Use Caution with Float System in Vegetables by J.W. Rideout
I Have a Question: Pumpkin Disease Control by G.J. Holmes
Asparagus Q & A by D.C. Sanders
Sweet Corn Q & A Submitted by D.C. Sanders
Research funding from the National Watermelon Promotion Board for 1999 Submitted by D.C. Sanders
North Carolina Watermelon Association Meeting Scheduled by J.R. Schultheis
Pesticide Recertification at the EXPO! by C.W. Averre
Have you ever wondered? by D.C. Sanders
Certified Sweetpotato Seed Sources by J.R. Schultheis
MADMAC Report by T.M. Campbell
IN-STATE (For more info, see CALENDAR section at the end of VEGINEWS):
18th Annual North Carolina Watermelon Association Convention, March 13, 1999, Atlantic Beach, NC
6th Organic Growers School, March 20, 1999, Flat Rock, NC
OUT-OF-STATE:
North American Farmers' Direct Marketing Association Conference, October 10-12, Cincinnati, OH. Contact Rick Breeden at 888-884-9270.
National Farm Machinery Show, February 10-13, Kentucky Fair & Expo Center, Louisbille, KY. Contact Steve Fowler at 502-367-5100.
28th National Agricultural Plastics Congress, May 19 - 22, 1999, Tallahassee, Florida (SEE CALENDAR SECTION at the end of VEGINEWS FOR MORE INFO.)
CDC HAS NEVER COMPARED E. COLI RISKS OF ORGANIC, TRADITIONAL FOOD
by Nancy Creamer
Contrary to a well-circulated article written by Dennis T. Avery, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has never conducted a study that compares the risk of contracting E.coli bacteria in both conventional and organically grown food. Avery is the Director of Global Food Issues at the Hudson Institute, which is "a research organization dedicated to thinking about the future from a contrarian point of view," according to its literature.
Avery published an article entitled "The Hidden Dangers in Organic Food" in the Fall, 1998, issue of American Outlook, a quarterly publication published by the Hudson Institute. Avery's article began, "According to recent data compiled by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), people who eat organic and 'natural' foods are eight times as likely as the rest of the population to be attacked by a deadly new strain of E. coli bacteria (0157:H7)."
A statement from Dr. Mitchell Cohen of the CDC last month states that: "Since 1982, most of the outbreaks of Escherichia coli 0157:H7 have been associated with foods of bovine origin (e.g. - ground beef). In recent years, a wider spectrum of foods, including produce, have been recognized as causes of outbreaks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has not conducted any study that compares or quantitates the specific risk for infection with Escherichia coli 0157:H7 and eating either conventionally grown or organic/natural foods. CDC recommends that growers practice safe and hygienic methods for producing food products, and that consumers, likewise, practice food safety within their homes (e.g., thoroughly washing fruits and vegetables). These recommendations apply to both conventionally grown and organic foods."
Sharon Hoskins of the CDC told Alternative Agriculture News that the CDC did not have any such research currently in the works, nor was it planning to conduct any in the future because such research was "not warranted." "We are not planning any research on organic and natural foods," she said. She also said, "We have tried to contact the magazine and have never been able to speak with anyone at American Outlook, including the editor. There has been no response."
Avery's article has been excerpted in several other publications, including The Wall Street Journal, whose excerpt included these sentences from the American Outlook article: "Consumers of organic foods are also more likely to be attacked by a relatively new, more virulent strain of the infamous salmonella bacteria. Salmonella was America's biggest food borne death risk until the new E. coli 0157 came along. Organic food is more dangerous than conventionally grown produce because organic farmers use manure as the major source of fertilizer for their food crops. Animal manure is the biggest reservoir of these nasty bacteria that are afflicting and killing so many people. Organic farmers compound the contamination problem through their reluctance to use antimicrobial preservatives, chemical washes, pasteurization, or even chlorinated water to rid their products of dangerous bacteria."
