Alabama Medicinal Plant Growers Association Meeting

You are invited to attend the second annual business meeting and educational conference of the AMPGA, which will take place on Saturday, September 11 at 207 Comer Hall, Auburn University, Auburn AL.

We have a great lineup of speakers on a range of topics of interest to anyone interested in growing or using medicinal plants. The Program can be downloaded here: AMPGA 2010 Meeting 2010.09 (6)

Registration is from 9:00 – 10:00 AM. The annual business meeting begins at 10:00 AM. During this time, we will discuss changes to the bylaws and elect officers for the coming year. We encourage you to consider offering your skills to the Association by volunteering for a position on the Executive Committee, the Board of Directors or as a member of one of the committees that the association will be setting up. If you are interested in serving in any capacity, please contact Gene Hopper at 205-533-6096, or send an email address to him at genehopper@bigplanet.com.

You don’t need to be an expert to attend the Farm, Home and Wildlife Expo at the Chilton Research and Extension Center. But by attending, you could gain a lot of useful knowledge — and have fun in the process.

Considering the wide variety of activities, demonstrations and tours, it would be pretty hard to not find something you enjoy.

The Eighth Annual Expo will be held Saturday, Aug. 7 at the center from noon until about 5 p.m. The center is located on County Road 29 near Thorsby.

It’s a unique combination of fun learning activities for farmers, homeowners and hobbyists.

Food tasting has always been popular at the Expo. At the fruit tasting booth, you can try dozens of varieties of peaches, apples, figs, tomatoes and more. You can also taste fresh desserts at the Chilton County Master Gardeners’ booth and try samples at the blackened catfish cooking demonstration. This year, a milk goat demonstration will offer goat cheese tasting.

Other booths will cover topics such as lawn care, irrigation, rainwater harvesting, fire ant control, peach tree pruning, home blueberry production, safe shotgun practices and much more. And there will be plenty of games and attractions for the kids, including an old-fashioned hand water pump and a “peach float.”

A local Boy Scout troop will cook hamburgers and hotdogs throughout the afternoon as part of a fundraiser.

Admission and parking are free. For more information and a more complete list of scheduled activities, call 646-3610 or visit www.aaes.auburn.edu/researchcenters/chilton and click the link at the bottom of the page.

Growers,

Here is information about a plasticulture meeting in Coosa county. We can’t talk about plasticulture without talking about irrigation. Therefore, if you need more information on vegetable irrigation this will be a good meeting to see how drip irrigation and plasticulture work in vegetable production. Let me or the Coosa county extension office know if you plan to attend.

Plasticulture Workshop Coming

One of the latest trends in vegetable production is the use of a method of farming called “Plasti-culture”.  This is a system of using plastic mulch and drip irrigation to manage weeds while maintaining a good water supply to the plants.  This production method can be used to grow anything from tomatoes, to watermelons and strawberries. While this system can be installed by hand on small areas, there is now specialized equipment that may be pulled behind a tractor to install larger areas in a quick and efficient manner.

A demonstration plot has been established on the Farm of Mr. John Neighbors in the Fishpond Community through a grant from the Coosa Valley R.C. & D Council in cooperation with the Coosa County Extension Office.  To introduce this farming method and discuss its advantages and disadvantages, a workshop has been planned for Wednesday, July 7, 2010.  Since the daytime temperatures are getting pretty high, the workshop will be held in the early morning and be rather brief, beginning at 7:00 a.m. and concluding by around 8:30 a.m.

Regional Extension Agent for Commercial Horticulture, Chip East will discuss how to install the system and how to manage the various crops that can be grown.  Jeff Colvin, with the R. C. & D Council will also be present to discuss the equipment available through the Council and answer questions.   There is no charge for the program, but pre-registration is required by calling the Coosa County Extension Office at 256-377-4713. I know this meeting is short notice and for that reason we need you to call and register as soon as possible.

Chip East – eastwil@aces.edu
Regional Extension Agent
Commercial Horticulture
Office 256-354-5976
cell 256-846-0314

FISHPOND MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
Hosted by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System
Friday, June 18, 2010
Johnston Farm
County Road 18
Rockford, Alabama
9 a.m. to Noon

Extension Fisheries Specialists Rusty Wright & Jesse Chappell will do an electro-shocking demonstration and show how fish populations are sampled.

Topics to be discussed:

• Basics of Recreational Pond Management
• Stocking Strategies
• Pond Weeds — Raising Catfish in Cages
• Installation of Fish Ponds

BRING A SAMPLE OF YOUR POND WEEDS

Chip East – eastwil@aces.edu
Regional Extension Agent
Commercial Horticulture
Office 256-354-5976
cell 256-846-0314

Blackberry Workshop and High Tunnel Fruit Production
Chilton Research and Extension Center
Alabama Cooperative Extension System and Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn University

Blackberry production for large and small scale commercial plantings has increased in recent years.  While Alabama may not have large commercial plantings, many producers for local markets have added or want to add blackberries to their operations.  In addition, some producers are looking into use of high tunnels,…. we have been also!

On June 11, 2010 we will spotlight blackberry production and work that is currently going on at the Chilton Research and Extension Center.  The workshop will begin at 3:00 pm and last until around 6:00 pm.

Topics will include blackberry production systems, variety trial updates and insect and disease issues of blackberries.  We will also discuss results and answer questions about our blackberry high tunnel production, now in it’s fourth year.  Then spend some time sharing results of our Satsuma high tunnel work and past strawberry high tunnel research.  Then see what’s going on with our vegetable high tunnel efforts.

A lot to cover and to learn. Mark your calendars and make plans to join us.

