Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture Vol. 25, #3 • Fall 1999

Join Us for Fall Events . . . . . . 1

Country Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

ViewpointU.S. Trade Policy Should

Benefit Family Farmers . . . . . 3

Do Rural Towns Need

Corporate Hogs? . . . . . . . . .5

Producer GrantsStart the Century Right

with a Producer Grant . . . . . . 6

Farmer Profile:

Experimenting to

Cut Costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0

StewardshipAn Efficient

Hay Feeding System . . . . . . 1 2

October 21 Field Day . . . . 1 3

Enjoy Fall Farm-Fest . . . . . .1 4

Is There a Black Walnut

Tree In Your Future? . . . . . .1 5

Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Inside thisissue of

Field Notes

can be done to solve them. Atan earlier hearing at the statecapitol, Kerr Center president JimHorne testified on the “Causes,Effects, and Solutions toPerennial Low Prices and Returnsin Agriculture.”

The twenty-membercommittee is chaired by SenatorRobert Kerr of Lawton.Representative Kenneth Corn ofPoteau is also a member. TheOklahoma Commissioner ofAgriculture and representativesfrom the Oklahoma FarmersUnion and Farm Bureau are alsomembers.

The November hearing willfocus on biotechnology. Speakersknowledgeable about this contro-versial topic will address thecommittee. The public is invitedto attend and offer questions andcomments. The exact date andlocation have not yet been set.Watch your newspaper for anannouncement, contact SenatorKerr’s office at 405-524-0126, orthe Kerr Center at 918-647-9123.

Join Us for Fall Events

The Kerr Center is holding anumber of fun and informativepublic events this fall.

On October 8 and 9, theOverstreet-Kerr Historical Farmwill be the site of the 8th annualFall Farm-Fest (see page 14). OnThursday, October 21, farmersand ranchers are invited to theannual Stewardship Farm FieldDay (see page 13). Researchupdates, a tour of ranch projects,a barbecue dinner, and aproducer panel are highlights.On Saturday, October 23, at1:30, the Kerr Center cattlesale will be held at the LeFloreCounty livestock barn in Wister(see back page).

Then in early November, theKerr Center will host theOklahoma legislature’s SpecialCommittee on the EconomicStatus of Agriculture. Thecommittee has been holdingpublic hearings this year seekinginput from experts and citizenson the problems that face theagricultural industry, and what

F i eld NotesF i eld NotesKerr Center

forSustainableAgriculture

2Fall 1999 Field Notes

The Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture

offers progressive leadership and educational

programs to all those interested in making

farming and ranching environmentally friendly,

socially equitable, and economically viable

over the long term.

The Kerr Center is a non-profit foundation

located on 4,000 acres near the southeast-

ern Oklahoma town of Poteau. It was estab-

lished in 1985.

PROGRAMS INCLUDE:• Oklahoma Producer Grants

• The Stewardship Farm

• Rural Development and Public Policy

• Communications/Education

• Vero Beach Research Station

• Overstreet-Kerr Historical Farm

STAFF:James Horne, President

Robert Adair, Jr. Director,

Vero Beach Research Station

Eric Allenbach, Public Policy Analyst

Jim Combs, Curator, Overstreet-Kerr

Historical Farm

Lloyd Faulkner, Assistant to the President

Brian Freking, Livestock Production Specialist

Manjula Guru, Agricultural Policy Analyst

Maura McDermott, Communications D i r e c t o r

David Redhage, Natural Resources E c o n o m i s t

Liz Speake, Communications/Education

Assistant

Michelle Stephens, Director,

Public Policy/ Rural Development

Alan Ware, Director, Producer Grant

Program/Stewardship Farm

O F F I C E : Barbara Chester, corporate secretary;

Lena Moore, secretary/receptionist/

webpage; Ann Ware, business manager

STEWARDSHIP FARM: Simon Billy, Charlie

Kimble, Andy Makovy, Scott Phillips

VERO BEACH RESEARCH STATION: Dave Davis,

Citrus Horticulturist, Bev Norquist, Secretary

OVERSTREET-KERR HISTORICAL FARM: Jeremy

Henson, Grounds/Maintenance

For further information contact us at:

P.O. Box 588, Poteau, OK 74953

918/647-9123 phone, 918/647-8712 fax

mailbox@kerrcenter.com, e-mail

www.kerrcenter.com on the web

Field Notes is published quarterly and is sent

free to subscribers. We welcome feedback

and news of sustainable agriculture events

and products. Address correspondence to:

Maura McDermott, editor.

Copyright 1999 by the Kerr Center for

Sustainable Agriculture. Newsletter articles

may be reprinted if credit is given and a

copy is sent to the newsletter editor.

Design by Argus DesignWorks

Country Life

”All of us helped in ourgarden. We grew roastin’ ears, limabeans, butter beans, black-eyedpeas, potatoes, peaches, melons.Just everythin’ We had one of themseparators and got 17 cents apound for butter fat. Eggs wouldbring 10 cents a dozen. Once aweek we loaded up what we grewand took it to town to sell.”

– Tal Redimer

“We had two fourteen footrooms when I was growin’ up. Onehad a floor and one didn’t. Wesewed rags and wound ‘em inballs. There was a Mrs. Wright thathad a carpet-weaving machine. Shewove us twenty-five yards of carpetfrom the rag balls, then my motherput it together with twine....Mymother put three things down. Wehad a field of corn, so we had thatpile of corn shucks. She put themon the floor and then she put downstraw, then paper. She’d put thisrag carpet over all of that. Myfather laid a frame of boards justabout two inches wide all aroundthe edge of the room. Boy, thatmade a pretty room. Then, shewent to Montgomery Ward andgot paper and papered that oldgyp wall. It got to be kind ofcrumbly before she got the paper

up. The paper was a pretty greenwith red and some other colors init. She hung that herself. Peoplewould come in and say ‘Oh, isn’t itpretty in here.’ Mama had quiltsand things like that and her bedswere made up pretty.”