No documented research sources were given to support these assertions. The Organic Trade Association has also disputed Avery's article, reporting that, "According to Robert Tauxe, M.D., chief of the food borne and diarrheal diseases branch of the CDC, there is no such data on organic food production in existence at their centers....Let the record show that manure use is a common agricultural practice for conventional and organic food production....Any organic grower that uses the certified organic label must abide by safe food production standards, and, as with all food producers, must be in compliance with their local and state health standards."
Nancy Creamer, Extension Specialist, Horticultural Science, NCSU, nancy_creamer@ncsu.edu
USE CAUTION WITH FLOAT SYSTEM IN VEGETABLES
by James W. Rideout, Extension Specialist, Soil Fertility
There has been some interest in using the tobacco float system for vegetable transplant production. The float system, where styrofoam flats float on a nutrient solution, has been used successfully for over 10 years to produce tobacco transplants. The biggest advantage of float production is elimination of overhead watering several times a day. Other advantages include easier fertilization and correction of alkalinity problems. In addition, elimination of overhead watering keeps plant foliage drier, which may aid in disease management.
Vegetable seeding production has not been well researched in the float system. Challenges with vegetables include fertility, uniformity, height management, and disease control. The optimum fertility level for growing vegetable transplants in the float system is unknown at this time. Fertility affects plant quality, uniformity, height, stem diameter, and disease susceptibility.
Another challenge is disease and insect control. Disease and insect control options are limited in the float system. Sanitation is the best option at this time. Trays may be fumigated with methyl bromide.
Fertilizer selection is very important in the float system. Two basic considerations are the ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus and the presence of urea. With tobacco, phosphorus rate in the float system needs to be limited to one half to one fourth of the nitrogen rate. Excess phosphorus leads to excessive foliage growth, which may reduce uniformity and/or increase disease pressure.
Fertilizers containing large percentages of their nitrogen as urea should never be used in the float system. Due to moisture and pH conditions in the float system, the urea does not undergo complete transformation to nitrate. Instead, the intermediate compound nitrite accumulates, which can be quite toxic to tobacco seedlings. Most likely, vegetable seedlings would also suffer from nitrite toxicity if urea were used. Several soluble horticultural fertilizers contain large amounts of urea, including 20-20- 20. Some 20-10-20 contains urea, while other brands do not. There is one exception to this rule some fertilizers use urea phosphate as a phosphorus carrier. These include all of the Excel-type fertilizers. The small amount of urea present in these materials in not sufficient to cause toxicity.
With tobacco, clipping of leaf tissue with a suspended lawnmower is used to control height, increase uniformity, and open the plant canopy to air circulation. It is not known if this practice can be used with vegetable seedlings. One concern is the morphology of the seedling itself. With tobacco, the bud is deep within the canopy, and thus is protected from the clipping. With other plants, such as tomato, the bud is much closer to the top of the canopy, and could be easier to damage. We do not know if vegetable seedlings will respond to clipping the same as tobacco.
We do know that modifications of the tobacco nutritional system will be required for some vegetable seedlings. In particular, tomato seedlings become very leggy and tender if grown at fertilizer rates commonly used for tobacco. Alternative nutritional systems, along with appropriate height management techniques, will have to be developed if tomato is to be grown in the float system.
Other vegetables may be easier than tomato, but little is known at this time. We also do not know how float-produced plants perform in the field. The bottom line is that further research is needed and that wide scale production of vegetable seedlings in the float system should not be attempted at this time.
James W. Rideout, Extension Specialist, Soil Science, MHCREC, NCSU, james_rideout@ncsu.edu
I HAVE A QUESTION: PUMPKIN DISEASE CONTROL
Gerald J. Holmes, Extension Plant Pathologist
gerald_holmes@ncsu.edu
QUESTION: Give me your best recommendation for pumpkin disease control. I have several growers that need to do a better job in this arena. All use Bravo with various success.
ANSWER: Pumpkins get several diseases. My experience suggests that the biggies in NC are damping-off, root-knot, mosaic viruses, downy mildew and powdery mildew. Bravo (chlorothalonil) is only active against some foliar diseases.
To prevent damping-off, growers should plant when conditions favor rapid germination. Seed should of high quality and treated with a fungicide (e.g., Apron and/or Thiram) as an added measure of protection.
