September/October 2010

Have you heard?Your annual membership fee includes many valuable member benefits.

Highlighted below are a few of those benefits. To see a complete list,

visit our Web site at www.msfb.com. Take advantage of the benefits

available to Farm Bureau®

members ONLY. If you are not a member,

joining is simple. Contact the Farm Bureau office in the county where

you live, pay your membership dues, and start enjoying these benefits

today! For more information, contact Member Benefits Coordinator

Dedra Luke at 1.800.227.8244, ext. 4169.

www.msfb.com

ADT HOME SECURITY SYSTEMSouthern Security Services is offering an ADT

Basic Home Security System installed at no

charge (36-month monitoring contract required)

to members of Farm Bureau.

Some restrictions may apply.

For more information, call 1.800.960.9119.

ACCIDENTAL DEATH BENEFITProvides for accidental death benefit of $750 for children and $1500 for adults. Benefit increases $150 each year

for the member and spouse if the current membership year’s dues are paid before membership year due date

(anniversary date). Maximum benefit is $3000. Benefit does not apply to deaths caused by accident while

occupying any vehicle which is required to be licensed under applicable state motor vehicle laws; arising out of

military activity occurring within a combat zone; suicide; or occurs during, or is the direct or indirect result of

injuries incurred during, the commission of a felony by a person covered under this member service. All criteria

must be met to receive payment of the accidental death benefit.

2 M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R

ATV DISCOUNTSThe following ATV discounts are available to

Farm Bureau members:

Got Gear ATV of Ridgeland—$500 discount on ATVs,

motorcycles and 4-wheel utility vehicles.

Greenville Motorsports—Receive up to $750 in free

accessories or $500 discount coupon.

Oxford Outdoors—$500 discount off MSRP on the pur-

chase of ATVs, utility vehicles, and motorcycles. OTHER

EXCLUSIONS DO APPLY.

Features

CONTENTSMISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

Volume 86 Number 5September/October 2010

EDITORGlynda Phillips

Graphic Arts CoordinatorDanielle Ginn

Department Assistant/Ad Sales Rep.Angela Thompson

FARM BUREAU OFFICERSPresident - David Waide

Vice President - Donald GantVice President - Randy KnightVice President - Reggie Magee

Treasurer - Billy DavisCorporate Secretary - Ilene Sumrall

FARM BUREAU DIRECTORSDr. Jim Perkins, IukaKevin Simpson, AshlandB.A. Teague, New AlbanyBill Ryan Tabb, Cleveland

Coley L. Bailey, Jr., CoffeevilleDan L. Bishop, BaldwynJeffrey R. Tabb, WalthallDoss Brodnax, StarkvilleWanda Hill, Isola

Weldon Harris, KosciuskoWilliam Jones, MeridianMax Anderson, DecaturStanley Williams, Mt. OliveMark Chaney, VicksburgMoody Davis, BrookhavenBill Pigott, TylertownD.P. O’Quinn, PurvisWendell Gavin, LaurelClifton Hicks, LeakesvilleTom Daniels, GulfportBetty Mills, WinonaClint Russell, Cleveland

HONORARY VICE-PRESIDENTSLouis J. Breaux, David H. Bennett, and

Warren Oakley

Mississippi Farm Country (ISSN 1529-9600) magazine is published bimonthly by the

*Mississippi Farm Bureau® Federation.

EDITORIAL AND BUSINESS OFFICES6311 Ridgewood RoadJackson, MS 39211

TELEPHONE601.977.4153

ADVERTISING(National) Paul Hurst 1.800.397.8908

(Southeastern U.S.) Angela Thompson1.800.227.8244 ext. 4242

Farm Bureau members receive this publication as part of their membership benefit. Periodicals

postage is paid at Jackson, MS, and at additional mailing offices.

Postmaster: Send address changes to P. O. Box 1972, Jackson, MS 39215.

*FARM BUREAU®, FB® and all Farm Bureau Logos used in thismagazine are registered service marks owned by the AmericanFarm Bureau Federation. They may not be used in anycommercial manner without the prior written consent of theAmerican Farm Bureau Federation.

