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2. Marketing of Alternative Agriculture Products
By Jim Peterson, UNL Extension Educator
Alternative agriculture are enterprises that are different from the commodity crops being grown by conventional farmers. According to University of Nebraska -Lincoln Extension Educator Jim Peterson, they can range from range and pasture raised poultry, to the production of garden crops, to the growing of grapes for the fledgling wine industry in Nebraska to the growing of forestry products such as shrubs and bushes for the floral trade. In truth, the sky is the limit as to the diversity of products that can be grown in Nebraska.
One of the first considerations in developing an alternative enterprise is the market potential for the type of product that you would like to raise. For those who are raising alternative crops, marketing is not as easy as taking the product to the elevator to be sold. In fact, a major percent of one’s time will be spent on the marketing of most alternative agricultural products.
Lets just look at an example of someone growing fruits or vegetables. What are some of the marketing strategies that they can employ? One of the first avenues to explore are farmers markets. They provide an easy access to people wanting to buy garden products, are fun and provide you as the vender some name recognition. However, one consideration is what do I have that is different from the other venders at the Farmers Market. The successful vendors develop a reason for potential customers to stop at their booth. It may be a type of heirloom vegetable that people enjoy. It may be the diversity of products that are displayed giving the customers a wide diversity to choose from. There needs to be something that provides a uniqueness from other venders at the market.
A roadside stand is another option for marketing of vegetable and fruit products. It has advantage that you can be open at your convenience and not when the Farmers Market is open. However, your stand will need constant hours of operation and provide quality products that has the diversity that will satisfy your customers.
Selling to restaurants and grocery stores are another option that you may look at. Chefs at restaurants, particularly high-end restaurants, are always looking for locally grown vegetables and fruits that they can feature in their menu. It might be a good idea to contact the chefs before you plant your garden to see what types of product that they could use. Selling at grocery stores is another option, but is difficult to accomplish. One of the big problems is providing a steady volume of product throughout the year. In Nebraska, this is not always possible.
Food co-ops are another option that is beginning to be found in Nebraska. Here, grower members of the co-op provide garden products to the co-op that are then sold directly to consumer members, to restaurants, or to the wholesale market. It provides the grower an excellent market for these products. The Nebraska Food Co-op is an organization just beginning here in Nebraska. It is based after a very successful program in Oklahoma.
Other marketing options are Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) enterprises. Here, the grower will sell shares to interested people for their garden produce. Then, throughout the summer, each shareholder receives a bag full of vegetables weekly from the garden. In this way, both the buyer and seller share in bounty as well as in the risk of gardening. As can imagined, communications between buyer and grower are very important in order for this to work. These are popular on both coasts and are becoming more common in midwest.
With all of these options, still one of the best marketing tools is word of mouth. One person telling another person about your product. Thus, it is extremely important that you as the grower have a very high quality product to sell.
Marketing is one of the very important aspects of alternative agriculture production. Before starting your enterprise develop a plan on your marketing strategies.
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3. Farmer and Rancher Grant Program Workshops Announced
By Jim Peterson, UNL Extension Educator
The Center for Rural Affairs, local University of Nebraska - Lincoln Extension offices, and the Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) office will host six Nebraska workshops to assist farmers and ranchers in learning how to apply for SARE farmer/rancher grants.
Farmers and ranchers can now apply for grant funding to test or demonstrate innovative production and marketing ideas. Grants of up to $6,000 for individuals and $18,000 for groups are available from the North Central Region of USDA’s SARE program according to Jim Peterson, Extension Educator and Nebraska SARE Coordinator.
“SARE grants not only help farmers and ranchers become more economically and environmentally sustainable, they help them share what they learn with other farmers and ranchers. These workshops will help farmers and ranchers develop better projects and enhance their proposals” said Wyatt Fraas of the Center for Rural Affairs.
Proposals are evaluated on the description of environmental, financial and social impacts; a defined problem and a clear plan for testing; a plan for sharing results; and contribution to sustainable agriculture. A committee of farmers, ranchers, researches and agency staff evaluate and select proposals.
