February/March 2022

“I'll “ I ' l l never n e v e r plant p l a n t another a n o t h e r variety variety of o f pinkeye p i n k e y e peas p e a s ifi f I can't c a n ' t have have Mississippi M i s s i s s i p p i Pinkeye P i n k e y e 2 .”. ” W RELEASE! NE Mississippi Pinkeye 2

UTILITY PATENT PROTECTED

Purplehull Purplehull

Mississippi Pinkeye 2 retains the most desirable characteristics of superior yield and disease resistance of Mississippi Pinkeye, with the additional benefit of improved emergence and survivability in cool, wet soils typical of early spring weather.

“I'll never plant another variety of pinkeye peas if I can't have Mississippi Pinkeye 2.

I don't want any other variety. I have tried other pinkeyes, but they don't yield, cook or taste like Mississippi Pinkeye 2. I like the size of this big pea and it shells out easy. It freezes pretty and tastes like you just shelled them.

We planted late and it was a dry year, but the plants still got knee high loaded down with peas. Mississippi Pinkeye 2 - that's my pea.”

- Lisa Holmes “Planted two varieties of pinkeye peas this year: Texas and Mississippi Pinkeye 2. I planted the second week of March.

Mississippi Pinkeye 2 was the best pea by far. The plant was larger, had longer pods and more pods per plant than the Texas, and was taller and also grew off faster. The pods had a good purple color and shelled out better. They also freeze well. Again, there were more peas per bush than the Texas plant, plus you can pick all season long.”

- Michael Anderson

“Our Mississippi Pinkeye 2 Purplehull peas were really good producers and our customers liked them. They made long pods and the peas were larger than the other varieties we planted. They mature more evenly which makes picking easier and more profitable.

The new Mississippi Pinkeye 2 Purplehull will be a big part of my operation again next year.”

- Bob Compton

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Cooperative Farming News

Seeds for Southern Soils

CO-OP MATTERS

18 Co-op Corner: Central Alabama Farmers Co-op - Demopolis Voted Best Feed/Seed Store of 2021

LIFE ON THE HOMEPLACE AND IN THE COMMUNITY

48

On the Cover:

Chickens are a great addition to your hobby farm. (Photo Credit: Purina Animal Nutrition)

24

48 One Accord Farm: Hobby Farming with Purpose 52 Lee Peacock: A Snapshot of Yesterday YOUTH MATTERS 24 FFA Sentinel: FFA Activities Must Go On 26 4-H Extension Corner: 4-H Safe: Shooting Awareness Fun Education 30 PALS: Selma City Schools Join the Clean Campus Program

Letter from the Editor........................ 4 Ag Insight........................................... 8 Business of Farming........................... 12 Feeding Facts ..................................... 14 From the State Vet’s Office................. 16 What’s the Point................................ 20 Homegrown with Sweet Grown......... 22 On the Edge of Common Sense............ 23 Outdoor Logic with BioLogic............. 32 Cooking with Stacy Lyn...................... 36 Farming Your Forest........................... 38 Shepherding Outdoors....................... 42 Southern Made Simple....................... 56 How’s Your Garden?.......................... 59 Howle’s Hints..................................... 61 Magic of Gardening............................ 64 Simple Times...................................... 67 Food Safety......................................... 70 Grazing Grace..................................... 73 The Co-op Pantry............................... 77 What’s Happening in Alabama............ 80 w w w. a l a f a r m . c o m

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56 38

CONTENTS

OUR REGULARS

February/March 2022

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Letter from the Editor 4

Happy New Year and welcome to our first issue of 2022! Like any new beginning, we’re excited to get into a routine while we continue bringing you the “down to earth news from your friends at the Co-op.”

While this issue is filled with contributions from our regulars, we’ve added a few new additions. We’re covering everything from stories on backyard flocks and hobby farms, to information on forestry and outdoors to recipes like chocolate mousse and squirrel potpie. We’re also helping our friends at Sweet Grown Alabama highlight their members one at a time, which gives you the perfect opportunity to meet the hardworking families who provide our state with food and fiber!

Over the past year, we’ve built relationships and researched topics to bring you a wider variety of information from all aspects of agriculture. Our hope is to provide quality articles that are relatable and enjoyable. We’ve also given the inside a bit of an update with fresh graphics and headers. This publication is a team effort, and we are thankful that you’re a part of that team – we couldn’t do it without you! Thank you for being a loyal reader, customer and part of the AFC family.

Samantha Hendricks Editor-in-Chief

Cooperative Farming News

Alabama Farmers Cooperative, Inc.

Your friendly farm and garden supply store for 85 years and counting. ®

February/March 2022

5

Editor-in-Chief: Samantha Hendricks Editor: Jessie Shook Associate Editor: Mary Delph Contributing Editor: Jade Randolph Advertising, Editorial, Subscription and Publication Offices 121 Somerville Road NE Decatur, AL 35601-2659 P.O. Box 2227 Decatur, AL 35609-2227 256-308-1618 AFC Officers Rivers Myres, President Ben Haynes, Chairman of the Board AFC Board of Directors Rickey Cornutt, Matt Haney, Brooks Hayes, Rick Hendricks, Bill Sanders, Jeff Sims, Mike Tate, David Womack

Visit our website to subscribe to our magazine, read online and order our signature Co-op Cap.

Subscription $10 per year For subscription inquiries or change of address: P.O. Box 2227, Decatur, AL 35609-2227 or call 256-308-1623 Subscribe online at https://www.alafarm.com/magazine To advertise: Wendy McFarland 334-652-9080 or email McFarlandAdVantage@gmail.com Cooperative Farming News is published bi-monthly by Alabama Farmers Cooperative, Inc.

www.alafarm.com/magazine

121 Somerville Road NE, Decatur, AL 35601-2659 P.O. Box 2227, Decatur, AL 35609-2227

Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. The publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertising and will not be responsible for copy errors or misprints in advertising or editorial material, other than to publish corrections of errors in fact. Feature articles, news items and columns are published for the information of our readers from qualified, reputable sources; however, the editors and publisher make no guarantees and assume no liability for any reader’s decision to implement any procedure, recommendation or advice printed in this publication. Photos are credited to author unless otherwise noted. Advertised sale items may not be stocked by every Quality Co-op store and prices may vary.

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www.alafarm.com Postmaster: Please send notice of address change (enclosing latest address label) to publication office: Cooperative Farming News P.O. Box 2227 Decatur, AL 35609-2227

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Cooperative Farming News

FOLLOW US: @Alafarm_coop

/Alafarm

DIRECTORY OF MEMBER COOPERATIVES ALTHA FARMERS COOPERATIVE James Lynn, Gen. Mgr. Phone 850-674-8194

FARMERS COOPERATIVE MARKET Doug Smith, Gen. Mgr. FRISCO CITY - William Womack, Mgr. Phone 251-267-3175 Fertilizer / Phone 251-267-3173 LEROY - Jeff Hughston, Mgr. Phone 251-246-3512

ANDALUSIA FARMERS COOPERATIVE Russell Lassiter, Gen. Mgr. Phone 334-222-1851 FLORALA - Pete Blackwell, Mgr. Phone 334-858-6142 OPP - Brandon Bledsoe, Mgr. Phone 334-493-7715

FARMERS CO-OP OF ASHFORD Timothy Tolar, Gen. Mgr. Phone 334-899-3263

ATMORE FARMERS COOPERATIVE Todd Booker, Gen. Mgr. Phone 251-368-2191 BLOUNT COUNTY FARMERS COOPERATIVE Eric Sanders, Gen. Mgr. Phone 205-274-2185 CENTRAL ALABAMA FARMERS COOPERATIVE Tim Wood, Gen. Mgr. SELMA - Thomas Reeves, Mgr. Phone 334-874-9083 FAUNSDALE - Bryan Monk, Mgr. Phone 334-628-2681 DEMOPOLIS - Tom Eunice, Mgr. Phone 334-289-0155 CHEROKEE FARMERS COOPERATIVE Seth Eubanks, Gen. Mgr. CENTRE Phone 256-927-3135 JACKSONVILLE - Tommy Thomas, Mgr. Phone 256-435-3430 PIEDMONT - Kevin Bobbitt, Mgr. Phone 256-447-6560

FARMERS COOPERATIVE, INC. Todd Lawrence, Gen. Mgr. LIVE OAK, FL - Barry Long, Ag Div. Mgr. Phone 386-362-1459 MADISON, FL - Jerry Owens, Operations Mgr. Phone 850-973-2269 GENCO FARMERS COOPERATIVE Ricky Wilks, Gen. Mgr. HARTFORD - Todd Smith, Mgr. Phone 334-588-2992 WEST GENEVA - Robert Pittman, Mgr. Phone 334-898-7932 ENTERPRISE - Ricky Wilks Phone 334-347-9007 ELBA - Colin Morris, Mgr. Phone 334-897-6972 HEADLAND PEANUT WAREHOUSE CO-OP Jay Jones, Gen. Mgr. Chris Hix, Store Mgr. Phone 334-693-3313 JAY PEANUT FARMERS COOPERATIVE Ryan Williams, Gen. Mgr. Phone 850-675-4597

CLAY COUNTY EXCHANGE Jeff Kinder, Gen. Mgr. Phone 256-396-2097

LUVERNE COOPERATIVE SERVICES Perry Catrett, Gen. Mgr. Phone 334-335-5082

COLBERT FARMERS COOPERATIVE Daniel Waldrep, Gen. Mgr. LEIGHTON - Tommy Sockwell, Mgr. Phone 256-446-8328 TUSCUMBIA - Chuck Hellums, Mgr. Phone 256-383-6462

MADISON COUNTY COOPERATIVE Keith Griffin, Gen. Mgr. HAZEL GREEN - Phone 256-828-2010 MERIDIANVILLE - Matt Dunbar, Mgr. Phone 256-828-5360 NEW MARKET - Phone 256-379-2553 Ramsey Prince, Mgr. SCOTTSBORO - Phone 256-574-1688 Patricia Rorex, Mgr. STEVENSON - Phone 256-437-8829

DEKALB FARMERS COOPERATIVE Jason Plunkett, Gen. Mgr. RAINSVILLE Phone 256-638-2569 CROSSVILLE - David Tierce, Mgr. Phone 256-528-7188 ALBERTVILLE - Nicholas Byars, Mgr. Phone 256-878-3261

MARION COUNTY COOPERATIVE Steve Lann, Gen. Mgr. HAMILTON - Phone 205-921-2631 FAYETTE - Kellie Trull, Mgr. Phone 205-932-5901 HALEYVILLE - Jessica Steward, Mgr. Phone 205-486-3794

ELBERTA FARMERS COOPERATIVE Justin Brown, Gen. Mgr. Phone 251-986-8103

MARSHALL FARMERS COOPERATIVE Brian Keith, Gen. Mgr. HOLLY POND - Phone 256-796-5337 ARAB - Mark Upton Phone 256-586-5515 MORGAN FARMERS COOPERATIVE Bradley Hopkins, Gen. Mgr. HARTSELLE - Jason Pealor, Mgr. Phone 256-773-6832 PIKE COUNTY COOPERATIVE Danny Dewrell, Gen. Mgr. GOSHEN - Phone 334-484-3441 TROY - Jeff Baron, Mgr. Phone 334-566-3882 QUALITY COOPERATIVE, INC. Daniel Salter, Gen. Mgr. Phone 334-382-6548 TALEECON FARMERS COOPERATIVE Scott Hartley, Gen. Mgr. Phone 334-257-3930 WETUMPKA - Timothy Richardson, Mgr. Phone 334-567-4321 TALLADEGA COUNTY EXCHANGE Chris Elliott, Gen. Mgr. Phone 256-362-2716 ASHVILLE - Allen Bice, Mgr. Phone 205-594-7042 PELL CITY - Joseph Taylor, Mgr. Phone 205-338-2821 COLUMBIANA - Barry Keller, Mgr. Phone 205-669-7082 RANDOLPH - Tim Brown, Mgr. Phone 256-357-4743 TENNESSEE VALLEY COOPERATIVE, LLC John Curtis, President ATHENS – Britt Christopher, Mgr. Phone 256-232-5500 LYNNVILLE, TN - Kyle Doggett, Mgr. Phone 931-527-3923 PULASKI, TN Phone 931-363-2563 Reggie Shook, Vice Pres.

FLORENCE - Robbie Neal, Mgr. Phone 256-764-8441 ELGIN - Blair Shook, Mgr. Phone 256-247-3453 John Holley, Vice Pres.

MOULTON - Greg McCannon, Mgr. Phone 256-974-9213 COURTLAND Phone 256-637-2939 TUSCALOOSA FARMERS COOPERATIVE Wayne Gilliam, Gen. Mgr. Phone 205-339-8181 WALKER FARMERS COOPERATIVE Cody King, Gen. Mgr. Phone 205-387-1142

*PLEASE CONTACT EACH STORE DIRECTLY FOR ALL OF THE SERVICES THEY OFFER* PEANUTS

PECANS

PROPANE

PEA SHELLING

CATFISH

February/March 2022

7

AG INSIGHT

AG INSIGHT

BY J I M E R I C K S O N

Federal plan calls for boost in conservation, climate-smart spending While agricultural programs in the Biden Administration’s Build Back Better program haven’t received the public attention that other provisions have, the measure’s framework includes more than $27 billion for climate-smart agriculture and Farm Bill conservation programs.

As with most federal programs, much can happen between when a measure is proposed and when it’s approved, or even later. But the anticipated $27 billion in spending does represent the largest investment in conservation since the Dust Bowl and would provide what is viewed by some farm leaders as a transformative level of support to farmers, ranchers, wildlife and the climate. A number of conservation, agricultural and sportsmen’s organizations have endorsed the measure.

In a related development, the European Union (EU) and the United States have announced a newly-created transatlantic collaboration platform on agriculture designed to take on the global challenges of sustainability and climate change. The recently-reached agreement was revealed in a joint statement from EU Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski and US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. The pact calls for the exchange of knowledge and information and for promoting mutual understanding and trust “as we work together to address global challenges and achieve common goals.”

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Cooperative Farming News

Mexico, Canada are key providers of increased vegetable imports Although the United States receives fresh vegetables from more than 125 different countries, most imports originate from Mexico and Canada, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service. In 2020, Mexico accounted for 77% of U.S. fresh vegetable import volume, and Canada represented 11%.

An analysis of domestic census and trade data shows Mexican and Canadian producers have dominated the U.S. import market by offering protected culture – or greenhouse – imports, as well as organic options, which increased choices for consumers.

Conventional and field-grown fresh vegetables still account for most imports, but organic and green-

house vegetables are expanding market reach.

Between 1998 and 2020, the volume of fresh vegetable imports increased nearly 200%, and the value of fresh vegetable imports grew to exceed fresh exports by $7.6 billion, more than double the same figure a decade earlier.

Market window creep is an extension of seasonal demand and refers to the increasing volume of fresh vegetable imports entering during the start or end of the traditional domestic production seasons. Over time, the categorization of vegetables into summer and winter categories has dwindled as near yearround imports of both categories of produce proliferated. Many traditional domestic market windows have eroded as importers have found their own market windows expanding.

Other trade agreements have also provided access to increased supplies of fresh vegetables. Trade data shows that over time, this resulted in increased bilateral trade with the United States and vaulted Peru and Guatemala into the top five foreign sources of fresh vegetables.

In addition to trade agreements, exchange rates also affect the purchasing power of vegetable imports relative to domestic vegetable production.

Alabama specialty crops targeted in grant program

Food pantries see increase in usage Households struggling to put enough food on the table may participate in Federal nutrition assistance programs and community food assistance programs, such as food pantries, to help meet their food needs.

And data from USDA’s ERS shows that use of food pantries increased from 2019 to 2020.

Food pantries typically provide free food for clients to take home and prepare. Often affiliated with faithbased organizations, pantries rely heavily on volunteers.

Some households may turn to food pantries only in times of emergency, while others may use food pantries on a more regular basis.

The USDA data shows that 6.7% of all U.S. households reported using a food pantry in 2020, an increase from 4.4% in 2019. Comparable data on food-pantry use is available going back to 2001, and since then the previously reported high for use of food pantries was in 2014, when 5.5% of U.S. households used them.

Across all types of households, including various racial and ethnic groups, food pantry use was up in 2020 from 2019. Nearly all annual increases in food pantry use in 2020 were statistically significant; men living alone is the only group for which the change in food pantry use was not statistically significant.

The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) will work with Auburn University, Alabama Cooperative Extension Systems, Alabama A&M University and the Alabama Urban Forestry Association on a variety of programs designed to strengthen the specialty crop industry.

Part of a nationwide effort being financed by $243 million in grants through two USDA programs, the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program and the Specialty Crop Research Initiative grants program, more than a dozen Alabama initiatives are listed as recipients.

With the grants from the two USDA programs, Alabama will receive some $1.225 million for activities in the state. Crops involved range from strawberries and blueberries to Christmas trees and pecans. Irrigation, water quality and other management-related issues also are included.

ADAI is one of 56 grant recipients nationwide that will fund sub-awards for activities and programs to increase demand for agricultural goods and address issues facing the specialty crop industry.

February/March 2022

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Research underway to counter emerging corn disease Helping farmers turn the tide on an emerging disease of corn called tar spot is the focus of a multi-organization team of scientists, including from the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Caused by the fungus Phyllachora maydis, tar spot appears as black, roughly circular discolorations on the leaves, husks and stalks of corn plants.

A tan halo sometimes surrounds the spore-filled spots, creating what’s known as a fish-eye lesion.

Outbreaks of the disease, which was first detected in northern Indiana and Illinois in 2015, can reduce grain yields by 20 to 60 bushels an acre. Tar spot is now also found in corn-growing areas of Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Florida, and Southwestern Ontario, Canada.