Material in this publication is based on what the editor believesto be reliable information. Neither Mississippi Farm BureauFederation nor those individuals or organizations contributingto the MFBF publication assume any liability for errors that mightgo undetected in the publication - this includes statements inarticles or advertisements that could lead to erroneous personalor business management decisions.

ABOUT THE COVERJason and Lindsey Ellzey, the 2009 Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation State

Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement Award winners, grow blueberries on

a diversified family farm near Ellisville. Read their story inside. Also pictured

are Colleen, 9, and Colby, 6.

4 FRUITS & VEGETABLESMississippi’s commercial fruit and vegetable industries

consist of 20,000 to 25,000 acres of traditional and

specialty vegetables, 20,000 acres of sweet potatoes, and

several thousand acres of fruits. Come with us as we

learn more.

AG IMAGE CAMPAIGNThe 2010 Ag Image Campaign was a huge success.

Read all about this very important endeavor inside.

SOLVE THE MYSTERYOur Solve the Mystery Contest spotlights the county seat

of Sharkey County. Read the clues and make your guess.

We also visit a Clay County man who repairs clocks.

4 President’s Message

6 Commodity Update: Dairy

7 Commodity Update: Rice

22 Counsel’s Corner

520

Departments

S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y 3

his issue of Mississippi

Farm Country is focused

around fruit and vegetable

production. This is really

becoming a great opportu-

nity for many farmers in

Mississippi. It’s an especially exciting

time for small-acreage farmers in terms

of availability of markets.

With an emphasis being placed on locally

grown, markets have emerged that we have

not had before. It is virtually impossible

now to go into a county and not see

locally grown, locally produced vendors

sitting on the town square selling their

produce. It is really a great opportunity for

consumers to know firsthand the producer

who grew these products and to know that

in their purchase they are getting a real value

in healthy, nutritious foods.

This has far-reaching consequences. It

provides numerous opportunities for the

individual who wants either to supplement

their farm income or to focus on making a

living from a few acres.

Another market opportunity can be found

in the focus being placed in most nutrition

programs on reducing the obesity of many

consumers. Fruits and vegetables offer a

great opportunity for contributing to the

USDA goal of reducing the obesity in the

United States.

Organic is popular in fruit and vegetable

production. I am certainly not one who

would criticize methods of organic produc-

tion. However, I am a realist. I also know

that, as a nation, without the capability of

having genetically altered plants that

have natural resistance to disease through

genetically modified organism, we cannot

feed this population and still contribute to

our foreign trade deficit that we as producers

manage to do on an annual basis.

The influx of immigrants into the country

has caused a huge demand for ethnic

foods. This will not change, at least in the

immediate future. Producers need to be

mindful of the fact that this ethnic demand

will create markets that we have not had in

the past. In addition, there are products

grown traditionally outside Mississippi that

need to be looked at from a research

perspective to see if that particular product

can be made adaptable to our soils and

climate and enjoy the profitability that some

of those ethnic foods will bring.

Globalization will affect the growth of the

fruits and vegetables market. Since we have

seen the production of numerous new

vegetables in our area, we must take into

account the ability and the cost benefits of

locally grown for the American consumer.

The most notable area of cost savings

would be the fact that, if the product is

grown locally, transportation cost is

ultimately eliminated. While globalization

has a huge impact, it does have its

drawbacks, and transportation of product is

one of the biggest costs to any consumer in

any country. It also provides opportunities

that are almost unlimited.

The research that could be done on our

various fruits and vegetables needs to be

done with our land-grant colleges. I am

certainly a huge proponent of land-grant

research because this research is unbiased.

It needs to be publicly funded research

because the public will be the benefactor in

the end. It is the kind of research that causes

producers to not have to experiment on their

own with the various methods of production

that go into the food and fiber we consume.

Even though the opportunities are great

for the industry, there are numerous

challenges as well. Since we have had e coli

and other scares in the fruit and vegetable

industries, more people are aware of the

production methods and those things

regulated by USDA and FDA and the impact

their regulations have on the accessibility of

protectants for their crops.

As consumers, we are going to have to be

mindful of those individuals who approve

chemicals that are used in crop production

and insist that their decisions are science-

based. This is our job as consumers.

