much clearer picture of when the rut occurs across Alabama began to appear. The data showed deer over a large portion of Alabama did not breed until late January and early February. This prompted the creation of Deer Zones A and B and the extension of hunting season into February. The data also showed that several areas had much earlier ruts than the surrounding areas. After sampling numerous sites in and around the areas with early ruts, WFF biologists realized the early breeding extended over at least three relatively large areas. The boundaries of these areas appeared to be well-defined and large enough to at least propose new deer zones with earlier opening and closing dates for deer season. One area included parts of Cullman, Franklin, Lawrence and Winston counties in and around William B. Bankhead National Forest and Black Warrior WMA; this is to be Zone D. Zone E will include parts of Calhoun and Cleburne counties in and around the Shoal Creek District of Tal30
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ladega National Forest, Choccolocco WMA, and parts of Barbour and Russell counties along the Alabama-Georgia state line. Deer in both new zones breed much earlier on average than in any other areas in Alabama. Conception dates in Zone D range from Nov. 4 to Dec. 27 and the average date of conception is Dec. 4. Deer in Zone E start breeding even earlier, with conception dates ranging from Oct. 20 to Jan. 20 and an average conception date of Dec. 2. The traditional opening date of gun deer season (i.e., Saturday before Thanksgiving Day) falls right in the middle of the rut for deer in Zones D and E, unlike most of Alabama, where deer don’t typically start breeding until a couple of weeks or months after opening day. Opening the season earlier in Zones D and E will give hunters a much better chance of harvesting a mature buck since one of the best times is right before breeding starts. While the new areas have very similar rut dates, differences in deer density within them made it necessary to create two new zones instead of just one. Zone D, which includes the areas identified in Cullman, Franklin, Lawrence and Winston counties, will have the same limited either-sex season dates as Zone C since deer densities are lower than in surrounding portions of Zone A. Zone E, which includes the areas identified in Barbour, Calhoun, Cleburne and Russell counties, has deer densities similar to surrounding portions of Zone A and will have either-sex season from the opening of archery season until deer season closes in late January. Any time season lengths or dates change significantly, biologists must watch for potential negative effects on the deer population. Fortunately, WFF will be able to monitor buck and doe harvests in the new zones using Game Check data. Slight increases in buck harvest within the new zones are expected, but most of the buck harvest will probably just be shifted earlier in the season since this will be during the first half of the rut. Having four complete seasons of Game Check deer harvest data to serve as a baseline makes tracking these changes possible. If substantial spikes in the annual deer harvests in Zones D and E are deemed an issue, WFF will address them. Opening and closing the season earlier in Zones D and E will also help address a concern raised by many hunters and WFF staff in those areas over the last few
BY CHUCK SYKES seasons. Since the season was extended to Feb. 10 in Zone A, many hunters in these areas have reported observing and accidentally killing more adult bucks without antlers in the late season than they did when the season ended Jan. 31. Deer in most of Alabama do not drop their antlers until March and April, meaning this is not an issue in most of the state, but casting antlers in late January and early February is fairly common in areas with early ruts such as Zones D and E. Many of these accidental harvests are bucks that were passed by hunters throughout the deer season in hopes that the deer would survive to the next season and have larger antlers. These cast-antlered bucks are often shot by hunters who thought they were shooting a doe to put in the freezer. Ending the deer season earlier in the new zones should help reduce these unfortunate harvests. WFF staff will continue to gather feedback from hunters in Zones D and E, in addition to Zones A and C, to see if this issue is significant and if it needs to be addressed in other ways. If you have questions about these changes, you can visit www.outdooralabama.com or call the district office in your area.
ZONE A Bow and Arrow-Stalk Hunting
Either Sex
Oct. 15, 2020 - Feb. 10, 2021
Either Sex
Nov. 16, 2020 - Nov. 20, 2020
Privately Owned or Leased Lands Only
Either Sex
Nov. 21, 2020 - Feb. 10, 2021
Open Permit Public Lands
Antlered Bucks Only
Nov. 21, 2020 - Feb. 10, 2021
Special Muzzleloader and Air Rifle Privately Owned or Leased Lands and USFS Stalk Hunting Only (No Dogs) Gun Deer-Stalk Hunting
Either Sex
Dec. 12, 2020 - Jan. 1, 2021
Privately Owned or Leased Lands Only
Either Sex
Nov. 21, 2020 - Jan. 15, 2021
Open Permit Public Lands where Allowed
Antlered Bucks Only
Nov. 21, 2020 - Jan. 15, 2021
Gun Deer-Dog Deer Hunting: Where Allowed
Either Sex
Dec. 12, 2020 - Jan. 1, 2021
*SPECIAL EXCEPTION: CALHOUN, CLAY, AND TALLADEGA COUNTIES* Other than Piney Woods/Ivory Mountain area where dog hunting is prohibited in its entirety, no dog deer hunting on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday of each week unless Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day or New Year’s Day falls on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. No other state or federal holidays are included in this exception. Dog deer hunting on Thursday and Friday until 2:00 p.m.; on weekends during legal shooting hours where allowed on USFS land in these counties. For a discription of the Piney Woods/Ivory Mountain area and further restrictions and information on hunting USFS lands, see special exception 3, page 25.
ZONE B Bow and Arrow-Stalk Hunting
Antlered Bucks Only
Oct. 15, 2020 - Oct. 24, 2020
Either Sex
Oct. 25, 2020 - Feb. 10, 2021
Either Sex
Nov. 16, 2020 - Nov. 20, 2020
Privately Owned or Leased Lands Only
Either Sex
Nov. 21, 2020 - Feb. 10, 2021
Open Permit Public Lands
Antlered Bucks Only
Nov. 21, 2020 - Feb. 10, 2021
Special Muzzleloader and Air Rifle Privately Owned or Leased Lands and USFS Stalk Hunting Only (No Dogs) Gun Deer-Stalk Hunting
Either Sex
Dec. 12, 2020 - Jan. 1, 2021
Privately Owned or Leased Lands Only
Either Sex
Nov. 21, 2020 - Jan. 15, 2021
Open Permit Public Lands where Allowed
Antlered Bucks Only
Nov. 21, 2020 - Jan. 15, 2021
Gun Deer-Dog Deer Hunting: Where Allowed
Either Sex
Dec. 12, 2020 - Jan. 1, 2021
Either Sex
Oct. 15, 2020 - Feb. 10, 2021
Either Sex
Nov. 16, 2020 - Nov. 20, 2020
ZONE C Bow and Arrow-Stalk Hunting Special Muzzleloader and Air Rifle Privately Owned or Leased Lands and USFS Stalk Hunting Only (No Dogs) Gun Deer-Stalk Hunting Privately Owned or Leased Lands Only
Antlered Bucks Only Either Sex
Open Permit Public Lands
Antlered Bucks Only Either Sex
Nov. 21, 2020 - Feb. 10, 2021 Nov. 21, 2020 - Nov. 29, 2020 and Dec. 19, 2020 - Jan. 1, 2021 Nov. 21, 2020 - Feb. 10, 2021 Dec. 19, 2020 - Jan. 1, 2021
Gun Deer-Dog Deer Hunting: Where Allowed Privately Owned or Leased Lands Only
Antlered Bucks Only Either Sex
Open Permit Public Lands where Allowed
Antlered Bucks Only
Nov. 21, 2020 - Jan. 15, 2021 Nov. 21, 2020 - Nov. 29, 2020 and Dec. 19, 2020 - Jan. 1, 2021 Nov. 21, 2020 - Jan. 15, 2021
Either Sex
Dec. 19, 2020 - Jan. 1, 2021
Antlered Bucks Only
Oct. 1, 2020 - Jan. 27, 2021
Either Sex
Oct. 1, 2020 - Jan. 15, 2021
Either Sex
Nov. 2, 2020 - Nov. 6, 2020
ZONE D Bow and Arrow-Stalk Hunting Special Muzzleloader and Air Rifle Privately Owned or Leased Lands and USFS Stalk Hunting Only (No Dogs) Gun Deer-Stalk Hunting Privately Owned or Leased Lands Only
Antlered Bucks Only Either Sex
