Thursday, April 18 at 9:30am to 11:00am
Williams Feed 8124 SC-357, Campobello, SC 29322
Register: https://bit.ly/Cover_Crop_Field_Morning
For info, contact: Payton Davis, pbdavis@g.clemson.edu
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Thursday, April 18 at 9:30am to 11:00am
Williams Feed 8124 SC-357, Campobello, SC 29322
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RALEIGH, N.C. — Calling all creative writers who love honey bees! Enrolled North Carolina 4-H youth are invited to research and write an essay for the state 4-H Beekeeping Essay contest.
The 2024 essay topic is, “Varietal Honeys.” For this essay, a 4-H student should answer these questions: What makes a varietal honey? What are some unique varietals? How are some of the valuable varietals confirmed to be authentic (e.g., Manuka honey UMF and MGO)? What are some culturally or economically important varietals and why are they important?
All essays are due by Monday, April 22nd, 2024 and should be submitted here.Read more about this program or contact NC 4-H Entomology Specialist, Liz Driscoll at liz_driscoll@ncsu.edu | (919) 886-3424.
(photo by N.C. State University)
–Liz Driscoll, N.C. State University
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SYLVA, N.C. — Join us for a half-day training hosted by WNC Farm to Table. We will focus on wholesale readiness with the idea that CFSA’s FarmsSHARE program is a stepping stone for building wholesale capabilities.
Topics include:
Instructors:
Attend:
–Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
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PULLMAN, Wash. –The famous work ethic of honey bees might spell disaster for these busy crop pollinators as the climate warms, new research indicates.
Flying shortens the lives of bees, and worker honey bees will fly to find flowers whenever the weather is right, regardless of how much honey is already in the hive. Using climate and bee population models, researchers found that increasingly long autumns with good flying weather for bees raises the likelihood of colony collapse in the spring.
The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, focused on the Pacific Northwest but holds implications for hives across the U.S. The researchers also modeled a promising mitigation: putting colonies into indoor cold storage, so honey bees will cluster in their hive before too many workers wear out.
“This is a case where a small amount of warming, even in the near future, will make a big impact on honey bees,” said lead author Kirti Rajagopalan, a Washington State University climate researcher. “It’s not like this is something that can be expected 80 years from now. It is a more immediate impact that needs to be planned for.”
For this study, researchers ran simulations through a honey bee population dynamics model using climate projections for 2050 and the end of the century at 2100. They found that honey bee colonies that spend the winter outside in many areas of the Pacific Northwest would likely experience spring colony collapses in both the near- and long-term scenarios. This also occurred under a simulation where climate change continued as it is progressing now and one where greenhouse gas emissions were reduced in the near future.
Worker honey bees will forage for food whenever temperatures rise above about 50 degrees Fahrenheit. When it gets colder, they cluster in the hive, huddling with other bees, eating honey reserves and shivering, which helps keep the bees warm. In the spring, the adult worker bees start flying again. That means they also start dying. If too many older worker bees die before their replacements emerge ready to forage, the whole colony can collapse. Scientists have estimated this happens when there are fewer than 5,000 to 9,000 adult bees in the hive.
This study found that colonies wintering outside in colder areas like Omak in the far north of Washington state might still do all right under climate change. But for honey bee colonies in many other places, like Richland, Washington near the border of Oregon, staying outside in the winter would mean the spring hive population would plummet to fewer than 9,000 adults by 2050 and less than 5,000 by the end of the century.
The authors note that the simulations just looked at seasonal factors like temperature, wind and the amount of daylight, making them fairly conservative models.
“Our simulations are showing that even if there is no nutritional stress, no pathogens, no pesticides – just the conditions in fall and winter are enough to compromise the age structure of a colony. So when the hive comes out of winter, the bees are dying faster than they’re being born,” said co-author Gloria DeGrandi-Hoffman, a research leader at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Carl Hayden Bee Research Center.
The researchers also simulated a potential mitigation, placing honey bee hive boxes in cold storage so the bees start to cluster earlier and save workers. For instance, in the Richland scenarios, by the end of the century, having bees in cold storage from October to April would boost the spring hive population to over 15,000 compared to around 5,000 to 8,000 if they were kept outside.
A relatively new practice, cold storage is gaining popularity among commercial beekeepers to help manage bee health and for the logistics involved in moving hives to California to pollinate almond trees in February, an event that draws more than two million hives from across the country.