“Previous projects included testing organic grape varieties, using goats to control noxious weeds, on-farm dairy processing, and alternative fertilizer sources”, said Peterson. Nearly 550 projects in the 12-state North Central Region have been funded since 1992. About 50 projects, or one-fourth of submitted proposals, are selected each year.
The five page applications are due to the NCR-SARE office in Lincoln by December 1. Funding will be available in late spring 2006. Application packets are available online and from the NCR-SARE offfice, (800) 529-1342
Workshops will be held: |
Tuesday,
November 1 |
7:00 p.m. |
Papio NRD office, 1507 Broadway, Dakota City, NE
Contact: Del Hemsath, Dixon/Dakota Extension, 402-534-2284 |
Thursday,
November 3 |
1:00 p.m. |
South Platte NRD office, 551 Parkland Drive, Sidney,NE
Contact: Karen DeBoer, Cheyenne County Extension, 308-254-4455
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Thursday,
November 3 |
7:00 p.m. |
Community Building, Fairgrounds, McCook, NE
Contact: Kent Been, Red Willow Extension, 308-345-3390 |
Monday,
November 7 |
9:00 a.m. |
Extension Office, Courthouse in Aurora, NE
Contact: Andy Christiansen, Hamilton County Extension, 402-694-6174 |
Monday,
November 7 |
7:00 p.m. |
4-H Building, Fairgrounds, Broken Bow, NE
Contact: Troy Walz, Custer County Extension, 308-872-6831 |
Tuesday,
November 8 |
7:00 p.m. |
4-H Building, Fairgrounds, 9th and J Street in Auburn, NE
Contact: Gary Lesoing, Nemaha County Extension, 402-274-4755 |
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4. Nebraska's Grape and Wine Industry Gaining Ground
By Dr. Paul Read , UNL Viticulture Specialist
Nebraska may be known for its stretching cattle pastures and fields of corn, but a flourishing wine industry, but a flourishing wine industry has blossomed during the last decade. Today, according to Paul Read, University of Nebraska -Extension Viticulturist, about 15 wineries receive grapes from more than 400 acres of vineyards across the state, and several more are expected to open in the next couple of years. Though the acreage may not seem like much, the value per acre of grapes is considerably higher than for many other crops. The gross return of an acre of grapes easily can exceed $5,000.00
A cultivar called Edelweiss - which produces a crisp, fruity white wine - is earning recognition for many Nebraska wineries. It has won awards in international competitions, as have many other fine Nebraska wines.
Nebraska’s grape and wine industry began in the late 1800s and early 1900s, but died out with the combined effects of World War 1. Prohibition and the Great Depression. The industry was not resurrected until the Nebraska Farm Wineries Act was passed in 1985. Even so, Nebraska’s first post-Prohibition winery didn’t open until December 1994 - the Cuthills Vineyards near Pierce.
Although most wineries of the past and today are in the eastern part of the state, wineries also have opened in central and western Nebraska. Grapes thrive on fairly dry ground with low fertility, so they often are planted on soils that would be unsuitable for corn and other crops.
For more information on grape production in Nebraska, visit the UNL Viticulture program website.
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5. Farm Beginning Class being Piloted in Southeast Nebraska
By Jim Peterson, UNL Extension Educator
Thirteen Nebraska families are currently participating in program entitled Farm Beginnings™ in southeast Nebraska. The program is designed to help meet the challenge of rural repopulation. It was started in the mid-1990s in southeast Minnesota by the Land Stewardship Project. It is training course that provides an opportunity for people to learn firsthand about low-cost, sustainable methods of farming.
Beginning November 5th, the program has the goal of mimicing the eight-year Minnesota track record of over 220 graduates, with 60% engaged in farming.
According to University of Nebraska - Lincoln Extension Educator Jim Peterson, the program is made up of three components. Nine classroom sessions are being held approximately two weeks apart during this winter. In the summer of 2006, a mentoring program will fit participants with actual farmers doing the enterprise of interest to the participants. In addition, several tours will be held for participants to view alternative farm enterprises in the area.
