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Japanese media learn about U.S. beef

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CHEYENNE, Wyo. — On June 4, Japanese magazine editors toured the King Ranch near Cheyenne, Wyoming, and the Y6 Ranch of Cattlemen’s Beef Board member Irv Petch near Meriden.The Japanese guests helped move cattle at the 112-year-old King Ranch, learned how ranchers care for the cattle and land with emphasis on how today’s ranchers maintain age-old traditions while contributing to research and embracing progress to improve ranching and agriculture production. At the King Ranch, the Eisele family treated the visitors to beef brisket produced on the ranch and topped off the experience with homemade homegrown rhubarb pies.

The visitors then drove north to tour the Petsch family’s Y6 feedyard and farm ground. The Petsch family began hosting international visitors in the 1980s with the goal of showing them how they produce cattle and a quality meat product, along with the care they give to their animals.

“We have the opportunity to increase our market share in Japan, and by doing these tours and by doing everything we can to make the Japanese customers more comfortable with our product, it just adds to the production side of our economy,” says Petsch. “We couldn’t do as well without the export market as we do with it. It’s an integral part of our beef industry.”

Twelve-year-old Sam Petsch was an integral part of the tour from start to finish. Most notably, he prepared perfectly seared ribeye steaks for all guests using Grandpa Irv’s secret marinade recipe.

Beef Exports to Japan

Japan continued to shine for U.S. beef in April 2017, with exports up 15 percent in volume (51.9 million pounds) and 17 percent in value ($143.3 million). Through April, exports to Japan exceeded last year’s pace by more than one-third in both volume (215.9 million pounds, up 34 percent) and value ($570.6 million, up 35 percent). Growth to Japan has been driven by the surging volume of chilled U.S. beef, indicating widespread acceptance and a growing range of U.S. cuts available in both the retail and foodservice sectors.

In 2015, Japanese media coverage of a similar tour held at the Farthing Ranch reached over a million consumers in Japan. For this year’s tour, the Japanese media outlets included representatives from Domani magazine, Shokuraku magazine, buono magazine and Be&Po.

“Japan is a key market for American beef producers,” said Ann Wittmann, executive director of the Wyoming Beef Council. “The Japanese media are fascinated by our cowboy culture and want to both see how ranchers live and care for cattle. Part of that culture is how we cook and serve beef to our families, so we like to demonstrate a variety of ways to show how easy beef is to prepare.”

Petsch says their farm is always open to visitors. “We are totally transparent about what we do here. We don’t do anything we don’t want people to see. Everything is up-to-date and modern, we follow the most recent guidelines, so we enjoy having people out to see our operation.

“The scientific studies that are done through the checkoff, and the many different things the checkoff does to increase opportunities to market beef, are unbelievable,” concludes Petsch. “I don’t know where we would be without our checkoff, but I hate to think about that.”

This tour was made possible by the Wyoming Beef Council and the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), contractor to the beef checkoff.

For more information about your beef checkoff investment, visit MyBeefCheckoff.com.

–Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion & Research Board

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Dealing with pesticide drift

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AMES, Iowa — Pesticide drift is a serious threat to Iowa’s fruit and vegetable farmers. Unlike corn and soybeans – the target crops for herbicides, fungicides and insecticides – fruit and vegetable crops are eaten directly by people. If pesticides intended for corn or soybean fields drift onto those vegetable fields, fruit and vegetable farmers are forced to destroy their crop.

“When we hear spraying, it makes my blood pressure go up,” says Andy Dunham of Grinnell Heritage Farm. The farm, which he owns and operates with his wife, Melissa, has been hit with pesticide drift twice in the last 10 years. Those two incidents caused significant damage and ended in settlements with the applicators’ insurance company. But he says if a pesticide applicator sprayed when the wind was blowing toward his land, his entire farm could be contaminated with one pass of an airplane.

No one wants pesticides to drift – neither fruit and vegetable farmers, nor row-crop farmers or the pilots hired to apply the chemicals. To help educate farmers on how to prevent and cope with drift, Practical Farmers of Iowa has compiled a slate of resources for farmers on how to prevent it, from information on the law regarding drift, to templates on how to report it, to case studies and presentations, among others. The resources are available at practicalfarmers.org/pesticide-drift.

Most recently, Practical Farmers released a series of YouTube videos about pesticide drift from the perspective of two fruit and vegetable farmers – Andy Dunham, and Rob Faux of Genuine Faux Farm, near Tripoli – who have suffered drift on their operations. “We put a lot of ourselves into the farm,” Rob says, “and I don’t think that’s untrue of other farmers growing other things.”

Pesticide drift damages fruit and vegetable farms

Each three- to five-minute video captures a different element of why drift is a problem and how it can be prevented. Fruit and vegetable operations are sensitive to pesticide drift in part because they raise high-value crops: Drift on a small area can have a big financial impact on an operation. Many of these farms are also organic, meaning drift could cause them to lose organic certification for a three-year period, significantly impacting the revenue they can generate from their crops.