“A lot of beekeepers are already practicing this management technique of storing bees indoors because it has a lot of immediate potential to help in a number of ways,” said co-author Brandon Hopkins, a WSU entomologist. “These findings demonstrate that there are additional benefits to this practice for the survival of colonies in a changing climate.”
This research received support from the Washington Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Block Grant.
— Washington State University
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CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. — The dairy industry is a significant part of Pennsylvania’s economy and culture. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) conducts a Census of Agriculture every five years to collect comprehensive data on various aspects of farming, including dairy farming. This article compares the data from the 2017 and 2022 Pennsylvania Dairy Farm Census.
Overview of the 2017 Census Data
The 2017 Census of Agriculture provided valuable insights into the state of Pennsylvania’s dairy industry. The average dairy farm in the survey supported 1.25 households and derived 85 percent of its income from milk sales. The average participating farm milked 87.1 cows, selling 20,435 pounds of milk per cow per year, with a total herd of 100.8 cows and 83.4 heifers.
Overview of the 2022 Census Data
The 2022 Census of Agriculture data revealed some significant changes in Pennsylvania’s dairy industry. Here are some key findings from the 2022 census:
Number of Farms: The total number of farms in Pennsylvania decreased by 8 percent from 2017. This decrease was most notable in mid-size farms, those ranging from 50 to 179 acres.
Average Age of Producers: The average age of all producers increased slightly to 55.4 years, up from 54.8 years in 2017. This indicates a continuing challenge in attracting younger people to farming, which is crucial for the long-term sustainability of the industry.
Farm Income: The average net income per farm increased from $42,020 in 2017 to $66,626 in 2022. This suggests that despite the decrease in the number of farms, those that remain are becoming more profitable.
Value of Production: The total value of production of all products increased to $10.3 billion, a 33% increase over $7.8 billion in 2017. This indicates a robust and growing agricultural sector in Pennsylvania.
Organic Farming: The number of organic farms decreased by 11 percent from 2017. Additionally, the value of sales for organic farming decreased from $708 million in 2017 to $628 million in 2022. This suggests that organic farmers may be facing unique challenges that are impacting their ability to remain profitable.
Key Differences and Trends
Consolidation Trend
The decrease in the number of farms, particularly mid-size farms, suggests a consolidation trend. This trend is often driven by economies of scale, where larger farms can spread their fixed costs over a larger number of cows, reducing the cost per unit of milk produced. This allows larger farms to be more competitive in the market, potentially driving smaller farms out of business. However, this consolidation can have negative impacts on rural communities, as the loss of farms can lead to job losses and reduced economic activity.
Aging Producers
The increase in the average age of producers is a concern for the future of the dairy industry. As older farmers retire, there needs to be a new generation ready to take their place. However, attracting younger people to dairy farming can be challenging due to the high capital costs of starting a farm, the long hours, and the physical demands of the work . Additionally, transitioning a farm out of dairy presents significant challenges, including declining milk prices, tight profit margins, narrow processing contracts, regulations, climate change pressures, and low consumer demand. This trend underscores the need for programs that support new and young farmers, such as training programs, mentorship opportunities, and financial incentives.
Profitability of the Industry
Despite these challenges, there are positive trends as well. The increase in average net income per farm and the total value of production suggest that the industry remains robust and profitable. This profitability is crucial for the sustainability of the industry and the rural communities it supports. It indicates that despite the challenges, dairy farming can be a viable livelihood.
Organic Dairy Sector
The decrease in organic farms and their sales value may indicate challenges in the organic dairy sector. Organic farming practices can be more costly and labor-intensive than conventional farming, which can make it difficult for organic farms to compete on price. Additionally, the market for organic milk may be limited, making it harder for these farms to find buyers for their products. This trend suggests that there may be a need for more support and resources for organic dairy farmers, such as technical assistance, marketing support, and financial incentives.
Conclusion
The comparison of the 2017 and 2022 Pennsylvania Dairy Farm Census data provides valuable insights into the trends and challenges in the state’s dairy industry. While there are concerns about farm consolidation and the aging of producers, the overall profitability of the industry remains strong. These trends underscore the importance of continued support for Pennsylvania’s dairy farmers and the need for strategies to attract new and younger farmers to ensure the industry’s future sustainability.