Although fungicides offer the hardest-hitting counterpunch, resistance to tar spot disease in corn is far more preferable, plant pathologists say. As a result, research is targeting a number of areas, including:

• Screening existing commercial corn varieties and germplasm lines for their resistance or susceptibility to tar spot so that growers can adjust their disease management practices accordingly.

• Developing tools known as molecular markers to quickly and efficiently identify a gene known to confer tar spot resistance in corn, namely Qrtsc8.

Corn plants that lack the gene but are still resistant to the disease are also of interest, since an entirely new gene or genes unknown to science could be at play. Potentially, such sources of resistance could also prove useful in shoring up the crop’s defenses even further.

• Determining the biocontrol potential of a community of microorganisms known as the microbiome that was observed on tar-spot-resistant but not susceptible corn plants. The goal is to understand how environmental factors, plant growth stage and the associated corn microbiome affect tar spot disease progression and how all these factors are interconnected.

• Identification of several proteins the tar spot fungus uses to “short circuit” the defenses of susceptible plants—and how, in turn, these proteins could be exploited for better detection of different strains of the fungus and their severity in fields.

2 food items resilient to climate change With concerns about climate change looming large, results of a study by researchers at the University of Florida are likely welcome news for those worried about the impact on agriculture.

According to the research results, the university team predicts the supply chains for two of Americans’ most popular plant-based foods, potatoes and tomatoes, are surprisingly resilient to climate change.

To make their predictions, the researchers de-

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Cooperative Farming News

search team includes other scientists from the International Food Policy Research Institute, University of Arkansas, University of Illinois, Washington State University and the World Agricultural Economic and Environmental Services.

Clifton Warren, Jr. has been appointed FSA State Executive Director for Alabama

veloped an innovative modeling approach to the assessment of climate adaptation and mitigation opportunities in fruit and vegetable supply chains.

The team has now applied their analysis method to carrots, green beans, spinach, strawberries and sweet corn.

The new research, published in Nature Food, was supported by a grant from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The interdisciplinary re-

Clifton Warren, Jr. was raised on a family farm in Greene County, Alabama. He has over 25 years of service to his country, including three years in the U.S. Army and 22 years at Farm Service Agency (FSA). Warren first joined FSA in 1999 as a Temporary Program Technician and has held many roles in the years since, including County Operations Trainee, Program Technician, County Operations Reviewer, and County Executive Director for the counties of Hale, Perry and Bibb. He most recently worked as the District Director for FSA offices in 13 counties.

Warren attended DeVry University in Atlanta, Georgia, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Management with a concentration in Human Resource Management and Project Management.

MS AL

LA

February/March 2022

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BUSINESS OF FARMING

DIVIDING JOINTLY OWNED PROPERTY UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESS OF PARTITION

BY R O B E RT T U F T S AND KEN KELLEY

Y

ou, your brother and sister inherited the farm from your parents.

That makes you tenants in common. You have an undivided interest in the property, meaning you each own a one-third interest in the entire farm. As such, you each have the right to use the entire farm and you can’t point to any portion of the farm as being yours. That also means you jointly manage the farm.

What happens when the three of you can no longer agree?

Joint owners can separate their interest in property through the process of partition.

Partition can be either voluntary (the three

of you agree to a physical division and prepare deeds to transfer your one-third interest in two parcels to the other two) or involuntary through a court proceeding. An owner, no matter how small their interest, has the right to force the partition of the property.

Maybe your brother died without a will and was survived by his spouse and three children from that marriage and two children from a previous marriage. A child that owns a 1/15th interest has the right to force the partition even if all the other owners vote against partition.

There are two forms of partition, the traditional partition covered by Chapter 6 of

An owner, no matter how small their interest, has the right to force the partition of the property.

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Cooperative Farming News

”

IF ONE OR MORE OWNERS PETITION FOR PARTITION UNDER UPHPA, THE OTHER OWNERS HAVE THE OPTION TO BUY THE OFFERING OWNERS’ INTEREST AT THE VALUE SET BY THE COURT. Title 35 of the Code of Alabama (1975), and partition under the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act (UPHPA) covered in Chapter 6A. Under traditional partition the court has to physically divide the property if it is subject to division. If there are three heirs and the land is a flat 300 acres, the physical division is fairly easy. But what if there are three owners in one generation and five in the next generation? In the example above, you and your sister each own a one-third interest, your brother’s wife owns a one-sixth interest and the five children each own a one-fifteenth interest. If the topography is not uniform, for example on the 300 acres there is some pasture, some trees, a pond and a wetland around a creek, then physical division becomes almost impossible. In that case the property has to be sold and the proceeds divided. A current owner has the right to purchase the property for the appraised price before the case goes to trial. If the case goes to trial, the judge will order the sale of the property. The end result of the traditional partition is the physical division or sale of the property.

Under UPHPA the result could be different from the traditional partition. The first requirement is that twenty percent of the interest in the property must be owned by heirs of the prior owner. If one or more owners petition for partition under UPHPA, the other owners have the option to buy the offering owners’ interest at the value set by the court. If the other owners do not purchase all of the offered interest, then one of the owners that requested the sale of his interest may purchase the interest of the other offering owners. If all of the offered interests are not purchased, then the judge will attempt to physically divide the property. If the property cannot be physically divided “without great prejudice to the cotenants” based on the ownership shares, the property will be offered for sale.

“If the court orders a sale of heirs property, the court shall order that the sale be conducted by one or more of the following methods of sale: open market sale with or without a broker or brokers; by sealed bids; public auction; or private sale. The court shall choose a method which shall be more economically advantageous and in the best interest of the cotenants as a group.” §35-6A-10, Code of Alabama (1975)

The USDA recently funded the Heirs Property Relending Program to help owners of heirs’ property purchase the fractional interest of other owners.

“Heirs’ property means a farm that is jointly held by multiple heirs as tenants in common as a result of inheriting title from a relative.” We typically think of heirs’ property as property that passes to heirs because no will was probated or estate administered.

This definition seems to allow loans to our example siblings even though they inherited the land from their parents through a will. The maximum loan amount available under the program is $600,000. If you are considering a partition action, you should contact the Farm Service Agency to discuss this program.

If you own an undivided interest in land and are not happy with the way the other owners want to manage the land, you have the right to have the property partitioned. Based on the facts of the case, you will get either a portion of the land or a portion of the sale proceeds.

February/March 2022

13

FEEDING FACTS

ENERGY REQUIREMENTS HOW MUCH ENERGY DO THEY NEED DURING THE WINTER MONTHS?

L

B Y J I M M Y PA R K E R

ate winter feeding for cattle is often one of the more costly things we do each year. It is also one of the more important things we do that change profitability for the next few months. Given those two things, it is critical that we get it right for both our near-term profitability, our long-term profitability and the overall health of our cow herd. So, what do we need to do to get through the next 60 days?

What we need to do depends on a number of factors. Stage of production, body

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Cooperative Farming News

score of the animals, upcoming weather and the region of the state are all important things to consider. If your cattle are in the southern end of the state, hopefully you will have some lush early grazing that will offset most of the issues that can be seen in the northern part of the state in late winter and early spring. If you are in the northern end of the state or if you don’t have lush winter forages to provide high levels of nutrition, then we need to dig a bit deeper.

All other factors aside, energy will

more pounds to meet your animal’s needs. Higher be the most critical thing we need to worry about. energy feeds such as the CPC Developer or the Co-op Energy requirements go up a great deal if your cows are lactating. Energy requirements go up a great deal Brood Cow feeds will add a great deal of energy, typically at a reasonable cost. when the weather is cold, wet and windy. Energy Other things can help you achieve those goals; requirements go way up as they lose body condition, whole cottonseed are rich in energy but difficult to about 10% for each body condition score they lose. find and feed in some cases. Cracked or ground corn All of this is compounded if the hay or forages that is also an energy-dense option but often not the you are providing your herd is less than ideal. Even best option unless you know how to manage it well. decent hay will not meet a lactating cow’s needs Byproducts such as soyhull pellets or corn gluten pelduring cold weather and if you don’t provide suplets will fit in some scenarios but most of these tend plemental energy, she will lose fat and as her body to cost more per head condition worsens, the per day to reach your need for energy will go goal than many of the up even more.

Energy requirements go up a great deal if your cows complete feeds or true How much energy are lactating. Energy requirements go up a great deal grains. do they need and where when the weather is cold, wet and windy. Energy How much of each do we get it? Again, requirements go way up as they lose body condition, of those options should that is a question that about 10% for each body condition score they lose. a producer expect to has many factors. No need? Again, that will producer is looking to depend a great deal on throw away money so your forage situation. providing what they need in the most economical way is important. If hay Stimu-lyx® consumption will typically be between half and one pound per head per day. The Purina tubs will or other forages, maybe stockpiled grass, is average vary depending on the cattle’s needs and range from or better quality, tubs such as the Stimu-lyx® line can be provided to increase the energy attained from the around a pound per day with good forages to three hay or forages. If the forages are just barely average or four pounds if forages are well below average. or below, like many will be this winter since the timely Traditional feeds will likely need to be fed at a rate cutting of hay was tough last summer due to lots of of somewhere between five and 15 pounds per head rainy days, tubs like the Purina High Fat tubs would per day, depending on all the factors that have been be a good choice as they add lots of calories. Hand mentioned. feeding traditional feeds is always a good option and There is an old saying that “February breaks does give the producer a bit more control over how them, and March takes them” and that can be true if much is being supplemented. You control how much you don’t manage them, especially your older, thinner feed you put out each day instead of the cow decidcattle, in a way that provides an adequate amount of ing how much of a tub she wants to consume. energy. So, the cold wet weather in February makes If you do decide to hand feed, the product you them burn fat and as they get thinner, the cold, wet, choose to use is critical. Cheaper feeds tend to be windy days in early March will often cause weak, thin lower in energy than some of the more expensive cattle to go down and not have enough energy to feeds. While the cheaper low energy feeds are better get back up. Timely feeding in the right amounts can than nothing in most cases, they typically will cost prevent this in most cases and will yield a healthier more to reach your goals because you have to feed and more profitable herd.

”

WHILE THE CHEAPER LOW ENERGY FEEDS ARE BETTER THAN NOTHING IN MOST CASES, THEY TYPICALLY WILL COST MORE TO REACH YOUR GOALS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO FEED MORE POUNDS TO MEET YOUR ANIMAL’S NEEDS. February/March 2022

15

FROM THE STATE VET’S OFFICE

IT’S LIKE A SCHOOL FIRE DRILL ONLY BIGGER A LOT BIGGER!

BY D R . T O N Y F R A Z I E R We can probably all relate to the fire drills that were conducted when we were going through school. I specifically remember going through a fire drill in the second grade in Ms. Nettie T. Parker’s class. The actual fire drill totally caught us by surprise that morning. We were doing art and I was coloring a blue bird with my crayons when the alert sounded. Three short bursts from the bell out in the hall followed by a pause, then three more short bursts. It was probably the same at your school. I don’t think we knew it was just a drill. But it didn’t matter if it was a drill or a real fire. Ms. Nettie T. Parker had walked us through the drill several times as 16

Cooperative Farming News

a class when the alert was not sounding. Everyone was to get up orderly, leaving all personal belongings in our desks and line up at the classroom door. Ms. Parker was to make sure that the hallway was safe to enter. After assuring that the hallway was safe to enter, we walked in a line out the side exit of the elementary school and didn’t stop until we got to the flagpole. That was where our class was assigned to meet. Ms. Parker would carry her grade book and call roll at the flagpole just like she had done first thing that morning to make sure we were all there.

So, when the bell began to ring that day, I was a little nervous thinking our school could be burning.

But we went through the drill without a hitch. FortuCredit and Alabama Ag Credit were good enough to nately, there was no fire, and I was able to go back provide lunch, so we didn’t have to stop each day in and finish coloring my bluebird, which I probably and were able to eat on the job and use our time made a C for a grade. Drills and exercises like that more efficiently. This was like a fire drill but a lot are critical for any emergency situation to be able to bigger. respond quickly, safely and efficiently.

The exercise helped us look at what all would Back in the middle of November, we participated be involved in stopping movement of animals to in a very large-scale functional exercise involving a stop the possible spread of the disease in our state foreign animal disease outbreak, specifically footas well as in our country. We see the large tractor and-mouth disease (FMD). If any of you remember trailers every day hauling loads of cattle up and watching the television show, “Sanford and Son,” down the interstate. We don’t think much about it, when Fred would grab his chest and say, “This is the but what if those animals could not be transported big one, Elizabeth. I’m coming.” Well that is kind of across state lines? It would be like when we were in how I feel about FMD. When I think back on the FMD school and played musical chairs. A stop movement outbreak in the Euroorder would be like when pean Union back in the music stops and all The exercise back in November dealt with, among oth2001, I do not want to the animals on all the er things, how we would implement and respond to an experience anything trailers must find a seat. order to stop movement of animals upon a diagnosis like they did. ConservaWe cannot just have the tively, more than four trucks pull over on the of FMD here in the United States. million animals were side of the interstate. destroyed in order to Then the animals must contain the disease. The amount of money to contain be housed, fed and watered. We had to answer questhe disease was in the billions of dollars. And since tions like where do the animals go for housing? Who there is no 100% sure way to keep the FMD virus will take care of them? Who pays for all of this? Who from getting to the United States and infecting our enforces the order? herds, we conduct drills and exercises so that if the Hopefully this exercise was like buying insur“bell starts to ring” to alert us that we have FMD, we ance. We all buy homeowner’s insurance and hope will all be able to follow what we have walked through we don’t need to use it. But if it is needed it is sure as an exercise and when we meet at the flagpole, we good to have. We conduct the drill, hoping the will have minimized the damage to animal agriculture school never catches fire, but if it does, the time and the economy as much as possible. spent going through the drills is well worth it. And The exercise back in November dealt with, not to compare what we do to going to war, but there among other things, how we would implement and is a saying the military uses, “Every drop of sweat in respond to an order to stop movement of animals training saves a drop of blood in battle.” upon a diagnosis of FMD here in the United States. It When I was talking to Dr. Slaten, one of our certainly seems overwhelming how many agencies branch lab directors and fellow Merle Haggard enand industry groups are needed to make something thusiast, about school fire drills when we were kids, like this work. This is a long list, but I feel obligated he related an interesting story to me. He said he to mention all the entities that were involved in the was in the restroom when the fire alarm bell started exercise with us. The exercise was a cooperative efsounding. And unlike my story where we moved to fort between the states and our USDA colleagues to the flagpole in an orderly manner, he said he was form a unified command to oversee the event. Then, just overcome with panic. When he opened the door at the table with us was the Alabama Livestock to exit the restroom, the hall was filled with lines of Marketing Association, the Alabama Cattlemen’s kids exiting the building, but he didn’t recognize any Association, ALFA, the Department of Transportaof them. He said he was right on the verge of bursttion, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Departing into tears when a teacher asked him whose class ment of Public Health, and the Alabama Emergency he was in and got him where he needed to be. He Management Agency. The State and Federal Wildlife said he believes that still has some residual effects Agencies and our laboratories were also available on him now, decades later. So, the point I want to during the exercise. And I cannot express how much make is that we conduct these exercises concerning I appreciate the sponsors who bought lunch for animal diseases so we will not be caught with our those of us involved in the exercise. Alabama Farm pants down.

February/March 2022

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Co-op CORNER CENTRAL ALABAMA FARMERS CO-OP DEMOPOLIS VOTED BEST FEED/SEED STORE OF 2021

BY J E S S I E S H O O K In 2021, Central Alabama Farmers Cooperative of Demopolis, Alabama was voted “Best of Marengo” feed/seed store in the Demopolis Times. This award was voted on by the Co-op’s community. “It means a lot to our Coop and we are honored that our community appreciates the service we provide for them,” said Tom Eunice, Manager of the Central Alabama Farmers Co-op, Demopolis location.

This year, the “Best of Marengo” awards were determined differently than years past.

Instead of candidates being handpicked by the Demopolis Times, each candidate had to be nominated to be on the ballot. “When talking to winners, they were so humbled by the fact that a customer thought enough about their business to nominate them,” said

Christi Kennedy, Marketing Consultant for the Demopolis Times. “It made it so much more special, I even had winners cry happy tears.”

There were over 120 different categories and Central Alabama Farmers Cooperative made the list and was nominated by the community. “Some categories were very close in winning votes, but others won by a landslide such as the ‘Best Feed and Seed Store’ category that was won by Central Alabama Farmers Co-op in Demopolis,” Kennedy added.

Tom believes that customer service played a big role in their being nominated and winning the category. With plenty of farming, gardening and pets in their community, this Co-op has been able to fulfill the needs of their customers. “We do everything we can to

”

WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO KEEP OUR CUSTOMERS HAPPY AND COMING BACK. Manager Tom Eunice 18

Cooperative Farming News

Employee Priscilla Johnson, Manager Tom Eunice and employee Joseph Hinton stand in front of the Demopolis Co-op with their award for “Best of Marengo” Feed and Seed Store of 2021.

keep our customers happy and coming back,” Eunice said. “We aim to keep products in stock and at a fair price, and we always provide friendly customer service.”

For Tom and his employees, customer service does not just end at the store. “We meet the needs of our community by talking with the residents of the community and surrounding areas about their expectations and needs,” Tom added.

This is the first time this Co-op has won this award and they hope it won’t be the last. “We always maintain the attitude that customers come first and make sure we do everything within our power to fulfil their needs and expectations is the priority,” Tom said.

February/March 2022

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WHAT’S THE POINT WITH GREENPOINT AG

SOW COLD PASTURE CONSULTANT GREG BRANN RELIES ON LATE-WINTER FROST-SEEDING AS A RELIABLE AND AFFORDABLE ALTERNATIVE TO MECHANICAL METHODS

BY M A R K E . J O H N S O N Even with all the technological advances of 21st-century agriculture, sometimes the best practices involve simply letting Mother Nature do most of the work.