Knowing that farmers are out there

producing our food supply and knowing,

too, that they are consuming what they

produce gives us a degree of satisfaction

that, perhaps, we have not realized in our

biosecurity effort of food.

Certainly, a farmer is going to put a

special interest on producing wholesome,

nutritious food. The farmer is also trying to

ensure his family a wholesome, nutritious

food supply, in addition to improving the

family income. This is a noble goal and will

continue to cause the locally grown business

to prosper and flourish.

All in all, I think the outlook looks bright

for this industry for the coming months

and years. For all of the reasons I have

mentioned earlier and the fact that people

are more aware of their health conditions,

consumers are going to stress the need for

products in their diet that will contribute to

that health concern.

The one last thing I would mention that

could provide opportunities in the future

for many producers is the possibility of

growing pharmaceutical plants that may

not cure disease but may prevent some of

the most dreaded diseases.

This can only be accomplished with

research and, hopefully, does not go

unnoticed as farmers look to the future for

what the consuming public will demand

and what we as producers will offer to

consumers in the marketplace.

T


CONSUMER DEMAND IS GROWING FOR LOCAL FOODS

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

By David Waide • President, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation


By Greg Gibson, MFBF Member Services Director

Our Ag Image Campaign for 2010 has finally wound down, and

it was a tremendous success, thanks to all of the organizations and

individuals who supported this effort with their donations of money,

services or time.

Let me recap some of the

things we did this year.

The campaign launched

Feb. 15 with three TV spots

playing on two stations in the

Jackson market. These spots

were written and produced

in-house so we had very little

production costs involved.

Our deal with WLBT was that

they would match the total num-

ber of spots that we purchased

with an equal number of freebies

recorded by Chief Meteorologist Barbie Bassett. Barbie has a long

history with Farm Bureau, going back to the year she served as Miss

Farm Bureau-Mississippi.

We also hosted four cooking segments on the “Mid-Day

Mississippi” program, where we prepared a Mississippi commod-

ity. A local farmer joined the group on each segment, talking

about that commodity and the Ag Image Campaign. All of

these segments are now posted on Farm Bureau’s YouTube Channel.

All told, we ran over 1200 TV spots in the Jackson market.

Another focal point of the campaign was the purchase of

billboards throughout the metro Jackson area. Fifteen static

billboards and one digital billboard helped spread the word

about the job that the farmers of Mississippi do every day for the

consumers of our state.

The campaign also purchased radio time on SuperTalk Mississippi,

the statewide talk radio network. A schedule of over 800 ads was

purchased and, as a bonus, we were able to appear on several of the

talk shows to promote the campaign. This allowed us to go into

detail about what farmers really do on the farm and the benefits the

pubic receives from agriculture.

Another highlight was our promotion with the Mississippi Braves.

The M-Braves are the AA affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and play in

Pearl. Our event with them was sponsoring a “Friday Night

Fireworks” show. More than 4,000 people attended the game, where

local farmers passed out “Farm Families of Mississippi” refrigerator

magnets and recipe cards featuring Mississippi commodities.

We also had our TV spots played on the Jumbotron in centerfield,

and farm facts were read over the PA system between innings. In

addition, we purchased a banner that will hang in the stadium

all year.

“Farm Families of Mississippi” also has a Web site promoting

many of the things that farmers do for the citizens of the state. The

address is: www.growingmississippi.org.

But the most exciting part of this whole campaign came when

the follow-up survey results were revealed.

When asked if they remembered seeing, hearing or reading ads

promoting Mississippi agriculture recently, 53 percent of the public

said yes. According to the research firm, “It is not unusual in

commercial studies that recall for specific message campaigns is less

than 30 percent.” So we feel like a 53 percent recall is very good.

We also polled the public about specific messages that we

were trying to target. Before the

campaign began, only 37 percent of

the public thought that Americans

spend a smaller percentage of

their income on food than other

countries. One of our commercials

specifically dealt with that issue.

After the campaign, 49 percent

now agree with that statement – a

full 12 percent swing in perception.

We were told beforehand that if

we could move the needle 4-5

percent on any one issue, we should

be happy.