The farms also have employees in the field daily, as growing fruits and vegetables is labor-intensive. The health of those workers is at risk when pesticides drift, and they have to head inside when spraying happens nearby. “They are in danger, potentially, if somebody is applying chemicals and not watching where they’re going,” Rob says. “We’d like people to be paying attention just as much as we are.”

Additionally, many of the crops grown on fruit and vegetable farms are pollinated by insects, and drift can negatively affect populations of pollinators as well. You can find these videos and many others at youtube.com/pfivideos.

Communication is the key

Liz Kolbe, horticulture coordinator for Practical Farmers of Iowa, says there are a few things fruit and vegetable farmers can do to prevent drift, such as registering their farms on Field Watch at driftwatch.org. This website contains a map applicators can check regularly to identify sensitive crops. The most important thing, though, is getting to know everyone involved. “Get to know your neighbors, the co-ops who will be doing the applications, and let them know that you have sensitive crops,” Liz says.

It’s important to remember that pesticide drift is illegal. Each agricultural chemical is labeled for specific uses, and off-label use is strictly prohibited. The laws surrounding agricultural chemical usage are enforced by the Pesticide Bureau of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

Anyone aware of incidences of pesticide drift is strongly encouraged to report them by calling the Pesticide Bureau at (515) 281-8591 or emailing them at pesticides@iowaagriculture.gov. For more information on how to report drift, visit iowaagriculture.gov/pesticides.asp.

— Practical Farmers of Iowa

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Farmers Market Nutrition Program

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DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey announced that Farmers Market Nutrition Program applications are now available for eligible WIC recipients and low-income older Iowans.

The WIC Farmers Market Nutrition and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Programs provide eligible Iowans with checks that can be redeemed for fresh, locally grown produce at authorized farmers markets and farm stands from June 1 through October 31, 2017. 

“Iowa-grown fresh fruits and vegetables can be found at farmers markets throughout the state.  The Famers Market Nutrition Programs are designed to give WIC participants and low-income seniors better access to these fresh and nutritious foods,” Northey said.

The Farmers Market Nutrition Programs are administered through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, in partnership with the Iowa Department of Public Health and Iowa Department on Aging.  For more information contact Stephanie Groom, Program Administrator, at 515-725-1179 or at Stephanie.Groom@iowaagriculture.gov.

WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program

The WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program provides eligible WIC recipients with nine checks valued at $3 each. 

WIC FMNP checks will be distributed statewide on a first-come, first-served basis.  Eligible individuals may pick up checks at arranged appointments or at regularly scheduled clinic appointments. 

A combination of state and federal funds will be used to make benefits available to more than 16,800 eligible WIC recipients this year.  Eligible individuals include children ages 9 months through 4 years, pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and post-partum women that participate in Iowa’s WIC Program.

The state’s twenty local WIC agencies have begun to distribute checks and nutritional education information.  WIC recipients interested in obtaining the benefits are encouraged to contact their local WIC clinic or visithttps://idph.iowa.gov/wic/families  for more information. 

Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program

The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program provides eligible seniors with ten checks for $3 each.  In addition to produce, locally produced honey can also be purchased with Senior FMNP checks.  Applicants throughout the state are offered the checks on a first-come first-served basis and the checks are available through Area Agency on Aging offices.

A combination of state and federal funds will be used to make benefits available to more than 18,600 eligible seniors this year.

Eligible seniors must be sixty years of age or older with a household income less than $22,311 if single or $30,044 for a married couple.  Iowa seniors will be asked to complete a one page application verifying their eligibility, by providing their birth dates and the last four digits of their social security numbers. 

The Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) have begun to distribute checks and nutritional education information.   To find an Area Agency on Aging near you, contact the Iowa Association of Area Agencies on Aging (i4a) toll free at 866-468-7887 or at www.i4a.org.

— Iowa Department of Agriculture

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In Kentucky farming is a way of life

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GOSHEN, Ky. (AP) — Subdivisions dot the path to the historic Hermitage Farm, providing a glimpse of what its land could look like had it been approved for development back in 2002.

Haviland Argo has seen the plans — with hundreds of homes splitting up the 700-acre property into much tinier plots.

It’s a sad thought for the architect who grew up on a Northern Kentucky farm, who knows that the state’s farmland continues to be in danger and who’s now responsible for turning Hermitage back into a viable operation that will keep it out of harm’s way.
Argo isn’t alone in the endeavor.

Between 2007 and 2012, the total number of Kentucky farms dropped almost 10 percent — from about 85,000 farms to about 77,000 statewide, according to the U.S. Census of Agriculture.

The reason for many farm closures is simple: The owner couldn’t make ends meet.

But at farms that have managed to hold on, a common change is taking place. The businesses are becoming two-fold, adding new operations that can help fund the owners’ original ventures.

Specifically, Kentucky’s farmers are becoming tour guides, opening their properties to meet demand from people who want to know how their food is made and who will pay the farmers to see it.

It’s a business called agritourism, and it’s increasingly been discussed as a way to save the family farms that have long made Kentucky — Kentucky.