– Alice Hendricks

“When I was eleven, I wentright in the fields with the men,kept right up with them. A boylearned to do things pretty young.That’s all the fun there is in life islearnin’ somethin’.”

– Tom Lemmons

from Images of a Past:No Man’s Land

( I n t e rviews with the settlers of the Oklahoma panhandle)

By Nancy Laughlin Leonard

A

3Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture

griculture Secretary Dan Glickman and U.S. TradeRepresentative Charlene Barshefsky announced on May

4, 1999, that the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)and the Office of United States Trade Representative(USTR) would hold 11 public listening sessions to solicitpublic comment on agricultural trade issues.

Listening sessions were held around the countrythroughout the months of June and July. These sessionswere organized to give the USDA and USTR officials anopportunity to outline general approaches for the 3rdMinisterial Meeting in Seattle, Washington, scheduledfor November 30th - December 3rd, and for the ensuingWorld Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations in early2000, when new talks are due to start on agricultureand services and possibly a range of other issues.

The WTO came into being in 1995, as the successorto the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)which had been established in the wake of the SecondWorld War. Today, the WTO is the only internationalorganization dealing with the global rules of tradebetween nations. Its main function is to ensure that tradeflows as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible.

The session for Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, andNew Mexico was held on July 8th in Austin, in theTexas state capitol. Twenty-seven groups testified. TheKerr Center was the only testifier from Oklahoma andthe only one to speak out openly about the interrela-tionship of U.S. agricultural and trade policies, thepotential dangers of biotechnology for American familyfarmers, and why U.S. policies may not be helpingAmerican farmers..

Following is the testimony: “The Inseparable Tradeand Agricultural Policy” written by Kerr Center presidentJames Horne and agricultural policy analyst Manjula Guru.

IntroductionA country’s trade and agricultural policies are inter-

linked, and one cannot separate the two. The purposebehind major agricultural policy decisions in the U.S.such as allotments, subsidies, supply management, andsuch other tools, is not just to balance supply anddemand and stabilize net farm income, but is in fact alsoto increase U.S. trade by increasing exports. And it is forthis reason that trade policy should be made to explicit-ly reflect not just the costs of production of commodi-ties, but also hidden costs such as degradation ofnatural resources. Degradation may occur in the form ofsoil erosion, groundwater depletion and pollution.Furthermore, industrial agriculture contributes to globalwarming, air pollution, and loss of biodiversity throughmonoculture production systems and confined animalfeeding operations.

Impact of U.S. Trade Policy onthe Structure of Agriculture

Trade policy must take into account its effect on thestructure of agriculture in the U.S. If policy favors thecontinued expansion of the industrial model of agricul-ture, then we will have fewer family farmers, less stew-ardship of natural resources, and declining rural commu-nities. Food security and quality of life issues will accel-erate as significant problems for our country.

Historically, the result of farm policy was consolida-tion, rural community decline, and the price of subsidiesbeing bid into the price of farmland. This was the era ofthe vanishing farm. In 1950 there were 5.3 millionfarms, by 1960 down to 3.7 million, by 1980 2.4million, and in 1997 about 2 million. In short, 62% ofAmerican farms have disappeared since 1950, or inother words, in the last 20 years America has lost300,000 farms. While many believe that we have anefficient agriculture system, the truth is that the price ofcommodities such as wheat are still at 1960 levels.Producing surpluses with only the hope of good exportmarkets is not rational in terms of resource allocations.

There is clear evidence of concentration in farming

U.S. Trade Po l i c yShould Benefit Family Fa rm e r s

V I E W P O I N T

DECLINE IN AMERICAN FARMS6

5

4

3

2

1

0 1950 1960 1980 1997

4Fall 1999 Field Notes

and agribusiness. Today, less than 20% of the largestfarms in the U.S. are responsible for more than 80% of thetotal production. The largest broiler operations account for97% of sales nationwide. Less than 4% of the largestfarms produce 66% of vegetables, sweet corn andmelons. In the meatpacking industry, thefour largest fir m scontrol more than 80%of steers, heifers andboxed beef. In grainthe four largest firmscontrol 24% of the total bushels produced and 39% ofthe grain elevators.

The most recent census report showed that 3.6% ofthe 1.9 million U.S. farms in 1997— which amounts toabout 68,400— earned 57% of all farm receipts. Even iffarmers use the very best management practices inproducing food, and the most sophisticated marketingtechniques, such as the use of futures and options, it isnot enough— they cannot even come close to negatingthe effect of a handful of firms controlling the market.Export policy and trade policy often favors these largecorporate entities rather than the nation’s family farms.Trade policy also affects the structure and type of agricul-ture in the countries we are exporting to. In thosecountries that are developing, is it right to encouragemonoculture and factory styles of production and thedisplacement of indigenous populations from rural tourban areas? We may not be thanked for this assistancein the years to come.

Trade Policy Should Workfor American Farmers NotAgainst Them

The aim of trade policy should be to benefitAmerican farm families and not to reflect the profit max-imization goals of a handful of corporate entities thatcontrol virtually all of the beef, pork, and poultrypacking plants, confined animal production units, graintrade, and vegetable producers and processors.

Trade policy must reflect the highest of Americanvalues and standards. Agricultural exports, whilehelpful, are not the solution to agriculture problems ofpersistent low returns and food security issues, such asputting too much power in the hands of vertically inte-

grated companies. When farms disappear so do thefamilies that farm them. The loss of farmers and theresultant structure puts communities in turmoil. At riskis the loss of more family farms to be replaced bycorporate agriculture. The corporate structure of

confined animal opera-tions is taking awayfrom farmers the rightto produce using theirmethods, and areessentially makingfarmers serfs on their

own land. Agriculture and trade policy often sends thewrong signals to farmers about how much and what toproduce. Embargoes destroy the best of planning.