Such is the case with frost-seeding. This method of pasture management is one of the most effective and cost-efficient ways to improve hay and forage quality and, ultimately, realize more livestock gains, especially in multi-species grazing.

Greg Brann’s 800-acre Adolphus, Kentucky, farm is 20

Cooperative Farming News

a prime example. Not only does Brann graze around 150 beef cattle, but also 125 hair sheep, 40 wool sheep, and around 20 goats. A flock of chickens even browses across Brann’s fields. Some 250 acres are devoted to pasture, and each is carefully studied and managed by Brann.

That should come as no surprise. When he’s not working his farm, Brann travels across the U.S. as a grazing management consultant, visiting with farmers and speaking to agricultural groups.

“I’m a bit of a seed and pasture addict,” admits Brann, whose resume also includes 23 years of a 40year tenure with the Natural Resources Conservation Service as the Tennessee State Grazing Land Soil Health Specialist. “Discussing pastures and grazing is kind of my bag.”

One of Brann’s favorite subjects is that of clover — why it’s good and how to establish it on pasture ground. He points out that used in combination with tall fescue, legumes like white and red clovers provide a multitude of benefits to livestock producers, not the least of which is nitrogen production.

“Clover essentially pulls nitrogen from the air and stores it in root nodules,” explains Brann. “As the roots rot, that nitrogen then becomes available to any neighboring species — like tall fescue — which reduces the need to apply nitrogen fertilizer. Clover also provides high-quality protein for livestock, which can equate to additional gains of more than a quarter pound per day in comparison to similar pastures without clover.”

There are several different methods for getting clover seed into the ground, but frost-seeding is one of Brann’s favorites. “It’s easily the most cost-efficient way to establish clover,” he says. “At the very least, you can get by with a hand broadcaster, a bag of seed, and nothing else.”

The practice involves sowing both red and white clover seed onto the designated pasture ground during late winter — preferably February — when soil is in a freeze/thaw cycle. Legumes are particularly well-suited to the method because of their rounded seeds and their ability to germinate at low temperatures, thus getting a head start on spring.

“I like to sow when the ground is standing up in a honeycomb pattern,” Brann says. “When it falls, the ground pulls that seed in and covers it with soil.

Then, when temperatures finally rise and stabilize, the clover seed is ready to take off. January seeding is a little risky because we’ve recently had some warm-ups followed by cold snaps that can damage new growth. February is better.”

He adds that another good option is when snow is on the ground and the applicator can keep track of his or her progress by referring to their tracks.

“One of the biggest benefits [to frost seeding] is that you can be on the field in any conditions,” Brann says. “With a seed drill, for example, you don’t want to be out there when it’s wet or you’ll compact your soil.

But you can frost-seed with a small ATV outfitted with a Herd seeder or, like I said, just a hand-held seeder.”

First steps begin with a soil test. Greg Aston, Southern seed representative for Allied Seed and longtime advisor to Brann, recommends pulling a soil

test of the field in question for several years during the same month, to establish an “apples to apples” comparison.

“For clovers, you want to adjust your soil pH to achieve something close to a 6.5,” Aston says. “In that range, your elements become more available to the plant. They’re available below that, but to a lesser degree.”

After soil fertility is addressed and weather conditions are correct, Aston says to allow the pasture to be grazed to around 3.5 inches. “This is one of those times that you want to pull it down to expose the soil,” he says. “But you have to be careful; if you take it down too low, you’ll stress your grass to where it can’t recover, and then you’ve defeated the whole purpose of inter-seeding. Remember, you want the legumes working together with the grasses to create great forage.”

Brann adds that the optimal stand of legumes should be 30 to 40 percent. When the existing plant population is at the right height and the weather cooperates, use a seeder to broadcast 1-2 pounds of white clover and 4-6 pounds of red clover per acre.

“It’ll usually be at least three to four weeks before plants appear,” he says. “If it stays cold, that could be even longer.” After clover seedlings begin appearing, Brann recommends allowing livestock to graze the field.

“This will keep the competitive species in check and allow light to reach the seedlings, which is critical,” he says. “The cattle won’t do much damage to the clover, and when that plant comes up, it’s got to be able to use that solar panel to get the energy it needs to thrive. I’d then remove the animals until the clover reaches close to six inches in height. At that point, you can put the field back into the regular rotation. Then, let the magic happen!”

For soil testing and help with your pasture management plan, consult with the agronomists at your local Co-op or GreenPoint Ag location.

Ison’s Nursery SINCE 1934

Grow Half-Dollar Sized Muscadines and Blackberries!

PO Box 190 Brooks, GA 30205 | 1-800-733-0324 www.isons.com

February/March 2022

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HORNSBY FARMS Auburn, AL

We are a small family farm located minutes from downtown Auburn, Alabama. We grow over 100 varieties of fruits and vegetables year round. You can find our produce at farmers markets, local restaurants and at our farm store. We also create a variety of sweet jams, pepper jellies and pickled vegetables in our certified commercial canning kitchen on our farm. Each week we deliver affordable farm fresh baskets of fruits and veggies to homes in Auburn and Opelika.

1235 Bufford Road Auburn, AL 36830 334-728-1489 Please call for an appointment to visit the farm. hornsbyfarms@gmail.com

www.hornsbyfarms.com 22

Cooperative Farming News

ON THE EDGE OF COMMON SENSE

A HORSE MATTERS

BY B A X T E R B L A C K , DV M I like living someplace where a horse matters.

There is just some country where horseback is the only way to get the job done. Places where the four-wheeler is a poor second, not to mention a noisy, track-leaving unnatural conveyance. Besides, it’s hard to throw a rope from.

Helicopters can spot and scare, if that’s what you need, but it’s helpless when you have to doctor a calf.

It is a great feeling to be pushing a cow out of a mesquite thicket, packing a dude down the Grand Canyon or tracking a mountain lion on a high ridge, knowing you’re on the perfect tool for the job. You look at a horse different when he’s on the payroll.

I like being a person to whom a horse matters.

It puts me in such good company, Robert E. Lee, Teddy Roosevelt, Rudyard Kipling, Ray Hunt, Queen Elizabeth, Jerry Diaz, Casey Tibbs, cowboys, Mongols, Gauchos, teamsters, Lippizaners and vaqueros of all kinds. Granted being a horse person doesn’t make me easier to get along with, better at spelling or richer, it simply gives me a direct connection to one of the most ancient, mutually beneficial interspecies relationships on the planet.

Winston Churchill said, “There is something about the outside of a horse, that is good for the inside of a man.”

I’ve also come to believe that you either are a horse person or you aren’t. Many who are, never know it because they never have the chance. It’s a primitive acceptance, often mutual. A lack of fear.

You see it in some children when they are first introduced to the horse. It always gives me a sense of wonder to be there and help them make their acquaintance. I believe the horse can sense the child’s innate trust. It is the beginning of a natural bond.

I count myself very lucky that I get to be a part of the wonderful world of horse sweat, soft noses, close calls and twilight on the trail.

I like living a life where a horse matters. www.baxterblack.com Baxter Black is entering retirement which also means the retirement of his column in Cooperative Farming News. We wish him the best and a happy retirement.

I like being there when a horse matters.

When you can’t do the job alone; a cow in the bog, a race against time, a boulder to move, a detour to take, a mountain to cross, a crevice to leap, a war to win, a sweetheart to impress, or...when you’ve gone too far to walk back.

Shakespeare’s King Richard III said when fate hung in the balance, “A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!”

February/March 2022

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FFA SENTINEL

Students arrive early to help decorate the trailer, attaching banner to wall that was constructed.

FFA ACTIVITIES MUST GO ON B Y M I C H A E L VA N N At Cullman Middle School in Cullman County, Alabama, things have returned to some sense of normalcy. When class is not in session there are usually activities going on after school. With a full slate of activities, students and FFA members have many opportunities to participate and get involved in both competitive and noncompetitive activities. While the competitive activities such as Land Judging and Forestry Judging require more work and create a little more stress on students to succeed, other activities that the Cullman Middle School FFA Chapter 24

Cooperative Farming News

engage in provide a little more relaxed atmosphere that more students can participate in.

Take the Cullman County Fair for example. This time of year everyone looks forward to the Cullman County Fair coming to town. Activities that lead up to opening day include a Fair parade through the middle of town. The Fair parade draws hundreds of people who line the streets of downtown Cullman.

Mr. Lucas McCollum, the adviser of the Cullman Middle School FFA, said that the Middle School FFA has been entering an FFA float for the past five

As the parade begins, everyone has their spot and it is time to greet the crowds that have come to watch the parade, which consists of bands, Fair court and many other participants.

years. What better way to promote your FFA Chapter than to decorate and enter a float for hundreds of people to see. Student participation in this activity has grown to the point that in the past we normally used a 20-foot trailer to let the kids ride on, to this year where we upgraded a little bit to a semi-truck and 53-foot trailer which was graciously provided to us by R.E. Garrison Trucking Company.

Students took their Saturday morning to come out and help decorate by stacking hay bales, attaching streamers, balloons and our FFA banners for people to view. After decoration of the trailer it is time for the parade to begin; we load up on the float

and enjoy the ride downtown waving at everyone who has lined the street to watch the parade.

After the parade is over, attention focuses on the Fairgrounds, where students put up our FFA fair booth.

The fair booth project is usually a display that is informative and provides information about the FFA Chapter, courses of interest and other Agricultural facts.

The Fair will come and go, the bright colorful lights of the rides will fade, the screaming kids will go silent and smells of fair food will dissipate, but Agriscience classes, FFA competitions and other activities will go on at the Cullman Middle School FFA Chapter. Hope you enjoy your local Fair.

Students setting up display for fair booth is a way of showing everyone that sees it what we do in our FFA chapter and that we are here.

After all is finished, it is time to take a group photo of the finished product.

February/March 2022

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4-H EXTENSION CORNER

4-H SAFE

SHOOTING AWARENESS FUN EDUCATION B Y C A R O LY N D R I N K A R D

T

3D archery range at the championships.

he Alabama 4-H Shooting Awareness Fun Education program (SAFE) covers the safe use of firearms. It gives 4-H’ers hands-on training while teaching them to handle, use and store weapons responsibly and safely.

Alabama 4-H offers five disciplines: Archery, Shotgun, Rifle, Western Heritage and Hunting & Outdoor Skills. Founded on the principles of positive youth development, 4-H SAFE clubs strive to ensure that youth are welcomed, that they grow in leadership independence, and that they are inspired to be generous in service to others.

A youth development program, Alabama 4-H SAFE emphasizes peer mentoring and positive interactions between youth and adults. To participate, youth 26

Cooperative Farming News

must be at least 9 years old. In the SAFE program, 4-H’ers learn essential life skills while acquiring the skills and disciplines of safe shooting and responsible firearm ownership.

All Alabama 4-H SAFE programs and events are conducted under the supervision of an adult volunteer or staff members who have successfully completed the 12-hour state 4-H SAFE coach certification class.

Every year, each Alabama 4-H shooting sports discipline offers a state championship event, and the first-place senior team is eligible to attend the National 4-H Shooting Sports Championship. In 2021, the groups finally got to compete after the pandemic shut down in-person competitions. Congratulations to these state winners!

2021 4-H State

Archery Championship Individual and Team Results JUNIOR COMPOUND W/O SIGHTS FITA Individual 1st – Dalton Harrison: Washington 2nd – Eli Postma: Washington 3rd – Eli Pullen: Marshall 3-D Individual 1st – Eli Postma: Washington 2nd – Timothy Harlow: Washington 3rd – Dalton Harrison: Washington Overall Individual 1st – Dalton Harrison: Washington 2nd – Dalton Harrison: Washington 3rd – Eli Pullen: Marshall

TEAM 1st – Washington County 2nd – Tuscaloosa County 3rd – Winston County JUNIOR COMPOUND W/SIGHTS FITA Individual 1st – Tyler Mosley: Marshall 2nd – Brody Smith: Marshall 3rd – Bryce Mitchell: Etowah 3-D Individual 1st – Tyler Mosley: Marshall 2nd – Brody Smith: Marshall 3rd – Bryce Mitchell: Etowah Overall Individual 1st – Tyler Mosley: Marshall 2nd – Brody Smith: Marshall 3rd – Bryce Mitchell: Etowah TEAM 1st – Marshall

JUNIOR RECURVE W/O SIGHTS – FITA/3-D/OVERALL 1st – Addie Watwood: Marshall JUNIOR RECURVE W/ SIGHTS – FITA/3D/OVERALL 1st – Samuel Craft: Mobile SENIOR COMPOUND W/O SIGHTS FITA Individual 1st – Alexandria Spruill: Jefferson 2nd – Reese Bell: Jefferson 3rd – Walker Bell: Jefferson 3-D Individual 1st – Walker Bell: Jefferson 2nd – Reese Bell: Jefferson 3rd – Alexandria Spruill: Jefferson 3rd – Delaney Dixon: Marengo Overall Individual 1st – Reese Bell: Jefferson 2nd – Walker Bell: Jefferson 3rd – Alexandria Spruill: Jefferson TEAM 1st – Jefferson SENIOR COMPOUND W/SIGHTS FITA Individual 1st – Aaron Ashley Jr.: Etowah 2nd – Davis Jackson: Marshall 3rd – Hunter Matthews: Marshall 3-D Individual 1st – Aaron Ashley Jr.: Etowah 2nd – Micah Wainwright: Etowah 3rd – Davis Jackson: Marshall Overall Individual 1st – Aaron Ashley Jr.: Etowah 2nd – Davis Jackson: Marshall 3rd – Hunter Matthews: Marshall TEAM 1st – Etowah County 2nd – Marshall County

Ace Ashley Jr. of Etowah County proudly displays his Archery Championship medals.

February/March 2022

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2021 Air Rifle

Championship Winners JUNIOR DIVISION INDIVIDUAL Sporter - 1st Place Standing: Myles Pierce Kneeling: George Wright Prone: Jacob Edwards High Overall Scorers 1. Mylee Pierce 2. George Wright 3. Natalie Smith 4. Jacob Edwards 5. Brice Newman SENIOR TEAMS 1. Hawkeyes-Calhoun 2. Post 133-Montgomery

Grayson Ellis-Preparing for the match.

High Overall Scorers 1. Devyn Chapman 2. Trinity Sandoval 3. Brandon Edwards 4. James Cord 5. Isabel Martin *****************

Kayla Moore-Jones - Rifle competition.

Silhouette-Senior 1st - Hawkeyes: Calhoun County 2nd - SCSSA: Shelby County 3rd - Excalibur: Lee County Overall Team Winner: SCSSA SENIOR INDIVIDUAL

Senior Precision-1st Place Standing, Kneeling and Prone: Andrew Duryea

2021 4-H Smallbore

Rimfire Sporter 1st - Joshua Grimm 2nd - Emily Buck 3rd - Clark McWhorter

High Overall Scorers 1. Andrew Duryea 2. Grayson Ellis 3. Gabriel Bianca

JUNIOR INDIVIDUAL

Silhouette 1st - Joshua Grimm 2nd - Trinity Sandoval 3rd - Devon Chapman

Rifle Championship Rimfire Sporter 1st - Bryce Newman 2nd - Jagger Scott 3rd - Mylee Pierce Silhouette 1st - Bryce Newman 2nd - Jagger Scott 3rd - Jedd Scott

Pistol 1st - Luke Christian: Excalibur-Lee 2nd - Silas Frick: Excalibur-Lee 3rd - Luke Cooper: Excalibur-Lee Overall Pistol Team: Excalibur

TEAMS Rimfire Sporter-Junior 1st - Excalibur: Lee County 2nd - Hawkeyes: Calhoun County 3rd - SCSSA: Shelby County

SENIOR DIVISION INDIVIDUAL

Silhouette-Junior 1st - Excalibur: Lee County 2nd - SCSSA: Shelby County 3rd - Hawkeyes: Calhoun County

Sporter - 1st Place Standing - Trinity Sandoval Kneeling - Isabel Martin Prone - Devyn Chapman

Rimfire Sporter-Senior 1st - SCSSA: Shelby County 2nd - Hawkeyes: Calhoun County 3rd - Excalibur: Lee County

Precision Air Rifle-1st Place Team (Hawkeyes-Calhoun County)

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Cooperative Farming News

Shooting the standing position

When a pastime becomes a passion.

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February/March 2022

29

PALS

SELMA CITY SCHOOLS JOIN THE CLEAN CAMPUS PROGRAM

BY JA M I E M I T C H E L L

Students from Payne Elementary

Earlier this school year, I had the pleasure of conducting a Zoom call with Ms. Ozella Ford, Chief Academic Officer of Selma City Schools, as well as several Principals from schools around Selma. I explained the Clean Campus Program to them and how it could easily integrate into existing school clubs and academic classes.

We discussed options for getting the “anti-litter” message to their students, and they were happy to have several options.

Shortly after our meeting, I met in person with the scholars from Payne Elementary school, and I was able to conduct a Zoom call with students from Edgewood Elementary. Some of the other schools have chosen to watch our Clean Campus Teaching Video, which you may find on our website. We are excited to have multiple ways to share the message so that schools may truly customize the 30

Cooperative Farming News

Clean Campus Program to fit the needs of their campus.

I also encouraged each school to check out our online curriculum to find ideas to integrate into their classrooms.

Our curriculum ideas contain ways for students to think through problems such as how to eliminate solid waste that goes to our landfills and ways to keep litter off the streets. Any school may access our online curriculum by visiting www.alpals.org.