“It provides farmers with another avenue and more income to possibly stay on the farm that’s been in their family for generations,” said Sharon Spencer, director of the direct farm marketing division for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.

According to the U.S. Census of Agriculture, the number of Kentucky farms with agritourism opportunities rose from 428 in 2007 to 651 in 2012, pulling in more than $7 million in profits in the latter year.

Those numbers will likely be even higher when the next census is released, as more farms jump on the trend.

Mattingly Dairy Farm, home to Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheese, is already on the list of agritourism sites in Kentucky but is planning to expand visitor opportunities this summer.

The farm is located in Barren County, “the middle of nowhere,” and currently offers informal tours as well as an observational area for its creamery, said Van Campbell, director of sales.

Soon, the farm will also start inviting guests to stay the night above its dairy parlor and witness its milking operations firsthand.
The farm is currently finishing up several Airbnb-style guest rooms and an observation deck in its dairy barn, where viewers can watch cows use new robotic milkers — equipment that allows the animals to be milked when they’re ready, Campbell said.

“We’ve already seen a huge improvement in the milk production of the herd and also the mood of the cows; they’re a lot calmer,” Campbell said. “… It’s sort of mesmerizing and fascinating to watch it happen.”

Campbell said expanding the farm’s tourism isn’t about selling more cheese, but is instead meant to educate guests about what goes into the food’s production.

“I think it just boils down to people want to know where their food comes from, more and more every day,” Campbell said. “You can get online and figure that out, but actually going to the source is important to people, and I think that when you’re actually there experiencing it, smelling it, tasting it, it gives you an understanding on a greater level.”

Hermitage farm owners Steve Wilson and Laura Lee Brown — the couple behind the boutique 21c Museum Hotels and nearby Woodland Farm — plan to create an experience that will highlight three Kentucky cultural influencers: horses, bourbon and food.
Now, Argo is deep in the process of organizing companies and vendors that can help him bring the owners’ vision to life by Derby 2019.

Hermitage Farm was founded before the turn of the 20th century but became known for horse breeding after 1935 when Warner L. Jones Jr. purchased the property.

The farm has continued the horse operation since — breeding winners of the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks and the Breeders’ Cup in years past. But the business alone no longer brings in enough revenue to keep the farm open, Argo said, which is why Wilson and Brown want to add tourism elements that can highlight and support it.

“The farm employees, their lives are inextricably linked to the horses, and I think we just want to show people that,” Argo said.
Tentative plans for tourism components include a farm-to-table restaurant; a garden to provide produce for the restaurant; an art walk along the property’s creek; a bourbon experience with samples from Kentucky distilleries; a country store selling Kentucky-made products; and, of course, tours of the horse barns.

Argo calls the set-up a “build your own adventure,” with docents stationed at various stops to provide as much information as guests would like.

“There’s always something to learn,” Argo said. “… It’s one of those places where you could spend as little or as long as you want, but there will be something different to see the next time you come.”

Argo said Wilson and Brown plan to make the tours as affordable as possible, and they’re adamant about keeping everything authentic, about honoring the land’s heritage and the state’s culture as a whole.

“There’s something grander about it, about knowing the life cycle and the seasons, the interaction between humans and animals and plants that a farm has; this whole kind of cycle of life,” Argo said. “This really ties all those together. It’s healthy and it just gives you a bigger perspective on life and the cycles of life. There’s something not spiritual, but close to it, that I think is of real value to people.”

— Bailey Loosemore, The Courier-Journal via The Associated Press

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NYS Grown & Certified expands to dairy

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ALBANY — Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced New York State Grown & Certified program is expanding to include the New York dairy industry. The state is partnering with Stewart’s Shops to launch the promotional program that distinguishes agricultural products that are local and made by producers who meet safe food handling best practices and demonstrate environmental stewardship. Beginning next month, consumers will be able to find the NYS Certified label on Stewart’s dairy products in more than 300 stores across the State. Stewart’s egg supplier, Thomas Poultry Farm from Schuylerville, is also participating in the program.

“The Grown & Certified program connects consumers with high-quality, farm-fresh New York products, while supporting our hard-working farms, businesses and local economies across the state,” Governor Cuomo said. “By partnering with Stewart’s Shops, we will expand this program to promote and provide a boost to some of New York’s best producers and support the dairy industry’s continued growth and success.”

Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, who made today’s announcement in Clifton Park, said, “The addition of the dairy industry to the Grown & Certified program is another milestone in our efforts to promote New York’s world-class farm products. Grown & Certified ensures that consumers are getting food produced in a manner that meets the highest safety and environmental standards while giving our producers and farmers new opportunities to grow their businesses. Stewart’s Shops is the perfect partner for this expansion in the Capital Region, and I look forward to seeing this program and our agricultural industry continue to flourish.”​

Stewart’s Shops President Gary Dake said, “At Stewart’s Shops we take pride in providing quality products to our customers, and that includes our fresh, local milk and eggs. Growing up in the dairy business, I know first-hand the hard work it entails. We are proud to now carry the Certified seal and continue to be partnered with family farms that uphold high-quality and environmental standards right here in our own communities.”