Root-knot is often overlooked because of its below-ground nature, but can cause significant losses. Growers should take soil samples in the fall and send them to the NCDA for a nematode analysis. This will indicate whether or not the field should be rotated to another crop or if fumigation is needed.
Mosaic viruses are frequently a problem and can be devastating. Unfortunately, they cannot be controlled. Growers should be reminded that spraying insecticides to kill the vector (e.g., aphids) will not control viruses. Some virus-resistant cultivars are being developed and may be available soon.
The "varied success" you mention with Bravo is probably due to 2 reasons: 1) Bravo has poor activity on powdery mildew, and 2) although it has good activity against downy mildew, it should be applied preventatively for best results. Turn to page 266 of the 1999 NC Agricultural Chemicals manual (or go to http://ipm.ncsu.edu/agchem/agchem.html and click on "Disease Control" then "Relative Effectiveness of Various Chemicals for Cucurbit Disease Control") to see a new table which lists fungicides and their relative efficacy against common cucurbit diseases.
Currently the best control of downy mildew on pumpkin is with chlorothalonil (Bravo or Terranil) at 1.5-3 pt 6F per acre, or maneb at 1.5-2 lb 80WP per acre. Sprays should be applied preventatively (before disease sets in), using high pressure (200+ psi) spray rigs, proper nozzles (e.g., hollow cone) and adequate gallonage to get good coverage on both sides of the leaf. It is very important not to get behind this disease.
Powdery mildew is difficult to control because our currently registered fungicides (Bayleton, Benlate, Topsin M and Bravo) do not work well. The best one can do is to combine chlorothalonil with Bayleton and alternate this with chlorothalonil plus Benlate or Topsin M. The powdery mildew pathogen (Sphaerotheca fuliginea) has developed resistance to all of these products (except chlorothalonil), so they are most effective early in the season when the pathogen population is largely suceptible. By the 3rd spray, resistance in the pathogen population in typically very high, thus reducing fungicide efficacy.
Soon we may have two other fungicides (Quadris and Flint) that are effective against powdery mildew. According to the manufacturers labels are expected for Quadris in Feb 1999 and July 1999 for Flint. A notification will be made when labels are actually obtained.
ASPARAGUS Q & A
by Doug Sanders
Question: Instructions always say to plant asparagus crowns 6 to 8 inches deep. Why so deep? We don't plant anything else that deep - not even bulbs.
Answer: Asparagus is part of the lily family, which has contractal roots and they will move up or down to reach an ideal area of water and oxygen. But the deeper you plant crowns the thicker and fewer the spears. Six inches from the surface is the ideal compromise of spear number and size. If you want a lot of very small spears with almost no total weight plant them at 2 inches. If you want a very few JUMBO spears plant them at 12 inches and get less total weight than at 6 inches deep.
Doug Sanders, Extension Specialist, Horticultural Science, NCSU, doug_sanders@ncsu.edu
SWEET CORN Q & A
Question: I am interested in finding some effective ways of dealing with what has become extensive crow damage to our sweetcorn. We lose 400+dozen on five or less acres, and experience 90 to 95% damage on our watermelons which we finally just quit growing.
Answer: I know this may be offensive to some but I thought I should put it out with the warning that anyone tempted to try this should thoroughly evaluate the legality of it in their location before attempting it.
An old sweet corn grower in northern Illinois with a reputation for getting things done told me that there was really only one way to keep crows out of sweet corn. Keep in mind that crows are very intelligent and that this method scares them to death, literally. When crows are in season for hunting, kill a few and hang them up to dry out. When sweet corn season comes in, hang the mummies on a pole in the field, very visible to the crows. They will not come close to that field as long as the mummies are there.
Bill (William H.) Shoemaker, Sr Research Specialist, Food Crops, University of Illinois, UC
Submitted by Doug Sanders, Extension Specialist, Horticultural Science, NCSU, doug_sanders@ncsu.edu
RESEARCH FUNDING FROM THE NATIONAL WATERMELON PROMOTION BOARD FOR 1999
The National Watermelon Promotion Board has approved four new research projects exploring a variety of areas. The board's Research Review Committee studied all research applications and recommended four projects, which were approved by the board of directors during the NWPB's fall meeting Nov. 11-13 in Orlando.