Resources-
— Samantha Gehrett, Penn State Extension
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PORTLAND, Ore. — The economic contributions grape growing and wine industries make to Oregon grew almost $1 billion from 2019 to 2022, according to the new report released today [March 27, 2024] by the Oregon Wine Board. Conducted by Dr. Robert Eyler of Economic Forensics and Analytics, Inc. and Christian Miller, proprietor of Full Glass Research, the Economic Impact Report is published every three years. The report provides a snapshot of every grape and wine industry tier that contributed to the overall economy. The wide breadth and depth of data present a complete and accurate estimate of Oregon’s wine industry’s economic impact. However, the report is based on 2022 data and can be supplemented with more recent (2023) studies on wine industry sales.
The sum of all economic activity resulting from grape growing, wine production, sales, and promotion in Oregon was $8.1 billion in 2022, compared to $7.2 billion three years prior, a 12.8% increase in statewide impact. This data shows compelling evidence that wine is an economic driver for the state, with financial implications in agriculture – from winery and grower revenues to wholesale and retail sales of Oregon wine.
Other economic considerations include related industries such as trucking and professional services, wages throughout the supply chain, and the effect of employees spending those wages in Oregon. Some of this growth was also attributed to inflation.
Additionally, planted acreage grew by 19.5% compared to 2021, as domestic and global demand for Oregon wines increased, with total sales jumping 9%. Oregon wine grapes remain the state’s most valuable fruit crop, with a total market value of $330 million, including grapes harvested at estate wineries.
“Oregon’s wine industry continues to create more income for businesses, households, and government through a mix of core and allied industries,” said Gina Bianco, Executive Director of the Oregon Wine Board. “Due to the quality, desirability, and price point of Oregon wines, we continue to be more resilient and outperform other wine regions in major retail store channels.”
Wine-supported job wages soared 12.2%, due to both inflation and a shift to a more skilled workforce. At the same time, overall employment supported by the wine industry was down 1.5%. The total number of jobs supported by Oregon’s wine industry was just under 40K and remained stable. The category that grew the largest was vineyard stewards, which increased by 15%, aligning with the upward trend in planted acreage.
Also, fewer visitors went to Oregon’s tasting rooms in 2022. The authors write, “The pandemic’s shadow remains on Oregon’s economy and wine industry, though it is fading.” Using Community Benchmark data, researchers concluded that the average number of visitors per winery was down 36% from 2019. Wine-supported tourism accounted for $758 million in statewide revenues through lodging, dining, and other activities (not including sales from tasting rooms counted in the winery revenue section). Overall, wine tourism saw a 15.1% decrease from 2019 spending of $893 million.
Eyler notes in the report, “Sales increased as wholesalers replenished inventories, but in 2022, wine sales in all tiers, from wineries to retail, began to decline. Two major forces are at work: (1) pandemic impacts on trade and consumer behavior; (2) shifts in consumer preferences related to wine. Oregon wines were more resilient than those from many other regions because their production is concentrated in the more in-demand price segments and varieties, and many were able to adapt to channel shifting by boosting club and online sales and expanding direct-to-trade and local consumer sales”.
The consumers who did make it to tasting rooms bought more premium-priced wines, resulting in higher expenditures per winery visitor. In the report, Miller referred to this as a “trading up” phenomenon, in which fewer visitors were buying fewer bottles but choosing more expensive ones, with 72% of visitors to tasting rooms making purchases.
The table below illustrates this phenomenon by showing an increase in tasting room revenues despite a decrease in case sales volume between 2019 and 2022.
Measure | 2019 | 2022 |
Total TR revenues | 173,009,188 | 247,848,160 |
Total TR cases sold | 532,807 | 497,393 |
With state and local taxes at $265 million, property value increase caused a rise in tax revenues of 13.1%.
At the 2024 Oregon Wine Symposium, Eyler pointed to forces that continue to affect the wine industry, including public policy trends, high interest rates, and resilience wearing thin as the industry navigated headwinds over the past few years. Inflation’s impact on U.S. households has continued to affect retail sales, as those who once stocked up on wine six times a year are now buying less volume and with less frequency.
— Oregon Wine Board
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RICHMOND, Va. — The tri-part mission of Virginia State University’s College of Agriculture is to meet myriad needs of students and neighbors, while facilitating research and outreach to secure the industry’s future.
Virginia Farm Bureau Federation leaders recently learned about the ongoing mission of academics, research and Virginia Cooperative Extension services from Robert N. Corley III, college dean and director of land-grant programs. Officially appointed last summer, Corley oversees the VSU Agricultural Research Station, Virginia Cooperative Extension and the college’s academic departments, including agriculture, family and consumer sciences, and hospitality management.