Starting in July, Stewart’s will launch new packaging for their half-gallon milk containers, which will prominently feature the New York State Certified label and a description of the program. Signage in-store and at the gas pump, as well as a promotional video, are already in stores, helping to educate consumers about the Certified program and what it means to them. Many varieties of Stewart’s milk, half and half, heavy cream, and ice cream will all carry the Certified seal.

Stewart’s Shops, a longstanding and well-respected dairy processor, adheres to the New York State Grown & Certified food safety and environmental management plan requirements. The company has stores in the Capital Region, North Country, Hudson Valley, and Central New York regions. They proudly source all of their milk from local farms in Saratoga, Rensselaer, and Washington Counties.

In addition to Stewart’s dairy products, its eggs will feature the NYS Grown & Certified seal, highlighting Thomas Poultry Farm. The farm adheres to environmentally responsible practices and exceeds federal egg safety standards.

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “Stewart’s is a natural fit for New York State Grown & Certified with its reputation for quality products and community connections, which are two of the guiding principles of the program. Not only does Stewart’s milk come from responsible and sustainable, local farms, but Stewart’s also takes extra care at the processing plant. When consumers pick up Stewart’s milk, eggs, and even ice cream, they can feel good knowing they are truly getting some of the best products for their families.”

Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Senator Patty Ritchie said, “New York’s dairy farmers and producers work extremely hard to deliver to consumers food and drink that are high-quality, fresh and nutritious. Expanding the New York State Grown and Certified program to include dairy will help to better promote their products and in turn, will boost their businesses, as well as New York’s agriculture industry as a whole. I would like to thank the Governor, as well as Commissioner Ball for working to highlight the efforts of our farmers and look forward to seeing New York State Grown and Certified dairy products in Stewart’s Shops across New York State.”

Assembly Agriculture Committee Chair Bill Magee said, “Providing NY Grown & Certified dairy products in Stewart’s Shops is an effectual and convenient way to make wholesome fresh dairy foods available to neighborhood commuters. Stewart’s customers will have access to locally produced, and quality certified fresh eggs, milk, ice cream and dairy products- with the all the confidence the label of the NY Grown and Certified program provides- along with the convenience of corner store shopping.”

Clifton Park Town Supervisor Phil Barrett said, “Farming and the production of agriculture products continue to be a driving force of the economy in Saratoga County and Clifton Park. Meaningful programs such as New York State Grown and Certified along with partnerships between New York State, the business community and local municipalities will support our farms and enhance business opportunities. Clifton Park is proud to partner with Governor Cuomo, New York Ag and Markets and Stewart’s for the launch of the New York State Grown and Certified Program.”

Ed Kinowski, Chairman for the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors, said, “One of Saratoga County’s leading industry is Agriculture and we promote the growth and restoration of farms throughout our County. Over the past several years we have protected 4,209 acres of farm land and open space and invested over $4.7 million if direct funding. Additionally our county delivers over $34 million is direct sales of agricultural products. Our county embraces this Grown & Certified program and congratulates the Stewarts Corporation and Thomas Poultry Farm for their participation.”

Saratoga Springs Mayor Joanne Yepsen said, “It is because of initiatives like this that we can be a strong, sustainable community. Buying and growing local supports our motto in Saratoga Springs: health, history and horses.”

Chris Koval, Owner of Koval Brothers Dairy, said, “Our family farm has sold milk to Stewart’s for most of my life, and it’s something we’re very proud of. This new seal promotes what we have been doing all along; working with clean, healthy animals and providing fresh, local, high-quality milk for Stewart’s customers.”

Jennifer Thomas, owner of Thomas Poultry Farm, said, “Our farm has had a strong relationship with Stewart’s for several decades, ensuring that their customers get fresh, local eggs from a family-run farm. Now we are proud to say our eggs are New York State Certified, meaning we provide local, high-quality eggs, while also being good stewards of the land that we use to grow corn for our hens.”

Chairman of the New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee Dale Stein said, “Our Soil and Water Conservation Districts across the State are helping farms everyday work toward implementing best management plans and best practices that have a real impact on addressing the effects of climate change and the soil and water quality of our land. I’m pleased that Stewart’s has joined the NYS Certified program, which will elevate the promotion of the State’s dairy farms and their efforts to be excellent stewards of the environment.”

About New York State Grown & Certified

Launched by Governor Cuomo in August 2016, New York State Grown & Certified promotes New York’s agricultural producers. It assures consumers that the food they are buying is local and produced to a higher standard by requiring participating producers to adopt good agricultural practices and enroll in the Agricultural Environmental Management program.

New York State Grown & Certified’s marketing campaign includes on-product labels and promotional materials, such as a website, video and sales materials, to encourage program participation among producers and to educate retail, wholesale and institutional buyers on the value of the program.

There are currently 54 fruit and vegetable producers representing 34,204 acres of farmland in the State participating in the New York State Grown & Certified program.