In a similar way, agribusinesses are assuming greatercontrol of production agriculture. Agribusinesses aredeveloping genetically-modified seed that the farmer notonly has to purchase, but also has to agree to sell back tothe same company. Corporate-owned operations likethese are growing at a staggering rate and few arelooking at the downside of such technologies. The currenttrend toward monopoly in the US agricultural industry isundoing family farms by destroying competition, andalong with them rural and sustainable America.

Trade and agricultural policies must be linked toensure that they are not working to the other’s disad-vantage and they are not counter to other U.S. initia-tives that seek to reduce pesticide usage. In thisrespect, we must phase out imports of food fromcountries that have policies that are counter to ourpolicies. Allowing other countries to export to us withunfair labor practices also puts American farmers at adisadvantage competitively and furthermore encouragesthe exploitation of workers in other countries.

The U.S. should not allow the importation of anyfood products that are grown with chemicals banned inthe U.S. as they reduce costs of production, thusallowing other countries an unfair competitiveadvantage. Also, this practice endangers the health ofAmericans, particularly those that are least able to speakfor themselves, such as infants, the elderly, the ill andthe poor.

Standardized labels stating country of origin, orwhether food has been genetically modified, irradiated,or grown organically should be required for productscoming into this country.

V I E W P O I N T

Trade policy must take into

account its effect on the stru c t u re

of agriculture in the U.S.

5K e rr Center for Sustainable Agriculture

U.S. Trade Policy and its Effecton the Environment

Trade polices should aim to develop a nationalaccounting system that takes into account the cost ofdegradation of natural and human resources, as well as thedirect cost of production. Unfortunately, policy often doesnot account for the true or total cost of agricultural produc-tion. What gets counted are those resources that areexpended, while others are ignored, partly because it isvery difficult to assign values. Social costs associated withagriculture and the loss of rural communities represent truecosts of our industrialized system of food production.

In industrial agriculture today, profit margins are lowand risk is high, so maximum production is paramount.These factors have led farmers to adopt farming methodsthat increase production but may cause soil erosion orjeopardize the biological functioning of the soil. Examplesinclude the increasing use of pesticides and fertilizers toovercome the effects of a disrupted ecosystem fromoveruse of pesticides, and substituting synthetic fertilizersto mask the loss of organic matter in the soil. Farmershave followed the practice called monoculture in order totake advantage of government programs and use special-ized machinery. It is efficient— like making the same itemin a factory is efficient— the machinery is ready, theroutine is known, and the markets are there. However itdepletes the soil of its life and health, increases erosion,

and decreases biological diversity.The drive to increase exports and hence for increases

in production has resulted in bigger farms becoming thenorm. Big farms demand big, high horsepower tractorsand heavy farm equipment. As they roll across the fie l d stheir weight compacts the soil, taking out air spaces,which decreases the capacity of the soil to hold water. Inturn this increases runoff and erosion. In addition, thefinancial pressure on the few big farmers to increase theiracreage has led to farmers being responsible for moreland than they can manage in a sustainable way.

Conclusion and Suggestions1. Trade policies should not be structured to use food as

a weapon against the poor in order to achievemilitary or governmental goals in other countries.

2. Trade policy should be focused on ensuring that theneeds and not just the wants of Americans are met insuch ways that we ensure the sustainability of ourfood system and the natural resources upon which oursystem depends, with fairness, consideration, andcompassion for all people who work the land.

3. Trade and agriculture policy should use total costaccounting.

4. Policy should be examined to ensure that the benefits ofsuch policies are distributed evenly to American taxpayersand to those rank-and-file workers farming our land.

Bringing Home the Bacon?,The Myth of the Role of CorporateHog Farming in Rural Revitalization,has just been released by the KerrCenter. It is based upon researchconducted by the North CentralRegional Center for Rural Develop-ment at Iowa State University, underthe direction of Dr. Cornelia ButlerFlora.

Information in the report willhelp rural communities in Oklahomaand throughout the United Statesrespond intelligently and appropri-ately when faced with rural devel-opment options. The report,focusing on Texas County,Oklahoma, illustrates the impact of

the recruitment of industrial swineproduction on a particular ruralcounty.

The impact was measured bychanges in 1) financial indicators–including job, income, taxes,business activity, banking activity,public assistance and housing; 2)people-related indicators– includingpopulation size and diversity, andeducation; 3) social indicators–including crime rates and civil courtcases and 4) environmental indica-tors– including water, soil, and airquality.

Bringing Home the Bacon?reports findings from multi-countyresearch. Two major questions were

used as the basis for the study: Dothe benefits of the particulareconomic development proposaloutweigh the costs? and Will theoutcomes for the community servethe people of that community andstate? These are the overarchingquestions that citizens and govern-ment officials should ask when theyare faced with deciding whetherand to what extent to pursue indus-trial recruitment as a means of ruralrevitalization.

The report can be accessed on-line at www.kerrcenter.com. Toreceive a copy of the full report orthe executive summary contact theKerr Center 918-647-9123.

Do Rural Towns Need Corporate Hogs?

F

6Fall 1999 Field Notes

O K L A H O M A P R O D U C E R G R A N T S

armers teaching other farmers howto be more profitable while alsoconserving natural resources andprotecting the environment— thatis the goal of the Kerr Center’sOklahoma Producer Grantprogram. The program bringsfarmers, ranchers, Extensionagents, NRCS technicians, andresearchers together to explorenew ways of solving problemson the farm.