We are so happy to have Selma City Schools onboard with the Clean Campus Program! We look forward to seeing the progress they make this year. If a school near you would like to learn more, please have them contact me for a Zoom or in-person visit at 334-263-7737 or jamie@ alpals.org. I’m happy to answer any questions about the Clean Campus Program and help your local school get up and running!

February/March 2022

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OUTDOOR LOGIC WITH BIOLOGIC

Whitetails spend the better part of the day in their “bedrooms” most of the year. This is even more so the case during the winter, so you would expect to find some sheds there.

SHED ANTLER HOT SPOTS UNCOVERING THE LOST “CROWN”

BY T O D D A M E N R U D

Lace up your boots, grab a pair of binoculars and a walking stick, and hit the woods. Combing through the late-winter or early-spring countryside in search of a whitetail’s shed antlers is a cure for cabin fever, gives you a jump on getting in shape for turkey hunting, and may even teach you something about your deer herd or a specific buck you might want to target next fall.

While deer may shed both of their antlers within minutes, even seconds of one another in the same spot, this is the exception rather than the rule. Once, while walking a tract I used to hunt in Manitoba, 32

Cooperative Farming News

I found a matching pair of 5x5 sheds stuck upside-down, side by side in the snow. It was as if the buck stuck his head in the snow and placed them there for safekeeping.

Sometimes you’ll discover just one and never retrieve the other side. In other cases, you may find it, but far away from the other half. While you may not get lucky and find the opposite side right next to the other one, chances are the match is somewhere in the area. Following are some of my favorite spots to target when searching for shed antlers.

1) Winter Food Sources During this time of the year whitetails aren’t moving much unless they must and they spend most of their time in their bedding area. They’ll still travel a bit, possibly to and from wherever their major food source is at that time and maybe they’ll move a bit to browse, reposition or stretch, but during the winter don’t expect them to expend much energy unless they’re sure they can “take in” more than they “put out.”

If there are brassicas or corn in the area, these would be the best places to begin, but any major food source is a good bet for sheds. I would estimate I find 1/3 of my sheds in my brassica food plots – and hopefully I find them before my tractor tire does.

Winter feeding stations are also popular shed pickup spots.

Favorite browse locations are another place to put on your list. You can sometimes notice these areas by seeing where their major travel routes start to branch out, just like they would if you were approaching a bedding area. Obviously in this case, there would be a favorite browse species in the area.

Search for fresh activity – they will usually nip the end 2 to 4 inches off of each twig.

You can also create browse areas like these that can be utilized immediately, by hinge-cutting softwoods like poplars so the deer can reach the tree’s top. Simply felling the tree and leaving the top would also work, but then it’s only an immediate browse

I would estimate I find 1/3 of my sheds in my brassica food plots – and hopefully I find them before my tractor tire does. Winter feeding stations are also popular shed pickup spots. source. By leaving trees, like poplars, half-connected (maybe a little less) to the stump (root system) they will continue to produce browse that is within reach of your herd for several more years.

2) “Deer Yards” – Conifer Swamps with Ample Browse Nearby Whitetails spend most of their day in their “bedroom,” during the winter I would say that is even more so the case. Most of the locations mentioned could qualify as their bedroom, or maybe what some would call their “core area,” “secure area,” or referenced similarly – it’s basically the spot where they’re spending the greater part of the day. These spots will usually have protection from the wind, thermal cover and ample browse nearby.

3) Thick Stands of Conifers or Other Thermal Cover When driving an ATV or snowmachine during this time of year you can definitely feel when you’ve crossed into an area with warmer temperatures, often caused by conifer trees absorbing and holding the thermal heat from the sun. Even on a cloudy day, the dark canopy is gathering and holding radiant heat sent via infrared and ultraviolet energy from the sun. The heat transmission process includes the mechanics of thermal radiation and convection. The sun heats the conifer trees and the air current moves the heat around. Whitetails take advantage of these areas – less energy expended means more reserved.

4) South- and Southwest-Facing Slopes or Benches

Winter food plots are favorite spots for the author to find sheds. You’d better find them before your tractor tire does! (Photo Credit: Jesse Raley)

Here again, we’re talking about your herd taking advantage of the sun’s energy. Because of the more direct angle to the sun on these southern exposures, besides the radiant energy, these spots likely have better, thicker cover and more browse due to increased stem density. The sunlight not only grows February/March 2022

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The author refers to features like fence crossings, narrow gullies or creek crossings as “shed shakers.” Follow freshly used trails and look for places where a buck may have to jump or otherwise jar his antlers loose. (Photo Credit: Austin Delano)

more plant matter for them, but it also physically warms them during the day.

6) Freshly Logged Areas In newly logged areas, here again, we have the warmth of the sun making it to the ground and obviously “newly accessible browse.” Even though browse is poor nutrition and difficult for deer to digest (when compared with cash-crops or food plots), whitetails still must have it for some reason. This is especially so during the winter months.

7) Fence Crossings and Narrow Gully or Creek Crossings These features I call “shed shakers.” Follow freshly used trails and look for places where a buck may have to jump or otherwise jar his antlers loose.

Oftentimes I create fence crossing points by tying down the top strand of barbed wire to the one below.

Whitetails will almost always cross at the lowest 34

Cooperative Farming News

point. I create these in an attempt to funnel their movement past one of my ambush sites, but these also seem to be hot spots for finding sheds. You can even go as far as to add another “fake strand of wire” above the top strand on either side of where you want them to cross by stringing twine between the fence posts.

Three Things You May Want to Bring Along Always bring binoculars - they can save a lot of legwork. If you see something that looks like an antler far away, you can often cut down excess walking by examining it through your optics. Set up a grid, but concentrate on the spots where there has clearly been more activity…read the sign.

Also “always bring kids!” Most youngsters love to hunt for sheds if given the opportunity, so bring your kids, grandkids or a neighborhood youngster – the more “eyes” the better for this task. To them it’s like hide-and-seek or a mystery to solve.

Many are training dogs to find sheds for them. I did. The first shed my Labrador Annabell found was half of a side of a small forkie. We celebrated like it was from a Boone & Crockett! They can cover so much more ground than we can, they can get into areas humans simply cannot, and besides being able to recognize antlers by sight, they can smell them!

I stated that sheds may drop as early as December in some areas, and I know with as popular as shed hunting has become many want to be the first to get there to find them before others do. However, my advice is to wait until at least mid-February, and limit the amount of trips you make through an area.

February and March are when the vast majority of antlers are shed and each time you invade their turf, you put stress on the herd. As you may know, the winter months are the most difficult for your deer herd and the less pressure/stress we can expose them to, the better.

With shed hunting all the rage nowdays, there are clubs and organizations devoted to the sport and shed hunting has become so popular that guided weeklong “shed hunts” in prime areas can cost you $2,500 or more with food and lodging included. Fear not, however, sheds can be found in your own hunting area or on public land…for free!

Upgrade your equipment to what’s

“When” antlers drop can vary from as early as the end of December to as late as April – and then antler genesis begins all over again. Limit the amount of trips you make through each area to keep herd stress low. (Photo Credit: Critterbiz)

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February/March 2022

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SQUIRREL POTPIE I’ve heard that squirrel is just about the most ethical dish you can serve on a dinner plate; it’s free-range, plentiful, low in fat and low in food miles (local). I know that there are a larger number of folks eating squirrel … it’s got quite a nice flavor.

Squirrel tastes sweet and is a good cross between duck and lamb.

Most kids get their first taste of hunting squirrel hunting. I know the rule for my husband’s home, and now our home, is that you eat what you harvest. Here’s one of my favorite recipes to use with that first squirrel harvest of the year.

Southern Squirrel Potpie Serves 4-6 1- 1/2 pounds squirrel meat, diced into 1/2-inch pieces 1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour 2 Tablespoons olive oil 1 large onion, diced 3 stalks celery, diced 2 carrots, peeled and diced 5 cloves garlic, minced 2 cups beef broth 2 cups Guinness (beer) 1 (16-ounce) can chopped tomatoes 3 sprigs fresh rosemary (1 Tablespoon), finely chopped 4 sprigs thyme (2 Tablespoons), finely chopped 1 handful flat-leaf parsley leaves (about 1/4 cup), chopped 1 Tablespoon Kosher salt 1-1/2 teaspoons freshly ground pepper 1 pie crust 1 large egg mixed with a teaspoon of water Heat oven to 400 F. In a medium-sized bowl, toss the meat with the flour to coat. In a large 36

Cooperative Farming News

Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot, heat oil over medium-high heat until almost smoking. Working in batches, brown the meat on all sides until lightly browned and allow it to drain on a paper towel.

Add more oil to the pan as you need it for optimal browning. Add the onions, celery and carrots and cook for about 5 minutes or until they are translucent and soft. Add the garlic and cook about 2 minutes more. Return the meat to the pan, then add the broth, Guinness, tomatoes, herbs, salt and pepper and allow to reach a boil. Scrape the bottom of the Dutch oven to loosen the brown bits and reduce the heat to simmer leaving the mixture uncovered for an hour or until it has thickened.

Pour mixture into a 9-inch pie dish and allow to cool completely. Brush the outer edges of the pie dish with melted butter and gently place the pie shell over the mixture pinching the edges to seal.

Brush the egg and water mixture over the pie crust to enhance browning. Transfer the pie into the oven for about 30 to 40 minutes or until the crust is baked through and browned. Serve immediately with rice and a salad.

About Stacy Lyn Harris Stacy Lyn Harris is a best-selling cookbook author, blogger, TV personality, public speaker, wife and mother of seven children. She currently lives in Pike Road, Alabama, with her husband Scott and their children. Stacy Lyn regularly appears on cable and broadcast television as a guest chef and sustainable living expert.

Her critically-acclaimed “Harvest Cookbook” was published in 2017 and contains many of her family’s favorite recipes, along with stories from her life growing up in the Black Belt and tips she’s learned along the way.

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FARMING YOUR FOREST

A GUIDE TO OWNING FORESTLAND PART ONE

B Y B I L LY RY E Whether you are a seasoned veteran or a recent newcomer, there are things you need to know to optimize your forestland. The ownership of this valuable asset has the potential to produce benefits for your loved ones that will far outlive you. In this two-part article, we will discuss four categories of information you need to make the most of your ownership.

The first article includes the topics “Know What You Have” and “Know What You Want.” The follow-up article includes “Know How to Get There” and “Know Whom to Call.” Let’s get started so you can get the most out of your forestland!

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Cooperative Farming News

KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE It is difficult to get the most out of your forestland until you know exactly what you have. While all the following items may cost money, your expenditures are more of an investment than an expense.

I recently heard an accountant who specializes in Estate Planning state that these investments can easily yield a return that is 10 times their expense.

Regardless of the cost, there are some things you need to know to assess exactly what you own.

to review your interest in the property with an attorney who specializes in real estate.

Survey. You need to know what you own, and a sur-

To strengthen the claim to title of your property, you should have a written deed recorded in the county where the property is located.

Above is an example of the first page of a recorded Warranty Deed in Limestone County, AL.

Title. Title is the legal right to ownership of real

estate in Alabama. A deed is a written record of your title claim which contains a description of the property and lists both the seller and the buyer. Both parties must sign the deed for it to become official, and it should be recorded in the county where the property is to strengthen your claim of ownership.

It is vitally important that you know how the forestland was conveyed to you by fully understanding the instrument that is recorded. Unless there is a Life Estate, the best type of deed is a General Warranty deed because the seller guarantees that he/she has full rights to transfer title to you and will defend you against claims from all others for ownership. The other types of deeds in Alabama include Statutory Warranty (Special) and Quitclaim. However, both these types of deeds expose the new owner to potential claims of title from others.

In Alabama, title can be conveyed to individuals, corporations, limited liability corporations, limited partnerships and trustees. You may inherit land through a gift, life estate, will, trust or even lease-toown. Each type of structure has its own merits and limits. It is important to fully understand the structure of your ownership such as fee simple versus multiple owners. If there are multiple owners, you will need to know whether the title is held in Joint Tenancy or Tenancy in Common. The bottom line: You need

vey will more clearly identify your property’s boundaries than would the previous owner’s opinion. A licensed surveyor will read your deed (and the deeds of the adjoining properties), use his/her equipment to determine the proper location of corners, as well as the bearings of the property lines. The surveyor will use this information to produce a map showing the layout of your property with any boundary line conflicts that he or she observes.

I recommend that you pay your surveyor extra to drive stakes along the lines at regular intervals so you can paint, fence, or otherwise mark the correct location of the lines for their entire length. This will greatly decrease the opportunities for claims of trespass by those using your property and should deter claims of adverse possession from adjoining landowners.

Despite the many benefits of having a survey, it may not hold up in court if it is contested. The adjoining landowner may have a surveyor who can better defend his/her survey, or there may be evidence (fence, painted lines, etc.) that indicates the line has historically been accepted in another location.

Regardless, you should bite the bullet and pay for a survey up front.

Well-marked corners and boundaries make for good neighbors. Have your property surveyed by a licensed surveyor that specializes in timber and recreational lands.

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Appraisals. I recommend that you hire a Licensed

Land Appraiser to determine the estimated value of your bare land and a Registered Forester to determine the value of your standing timber. A Licensed Land Appraiser will look at the prices paid for comparable properties in the area to give you an idea of the market value of your bare land. A Registered Forester will conduct a sample of your merchantable (sufficient size and quality to sell) timber to determine its estimated value. To determine the value of timber that is too small to sell at this time, a Registered Forester will often gather information such as establishment costs, productivity of the soils, anticipated expenses/revenues over the life of the stand, and anticipated inflation. This information will then be entered into computer software programs to determine an estimated Net Present Value of the pre-merchantable timber. A proper appraisal will not only give you

a more accurate idea of your forestland’s value, but it may also serve as a tax basis for your timber and/or land which could reduce the amount of capital gains tax that you will have to pay when you sell.

Parcel Information and Maps. Most counties

have real estate parcel information and maps available online. I recommend that you print out the information and maps for each parcel that you own. Make sure you have each parcel number, legal description, and the book and page where the deed is recorded.

Check to make sure they have your correct mailing address and see if the timberland is assessed for some use other than forestland. The Tax Assessor will automatically classify your property for its highest and best use unless you claim, “Current Use.” If your land is forested but currently assessed for some higher value such as agriculture, you have the option of reducing your taxes by claiming current use. However, you or your heirs could be responsible for back taxes and penalties if either of you change the use in the future.

KNOW WHAT YOU WANT Not knowing what an owner wants from his/her land is more common than you may think. Some forest owners do not fully understand the value of their timber resources, and others may not know that it is possible to attract wildlife to their property. Clearly defining what you want from your forestland is the second step in realizing the benefits of ownership.

Potential revenue sources include timber sales, hunting/recreational leases, mineral leases and possibly conservation easements.

Knowing what you have is vitally important to realizing your goals for your property. Here, T.R. Clark of F&W Forestry in Lafayette, Alabama conducts a timber appraisal to provide his client with an estimated value of the standing timber present.

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Cooperative Farming News

Keep versus Sell. Your first decision is whether to keep or sell your interest in the forestland. This decision is primarily for those who inherit their property or gain it through survivorship. Before you decide to keep the forestland, you will have to ascertain whether you have the time, money, and interest to maintain and manage it. Typical expenses include property taxes, management costs (herbicides, prescribed burning, etc.), preventing trespassers, road maintenance, and pest prevention and control. Other expenses may include taking care of improvements, insurance, estate taxes, mortgages, cleaning up after illegal dumping, and non-forestry expenses such as Homeowner Association dues or mowing grass.

Prescribed fire is a beneficial tool for achieving your timber and wildlife habitat goals. Make sure that you account for this expense if you decide to keep your forestland. Pictured above is Zac Slay of Professional Timberland Services in Hurtsboro, Alabama conducting an understory burn for his client.

Those who inherit property or gain it through survivorship will be responsible for any back taxes and liens or risk losing the property.

Potential revenue sources include timber sales, hunting/recreational leases, mineral leases and possibly conservation easements. We also have a few clients that receive revenue for leasing a portion of their land for solar panels and some who are paid for carbon credits. While there are several government incentives programs which provide revenue to the landowner, you should carefully consider the management restrictions and penalties of these programs before agreeing to participate.

You will also need to build consensus in the decision to keep or sell the property if there is more than one owner. This is not always an easy decision as there may be emotional ties to the property and it is rare for all owners to be in the same financial situation. The good news is that forestland typically demands less time to manage than do other land uses and owning forestland has the potential to be a very rewarding venture both financially and emotionally.

Objectives. Define your objectives for the property if you decide to keep it. The most common objectives for forestland in Alabama include timber production, recreation, wildlife habitat enhancement and aesthetics. Most landowners have multiple objectives which are complementary, with just a few minor tweaks. For example, thinning and burning of pine plantations

Do you really know what you want from your forestland? Defining your objectives is one of the first steps in enjoying your property. Pat Autrey (right) with Mussel Creek Forest Services in Fort Deposit, Alabama shows his client how he can easily improve turkey habitat by small modifications to an existing timber management program.

are not only beneficial for timber production but also improve habitat for white-tail deer and eastern wild turkey. Leaving forested areas along roads or near cabins unharvested is an example of incorporating aesthetics with timber management.

Now that you know what you have and what you want from your forestland, you should know how to get there and whom to call for assistance. Look for Part II of this article in the next issue of the Cooperative Farming News.

A special thanks to the following for reviewing this article for accuracy. Joseph Propst, Esquire; Whitmire, House, and Propst, LLP; Decatur, Alabama Myra Roberts, CPA, CVA, & AEP®; BMSS Advisors and CPAs; Birmingham, Alabama, Jay Johnson, Instructor at Johnson Real Estate and Broker at Exit Realty; Florence, Alabama.