About Stewart’s Shops

Stewart’s Shops is an employee and family-owned convenience store chain with over 330 shops across upstate New York and southern Vermont. Milk and eggs are collected daily from farms near their plant, and that milk is also used to make their dozens of delicious ice cream flavors. Stewart’s Shops also known for coffee, Easy Food, grocery, gasoline and other convenience items. Stewart’s Shops gives back to its communities, donating approximately $2.5 million annually, with Dake family foundations giving an equivalent amount.

–NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets

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Significant Women in Ag: Eileen Day

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OKLAHOMA CITY — Eileen Day’s motto for life is more than a movie title.

“It’s a wonderful life,” said Eileen Day, reflecting on her lifelong, satisfying career as a rancher.

The 83-year-old Woodward resident, who has farmed and ranched in northwestern Oklahoma her entire life, considers herself blessed to have been so deeply involved in agriculture.

“I loved watching the cows have their calves,” she said, “and it’s just a joy to go out and watch your cattle. You don’t get tired of that. I didn’t. You can’t beat that lifestyle in my opinion. You learn to be responsible, caring and have a purpose, you know, because you’re raising livestock … [to] produce meat for people.”

Day grew up helping her father on the ranch with her two sisters, which eventually totaled 7,000 acres of pasture and 1,120 acres of farmland. She recalls the ranch primarily consisting of farmland and pasture for beef cattle, but there were chickens, hogs, a garden and during World War II about 26 head of dairy cattle.

Day said she would milk the cows with her sister, mom, dad and hired hand, each milking around five cows.

“We would get through it pretty quickly,” she said. “I could milk pretty fast, and my dad knew how to work me. He told me one day he said, ‘Boy, you keep milking like that you’ll milk as fast as I do,’ which made me milk faster.”

She laughed.

“That was his point,” she said.

Day’s childhood home had no electricity or water until she was 10 years old. Her mother made her own lye soap from hog lard and washed clothes on a board before getting a gas-operated machine that wasn’t very reliable, Day said.

The memories of long ago flooded back to Day like they happened just yesterday.

The family had an outhouse, guarded by a “fighting rooster.” Day said she didn’t know why her mother kept the rooster because it would always try to attack the girls when they were using the outhouse.

“It was a different life. I grew up like that, and it was hard work,” she said.

The family worked from sunup to sundown.

“You know you look back, and I’d be so tired sometimes I couldn’t even eat,” Day recalls from memories of more than 70 years ago.

“I was real excited when we got water when I was 10 because it was a lot easier to take a bath than having to heat it on the stove and pour it in the water tub,” she said. “In fact, you’ve heard the story of taking baths on Saturday nights? That was true. That’s what we did when I was a kid. My sister and I got to be first in the water because we were the littlest, and then it was my older sister, and then my mom, my dad and the poor hired hand was last.”

Day’s father was very hard on the girls, but it taught them the value of hard work and led to a wonderful life.

Jeana Day, Eileen’s daughter, said, “There wasn’t anything that my granddad didn’t think my mom could do. He set high expectations for her. He expected her to be the best at ranching, whether it was building fence, gathering cattle, sorting, working calves, buying good quality cattle and recognizing good cattle.”

The family hired several workers over the years, one of whom Eileen would fall in love with. On Dec. 21, 1950, she married Gene Day. They had three children. While the children were young, Eileen stayed at home with them but continued to help the ranch by doing all laundry and cooking for the family and hired hands. As soon as the kids were older, she was back working alongside the men.

Jeana recalls her mother working tirelessly on the ranch.

“Mom worked with Dad running the ranching operation after my grandfather retired,” she said. “When my father died 25 years ago, mother singlehandedly ran [her portion of] the ranch, consisting of 2,300 acres of owned land and 5,000 acres of leased land.”

With the help of hired hands, who often could not keep up with Eileen and were given “walking papers,” she successfully ran the ranch–adding a herd of Texas Longhorns–for nearly 15 years.

83-year-old Woodward resident Eileen Day has farmed and ranched her entire life. (Courtesy Photo)

Eileen’s father taught her how to take care of the ranch and livestock.

“I like to think we can take care of this land,” Eileen said.

Eileen strived to improve the quality of beef and land, never overstocking her pastures during the droughts. She said she “always believed in really taking good care of things.” She never wanted to hurt the pastures or the cattle.

When asked what her mother has returned to agriculture through her life, Jeana said, “She has produced quality cattle for the beef industry. She has taken pride in her integrity and honesty when dealing with buyers, giving ranching a good reputation. By being a good steward of the land, she has given back to nature.”

While discussing the struggles of the ranching life, Eileen said, “In farming and ranching, you have your good years and your bad years. It cycles. It’s the way things go.”

In Eileen’s lifetime, she experienced a tornado that destroyed her family’s barn and part of their home, the dirt storms of the ’30s, market crashes, terrible droughts, countless injuries, setbacks and losses, yet she kept ranching. It’s her life.

She just recently quit riding horses around age 75, and she fed her cattle by herself until she was nearly 78.

“I don’t always feel as good as I did when I was 70, you know,” Eileen said.

