|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
General Contact: NEWS RELEASE -
September 7, 2010 For More Information, contact:
Exodus of rural youth
puts communities in jeopardy Soldier, Kansas - The precious national resource that is rural America is in peril and Weldon Sleight is trying to do something about it. It’s not the grass-covered hillsides, nor the cornfields, nor those amber waves of grain that the dean of the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture is most concerned with — it is the young people born and raised out beyond the city limits sign. “We can ride it out until it’s all gone or we can do something about it,” Sleight told Kansas Rural Center board members and their guests recently at Soldier, Kan. “Somehow, rural folks have to stand up and say we are not going to lose our kids to the city any longer.” Citing statistic after statistic that track the rural-to-urban exodus in Nebraska as well as Kansas, the veteran educator outlined his strategy for keeping young people on the farm and in the rural communities that nurtured them. Entrepreneurship is the key to providing opportunities for rural youth, he asserted, and that approach has been incorporated into the curriculum at Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, located in the small town of Curtis in western Nebraska. The school’s 100-Beef Cow Ownership Advantage Program was Sleight’s first volley in the battle to revolutionize agricultural education. With a goal of preparing students to be farm and ranch owners rather than hired hands, the effort begins with a contractual agreement between a student and an established cowherd owner. Essentially, the student utilizes a low-interest loan through USDA’s Beginning Farmer-Rancher Program to purchase 100 cows and trades his or her labor to the rancher in return for hosting those cows. In addition to completing educational requirements, the young person is able to build the herd up to 300-or-so head in a 10-year period. At that point, he or she has the collateral to obtain financing for an independent operation. And instead of leaving the farm, the rural community gains a new business. “We are at a critical crossroads,” Sleight told Kansas Rural Center board members. “I want ranch and farm ground to be owned by families, not corporations.” Sleight’s strategy for preserving the vitality of rural America also involves programs aimed at other types of farming as well as any sort of rural-based business. Additionally, he supports that effort with an outreach program offering agricultural education classes at 27 Nebraska high schools. And along with furthering the understanding of agriculture’s pivotal role, Sleight aims to instill in young people a desire to remain part of rural America and its communities. “Somehow, we have to teach community pride,” he said. “We have to show them the reasons why they should come back home after college. We have to show them the opportunities.” Instilling community pride cannot be limited to young people, however. “It kills me when people drive 40 miles to go to Wal Mart when their local hardware store is about to close,” he noted, urging rural folks to support rural businesses. The educator believes that his strategy, which has dramatically boosted enrollment at Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, does not have to be limited to farms and ranches. Rural communities are also losing their town doctors, pharmacists, mechanics and a whole host of positions that, once empty, tend to remain that way. “When (those people) retire, that’s it,” Sleight said. “Instead of identifying a young person in the community and showing them how they could come back to fill that role, we lose an important part of the community.” He urged people in all aspects of rural life to consider creative ways in which they can pass on their businesses — and their roles — in and outside small town America. “Communication is the most important thing,” Sleight emphasized. “There are ways to ensure succession but they key is you’ve got to do it before you die. … In other words, you have to plan for it, you have to have vision.” Sleight isn’t against rural community efforts to bring in new businesses from outside that community. “We ought to do all we can to get those (high-tech) jobs in our rural communities,” he said. That approach, however, is not the answer, Sleight believes. Asserting that agriculture is central to both local and state economies, he insisted that it is critical to “go back to our base.” That base is agriculture and Sleight emphasized the extreme importance of groups such as the Kansas Rural Center in fostering and promoting rural and agricultural development. Urging all rural people to get involved, he reiterated his belief that efforts should be directed toward the young people