Before the campaign, only 65 percent believed that most farms

in Mississippi are family farms. Now, 73 percent believe it – an 8

percent increase.

Before the campaign, 62 percent held a very favorable opinion of

farmers in the state. Now, 72 percent hold a very favorable opinion

– a 10 percent increase.

Before the campaign, 60 percent believed that farmers are

good stewards of the land. Now, 88 percent believe it – a 28

percent increase.

To sum it all up, we feel that this campaign had a tremendously

successful first year. The marketing research firm said, “It is clear

that these messages had a strong impact in Mississippi Farm

Bureau’s media campaign.”

We hope you agree with us that this is an important undertaking

and that the campaign should continue for many years to come. We

hope you will continue to support “Farm Families of Mississippi”

as strongly as you have so far.

Ag Ambassador Scholarship OfferedBeginning in 2010, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF)

will offer a $2,000 Ag Ambassador Scholarship to recognize a young

leader who excels in public speaking and is willing to use their

talent to tell the farm story. A first alternate $1,000 scholarship will

also be presented. The scholarships are awarded through the MFBF

Women’s Program

The Ag Ambassador, who will be named at our annual meeting in

December, will make select appearances, at MFBF expense, on

behalf of agriculture and Farm Bureau throughout the year.

Applicants must be planning to attend or must be attending a

community college, college or university in Mississippi. Applicants

must be a member of a Farm Bureau family with a current

membership. The age limit shall be 19-25 years of age.

A 300-word ag-related essay and an application must be received

at the Farm Bureau state office by Sept. 15.

For more information and an application, call your county Farm

Bureau office or the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Women’s

Department at 1.800.227.8244, Ext. 4245.

AG IMAGE CAMPAIGN HUGE SUCCESS

DAIRY


Farm Bureau, at the direction of President David Waide, has

formed a Dairy Advisory Committee, comprised of dairy farmers

from across the state, to find solutions to the problems. The Dairy

Advisory Committee has identified four areas of focus:

• Developing Growth Management Policy

• Federal Milk Marketing Order Reform

• Most Efficient Production System for the Southeast

• Marketing Efforts, Including “Niche Marketing,” in

the Southeast

A WAY OF LIFE All of the recent changes within our dairy industry are distressing,

especially to those of us who grew up on a dairy. I can’t help but

think back to my own childhood growing up on a Walthall County

dairy farm. It was a great way of life.

When you are raised on a dairy farm, you learn a work ethic

second to none. A dairy is hard work, and your work is never done!

Taking care of animals and nurturing them brought me great

pleasure and taught me a lot about life’s ups and downs, whether it

was helping a baby calf be born into this world or having your

favorite horse die from old age, which, by the way, was a beautiful

black-and-white paint named Cherokee.

Dairy farming is a way of life and a tradition that has been a

valuable economic benefit to our rural communities through the

years, especially my home county of Walthall, where the money

turns over several times in the same area with local businesses.

We just hope that this way of life will continue so that generations

to come will enjoy that solid foundation that you receive growing up

on the rural farms of this great state. We also hope to continue to

produce locally grown food and fiber, which is both healthier and

less expensive for our consumers.

Mississippi deserves a strong dairy industry. We appreciate your

continued support.

DAIRY INDUSTRY FACTSHere are some interesting facts about the dairy industry:

• The United States has 9,000,000 dairy cows and 60,000

dairy farms.

• The southeastern United States has 4,000 dairy farms.

• Mississippi has 124 dairy farms.

John Anderson, American Farm Bureau Federation Economist,

predicts milk prices will increase as the overall economy improves

in addition to an increase in exports due to the weak U. S. dollar.

Forage is crucial to the dairy industry in Mississippi due to

the abundance of grass in our area; therefore, we rely on research

conducted by our land-grant universities to provide updated

information on what will increase milk production throughout

the year.

State Needs A Strong Dairy IndustryMax Anderson, MFBF Dairy Advisory Committee Chair

Doug Ervin, MFBF Commodity Coordinator for Dairy

Max Anderson Doug Ervin

COMMODITY UPDATE

In 2010, we continue to see a decline in the number of dairy farms here inMississippi. This is primarily due to our state’s many economic challenges. Many people are concerned about the deterioration of the dairy industryinfrastructure. Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) is working to solve theproblems facing our dairy industry.