The board of directors voted to add two new projects and to continue two previous research projects.
A new project at South Central Agricultural Research Laboratory in Lane, OK will investigate the content and health properties of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant in watermelon. Lycopene derivation in watermelon is not as well understood as in tomato. The average lycopene content in watermelon is officially higher than in tomato, according to the USDA food database, but it can vary with watermelon cultivars.
USDA-ARS investigator Penelope Perkins-Veazie will lead a team of researchers from the USDA, Oklahoma State University and Texas A&M, who will determine the yield, stability and quality of lycopene from marketable fruit and from watermelons considered culls. They'll also develop a laboratory procedure to extract and characterize the types and amounts of carotenoids from watermelon flesh. In addition, they're planning to develop a large-scale lycopene extraction, stabilization and purification process in cooperation with the food processing center at Oklahoma State University. Project budget - $15,240.
In another new project, a team of researchers from Oklahoma State University will set up a system to better collect and disseminate production-related research to watermelon industry members. Researchers see a need to regularly communicate and relay information to the watermelon industry about cultivar and pesticide evaluations, fertility rates and cultural practices. The team hopes to develop a national information exchange group to establish a mechanism for distributing research results and information to all facets of the watermelon industry. Project budget - $3,000.
Directors voted to expand the work of Purdue University plant pathologist Richard Latin, who has developed a weather-based system designed to reduce fungicide use. The system is called MELCAST, or Melon Disease Forecaster, and it has been tested in Indiana and on a limited basis in Maryland and South Carolina. Growers have relied upon MELCAST to provide temperature and moisture readings that enable them to spray at the most opportune times, thereby improving disease control while reducing fungicide costs.
In 1999, MELCAST will be tested in Indiana again, and will be expanded to South Carolina and Florida. Further testing is planned in other states in 2000 and 2001. Project budget - $21,631.
The board also voted to continue University of Florida research done by plant pathologist Don Hopkins, who is investigating how to martial a plant's natural defense systems to control disease through chemicals known as plant defense activators. These activators have no direct toxic effect on pathogenic fungi or bacteria and are not classified as fungicides. Yet they control disease by activating the plant's own defense mechanisms, leading to plant resistance. Early findings indicate these activators are effective in preventing the spread of bacterial fruit blotch in the greenhouse and would be effective in reducing the amount of fruit blotch in the field. Project budget - $8,000.
Submitted by Doug Sanders, Horticultural Science, NCSU, doug_sanders@ncsu.edu
NORTH CAROLINA WATERMELON ASSOCIATION MEETING SCHEDULED
by Jonathan Schultheis
All Agents:
Please help me by getting the following information out to your growers. You are invited as well. If you are interested, let me know and I will see if the registration fee can be waived or at least partially reduced. If you have questions, please contact me. I would really like to see some more growers attend this meeting. In advance, thank you for your help.
Jonathan
North Carolina Watermelon Association Meeting Scheduled
The North Carolina Watermelon Association's convention is set for Saturday, March 13, 1999 and will take place at the Sheraton Atlantic Beach Hotel, Atlantic Beach, NC. This location will provide a beautiful setting for information exchange and fun for all who are involved with growing, buying and/or selling watermelons.
There will be a watermelon educational session which will begin at 9:00 am and will provide the latest information in several key areas. Dr. Gerald Holmes, Assistant Professor, Plant Pathology Department at NC State University will be discussing new products and important considerations for disease management. Mike Stanghellini, a PhD. candidate at NC State University and rapidly becoming recognized as an authority on cucurbit pollination, will be presenting information on bee availability and critical concerns for maximizing watermelon fruit set that is of the highest quality, while Dr. Jonathan Schultheis will discuss results of a seedless and seeded variety test in which over 50 different types were evaluated. In addition, key considerations for growing seedless watermelon and a weed control update will be provided. A watermelon bulletin will be available with the latest information of watermelon trials conducted last year. The educational session promises to be very informative and should provide some good information so the industry can continue to compete well in the market place.