Open Permit Public Lands
Nov. 7, 2020 - Jan. 27, 2021 Nov. 21, 2020 - Nov. 29, 2020 and Dec. 19, 2020 - Jan. 1, 2021
Antlered Bucks Only
Nov. 7, 2020 - Jan. 27, 2021
Either Sex
Dec. 19, 2020 - Jan. 1, 2021
Gun Deer-Dog Deer Hunting: Where Allowed Privately Owned or Leased Lands Only
Antlered Bucks Only Either Sex
Open Permit Public Lands where Allowed
Antlered Bucks Only
Nov. 7, 2020 - Jan. 1, 2021 Nov. 21, 2020 - Nov. 29, 2020 and Dec. 19, 2020 - Jan. 1, 2021 Nov. 7, 2020 - Jan. 1, 2021
Either Sex
Dec. 19, 2020 - Jan. 1, 2021
Antlered Bucks Only
Oct. 1, 2020 - Jan. 27, 2021
Either Sex
Oct. 1, 2020 - Jan. 15, 2021
Either Sex
Nov. 2, 2020 - Nov. 6, 2020
ZONE E Bow and Arrow-Stalk Hunting Special Muzzleloader and Air Rifle Privately Owned or Leased Lands and USFS Stalk Hunting Only (No Dogs) Gun Deer-Stalk Hunting Privately Owned or Leased Lands Only
Antlered Bucks Only
Nov. 7, 2020 - Jan. 27, 2021
Either Sex
Nov. 7, 2020 - Jan. 15, 2021
Antlered Bucks Only
Nov. 7, 2020 - Jan. 27, 2021
Either Sex
Dec. 19, 2020 - Jan. 1, 2021
Privately Owned or Leased Lands Only
Either Sex
Nov. 7, 2020 - Jan. 1, 2021
Open Permit Public Lands where Allowed
Antlered Bucks Only
Open Permit Public Lands Gun Deer-Dog Deer Hunting: Where Allowed
Either Sex
Nov. 7, 2020 - Jan. 1, 2021 Dec. 19, 2020 - Jan. 1, 2021
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OUTDOOR LOGIC WITH BIOLOGIC
Eight Steps for “Scent-Free” Whitetail Hunting Do Deer Think You Stink? Most hunters reading this piece understand, or have read, that whitetails have a sense of smell so strong and sensitive that is difficult for the majority of us to comprehend. Yet most hunters don’t go far enough to battle this “olfactory offense.” (Photo Credit: Agnieszka Bacal)
Back in the ‘80s, I used to get razzed because of the detailed preparation I went through to try and remain as odorless as possible when hunting whitetails. When I was young, my father and grandfather taught me that whitetails have a great sense of smell. They also educated me on how to play the wind, but besides hanging our clothes outside before the hunt, we did little to reduce odors. When others saw how persnickety I had become about reducing odors, I was made fun of … until antlers began to hit the ground. We all know a whitetail’s sense of smell is a force to be reckoned with. To an “olfactory offense” so strong, it’s likely impossible to be totally scent free. However, it’s a proven fact that it is possible to reduce our odors to minuscule trace levels that even mature bucks will tolerate in close quarters. Are you doing enough to reduce these alien aromas so you can get closer to whitetails? Follow these steps to get closer to whitetails. #1 - Wash your clothes in a quality hunter’s detergent. Besides our body, we need to be concerned with everything else we’re bringing into the woods, our clothes being one of the most important. 32
Cooperative Farming News
Some feel they must also treat their clothes with a product to remove the UV from the garment. There is no need if you use a hunter’s wash like Scent Killer Gold Laundry Detergent because it doesn’t contain optical brightening agents or fluorescent brightening
Scent Killer Gold spray works when applied like you see here, but actually works best when you treat your clothing and then let it dry-in ahead of the hunt. It can last for days dried into your clothing. (Photo Credit: Todd Amenrud)
BY TODD AMENRUD agents. So besides removing all UV from the garment, it doesn’t add any back. If you are a numbskull and wash your deer hunting clothes in All, Tide or Gain, you will add back the brighteners just like most commercial detergents will. #2 - Dry your clothes outside if possible. If you live next to a gas station or greasy restaurant, you’re defeating the purpose, or if it’s late season and cold temperatures would freeze them solid, it’s OK to use your dryer. If you do, remove all fabric softener bars before drying. Before storing them, it may be a good idea to let them air-out outside, too, if possible. #3 - Once your clothes are dry, store them in a container so no odors have the possibility of contacting them. Make sure the clothes are totally dry! If there is any moisture in them once they’re sealed in the container, you will begin a chemical reaction and odors will start to develop. This is the same reason it is best NOT to include leaves, dirt, pine boughs or other natural items in the container with your clothes. Even with our “limited human sense of smell,” after one week in the container the difference in the smell of fresh pine boughs compared to the ones you have in your container will be obvious. If you must put something in the clothes container, fill a sock with one-third of a cup of baking soda and place it in the container – switch it out every few weeks. #4 - Shower in Scent Killer Body Wash & Shampoo and don’t forget unscented deodorant. In nearly all regions of the whitetails’ territory, L-Serine (human scent) is the most feared odor they can experience. Reducing these odors by showering is extremely important. Brush your teeth! Yes, most toothpaste has a minty odor, but it’s better than the bad breath of a human carnivore. Do not pass through where any odors may cling to you or your clothing. If I’m going out for a morning hunt, I will shower directly before. If I come in to eat lunch, I will remove all hunting clothing before I enter any building and shower again before heading back afield. Try to plan ahead – make sure you have your vehicle filled with gas and eat any meals before showering and brushing your teeth. In addition, be picky about what you eat immediately before you head out. Onions, peanut butter, garlic … if you can smell it, guess who can smell it 1,000 times better? #5 - Don’t put your clothes on until you get to your hunting area. In fact, don’t even remove them from their protective container until then. It’s amazing how many hunters put on their hunting boots at
home and then stop to fill up with gas, or they put on their hunting clothes and stop at a café for breakfast … then they proceed to try and fool a nose as sophisticated as a bloodhound. These hunters usually have a vacant trophy wall and an empty freezer. If you have a long walk to your ambush location, carry your clothes until you get close to the site to avoid sweating in them. Sweating not only causes more odors, but it’s a sure way to become cold. #6 - Treat your boots and clothing with a quality scent elimination spray like Scent Killer Gold. Spray your clothing the day before and allow the spray to dry into your clothing and then return your clothes to their container. Scent Killer Spray molecules adhere
Do not put your boots or clothing on until you get to your hunting location. In fact, if you have a long walk to your ambush site you may want to carry your clothes until you get close to avoid sweating. Rubber-bottomed boots will help to reduce scent transfer on the trail. (Photo Credit: Todd Amenrud)
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#8 - When the hunting season is over for the year, where do you store your treestands and other gear? Hopefully you don’t amass them in your garage or other area where foreign odors will perforate and cling to the objects. Just think; during the winter when you start your car to warm it up before you take it somewhere, where do you imagine the exhaust fumes are collecting? I promise you a whitetail will smell that! Pay attention to store your equipment in a spot where minimal odors will be able to contact them. An outdoor shed or even covered by a tarp under an awning is a good place to store treestands. The above tasks are ways we can prevent odors from entering the whitetail woods so we’re better at closing the distance on them. We still must learn all that we can about playing the wind and thermal current. Understanding the air current, when combined with the plan from above, will make you deadly this season.