of rural America. “Somehow,” he said, “you have to put your arm around them and bring them home.” Sleight spoke at the Kansas Rural Center summer board meeting August 28 in an afternoon presentation open to the public. He also addressed a group of KRC board members and northeast Kansas farmers and ranchers that evening focusing on not only the economic development issues but livestock profitability. The Kansas Rural Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and enhancing an economically viable, environmentally sound and socially sustainable agriculture through public policy and educational efforts. For more information on the Kansas Rural Center and the resources it offers farm families and their communities, log onto the Center’s web site: www.kansasruralcenter.org
### NEWS RELEASE -
August 18, 2010
For More Information, Contact: Whiting, Ks.- Rural development and how to engage the next generation in farming, ranching, and rural communities will be the topic for the keynote speaker at a special presentation during the Kansas Rural Center’s summer board meeting on August 28. Weldon Sleight, dean of the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture at Curtis, Nebraska, will be the afternoon speaker starting at 1:30 p.m. at Red Rock Guest Ranch near Soldier, Kansas. Sleight will also speak at 7 p.m. the same night at Red Rock Guest Ranch focusing his second presentation of the day on Beef Cattle Profitabilty, Production and Management from research at the University of Nebraska’s Research and Extension’s Sandhills Laboratory. He will also share his experiences and ideas on bringing the next generation into farming and ranching during that presentation. Dr. Sleight has been instrumental in bringing entrepreneurship into the curriculum at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, a part of the University of Nebraska, with the development of the “100 Beef Cow Ownership Advantage Program”, “100 Acre Farm Program”, and the NCTA Business Builder Program. Each of these programs is designed to provide NCTA students with an early entry into agriculture or business enterprise as a partner/owner that will lead to eventual ranch, farm or rural business ownership. For example, The “100 Cow Herd Upon Graduation Program” combines several existing beginning farmer programs with training programs at the college, and aims to give graduates an opportunity to build enough income so they can eventually take over or start a farm or ranch, as well as build cattle numbers in the state. “My passion,” states Sleight, “is to help communities engage their youth before they leave for college or other endeavors with the intent that they return home to be partners/employees in farms, ranches, and rural main street businesses.” Sleight’s afternoon presentation will follow the Kansas Rural Center board’s morning business meeting. Both the 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. presentations are open to the public and should be of special interest to rural and economic development officials, FFA sponsors, and anyone interested in revitalizing rural communities through investing in our agricultural base. Supper reservations can also be made for a 6 p.m. supper prior to the evening presentation for $10 per person. Contact KRC at 785-873-3431 or ddysart@rainbowtel.net for more information on supper reservations. Also, check KRC’s website at www.kansasruralcenter.org for updates. Directions to Red Rock Guest Ranch at 4340 270th Road, Soldier, Ks.: Follow Highway 16 west from Holton 12 miles to Highway 62. Turn north and go 5 miles to Soldier. Turn east and go 1.5 miles to the ranch. The Kansas Rural Center is a private, non-profit advocacy and education organization promoting sustainable agriculture and a local and regional food system.
###
NEWS RELEASE -
July 8, 2010
For More Information, Contact: By Mark Parker Soldier, Kansas--Meat producers who have broken away from the commodity herd are headed down a trail that can lead to profitability—as long as financial savvy guides their efforts. Addressing more than 30 family farmers from across eastern Kansas recently, Jim Munsch advised growers to begin by identifying who their customers are and what they want. The Wisconsin organic beef producer and business consultant led the recent Growing Your Farm Profits workshop presented by the Kansas Rural Center near Soldier, Kansas. A growing number of consumers, Munsch told the farmers, want more than just sustenance from the meat they buy. The meat that alternative market farmers offer can include a variety of “extras.” It could be grass-fed or organic, it could come from a farm focusing on animal welfare or it might simply originate from a known, local farm, Munsch said. And just as those factors affect value, he noted, they also impact the cost of production as