Growers, buyers, merchandisers, seed company representatives and North Carolina Extension personnel will have time throughout the day as well as specifically set aside time to interact and exchange ideas later in the day.
Later in the morning, an update will be given as to the status of the watermelon industry, and the various state and national marketing results and initiatives.
Lunch will be served at noon and is part of the $50 registration fee.
There will be lots of fun. One fun time includes the seed spit contest. Another includes the social and auction which features, of course, various watermelon items. The money raised at the auction goes to support the NC watermelon queen's travel and appearances as she promotes watermelon in NC as well as nationally.
An important part of the NC Watermelon Association Convention is the election of a new queen to promote the industry's product. Various aspects are considered in selecting a new queen. The merits of each women for NC watermelon queen will be evaluated throughout the day as several judges will be deliberating who will best fit this role. The Convention will end with a banquet and the coronation of the new NC Watermelon queen.
The North Carolina Watermelon Association Convention promises to be educational and lots of fun. Registration is $50 and includes lunch, the banquet, and admittance to all other Convention functions. To register, send $50 by Friday, March 5 and mail to :
N.C. Watermelon Association
P.O. Box 216
Murfreesboro, NC 27855
To reserve a room at the Sheraton Atlantic Beach Hotel, call 1-800-624-8875. Cost is $65.00 for an ocean view room and $85.00 for an ocean front room. Reservations should be made by Friday, February 19, 1999 to guarantee this rate.
If you need more information, please contact Francis Bunch at 252-398-5830
North Carolina Watermelon Association Convention Agenda
18th Annual
Saturday, March 13, 1999
Sheraton, Atlantic Beach Hotel
Atlantic Beach, North Carolina
8:30 am Registration
9:00 am Watermelon Update
Watermelon Variety Results and Considerations when Producing Seedless
Watermelons; Weed Control Update
Jonathan Schultheis, Associate Professor, NC State University
Pollination Considerations for Watermelon
Mike Stanghellini, PhD. Candidate, NC State University
New Products and Disease Management Considerations
Gerald Holmes, Assistant Professor, NC State University
10:30 am General Session
Includes an update as to the status of the watermelon industry, and the various state and national marketing results and initiatives
12:00 pm Luncheon
1:15 pm Contestant Interviews
Informal Watermelon Chat Session
Growers, buyers, merchandisers, seed company representatives and North
Carolina Extension personnel interact and exchange ideas
2:30 pm Sportswear Competition
2:45 pm Watermelon Seed Spit Contest (all are invited to participate)
3:00 pm Social Hour and Auction
6:30 pm Banquet and Coronation
8:30 pm Dance
Jonathan Schultheis, Extension Specialist, Horticultural Science, NCSU, jonathan_schultheis@ncsu.edu
PESTICIDE RECERTIFICATION AT THE EXPO!
by Charles Averre
Pesticide Recertification Credits Earned at the 1998 Southeast Vegetable & Fruit Expo in Greensboro, December 14-16, 1998. Because this expo is now a regional meeting, we invited adjoining states to give pesticide recertification credits to participants from their states. The number of participants by states is as follows: SC 10, TN 0, VA 32, and North Carolina 184.
Charles Averre, Extension Specialist, Plant Pathology, NCSU, charles_averre@ncsu.edu
HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED?
By Doug Sanders
It is my impression that vegetable growers are a curious lot. They `wonder' about a lot of things, and by saying `wonder' I guess I am saying that vegetable growers would like as much information as possible about any subject that is close to them. Thus I decided to come up with a vegetable grower's list of often asked `wonders':
* How long did it take to harvest a 4 acre section of field XYZ?
* How much was harvested from a 4 acre section of field XYZ?
* What was the per acre production from each of the sections of field XYZ today?
* What did it cost me to harvest the crop today?
* The total time for the hired man to cultivate a particular section of field XYZ all last season?
* The average harvest rate for a particular migrant worker for a particular variety of cucumbers?
* How many days did a particular migrant worker work last season?
* Did a particular migrant worker work all day July 15 last year?