Besides being cautious about the odors on our person and equipment, we must also reduce any odors we might be leaving behind. Should you screw in that tree-step with a bare hand or one with a clean glove or, better yet, rubber or trapper’s gloves? (Photo Credit: Todd Amenrud)
to odor molecules making them too heavy to form a gas. Spray down each layer of your clothing, concentrating on your high sweat areas. With the spray dried into your clothing, it seems to me like I’m wearing a “scent elimination suit.” I believe in this product so strongly that I would list it in my top two most important hunting tools. I must have my bow, and I must have my Scent Killer Gold. I make mistakes just as often as everyone else and I’ve seen this product protect me from them countless times. #7 - Pay close attention to “scent-transfer.” We have taken care of the greater share of smells we may carry into the woods on us, but what about the smells we may be leaving behind? Every time you touch an object it’s like you’re pushing your smell into it. How strong the smell will be and how long it will linger will depend on temperatures, humidity and numerous other factors. Why telegraph your presence to the herd? Wear rubber-bottomed boots and don’t touch anything with your bare hands. Pay attention and be sneaky. 34
Cooperative Farming News
Playing the air currents and understanding whitetail movement are important, but everyone makes mistakes and whitetails do things you’re not expecting. The steps outlined in this article will help protect you if either happens. Here’s the author with a nice piebald 4x4. (Photo Credit: Todd Amenrud)
Dandelion Greens, Wood Sorrel, Greenbrier and Turkey with Balsamic Herb Vinaigrette Serves 4 Dandelions have been attributed to curing liver disease, prevent and cure high blood pressure, prevent various forms of cancer and assist in weight reduction. On top of being delicious, this meal is inevitably healthy. Most folks could walk right into their backyard and have a nutritious meal on the table within minutes! Note: Dandelions have been used in anti-plaque preparations by dental researchers. Note: Greenbrier is available in most supermarkets. If you cannot find it, just add more dandelion greens. Greenbrier is in the smilax family which is most notable for providing sarsaparilla found in root beer, and it is rumored that the smilax steroid treats dementia and Alzheimer’s patients. Ingredients: 3 cups dandelion greens 1/3 cup greenbrier 1/3 cup wood sorrel 1/3 cup green onions 1/4 cup mulberries 1/4 cup strawberries 1 cup Herb Balsamic Vinaigrette, divided 1 pound turkey breast, sliced into 1-inch slices 2 Tablespoons olive oil 1 Tablespoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper • In a large bowl, place 1/2 cup of the Herb Balsamic Vinaigrette. Gently mix dandelion greens, greenbrier, wood sorrel, onions, mulberries and strawberries with the Vinaigrette and divide greens among four plates. • Pound each turkey slice to about 1/8-inch-thick and cut into bite-sized pieces.
• In a medium-sized bowl, mix olive oil, salt, pepper and turkey pieces together. • Heat cast iron skillet to almost smoking and cook turkey pieces in batches for 2 minutes on each side. Be sure not to crowd the pan so that your meat browns and does not steam. • Divide turkey pieces among the four salad plates. Drizzle a little Herb Balsamic Vinaigrette over the salad as desired. Serve with your favorite Crusty Bread.
About Stacy Lyn Harris Stacy Lyn Harris is a best-selling cookbook author, blogger, TV personality, public speaker, wife and mother of seven children. She currently lives in Pike Road, Alabama, with her husband Scott and their children. Stacy Lyn regularly appears on cable and broadcast television as a guest chef and sustainable living expert. Her critically-acclaimed “Harvest Cookbook” was published in 2017 and contains many of her family’s favorite recipes, along with stories from her life growing up in the Black Belt and tips she’s learned along the way. September 2020
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Purple Martin Man
The
B Y C A RO LY N D R I N K A R D
N
ative Americans have had a special connection to purple martins for centuries. They erected gourd houses to attract these fascinating creatures, and, in exchange, the birds kept insects off their crops and drove crows and other birds away from their corn. This cooperation between man and bird lives on today in Southwest Alabama, as Southerners erect gourd trees and anticipate the arrival of these special little birds each spring.Â
Weldon Vickery uses two coats of white latex paint on his gourds. The white paint helps to keep the gourds cooler. He uses latex, because oil-based paint will not stick to the gourd’s surface.
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One person who keeps a close eye on these visitors is Weldon Vickery. Known as “The Purple Martin Man,” Weldon is a sixth-generation Creek Indian on his mother’s side. He said his love for these birds came from his American Indian heritage. He proudly tells the story of how purple martins saved his ancestors when a malaria epidemic hit here. Hundreds died in surrounding communities, but no Indians lost their lives because purple martins had killed the mosquitoes and eaten the mosquito larvae, freeing his people of the dreaded disease. Weldon’s passion for purple martins became a personal mission in 1962, after he learned that less than 90,000 martins were left in the U.S. About this time, he purchased a new, aluminum martin house and found a small pamphlet inside, inviting bird lovers to contact the manufacturer, Nature House, owned by J.L. Wade. Weldon soon developed a close
friendship with Wade. In fact, Wade invited Weldon to serve on the company’s board and called often to ask about purple martins. Wade even asked Weldon to help with a problem that the company was having with the new aluminum birdhouse. Purple martins would not go into the house! Weldon solved this problem by building an umbrella to hold gourds and then placing the aluminum house on top. When older martins came, they nested in the gourds. After the mother birds ran the little ones away, the fledglings went into the aluminum house on top. Weldon’s solution received widespread publicity. Later, J.L. Wade wrote a book about martins, including many things Weldon Vickery had shared. Weldon has lived a life filled with good works and community service. For years, he lived near Atmore, coaching Babe Ruth baseball and working at a paper mill in Brewton. He served four terms on the Escambia County Commission. In 1989, Weldon spent $5,000 of his own money to place birdhouses all over Escambia County, Alabama. That same year, he petitioned the Alabama Legislature to declare Atmore the “Purple Martin Capital of Alabama.” The citizens of Atmore honored Weldon by inducting him into the Atmore Hall of Fame. After Weldon’s actions, 28 other states proclaimed themselves “purple martin states.” A short while later, purple martins were taken off the endangered species list. “I felt good about being a part of bringing these birds back,” Weldon reflected. “They’re real special to me!” In November 2000, Weldon and Kay Vickery moved to the small community of Mineola in Monroe County. The area was heavily infested with mosquitoes, so the couple quickly put up five racks of short-necked gourds to attract purple martins. Soon, the Vickery farm was mosquito-free, thanks to the martins.
Kay and Weldon Vickery both love martins, and they work together on their various projects. Kay pastors two small nondenominational churches: Peterman Cornerstone Church and Holly Grove Church. Both love nature and have a deep reverence for God’s creations.
After drilling a hole in the gourd, Weldon takes a stick and stirs the contents of the gourd. He then empties the seeds into five-gallon buckets. Weldon plants these seeds, which look like tiny gourds. He also gives many seeds away. Anyone who visits, leaves with a packet of seeds.
Purple martins are really not purple. At age 2, they turn a dark bluish-black that has a purplish sheen in sunlight. (Photo Credit: Lisa Ogletree)
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tors, he plants seeds on a dark night in May. After harvesting, he cleans and paints the gourds he will use for martin nesting. “I’ve never sold a gourd,” he chuckled, “but I have given away thousands.“ He also saves gourd seeds and gives them away at the Atmore Truckers Cooperative and the Farmers Cooperative Market in Frisco City. Anyone who visits his farm leaves with a packet of seeds. Weldon works to help martins to thrive. Since the birds have many enemies, Weldon places red, blinking solar lights around the bottoms of his racks to scare away owls, snakes or raccoons. He also puts a plastic owl atop the poles to frighten away hawks. Purple martins are friendly, sociable birds that enjoy perching around their nests Most people are surprised to learn that purple and visiting with other martins. Even though Weldon Vickery paints his gourds martins are really not purple! At age 2, the birds turn white, others prefer different colors, like red and blue. (This gourd tree was a dark bluish-black that has a purplish sheen in sunlocated in Clarke County.) (Photo Credit: Lisa Ogletree) light. The birds are also incredible acrobats, darting Weldon explained how purple martins actually rid and diving, often scooping water into their bills while an area of mosquitoes. As the insects mate in midair, moving. purple martins spread their wings and literally vacuum Weldon and his purple martins speak a common them into a V-shaped pocket under each wing. Inside tongue. “Martins are like dogs and cats,” he explained. that pocket are hairy patches that trap mosquitoes. “They know me. I talk to them, and they chatter back After a car had hit one of his birds, Weldon exam- to me. But let a stranger come up, and they will dive ined the body and found something amazing. “I pulled at him.” 47 mosquitoes from its wings,” Weldon said. “People Now at 85, Weldon is grateful for all he has been see the birds sitting on lines, picking underneath their given. With a deep respect for living, growing things wings, so they think the birds have mites. They are and a spiritual connection to the earth, Weldon Vickactually rolling up mosquitoes to eat or feed their ba- ery wears the title of “purple martin man” with honor. bies.” “I love nature,” he said, “and I love these birds. I Each year, Weldon grows thousands of short- feel a kinship to them. Nobody in this world is blessed necked gourds. Following the tradition of his ances- more than I have been to live the life I have!”
