SDA NEWSLETTER

Volume 5, Issue 2

February 2016

What’s New? 2

USDA Newsrooms

3

Youth News *

Herb of the Month

4 5

Food Science STEMulation

*

Monthly Crop Science

6 7

Hot Pepper Monthly

*

Vet-Tech Chronicles

8 9

Money Tips for College $tudent$

4-H Day At the

Capitol

10

11

Upcoming Events 12-14

Inside this issue:

Vonda Richardson Associate Director

FAMU Cooperative Extension Program

Amelia Davis Editor

FAMU Extension SDA Newsletter

Photo Credit: Green leaf lettuce crop (this page) greenhouse construction, both taken at the FAMU Research and Extension Center (Quincy Farm) by Amelia Davis (FAMU CEP).

The Quincy Farm is growing! There's new construction of three greenhouses, at the FAMU Research and Extension Center (REC), under the leadership of Dr. Alex Bolques, Director of FAMU REC. The greenhouses are welcome additions to the growth of FAMU Cooperative Extension Program.

Page 3 SDA Newsletter

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

USDA To Offer Certificates for Farm

Commodities Pledged to Marketing Loans

Release No. 0008.16

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3, 2016 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that producers who have crops pledged as collateral for a marketing assistance loan can now purchase a commodity certificate that may be exchanged for the outstanding loan collateral. The authority is provided by the 2016 Consolidated Appropriations Act, legislation enacted by Congress in December. Commodity certificates are available beginning with the 2015 crop in situations where the applicable marketing assistance loan rate exceeds the exchange rate. Currently, the only eligible commodity is cotton.

USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) routinely provides agricultural producers with marketing assistance loans that provide interim cash flow without having to sell the commodities when market prices are at harvest time lows. The loans allow the producer to store and delay the sale of the commodity until more favorable market conditions emerge, while also providing for a more orderly marketing of commodities throughout the marketing year.

These loans are considered “nonrecourse” because the loan can be redeemed by delivering the commodity pledged as collateral to the government as full payment for the loan upon maturity. Commodity certificates are available to loan holders having outstanding nonrecourse loans for wheat, upland cotton, rice, feed grains, pulse crops (dry peas, lentils, large and small chickpeas), peanuts, wool, soybeans and designated minor oilseeds. These certificates can be purchased at the posted county price (or adjusted world price or national posted price) for the quantity of commodity under loan, and must be immediately exchanged for the collateral, satisfying the loan.

Producers may contact their FSA office that maintains their loan or their loan service agent for additional information. Producers who do business with Cooperative Marketing Associations (CMA) or Designated Marketing Associations (DMA) may contact their respective associations for additional information.

To learn more about commodity certificates, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/pricesupport or contact your local FSA office. To find your local FSA office, visit http://offices.usda.gov.

USDA to Invest $150 Million through Conservation Stewardship Program to Help Improve Working

Lands

USDA Offers Renewal Options for Producers with Expiring Contracts

Release No. 0033.16

Contact: Office of Communications (202)720-4623

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4, 2016 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack

today announced that $150 million in funding is available for agricultural

producers through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), USDA's

largest conservation program, by acres impacted, that helps producers

voluntarily improve the health and productivity of private and Tribal

working lands.

"The Conservation Stewardship Program is one of our most popular

programs with producers because it results in real change on the ground by

boosting soil and air quality, conserving clean water and enhancing

wildlife habitat," Vilsack said. "With this investment, we'll be able to build

on the already record number of acres enrolled in USDA's conservation

programs, enabling producers to achieve higher levels of conservation and

adopt new and emerging conservation technologies on farms, ranches and

forests."

NRCS accepts applications for CSP throughout the year, but producers

should submit applications by March 31 to a USDA service centers to

ensure they are considered for enrollment in 2016.

Participants with existing CSP contracts that will expire on Dec.31, 2016

have the option to renew their contracts for an additional five years if they

agree to adopt additional activities to achieve higher levels of conservation

on their lands. Applications to renew are also due by March 31.

Funding is available for more than 100 kinds of enhancements nationwide

to help participants:

Improve soil quality through use of cover crops, conservation crop

rotations and other activities that increase soil productivity.

Use water wisely and improve water quality through enhancements

such as more efficient irrigation systems and weather monitoring.

A CSP self-screening checklist is available to help producers determine if

the program is compatible with their operation. As part of the application

process, applicants will work with NRCS field personnel to complete a

resource inventory of their land to determine the conservation performance

for existing and new conservation activities. The applicant's conservation

performance will be used to determine eligibility, ranking and payments.

For more on technical and financial assistance available through

conservation programs, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted.

Since 2009, USDA has invested more than $29 billion to help producers

make conservation improvements, working with as many as 500,000 farm-

ers, ranchers and landowners to protect over 400 million acres nationwide,

boosting soil and air quality, cleaning and conserving water and enhancing

wildlife habitat.