You may be asking why or how could anyone bother with such detail. Just because you `wondered' about these details, it was impractical to consider going to the extra work of record keeping to have this much detail on paper. That is until recently it was impractical, but electronics have made getting the answers practical and for relatively low cost, one can have all this information and more.
These systems of information tracking utilize an electronic button that can be programmed with a unique code for an individual or an operation or a site. When a worker begins an operation, the button for the individual and the operation are entered into the touch probe in less than second. Then each successive touch records each new basket a worker harvests and the time of the touch. The touch probe is put into a cradle at the end of the day and is downloaded into your PC. This information is then sent to the payroll program for cutting checks at the end of the week. The probe can be programmed not to repeat in less than a certain time and thus not double counting a given basket. With the software you can have a record of how often any individual harvested a unit, total units harvested and in how much time. There is no more of the problems with tokens, chips or punch cards. This method of record keeping has stood up under evaluation by various government agencies and has provided all the information needed, while eliminating the common difficulties associated with other methods. The use of the buttons on a worker ID make it fast and easy to keep accurate records with a simple touch each time the worker brings in a harvest unit. Various users have found that it cuts time spent on payroll by 80%.
At the same time one is gathering information on worker's activities, a section of the field can be part of the description of a site. Thus one can determine how many units were harvested around this site and at what time. When the data are summarized they can be used to generate a field map that gives yield by section of the field. For most horticultural crops, we do not have a means of generating yield maps like one can with a machine harvested crop, but with this system yield maps can be generated. These data can also be integrated with GIS and GPS information into a `Precision Ag' or `Zoned Ag' model for making applications of various inputs dependant on these yield and soil maps.
These same buttons can be put on the manager's/foreman's clipboard such that each field or section of the field can be identified. Further, each operation can have its own button. Thus by pressing successive buttons with the touch probe, a record of activities for the section of a field can be maintained and computerized. At the end of a time period or the season, the grower has a record of all the various operations that were done, when they were done and how long it took to do each or the total time spent in a given field. With assignment of cost of these operations, the cost for crop production can be generated. With the operations cost, harvest cost and other associated costs, one can look at the budget for a specific crop, a variety, a field or a section of a field. This information is all useful in making decisions about how to proceed for next year. The information can also be used to make immediate decisions, like "was the yield great enough to warrant continued harvest such that workers can make a minimum".
With this system vegetable growers easily and inexpensively have a lot of the information they have been `wondering' about, but considered impractical to gather. (For more information about these information collection systems contact Agricultural Data Systems (714 363 5353, FAX 714 495 7066) or Dane Agricultural Services (800 367 7086, FAX 503 646 0622).
Doug Sanders, Extension Specialist, Horticultural Science, NCSU, doug_sanders@ncsu.edu
CERTIFIED SWEETPOTATO SEED SOURCES
by Jonathan Schultheis
I have had several inquiries as to where one can obtain certified sweetpotato seed. In addition, certified sweetpotato plants will also be available in greater quantity this year. Next Veg-I-News I will post who are selling certified sweetpotato plants. For now, the following are the acres passing field inspection for use as sweetpotato certified seed. Final acceptance of the seed for certification is pending the results of storage inspections.