Weldon talks to his birds, and they chatter back to him. He said the birds were just like dogs and cats. They always recognize him and seem proud to see him. When strangers approach, however, the birds become aggressive and will dive at the intruders.
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Cooperative Farming News
In early morning and late afternoon, the martins gather on the gourds to feed and chatter. The birds are very sociable and enjoy being near humans. They move happily among the gourds that hang from the umbrella tree.
Agri-AFC 2020 Ryegrass Varieties LoneStar
A mid-late maturing diploid. Extremely consistent variety throughout our region with great forage quality. Tremendous yield potential with an excellent cold toleranance and very good disease resistance.
TetraStar
A mid-late maturing tetraploid. A consistent performer that works throughout our region. Excellent cold tolerance among tetraploid varieties. Great forage quality and tremendous yield potential.
GRITS
A mid-late maturing diploid. A workhorse variety that is a very consistent performer. Very resilient under grazing pressure. Works great on a tougher acre.
Attain
A late maturing tetraploid. A racehorse variety with unmached forage quality and exceptional yield potential under best management practices.
To find the variety that best fits your operation, contact your local Co-op or Agri-AFC September 2020
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A
s a sixth-generation hunter, Triston Duke’s passion for hunting began at an early age. He started by tagging along with his father on hunts at the age of 3. At first, he would just sit in the tree stand, but, by the age of 7, he had killed his first deer. “When I look back at when I was younger, I didn’t really understand what my dad and his family had gotten me into,” Triston said. “But it’s definitely one of my passions; it’s a way for me to be close with nature.” Now at the age of 16, Triston has taken on a larger role in preparing the land for hunting season. “We start in July putting feed out to attract deer and during August into September, I disc out food plots,” Triston said. “After that we plant everything from clover to radishes along with wheat and other grasses. “ Triston added that all the products that are used have been purchased from their local Co-op store, including the feed, seed, salt blocks, minerals, tree stands and shooting houses. This is also where he purchases their hunting supplies. Triston’s local Coop sells guns, bows, game calls and game cameras. Now that Triston has his driver’s license, he makes regular trips to the Co-op to buy the supplies he needs. He enjoys seeing the new bows that
Triston Duke has hope that both he and his father will complete the Grand Slam in turkey hunting, which is the Eastern, Osceola, Miriam and Rio Grande turkeys.
come in and talking to the employees. The Co-op is a full-service hunting supply store for him. “They have everything we need to have a successful year of hunting,” Triston said. “They also are very knowledgeable and helpful if you have any questions on their products.” Triston has been going to the Co-op his whole life. One of his earliest memories is of a “Hunter’s Day” event where he met some of his hunting idols, Eddie Salter, Tommy Wilcox and Donnie McCaa. “Since then my dad and I have been fortunate enough to have hunted with them and I’ve been able to learn and pick up little tricks to help with my deer hunting and turkey calling,” Triston said. According to Triston’s father, Chris Duke, hunting together as father and son has been a great way to bring them closer together. “Though we are two different souls, there is so much commonality that is coming out, in many ways,” Chris said. “We both love seeing the sun rise and set, and the stillness of the morning right at the break of day before the world comes alive in the outdoors.” Triston added that hunting has allowed him to build a bond with his dad that will last forever. “When we are hunting, we are kind of competing, but no mat-
Triston Duke is an avid hunter who wants to share his love of hunting with other young people.
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Triston Duke started hunting from a very young age with his father, Chris Duke.
ter who gets the kill, he is proud of me and I’m proud of him,” Triston said. Chris began to instill the importance of gun safety in Triston from the very beginning. He taught him to respect the animals, the land and being selective when harvesting animals. Chris wanted Triston to understand that taking care of the land ensures the future of hunting for his generation and generations to come. “We also pray and give thanks after every harvest or hunt for the things provided in nature and the opportunity to share adventures together,” added Chris.
Triston Duke and Chris Duke with Triston’s first 11-point deer from last hunting season.
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Triston Duke’s great grandfather, Bud Duke, taught his dad to hunt. Triston was able to learn and hunt with his great grandfather too, until the age of 10. Triston is a sixth generation hunter.
Triston expressed how much he loves any hunting, but his favorite animals to hunt are deer and turkey. “My biggest deer so far is an 11 point,” Triston added. “I have been fortunate enough to kill several Eastern turkeys and this year I got my first Osceola turkey.” He has hope in the future that both he and his dad can complete the Grand Slam soon. “I would like to get my Grand Slam turkey hunting, which is the Eastern, Osceola, Miriam and Rio Grande turkeys,” Triston said. Triston has always wanted to share his love of hunting with other young people in the hopes that they would learn to love the outdoors, too. “There are so many opportunities to see God’s creation and anything is possible when you’re in the woods.”
HOW’S YOUR GARDEN BY LOIS TRIGG CHAPLIN
Prepping the Veggie Garden Peppers and late tomatoes are often at their best in late summer and early fall, so keep them watered and healthy to put on a big final crop. When space is limited, I trim lower leaves from the tall okra and set out broccoli, collards and kale transplants in the light shade between plants, which helps them bear the early September heat. Later, it is easy to take out the okra without disturbing the transplants by lopping the okra at ground level and lifting it out. It is also time to sow seeds of beets, carrots, radishes and turnips. Seeds sprout best if the soil is moist and not too warm; a board on top of the seed row helps; check under it daily and remove at the first sign of sprouting. This is also the month to decide which beds will rest until spring and prepare them for a winter cover crop such as clover, vetch, winter rye, wheat, Austrian pea or a mixture of these. Although it can become a weed if allowed to seed, winter rye works
wonders at adding organic matter because it has such a fibrous root system.
SIMPLE TIMES
Homemade Bouquet Garni
Evergreen herbs such as thyme, rosemary, bay and oregano have been growing all summer, so now is a good time to store them in little bundles (bouquet garni) to have handy for soups and stews. Tie several four- to six-inch lengths of each herb together with kitchen twine, which stands up to cooking, and let the bundle dry in an air-conditioned room. Once dry, bundles can go in the spice cabinet. They also make nice gifts, as packages of bouquet garni can be pricy when purchased in gourmet cook shops. My nephew, who sought my advice for his first herb garden this spring, created a “herb clothesline” in his kitchen. Of course, he started with Bonnie Plants!
THE CO-OP PANTRY
Make your own herb bundles for seasoning.
Count on These Daffodils
Late summer is a transition time for veggie gardens.
Daffodils are the most dependable spring bulbs in our area, but there are hundreds of varieties and not all of them are suited to our climate. However, many tried-and-true varieties have stood the test of time, multiplying and reblooming as years go by. The key is choosing named varieties that do well here and giving September 2020
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Now is the time to get daffodil bulbs.
them a bright place in the landscape – full sun or dappled shade. They won’t thrive in full shade. Which ones are best? Here are a few that have proven themselves in Alabama gardens: February Gold, Carlton, Ice Follies, Thalia, Earlicheer, Campernelle, Twin Sisters, Butter and Eggs, Italicus, Early Pearl and Avalanche. Don’t be tempted by beautiful pictures in catalogs from the North; many of those varieties just won’t bloom more than a year or two here. Although it is too early to plant yet, now is the time to buy bulbs. Get several dozen for the greatest impact. Plant in late November and December when the soil has cooled down, about the time our native oak trees are bare for the winter. After daffodils bloom in spring, never remove or knot their green foliage, just let it turn yellow and die down naturally as spring progresses. Those leaves soak up the sun, which is how the bulb produces the energy needed to multiply and rebloom.
several years to prune and train a tree to good fruiting size, each represents a rewarding, but significant investment. Choosing a variety involves choices about ultimate tree size, adaptability to pruning methods, general maintenance and disease resistance, season of maturity (late summer or fall), and keeping quality. But all of these are secondary to taste, because if you don’t like the taste, what’s the point of growing it, unless it’s for wildlife. Alabama gardeners may choose from European pears such as Warren, which are soft dessert pears that continue ripening after being picked. Or, Asian pears such as Shinko, which are crispy like an apple and must ripen on the tree for full flavor. Or, sand pears such as Hood, which generally have a very firm, often gritty texture that lends them mostly to cooking. Now is the time to do the homework for selecting the most suitable pear to plant this winter.