February/March 2022

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SHEPHERDING OUTDOORS

THE ADVENTUROUS SORT B Y WA LT M E R R E L L

MY MIDDLE DAUGHTER, CAPE, IS THE ADVENTUROUS SORT. I used to refer to her as my “tomboy.” However, what was once a cute nickname for an elementary-aged schoolgirl quickly disappeared as she matured. She now stands 5’10 ½”, is a starting varsity volleyball and basketball player, and she is no longer a tomboy. She is, however … still very adventurous.

She’s always wanted a horse. We are country 42

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folks, but we are not horse people. I was raised in Baldwin County, Alabama. Where once was my dad’s pasture land and pecan orchard now stands mini-storage buildings. Where his cows and horses once roamed, there now sits endless rows of garage doors flanked by metal siding, gravel parking lots … and bay upon bay of frivolous excess, so valuable that it must be kept, but so worthless, it must be placed in storage.

Such an ironic transition … America’s heartland lost to America’s new heart.

In any event, I grew up a child of divorce on my

dad’s farm and at my mom’s house. I do not mean to suggest that I am a cowboy. I am not. The fact of the matter is, I’ve never met a horse that did not try to kill me. Or at least, that’s my impression of it … Yes, I’m well aware that the horses respond to my anxiety.

Unfortunately, that well-understood fact does little to soothe my feelings about the matter. They still tried to kill me …

Perhaps, though, it does have something to do with their instinctive knowledge of my maltreatment of one of their brethren. And while I am truly innocent of any wrongdoing, my innocence doesn’t change the outcome of this story.

You see, my wife Hannah and I were visiting a friend in Honduras. He lived on the coast, and the staple and mainstay of his diet was seafood. Unfortunately, I am allergic to shellfish, and consequently, don’t eat any seafood. While there, Hannah dined on exquisite fresh seafood caught daily from just outside our front door. I ate what could pass for ham. And on occasion, something that could pass for green eggs … a little fresh pineapple made it all tolerable.

Our last night there, my friend grinned from ear to ear, telling me he had a surprise. His lady friend, a Honduran native, emerged from the kitchen carrying a piping hot casserole dish. She sat it in front of me, and her grin was twice as big as his. Her English was broken, at best, so I didn’t understand what she was trying to tell me when she said cheese and noodles.

“Cheese and noodles,” I thought to myself. It obviously was not macaroni and cheese, for the entire top of the casserole dish was covered with cheese. I took the spatula that she handed to me and cut out a square, as if I were cutting a brownie. Then I realized … this was lasagna!

“Halleluiah! God bless this woman and this lasagna!” Us Southern boys appreciate the value of a home-cooked meal. Senora stood eagerly over me and I could sense that she was disappointed by my portion size … so, without giving it a second thought, I went ahead and got another piece.

“She has never made lasagna before,” my friend offered. “She did this just for you.”

I scooped a huge fork full … my mouth salivated in anticipation, for lasagna is my second favorite one-pot meal, right behind meatloaf. I blew on the piping hot pasta and cheese and meat medley before I engulfed it. I almost involuntarily threw up. I cut my eyes over to Hannah, and she could tell that I was in torment. Señora beckoned some response, and my Southern hospitality dictated that I not let her down … so I gulped, exclaimed, “It’s delicious!” and forced myself to eat all the rest of my serving.

Cape Merrell

The next morning as we packed up to leave, Señora brought me the remnants of the lasagna. Of course, I sheepishly nodded, thanked her, complimented her once again, and graciously took the dish.

On the way, I confessed to my buddy … “That was the worst lasagna I’ve ever had in my mouth!” He started howling with laughter and agreed, adding, “though I’ll never tell her that!”

“I think what threw the taste off was the meat,” he suggested.

“I agree. That had to be the worst beef I have ever put in my mouth.”

My buddy bellowed again, but this time, his laugh had a sinister tone to it. “That wasn’t beef. Our neighbor up the road had a horse die yesterday.” My stomach almost convulsed from my throat. Needless to say, the fish ate the rest of Señora’s lasagna.

With all of that in mind, maybe horses always try to kill me because I unknowingly ate their distant cousin. Maybe, through the underground horse whisperer’s network, they all heard of my lasagna smorgasbord, and they are out to get me. And, they have recruited my middle daughter … not only to be a horse lover … but also a co-conspirator in their sinister plot! She is … after all … a teenager.

Her long-standing affection for horses started years ago. In the beginning, it was a cute letter to Santa Claus …

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Dear Santa, All I want for Christmas this year is a horse. I don’t want dolls or toys. Just a horse, please.

Amen. … aside from that letter itself, she talked ad nauseum throughout the year about asking Santa for a horse.

I was never quite sure why she closed the letter with “Amen,” but I figured we could sort that out later.

It didn’t matter how much she prayed … Santa was never bringing her a horse. Every year, I wrote Santa a letter, too … after I talked about shooting his reindeer if he left a horse at my house, we had an understanding.

But I did search for compromise. Truth was … we didn’t have the means or the ability to provide her with a horse. And as for her … well, she wasn’t much for tending to things. She had a rabbit named Mr. Wiggles. He quit wiggling one day, and I am pretty sure he would have much preferred to have lived somewhere else. A horse simply was not an option.

Compromise often looked like other people’s horses.When she was about eight years old, we went to the Little River Canyon for a camping trip during spring break. We spent several days hiking and fishing. We even went swimming on the warmest day … well, they went swimming. Because it was only in the mid-60s, I did a good job of saying, “I will in a few minutes,” over and over again. On the fourth day of the trip, we had made arrangements to go for a horseback ride in the peaks and valleys around the park.

The sky was gray and overcast. The forecast called for sleet and rain … perhaps a few snow flurries, too. It was one of those cold mornings where nothing really warms you, and I hesitated to part from the warmth of the truck when we pulled up to the weathered, old barn. The horses were sad-

Hannah, Cape and Walt Merrell.

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Cooperative Farming News

dled and tied up to a watering trough. Walking up, I noticed the water in the trough was frozen over. I picked up a nearby board and spent a few minutes busting the ice.

Cape was giddy with excitement. She was already petting the horses and talking to them. Bay, our oldest daughter, was too, but she was a little more contained. Cape was grinning from ear to ear as she rubbed a particularly spry Appaloosa on the nose.

I thought back to “Dollar Bill,” a white and brown and gray Appaloosa that tried to kill me once. He was wild … had been in a pasture for three years, and nobody had ridden him at all. My daddy thought I was just the teenaged boy to break that horse … “Get up there on him. He won’t buck but for just a minute.

Then he’ll settle down and remember what it’s like to ride.” Daddy was right. He quit bucking in less than a minute … as soon as I was flat on my back. My stepbrother ended up breaking the horse … for the horse broke me.

Cape looked at me with wide eyes, “This is the horse I want to ride, Daddy.” As long our host didn’t mind, I didn’t either. And so it was, Cape mounted up, and she rode tall in the saddle. Pretty as a peach, she was on Cloud Nine sitting atop that horse. I was too … for every Daddy treasures his daughter’s smile more than anything else on God’s green earth.

We rode down a dirt road lane about a quarter of a mile and came to a blacktop where we were to cross over and take to the woods. Snow was already falling, and I could feel the temperature dropping.

Leaving the road for the woods would be welcomed for the shelter … but as we approached the blacktop, a distraction began to unfold.

Apparently, it was garbage day in Fort Payne, Alabama, and the big blue garbage truck came barreling down the blacktop about the time we neared. He was in a lower gear, and that big diesel engine roared as he approached. The horses all pranced with uneasiness … particularly that Appaloosa. Cape seemed unsure of how to handle the horse. Our host gave her instructions in a reassuring tone, and Cape did well to follow them. She and the horse both managed pretty well until the driver stopped and put the truck in reverse. Apparently, he missed a can.

“Beep—Beeep—Beeep ….” The engine revved even higher as he backed up the blacktop toward us.

Cape’s Appaloosa danced in a circle two times, and everybody but Cape knew what was coming next.

Bending his front knees that horse dug in hard with his front feet, and then bolted. Cape hung on to the reins and grabbed the saddle horn all in one swift motion, her torso and head rocked back nearly flat, before she could right herself. Her horse had two

strides on me already … I dug in hard to the ribs of the big quarter horse I was riding … “Let’s get it,” I hollered, slapping his flank as I went.

The race was on … my buddy, our host, was right behind me and Cape’s Appaloosa was headed straight to the barn. Trouble was, there were a few fences and a few closed gates along the way … but I never stood a chance. That Appaloosa was Speedy Gonzales to my quarter horse’s Fat Albert.

Full speed, galloping headlong into the snow, my heart raced with anxiety … but in the midst of all of that chaos, I could hear Cape laughing … and it was a sweet, sweet sound … and her laugh brought a smile to my face too.

Forty-five seconds later, and we were back at the barn. Cape was sitting proudly on her mount, grinning from ear to ear. I was already tired and winded … as was my steed … for neither of us was cut out for that kind of work. “Are you okay?” I asked, as my buddy rode up behind us. “I’m great!” Cape exclaimed, “This is the exact horse I want.” And then she turned to my buddy and asked, “How much?”

Now, as a dad, I’ve always tried to recognize my own fears and limitations, and I have worked hard not to teach my children those same hang-ups. I’m scared of heights; I’m allergic to seafood; I don’t like cats; and then there are horses … Cape jumped off

(L to R) Banks, Walt, Cape, Bay and Hannah Merrell. Friday night lights are a big part of our family. Cape is a cheerleader and Bay was a majorette for Andalusia High School. Banks will be too ... she loves the bulldogs.

the highest cliff at Lake Martin; her favorite pet was a stray cat that looked like a dinosaur furball; she loves crab claws; and she still asks Santa Claus for a horse every year …

As for me … well, I got down off that old quarter horse, and we parted ways as friends. And I’ve ridden horses a few more times with Cape, not for the love of the horse, but for the love of my daughter.

That’s why I go … shepherding outdoors.

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Garlic cloves in their natural state contain a compound called alliin. When garlic cloves are ground or crushed alliin is converted into the sulfide compound allicin. We as humans experience the effect of these sulfide compounds as the bad breath affect from eating garlic and the rotten egg smell from water found to be high in sulfur content. When garlic is consumed, the allicin travels throughout the animals bloodstream and is released from the animals body through skin pores and the lungs. Allicin can have a repellent effect in deterring flies away from cattle. Note that we refer to this mode of action as a fly repellent as opposed to total control of the population of the 4 species of flies that prey on cattle: house, face, horn, and stable flies. Research has shown around a 50% reduction in the fly population on cattle consuming garlic containing mineral.

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Cooperative Farming News

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ONE ACCORD FARM

HOBBY FARMING WITH PURPOSE

BY J E S S I E S H O O K

The act of cultivating your own food and feeding your family from your backyard has become a rewarding experience for families. With this same desire to provide fresh, homegrown food for her family, Pam Stephenson started One Accord Farm in March 2016, a 15-acre hobby farm.

One Accord Farm is located in Arab, Alabama and is home to many different animals, of all different breeds and with their own purpose on the farm. There are Jersey cattle for milk, beef cattle for meat, hogs, sheep, goats, chickens and ducks. You will even find a flock of Guinea fowl running around, whose purpose to is reduce insects around the other farm animals. Two big, white dogs with wild, curly hair roam the goat pasture and watch over the herd to protect them from predators.

Everything on the farm has a purpose and they all go hand in hand.

Stephenson’s inspiration behind having a hobby farm started from growing up helping

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on her family’s farms. “My grandfather and uncle were traditional Alabama farmers,” Stephenson said. “Papa raised hogs and Uncle Arnold raised cotton and beef cattle. I spent summers and weekends helping on the farms and I fell in love with the day-to-day operations and all the work involved.”

The work that Stephenson loved so much growing up is now part of her everyday life. Each morning begins by feeding all of the animals. “This time of year, it takes about two to three hours a day but in a few months when the lambs and kids start arriving, we will begin to milk the goats as well as the cows,” Stephenson said. “Time in the barn will increase to about five hours a day.”

Farm maintenance also must be kept up with.

“Staying on top of fencing and housing for the animals is ongoing,” Stephenson added. “We recently developed a pasture on newly cleared land, this encompassed getting the Marshall Farmers Cooperative to do a soil test for us and then add the necessary missing elements. They recently spread lime on the pasture, and we planted the recommended rye grass to provide a good winter pasture.”

Besides feeding, the animals also have maintenance that must be performed regularly for their health and well-being. “Animal maintenance requires the most work and time,” Stephenson said. “I really need to know each animal and their quirks.”

Katahdin sheep are hardy and low-maintenance sheep that do not produce fleece; therefore you are not required to shear them.

The animals need a daily hands-on survey to ensure there are no signs of injuries or parasites. “I need to have a working knowledge of a wide variety of species-specific illnesses and parasites – how to

LaMancha dairy goats are born with unique, small ears. These are dependable dairy goats that produce quality milk.

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Stephenson hand milks her goats, but the task of milking the cows belongs to her son.

Kunekune hogs roam the pasture with the LaMancha goats and livestock dogs. They have short, upturned snouts that discourage rooting.

spot them and treat them,” Stephenson said. “My farm is only as good as the health and well-being of these animals I have in my care.”

One Accord Farm also has a sustainable, no-till backyard garden with a variety of vegetables. “My crowning achievement was 175 ears of corn in a plot of just 12x12 foot,” Stephenson said. “That food was canned or frozen to preserve.”

Stephenson doesn’t have much on her grocery list, thanks to her farm. “We grow every bite of meat we eat and most of our vegetables,” Stephenson said. “Really, the only thing we buy at the grocery store is junk food, coffee and flour. We use a portion of our produce to feed the hogs as well.”

While it’s all hard work, Stephenson enjoys every part of it. “I love the daily interaction with my animals,”

One Accord Farm has a no-till garden where they grow most of the vegetables the Stephenson family eats. (Photo Credit: One Accord Farm)

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Cooperative Farming News

Stephenson added. “Getting to know them, their personalities, it is so satisfying to be able to care for them and meet their needs. I like keeping their lives as stress-free as possible and to be honest, they keep my life stress-free. It is my happy place to go to the pasture and have Nada, my big white goat lean on my leg for an ear scratch or Josie the Jersey comes up to have her chin rubbed.”

Stephenson’s favorite thing to do on the farm is hand milking her goats. “The bond we have and the symbolic relationship between us is special,” Stephenson added. “I need them, and they need me.”

It does take more than just one set of hands to operate this hobby farm. Stephenson has help from her husband who picks up feed, drives the tractor and distributes hay. Her son milks the cows and helps with other maintenance chores. She also shops at her local Co-op, Marshall Farmers Cooperative in Arab, Alabama. “We shop at the Co-op because of the quick response and friendliness of the employees that work there,” Stephenson said. “They are knowledgeable and seem to like their jobs, which makes a difference when you enter a store. They seem to be interested in making sure we succeed on our little farm.”

Overall, for Pam Stephenson, spending every day on a hobby farm is a rewarding day-to-day process.

An assortment of varied-colored eggs produced by the chickens at One Accord Farm.

“My time is not my own, it belongs to this farm,” Stephenson added. “The benefits of sustainability, the knowledge and ability to provide for my family in hard times far outweigh anything else.”

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Event includes family friendly farm-related activities and displays, food and media competitions.

February/March 2022

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LEE PEACOCK A SNAPSHOT OF YESTERDAY B Y C A R O LY N D R I N K A R D

S

ince the beginning of time, mankind has been fascinated by the people and events that came before. Many look to the past, hoping to learn lessons that will help them make sense of their own world.

Lee Peacock has an insatiable curiosity about the world he lives in. Lee has become something of a homegrown historian who tries to see local happenings through the eyes of those who lived them. He spends a great deal of time in the historical sections of the Monroeville and Evergreen libraries, hoping to create a snapshot of yesterday by piecing together stories and tales passed down for generations.

“I love to read old newspapers,” he said. “Many of my friends know that one of my favorite things to do is ride around, visit historic sites and take pictures, so they often tell me about places I need to see myself.”

Lee Peacock has been in the newspaper business since he graduated from the University of Alabama in 2000. He

Lee Peacock and his family live in Excel.

His wife, Crystal, son James and daughter Harper.

Above: The Shiloh Primitive Baptist Church is the oldest standing building in Frisco City, Alabama.

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Cooperative Farming News

Lee and James Peacock enjoy kayaking to Mound Island in the Mobile Delta. This region attracts many outdoorsmen, exploring the diverse area.

started as a reporter for The Monroe Journal, but then went to The Evergreen Courant in 2007, serving as the managing editor for four years before returning to The Monroe Journal in 2021 as a reporter and photographer. His columns appear in newspapers in Wilcox, Monroe and Conecuh counties. His photographs have been featured in many other magazines and newspapers throughout Alabama.

a tour of duty in Iraq, serving in a medical unit. He still works some weekends as an EMT on an ambulance service that covers both Monroe and Conecuh counties.

Lee Peacock’s desire to learn more about where he lives is more than just leafing through musty

Lee has become something of a homegrown historian who tries to see local happenings through the eyes of those who lived them.

Lee Peacock wears many hats. He owns Peacock Financial Solutions, Inc., in Monroeville. He also co-hosts a daily morning show on WPPG 101.1 FM in Monroeville. He is a longtime member of the Alabama Sports Writers Association and a founding member of the Alabama High School Football Historical Society. Since 2014, Lee has also worked at WPPG 101.1 FM in Evergreen, covering area sports.

On Friday nights during football season, he hosts a radio scoreboard show after the games.

Lee Peacock grew up in Frisco City and now lives in Excel with his wife, Crystal, and their two children, Harper (15) and James (13). He is a veteran, who did

Visiting monuments and reading the history of the area helps Lee Peacock better understand his world. He often finds connections to his own family.