“Someone once said, if agriculture gets it wrong, nothing else can be right,” he said.
Corley has truly embraced the theme “Greater Grows Here” at the VSU College of Agriculture, said Martha Moore, senior vice president of VFBF governmental relations.
“And we appreciate all the work you are doing to preserve farming in the state, and the support you give us.”
Corley shared recent wins for the college and community—increased enrollment, millions in state and federal grant funding, industry partnerships, engagement efforts, and leadership development to enhance the state workforce.
“When we talk to our legislative partners, we say we’re a great return on investment,” he said.
While the land-grant university receives federal money, goals to increase competitive funding were exceeded—up $2.3 million on the academic side, $7.8 million for research and $12 million for Extension.
“But none of this matters if you don’t have greater community impact,” Corley noted.
A six-year plan focuses on community impact and food access, plus health and nutrition. Local food parties featuring area agriculturalists welcomed over 500 attendees.
“It began to create a different food reservoir,” Corley explained. “As you know, there are food deserts in the Petersburg area, which impact on health disparities and life expectancies compared to other areas of the commonwealth. It’s disheartening as a community partner to have those kinds of statistics in our backyard.”
To move the needle forward, the college is growing its urban and minority farming initiatives through the Sustainable & Urban Agriculture and Small Farm Outreach programs.
As the local food movement expands, the college has developed an international collaboration with Chonnam National University in South Korea, which developed plant-based hand sanitizers and diagnostic tools that can help detect diseases such as COVID and HIV.
“Partnerships like these may provide our small farmers new markets and create an economic boost for the region,” Corley said.
The eyes of the nation will be on the campus this November, he added, as it hosts an upcoming presidential debate.
–Virginia Farm Bureau
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BISMARCK, N.D. – With the support of North Dakota’s cattle and bison industry associations, the State Board of Animal Health officially recognized those states that have earned the status as free of bovine brucellosis and bovine tuberculosis under United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) guidelines.
This recognition allows producers to buy and import beef cattle and bison from these states with reduced vaccination and testing requirements for these two diseases. Michigan remains the lone state not recognized to be free of tuberculosis due to infections in some deer populations in the northern part of the state.
“The free status recognition will allow North Dakota beef cattle and bison producers to have reciprocity with other free status states,” Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said. “U.S. producers and veterinarians have spent millions of dollars and several decades testing, monitoring and tracing to achieve this goal.”
“Brucellosis will continue to be a focus of our office with our close proximity to Yellowstone National Park,” State Veterinarian Dr. Ethan Andress said. “Elk and bison herds in the park continue to be infected with brucellosis, and elk moving out of the park are a risk to cattle herds in that area.”
The three states around the park – Idaho, Wyoming and Montana – have aggressive surveillance programs with the intent of catching any infection that may spread to cattle near the park. The area is called the Designated Surveillance Area (DSA) and cattle leaving that area require brucellosis testing. Additionally, beef processing plants in the Western states routinely test all cows moving through slaughter channels as another measure to detect early infections.
“Tuberculosis infections are rare within domestic herds across the nation, but our industries, veterinarians and slaughter facilities are constantly surveilling for any cases that may point to a herd with infected animals,” Andress said.
— NDDA
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Ready to pick your own blueberries or buy them at the grocery store? Florida’s blueberry season is here, so you’ll likely find a University of Florida variety near you.
When you go to the supermarket, you won’t find blueberries labeled as UF/IFAS varieties. But several types of the fruit come in the same packages, so chances are — if you are buying Florida-grown blueberries — you’ll be eating a UF/IFAS-bred cultivar. You can also ask your produce manager to point out Florida-grown blueberries.
UF/IFAS blueberry breeding research dates back to the 1950s, and has a history of developing good-tasting, disease- and pest-resistant varieties. The latest cultivars, ‘Sentinel’ and ‘Albus,’ were released in 2020 and 2022, respectively.
So far, ‘Sentinel’ and ‘Albus’ bring high yields for growers and fruit that consumers like, as reflected in UF Sensory Lab consumer taste panels.
“The newest releases – which have been planted by Florida commercial growers — perform very well, with high yields and good fruit quality” said Doug Phillips, the UF/IFAS statewide blueberry Extension coordinator. “In consumer taste panels conducted by UF/IFAS, all of the most recent UF/IFAS cultivars attained high scores, including ‘Sentinel,’ ‘Albus,’ ‘Optimus,’ and ‘Colossus.’”