“This is an important program for Nebraska” expressed Paul Rohrbaugh, Executive Director for Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society. “A strong commitment to Farm Beginning™ has been the bedrock provided by the members of the steering committee, made up of representatives of UNL Extension, the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, the Center for Rural Affairs, the Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society, and the Land Stewardship Project”.
“The Farm Beginning™ Program provides beginners with the ‘How to’ for a successful career in agriculture while the existing programs provide the tools for reaching that goal. Farm Beginning™ is the missing link that brings together state, federal and provate farming startup programs” says Martin Kleinschmit, Center for Rural Affairs Sustainable Agriculture Specialist.
“This program fits the needs of rural and urban folks”, according to Peterson, “Approximately 20 percent of Farm Beginnings™ graduates have moved from urban to rural areas to pursue their farming dream.
If you are interested in learning more about future programs in the Farm Beginnings™ program, there are several ways to get more information: Contact Paul Rohrbaugh, Executive Director for the Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society, nesusag@alltel.net, or 402-869-2396; Jim Peterson, jpeterson2@unl.edu, at 402-426-9455; or Martin Kleinschmit, Center for Rural Affairs, martink@cfra.org, at 402-254-6893; or visit the Farm Beginnings™ website.
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6. Alternative Agriculture Enterprises- Are They For You?
By Jim Peterson, UNL Extension Educator
As a farmer or an acreage owner, do you have an interest in raising agriculture products that could be considered as an Alternative Agriculture Enterprise? These are enterprises other than conventional crops or livestock such as corn, soybeans, beef or hogs sold in conventional ways. University of Nebraska - Lincoln Extension Educator Jim Peterson points out some of the things to consider in having an Alternative Agriculture Enterprise.
- Have a Consumable Product: Have a enterprises that has a product that can be sold and consumed by the consumer. If the enterprise has it only source of income the sale of breeding stock, for example, be careful. As has been the case a number of times, when the willing buyers no longer exist, your breeding stock may not be very valuable.
- Understand the Time Requirements: Many of these alternative agriculture enterprises do take a great deal of time. If you are working at another job, it can be very daunting to try to do both. A good example is the raising of grapes for the winery industry. Although a very lucrative enterprise when the grapes come into production, it is a very time consuming enterprise and requires a lot of effort to accomplish.
- Financial Requirement of the Enterprise: Before starting an enterprise, know what the financial requirement will be. As an example, grape production can be very lucrative, but it usually will take seven years before the enterprise breaks even.
- Pest Management: What are the diseases and insects that will infect the crop or animals being raised Do wildlife such as deer or rabbits cause problems. If it is livestock, what kind of fencing will be required. Be sure to know and understand these problems and what to do about them. A mentorship with another farmer doing the enterprise would be a very excellent beginning for those who have little expertise in the subject area.
- Cultural Practices: Before starting the enterprise, be sure that you understand the cultural practices needed for the enterprise. Do you have enough space for the enterprise. What are the best varieties? How much fertilizer and what kind? What about irrigation? What soil types work best? What kind of feeds do I need for the livestock? All of these need to be understood prior to taking on the project. Again a mentor would be a very good place to start. Those who are doing the work are going to be in the best position to answer your questions.
- Know Your Markets Before You Start: Raising the product is not going to be too helpful unless you can market it. See the second article in the newsletter about marketing.
Alternative Agriculture production can be a very profitable, interesting and enjoyable project for a farmer with a waste area at his or her disposal or as an acreage owner. However, the pitfalls and benefits need to be understood before undertaking the task of developing the enterprise.
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7. Sheep And Goats: The New Biological Weed Control
By Tom Drudik, UNL Extension Educator
Are sheep and goats the new biological weed control for the 21 st century? Sheep and goats have been used for centuries by man to provide meat, fiber, and milk. But, just recently increasing interest has been shown in these small ruminants for various reasons and one being for their ability to manipulate forage to accomplish a variety of land management objectives, which benefit not only man but also the environment. I can remember about 50 years ago, when I was growing up, we would purchase a few sheep each summer to control weeds around the farmstead and especially in the cattle lots. It was not very long and we added a flock of sheep to our diversified farming operation.