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Supposedly, ghosts and spirits still haunt the old Kelly Mill Mercantile Co. store in historic Dottelle, Alabama.

newspapers, however. When someone sends him an old clipping or he hears a tantalizing tidbit, his wanderer’s blood starts a-stirring. Lee hops in his truck for a “little backroads exploring” to find long-forsaken places. You might find Lee scanning headstones for the oldest grave in a remote cemetery or searching

The Peacock family enjoy the great outdoors. Proud Dad , Lee, celebrates Harper’s deer hunting adventures.

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for an Indian mound, with arrowheads, spear points and other artifacts and relics that he read about in a 100-year-old newspaper. Look for him, kneeling at Johnson’s Log, an old fallen tree, where people have “brought stones as symbols of their burdens” and placed them on this natural altar as they prayed. He might be out at the Hybart Community post office or filming a long-forgotten cemetery that sits unnoticed next to busy Highway 84. He may even be scoping out “Hairy Bill,” who supposedly lived at “Booger Bottom,” or judging a Bigfoot calling contest in Evergreen, the Bigfoot Capital of Alabama.

Wherever you find Lee Peacock, he is on a mission, a mission to bring to light the history of an area that he calls home. He is constantly looking for old ghost stories, local legends and Indian lore.

Lee has a kinship with two popular Alabama writers who lived near him. Kathryn Tucker Windham grew up in Thomasville, while Buster Singleton lived near Sweet Water. Like Lee, both writers had a fascination for the unexplained, for “curious oddities.”

Kathryn Tucker Windham’s book, “13 Alabama Ghosts,” is one of Lee’s favorites. He once led his many YouTube followers to the Purifoy-Lipscomb Home in Furman (Wilcox County), mentioned in the book.

Lee’s greatest influence, however, has been George “Buster” Singleton, a local Monroeville his-

it from afar. He takes the reader with him - back through time and over the years - to visit the places where the past happened.”

Connecting to his past has made Lee quite a genealogy buff. Since his children are tenth-generation Monroe County residents, Lee is now working on a never-ending family history book. Amazingly, many of the places he visits and the people he discovers have connections to his own family. In his quest to discover a sense of identity, Lee has come to realize that his writings will one day become part of his own legacy. “It’s neat to think that one day, my grandkids will have access to this,” he stated proudly.

Regardless of where you run into Lee Peacock, he is helping his readers understand their community and thus, themselves. Whether checking out another historic site or following the trail of yet another tall tale, Lee is along the back roads of Conecuh, Wilcox and Monroe counties, off the beaten path, camera in hand, capturing yet another snapshot of yesterday.

Mt. Pleasant Methodist Church remains the center of Monroe County’s historic Eliska community.

torian and paranormal investigator who published a weekly newspaper column called “Somewhere in Time.” Lee worked with Singleton at The Monroe Journal and admired both the man and his work. Lee is now collecting Singleton’s articles, so that he can revisit many of the places Singleton mentioned.

Since 2010, Lee has been manning the BCR Listening Post-Observation Post to write a blog called “Dispatches from the LP-OP”. Here, he chronicles excerpts from past newspapers, some dating back over 135 years. He frequently mentions Singleton’s articles and talks about revisiting timeworn sites.

“I try to uncover something that may have been known by older generations, but it is new to younger people!” he explained.

Lee’s columns are popular across the state and shared often on social media. Readers comment, thanking him for highlighting relatives and events that have been forgotten through the years. Some tell about visiting the sites he has mentioned and finding their own family connections.

One of Lee’s biggest fans is another popular Alabama writer. “Lee Peacock’s appreciation for Alabama history is contagious,” said fellow Alabama writer, Amanda Walker, who lives in and often writes about Wilcox County. “Lee doesn’t just write about

Lee Peacock’s BUCKET LIST No. 563 was to visit the Johnson’s Prayer Log in Monroe County. Residents brought stones as symbols of their burdens and placed them on this natural altar as they prayed.

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SOUTHERN MADE SIMPLE

FOOLPROOF CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

BY L AU R A T U C K E R

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Cooperative Farming News

W

hen it comes to sweetening up their Valentine’s Day, many folks prefer to keep things simple by reaching for the boxed heartshaped confections picked off the supermarket shelf to share with their loved ones.

Simplicity is the spice of life in many cases, and there is certainly nothing wrong with a little storebought goodness to celebrate a special occasion!

For many years I convinced myself to stick to the prepackaged goodies in an effort to avoid over-complicating things. Sure, those Valentine’s Day recipes on the cover of the magazines in the checkout line were mouth-wateringly gorgeous, but I was certain making my own special dessert for my husband for Valentine’s Day was just too hard.

But I’ve learned a few things throughout the years in my kitchen about how to create seemingly sophisticated dishes without all of the hoopla and fuss. I like to keep things simple around here for the sake of everyone’s sanity, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the finer things in life, right? Take this chocolate mousse, for instance. Do you know how easy it is to make a homemade chocolate mousse? It’s crazy simple – and best of all, you probably already have all of the ingredients needed to make it on hand.

Homemade chocolate mousse is a perfect dish to enjoy for Valentine’s Day, and anyone who takes a bite of this dessert will certainly think you spent a lot of time and effort to make it. The texture is dreamy, the amount of richness from the chocolate is perfect, and the tartness of the fresh fruit on top combined with the chocolaty goodness will give you heart-eyes bigger than a cartoon character - guaranteed!

You’ll want to make sure you have a double boiler on hand for this recipe. If you don’t have a double boiler, no worries! You can simply use a small metal bowl or pot submerged in a larger pot for the cooking process.

FOOLPROOF

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE Ingredients: • 4 egg yolks • 1/4 cup white granulated sugar • 1-1/4 cup heavy whipping cream + 1/2 cup reserved • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips • 3/4 cup powdered sugar • Whipped cream, fresh fruit and/or sprinkles for garnish Directions: In a small metal pot, whisk together egg yolks, sugar and 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream.

Place pot inside a larger pot of simmering water (not quite boiling) and whisk egg mixture constantly until it has slightly thickened (about 7 or 8 minutes). *Make sure egg mixture reaches at least 160 degrees before removing from heat.

Pour chocolate chips in a small bowl and microwave in 20-second increments, stirring each time until smooth and creamy Add chocolate into egg mixture and stir until well combined. Set aside and allow to cool down to room temperature In a large bowl, whip 1-1/4 cup heavy whipping cream with a hand mixer until it begins to thicken Add in powdered sugar and continue to whip until it thickens to whipped-cream texture.

Pour 1/2 of whipped cream mixture into chocolate mixture and stir. Then slowly add the chocolate mixture into the remaining whipped cream mixture and stir.

Divide chocolate mousse into small cups or containers and refrigerate for 3-4 hours until firm.

Top with whipped cream, fresh fruit or sprinkles and serve chilled.

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I like to make this dessert the night before so that it has plenty of time to set in the fridge before serving. I typically choose to pipe the mousse into tiny serving glasses to make it look extra fancy, but certainly use whatever serving dish you have on hand.

Frankly, it’d suit me just fine eating this stuff out of an old Country Crock butter tub found in the back of the cabinet. Whatever tickles your fancy!

Valentine’s Day dessert doesn’t have to be complicated. Go ahead and grab some eggs, heavy whipping cream, sugar and chocolate chips and make a little magic in the kitchen to share with your loved ones! This chocolate mousse is simply sophisticated, and it’s sure to be a must-make every year when Cupid comes to town. You can also spruce up this fool-proof mousse for any given holiday - just add gold sprinkles for St. Patrick’s Day, robin’s eggs for Easter, peppermint flakes for Christmas, etc. The possibilities are endless!

I truly hope your Valentine’s Day is filled with overflowing sweetness and love. From my kitchen to yours - Happy Valentine’s Day!

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RegisterBarns.com 58

Cooperative Farming News

BY L O I S T R I G G C H A P L I N

SNOWBALLS FOR SPRING

STARTING SEEDS INDOORS

What are those big hydrangeas that bloom in March? They’re not. They aren’t hydrangeas at all.

They are viburnums! It could be any of these three: Chinese snowball (Viburnum macrocephalum), Eastern snowball (Viburnum opulus), or fragrant snowball (Viburnum x carlecephalum). Each has large, round clusters of small flowers that look like a hydrangea, but they are rounder and they bloom earlier. The blooms begin as smaller, lime-green clusters that gradually change to a creamy white as the snowball enlarges. In the landscape, these can grow 8 to 15 feet tall and almost as wide in a multitrunk, tree-like form. The big bloom clusters on long woody stems reward flower arrangers tasked with big arrangements such as a wedding or church altar. Spring is a good time to shop for these plants as even the ones in nursery may sport a few blooms.

Sowing vegetable seed directly in the ground can be a challenge because soil-dwelling pests such as roly-polies, slugs, or caterpillars can chew the tender seedlings to a nub. Thankfully, Bonnie Plants starter plants make it easy to start a spring garden. However, like all die-hard gardeners, I always have packets of seed catalog temptations that I must start myself if I am to grow them at all. I have found that soaking seeds, or keeping them between wet paper towels until they sprout, helps me get the plants up more quickly. Setting the soaking bowls or plates with seeds atop a heated seed-starting mat speeds germination.

I change the water or check the paper towel daily and remove them at the first sign of sprouting. From there they go to the garden or to a cell-pack to grow to transplant size. Round seeds and large seeds are easiest, as it is awkward to soak and handle flat seeds such as

Snowball Viburnum

Soaking Seeds

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lettuce that stick together when wet. Sometimes the sprouting roots get tangled with one another, too. In this case, a pair of fine-tipped tweezers and the tip of a nail file can help one maneuver the sprouting seeds.

ON THE ROADSIDE AND IN THE GARDEN Anyone driving Alabama highways in early spring may spot patches of purple near the ground big enough to show up at 65 mph. This is likely rose verbena (Glandularia canadensis), a low-growing, creeping, perennial wildflower that starts blooming in spring and continues into summer, especially if ALDOT doesn’t mow it too much. The Homestead Purple pictured here is a form or possibly a natural hybrid of the native rose verbena that was first found in Georgia, and tested at the UGA trial gardens in Athens. In 1994 it earned the Georgia Gold Medal Award for its outstanding garden performance, and has remained popular ever since.

Gardeners looking for a good low-maintenance, full-sun perennial should consider adding Homestead Purple to their garden. It makes a nice flowering ground cover, a border in a flower garden, or a spot of color in a rock garden. It grows in sand or clay, but plants need good drainage to make it through winter.

Homestead Purple Verbena

Nesting eagles

campus of Berry College in Rome, Georgia, for several years (https://www.berry.edu/eaglecam/). The Cornell Lab of Ornithology offers a smorgasbord of live birdcams from around the world at https://www.allaboutbirds.org/cams/. These include cams of feeders that capture various bird species as they come and go.

Seems like this is a nice way for a loved one who has become housebound to continue their birdwatching.

LETTUCE Late winter is the time to start lettuce from seeds or transplants for a couple of months of delicious salads before the weather gets too warm, usually April or May. Starting with transplants will yield sooner than starting from seed. However, it you want a large mix of leaf colors and shapes for beautiful salads, you will need to start from seeds to take advantage of the dozens of varieties with leaves that range from chartreuse to dark green to burgundy to speckled. At first, plants will do best in a cold frame with an automatic opener or under a frost cloth that is removed when the temperature is 60 or above. I use a maximum/minimum thermometer under the frost cloth to track temperature extremes and keep the lettuce from bolting too soon.

BIRDCAMS BRING BIRD WATCHING INDOORS While video platforms like Zoom and Facetime enable us to connect with each other from a distance, webcams let us literally be a “fly-on-the-wall” where birds are nesting or feeding. These cameras show life 24/7 wherever they are pointed, so you can watch baby eagles and many other birds hatch, grow and fledge from their nest, or face predators and other bird life dynamics as they happen. One of my favorites is the pair of eagles that have been nesting on the 60

Cooperative Farming News

Red Lettuce

BY J O H N H O W L E

GET READY FOR SPRING

The cold, winter days of feeding hay will soon bring spring rains and warmer days. As you begin to taper off the winter hay and get ready for spring grazing, this is an ideal time to make rotational grazing a part of your farm plan. There are many styles of rotational grazing, but in essence, this means moving the cattle regularly, giving the grazed portions time to rest and recuperate.

Why Rotate?

There are many benefits to rotating cattle regularly. If you don’t graze the grass too closely, there will be enough leaf matter to grow back quickly. Overgraze and you begin to shrink the root reserves. This can be a serious detriment in drought.

Another benefit to rotational grazing happens

”

BE SURE YOU KNOW THE CONDITIONS OF YOUR FLOCKS, GIVE CAREFUL ATTENTION TO YOUR HERDS; FOR RICHES DO NOT ENDURE FOREVER, AND A CROWN IS NOT SECURE FOR ALL GENERATIONS. Proverbs 27:23-24

FEB/MARCH 2022 2022 61 61 February/March

during fly season. The more regularly you rotate, the worms, dung beetles, and microorganisms that add less of a fly problem you will have because you have to soil health, and grazing tightly encourages cattle to moved the cattle from the existing field that has fly consume more weeds and undesirable plants as they larvae in the droppings. If you leave plenty of residhit the forage like a mob. ual leaf on the plant, this also encourages growth of Many cattle producers don’t intensive graze microorganisms in the soil. The extra layer of growth because it requires more labor than just turning them acts as an insulator giving more growth in cold into an open field to graze what they want. Fortuweather and protecnately, there have been tion against drought in innovative tools to come Another benefit to rotational grazing happens during summer. Any time you out in the last few years fly season. The more regularly you rotate, the less of a see dirt, you’ve overto make intensive grazfly problem you will have because you have moved the grazed and upset the ing worth the time. For cattle from the existing field that has fly larvae in the balance of the soil and one thing, you can run microbes. more cattle on a smaller droppings.

Mob grazing is a amount of land when more intense version of you intensive graze. rotational grazing. This is where you move the cattle The Gallagher Company has come out with a truly daily in small paddocks. The cattle will trample a lot compact solar energizer that simply mounts onto any of grass as they move through the paddock, but they ring-top step-in post. The metal step-in post serves as are moved quickly to the next paddock giving plenty of the ground and you simply clip the hot wire clamp to time for this field to recuperate. The cattle will conthe turbo wire. With nothing more than a geared reel of centrate their droppings in a smaller area giving you turbo wire, an armful of step-in posts, and the S12 liththe advantage of free nitrogen in their urine and dung. ium Solar Fence Charger, you can put up a temporary Finally, mob grazing encourages growth of earthgrazing perimeter in less than 10 minutes.

Regular rotation of cattle keeps the forage and soil in a healthy condition.

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The S12 lithium solar fence energizer makes quick, convenient work of creating grazing paddocks.

With nothing but a few simple yelps, clucks, and purrs, you can often call a gobbler within range.

The Tungsten Super Shot shells have increased the effective range of harvesting a gobbler.

of your hunt, set up on an elevation higher than the If the fence doesn’t have any vegetation lying on turkey if possible. With a few simple yelps, clucks, and it, the charger is rated to charge up to 4 miles or 18 purrs, you can often get a gobbling response from the acres on a single wire. This should cover any size tom. Using nothing more than a box call or slate call, grazing paddock you would want to create. The unit is these calls are quite easy truly simple to operate. to replicate. Just rememSimply press the “on” ber to call softly and button when you have Using nothing more than a box call or slate call, these rarely. You want the tom everything hooked up, calls are quite easy to replicate. Just remember to call to come looking for you. and watch for the green softly and rarely. You want the tom to come looking When it comes to taklight to start blinking. for you. ing the shot, most folks The S12 lithium Solar prefer using a 12-gauge Fence Energizer retails shotgun. Wait until the for $154.00. You can orgobbler is within 25 yards to verify a quick, humane der the unit from www.gallagher.com, or visit your local Co-op and have them order if the charger isn’t in stock. harvest. Some of the best ammunition for turkey hunting I’ve found is the Federal Premium Heavyweight TSS Turkey Shotshells. They are a bit pricy, but the Spring Time Toms shotshells deliver a tight pattern of dense tungsten Once you’ve got your paddocks squared away, take shot. I’ve had guys swear that they shot gobblers at a distance of 60 yards with this shot, but I would recadvantage of the occasional warm days to scout for turkeys on your property. When turkey season opens in ommend staying under 30 yards to guarantee a clean harvest. For a box of five rounds, the TSS (Tungsten March, nothing beats the sound of that early morning Super Shot) currently lists for around 75 bucks. I told echoing gobbler thundering through the hollows and you they were pricy. hills. Late in the evening on a hilltop, you can often This spring, get out and enjoy God’s creation and hear the flapping of their wings as they fly to the roost. get back to the beauty and tranquility of nature.

If you do locate a gobbler the morning or evening February/March 2022

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MAGIC OF GARDENING

PLANNING GARDEN FUN

GARDENING DOESN’T HAVE TO BE SO METHODICAL!

F

BY B E T H A N Y O ’ R E A R

ebruary is here and you probably have a you’re ahead of the game if you’ve remembered what stockpile of well-thumbed seed catalogues crops need to be rotated where to suppress disease and a mishmash of last year’s seed packets and promote great harvests. But what’s missing at the ready. If you’re like me, you’ve already from this methodical approach: fun! Don’t get me calculated and recalculated, how many wrong, there’s great pleasure in growing your own seeds or seedlings per row. Maybe you’ve optimistasty vegetables and seeing bees and butterflies on tically decided when to colorful flowers but making pull your first sowing and gardening fun takes a little You’ll need well-drained soil and at least six replace with heat-loving bit more effort and if you’re hours of full sunlight. summer tomato and not careful to plan for it pepper transplants. And now, you may find you have 64

Cooperative Farming News

”

VEGETABLES APPRECIATE GENEROUS FERTILIZING, CONSISTENT WATERING, AND A PH IN THE RANGE OF 6.0 TO 6.5. neither garden space nor energy for creative projects later in the season. So, carve out a little area on your garden map and pull up your gardening calendar for one or more of the following projects to tickle your funny bone and share with others.