The program encouragesproducer innovation. Bothresearch projects and demon-strations are funded. (Researchprojects are on-farm tests of anidea or technology.Demonstrations are on-farmpresentations of a provenfarming/ranching practice.)Grants are awarded on a com-petitive basis. Those interestedmust fill out a grant application.Proposals are evaluated by an inde-pendent technical committee offarmers, ranchers and agricultureprofessionals. Grants range from upto $3,500 for a one-year project to$7,500 for a two or three- yearproject.

The Kerr Center program isunique in several ways. Govern-ment programs such as CRP andWHIP offer financial assistance toOklahoma producers to help themadopt conservation practices orimprove wildlife habitat. But oftenthe improvements made on indi-vidual farms go unnoticed by all

but the farmer and his immediateneighbors. The Kerr Center programasks its grant recipients to spreadthe word about what they are

doing. One way to do this is tohost a field day. The philosophyunderlying this approach is thatfarmers are more apt to adoptsomething new if they see itdemonstrated, especially if it isbeing used on a farm like theirs.

The Kerr Center program alsodiffers from others because it isbroader. Grants can be awarded ineight areas. They include traditionalconservation areas such as soil con-servation, clean water, and preserv-ing wildlife habitat. But grants inother areas, such as managingpests with minimal environmentalimpact or conserving energy, aremore unusual.

Kerr Center specialists cannothelp a farmer devise a specificgrant project, but they are availableto help grant recipients with

problems and with planningoutreach activities like fielddays. Applicants are urged tolink up with agriculture profes-sionals from Extension, otheragencies or non-profit organi-zations for assistance inanalyzing and executing aproject.

After October 18, an infor-mation packet with samplesand application form will beavailable by mail from theKerr Center or online at ker-rcenter.com. Deadline forapplications is February 15,2000. Grants will be awardedMarch 20.To be eligible for funding, the

project must fit into one of eightareas. These are:

1. Conserving soil and soil health2. Conserving water and protect-

ing its quality3. Managing organic wastes and

farm chemicals so they don’tpollute

4. Selecting plants and animalsadapted to the environment

5. Encouraging biodiversity onthe farm

6. Managing pests with minimalenvironmental impact

7. Conserving energy resources8. Increasing profitability and

reducing risk

Start the Century Rightwith a Producer Grant

— Maura McDermott

C O N S E RVE AND CREATE HEALTHY SOILStopping erosion conserves topsoil. Healthy soil is fertile, high inorganic matter, has good texture and structure and is teeming with soillife. Preserving healthy soil guarantees a farm’s viability into the future.

1. Stop soil erosion by terracing, strip cropping, repairing gullies2. Add organic matter (with “green manure” cover crops,

compost, manures, crop residues, organic fertilizers)3. Conservation tillage4. Plant wind breaks5. Rotate cash crops with

hay, pasture, or cover crops

K e rr Center for Sustainable Agricul ture7

What kinds of projects mightbe eligible for a grant? A farmerwho wanted to test a reducedspray program or a biologicalpesticide and then compare thenew system to the old might havea viable project. Or a farmer whosaved energy and money becauseof a new tillage approach mightqualify. Or a farmer could experi-ment with growing a cover crop tostop erosion and build soil. Growingan unusual high-value crop or tryinga new marketing approach couldincrease profitability and might be aworthwhile project.

Projects that may fit in one areashould not violate another area. For

O K L A H O M A P R O D U C E R G R A N T S

example, an applicant might wantto demonstrate a conservationtillage method. Conservation tillagehelps stop soil erosion by leaving alarge percentage of crop residues inthe field to protect the soil.However, if using this tillagemethod requires that moreherbicide be applied, then theproject would not be “managingpests with minimal environmentalimpact.” However, if the projectalso includes plans to demonstrateapproaches to managing weedsthat would also cut the amount ofherbicide used, then it would havea better chance of being funded.

Producers who get involved

with this program join thousands ofothers around the country who aretrying new approaches to solvingold problems. Many of theseapproaches fall under what hascome to be known as sustainableagriculture. The boxes scatteredover the next few pages containlists of sustainable approaches tofarming and ranching. For thosewho are interested in improvingtheir bottom line while protectingthe natural resource base of theirfarm, perhaps these lists willprovide a few ideas. We arelooking for fresh, innovativeapproaches....think about what willwork on your farm.

CONSERVE WATER AND PROTECT ITS QUALITYAgriculture affects water quality when sediment, nutrients, and chemicals arewashed into waterways or enter groundwater. Farming methods that preventsoil erosion or filter pollutants can dramatically improve water quality. Waterconservation is needed because irrigation is expensive, some groundwatersources are drying up, and farmers face conflicts with urban areas for access.

1. Stop soil erosion in field and pasture2. Reduce use of chemicals3. Establish conservation buffer areas4. Grow crops adapted to rainfall received5. Use efficient irrigation methods

MANAGE ORGANIC WASTESAND FARM CHEMICALS SOTHEY DON’T POLLUTEOrganic wastes such as manurescan be valuable fertilizers on thefarm if they are managedcorrectly, and pollutants if theyare not handled properly.

ORGANIC WASTES:

1. Test soil and apply manuresand litters only when needed

2. Compost dead animals andlitters

3. Store litter piles out of the rainand snow

4. Raise pastured or free-rangepoultry

5. Raise hogs in hoop houses orfree-range

FARM CHEMICALS AND TRASH:

1. Look for alternatives tochemicals

2. Use the least amountnecessary

3. Buy the least toxic chemical4. Recycle5. Dispose according to label

instructions

8Summer 1999 Field Notes

Pesticides are costly, can cause farmer health problems,

and can pollute the environment. Heavy use can

make target species resistant.