For 13 years, the UF/IFAS blueberry breeding program has run consumer taste panels to find the fruit characteristics consumers like the most.
Scientists reach the delicious flavor by finding the right balance of sugars and acids and by selecting for naturally occurring chemical components of the fruit, said Patricio Muñoz, endowed chair for the horticulture crop breeding and the UF/IFAS blueberry breeder.
In addition to taste and yield, texture is critical to growers and consumers, Muñoz said.
“Thus, we have redirected our efforts to develop varieties that have better texture and, thus, shelf life,” he said. “This way, your fruit won’t go bad too quickly before you enjoy it at home. Also, we have worked to develop varieties that taste great.”
There are more cultivars on the way.
Though not yet available commercially, two new Southern Highbush Blueberry cultivar releases are scheduled to be available to growers in late 2024 or early 2025 – ‘Falcon’ and ‘FL19-006’, Phillips said. Both produce high yields, very firm jumbo-sized berries and taste great, he said.
Florida growers — mostly family farmers – produce more than 5,700 acres of blueberries, producing about 20 million pounds per season. The vast majority of blueberry acreage in Florida is planted with UF/IFAS varieties.
Many people love to gather their own fruit from blueberry U-pick farms.
U-pick operations can be found through north, north central and northwest Florida counties, primarily near Ocala, Gainesville, Tallahassee and Pensacola. But you can also find other U-pick operations near you, elsewhere in Florida.
–Brad Buck, UF/IFAS
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EAST BERLIN, Pa. — Pennsylvania’s Agriculture Secretary, Russell Redding joined members of the General Assembly, associations and businesses at Cashman’s Hardware Store in Adams County to promote Pennsylvania’s updated fertilizer law and the Department of Agriculture’s consumer education campaign to help residents manage their lawn care in a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable way.
The revisions to the Pennsylvania Fertilizer Law, signed by Governor Shapiro in 2023, brought new responsibilities to homeowners and residents who apply fertilizer to their lawns, ensures clearer fertilizer labels to help homeowners understand fertilizer needs and avoid costly over-application, and keeps Pennsylvania on track to meet our Chesapeake Bay goals.
“The agriculture community has long balanced the need for production with the need for environmental stewardship,” said Secretary Redding. “By expanding this responsibility to all who are using and applying fertilizer, we are creating healthier soils and water in the Commonwealth, while promoting an economic savings that can be realized through reviewing and understanding nutrient management.”
Homeowners and residents are required to be aware of and to follow the nutrient application rate limits, fertilizer application location restrictions, and best management practices as specified in the law and written on the product label. Overuse of fertilizer not only harms the environment but can wastes products and can be costly to residents. The modernized law focuses on educating homeowners on proper application, preventing unnecessary spending and runoff that pollutes rivers and streams.
“Excess nutrient runoff from fertilizers can lead to increased levels of nitrates in drinking water and can harm fish and aquatic life in streams and lakes,” DEP Director of Watershed Restoration and Nonpoint Source Management Jill Whitcomb explained. “These enhancements made to the Fertilizer Law will help
residents throughout Pennsylvania improve their local waters, as well as those that flow in the Ohio River, the Delaware River, and the Chesapeake Bay.”
The updates to Pennsylvania’s Fertilizer Law allow the Department of Agriculture to:
• Empower Consumers: Fertilizer labels will now be clearer, with instructions for proper use, best practices, and guidance on handling, storage, and disposal.
• Improve Reporting: Enhanced reporting will help track fertilizer use and ensure Pennsylvania meets environmental goals.
The Department has launched a consumer awareness campaign through the Bureau of Plant Industry, working with partners like Penn State Extension, the State Conservation Commission and the PA Landscape and Nursery Association, to connect residents with education, support, and resources to effectively and efficiently their use of fertilizer and other nutrients.
“Educating consumers on the proper way to apply lawn fertilizer and at appropriate rates will not only protect our water quality in Pennsylvania, but will result in a healthier lawn,” said Gregg Robertson of the Pennsylvania Landscape & Nursery Association. “Research by EPA has shown that a healthy lawn will reduce runoff of
nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment into our rivers and streams.”
Learn more about the Pennsylvania Fertilizer Law and how we each can be good stewards of our land at agriculture.pa.gov/fertilizer.
–Jay Losiewicz, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
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