well as the price of the product. “We have to determine the parameters of value,” said Munsch, whose certified organic Deer Run Farm markets beef through a large organic vegetable CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) coalition. “Whether it’s organic, grass-finished, or focused on animal welfare, those things have value to certain consumers but you have to determine what they’ll pay above the price of more traditional products. “At that point, figure your costs to determine profitability. If you can’t make a profit, then you have to go back and make modifications. Ultimately, if you can’t find a way to profit, you’ll be faced with the decision of abandoning the enterprise or simply regarding it as a hobby.” The good news for direct meat marketers is that, to a significant degree, pricing is more manageable than it is in traditional markets. Those “extras” in the basket of goods and services become part of the business, Munsch said. Each must be performed well and at a cost that’s less than the price the product commands. “The tricky thing is that there is no formula for determining price,” he said. “You have to be in the marketplace and engaged with your customers and, ultimately, make a judgment call on the value of (your product).” “The U.S. has the cheapest food in the world so consumers have room to spend more of their disposable income on food if they choose,” Munsch continued. “Eighty-percent simply want food that’s cheap and safe. The rest want more than that and are willing to pay for it. There is a price premium that can flow back to the farmer if he or she can do a good job.” Surveys of his Grazier’s Organic customers, Munsch said, indicate that animal welfare currently ranks as the number one purchase motivator but those preferences are dynamic.” You have to know customers’ hot buttons,” he explained. “Those can change so it’s important to find out what is important to them and how your product stacks up.” Munsch cautioned, however, that as value and price go up, demand falls because the market becomes smaller. He emphasized that accurately tracking all costs is imperative, suggesting that each expense be allocated to the appropriate enterprise. It is also important to remember, Munsch stressed, that the additional requirements of a more direct marketing scheme adds to cost. “You always hear people complaining about the middleman,” he said, “but you have to keep in mind that the middleman provides necessary services. Cut him out and you have to perform those (tasks) and they can become a big portion of your costs. You can’t take your eye off the ball on costs just because you’re selling in a higher priced market.” For Munsch, it comes down to measuring results, whether they are related to finances or production. “The more decision-making information you have the better,” he asserted. “Whether that information measures the quality of your product, the costs of production, or it gives you a better picture of why buyers buy—or why they don’t—is very valuable to you.” Workshop attendee David Heidebrink, who operates Heide-Way Farm at Wakefield, Kan., said there is an informational need among food growers. “There really isn’t a model for how to set prices so doing it right can be a challenge,” said Heidebrink who produces fruits, vegetables and herbs in addition to natural beef, pork and chicken. “Any help I can get on pricing and the financial aspects of this business is appreciated.” Likewise, John Bauman of Bauman’s Cedar Valley Farms near Garnett, Kan., expressed a desire for more management information. “This workshop could have lasted for two days and we wouldn’t have run out of things to talk about,” said Bauman, whose family produces pasture-raised eggs and poultry as well as grass-fed beef and lamb. “You can’t learn too much about either marketing or production. They’re both extremely important and you sure can’t have one without the other.” Aside from the financial aspects of alternative meat enterprises, Munsch offered food for thought for those attending the workshop. While urging producers to differentiate their product and to accentuate its positive aspects, he suggested that “talking down” more traditional meat production is unwise. “Remember this is not religion, this is not politics—this is marketing,” he said. “Talking bad about the rest of the industry reflects poorly on you, too. Spend your time talking about good things.” In addition to learning about positioning their farms to succeed, Grow Your Farm Profits participants received costing software tools Munsch is developing for USDA’s Risk Management Agency. For more information on the Kansas Rural Center and the resources it offers farm families, log onto the Center’s web site: www.kansasruralcenter.org - Mark Parker is a free-lance journalist working from Parsons, Ks.