A Native Sunflower
It’s Pear-Tasting Time When pears begin fruiting, there is an opportunity to taste varieties before planting them. Because it takes
This native sunflower is all about fall.
A good pear tree is worth the wait.
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Cooperative Farming News
Swamp sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius) is a native perennial wildflower that lends itself to large sunny garden beds where you can just let it spread and form large clumps. It freezes back each winter, but comes back in the spring bigger and better than the year before as it spreads underground by rhizomes. The native species grows to about eight feet high, but can be cut back by half in June and will still bloom on time. It grows in fields, the edge of woods, and is often spotted in ditches and along the roadside in September and October. Although it is called swamp sunflower, once plants are established, they withstand dry weather.
THE HERB LADY
BY NADINE JOHNSON
NIGHTSHADES By now most of my readers are aware that I attend the Senior Nutritional Center in Daphne, Alabama. Often a remark at the lunch table prompts the topic for an upcoming column. Recently we were served a mixture of vegetables. As I started to eat, I remarked, “Somewhere along life’s way I have been told that we shouldn’t eat more than one member of the nightshade family in one meal.” My seating companions were stunned. They had never before heard of the nightshade family. I explained that potatoes (not sweet potatoes), tomatoes, peppers and eggplants are all nightshades. These vegetables were in the mixture we were enjoying. We’re all familiar with these nightshades as plants and as food. It seems that arthritis sufferers experience more pain after ingesting these foods. Possibly we experience less joint pain by eating only one nightshade food at a time. (I found information online which indicates this is true.) Nightshades are a rather large group of foods, herbs, trees, shrubs and even bedding plants with varied uses. I’ll list a few. Petunias, an annual bedding plant, provides us with a wonderful scent as well as beautiful colors. It’s food for the soul and needs no other introduction. Belladonna, also called Deadly Nightshade, means “beautiful woman.” This very toxic herb has been used as a medicine, cosmetic and poison. Once women used it as eye drops to dilate their pupils and make them glamorous. (A foolish practice, but women will go to any extreme for the sake of beauty.) At one time (and possibly still), belladonna drops were used by doctors to dilate pupils for eye testing. As a nurse, I was familiar with Scopolamine and Atropine. They are two medications derived from belladonna and used widely by doctors. Tobacco is a nightshade we are all very much aware of. I’m sure it has its good uses, but it also has its bad. There are many people who wish they had never used this very addictive and health-harming herb. Morning glories are one of the most beautiful flowers on earth, even though they can become pests in
some situations. Like petunias, morning glories are food for the soul. Bittersweet is a common weed of the nightshade family. It is a twining, woody vine with purple flowers and red seed. It is very pretty and also very poisonous. It adds beauty as a backdrop for a wildflower bed, but please watch children who might put these pretty seeds in their mouths. Jimson weed is also called datura and locoweed. This poisonous nightshade is evidently native to North America, but it has spread worldwide. Even though it is a toxic plant, beneficial medications are made from it. A few years ago, an ornamental variety of this herb was being displayed in many flower beds. This herb is also used in some religious rituals. About 35 years ago, we were entertained with the “Billy Jack” movies. I’ve always wondered if the hallucinogenic episodes Billy Jack experienced were triggered by ingesting locoweed. There was an area where this plant grew in the pasture on the farm where I grew up. The livestock avoided the area. Even the hogs, who will generally eat anything, would not touch it. This is just a sampling of the members of the nightshade family. Only a few are foods and a regular part of our diet. People with arthritis might want to be cautious about eating more than one nightshade in a single meal.
The Herb Lady Nadine Johnson
For Information on herbs or to order Nature’s Sunshine Products: P.O. Box 7425 Spanish Fort, AL 35677 or njherbal@gmail.com
Accepts Checks and Money Orders
September 2020
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Cooperative Farming News
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Cooperative Farming News
SIMPLE TIMES B Y S U Z Y M c C R AY
THE CO-OP PANTRY Front Porch Sitting
It has been said that all the disagreements in the world could probably be solved if the two main antagonists were forced to sit together on a Southern front porch on a lazy afternoon with a soft breeze blowing and an unlimited quantity of iced tea! That’s the way I began an article several years ago, but I believe it is even more true today. Even if you’re not responsible for solving the world’s problems, a little porch-sitting time may be just what you need in the craziness of this world. I’m a porch-sitter from way back. It started when I was just a toddler. As a little girl, our front porch featured a cool-to-my-bare-feet, red-painted concrete floor where my daddy patiently read the story of Jonah from his big, black Bible to me every Sunday morning to keep me busy while Mama got dressed for church. The second porch of my memory also began when I
was just a tiny child. The front porch of my Granny and Grandpa Inmon, who by then lived on a homestead in town, featured a blue-painted wooden floor with a white railing all around where Granny kept an unbelievable amount of flowers growing in clay pots and any other kind of can or jar she could find or collect! There were at least two metal rockers on that porch and a green creaky glider! After lunch, I’d be drowsy listening to the clank-clank-clank of Arthur Tidwell’s old basket-making factory just across the highway and down two lots. Mostly the grown-ups just talked and rocked. Sometimes we played counting games looking at cars moving up and down what was then a slow moving street. Whoever got the most blue cars or black trucks was usually the winner. Not as exciting as “kids today’s” video games but relaxing and fun back then. September 2020
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I’ve tried to have some sort of porch on every house I’ve lived in since then. And they are PORCHES to me and not decks or lanais. I’m not alone in my love for porches and sitting on them! There are Facebook groups dedicated to showcasing photos of comfortable porches from around the world and the joys of sitting on them. One called the Porch Sitting Union of America notes porches are “an oasis of calm in a busy day, the porch invites you to sit a spell until you’re ready to take on the world again.” Just about every house, especially in the South, once featured front and often back porches. There folks sat to endure the afternoon’s heat, shuck corn, shell peas, break beans, read books and more, or if you were younger to shoot marbles, play with your dolls or simply dream! What better place to while away a rainy afternoon than slowly moving in a wooden porch swing. Besides the Facebook pages, I’ve learned there are actually porch sitting groups across the world! It seems Claude Stephens, director of an arboretum in Louisville, Kentucky, by day and porch sitter every afternoon, decided in 1999 to found the Professional Porch Sitter’s Union Local 1339. His group had no motto and no written rules, just a “suggestion”: “Sit down a spell. That can wait.” After that, other “unions” and then the Facebook groups began springing up around the world. But my friend Alexandra Sandi Lett in North Carolina predates those groups by many years! She’s written newspaper columns and even books throughout her lifetime based on the premise of “just sit a spell” or “Let’s sit a spell!” Some folks say that “just sitting” is a sign of laziness, but I wholeheartedly disagree! I can remember my daddy coming to the back porch after a long afternoon of working in the Alabama heat in the garden, taking off his work boots and socks while sitting in a rocker on the back porch and wiggling his toes in the cool air while he enjoyed a bowl of his favorite homemade ice cream. No laziness there!