MANAGE PESTS WITH MINIMAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

O K L A H O M A P R O D U C E R G R A N T S

SUSTAINABLE WEED

MANAGEMENT

MECHANICAL APPROACHES

1. Mowing2. Flaming 3. Flooding 4. Tillage 5. Controlled burns

CULTURAL APPROACHES

1. Crop Rotation2. Smother crops3. Cover crops4. Allelopathic plants5. Spacing plants closely

BIOLOGICAL APPROACHES

1. Multispecies grazing2. Rotational grazing

CHEMICAL APPROACHES

1. Integrated PestManagement 2. Using a narrow spectrum,

least toxic herbicide3. Properly calibrated sprayers4. Application methods that

minimize amount used, drift,and farmer contact

SUSTAINABLE INSECT AND

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

1. Enhancing existing popula-tions or introducing naturalpredators, pathogens, sterileinsects, and other biologicalcontrol agents.

2. Traps 3. Maintaining wild areas or

areas planted with speciesattractive to beneficialinsects

4. Selective insecticides orbotanical insecticides whichare less toxic

5. Trap crops6. Crop rotation

(avoid monoculture) 7. Intercropping, strip cropping8. Crop rotation9. Maintain healthy soil

(prevents soil-baseddiseases)

10. Keep plants from stress

SELECT PLANTS AND ANIMALSADAPTED TO THE ENVIRONMENTAdapted crops and livestock require fewercostly inputs in order to produce well.

1. Grow crops and crop varietieswell-suited to Oklahoma’s climate

2. Match crops to the soil type3. Experiment with older, open pollinated

varieties that do well without chemicalinputs and breeds of livestock that arehardy and require less management

4. Raise livestock adapted to your climate 5. Raise livestock that gain well on grass

and native forages

ENCOURAGE BIODIVERSITY(of domesticated animals, plants, wildlife,microbic and aquatic life)Biodiversity on the farm means the farmerraises a variety of livestock and crops andalso leaves habitat for wildlife.

1. Diversify crops and livestock raised2. Leave habitat (field margins, unmowed

strips, pond and stream borders, etc.,) forwildlife

3. Maintain the health of streams and ponds 4. Provide wildlife corridors5. Rotate row crops with hay crops

K e rr Center for Sustainable Agriculture9

O K L A H O M A P R O D U C E R G R A N T S

CONSERVE ENERGYRESOURCESCutting both the direct use offossil fuels (gasoline, diesel)and products made fromfossil fuels (fertilizers, pesti-cides) protects producersfrom price increases or fluctu-ations in supply that willoccur as supplies of fossilfuels decline.

1. Reduce number of tillageoperations

2. Cut use of chemicals andfertilizers

3. Develop productionmethods that reducehorsepower needs

3. Recycle used oil 4. Use solar-powered fences

and appliances5. Use renewable, farm-

produced fuels: ethanol,methanol, fuel oils from oilseed cops, methane frommanures and crop wastes

INCREASE PROFITABILITY AND REDUCE RISKReducing expenditures and diversifying farm enterprises reduces financial risk. Adding valueto crops or livestock, trying new crops or livestock, or direct marketing can help producersescape low commodity prices.

1. Diversify crops and livestock 2. Substitute management for off-farm inputs3. Maximize the use of on-farm resources4. Work with, not against, natural cycles5. Keep machinery, equipment and building

costs down

6. Add value to crops and livestock 7. Try direct marketing (susbscription

farming (CSA), farmers’ markets, farmstores, mail order)

8. Grow crops/livestock that receivepremium prices (ex. – organically certified)

P R O D U C E R G R A N T S

1 0Fall 1999 Field Notes

because you have a tool in yourtool bag doesn’t mean you have touse it.”

The Harrells were some of thefirst to try field trials of thripscontrol with the Peanut Project.Thrips, small insects which feed onthe unopened peanut bud, causeleaf crinkling, and in severe cases,stunting and necrosis. “Years ago,”says Rusty, “an Extension agent

had told me that thrips wereoverrated as a problem. That stuckwith me, and I wanted to see if itwas true.” At meetings of thePeanut Project, he talked overpossible changes with Extensionagents and specialists and withother farmers interested in thesame thing. He then tried a fieldexperiment on just a few acres,with a direct comparison with andwithout chemicals replicated

several times across the field. ThePeanut Project helped by scoutingthe field during the trial to makesure the thrips didn’t get out ofcontrol and by measuring yields atthe end of the season.

Their field trials showed themthey could do without the thripscontrol, and they stopped using it.Says Rusty, “The big concern wasbeing able to treat the peanuts ifthe thrips got bad. We have thelabor so that we can spray them ifwe need to, and so I felt prettyconfident about leaving it off. Therewas a point this summer that Iswore I wouldn’t leave off the in-furrow insecticide again becausethey looked pretty rough, but atthe end of the season they allyielded the same.”

After they dropped thechemical thrips control on theirfields, the Harrells continued thecomparison tests, making test plotswith 16 rows with the chemicalnext to 16 rows without. Thepaired plots are replicated threetimes in the field and yields arecarefully measured at harvest. In1998, unlike previous tests, the testplots showed an increase in yieldswhen the in-furrow insecticide wasused. Says Rusty, “We probablycould have made another 200-300lbs. per acre, and the price washigh, so we would have come outwell with our additional peanuts.”Rusty has not fully decided how torespond to this year’s data. In thethree years of his tests, only in1998 have the treated plots out-

FARMER PROFILE: Experimenting to Cut Costs

T he following is the story of apeanut farmer who did on-farmresearch as part of a sustainableagriculture project in North Carolina.The trials he did allowed him tochange his approach to pest controland improve his bottom line.