RICE

Since 1991, attendance at the Rice Luncheon has grown from1,000 to an average of around 2,000 participants, with over 300rice dishes prepared by Delta area residents and restaurants. Notonly Mississippians but visitors from other states attend this eventeach year.

SOME HISTORYDelta Rice Promotions began informally on Aug. 1, 1991,

when a group of Extension Service clientele and Farm Bureaumembers from Bolivar County met at the Bolivar County ExtensionService office to discuss how to celebrate the first-ever nationally-proclaimed Rice Month to be held in September of that year.This first meeting led to expanding the Rice Tasting Luncheon,sponsored in past years by the Bolivar County Extension Serviceand Bolivar County Farm Bureau.

“Friday the 13th” in September 1991 became a lucky day. Thefirst-ever National Rice Month Luncheon was a huge success,and now the luncheon is held each year on the third Fridayof September.

In 1994, Delta Rice Promotions won the first-ever USA RiceFederation Award for Best September Rice Month Promotion.In 1996, Delta Rice Promotions was presented with the Award ofExcellence by the USA Rice Federation for rice promotions inthe state.

Today, Delta Rice Promotions’ mission is exclusively for thepromotion of Mississippi-produced rice. Their activities includethe annual Rice Luncheon; the writing and publishing of the ricecookbook, “Between the Levees;” the Mississippi Rice Cook-Off

contest; educational programs; grocery store promotions; speakingto various groups about Mississippi rice; and exhibits at variousexpos and trade shows.

RICE LUNCHEONThis year’s Rice Luncheon will feature a very special live

cooking demonstration hosted by well-known Mississippirestaurateur, chef and food writer Robert St. John of Hattiesburg.

Tickets are $2 and may be purchased at county Extension officesthroughout the Delta, as well as local Farm Bureau offices, and willbe available for purchase at the door.

Please call 662.843.8371 for more information.

Rice Luncheon Celebrates 20th Anniversaryby Gary Fioranelli, MFBF Rice Advisory Committee Chair

Justin Ferguson, MFBF Commodity Coordinator for Rice

Gary Fioranelli Justin Ferguson

COMMODITY UPDATE

On Friday, Sept. 17, Delta Rice Promotions will celebrate the 20thanniversary of its annual Rice Luncheon. Through the years, thisevent has proven to be a real success story and a great tool forpromoting Mississippi’s rice industry.


ive years ago, Jones County young farmer Jason

Ellzey and his father Joe began growing blueberries

on their diversified poultry, cow/calf, hay, soybeans

and timber operation near Ellisville. The Ellzeys

wanted another income stream on the farm, something

that would generate revenue on a small amount of

acreage.

The farmers visited several area blueberry

operations and talked with now-retired Mississippi

State University horticulture specialist John Braswell

before putting in about 10 acres their first year. The blueberry operation

has since grown to 40 acres with a yield of about 4,566 pounds of berries

per acre per season.

“When you are starting out with a new crop like blueberries, you grow 10

acres, and you learn and you fix whatever went wrong. Then you go on and

do 10 more acres,” Jason said. “That way, you don’t run the risk of losing a

lot of money and failing in a big way.”

The Ellzeys’ success with blueberries can be credited to doing their

homework, working hard and using very creative production methods.

GrowinG Creatively

Jason says growing up on a row crop farm has helped him understand the

importance of adequate water and fertilizer, proper soil, positive hydrogen,

and weed control. He and his father have designed equipment and methods

of planting and managing their blueberries that have produced some

extremely high yields and vigorous growth from some very young plants.

For example, in the early process of preparing the soil, they incorporate

pine bark into the soil before planting. While this is a common practice with

blueberry production, the way they incorporate it is not at all common. Jason

says most farmers would simply pile the bark on the ground in rows then

run a tractor-mounted tiller over it to incorporate it.

“While this does work, the benefits of the bark – less soil compaction,

aeration and water movement – were not maximized,” he said. “Through a

redesign of our cultivator and the small three-point hitch disk we had, we

were able to build nice beds and incorporate the bark throughout the entire

root zone.”