• High-quality forage • Excellent reseeding • Tolerates continuous grazing • Fills the gap between crimson & summer grass • Grows in sandy loam to clay
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Cooperative Farming News
As many of my regular readers know, when several years ago I dreamed about moving my farm’s tiny general store to a building beside our house, in my dream the store HAD to have a tin-roofed porch! My son and his friends and I built that porch when I moved into the tiny store later that year. The following year, I screened in that porch myself using my miter saw to cut the twoby-fours for the framing! And then some of you may also remember how that porch held magic! Mack showed up one Saturday afternoon to buy jelly and we wound up sitting on that little porch and talking, facing each other in the two rocking chairs, for almost three hours! We had known each other practically all our lives, but we hadn’t really sat and discussed our lives since we were eighth-grade sweethearts ... not until that Saturday afternoon on that little porch! In the years since that time, Mack has really made a physical difference on this farm, using his building skills to fulfil things I’d only dreamed about. But the front porch presented a problem. It was the usual narrow porch built onto a 1960s ranch-style house. Big enough for a few chairs, but not much else. He considered widening that porch and extending the front roof on out. Then after he’d built a special room for our elderly cats in the barn, he took a good look at the long porch, which is about 27-by-10. Through the years it had sagged until it was more than five inches lower than it was supposed to be! After much figuring and calculations, and more than a few trips to the building supply store, he jacked up the roof, jacked up the floor, replaced all sorts of things in the framing I don’t understand and rebuilt everything else! It’s basically a new, big porch with the same roof, but now with no sagging! We can sit on it and observe the barn, greenhouse, animals, back pasture, garden and more! I could have even taken my laptop out there to write this article, BUT you know a porch is not really a place to do actual “work” (shelling peas, etc., is not THAT kind of work!) But to me a porch almost takes on a sacred aspect. In Mark 6:31, Jesus tells His disciples to leave the busy crowds and, paraphrasing, to come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest. So, turn off your TV, put down your phone or tablet. Grab a glass of iced tea or spring water, and just go and “sit a spell” on your porch, your balcony or even your front steps. I can almost guarantee you will feel better in your soul! (Suzy and her husband Mack strive to live a simple life on a small homestead in Blount County. She can be reached through their Facebook page or at suzy.mccray@yahoo.com.)
HOWLE’S HINTS B Y J O H N H OW L E
THE
September HERB FARMER Savvy
HOW’S YOUR GARDEN “They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” Ben Franklin
SIMPLE TIMES
September is a transition month. It’s that bridge between muggy summer days and autumn. This is also a great month to plan your fall plantings, determine which weaned heifers are going to be the best producers and which spots to hunt during deer season. The harvest is in the barn and the canned summer vegetables are on the shelf, so now it’s time to make plans for autumn.
What to plant
THE CO-OP PANTRY
Deciding what forage to plant in your pastures and food plots is easy when you break down the numbers. White clover is a great cool-season crop to either plant alone in food plots or with companion crops such as winter annuals. The nodules on the root system of clover fix nitrogen and since this nitrogen is available
Clover fixes nitrogen and comes back year after year if properly maintained. It also makes a great companion crop.
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to other plants, this makes it a great companion crop with winter wheat, oats and ryegrass. A good stand of white clover throughout your pasture or food plot can produce over $60 worth of nitrogen per acre. Since it is available in organic form, there is no waste of the nitrogen through leaching or washing during rains. In addition, both deer and livestock love clover, so it’s a safe bet for any grass eater. It’s not uncommon for stands of white clover in my area to come back year after year for many seasons.
Rotate Regularly This time of year, we should be especially careful not to overgraze pastures. The taller the grass can grow, the more the root systems can go down deeper to find water. If the roots are continually clipped off, the roots will die back. Allow cattle to rotationally graze in paddocks as much as possible. Simply dividing a previously undivided pasture into four paddocks can increase grazing efficiency from 30% to 60% if the cattle are removed before the grass gets down to 4 inches high. Another consideration is reserving pasture for stockpiling grazing in wintertime. If you can go into the winter with abundant forage, the taller growth acts as an insulator for the soil. In addition, the
Crossouts are great for attaching barbed wire to trees and they keep the tree from eating the wire.
thicker forage holds more moisture, prevents run off and contributes to growth even in the cooler months.
Fence Tips
Rotate cattle before they graze forage below four inches. This keeps the root system from dying back.
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When it’s time to put up a new pasture fence, whether it’s for cross-fencing for rotational grazing purposes or a perimeter fence, a few tricks can save you time. First, pick your path. If you are going through a wooded area, attaching the barbed wire to trees can save you money. In most cases, away from public roads and if the grazing will be adequate, you can get by with a four-strand barbed wire fence. Roll out the first strand of wire around the perimeter of the proposed fence. Once this strand is tightened and attached to your trees and posts, it serves as a chalk line for the remaining three strands. Whenever you are attaching to a tree, a common problem is the tree eating the wire over time. To remedy this, attach a treated plank to the tree vertically, and staple the strands to this treated plank. Some hardware stores and lumber yards receive big shipments of lumber, and cross outs are used to go between the stacks. These treated cross outs are ideal
for attaching to the tree where you can then attach the barbed wire stands to the cross outs. This will prevent the wire from growing into the tree.
H-Brace Tip Typically, when you put up a gate, you will have an H-brace on each side of the gate. This prevents the tension of the wire from pulling the gate posts in the direction of the wire. For an H-brace, you simply put two vertical posts in the ground with a horizontal cross post toward the top. Drill a pilot hole and drive a spike through each vertical post into the horizontal post. To keep the H-brace secure, a diagonal section of barbed wire can be attached from the bottom of the post on the gate side to the top of the post on the opposite side looped all the way around the posts. Stretch this wire around both posts, and use a section of rebar to twist the wire until it is tight. Finish the process by attaching the rebar to the top horizontal post with a staple to hold the tension of the twisted wire in place. Try shooting your rifle with both eyes open. This allows you to cover more visual territory and allows you shooting with the dominant eye.
Straight Shooting If you have some September down time, take an afternoon and practice your rifle shooting skills. With the upcoming winter, you might find yourself having to take a shot at a running coyote or deer. Try getting on the target with both eyes open when you shoot and keep your scope adjusted to the lowest power. If the power is adjusted too high, you’ll have a hard time getting on the target for a quick shot. Using both eyes allows you to make use of peripheral vision and shoot with your dominant eye. This September, get out and enjoy the outdoors whether it’s walking through a herd of cattle or scouting for deer sign.
An H-brace keeps the fence tight and prevents posts from pulling in the direction of tension.
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THE MAGIC OF GARDENING
Fall is for Gardening
Vegetable gardening of some sort can be done almost year-round in Alabama, but fall is an often-neglected season for Alabama gardeners. Sometimes our garden enthusiasm starts to diminish toward the dog days of summer, but fall is a great time for some of our most nutritious vegetables. In Alabama, late August and September are the main planting times for a fall garden. Depending on your specific location, you may need to adjust the planting dates. For a more accurate planting schedule, determine the average date of the first killing frost in the fall, and then count backward from the frost date, using the number of days to maturity to determine the best time to plant in your area. This time of year is perfect for growing lettuce, kale and spinach. Other vegetables people can grow during the fall include carrots, radishes, broccoli and cauliflower. These vegetables don’t grow in the heat of Alabama summers but, as the weather cools, they are at their best. All of these veggies do best in full sun, but they will produce with as little as five or six hours of direct light. If you are gardening where the summer vegetables were planted and they were properly fertilized, you may not need to make an initial preplant fertilizer application. If not, you can apply one to two pounds of a complete fertilizer such as 10-10-10 per 100 square feet of bed space. Be sure to mix in the fertilizer. 54
Cooperative Farming News
Fall can be an especially dry time of the year; so regular watering will be needed in most years. Leafy vegetables will benefit from another application of fertilizer (especially nitrogen) about three to six weeks after planting. About ½ cup in a 25-foot-long
B Y T O N Y G L OV E R
bed using ammonium nitrate is enough so be careful when applying potent fertilizers. According to Auburn University Horticulturist Dr. Joe Kemble, it is common for insects and diseases to be even more abundant in the fall, due to a buildup in their populations during the spring and summer. You may be able to keep these pests at tolerable levels if you follow a few strategies. Strive to keep fall vegetables healthy and actively growing because healthy plants are less susceptible to insects and diseases. Check the plants frequently for insect and disease damage. If significant damage is detected, use an approved pesticide. Since most of the fall vegetables do not require insect pollination, you might consider using an insect exclusion netting to keep bugs away from the plants. Some of these products may serve a secondary purpose of frost protection by adding a second layer. They also make a heavier material called row covers that are made just for frost protection. They are likely too heavy and may block out too much light to be used for insect exclusion. Don’t miss out on the coolest time of the year to work in the garden. The days may still be a little too warm, but hopefully the evenings will provide better conditions to get out of doors and get some exercise while growing a healthy crop of fall vegetables. September 2020
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FOOD SAFETY
IMPROVE YOUR VENISON COOKING
Deer season is almost underway and many spouses who have never prepared it have lots of questions as to how to prepare the meal to remove the gamey taste. If processed and prepared properly, deer meat tastes just as good as other any other meat and in most cases is much healthier because it is much leaner. Wild animals such as deer, which are constantly on the move and never feed under artificial conditions, have meat with a higher ratio of protein to fat than that of domestic animals. For example, while you may see venison with some distinct fat layering, you will never see it marbled with fat. Apart from the favorable ratio of protein to fat in the meat of game animals, it also contains certain necessary minerals, in fairly generous amounts. All the red meats are good sources of phosphorus and iron (but not of calcium). Of the 15 different minerals required for human nutrition, most game meat (notably venison) contains sodium, potassium and magnesium, as well as traces of calcium, cobalt, zinc, manganese and aluminum. What the hunter does with the meat he has bagged is another question, and not too infrequently the answer to that question creates a bad image for game meat. 56
Cooperative Farming News
Immediate and proper handling of the kill is most important in not only how the meat will taste but also how the nonhunters of the family will react to it. Aside from proper techniques of handling, cleanliness is important, from both the practical and psychological viewpoint. A perennial complaint from the female nonhunter, who is ultimately asked to prepare the meat, is about the careless manner in which the animal is handled, transported and processed. Once you understand this attitude, it is not difficult to understand why so much excellent food has gone to waste, just because the cook was unwilling to work with it. Finally, the cook should understand that the meat from all species of wild animals does not taste the same. Some animals such as deer, caribou, elk and moose are somewhat similar to beef in their taste, texture and cooking requirements. Others such as beaver and bear are somewhat similar to pork. The flavor of game meat can even vary within a species, depending upon the age of the animals, the type of diet it lived on, and – to perhaps belabor a point –how it was handled after being killed. After processing it properly, it’s up to the cook to prepare it properly.