For more information, contact:
Chip East – eastwil@aces.edu
Regional Extension Agent
Commercial Horticulture
Office 256-354-5976
cell 256-846-0314

Cotton News – County Extension Office Cotton News May 2010 (73)

Cotton Newsletter – May 2010 – County Extension Office Cotton Newsletter May 2010 (84)

Peanut News – County Extension Office Peanut News May 2010 (37)

Sugar cane beetles were a problem for a few corn producers last spring. They became a bigger problem late summer as they were attracted to lights and dug into caulking around windows and doors. They are a problem this year as well. If you have a problem with sugar cane beetles in corn and would like our insect entomologist to help you conduct a pesticide trail at your farm let me know. The beetles have been starting when the corn is 12 or so inches high. If you plant corn and you have them flying around the lights of your home a night, I would think about scouting then spraying.

If you would like to read more about the sugarcane beetle go to following web site. http://msucares.com/newsletters/pests/bugwise/2009/bw0209.pdf

Read more on Sugarcane Beetles (and see photos) in the Alabama AG Alert newsletter: Alabama AG Alert: Sugarcane Beetles (57)

Chip East
eastwil@aces.edu
Regional Extension Agent
Commercial Horticulture
Office 256-354-5976

Which budding or grafting method used depends on the time of year and size of tree or branch to be grafted.  For example, whip grafting is done on pencil size wood in late winter and spring. Cleft grafting is done on 2 to 4 inch diameter wood around March. Bark grafting is done on 2 to 4 inch wood in April and May. The four flap graft is done on ¾ inch diameter wood around April. Shield budding is mainly done on small shoots of current seasons growth in June, July, and August.

Grafting takes preparation. It is not something you decide one day to try. For example, several materials are needed before starting including parafilm, grafting knife, rubber bands, florist tape, pruning paste, etc. Different materials are needed depending on what type of grafting is to be preformed. There are many sources available where these materials can be purchased. Also, in the case of whip, bark, cleft, and four-flap grafting, the grafter should collect scion wood during the dormant season and store it until the proper time to graft. Scion wood is the desirable wood to be grafted. The proper way to store scion wood is to wrap it in a damp paper towel or with damp wood chips and store in the refrigerator until the proper grafting time.

There is not enough space available in this article to discuss the many techniques of grafting and budding. However, the Alabama Cooperative Extension System has a great publication on this topic and many others. Just go to your county Extension Office and ask for ANR-402 Budding and Grafting Fruits and Nuts or find it on-line at http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-0402/ .

Chip East – eastwil@aces.edu
Regional Extension Agent
Alabama Cooperative Extension System

Alabama Cooperative Extension System presents “Small Steps to Health and Wealth Program”

Small Steps to Health and Wealth was written because many Americans are experiencing “issues” (read: serious problems) related to their health (e.g., diabetes and obesity) or personal finances (e.g., high debt and low savings) or both.  There are also many similarities between both aspects of life that few books have explored.

Where: The Galley Restaurant in Roanoke
When: May 18, 2010

Agenda:
9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.            Registration/Exhibits

9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.    Welcome and Overview
Chris Hardin, County Extension Coordinator, Randolph County Extension Office

10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.    Health & Wealth Connections
Isaac Chappell, Regional Extension Agent, Consumer Science & Personal Financial Management

10:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.     Kick it Up a Notch- “Nutrition and Health Changes for U”
Sharon Haynes, Regional Extension Agent, Human Nutrition, Diet & Health

11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.    Lunch – available at the Galley Restaurant $8.00

12:15 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.    Stress & Anxiety Can Influence Relationships & Economic Matters
Debra Ward, Regional Extension Agent, Family & Child Development

12:45 p.m.  -   1:00 p.m.    Break

1:00 p.m.  – 1:30 p.m.           Step Down to Change / Recipe Substitutions for Better Health
Patti West, Regional Extension Agent, Food Safety, Preparation, & Preservation

1:30 p.m.- 1:45 p.m.     Closing Remark
Chris Hardin, County Extension Coordinator, Randolph County Extension Office

1:45 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.       Evaluations/Wrap-up

For more info or questions, contact:

Chip East – eastwil@aces.edu
Regional Extension Agent
Commercial Horticulture
Office 256-354-5976
cell 256-846-0314

Master Meat Goat Herdsman Training Program

The Master Meat Goat Herdsman Program is a comprehensive training curriculum that addresses the fundamentals of meat goat production including: reproduction, nutrition, forages, health, management, marketing, economics, live animal and carcass evaluation, food safety, hands-on experience, and other relevant areas. It is designed to serve potential and existing goat producers, as well as agricultural professionals interested in learning more about sustainable meat goat production.

Upon completion of course requirements, participants will receive educational materials that include copies of the presentations, relevant handouts, an educational compact disk, and a diploma acknowledging completion of the program.

In addition to the training materials, the $50 registration fee will also provide refreshments during all sessions and lunch for both Saturday sessions.

The entire program will require a commitment of 20+ hours divided into four days. Each applicant must be willing to make this commitment in order to receive the course materials and certificate of program completion.

Download the Registration/Information Brochure – [Download not found]

COURSE DATES
All classes will be held at the ALFA Farmer’s Federation Auditorium in Wedowee, AL

Friday, May 28, 2010
1:00 — 6:00 p.m.
Goat Industry Overview, Facilities, Nutrition & Value Added Marketing

Saturday, May 29, 2010
8:00 a.m. — 6:00 p.m.
Parasite and Health Management, Quality Assurance, Reproduction and Kidding Season Management

Friday, June 11, 2010
1:00 p.m. — 6:00 p.m.
Forage Management, Soil Fertility , Fencing and Stocking Rate Considerations

Saturday, June 12, 2010
8:00 a.m.—6:00 p.m.
Budgets, Marketing, Predator Control and a Farm Tour (TBD)