Biological control is the deliberate introduction or manipulation of a pest’s natural enemies, with the goal of suppressing the pest population. This process has been used to manage insects, pathogens and weeds. Biological control is not intended to eradicate the target weed, but rather to put enough pressure on the pest to reduce its dominance to a more acceptable level. Biological weed control is environmentally safe, self-perpetuating and cost effective and is suited to an integrated weed management program. However, it does have one limitation. It is a long-term undertaking sometimes it is as long a three years before you see results.
Although slow in coming, biological weed control may have a major impact on managing weeds in pasture systems in the future. Sheep and goats are currently being used throughout the Great Plains to control noxious weeds. Many of these weeds could not be controlled by means of chemical, mechanical or cultural practices due to the high cost associated with these control methods or their relative ineffectiveness.
One such weed is leafy spurge which has consumed many acres in rangelands of Nebraska. These plants are very competitive and they quickly crowd out all other plants to form a monoculture. Cattle will not consume leafy spurge because of digestive distress caused by the latex-like sap that it contains. Another pasture pest is the Western red cedar. This tree is infesting many pastures throughout the state and is causing large economic losses from decreased carrying capacities of these pastures.
Grazing management can be used to minimize the spread of certain weeds and to control large infestations. For grazing to effective animals might have to be fenced into or off an area in order to adjust grazing pressure. The ability to concentrate stock on weed infestations at some stages of growth or certain times of the year and the ability to keep them off pasture or weeds at other times, is the key to weed control.
The livestock producer has to know the animals’ wants and nutritional needs and at the same time understand the desirable grasses growth patterns and also understand the weeds weak points and manage them in a way as to achieve your goals. This is called pasture management. In this case management means a lot of hard work.
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8. Don't Forget to Winterize Your Underground Sprinkler System
By Tom Dorn, UNL Extension Educator
Many urban and rural homeowners have automated underground lawn sprinkler systems. Spending an hour or so to winterize your system in the fall can save many hours of work and considerable expense next spring.
The most important action you can take in the fall is to drain the system so you don’t get ice damage to the pipes and valves. Begin by locating the water shut-off valve for the sprinkler system inside the house and turn off the water at that point. Next, set the irrigation
timer so the first set is on. This will relieve water pressure in the plumbing for the system. To get water to drain out of a pipe, you must allow air into the pipe, as anyone who has held their thumb on the end of a soda straw can attest.
You can let air into the sprinkler system by opening the small valves (petcocks) on the vacuum relief valve assembly on the side of the house. Cycle through each irrigation set, allowing several minutes for all the water to drain through the lowest sprinkler(s) in the set. If you don’t have access to an air compressor, turn off the irrigation controller and close the petcocks to prevent dirt or insects from getting into the plumbing.
For most installations, the procedure above is sufficient to eliminate damage from freezing.
To be extra safe, one can attach an air compressor or portable air supply tank to the plumbing at the lower petcock valve on the vacuum breaker assembly. With about 65 PSI in the air tank, turn on the first irrigation set and open the air supply valve. You will see water trapped in low spots in the system blowing out of the sprinklers. With a new charge of air in the tank, start the next irrigation set on the controller and open the air supply valve. Repeat for each irrigation set. After blowing the water out of all irrigation sets, disconnect the air supply and close the petcock. Turn off or unplug the irrigation controller.
Next spring, simply open the water supply valve, set the date and time on the controller and set your irrigation schedule and you are ready for another year.
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To let air into lawn sprinkler systems, open the small valves (petcocks) on the vacuum relief valve assembly (shown at left), or to be extra safe, attach an air compressor to the lower petcock valve (shown at right).
Images by UNL Extension Educator Tom Dorn
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