Peanut farmer Rusty Harrell hasa strong incentive to cut costs.Changes in the federal peanutprogram have reduced both thequota of peanuts farmers can growand the price they will receive fortheir crop. With an expected yieldof 3000 lbs. per acre and a break-even yield of 2500 lbs. per acre,Rusty doesn’t see much room forerror – or the unpredictability ofweather. He sees his best strategyfor improving profitability andreducing risk to be reducing hisinput costs.

Rusty farms Harrell FamilyFarms with his brother Robby andtheir father Melvin. Each owns orrents his own farms, but they poollabor and equipment. Together,they farm 185 acres of peanuts,900 acres of cotton, and 75 acresof tobacco near Hobgood, in north-eastern North Carolina. When hestarted coming to meetings of thePeanut Project*, Rusty wasskeptical. “I really didn’t think thatwe could cut out a lot of chemicalsand practices that we were using. Ithought that we were entrenchedtoo deep. I also thought that it wasgoing to be hard to get people toaccept change. We had prettymuch been doing the Cadillactreatment. We had to learn that just

”Any time

we can re d u c e

the use of

pesticides without

j e o p a rd i z i n g

yields and

p ro fit a b i l i t y, I think

it’s healthier for

me, the handler. ”

– Rusty Harre l l

K e rr Center for Sustainable Agriculture1 1

P R O D U C E R G R A N T S

yielded the untreated ones. Hefigures that even if the chemicalcontrol does sometimes give ahigher yield, he’s not sure that hecan count on a price that will justifythe additional expense of thetreatment.

Other changes in the Harrells’production system have includedthe elimination of other preventivepesticide applications. “We cut outusing a soil insecticide forrootworms last year because wejust haven’t seen much damage.”To avoid problems withCylindrocladium Black Root Rot(CBR), a potentially devastatingdisease for which most growers usea soil fumigant, they changed anumber of practices. “We noticedthat when we planted late, therewas less of a problem, so westarted planting later. We changedto resistant varieties and started alonger rotation. That’s difficultbecause we have a limited amountof good peanut land, but we try todo a 3- to 4-year rotation now.”

Cutting back on pesticides hasprovided considerable savings forthe Harrells. “In all, we cut about$120 per acre out of our productioncosts in 1997 reports Rusty. “I’venever made more money off of mypeanuts except the year when theprice doubled - and this is with thereduction in quota and price.”

Rusty sees other benefits aswell. Says Rusty, “I don’t likemessing with [pesticides]. Any timewe can reduce the use of pesticideswithout jeopardizing yields andprofitability, I think it’s healthier forme, the handler.”

He believes that the field trialsthat he and his brother haveconducted for the last two yearshave given him the confidence tomake changes in the wholeoperation. He’s now thinking aboutwhat changes he might make next,perhaps going to a no-tilloperation, trying to cut costs bymaking fewer trips over the field.

From Breaking New Ground: North

Carolina Farmers Explore Sustainability .

This booklet is full of ideas and stories like

the one above. Published by Carolina Farm

Stewardship Association for Partners in

Agriculture P.O. Box 448, Pittsboro, NC

27312.

*The Peanut Project worked with North

Carolina peanut farmers to reduce i n p u t

costs and improve profits; sponsored fie l d

trials, workshops, etc. In 1997, Peanut

Project farmers reduced their use of chemical

pesticides from 1994 levels by over 25,000

pounds of active ingredient, on over 2,000

acres. Ninety percent of participating growers

increased their profit and most reported no

reduction in yields. For more information,

contact project manager Scott Marlowe

919-361-9866. The Peanut Project was

sponsored by the Rural Advancement

Foundation – USA (RAFI), www.rafi.org,

P.O. Box 655, Pittsboro, NC 27312

Learn MoreAbout It

Kerr Center specialistswill be conducting freeworkshops on the ProducerGrant program duringNovember and December.Workshop attendees willlearn how to develop ideasinto proposals and how to fillout the grant application.Dates are:

NOVEMBER 2Tulsa Community College,

7 p.m.

NOVEMBER 4Ada Vo-tech,

7 p.m.

NOVEMBER 8Woodward Vo-tech,

7 p.m.

NOVEMBER 9Panhandle State University,

7 p.m.

NOVEMBER 11Great Plains Vo-tech, Lawton,

6:30 p.m.

DECEMBER 6Stillwater(Tentative)

DECEMBER 7Oklahoma City Public Library

7 p.m. (Tentative)

DECEMBER 9Kerr Center, Poteau

7 p.m.

For information on

workshops or the grant

program contact Alan

Ware or David Redhage

at the Kerr Center at

918-647-9123.

” We had pretty much been doing the Cadillac

t reatment. We had to learn that just

because you have a tool in your tool bag

doesn’t mean you have to use it.”

– Rusty Harre l l

One aspect of sus-tainable cattleproduction is tomanage forage toultimately reduceor eliminatefeeding hay. Wehave not beenable to achievethis elusive goal,but we continue torefine how we feed hay.

Neighbors, or at least theirwives, seem to always ask me,“why do you leave the hay balesin the field?” We do use a systemwhere hay bales are left in thepastures during the hay season,rather than stored somewhereelse and taken to the herd. Thissystem was coined thespaced-bale hay feedingsystem by the ForageSystems Research Center(FSRC) in Missouri. Thereare numerous advantagesto this system. Primarily,our reason for using it isto reduce the damage toour pastures andequipment when condi-tions are less than ideal.