Grower Varieties Available
B&B Produce, 2778 NC 50 South, Beauregard
Benson, NC 27504
Telephone:919-894-2527
Ralph D. Batchelor, 286 Batchelor Rd., Beauregard
Nashville, NC 27856 Carolina Rose
Telephone: 252-985-8688 Hernandez
Jewel
Beamon Brothers, 3393 US 117 North, Beauregard
Goldsboro, NC 27530 Carolina Rose
Telphone:919734-4931 Carolina Ruby
Cordner
Hernandez
Jewel
NC Porto Rico 198
Royce C. Bone, 2913 Sandy Cross Rd., Beauregard
Nashville, NC 27856 Carolina Rose
Telephone:252-443-3773 Hernandez
John C. Edwards, 514 Jackson Rd., Beauregard
Nashville, NC 27856
Telephone:252-459-2238
Godwin Produce Co., P.O. Box 163, Beauregard
Dunn, NC 28334 Hernandez
Telephone: 910-892-4171
Tull Hill Farms, Inc., 2264 Hugo Rd., Beauregard
Kinston, NC 28501
Telephone:252-523-4406
Jimmy D. Jones, Jr., 7094 Honeysuckle Lane, Beauregard
Bailey, NC 27807
Telephone:252-235-3248
Terrell Williams, 2866 Maxwell Rd., Beauregard
Autryville, NC 28318 Carolina Rose
Telephone:910-567-6316 Hernandez
Jewel
Jonathan Schultheis, Extension Specialist, Horticultural Science, NCSU, jonathan_schultheis@ncsu.edu
MADMAC REPORT
by Thomas M. Campbell
I have just returned from the MADMAC 99. This is the Mid-Atlantic Direct Marketing Association Conference, Trade show and markets tour in Ocean City, Maryland. MADMAC 2000 will be in Persipanny, New Jersey and will feature visits to sophisticated markets which serve 6,000 to 7,000 customers daily. MADMAC 2001 will be in Virginia Beach, Virginia. My back yard!!! Plan now to recruit growers to attend both these conferences. You'll meet people who are savvy, successful, happy, and optimistic about what they do. Why? Because they are more in control of their destiny than any other farmer audience I work with. They see the money roll in daily and have fewer cash flow and account collection problems than anyone. They are all independent but united as an organization because anyone over 50 miles away is not a competitive threat. A lot of information and creative idea sharing goes on at these meetings and you can tell these growers like what they do.
Things get shared like how to set up your own e-mail newsletter through Juno.com so it costs you nothing to do instantaneous mass mail advertising to your computerized customers. Also how to hire and manage help in your market and on your farm. How to get feature articles, how to set up cornfield mazes (maize mazes) and charge by the head to get people to come to your stand.
Roadside stand marketing is gaining potential all the time as people flock to our state and build, buy and rent houses. The MADMAC can show you how its successfully done.
The last day was our tour to Superfresh in Salisbury Maryland, complete with organic and exotic produce in gorgeous displays with painted chalkboards and a mist system. We then saw "How Sweet It Is" market in Eden, Maryland on Highway 13's Eastern Shore. They are open 6.5 months seven days a week from Easter to Halloween and have about 20-30 cars in their lot from 8 am to 8 pm at all times. They raise 20% of sold items and buy the other 80 %. The son in this family farm team majored in psychology and marketing at U of MD. They have two registers, two coolers, one set at 50 F and the other at 38 F. They spoke to us nearly an hour. The last two stops were the Eastern Shore Wholesale Shipping Market in Onley, VA near the Painter Research Station. They have a $7 million facility including a hydrocooler on 20 acres. Next door we toured a cotton gin. Virginia has these markets all over their state. We have one 70 miles from us near Franklin, VA. We also toured the Bule Crab Bay Company, shipper of fine snack foods since 1984. They employ 14 women and one man. Eighty-five percent of shipments are wholesale to retail markets. Fifteen percent of sales are gift packs. Check out their web page. They sit in a 100,000 square foot building in an industrial park off Highway 13 in Melfa, VA. They started in 1984 in a 900 square foot room back of Pam Barefoot's house. Pam is their CEO. She will receive Virginia's outstanding small business person award in March 1999. By all appearances, she deserves it ! She's the kind of people you meet at a MADMAC!
Thomas M Campbell, Field Faculty, Pasquotank County, CES, tcampbel@pasquota.ces.ncsu.edu
The North Carolina Watermelon Association Convention promises to be educational and lots of fun. Registration is $50 and includes lunch, the banquet, and admittance to all other Convention functions. To register, send $50 by Friday, March 5 and mail to :
N.C. Watermelon Association
P.O. Box 216
Murfreesboro, NC 27855
To reserve a room at the Sheraton Atlantic Beach Hotel, call 1-800-624-8875. Cost is $65.00 for an ocean view room and $85.00 for an ocean front room. Reservations should be made by Friday, February 19, 1999 to guarantee this rate.