See the Kansas Farmers' Market website for all the presentations from this workshop. ### NEWS
RELEASE - June 18, 2010
Contact: Martha Noble Under the proposed rules, independent family farmers who meet the same quality standards as mega feedlots must be paid the same price. Those standards must be transparent and made publicly available. "These rules are crucial to restoring a level playing field for independent family farmers" said Martha Noble, Senior Policy Associate with the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. "Undue and unjustified price preferences for industrial scale factory farms have caused substantial harm to markets, small and mid-sized farmers, and rural communities," said Noble. "Family farm advocates have called for an end to unjustified price preferences for decades and perhaps we have arrived at the point where the government will get serious about enforcing the law," added Noble. "We will be examining the details of the proposed rules carefully in the coming days to make sure they actually do what USDA is claiming they do." NSAC advocated for the inclusion of the directed rulemaking during congressional consideration of the 2008 Farm Bill and made promulgation of strong rules a major push with the new Administration from the start. The rule expands and clarifies the rights of independent producers to bring suit against packers for unfair and deceptive trade practices. Some Courts have required farmers to prove not only individual harm but also "competitive injury" to the market as a whole. In explaining their intent, USDA explains its view that an independent producer should not have to prove "competitive injury" to bring a suit for unfair practices. "It was critical for USDA to address the competitive harm issue," said Noble. "We applaud them for doing so, but will need to read the details of the rule before coming to an assessment of whether further strengthening might be necessary." The rule also expands the number and character of unfair practices that can be challenged which now include retaliatory actions, unjustified contract termination and refusal to share data needed to determine fair compensation. The rule dictates practices that will make packer transactions with other packers more transparent. Packers would be prohibited from selling to packers, a common way of sending price signals. Packer buyers could only buy for a single packer at auction and the purchasing packer must be clearly identified. The new rule made major reforms to the rules governing production contracts between poultry growers and processors. Processors must send sample production contracts to USDA within 10 days of execution. USDA may then post the contracts on line to improve transparency for growers. Contracts must be sufficient in length to allow the grower to recoup at least 80% of any significant capital improvements required by the contract, defined as an investment of $25,000 or more. To suspend the delivery of birds under an ongoing production contract, poultry processors must give farmers 90 days notice that they are being terminated. The Farm Bill also directed new rules governing arbitration provisions in poultry contracts. The Farm Bill gave growers the right to opt out of mandatory arbitration. Companies, however, have not been clear with growers about their right to opt out. The new rules require clear and conspicuous language in the contracts giving growers the right to opt in or out of arbitration. "While additional reforms, including a ban on packer ownership and feeding of livestock are necessary to ensure truly competitive markets, this rule represents a giant step forward for both independent livestock producers and contract poultry producers," according to Noble.
### NEWS
RELEASE - May 1, 2010 KANSAS RURAL CENTER JOINS PUBLIC TV PANEL ON “FOOD INC.” ON MAY 5 On Wednesday May 5, tune in to your local public television station in Kansas to see an evening devoted to the film “Food Inc” and a panel of Kansas agricultural leaders responding to the film. The panel, “Taking Stock: Perspectives on Food Production in Kansas”, features Kansas agricultural leaders including the Kansas Rural Center’s Executive Director Dan Nagengast, responding to “Food Inc.” which took on corporate/industrial agriculture and the food system. “Food Inc.” will be aired starting at 7 p.m. and runs about 90 minutes. On KTWU/Topeka it will be followed by a short locally produced program featuring related farm and food historical footage (also including KRC staff) at 8:30 p.m. The panel discussion will begin at 9.pm. “Food Inc.” has raised the hackles of some farm organizations and their members as being a harsh criticism of the American farmer and rancher. Others including consumers and sustainable agriculture advocates see it as a fair description of the corporate domination of an industry critical to everyone who eats, and that exploits the American farmer and rancher, as well as consumers. The film, which was released in June 2009, criticizes our highly concentrated food and agriculture industry, where our nation’s food supply is controlled from seed to plate by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of safety and consumer health. Public reaction to the film strikes the heart of the differences between industrial agriculture and a sustainable agriculture and food system . Food Inc. was shown on public television stations across the state in late April including KTWU/Topeka, KPTS /Wichita and Smoky Hills Public Television stations. To provide viewers with more information and discussion, KTWU/Topeka brought together several panelists to debate the claims of the documentary, including Josh Svaty, Secretary, Kansas Department of Agriculture; former Governor John Carlin and professor of political science at KSU, who also co-chaired the Pew Foundation’s Study on Confined Animal Feeding Operations; Mark Smith, president Kansas Livestock Association; Steve Baccus, president of Kansas Farm Bureau; Diana Endicott, Coordinator of Good Natured Family Farms; and Dan Nagengast, Director Kansas Rural Center. WIBW/Kansas Agriculture Network Farm Director Kelly Lenz will moderate. Tune in on Wednesday May 5 to your local PBS station!