The basic set up ofthe feeding system isillustrated at right. Large roundbales are pre-set prior to winterfeeding time to reduce labor,tractor usage, and pasturedamage from running equipmentin the field during muddy times.The pasture can be any size andthe number of bales in each can

Therefore we willprepare for 500bales spacedthroughout ourpastures. Balesare spacedaccording to thetotal number ofpastures used inthe planned

rotation. Oneexample illustrating the math isthe Stewardship Farm where werotate our stocker cattle throughapproximately 208 acres dividedinto 18 paddocks. Our rotation isprimarily a two-day rotation.Therefore enough hay should beplaced in each paddock for a 90day period. With 18 paddocks

and a two-day rotation wewould need approximatelysix bales per paddock tolast the desired time. Inthis system each pasturewould be rotated throughthree times with a restperiod of 34 days. Wecould also be flexible andspeed up the rotationwhen it gets closer tospring green-up. In thisscenario we could havetwo rotations with a two

day rotation, and two with asingle day rotation.

We prefer to use biodegrad-able sisal twine for the bales sincewe are not transporting the balesfrom the barn to the pasture. It iscritical that twine spacing be keptto less than three inches to

vary as well. We generally figureour hay needs based on previoushistory of usage. We generallyhave had to plan on feeding for70-90 days. We also keep aninventory of cattle to determineneeds on a per head basis. If Iknow the number of head ofcattle and estimate consumption

based on historical data I canpreplan my hay needs fairlyclosely. Because of our stockingrate and rotational grazing systemwe have fed approximately 1-2bales per head for the winterperiod. The number of cattle thisyear is planned to be 450 head.

1 2F a l l 1999 Field Notes

An Efficient Hay Feeding Systemby Brian Freking

Spaced-bale hay feeding system using portable electric fence.

S T E W A R D S H I P

Temporary Electric FenceGate

Handle

Dead EndGate Handle

Dead EndGate Handle

G a t eH a n d l e

Permanent Electric Fence

Round BalesPADDOCK 2

PADDOCK 1

minimize storage waste. Thenarrow twine spacing providesexcellent storage protection forgrass-dominant hay. Hay frompastures which have a higher per-centage of legumes is generallystored in the barn.

Even setting out a month’sworth of hay at a time is muchmore efficient than feeding on adaily basis. In our rotation systemwe’ve also found that using hayrings doesn’t save that much hayfrom wastage. When cows arelimited to only a few bales theytend to vacuum up any hayavailable.

One negative behavior wehave observed is that dominantcows tend to spend more time atthe hay than grazing. With thisdrawback in mind, producerscould divide the herd into smaller,common groups. Examples arefirst-calf heifers, stocker calves,bulls, mature cows in good bodycondition, and older cows, etc.Using this system allows us tomanage at a more efficient level.If the mature cows look to bemaintaining body condition, whyfeed hay just to put weight onthose few that are a little thinner?

We prefer a small number ofbales in many paddocks rather thana large number of bales in just afew paddocks. Trampling damagedoes occur around hay bales and alight discing or harrowing may berequired to smooth the ground outand reestablish forage. Our generalexperience has been that this is notnecessary and that seed from hayspreads throughout the pasture.

Many producers arebeginning to look at this systemmore closely. Maybe you shouldre-evaluate the traditionalpractices of feeding hay!

K e rr Center for Sustainable Agriculture1 3

October 2 1Field DayRanchers, mark

your calendars: theannual StewardshipFarm Field Day willbe held on theafternoon andevening of Thursday,October 21 at theKerr Center Ranch, onHighway 271 southof Poteau. Hearresearch updates andtour the ranch in the afternoon. A barbecue dinner will be available atsix p.m. After dinner, a panel of producers will convene to discusswhat it means to have a sustainable ranching operation, and theaudience will have an opportunity to ask questions and offerc o m m e n t s .

2:30-3:00 • REGISTRATION AT THE KERR CENTER RANCH BARN

3:00-3:30 • RESEARCH UPDATES

Heifer replacement: Two years of results from a heifer manage-

ment study comparing breeding and first-calf information on

three groups of heifers fed either grain, grass and grain, or

grass only. Retained ownership: Research updates comparing

marketing through a branded program with a more convention-

al feedlot with implants. Costs and returns will be the focus.

3:30-5:30 • RANCH TOUR. Participants will see and learn about: Riparianareas (examine the changes that occur after streams are fenced

off). Livestock water crossing (a stabilized crossing that features

gradually sloping banks covered with a material that resists

the wear and tear of cattle and/or machinery). Limited accesswatering (a floating electric fence in a stock watering pond)

Pasture hay storage (see article on page 10) Mobile fly trap (the pros

and cons of this innovative device) Rotational grazing system (how

the Kerr herd is managed) In addition, information on the Kerr

Center’s Producer Grant Program will be presented.

6:00-7:00 • CATERED BARBECUE DINNER

(Brisket, sausage and all the trimmings –

$4 adult, $2 under 12. (MUST RESERVE BY OCTOBER 15)

7:00-8:00 • PRODUCER PANEL DISCUSSION

Sale cattle may be inspected during the Field Day. See story on back page

Bobby Gage, David Pickle and Brian Freking at the 1998 KerrField Day

1 4F a l l 1999 Field Notes

Enjoy anO l d - Fashioned Fa l lat the Fa rm - Fe s t

The sky is the deepest, cleanestblue, the air is crisp, the oaks onthe hillsides are turning bronze–fall has arrived. Enjoy an autumnday in the lovely hills of south-eastern Oklahoma at the 8thannual Overstreet-Kerr HistoricalFarm-Fest.

The farm-fest offers a uniqueglimpse of Oklahoma farm life indays gone by.

Volunteers will show visitorsskills every farm family once tookfor granted. The atmosphere iscasual, and visitors are encour-aged to visit with craftspeopleand ask questions.

The highlight of the festival iswatching the old timers (and afew youngins’) mill and cooksorghum, Oklahoma’s answer tomaple syrup.

New this year for visitors toenjoy is the playful Buddy, thebaby buffalo.

The Historical Farm receivedthe 1998 Native Beauty Award

from the Oklahoma Tourism andRecreation Department. The awardrecognizes outstanding scenicattractions or picturesque areas.