For the complete new release, log on to www.usda.gov.

Page 4 SDA Newsletter

The sixth grade classes at Havana Magnet School participated in a day of exploration at the FAMU Research and Extension Center in Quincy on November 19, 2015. The event was conducted by the FAMU Cooperative Extension Program to expose youth to the importance of and careers in agricultural and food scienc-es. Approximately 50 students and their teachers participated in educational sessions involving the science of food, watersheds and water move-ment, DNA extraction of bananas, gardening and veterinary technology.

Faculty and staff of the Cooperative Extension Program, as well teaching and research faculty and staff of the College of Agriculture & Food Sciences, interacted with students and teachers, with the plans to develop a long-term relationship with the students and the school. 4-H, gardening, STEM enrichment and nutrition education programs are underway for Havana Magnet School students beginning in January 2016.

- Vonda Richardson, Contributor

LLLOCALOCALOCAL AREAAREAAREA STUDENTSSTUDENTSSTUDENTS LEARNLEARNLEARN THETHETHE IMPORTANCEIMPORTANCEIMPORTANCE OFOFOF AAAGRICULTUREGRICULTUREGRICULTURE

Page 5

HERB OF THE MONTH:

Contributors: Linda Sapp and Trevor Hylton

SDA Newsletter

THYME

Most of us are familiar with the culinary uses of thyme but this herb has been used for many purposes some very common and some not so common. The herb has been known to lend its service in the treatment of rheumatism and arthritis. Thyme infused oils may be use to treat these ailments but a tea made with thyme leaf and ginger is said to be more effective.

Thyme leaves may be smoked to create a feeling of calmness and also to relieve headache, care should be taken when using it this way as large dosage can cause hallucination. Thyme use is reported to bring about courage and help bring about vision by way of dream. It is believed that thyme usage can bring about luck so next time the power ball gets up over a billion dollar make sure you are using thyme when you purchase your ticket. If you don’t win at least you will have pleasant breath because thymol, a strong antiseptic is one of the compounds found in thyme and is used in commercial mouthwash.

When thyme leaves are placed in boiling water the steam when inhaled can help alleviate some cold and flu symptoms.

So you can see thyme is much more than a great herb for seasoning but it has many medicinal properties and it is very easy to use.

Disclaimer: These information are not intended to act as a substitute for a professional healthcare practitioner advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, always consult your doctor.

Page 6

Contributor: Mrs. Conchita Newman

SDA Newsletter

Do You Really Know What Food Sciences Is? Food Science includes Chemistry, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Physics, Engineering, Nutrition, Biology, Math, and other disciplines.

The Food Industry The food manufacturing industry links farmers to consumers. It employs over 1.5 million people at 29,000 locations. More than one million people process grains, fruits and vegetables, dairy products, and animal products into food items ready for the grocery shelves.

Food Science can open many doors!

Food Chemistry

Food chemists develop and improve foods and beverages; analyze methods of cooking, canning, freezing, and packaging; and study the effect of processing on the appearance, taste, aroma, freshness, and vitamin content of the food. They also test samples to make sure foods meet food safety laws and experiment with new foods,

additives, and preservatives.

Product Development

See your new product idea appear on the grocery store shelf or on a NASA space shuttle! Developers, working as part of a team, continually strive to create high-quality, nutritious products that taste good and are affordable to consumers.

Food Marketing and Sales

Picture yourself in a career where your creativity is used fir advertising and promotion of food and food ingredients: A career where you use scientific and technical knowledge to sell products. Food marketing and sales professionals communicate through technical presentations, trade shows, print and virtual media, face –to-face meetings with product

Food Quality & Microbiology

Consumers today can eat

without having to worry about

whether food is safe. Food

microbiologists play a critical

role to ensure that a product is

safe to consume. Food Safety

is very important to all

segments of the food industry.

Food Engineering

Food Engineers designs and develop systems for processing storing, packaging, and handling food. They work closely with food chemists and food microbiologists to ensure that safe, high quality

foods are made available to consumers.

Page 7 SDA Newsletter

Contributor: ZaDarreyal Wiggins

Cucumbers are scientifically known as Cucumis sativus and belong to the same botanical family as melons (including watermelon and cantaloupe) and squashes (including summer squash, winter squash, zucchini and pumpkin). Commercial production of cucumbers is usually divided into two types. "Slicing cucumbers" are produced for fresh consumption. "Pickling cucumbers" are produced for eventual processing into pickles. Slicing cucumbers are usually larger and have thicker skins, while pickling cucumbers are usually smaller and have thinner skins.