If you need more information, please contact Francis Bunch at 252-398-5830
North Carolina Watermelon Association Convention Agenda
18th Annual
Saturday, March 13, 1999
Sheraton, Atlantic Beach Hotel
Atlantic Beach, North Carolina
8:30 am Registration
9:00 am Watermelon Update
Watermelon Variety Results and Considerations when Producing Seedless
Watermelons; Weed Control Update
Jonathan Schultheis, Associate Professor, NC State University
Pollination Considerations for Watermelon
Mike Stanghellini, PhD. Candidate, NC State University
New Products and Disease Management Considerations
Gerald Holmes, Assistant Professor, NC State University
10:30 am General Session
Includes an update as to the status of the watermelon industry, and the various state and national marketing results and initiatives
12:00 pm Luncheon
1:15 pm Contestant Interviews
Informal Watermelon Chat Session
Growers, buyers, merchandisers, seed company representatives and North
Carolina Extension personnel interact and exchange ideas
2:30 pm Sportswear Competition
2:45 pm Watermelon Seed Spit Contest (all are invited to participate)
3:00 pm Social Hour and Auction
6:30 pm Banquet and Coronation
8:30 pm Dance
6TH ORGANIC GROWERS SCHOOL
FLAT ROCK, NC
MARCH 20TH, 1999
The 6th Organic Growers School will be held on Saturday, March 20th, 1999 at Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock, NC from 9:00 am - 4:30 pm.
Five tracts will be offered:
Beginning Organic Gardening, which will include a session called "Body and Soil" with two massage therapists teaching you how to keep your body healthy as you garden. Other sessions include "Soil Building", "Good Bugs, Bad Bugs", and "Introduction to Growing Culinary Herbs".
Advanced Gardening, which will include sessions on "Gardening with Children", "Beneficial Insects", "Permaculture Plants for the Region", and "Basic Propagation Techniques".
Beginning Commercial Grower, which will include sessions on "Finding Your Market Niche", "Selling Opportunities in WNC", "Successful Farm Systems", and "Organic Training Opportunities".
Advanced Commercial Grower, will include sessions on "Chicken Tractors"; "Composting"; "Finding, Fabricating, or Hiring Fabricators for Farm Equipment"; and "Managing Beneficial Insects".
Self-Sufficiency for the Home and Farm with sessions on "Food Preservation", "Alternative Energy and Water Systems", "Energy Free Food Storage Systems", and "Winter Gardening".
For more information and registration details, contact Jackie Greenfield at 828-684-3562.
This program is sponsored by Blue Ridge Community College, Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, Mountain Area Gardeners in Communities, and North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service.
28th National Agricultural Plastics Congress
May 19 - 22, 1999
Ramada Inn Tallahassee
Tallahassee, Florida
Preliminary Program:
Wednesday - evening Welcome Reception
Thursday - 3 concurrent tours and evening night out optional spouse tour
Friday - keynote session. research presentations, trade show, Awards Banquet
Saturday - research presentations, trade show
Keynote Session:
"Climate Deja Vu"
Dr. Dale Linville, Agricultural Meteorologist, Clemson University,
South Carolina
Trade Show of Plasticulture Technology and Related Industry Suppliers
Additional Educational Opportunities:
Southeastern U.S. Greenhouse Vegetable Growers Conference and Trade
Show
Wednesday, May 19, 1999 - Tallahassee site
Extension Agent and Grower Plasticulture Workshop scheduled as part of the Congress, targeting topics of special interest to county agents and growers, with certified crop advisor credit available to congress attendees
Location:
Tallahassee is located in a region well-known for its picturesque oaks, historic plantation homes, and intensive agricultural production. This area, once home to "shade tobacco," is now an established production center for vegetables and ornamental plant materials, much of it grown on plastic, and shipped throughout the eastern United States and into Canada.
Congress Co-Chairs:
Darbie M. Granberry and K. Dean Batal, University of Georgia
Stephen M. Olson, University of Florida
For more information, contact:
American Society for Plasticulture
526 Brittany Drive, State College PA 16803-1420
Phone: 814-238-7045, FAX: 814-238-7051 e-mail: peh4@psu.edu
Web page last updated on March 5, 1999 by Stephen J. Toth, Jr..