Friday, October 8, is reservedfor schoolchildren. Admission isfree, but teachers must reserveentrance in advance by calling918-966-3396. On Saturday,October 9, the festival goespublic. Visitors can tour the 1895home and farmstead during thefestival. Food and soft drinks willbe available. Admission is $5 foradults, $3 for school age youth(6-18), under 6 free.

The Farm is located onhighway 59, about ten milessouth of Sallisaw exit on I-40, or23 miles north of Poteau, orapproximately 60 miles north ofthe Talimena Drive.

If you have a Native Americanor pioneer craft or skill you wouldlike to demonstrate or want moreinformation about this fun, familyevent, call 918-966-3396.

K e rr Center for Sustainable Agriculture15

plus, it is not a requirement forprospective growers.

Jones has had plenty ofexperience with black walnuts.He worked for Missouri’sHammons Products for twenty-five years, first as director offorestry and land managementand then as vice-president.Hammons is the only blackwalnut processing company inthe world. Jones directed theplanting of over one millionblack walnuts trees during histenure with the company.

Native black walnuts growwell in the eastern three-quarters of Oklahoma. Theymake great shade trees, areuseful in shelterbelts, and offerfood for wildlife. Lumber fromlarge trees is prized for furniture.

Growing new varieties ofhigher-yielding black walnutsholds a lot of promise forfarmers interested in a cropthat is both sustainable andrenewable. Recently Jones andhis colleagues put together aNut Production Handbook forEastern Black Walnut f o rprospective growers. The 147page, five-section handbook isan excellent guide to thesubject. For more informationcontact Jones at:P.O. Box 600, Stockton,Missouri, 65785-0600.Phone: 417.276.6010. Fax:417.276.6011.

Is There a Black Wa l n u tTree in Your Fu t u re ?

– Maura McDermott

I n my opinion, the black walnutis the best-testing nut in theworld. Those who favor pecans,and lovers of macadamias maytake exception to thisstatement, and to be surethose nuts can hold their ownin any taste test. But the blackwalnut (Juglans nigra L.) is tomy taste, the best, with asweet, rather exotic flavor thatis unlike any other. Furthermore,when it comes to delicacy andaroma, the black walnut leavesits cousin, the English walnut,in the shade.

However, when it comesto sales (not to mentionnumber of acres planted), theEnglish walnut is far ahead.“The black walnut is underuti-lized,” says James E. Jones,president of the newly-formedCenter for Advancement of theAmerican Black Walnut. Jonesand his organization inStockton, Missouri, aim toremedy that. They are settingup variety trials/test plantingsin demonstration groves innine states. Currently, theCenter is looking for a fewlandowners in Oklahoma towho have 1-3 acres easilyaccessible and visible from aroad. The Center will providethe seedlings. The grower mustagree to open the grove up fora field day each year. Whileexperience with tree crops is a

Photos counter-clockwise from top left : DavidRedhage cooks sorghum. Alan Ware withsorghum; Delmer Robinson, Master SorghumCooker; Mammoth Donkey; sorghum press;Bonnie Cox making a rag rug; Wayne Cox craftsan old-style rifle; John Williams operating a late1800s foot-powered scroll saw.

Nonprofit Organization

U.S. Postage

PA I DPoteau, Ok 74953

PERMIT No. 64

Kerr Center for Sustainable AgricultureP.O. Box 588Poteau, OK 74953

Printed on recycled paper

KERR CENTER CATTLE SALESaturday, October 23, 1:30 Le Flore

County Livestock Auction Barn, Wister

F o r t y - five heifers and fif t e e ncows from the Kerr herd will be sold.Angus and Senepol crosses will bethe primary breeds. Cattlemen mayinspect the cattle the Thursdaybefore the sale during theStewardship Farm Field Day (seepage 13) and on Friday from 9-12 atthe Kerr Center Ranch headquarters.Brian Freking will be on hand toanswer questions.

Featured will be the service ofthese sires: KCR Ext 8022, KC 8054 H,Traveler 198 SDG (His sire SitzTraveler 8180 is enjoying tremen-dous success across the country. Hestems from the famous “EveraldaEntense 1137” cow who was the$32,000 top-selling cow of the ‘95Sitz sale to Shady Brook Angus).

Also, AI sires: Paramount Ambus2172, Leachman Conveyor, Fink’sBando, KAR Shoshone Traveler.

Ten bulls will also be on sale byprivate treaty at the ranch. Formore information contact Frekingat 918-647-9123.

FALL HARVEST FESTIVAL Saturday,

October 2, 1999 8-3, Muskogee Public

Library 801 West Okmulgee, Muskogee

The Muskogee Farmers’ Marketand the Muskogee Library will teamup again this fall for an old-timecountry fair. Local crafters and organi-zations with fundraising items willjoin farmers with their abundant fallproduce. Entertainment, food, fun,and lots of pumpkins!

For information call Jan Bryant,Muskogee Public Library 918-682-6657 or Susie Lawrence of theFarmers’ Market at 918-497-5474

BASIC TRAINING FOR FOOD ENTREPRENEURSSeptember 21, October 19, November 16,

1-4:30, Oklahoma Food and Agricultural

Products Center, OSU, Stillwater.

Do your friends tell you that youmake the best salsa? Is your grand-mother’s bread the hit at every socialfunction? Maybe you have a familyrecipe for lasagna that you think cango commercial. Perfecting yourproduct is only the first step instarting a food business. This “basictraining” workshop will help entre-preneurs answer questions such as:When should I expect my business tomake money? How much up-frontcapital will I need? What regulationsapply to me? Who are my targetcustomers? How do I get my productinto their hands?

A light noon lunch is included inthe fee of $20. Call 405-744-6071 formore information.

C A L E N D A R