### NEWS
RELEASE - April 22, 2010
INCREASING
HERD PERFORMANCE AND HEALTH HELPS BOTTOM LINE AND ENVIRONMENT Frankfort, Kansas—“Here in Eastern Kansas, we’re blessed with the amount of forages we can grow—and we have to work to select the forages we can use,” explained Gary Kilgore, Professor Emeritus, Kansas State University, at a recent “Improving Livestock Production Workshop” workshop in Frankfort. “Match the system to the animal,” he said. “Your goal as a livestock person is to match the requirements of the animal to the available forage.” Kilgore suggested selecting forages “best adapted to your farm’s soil and climate.” He said an effectively managed forage-based system is cheaper than putting up hay. “Grazing is less-costly if the nutritional needs of your animal are met.” He said a producer should utilize both warm and cool season grasses as well as the method of stockpiling forages to meet the animals’ requirements year-round. The result, he explained, is good animal performance and improved water quality due to adequate ground cover to control erosion and trap nutrients. “Think about the water quality aspect—there is no better protection than growing grass,” Kilgore said. Over 50 people attended the “Improving Livestock Production Workshop” on April 13, which was sponsored by Middle Kansas Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS); Tuttle Creek WRAPS; Kansas State University Research and Extension; Jackson and Pottawatomie County Conservation Districts, and the Kansas Rural Center. Dale Kirkham, field organizer with the Kansas Rural Center’s Clean Water Farms Project (CWFP) referred to the evening’s catered meal and asked if cows were being catered. “Are we going to cater to their needs?” he asked. “Let four legs and a rumen do the harvesting,” Kirkham suggested. He said the cow’s rumen is designed to graze and break down fibrous materials. Kirkham said a producer should think of ways to make a positive impact on the landscape while improving herd production and health. He said allowing the animals to graze year-round improves herd health by avoiding reduced gain due to mud; reduces occurrence of scours, and reduced stable fly population. It also improves water quality by controlling erosion and compaction, and distributing minerals across the landscape, he said. Jason Schmidt, CWFP field organizer, explained the services available through the Kansas Rural Center in connection with WRAPS. He said the components of the CWFP include: the River Friendly Farm Plan (RFFP) Environmental Assessment; limited cost-share funding, and grazing informationand education. According to Schmidt, the RFFP, which is voluntary and confidential, helps a farmer establish priorities on the farm. “It helps you decide what to tackle first,” he said. He said the CWFP can also connect producers with technical assistance to implement best management practices (BMPs) which improve water quality. Barbara Donovan, Coordinator of the Tuttle Creek WRAPS, explained the WRAPS program is a volunteer program that works with residents “to protect our water and soil.” She said a cost-share program is currently available to residents of the watershed with an extended deadline of June 1. For more information on the cost-share program, please contact Donovan at 651-247-8292 or email her at donovanmn@aol.com . Will Boyer, Watershed Specialist with Kansas University Research and Extension, said it is important to the bottom line of an operation to have an adequate supply of clean drinking water. “Reduced water consumption equals reduced feed consumption,” he said. “I’m not telling you to fence your streams out, instead look at developing another water source,” he said. He said, if possible, one should develop a water source in an underutilized portion of the pasture. Boyer also urged graziers to think about ways to improve grazing distribution in a pasture by strategic placement of mineral feeders, fly rub or gates. Dr. Larry Hollis, Extension Beef Veterinarian with Kansas State University, presented a spring health calendar for cattle herds—included are pre-breeding shots that build immunity to prevent Lepto-Vibrio, abortions and non-bred cows, as well as protection from scours in newborn calves. Hollis prefers modified vaccine over killed for improved immunity; as long as the cows are not pregnant when the vaccine is administered. Calves should be vaccinated, dehorned, and castrated priot to be ing sent to grass. He also recommended checking herd bulls and having semen evaluated. After such a harsh winter, Hollis said the occurrence of frost-bite on a bull’s scrotum can lead to the inability to breed. He also suggested marking cows that are in poor body condition, weaning their calves early and culling them from the herd. “This saves bull power,” he said. Hollis said to use caution when buying used bulls due to trichomoniasis or “trich”. Trich is a venereal disease in cattle that causes infertility and may cause cows to abort. He said many states require testing for trich when importing an out-of-state bull, however Kansas does not. Hollis suggested talking to a veterinarian about the history of the bull to see if testing for the disease is necessary. Hollis also provided suggestions for marketing “value-added” cattle. Hollis said to start with the end in mind. He said to ask: “What do customers want to buy?” He suggested adding value to your calves by using better genetics; a uniform breed type, and a shorter breeding season to develop a group of calves that are uniform in color, size and build. He said cattle buyers are willing to pay a premium for calves that look like “peas in a pod.” Hollis also suggested maintaining health records and weaning calves well ahead of the sale date as he said buyers are willing to pay a premium for healthy, weaned cattle that are broke to a waterer and bunk. According to KRC’s Mary Howell, CWFP field organizer, who organized the program, producers from seven Kansas watersheds and two other states were in attendance. “Extending the grazing season improves water quality—which results in increased herd performance and health. In the end, it all translates into improved livestock production and ties directly into the producer’s bottom line,” Howell said. Financial support for the program came from the Kansas Rural Center via the Kansas Department of Health and Environment with U.S. EPA 319 Funds, with other support from the Jackson and Pottawatomie County Conservation Districts, and Middle Kansas and Tuttle Creek WRAPS.