The Ellzeys also decided to unroll round bales of mulch with a tractor-

mounted bale unroller directly over the prepared beds.

“This gives us a uniform strip of mulch to plant through and promotes

vigorous growth due to the lack of competition,” Jason said. “It also saves

time, money and the labor of constantly spraying. In addition, it creates a

new market for our mulch hay as other farmers are impressed and have

started buying our mulch and using it in their blueberry operations.

“You must think outside of the box if you want to succeed in farming

today,” he said. “With all of the changes in agriculture and the current

economy, that’s the only way that you are going to survive.”

aChievement award

As the 2009 Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation State Young Farmers

and Ranchers Achievement Award winners, Jason and his wife Lindsey

received the use of John Deere and Kubota tractors. Usually, young farmer

winners select larger pieces of equipment. Jason’s tractors are narrow-row.

“They looked at me funny when I asked for the smaller tractors, but

these have worked out great for me,” he said. “They are the perfect size for

what I do.”

F


By Glynda Phillips

Jason bought a GPS guidance system with money

presented to him by the federation as part of the prize

package. The money is designated to be used toward the

purchase of technology.

Jason says the GPS system works well and really helps

to extend his working hours. In addition, he and Lindsey

received a Ford truck from Southern Farm Bureau Life

Insurance Company.

the Future

Looking toward the future, Jason says he and his

father plan to make several major improvements to their

blueberry operation.

“We may eventually build our own processing shed,

but that won’t happen for several years,” he said. “We will

see where we are when the time arrives.”

Jason and Lindsey say they will continue their

involvement with Farm Bureau well into the future.

They appreciate the organization’s work on behalf of

Mississippi farmers.

The Ellzeys are also members of the Gulf South

Blueberry Growers Association and local civic organiza-

tions. They are active members of their church.

Jason and Lindsey have two children, Colleen, 9, and

Colby, 6. FC

1 0 M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R

The Mississippi Beef Council and Mississippi Cattlemen’s Associationhave teamed up to find the best burger and we need your help.

The Mississippi’s Best Burger contest aims to find thesingle best hamburger served in a Mississippi restaurant.

Help us out by eating and nominating a great tasting burger fromyour favorite eatery.

Contest runs from October 1, 2010 thru November 15, 2010.

Mississippi’sBest Burger Contest

To nominate yourfavorite burger go to

www.msbeef.orgwww.msbeef.org

The winningrestaurant willbe recognized byMBC with a liveRadio Remote,

Print advertisingand Featured onOur Website!

For more info. contact:Mississippi Beef Council680 Monroe St. Suite AJackson, MS 39202(601) 353-4520www.msbeef.org

FC


hen someone claims to have the best-looking home garden in their county, you just have to take a

look at it yourself. On a recent hot July morning, I found myself ankle-deep in Waldo Tadlock’s

bountiful vegetable garden, and I have to admit, if it’s not the best in Scott County, it certainly comes

awfully close.

Rows upon rows of good-looking sweet corn tower above rows upon rows of good-looking

peas, squash, zucchini, watermelons, bell peppers, and tomatoes. Tadlock’s acre-and-a-half garden is a

testament not only to his creativity, work ethic and excellent gardening skills but to a generous

weather pattern that has brought timely rain and plenty of sunshine to his area of the state.

Tadlock, who is 76, sells a few of his vegetables but mainly just enjoys giving them away. He has a list

of about 40 folks whom he says deserve them for one good reason or another. His wife Catherine and mother-in-law Viola also freeze

some vegetables for the family to enjoy all winter.

According to experts at the Mississippi State University (MSU) Extension Service, home gardening is a popular hobby in our state.

Some people garden for exercise and some for the enjoyment of harvesting flavorful produce that can be eaten fresh from the garden or

preserved for use during winter.

Others garden so they can grow a wider variety of vegetables and herbs than is available at their local grocery store. In recent years, many

people are growing vegetables to save money on their grocery bill.

For more information about planting and maintaining fruit and vegetables, view the “Garden Tabloid,” published by the MSU Extension

Service, at http://msucares.com/pubs/publications/p1091.pdf.