B Y A N G E L A T R E A D AWAY
HINTS
Here are some hints to make your next venison meal as delicious as it should be: • Older deer will likely be drier and tougher than younger deer. Cooking methods can be varied accordingly. • You can make almost any meat tender by cooking it in some water over very low heat until it is done. High heat toughens meat and may dry it out. • Soaking meat in salt, vinegar and water for several hours will remove the gamey taste. • To season venison, various combinations of marjoram, thyme, parsley, garlic or onions may be used. • Marinades tenderize and enhance and may disguise gamey flavors. The following 4 suggestions can be used as marinades: • Vinegar, wine or wine vinegar (to cover a roast or steak). • French or Italian salad dressing. • Tomato sauce, undiluted tomato soup, tomato juice (the acid of the juice has a tenderizing effect on the meat). • Pickle, orange, lemon or grapefruit juice. • Juniper berries can be used in small amounts in marinades; just make sure you know how to correctly identify the juniper berry. • Always start out with the simpler recipes until you have mastered them, then move on to more complex recipes. • To moisten the meat, because it is so lean, you could use one of the following: • Bacon slices (wrapped around the meat before cooking). • Light cooking oil (take a brush and brush it lightly over whole surface). • Other additives that can be used to enhance the flavor are salt, pepper, onion, celery, vinegar, soy and/ or Worcestershire.
RECIPES Venison Chili 2 pounds ground venison Salt and pepper, to taste Vegetable or olive oil 1 package chili seasoning 1 bottle chili sauce 2 16-ounce cans pinto or kidney beans 2 16-ounce cans diced tomatoes Season and cook meat with salt and pepper in a skillet with a little vegetable or olive oil. Add meat in Crock-Pot and pour in other ingredients and mix. Cook on high for 2 hours or low for 4 hours.
Venison Steak and Onions Venison steak, sliced into thin strips 1/4 cup oil 1/2 cup chopped onions 1 1/4 cups water 1 Tablespoon beef or chicken bouillon granules 1 can mushrooms, drained 1 Tablespoon flour 3/4 cup water Egg noodles, prepared by container directions Brown steak in hot oil. Combine onions, water and bouillon in a saucepan and boil till onions are tender: Pour over meat. Simmer until meat is done. Add mushrooms and heat. Combine flour and water, and add to mixture. Cook until thickened. Serve over egg noodles. For more questions concerning cooking of venison or other wild game, please contact your local County Extension Office or Regional Extension Agent Angela Treadaway at 205-669-6763 or 205410-3696. September 2020
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Cooperative Farming News
THE CO-OP PANTRY B Y M A RY D E L P H
It is coming up on hunting time. I hope that you enjoy the wildlife recipes below. - Mary
Crockpot Moose Roast 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil 4 pounds moose roast 1 (1-ounce) envelope dry onion soup mix 2 cups apple juice Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the roast on all sides in the hot oil. Remove and transfer to a Crock-pot. Sprinkle onion soup mix over the roast, then pour in the apple juice. Cover and cook on medium for 6 to 8 hours, or until meat is very tender. Check occasionally to make sure there is sufficient liquid and add more juice if necessary. Serve roast with juices, or make a tasty gravy with them. See next recipe.
Meat-Dripping Gravy
2 Tablespoons pan drippings 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 cup milk 1 cup water 1 pinch salt and pepper, to taste Immediately after removing meat from a roasting pan or other pan, drain off the drippings, reserving 2 tablespoons. Sprinkle the flour over the reserved drippings; cook and stir over medium heat until brown. Gradually stir in milk, whisking with a fork to scrape up all of the meaty bits from the pan; then gradually whisk in the water. Increase the heat to medium-high, and cook, stirring constantly, until the gravy thickens, about 10 minutes. Taste, and season with salt and pepper.
Wild Duck Gumbo 2 wild ducks, cut up 1/2 cup canola oil 2/3 cup all-purpose flour 1 pound smoked sausage, sliced 2 cups onion, chopped 1 1/2 cups green pepper, chopped 1 1/2 cups celery, sliced 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley, minced 1 Tablespoon garlic, minced 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can stewed tomatoes 2 bay leaves September 2020
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2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 2 quarts water Hot cooked rice In a Dutch oven over medium heat, brown duck in batches in oil. Remove and set aside. Discard all but 2/3 cup drippings. Add flour to drippings; cook and stir over medium heat until brown, 12-14 minutes. Add sausage, onion, green pepper, celery, parsley and garlic. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the next eight ingredients. Add duck; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 60-75 minutes or until duck is tender. Remove duck. Cool, debone and cut into chunks; return to pan. Simmer 5-10 minutes or until heated through. Remove bay leaves. Serve with rice.
breast skin-side down into the butter; sprinkle the underside with salt and pepper, and let the skin brown for about 5 minutes. Turn it over and add the stock. Cover with foil or a lid and transfer to the oven. In a separate skillet, melt the 4 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Whisk in the honey until well incorporated. Add the whiskey along with the orange juice, orange rind and cayenne, and whisk together. Set on low heat and let the mixture reduce by half. Turn off the heat and set aside. Once the turkey has cooked for 10 minutes, brush with half of the glaze and cover with the foil. 20 minutes later, brush the remaining glaze on, leave the foil off and increase the temperature to 400 F. Cook for 15-20 minutes more, or until the internal temperature reads 140-150 F. Remove the turkey from the oven. Cover with foil and let sit for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Quail With Rice 4 bacon strips, halved 8 quail (about 2 pounds) 1 cup shredded carrots 1/2 cup green onions, sliced 1/2 cup fresh parsley, minced 2 1/2 cups chicken broth 1 cup uncooked long grain rice 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning
Whiskey-Glazed Wild Turkey Breast 6 Tablespoons butter, divided 1 turkey breast, skin-on and brined Salt and pepper, to taste 1 cup turkey stock 3 Tablespoons honey 6 Tablespoons whiskey 1 Tablespoon grated orange rind 2 Tablespoons orange juice 1/2 teaspoon cayenne Heat the oven to 325 F. In an ovenproof skillet or Dutch oven, heat 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-high until it begins to bubble. Sprinkle the skin of the turkey breast with salt and pepper. Place the 60
Cooperative Farming News
In a large skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until partially done. Remove bacon; drain, reserving 2 tablespoons drippings. Brown quail in drippings. Remove and keep warm. SautĂŠ carrots, onions and parsley in drippings until tender. Add broth, rice, salt and lemon-pepper; bring to a boil. Place quail over rice; place one bacon strip on each. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 25-30 minutes or until the rice is tender and 1 4/10/20 12:27 PM quail is1-8Pg_AnchorPkg_CustomEggCartons3.pdf cooked.