In the United States, commonly planted varieties of slicing cucumber include Dasher, Conquistador, Slicemaster, Victory, Comet, Burpee Hybrid and Sprint, according to the World’s Healthiest Foods website. Commonly planted varieties of pickling cucumber include Royal, Calypso, Pioneer, Bounty, Regal, Duke and Blitz.

Cucumbers are started by planting seeds directly in the garden row or container. They grow best on slightly acid soils - or pH 5.8 to 6.5. Lime should be applied if a soil test shows pH 5.5 or less. The cucumbers will grow and produce with just a little care and attention. The important maintenance deals with keeping weeds pulled or hoed a foot or more from each plant and watching for aphids, leaf miners, beetles, and fruit worms. If the insects become a severe problem, spray or dust with an approved insecticide. More importantly, it’s good to wait until after 10 A.M. to spray so that bees are not killed.

Cucumbers have not received as much press as other vegetables in terms of health benefits, but this widely cultivated food provides us with a unique combination of nutrients. At the top of the phytonutrient list for cucumbers are its cucurbitacins, lignans, and flavonoids. These three types of phytonutrients found in cucumbers provide us with valuable antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer benefits.

References:

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=42

http://www.livescience.com/51000-cucumber-nutrition.html

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/vh031

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Page 8 SDA Newsletter

*Hot Pepper Monthly * Contributor: Gilbert Queeley

The increasing demand for hot peppers in the United States has positioned hot peppers to become an alternative high value cash crop compared to traditionally produced vegetables. The high pungency and aromatic flavor of the Scotch Bonnet hot pepper gives it a comparative advantage over other hot pepper varieties. These unique characteristics make it suitable for a wide range of industrial uses. For example: a wide array of value-added condiments such as jams, jellies, jerk seasoning and hot sauces are easily developed from the fruits.

The high capsaicin content of Scotch Bonnets make them attractive for the pharmaceutical industry, since capsaicin is a key ingredient in the production of pharmaceuticals for use in law enforcement and for treating inflammatory disorders such as arthritis. As a result of its high price and income generation relative to other locally produced vegetables, Scotch Bonnet hot pepper has now attained the status of a high value crop in north Florida.

The Scotch Bonnet Hot Pepper demonstration at the FAMU Research and Extension Center in Quincy, Florida, highlights a field experiment on spatial arrangements, and fertilizer rates nested within a drip irrigation system. The objective is to inform producers and other stakeholders on best management practices for growing the crop.

For more information on getting started with Scotch Bonnet hot pepper production, please contact:

Gilbert L. Queeley, Extension Specialist Cooperative Extension Programs College of Agriculture and Food Sciences 202-F, Perry Paige Bldg. S. Florida A&M University Email: gilbert.queeley@famu.edu Tel: (850) 412-5255

The Scotch Bonnet Hot Pepper Program

Page 9

Vet-Tech Chronicles Contributor: Michelle Driver/ Edited by

Glen Wright, DVM

SDA Newsletter

Are Parasites Affecting Your Herd?

Parasites

Today the modern farmer is tasked with the sometimes seemingly impossible task of managing the health of their goat herd, especially when it comes to pesky little internal parasites that cannot be seen by the naked eye. Internal parasites can pose a huge problem for the health of the goat because internal parasites steal vital nutrients from the goat in order to survive. If there was only one parasite, the goat would be just fine, but sadly there isn’t. For some parasites such as Haemonchus contortus, it takes tens of thousands of parasites to kill an adult goat. So you can see, thousands of parasites can live in the goat. Those parasites produce 5,000-10,000 eggs every day that are shed from the goats via the feces. The parasites find their way into the goat as larvae, therefore the goat is finding itself burdened even more by its unwelcomed guests, which will eventually result in death.

Lifecycle

Haemonchus contortus: an adult worm lays 5,000 – 10,000 eggs/day that are that are expelled from the body via feces. Larvae that can survive extreme cold temperatures, but thrive ideally in temperature ranges from 75-85 degrees F. The eggs hatch, and find their way into the digestive tract of the herd from grazing. Within 21 days of being ingested, the larvae become mature worms and start laying eggs, and the process repeats.

Identification & Treatment

Identifying parasites is not always easy, especially since a few of them cause the same symptoms. In order to find out which par-asites are ailing your herd, you must first acquire a microscope, slides, cover slips, Sheather’s Solution, and fecal containers. With these items, you will be able to identify the eggs of the parasites that are causing harm to your animals. After identification of the problematic parasite, treatment is necessary. Treating internal parasites isn’t always easy, especially when you don’t know what to use, how to identify the parasite(s) that’s causing you problems, how to give the herd medicine, or even how much to give. When deworming your herd, you must be sure to use the right amount, the proper route of administration (orally, topically, SQ, IM), the right animal is being dewormed, documentation for treatment for each animal, and the date when the animal was treated. Below is a link to a chart of parasite eggs to help with identification:

http://www.merck-animal-health-usa.com/binaries/18475_Worm_Parasite_Atlas_tcm96-86736.pdf

For more specific information contact the Florida A&M extension office or your local veterinarian.