Start with a garden area of at least 10 feet by 10 feet (or an equivalent square area). You’ll need welldrained soil and at least six hours of full sunlight.

If you haven’t had your soil tested recently, now is the time to do so. Contact your local county office of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System to pick up a kit and instructions. Vegetables appreciate generous fertilizing, consistent watering, and a pH in the range of 6.0 to 6.5. Suggested planting dates given for these projects are for Central Alabama so you can plant 10 days earlier in South Alabama and 10 days later in North Alabama. Check “The Alabama Vegetable Gardener ANR-0479” at www.aces. edu for a comprehensive guide to start dates.

BEAN TEEPEE A bean teepee serves as a decorative focus in the vegetable garden and a fun retreat for young children. You need six poles (bamboo, hardwood branches or garden supports) at least 6 feet long (8 feet is even better). They should be arranged in a circle with a wider gap between two poles to act as a front entrance. The poles should be bound at the top with twine or waxed cord and the poles placed firmly in the soil to a depth of several inches. Good-quality soil should be mounded at the base of the poles.

Place additional plant supports or tie a web around the poles at approximately 12 inches off the ground and then again at 24 inches so that the beans have a growing structure. Plant pole beans such as “Kentucky Wonder,” “Rattlesnake” or “Blue Lake” in mounded hills of four beans when the soil has warmed up (April 10-30). Many folks like to interplant with morning glories for added color, but I prefer to interplant with Scarlet Runner beans – you get a nice contrasting color, and the beans are edible when picked at a small size.

SHOWSTOPPER POLLINATOR PATCH

Bean Teepee

This garden will attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds from June until frost. Plant it in a plot adjacent to your vegetable garden to maximize the impact of the pollinators on your flowering crops. You’ll be planting in six rows left to right— each row approximately 18 inches in front of its neighbor. In the back row, plant Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia) seeds every 12 inches. Once they’ve set true leaves, thin to plants two feet apart. These impressive plants set out vibrant orange blooms on sturdy stalks with candelabra stems. They’ll bloom from July until hard frost. In the next two rows, plant midsize sunflower varieties with red or burgundy coloring such as “Autumn Beauty” or “Red Wave.” Plants should be thinned to two feet apart as well. The sunflowers will stand out from July until late September. The front three rows should be planted with “Cut and Come Again” zinnia or a similar multicolor variety. These reliable bloomers February/March 2022

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“Tiny Tim” tomato transplants should be set out in April

will start the show in June and continue to October.

Keep them trimmed for repeat bloom and remove any plants showing disease. Keep your camera close at hand – this little flower garden will give you plenty of opportunities to catch pollinators at work.

Red Sunflower

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MINIATURE VEGETABLE PATCH Seed companies offer a dizzying selection of varieties, including dwarf and miniature plants suitable for small spaces and containers. Not only are the plants economic on space – they’re just plain cute. Plant these varieties on the same schedule as their grown-up kin. Fertilization and water needs are similar too. “Tiny Tim” tomato transplants should be set out in April. These plants top out at 12 inches tall and can be set apart at the same distance. Harvest in 60 days. You can find lots of “mini” bell pepper varieties which grow on typical eighteen-inch plants but why not try “Mohawk,” a dwarf bell pepper that grows on vines? Set out transplants from April to mid-May. The cucumber world has lots to choose from; “Piccolino” grows to 4 inches long while the aptly named “Mini Munch” cucumber maxes out at 3 inches. Direct sow seed from mid-April to mid-May. To get the ball rolling, plant a row or two of “Cherry Belle” radishes for an early harvest for your diminutive but tasty garden!

As a final note, I want to thank Tony Glover, a valuable mentor and friend, for letting me take on “The Magic of Gardening” starting with this issue. After an enjoyable career in the commercial landscape industry, I stepped into the Regional Extension Agent position which Tony held as he moved upward in Extension. Ten years later, I’m still trying to live up to his talented example – and I’ll do my best in writing this column as well. Let me know what interests you, what you’d like to hear about, and we can all learn a little together with some fun along the way.

BY S U Z Y M c C R AY

LISTENING IN THE SIMPLE LIFE… This morning a man on social media proclaimed how much he enjoyed hearing his roosters crow in the early morning hours. Of course, I agreed!

For the more than 30 years I heated only with wood, there was no mechanical sound of blowers coming on to impede my hearing. Even during the darkest night, I could be assured of the safety of my animals from the muted animal sounds I heard throughout the night. But if I heard an unusual cackling of the hens or alarms from the many guineas, I knew it was time to grab the shotgun and check out the barnyard!

Now we keep the thermostat set to not come on

often so just before daybreak I can still hear my roosters as they begin to crow. As the sun begins to rise above our surrounding foothills of the Appalachians, I hear an occasional bleat as the goats line up single file across the fence waiting on Mack to bring their breakfast and fresh water. Even in the coolest temperatures, the ducks begin quacking as they splash in their blue plastic pools.

And just as I try to roll over and snuggle under the well-worn quilt to snatch just another moment of sleep, Turkey Tom begins to gobble, probably lining up the 10 baby guinea keets who follow him around February/March 2022

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”

SOME FOLKS WANT SOME KIND OF “NOISE” GOING ON ALL THE TIME. WE KNEW OF ONE WOMAN WHO KEPT TWO RADIOS GOING FULL BLAST AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF HER HOUSE; EACH TUNED TO A DIFFERENT COUNTRY MUSIC STATION. thinking he is their mama!

I can’t imagine living in town, and especially a big city, where the sounds I’d hear would be honks, sirens, doors slamming and who knows what else. Some people thrive on that lifestyle. I am not one of them!

I can judge Mack’s moods by the sounds I hear. If I hear him softly whistling a favorite hymn or a bluegrass tune as he walks in from the barn or our woods, I know ALL is right with the world no matter what the TV news might say.

Some folks want some kind of “noise” going on all the time. We knew of one woman who kept two radios going full blast at opposite ends of her house; each tuned to a different country music station. Evidently some folks can’t operate their vehicles without sounds so loud they jar the surrounding countryside as they drive down the road. Some folks keep their TVs on all day, just to have the noise in the background. As you can tell I’m not one of those people.

Sure, I love music. I majored in music the first three years in college and I’ve played piano practically all my life. And I enjoy watching YouTube videos of many pianists. But no, I don’t keep them on around the clock.

I want to be able to hear the geese when they fly over in the morning going to a nearby pond, and just before dusk when they fly back to their nightly roost.

I want to be able to hear that buck as he rubs his antlers on the swaying tree down toward the creek, and sometimes even the clank clank clank as two young bucks try out their swashbuckling skills.

I want to be able to hear the slamming of the old timey screen door as someone goes into the tiny general store on our farm. I love hearing the cackling of a big fat hen when she joyously announces that she’s laid another big brown egg.

And oh my goodness, who wouldn’t want to hear the chiming of the windup clock sitting so majestically on our fireplace mantle! Even its ever so soft ticking just seems to reassure that although time marches on, all is right in our home.

And it’s not just because I’m getting older. Way 68

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back in 2014 son Nathan posted on Facebook what a night on the farm meant to his heart: “As I put mom’s animals to bed late night (don’t worry, she’s fine, just at church), I may have caught a piece of understanding.”

Nathan went on: “With my usually sensory overload style, with this moon overhead, I could hear the chorus of frogs across the pasture – when I say chorus I mean almost siren-like fall of voices.

“I could smell the warm earth, and grass, cooling just after the sun’s setting.

“Hens inside the hen house softly cooed and clucked as they settled in for a cozy sleep. The guineas chur-chur-chur as they try to select their perfect limb to roost on the nearby pear tree.

“Goats gently bleat at me as I close the doors and gates against whatever the night may hold.

“I can hear a rabbit in the bunny barn, lapping at its water bottle clackity clackity clack ….

“I’m usually well on my way to bed at this time of night, but tonight I’m, grateful. I’ve seized a little bit of the peace mom gets to have every day.

“Farming is never easy, or sometimes profitable.

‘Every day however, there IS a harvest to be reaped.”

I used Nathan’s words at the end of a 2015 article that went on to win all sorts of national awards and proved to be what I’ve been trying to say here. In the hustle and bustle of today’s world, don’t forget to just stop and listen.

I’ve often said I’ve felt closest to God inside a sweet-smelling hay-filled barn as a baby goat was born, because in the silence broken only by a mama goat’s nickering, you can feel God’s presence. In the Bible we learn that God’s voice was heard in a whirlwind, the thunder and in other mighty ways. But we also see that He spoke in a “small still voice.” I don’t want to ever be so bombarded by the sounds of the world that I miss that!

(Suzy and husband Mack live on a homestead in Blount County, Alabama and can be reached on Facebook or by email at suzy.mccray@yahoo.com)

Simply Southern Spotlight ‘Tis The Season To Concentrate On Christmas Tree Farming

V

isions of sugarplums won’t be dancing in heads for months.

But the holiday season is always on the minds of Christmas tree farmers like Frank Wadsworth. He grows 8,000 trees at his Wadsworth Christmas Tree Farm in Elmore County.

Alabama Stations and Times

Saturday, Central Time Market Station Time Columbus, Ga. WLTZ 38 5:00 PM Sunday, Central Time Mobile WPMI 15 6:00 AM Birmingham WBMA 33/40 6:30 AM Huntsville WAFF 48 9:00 AM Montgomery WAKA 8 10:30 AM Dothan WTVY 4 10:30 AM

RFD-TV: Wednesdays • 3 p.m. Central ALWAYS ON: www.SimplySouthernTV.net

Simply Southern: How did you get into the business of growing Christmas trees?

Frank Wadsworth: In 1976, my father-in-law gave me 2,000 Virginia pines. He told me to plant them because everyone was planting them in Alabama for Christmas trees. I did but didn’t do anything to them for about three years. Then I went to a meeting at Auburn University where they talked about all the care Christmas trees need.

With four decades in this business, what changes have you seen?

FW: In the ‘70s, there were a lot more farmers growing Christmas trees. We seem to have more and more customers every year who tell me they’ve never had a real Christmas tree. But the biggest change has probably been the size tree people want. Back in the early days, an 8- or 9-foot tree was big. Now, I get people asking if we have 12-foot trees. I’ve even sold some that were 15- and 20-feet tall. People are really looking for bigger trees.

What work do you have to do at the farm throughout the year?

FW: Right after Christmas, we start planting new trees. In summer, you have to keep the weeds out from around the trees, so we spray trees once a month, following an herbicide and fungicide program. We mow once a week. Once a tree is in its second year, it has to be pruned twice a year. On about 12 acres, we grow around 8,000 trees, ranging in age from one to seven years old.

With my sons and me working, we can prune between 700 and 800 trees a day.

Simply Southern TV is sponsored by

How many years does it take to grow a tree?

FW: Sometimes, a tree will be 6- or 7-feet tall by year three. But we prefer to wait until the fourth year to sell a tree, because then you usually have a field full of trees ranging from 5- to 9-and-a-half-feet tall.

For your customers, what’s the most important thing to remember when caring for a live Christmas tree?

FW: Water, water, water. Don’t let your stand run out of water. Depending on the size of the tree, it may drink a gallon or more per day. If the stand runs out of water, even for just an hour, sap can seal the base of the tree, and then it can’t drink anymore, even though it needs it.

Simply Southern’s segment about Wadsworth Christmas Tree Farm will air on broadcast stations Feb. 5 and 6 and on RFD-TV Wednesday, Feb. 9, at 3 p.m. Central. For more information, visit www.simplysouthern.net.

Catfish Checkoff

Soybean Checkoff

Wheat & Feed Grain Checkoff

February/March 2022

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FOOD SAFETY

BACKYARD FLOCKS

EGG HANDLING AND SELLING SAFETY B Y A N G E L A T R E A D AWAY Spring is just around the corner and if you have chickens they are probably beginning to lay more because the days are getting longer and there is more light and less gloomy days. With that said, more and more municipalities are allowing individuals to have backyard chickens and consumers are asking more and more questions about the care and safety of the eggs gathered from their flocks or from the local farmers. If you have the room it can be a pretty good business too.

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Eggs are among the most nutritious foods on earth and can be part of a healthy diet. However, they are perishable just like raw meat, poultry and fish.

Poultry may carry bacteria such as Campylobacter and Salmonella that can cause illness to you and your family. Infected birds do not usually appear sick and even unbroken, clean, fresh shell eggs may contain harmful bacteria.

Because of nationwide recalls of shell eggs due to Salmonella contamination, we now understand the

ways in which shell eggs can become contaminated vary widely. Salmonella can be introduced to shell eggs not only through the laying process, but also via contaminated poultry feed or bedding and from baby chicks (pullets) that may have become contaminated in a hatchery. None of these routes of contamination are unique to large-animal husbandry operations. It can happen on your farm too.

Fortunately, there are several steps that you can take to help ensure safe, home-produced chicken eggs.

CARING FOR THE EGGS

• Collect the eggs often. Eggs that spend more time in the nest have an increased chance of becoming dirty, broken or lower in quality. Collecting eggs at least twice daily is recommended, preferably before noon. Consider a third collection in late afternoon or early evening, especially in hot or cold weather.

Coated wire baskets or plastic egg flats are good containers for collecting eggs. Discard eggs with broken or cracked shells.

CARING FOR THE FLOCK

• Maintaining the flock in an enclosed shed is often a local requirement and will help protect the flock from predators and make egg collecting easier.

•E ggs will stay cleaner if the shed area is kept clean and dry. Maintain floor litter in good condition.

Thoroughly clean and disinfect the shed at least once a year. Obtain an approved disinfectant from your feed store and apply according to directions.

• Allow one nest for every three to four chickens and make sure nests are large enough for your hens. To protect eggs, pad nests with straw or wood chips.

Clean out nest boxes once a week to remove dirty litter and manure and replace with clean nesting material.

• Allow adequate nest space and plenty of clean nesting material to help to ensure clean eggs and limit egg breakage.

• Provide a perch above the floor over a dropping box away from the nests. Chickens will roost on the perch to sleep and defecate into the wire-mesh covered dropping box. Do not let hens roost in the nest boxes.

CLEANING

•A lways wash your hands after collecting eggs because of the possibility of picking up some salmonella or other germs from handling the eggs • Dirty eggs can be a health hazard. Eggs with dirt and debris can be cleaned with fine sandpaper, a brush or emery cloth. If eggs need to be washed, the temperature of the water should be at least

February/March 2022

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20°F warmer than the egg. This will prevent the egg contents from contracting and producing a vacuum.

It will also prevent microscopic bacteria from being pulled by vacuum through the pores of the egg. A mild, non-foaming, unscented detergent approved for washing eggs can be used. A dishwashing liquid that is free of scents and dyes is acceptable but you only need to use a small amount.

• Eggs can be sanitized by dipping in a solution of one tablespoon household bleach to one gallon of water before storage. Dry eggs before storing because moisture may enter the shell pores as eggs cool in refrigeration. Once they are washed, they do need to be refrigerated because the bloom that helps protect the eggs from bacteria from the environment has been removed.

eggs were collected.

• Plastic egg holders sold for camping or plastic egg trays available from farm supply stores are good options for distributing eggs because they can be washed and reused.

• If selling the eggs at the farmers market, they need to be in a generic egg carton with a label with your farm name and the date the eggs were collected.

They will need to be graded also.

STORAGE

• Store eggs in the main section of the refrigerator at 35°F to 40°F; the shelves in the door tend to be warmer than interior shelves. If collected properly and stored in the refrigerator, eggs should have a shelf life of six to eight weeks. Date the storage carton or container and use older eggs first. Older eggs will have flatter yolks and thinner whites, so they won’t make a nice-looking fried egg, and the whites won’t whip up as nice.

ALABAMA SHELL EGG LAWS FOR SELLING OF FARM FRESH EGGS

No license is needed if eggs are sold at the producer’s farm. Clean, pack and keep eggs stored at 41°F or below. However, if the producer wishes to take the eggs to a farmers market to sell, they must follow the guidelines in the Alabama Shell Egg Law. For more details on what is required, go to the Alabama Department of Ag and Industry and look for the law or you can Google Alabama Shell Egg Laws.

SHARING OR SELLING EGGS COLLECTED ON YOUR FARM

If you choose to share eggs from your flock with friends and neighbors it is important to follow the safety recommendations below: • Always wash your hands with soap and water after handling eggs, chickens or anything in their environment.

• Clean eggs as described above and provide the date 72

Cooperative Farming News

THE TRUE FISHERMAN

IT’S MORE THAN JUST “CATCHING A FISH”

BY G R E G A . L A N E into the vast ocean, and at the beautiful pinks and It was the final day of our vacation at the beach purples of the early morning sky and gave thanks to in Sea Grove, Florida. Since we had to leave by 9 God for a beautiful day. I continued to cast my line a.m., I got up extra early to get in a couple hours of with great expectations for a trophy fish to strike. surf fishing before traveling home. It was still dark An hour had passed, and I hadn’t caught one outside, and the moon shone brightly on the water. fish. I looked to my right and left and saw that the The surf was relatively smooth, so it appeared to surf was now dotted with silhouettes of fishermen be perfect conditions for good fishing. I thought I all up and down the coastline, casting their lines into was going to be the first person on the beach, but I the deep. In me, there was a feeling of camaraderie was wrong. There was one other person already on with each of these men who had awakened early the beach sitting in a chair with fishing rod in hand. to try their hand at fishing. They were here to enjoy Had it not been for the brilliant moonlight I probably wouldn’t have noticed him. I have no idea how long a vacation with their families, just like me, but they had something in them that drove them to the beach he’d been sitting out there before I got there, but he was “in it for the long haul” because he had quite a earlier than all the other vacationers. That feeling you setup with him ... fishing rods, canopy, chairs, tackle get when you hook a big fish and pull him in to shore ... there’s nothing like it! box, etc.