At 83 years old, Eileen still owns 482 acres, leases 5,000 acres and raises cattle with the help of a hired hand for branding and a neighboring rancher. She’s very active, still cooking Sunday dinners for the family and tending to her flowerbed, even if her daughters are sometimes “just a touch too protective.”

Jeana said her mother deserves to be recognized in the Significant Women in Oklahoma Agriculture series “for all her hard work and dedication to the ranching way of life.”

She says her mother is humble, faithful and has set a great example for women everywhere.

“She is the true ranchwoman of Woodward County,” Jeana said.

Eileen Day is true ranchwoman, even now, at 83 years old, who continues to live a wonderful life.

–Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry

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Smaaladen takes up rural leadership cause

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JAMESTOWN, N.D. — Jeanna Smaaladen’s excitement turned to nervousness when she glanced at the roster of her Rural Leadership North Dakota (RLND) class in 2015.

“I looked on there, and there’s a state senator and auditors on here — all of these I would call important people,” said Smaaladen, who is secretary-treasurer for Grand Forks County Farmers Union. “It was intimidating. How will I fit in?”

At the first meeting, Jeanna sat down next to Larry Luick, a state senator from Fairmount.

“He’s the kindest, most gentlest person I ever met,” Jeanna said. “From that point on, it was great.”

More than a year later, Jeanna is set to graduate in November from RLND, an 18-month leadership development program designed to encourage and train North Dakotans to play a bigger role in their communities. It’s put on by the North Dakota State University Extension Service.

The program involves traveling around North Dakota as well as to Washington, D.C., and there is also an international trip. Jeanna and Divide County Farmers Union President Devin Jacobson were part of Class VII, and the program is accepting applications for its eighth class until June 30. Tuition is $4,000 and can be paid in two installments.

Jeanna and Devin took part with a sponsorship from North Dakota Farmers Union, which is again looking to sponsor a member. Contact Pam Musland at pmusland@ndfu.org immediately if interested.

RLND Program Director Marie Hvidsten said there are three direct goals of the program: Networking, improving leadership skills and understanding North Dakota so they can improve the quality of life in their community, city, state, etc. Hvidsten said a simple conversation with alumni can be enough to convince a fence-sitter to apply.

“They often use phrases like ‘life-changing’ and ‘best thing I’ve done,’” Hvidsten said. “It helps with confidence-building. We’ve had a few folks run for statewide office, and that’s been terrific. If anybody has interest, check it out with our alumni. They’re likely somewhere in your community or close by. And if there are any concerns on the financial end, still apply and we’ll try to help them figure it out.”

Count Devin in among those appreciative of the experience. He wasn’t aware of the scope of agriculture in North Dakota, but that changed with farm tours on the eastern half of the state.

“We learn a lot about communities and what’s going on around the state,” Devin said. “It’s been very good with everybody exchanging ideas with how to make your community better, and Marie has been letting us run with it.”

An international trip is also part of the program, and the class went to Thailand and Vietnam. Jeanna said the class toured fields to understand local agriculture and infrastructure.

But Jeanna also was taken aback by her own state, particularly the energy development in western North Dakota.

“As a young girl, I traveled through North Dakota. But in the past 10-15 years, I haven’t gone too much past Bismarck,” she said. “Having gone to Watford City and driving there in the night time and seeing the flares everywhere, it’s incredible to see how that part of our state has changed. That was impactful.”

The class toured an oil-drilling site and went on a rig, where Jeanna saw a familiar sight that made her smile.

“I’ve always gotten after my children to not spend too much time on video games,” she said. “The gentleman drilling the hole and laying pipe going down into the land was sitting on a chair operating joysticks, and it looked just like my son sitting in front of a TV playing with a controller. I said, I’ll never get after my son again. Their hand-eye coordination is valuable.”

Jeanna’s experience in Washington, D.C. paid huge dividends for the class when it took its trip to the nation’s capital. She’s been to three Farmers Union fly-ins and used some of the connections she developed on those trips to go behind the scenes.

“I was able to have Dan Simons speak to the group on leadership and his role in the Founding Farmers Restaurants,” she said. “He spoke on the values of NDFU and making that the key in bringing great fresh food, from the farm to the table in every restaurant in Washington, D.C.”

NDFU also sponsored a great meal at Farmer Fishers Bakers, which was one of the highlights of the trip.

FLAMES

Part of the requirement for each class is an individual project in their respective communities. Jeanna started thinking of her project early on, and it’s along the same lines of RLND but for a younger group.

Future Leaders And Mentors Engaging Society (FLAMES) was started in Grand Forks County  with the help of Carrie Knudson, Grand Forks County Extension agent. The leadership course is for grades 9-12 and involves real-world tools that prepare students for adulthood.

“How to deal with conflict, how to dress for success and how you should look when you want to present something,” Jeanna said. “How to do a strong (job) interview, how to build a strong resume — we also talk about etiquette. Today’s etiquette is also about Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – it is branding. The kids were shocked: ‘Really? My boss is going to look at that?’”