An Ounce Prevention is Better than a Pound of Cure

Rotational grazing is the key to managing internal parasite infection in any herd. Along with rotational grazing, having a proper deworming plan in place will be vital to keeping your herd parasite free. Make sure that you are giving the proper dosage to each individual animal. Under dosing an animal will not kill every single parasite, and can encourage parasite resistance to deworming medication. Tilling the soil of each pasture that has been grazed upon after rotation of animals will also help to destroy the eggs in the soil. Conduct routine fecal egg counts to identify which parasites are in infecting your herd and to see if your deworming plan is working. Cull animals that show signs of heavy burden of parasites such as weight loss, loss of appetite, dullness in coat, and anemia. This way you will have the very best genes in your herd available and future kids/calves will be more tolerant to the effects of the parasites.

Works Cited

1. P. Junquera. Parasitepedia.net. July 27, 2015. Web. Jan 13, 2015.http://parasitipedia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2615&Itemid=2843 2. P. Junquera. Parasitepedia.net. July 27, 2015. Web. Jan 13, 2015.http://parasitipedia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2601&Itemid=2883 3. Karin Christensen. Web. http://personal.linkline.com/karinc/goat/parasites.html 4. Joan Burke. USDA, ARS, Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center, Feb 2005. Web. https://attra.ncat.org/downloads/goat_barber_pole.pdf 5. http://www.jrcnboergoats.net/uploads/1/7/4/0/17401841/7288880.jpg?648

Page 10

Money Tips for College Students Contributor: Daniel Solís, Ph.D.-

Assistant Professor and Leader Agribusiness Program

Tip #2: Credit Card, or Debit Card? -- That is the Question

For young Rattlers, it’s often easier to stash-the-cash for a bite to eat and use a credit card for necessities like books and meal plans. Unfortunately, racking up a credit card bill larger than your budget is easier to do than to undo. So, always remember the importance of spending within your means (Money Tip #1) and use a debit card over a credit card whenever and wherever possible. However, when using a debit card instead of a credit card for your expenses, make sure you understand all possible BANK FEES. Avoid paying extra ATM fees by researching your bank’s ATM availability on campus. These small fees can add up. After all, if both your bank and the bank hosting the ATM at FAMU charges a $1 fee for each $10 withdrawal, the transaction cost is 20%. Overdraft fees range from $35 to $50, so consider getting overdraft protection to avoid those charges, even if it means asking a parent to sign up for the account with you. Parents always love when their kids ask for advice and you can get some extra protection. Win – Win. If your bank doesn’t have a branch in Tallahassee, it might be a good idea to open an account at a different bank so you can get cash without paying those fees. Think about joining the FAMU Federal Credit Union (https://famufcu.com). They offer A LOT of benefits for Rattlers of all ages - students, alums and seniors. Learn more about the Agribusiness Program in the College of Agriculture and Food Sciences at Florida A&M University by visiting our website: www.agribusinessfamu.weebly.com.

SDA Newsletter

Page 11 SDA Newsletter

4-H Day at the Capitol is an educational event that provides youth an opportunity to tour different parts of Tallahassee and the

Capitol. Youth participants, from all parts of the state of Florida, visited with their legislators and watched them in action on the

floor of the Senate and House of Representatives. There was an expected 400+ students attending this event, which included

FAMU Cooperative Extension’s 4-H students from Havana Magnet School. The students ended their day with a field trip and

tour of the FAMU CAFS Center of Viticulture and Small Fruit Research.

Page 12

UPCOMING

UPCOMING

UPCOMING

SDA Newsletter

Page 13

SDA Newsletter

EARTH DAY APRIL 22ND

For more information, please contact: Conchita Newman, Extension Agent

(850) 599-3440 conchita.newman@famu.edu

FSSEP is an intensive week long program developed to provide a better understanding of science through experiential activities in Food Science that are linked to the Sunshine Standards. For ages 12-14.

FOOD SCIENCE SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM (FSSEP)

Page 14

Summer 2016

SDA Newsletter

The Florida A&M University Cooperative Extension Program is an equal employment/educational opportunity access organization which provides research-based educational information and other services only to eligible individuals and institutions regardless of race, color,

national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, martial or veteran status.

Cooperative Extension Program 1740 S. Martin Luther King Jr, Blvd

215 Perry Paige Building South

Tallahassee, FL 32308

Phone: 850-599-3546

Fax: 850-561-2151

TDD: 850-561-2704

www.famu.edu/cep

Follow us on the web:

FAMU Extension @FAMUExt

Be one of the first to get info on FAMU Extension and local community events, as well as important

agriculture information. Subscribe to the FAMU

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