As time passed, I realized I had been fishing for I was excited to get to spend my final hours at the an hour and a half without a single hit on my line, beach surf fishing. With the aid of the bright moonlight, I cautiously waded out to knee-deep water and but it didn’t deter me or dishearten me in the least bit. I began to reflect on this passion within me, and cast my line out to deeper water. It was about 6 a.m. within the hearts of all fishermen, who ignore all the Slowly but surely, the moonlight began to fade discouragement they face when fishing for hours as the morning sun began to rise at 6:30 a.m. Thirty minutes had passed by and I hadn’t had a single without any luck.

I remembered the first nibble on my line. I looked meeting Jesus had with back toward the beach the fishermen of Galilee and saw a couple other I realized I had been fishing for an hour and a fishermen on the shore who had been fishing half without a single hit on my line, but it didn’t getting ready to try their ALL NIGHT LONG without deter me or dishearten me in the least bit. luck as well. I looked back catching a single fish. I February/March 2022

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gained a greater appreciation for those men because of their stick-to-it-tiveness. I understood how they could do it. I contemplated the passion inside the heart of the fisherman who denies every negative sign they’ve experienced and continues to throw in their line, just one more time, saying, “Maybe this will be the cast where I catch the big one!”

ALL NIGHT LONG they had fished. Not just one hour ... not just a couple of hours ... ALL NIGHT LONG they had cast out their nets without catching one single fish! To those who are not fishermen, it sounds completely foolish, but the true fisherman understands how they could do it ... how they could keep on fishing when it seems completely useless to do so.

I think that’s part of the reason why Jesus chose fishermen for His very first disciples. There’s something in the heart of a true fisherman that Jesus finds very appealing. You see, a fisherman pursues something he can’t see. The success he seeks is in an unseen realm ... under water. Sometimes there’s no evidence at all that there are any fish in the water. He hopes there are. He envisions fish “out there” where he casts his line. He pictures himself hooking that “big one” and reeling it in, with rod bent over, about to break in two. He rehearses in his mind the story he will tell his buddies of how he battled against that monster-sized fish as he reeled him to shore. Yet there’s no solid, concrete evidence that there’s even one single fish out there! In spite of the fact that he can’t see anything to encourage him to cast his line one more time, he does it anyway. He doesn’t give up just because the last cast didn’t yield a fish. In his mind, he says, “Maybe this next cast will be the one!”

People who have to catch a fish every time they cast their line just don’t get it. If they get bored and give up after just five minutes because they didn’t catch anything, they’re not true fishermen. They don’t have the vision it takes to be a fisherman. They don’t have the faith that it requires. Yes, faith is a MUST. The true fisherman knows anything he catches and brings into the “visible realm” must first be captured in the invisible, unseen realm, and that takes some patience and fortitude.

Listen, everything you REALLY want in life is in an unseen realm. There’s love, joy, peace, and hope “out there.” But if you want to bring it into this visible realm, you’ve got to cast your line (or your net) by faith. You’ve got to have patience and endurance.

Success will come eventually, but it may not happen overnight.

Maybe, when you started reading this story, you thought it would end with me catching an enormous fish as a reward for my diligence and effort. That’s where you’d be wrong. I spent two whole hours fishing that morning … without catching anything… without even one single nibble! Yet, if Jesus stood on the shore and yelled out to me like He did to those Galilean fishermen 2,000 years ago, “Cast just one more time,” I surely would have obeyed Him. Do you have the heart of a fisherman? Can you face the discouragement that comes in life, but still maintain hope and vision? Are you willing to cast your line “one more time,” or have you given up?

If you do have the heart of a true fisherman, maybe you can hear the voice of Jesus calling you: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19).

HE DOESN’T GIVE UP JUST BECAUSE THE LAST CAST DIDN’T YIELD A FISH. IN HIS MIND, HE SAYS, “MAYBE THIS NEXT CAST WILL BE THE ONE!”

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RANDALL UPCHURCH DANNY LEE FARM 6 House Broiler Farm in Randolph County, AL

PoultrySouth Co-Founder 256-239-5379 randall@selandgroup.com

February/March 2022

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BY M A RY DE L P H

BY M A RY D E L P H I have learned a lot this last year, especially about feeding my family. If I can find it locally, I buy it. I have sourced my own meat, eggs and dairy. I don’t have room to do this where I live, but fortunately I do know people who are becoming self-sustaining and they will certainly help you make the suppliers.

The food tastes better and since I know the producers, I know that the poultry and meat were raised humanely. So, I feel much more comfortable using it.

If you have the space, give gardening a try, if you don’t find people who do raise enough produce to sell to people. I am including below a simple list of produce that should be available, in some parts of Alabama, this time of year. Those who are in South Alabama will have more things growing.

• Cauliflower • Greens • Lettuce • Pecans • Sweet Potatoes • Spinach

Cauliflower “Mac” and Cheese Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 Tablespoon butter, plus more for the pan 1 large head cauliflower, cut into florets 1 cup whole milk ½ teaspoon dry mustard Hot sauce, as needed 1 cup grated pepper jack cheese 1 (4-ounce) log fresh goat cheese ¼ cup grated Parmesan Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Preheat the oven to 375 F. Grease a baking dish with butter.

Cook the cauliflower in the boiling water until just crisp-tender, about 10 minutes. Drain well. In a large

saucepan, heat the milk and butter over medium heat.

Whisk in the dry mustard and add some hot sauce, salt and pepper. Just before the milk comes to a boil, turn off the heat and stir in the pepper jack and goat cheese. When melted and smooth, stir in the cauliflower. Spread the mixture into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle with the Parmesan. Bake until the top is golden brown and the mixture is bubbling, about 30 minutes. Let rest for a few minutes before serving.

– Ree Drummond - The Pioneer Woman February/March 2022

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a boil. Whisk eggs, sugar, and cornstarch together in a bowl until sugar dissolves. Set saucepan back over low heat. Pour in egg mixture slowly, whisking constantly, until custard thickens enough to coat the bottom of a spoon, 5 to 10 minutes.

Easy Lettuce Salad 2 cups torn leaf lettuce, fresh 1 hard-boiled large egg, fresh 1 green onion, sliced 2 Tablespoons mayonnaise 1 teaspoon cider vinegar ⅛ teaspoon pepper In a salad bowl, combine the lettuce, egg and onion. In a small bowl, whisk the mayonnaise, vinegar and pepper.

Pour over salad and toss to coat.

Kale and Apple Salad 3 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice 2 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil Kosher salt 1 bunch fresh kale, ribs removed, leaves very thinly sliced ¼ cup dates 1 Honeycrisp apple ¼ cup slivered almonds, toasted 1 ounce Pecorino, finely grated (¼ cup) Freshly ground black pepper Whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Add the kale, toss to coat and let stand 10 minutes. While the kale stands, cut the dates into thin slivers and the apple into thin matchsticks. Add the dates, apples, almonds and cheese to the kale. Season with salt and pepper and toss well.

Easy Custard 4 cups fresh whole milk 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon butter 4 fresh eggs ½ cup white sugar 3 Tablespoons cornstarch Cook and stir milk, vanilla extract, and butter in a saucepan over medium heat until simmering. Remove mixture from heat before it comes to 78

Cooperative Farming News

Wilted Spinach ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar 1 teaspoon lemon juice 1 Tablespoon bottled minced garlic 1 pinch sea salt 1 pinch ground black pepper 4 ounces baby spinach 1 ½ Tablespoons pine nuts In a bowl, mix the olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper. Place the spinach over boiling water in a pot fitted with a steamer basket, and steam 2 to 3 minutes, until wilted but not soggy. Toss spinach in a bowl with the dressing, and sprinkle with pine nuts to serve.

serving prime

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ART NIGHT February 3, 2022 North Port - Kentuck Art Center 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.

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SATURDAY MORNING GRAVEL RIDE February 5,12, & 19 2022 Florence - Start at Spinning Spoke Admission - 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Call 256-349-5302 SATURDAY MORNING GRAVEL RIDE February 5,12, & 19 2022 Florence - Start at Spinning Spoke Admission - 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Call 256-349-5302 CONDE CAVALIERS PARADE February 11, 2022 Mobile - Route A 6:30 p.m.

Call 251-432-3324 FARM TOY SHOW February 11, 2022 Sheffield - Clarion Hotel Admission Friday: 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.

Call 256-320-7490 MERCEDES-BENZ MARATHON WEEKEND February 11-13, 2022 Brimingham - Linn Park Call 205-870-7771 BAYPORT PARADING SOCIETY, MYSTIC DJ RIDERS February 12, 2022 Mobile - Route A Call 251-432-3324 PHARAOHS, ORDER OF HEBE, CONDE EXPLORERS February 12, 2022

Mobile - Route A - 6:30 p.m.

Call 251-432-3324 27TH ANNUAL SUPER CHILI BOWL COOK OFF February 12, 2022 Orange Beach - Flora-Bama 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Call 850-492-0611 ARX MORTIS HAUNTED ATTRACTION – MY BLOODY VALENTINE February 12, 2022 Killen - 4051 Hwy. 72 Admission www.arxmortis.com 27TH ANNUAL SUPER CHILI BOWL COOK OFF February 12, 2022 Orange Beach - Flora-Bama 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Call 850-492-0611 REMEMBERING A LEGEND: A TRIBUTE TO ROGER HAWKINS February 20, 2022 Florence - Shoals Theater 6:00 p.m.

Call 850-492-0611 MARDI GRAS MURDER MYSTERY DINNER SHOW February 23-25, 2022 Foley - Brandon Styles Theater at OWA - Admission 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Call 850-492-0611 CARNIVAL CELEBRATION PARADE February 26, 2022

Decatur - Downtown Call 256-341-0562 13TH ANNUAL RUSSELL FOREST RUN February 26, 2022 Alexander City - 17 Russell Farms Road - Admission 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Call 256-397-1019 LULU’S ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AND MARDI GRAS BOAT PARADE March 1, 2022 Gulf Shores - LuLu’s Homeport Marina Call 251-967-5858 AN INSPECTOR CALLS PRESENTED BY SEACT March 1-5, 2022 Dothan - Dothan Cultural Arts Center Admission - 7:00 p.m.

Call 334-794-0400 GEORGE LINDSEY/UNA FILM FESTIVAL March 3-5, 2022 Florence - UNA Campus Call 256-765-4592 JUNIE B. JONES JR., THE MUSICAL March 3-6, 2022 Birmingham - Virginia Samford Theater - Admission Call 205-251-1228 ACA CONVENTION & TRADE SHOW March 4-5, 2022 Mobile - Mobile Convention Center Admission Call 334-265-1867 COTTONTAIL'S VILLAGE ARTS, CRAFTS AND GIFTS SHOW March 4-6, 2022 Birmingham - BJCC - Admission Friday: 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Sunday: Noon - 5:00 p.m.

Call 205-836-7178 STICKWORK March 4 - September 1, 2022 Huntsville - Huntsville Botanical Garden - Admission Call 256-830-4447

BALLYHOO FESTIVAL March 4-6, 2022 Gulf Shores - Gulf State Park Admission Call 251-223-9370

ALABAMA MEDIEVAL FANTASY FESTIVAL March 19-20, 2022 Greenville - 4776 Fort Dale Road Call 251-423-1257

20TH ANNIVERSARY JERRY BROWN ARTS FESTIVAL March 5-6, 2022 Hamilton - Tombigbee Electric Cooperative Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Sunday: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Call 205-921-9483

59TH ANNUAL RATTLESNAKE RODEO March 25-27, 2022 Opp - Channel-Lee Stadium Admission - 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Call 251-423-1257

FESTIVAL OF FLOWERS March 11-13, 2022 Gulf Shores - Gulf State Park Admission Call 251-223-9370 2ND ANNUAL OUTDOOR RECREATION EXPO March 12-13, 2022 Andalusia - 20096 Kiwanis Drive Admission Friday: Gates open at 4:00 p.m.

Saturday: Gates open at 9:00 a.m.

Call 334-222-0613 FESTIVAL OF ART March 12-13, 2022 Orange Beach - Orange Beach Coastal Arts Center 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Call 251-981-2787 HUNTSVILLE RAPTOR SHOW March 18, 2022 Huntsville - Huntsville Botanical Gardens - Admission Call 256-830-4447 NEACA SPRING CRAFT SHOW March 18-20, 2022 Huntsville - Von Braun Center Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Sunday: Noon - 5:00 p.m.

Call 256-880-7987 SOUTHEASTERN LIVESTOCK EXPOSITION RODEO March 18-20, 2022 Montgomery - Garrett Coliseum Admission Call 888-276-3362

***Please note that some of these events may be postponed or canceled due to COVID-19. Please contact the event directly in order to find out more information about the event.***

“What’s Happening in Alabama” Policy The AFC Cooperative Farming News publishes event listings as space allows, giving preference to agricultural events of regional or statewide interest and those that are annual or one-time events. The magazine assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of information submitted for publication and advises calling ahead to confirm dates, locations, times and possible admission fees.

To be included in the calendar, send listings to: Cooperative Farming News Calendar of Events P.O. Box 2227 Decatur, AL 35609 -oremail to Calendar of Events at subscribe@alafarm.com *Please include name of event, where it will be held (both town and physical location), a phone number for more information, and an email or website.* *Event Listings must be received at least two months in advance and will be accepted up to a year in advance.*

February/March 2022

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“My Top Pick Pinkeye Peas just plain out-yield any other variety I have planted...”

k c i P p To UTILITY PATENT PROTECTED

Pinkeye Pinkeye P inkeye

Top Pick Peas gives you top yields plus pods on top of the plant.

Brown Brown B rown Crowder C rowder Crowder

Cream Cream C ream

“In the six plus years I have observed peas growing, the Top Pick Pinkeye’s and Top Pick Creams are two of the best peas. They have excellent germination; seedling vigor; high yielding and easy to pick. Plus their food quality is great.

They are good for “U Pick” operations because the peas set on top and the outside of the plant making a real showy bush type plant, which makes it easy for picking by hand and by machine. They are also easy to shell by hand or by sheller and make a good shell out. There are also no problems with disease.

If you have a market operations, you definitely need both types of peas – Top Pick Pinkeye’s and Top Pick Creams. These are by far the best peas on the market today.

They are exceptional peas.”

Jason Barkett - J.E.B. Agriculture Consultant “I grew up farming and I’m impressed with Top Pick Pinkeyed peas.

We had early rains and the Top Pick peas loaded up. Some we planted late; some we no-tilled; plus we had more rain, but they really made peas. They pick great and shell out good and best of all they taste great.

Seeds for Southern Soils

We sold them at the Fresh Market, along with shelled peas. The customers came back asking for Top Pick peas. We will plant more Top Pick Pinkeyed peas next year and years to come.”

Bo Levins - Planterville, Alabama “I first saw Top Pick Pinkeyed peas growing at the E. V. Smith Research Center and really liked the way they put out on top and around the outside of the plant. They were really loaded up with peas.

I have been planting these pinkeyed for ten years now. They produce more than the old bush running pinkeyed purple hull peas. They just out produce any other pinkeyed on the market. They shell out great and taste great.

Top Pick Pinkeyed peas work for me and there is no need to plant any other pinkeyed pea.”

Rob Peacock - Pike Road, Alabama

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SPRAYING MADE EASY AND AFFORDABLE 12 VOLT SPOT SPRAYERS REPAIR PARTS AVAILABLE AT YOUR LOCAL CO-OP

BRONZE 15 Gallon 404799 25 Gallon 404803

GOOD

SILVER 15 Gallon 404800 25 Gallon 404804

BETTER

UTV & 3 POINT SPRAYERS

UTV SPRAYERS

55 GALLON 3 POINT

12 Volt 65 Gallon - 454079

BXT - 36’ Swath 404848

12 Volt 45 Gallon - 454198

*Boom Kits Sold Separately

GOLD

15 Gallon 404801 25 Gallon 404805

BEST

110, 150 & 200 GALLON

BOOMLESS, 6 & 8 ROW BOOMS IN STOCK

Hamilton - 36’ Swath 404798

7-Nozzle - 140” Swath 480442

LOW PROFILE DELUXE TRAILER SPRAYERS

LOW PROFILE PASTURE SPRAYERS TR300E-MBXT22PS 300 Gallon 416791

With BXT Boomless Nozzles - 36’ Broadcast Sprays Left Or Right Or Both

CALL FOR PRICING

• 500 Gallon Elliptical Tank • Heavy Duty Low Profile Frame • Pressure, Agitation & Strainer Assemblies • Strainer Assy On Top Of Frame In Front Of Tank • Adjustable Hitch Height • 15” Jack • 11L-15 Implement Tread Tires • Hypro 8 Roller Pump

Visit A Co-Op Store Near You Or Email Jerry.Ogg@faithwayalliance.com for Participating Stores (Prices Subject To Change)

FUTURE LEADERS PROGRAM

Alabama Farmers Cooperative, Inc.

AFC’s Future Leaders Program is designed to provide our cooperative system the next generation of key employees, equipped to handle the challenges of agribusiness management. FLPs will be exposed to all aspects of the Co-op, as well as the opportunity to attend organized training sessions. Through a variety of store experience and continued education, the FLPs will gain the tools needed to be successful in the agribusiness sector.

Continuing Education

For more information on this program please contact Samantha Hendricks at samantha.hendricks@alafarm.com

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Cooperative Farming News

Customer Service Crop Nutrients and Feed Team Building Merchandising Sales and Finance

Benefits

Health/Vision/Dental Insurance Vacation and Sick Leave Competitive Salaries 401k Matching Life Insurance