The first class had nine participants and involved a dining experience with Grand Forks Mayor Michael Brown, University of North Dakota President Mark Kennedy and retired Air Force Col. Barbara Chine. The trio talked leadership and how being a good listener and encourager can help resolve conflict. The dining capped off the first year for the course, which runs concurrent with the school year.

“The kids were so impressed,” Jeanna said. “It was an awesome ending to a great year.”

Jeanna said she decided to take up this mantle while meeting with state and national leaders.

“I want kids that want to be involved in their state,” she said. “They have all of these abilities. I want to give them an opportunity and teach them to understand their own skills.”

She has even been contacted to help write a leadership curriculum that may be implemented in the North Dakota public school system. However, getting around an already packed schedule for high school students represents a problem.

“Carrie and I had to figure out how to reach those so busy with everything else,” Jeanna said. “High school students today are so involved that it is hard for them to find time to be involved in other group activities outside of school. When I approached them, they were excited about opportunities but couldn’t find the extra time. With today’s adults, this lack of training in leadership is what’s missing. This is where FLAMES can help.”

Jeanna will spend the summer looking for funding for the program as it continues to grow before taking on the next class in August. She is thankful for the support of Knudson, Phil Gisi with Edgewood Management Group, Grand Forks County Farmers Union for the scholarship of $500 to one student and the many mentors who volunteered their time.

Most of all, it may not have been possible without her experience with RLND, which started with a friendly visit from NDFU Board Member and neighbor Terry Borstad.

“It’s an incredible opportunity to learn everything you can about your state, about the people in your country and to go abroad and learn about the world as a whole,” Jeanna said. “I’m so appreciative for the opportunity to go. I’m glad Terry walked across the grass and told me all about it.”

— Chris Aarhus, North Dakota Farmers Union

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Farmland leasing and value

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PRIMGHAR, Iowa — Recently, land leasing and land value survey information was announced by Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach.

The Land Value Survey was initiated in 1941. Survey respondents totaled 518 this year (November, 2016), and are comprised of individuals “knowledgeable of land market conditions,” e.g. real estate brokers, farm managers, agricultural lenders and county assessors. This ISU Extension and Outreach survey information is one of four sources of information (the others being USDA, Chicago Fed and Realtor Land Institute), that when taken together, are reliable and research-based land value estimates. The ISU Extension and Outreach survey is the only data source that provides an annual land value estimate by county. The survey is not intended to provide a direct estimate for any one specific piece of property; however, land value surveys can provide a good indication of the direction of change, based upon the opinions expressed.

For the third year in a row, land values declined. Statewide, the average reduction was $450/acre (negative 5.9 percent) from November, 2015. The highest land values were reported in Northwest Iowa ($9,243/acre) which was lower by 4.6 percent from last year. Positive factors bolstering values are lower interest rates, strong balance sheets and working capital accumulations from the 2000s. The single largest negative factor, not surprisingly, is lower commodity prices that contributed to a 17.2 percent reduction to net farm income to $66.9 billion (August, 2016) the lowest since 2009. Readers are encouraged to review the full survey report at http://www.card.iastate.edu/land-value/2016/2016-Iowa-Land-Value-Survey-Overview.pdf

The 2017 Cash Rental Rates for Iowa Survey conducted by Iowa State University showed that farmland cash rental rates declined for the 4th consecutive year. The statewide average rates decreased by $10 per acre from 2016. Northwest Iowa (District 1) showed a decline of $14/acre (negative 5.6 percent). Many of the factors discussed in regards to land values, can similarly relate to the leasing economies. You can access the complete survey findings here: https://store.extension.iastate.edu/Product/1841

Because of the larger proportion of leased farmland in Iowa, a strong landlord/tenant relationship is important for the efficient, long-term allocation of Iowa’s valuable resources. ISU Extension and Outreach will soon release the Aug 1-15 schedule for our annual Northwest Iowa Land Leasing and Value meetings. These meetings are offered to address questions that landowners, tenants and other agriculture stakeholders may have about leasing farmland. Attendees will gain an understanding of the current cash rental rate surveys, and discuss factors driving 2018 lease rates, (e.g. market trends, input costs, etc.). Each registrant will receive a reference book to augment the information provided at the meeting. For more information about upcoming Land Leasing and Value meetings in your area, contact your local ISU Extension and Outreach office. Pre-registration is requested to allow for planning of resources.

— Gary Wright, Farm and Agribusiness Management Specialist
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach

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Destination: Education Center & 4-H Park

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ORANGE CO., N.Y — The 101-year-old Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County, affectionately referred to as “Extension” is presently undertaking a $7,500,000 Capital Campaign to build a new home for its programming. The new state of the art community youth education and agricultural teaching center is being built on 54 acres in Otisville, NY. With several of the buildings already built and actively utilized, Alice Fellenzer didn’t want anyone getting lost as they travel there for special events. That’s why she made a donation to ensure proper road and directional signage was in place.

Alice Fellenzer has been a valued Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County volunteer since 1970 when she organized a 4-H club in Middletown. Alice then served on the Board of Directors and as Board President from 1977-1979. She was a valuable member of the State Extension Advisory Council from 1978-1984 and represented Cornell University on the Land Grant University Council on Agriculture, Research, Extension and Teaching from 1984-1986.