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50TH ANNUAL ST. WILLIAM SEAFOOD FESTIVAL September 5, 2020 Guntersville - Civitan Park 7:30 a.m. Call 256-582-4245 OLD TIMER'S FESTIVAL September 5, 2020 Pisgah - 15107 AL HWY 71 Call 256-451-3640
ADVANCED RIGGING CLASS September 1-2, 2020 Fort Payne - True Adventure Sports Call 256-997-9577 FALL SCARECROW TRAIL September 1 - October 31, 2020 Huntsville - Huntsville Botanical Garden - Admission Monday - Friday: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Saturday: Noon - 5:00 p.m. Call 800-930-4447 BASICS CLIMBING CLASS September 3, 2020 Fort Payne - True Adventure Sports Call 256-997-9577 AOHA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP HORSE SHOW September 3-6, 2020 Montgomery - Admission Call 334-234-2925 MOUNTAIN TRAILS 50 MILE YARD SALE September 3-7, 2020 Section - Hwy 71/73 from Section to Bryant - 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Call 256-632-2340 LABOR DAY WEEKEND September 4-7, 2020 Foley - OWA Call 251-923-2111 AUTUMN FLOWER SHOW September 4-27, 2020 Wetumpka - Jasmine Hill Gardens and Outdoor Museum - Admission Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 64 Cooperative Farming News
BATTLE FOR DECATUR September 5-6, 2020 Decatur - Point Mallard Park 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Battle at 2:00 p.m. Call 800-524-6181 NAT KING COLE SOCIETY JAZZ FESTIVAL September 6, 2020 Montgomery - Riverwalk Amphitheater - Admission 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. Call 334-229-4708 ARTS IN THE PARK-ARTS SUNDAY September 6, 2020 Scottsboro - King-Caldwell Park Admission - 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Call 256-259-1056 24TH ANNUAL SWEET TATER FESTIVAL September 6-7, 2020 Cullman - Smith Lake Park Sunday: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Monday: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Call 256-739-2916 KEY UNDERWOOD COON DOG CEMETERY LABOR DAY CELEBRATION September 7, 2020 Cherokee - 4945 Coondog Cemetery Road - 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Call 256-412-2149 2020 RAPPEL BASICS CLASS September 7, 2020 Fort Payne - True Adventure Sports Call 256-997-9577 LABOR DAY FAIR September 7, 2020 Seale - Old Russell County
Courthouse - 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Call 334-298-6426 29TH ANNUAL LABOR DAY CELEBRATION & MOON PIE EATIN’ CONTEST September 7, 2020 McCalla - Tannehill Iron Works Historical State Park - Admission Call 205-477-5711 SECTION LABOR DAY FESTIVAL September 7, 2020 Section - Section Community Park 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Call 256-574-1330 SHOALS AREA LABOR DAY FESTIVAL September 7, 2020 Tuscumbia - Spring Park 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Call 256-283-0783 2020 RESCUE RAPPEL CLASS September 9, 2020 Fort Payne - True Adventure Sports Admission Call 256-997-9577 ALABAMA FORGE COUNCIL FALL CONFERENCE September 10-13, 2020 McCalla - Tannehill State Park Call 256-232-2645 OKA KAPASSA NATIVE AMERICAN INDIAN FESTIVAL September 11-12, 2020 Tuscumbia - Spring Park Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Call 256-383-0783 COMMUNITY FAIR September 12, 2020 Arab - Arab City Park 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Call 256-586-3138 FAYETTE ARTS FESTIVAL September 12, 2020 Fayette - Guthrie Smith Park 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Call 205-932-8727 ALABAMA WOMEN IN JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL September 12, 2020 Huntsville - UAH West Lawn Amphitheater - Addmission
3:00 - 7:00 p.m. Call 256-262-7911 LEESBURG DAY September 12, 2020 Leesburg - Town Park 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Call 256-526-8890 TINGLEWOOD FESTIVAL September 12, 2020 Montevallo - Orr Park 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Call 205-665-1519 CANINES, CAMELS, CATS & CRITTER WAGON TOUR OF OLD CAHAWBA September 12, 2020 Orrville - Old Cahawba Archeological Park - Admission - 10:00 a.m. Call 334-872-8058 FRANTIC FROG TRIATHLON September 12, 2020 Scottsboro - Goose Pond Colony Admission Call 256-574-3127 MASSACRE ISLAND'S PIRATE SIEGE September 12-13, 2020 Dauphin Island - Historic Fort Gaines 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Admission Call 251-861-6992 MONTE SANO ART FESTIVAL September 12-13, 2020 Huntsville - Monte Sano Park 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Call 256-519-2787 BASICS PADDLING CLASS September 14, 2020 Fort Payne - True Adventure Sports Admission Call 256-997-9577 KAYAK ROLL CLASS September 15, 2020 Fort Payne - True Adventure Sports Admission Call 256-997-9577 CATASTROPHE CLASS September 16, 2020 Fort Payne - True Adventure Sports Admission Call 256-997-9577
RACKING HORSE WORLD CELEBRATION September 18-26, 2020 Decatur - Morgan County Celebration Arena - Admission - 6:00 p.m. Call 800-524-6181 TRAIL OF TEARS COMMEMORATIVE MOTORCYCLE RIDE September 19, 2020 Bridgeport - Bridgeport to Waterloo 8:00 a.m. Call 678-743-3868 BOOM DAYS HERITAGE CELEBRATION September 19, 2020 Fort Payne - Downtown 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Call 256-845-3957 ANNUAL COASTAL CLEAN UP September 19, 2020 Gulf Shores - Various Locations 8:00 a.m. - Noon Call 251-928-9792 GRAPE STOMP September 19, 2020 Harpersville - Morgan Creek Vineyard Admission - 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Call 205-672-2053 DEPOT DAYS FESTIVAL September 19, 2020 Hartselle - Various Locations Call 800-294-0692 LEEDS FALL FESTIVAL & JOHN HENRY CELEBRATION September 19, 2020 Leeds - Downtown 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Call 205-699-5001 HANK WILLIAMS’ 97TH BIRTHDAY SHINDIG September 19, 2020 Montgomery - Hank Williams Museum - Admission 8:45 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Call 334-262-3600 RED BAY FOUNDERS FESTIVAL September 19, 2020 Red Bay - Bay Tree Park 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Call 256-356-4473
EVA FRONTIER DAYS September 20-26, 2020 Eva - Eva School and Eva Bank Call 256-796-7023 HOMESTEAD HOLLOW ARTS & CRAFTS HARVEST FESTIVAL September 25-27, 2020 Springville - Homestead Hollow Admission Call 205-467-2002 TOWN OF OAK GROVE FALL FESTIVAL October 1, 2020 Oak Grove - Downtown Call 256-249-9971 ANNUAL HARVEST FESTIVAL October 2-3, 2020 Boaz - Main Street 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Call 256-593-8154 THE PARK AFTER DARK October 4, 2020 Foley - OWA - Admission Call 251-933-2111
***Please note that some of these events may be postponed or canceled due to COVID-19. Please contact the event directly in order to find out more information about the event.*** “What’s Happening in Alabama” Policy The AFC Cooperative Farming News publishes event listings as space allows, giving preference to agricultural events of regional or statewide interest and those that are annual or one-time events. The magazine assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of information submitted for publication and advises calling ahead to confirm dates, locations, times and possible admission fees. To be included in the calendar, send listings to: Cooperative Farming News Calendar of Events P.O. Box 2227 Decatur, AL 35609 -oremail to Calendar of Events at subscribe@alafarm.com *Please include name of event, where it will be held (both town and physical location), a phone number for more information, and an email or website.* *Event Listings must be received at least two months in advance and will be accepted up to a year in advance.*
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