### - ANNOUNCEMENTS - Vendor opportunity: Merriam Farmers' Market The Merriam Farmers' Market is now taking applications for the summer season scheduled from May 1st - October 9th, 2010. Stall space is limited, and on a first come, first served basis. The Marketplace is a 10,000 square foot covered pavilion with 36 stalls and 120 parking stalls surrounding it for customer convenience. Restrooms are also at the facility. Stalls are $299 for the season. The marketplace is located just northwest of Johnson Drive and I-35 on Merriam Drive. Visit our website at www.merriam.org/park/Marketplace or call 913-322-5550. ### Loans available for Non-Organic Hoop Houses If organic production is not the strategy that you want to pursue for your farming operation, as is required by the USDA NRCS EQIP Organic Initiative, the Kansas Department of Commerce’s Agriculture Value Added Loan program is an excellent resource for expanding your operation. For those interested in greenhouses or hoop houses to extend their production season, the Value Added loan is available. This loan charges no interest for the first two years and then the rate is locked in at 1 percent over the prime rate for the remainder of the loan. There is no penalty for early payment. If you would like more information about the loan program, contact Mari Tucker at (785) 296-6080 or mtucker@kansascommerce.com
### New Book on Crop Rotation on Organic Farms "Crop Rotation on Organic Farms: A Planning Manual" helps farmers use rotations to build better soil; control pests, weeds and diseases; and develop profitable farms. Consulting with expert organic farmers, the authors share rotation strategies that can be applied under various field conditions and with a wide range of crops. "The purpose of this book is to help growers and farm advisors use crop rotations to build better soil, control pests, and develop profitable farms that support satisfied families," says editor Charles Mohler, a senior research associate at Cornell University. "Crop Rotation on Organic Farms" is most applicable for the Northeast but will also be useful in other regions. Published by the Natural Resource, Agriculture and Engineering Service (NRAES) and funded in part by SARE, the 154-page book includes instructions for making rotation planning maps and discusses the transition to organic farming. Other features include:
Download Crop Rotation on Organic Farms for free at www.sare.org/publications/croprotation.htm. To order print copies ($24.00 plus $5.95 s/h) visit www.sare.org/WebStore call 301/374-9696 or send check or money order to SARE Outreach, PO Box 753, Waldorf, Maryland 20604-0753. (Please specify title requested when ordering by mail.) Discounts are available on orders of 10 or more. Allow 3-4 weeks for delivery. Call 301/374-9696 for more information on bulk, rush or international shipments. The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) USDA. SARE's mission is to advance - to the whole of American agriculture - innovations that improve profitability, stewardship and quality of life by investing in groundbreaking research and education. SARE Outreach operates under cooperative agreements with the University of Maryland and the University of Vermont to develop and disseminate information about sustainable agriculture. Visit www.sare.org for more information. Who We Are Projects Calendar & News Policy & Advocacy Publications Wind Projects Heartland Network Kansas Food Policy Council Clean Water Farms Project Links Home Page © Copyright
2010, Kansas Rural Center. All rights reserved. |
|
|