No one is more excited than Alice about the construction of a new Education Center & 4-H Park. You can see by the smile on her face, that she was delighted when the directional sign was installed last month. The new Education Center & 4-H Park is located at 300 Finchville Turnpike, Otisville, NY 10963.

An “Open House at the Park” is being held on July 12, 2017. Tours will be given and light refreshments will be served. The public is invited to attend with an RSVP for one of the three presentation times that will be available that day. (10am, 3pm and 7pm) For more information or to arrange for a tour, call Kathi Webber at the Cornell Cooperative Extension OC office. 845-344-1234.

Visit Cornell Cooperative Extension at cceorangecounty.org

—Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County

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Impact of Harvard Pilgrim Grant

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FREEPORT, Maine — Wolfe’s Neck Farm (WNF) has announced the first-year impact of its 2016 Harvard Pilgrim Foundation Healthy Food Fund grant. The $150,000 grant is distributed over three years and has already helped Wolfe’s Neck Farm’s Teen Agriculture: Growing Farmers, Feeding Maine (Teen Ag) program increase their production by over 45%. The Program grows all of the farm’s fruits and vegetables and distributes this fresh, local produce to area food pantries.

A recent Good Shepherd Food Bank survey revealed that 56% of their clientele throughout Maine confront the choice between buying food and paying for heating in the winter. Traditionally, the winter offerings are heavily focused on canned or packaged offering but, in response, the Wolfe’s Neck Farm’s Teen Ag program constructed a year-round growing infrastructure. Teen Ag harvested 700 pounds of kale, spinach, and carrots for area food pantries from November 2016 through April 2017.

“Thanks to Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation’s support, Wolfe’s Neck Farm’s Teen Agriculture has undergone unprecedented growth this year,” says Piper Dumont, WNF’s Education Director. “In addition to year-round growing, we’ve increased our overall production and can better serve our on-site outlets (farm stand, CSA, and our Farm Cafe), while increasing our contributions to local food pantries.”

Harvard Pilgrim Foundation’s Healthy Food Fund supports 26 projects in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, 17 of which are selling healthy local food through Farmers’ Markets, Mobile Markets, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs, and farm stands. A total of 20 are distributing produce through free-to-recipient channels such as gleaning, food banks, community meals, and youth agriculture programs. In total, the amount of healthy, local produce distributed to low-income families in the region increased 87 percent as a result of contributions through these programs; and the amount of produce sold increased 63 percent to 827,000 pounds. The total dollar value of healthy food reaching households in communities across the region as a result of the Healthy Food Fund in 2016 is $2.2 million.

“We are so pleased we can show how relatively small investments in local organizations can measurably improve access to healthy food,” responded Harvard Pilgrim Foundation’s President, Karen Voci. In 2016, more than $1.4 million in grants was distributed to the Foundation’s Healthy Food Fund initiatives within the region, with funds supporting programs that grow, distribute and/or market fresh food for low-income families and communities across the region.

Since its inception in 2012, Wolfe’s Neck Farm’s Teen Ag program has contributed tons of local, nutritious produce to families in need as a participant in Good Shepherd Food Bank’s Mainers Feeding Mainers program, and through partnerships with the Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program in Brunswick, the Bath Area Food Bank, Yarmouth Community Pantry, and Freeport Community Services. They will contribute to the Vineyard Church of Greater Portland and the Westbrook Community Food & Resource Center in 2017. The program also offers Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares at a substantially reduced price for SNAP recipients, and their farm stand accepts EBT cards (formerly Food Stamps). With Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation funds Wolfe’s Neck Farm continues to build infrastructure to grow crops through the winter, raise overall production, and increase availability of fresh fruits and vegetables for our entire community.

About Wolfe’s Neck Farm

Wolfe’s Neck Farm strives to play a leading role in shaping the future of sustainable agriculture by training new farmers, inspiring people to make informed food choices, and facilitating farm-based education and research. This nonprofit educational farm’s 626-acre campus includes forest, pasture lands, four miles of Casco Bay coastline and an award-winning oceanfront campground. The farm’s educational programs also include a summer day camp, school programs, and its new Organic Dairy Farmer Training and Research Program. It hosts annual barn dances and festivals as well as growing vegetables and pasture-raising chickens, and lamb for the local community. Open free to the public year-round, the farm encourages visitors to traverse its miles of hiking trails, meet the livestock, explore the gardens and enjoy the open space. For more information, visit www.wolfesneckfarm.org

About The Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation

Created in 1980, The Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation supports Harvard Pilgrim’s mission to improve the quality and value of health care for the people and communities we serve. The Harvard Pilgrim Foundation provides the tools, training and leadership to help build healthy communities throughout Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. In 2016, the Harvard Pilgrim Foundation awarded more than $2.4 million in grants to more than 900 nonprofit organizations in the region. Since its inception in 1980, the Foundation has awarded $140 million in funds and resources throughout the four states. For more information, please visit www.harvardpilgrim.org/foundation

—Wolfe’s Neck Farm

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