A retired patternmaker for Gulf Plastics and Piper Industries, Waldo Tadlock is featured in a book by Madison author Jim Hemphill that

charts the history of the wood grain plastics industry in our state. The book is on file at the Mississippi Department of Archives and

History. Waldo and Catherine Tadlock are Scott County Farm Bureau members.

A Great

HOMEGARDEN(By Glynda Phillips

W(

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Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation’s summer commodity conferencesenjoyed excellent participation. Attendees benefited from informativeupdates on Extension, research, and industry activities and from policydiscussions in preparation for the upcoming legislative year.

YF&R Competitions Offer Great PrizesThe American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Young Farmer

and Rancher (YF&R) competitions will offer great prizes in 2011.

The Achievement Award recipient will win a 2011 Dodge Ram

pickup, courtesy of Ram Trucks, as well as a paid registration to

the 2011 YF&R Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida, on

Feb. 5-7, 2011. Each of the four runners-up will receive a Case IH

Farmall tractor from CASE IH.

The Discussion Meet winner will receive a 2011 Dodge Ram

pickup, courtesy of Ram Trucks, as well as a paid registration to

the 2011 YF&R Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida, on

Feb. 5-7, 2011. Each of the three runners-up will receive a $6,000

U.S. Savings Bond and a Farm Boss on behalf of Stihl.

Winner of the Excellence in Agriculture Award will receive a

2011 Dodge Ram pickup, courtesy of Ram Trucks, as well as a paid

registration to the 2011 YF&R Leadership Conference in Orlando,

Florida, on Feb. 5-7, 2011. Each of the runners-up will receive a

$6,000 U.S. Savings Bond and a Farm Boss on behalf of Stihl.

Winners will be determined during AFBF’s 92nd Annual

Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, January 9-11, 2011. For more

information about YF&R competition, contact Mississippi Farm

Bureau Federation YF&R Coordinator Greg Shows at

1.601.977.4277. Mississippi also offers great prizes.

Membership DrawingDon’t forget to pay your 2011 membership dues by the official

payment deadline of Oct. 31, 2010. Mississippi Farm Bureau

Federation (MFBF) will conduct a random drawing immediately

following the official deadline, and a $250 check will be awarded

to an individual Farm Bureau member or member-family in each of

MFBF’s eight regions.

Only memberships for the 2011 membership year that are paid on

or before Oct. 31, 2010, will be eligible for the drawing. MFBF

employees are not eligible to participate. The member does not have

to be present to win.


arty Bost is a tomato

grower extraordinaire.

Each year, he makes a

point of growing tomatoes

that are juicy, delicious,

and very much in dem-

and. No cardboard-tasting

tomatoes for this Lafayette

County farmer.

Marty has a lot of

experience growing tomatoes. When he was just a kid, he

began helping his grandmother grow her popular tomatoes,

and he hasn’t stopped since. He also looks for the very best-

tasting varieties available.

“I’ll try a new variety, and if it doesn’t taste good, I won’t

use it,” he said. “I have grown some I didn’t like, and I have

disked them under; whereas, other people might go on and

try to sell them.

“Customers today are interested in healthy, locally grown

foods that taste good,” he said. “My vegetables have to be

good enough to make people want to come back again

and again.”

A TYPICAL SEASONEach year, Marty grows about 40 to 50 acres of vegeta-

bles. In addition to the tomatoes, he plants sweet corn,

squash, eggplant, peas and beans, to name just a few. In the

fall, he puts in cool season vegetables, and, in late Decem-

ber, he grows cabbage. Marty markets his produce on his

farm and at the Mid-Town Farmers Market in Oxford.

“Every year, you learn something new,” he said. “It is an

ongoing process.”

Growing and harvesting vegetables is labor intensive.

Produce must be hand-picked, and it must be sold before

it spoils. In addition, vegetables are vulnerable to weather,

insects and disease.

Marty says his area of the state is not the easiest for

growing fruits and vegetables.

“Up here in the hills, we have this red clay,” he said.

“Plus, we have weather conditions that can be harsh. We

sometimes have unexpected freezes in the spring and

excessive rainfall, like last year.

“I like dry, sunny weather,” he said. “I pair that with

drip irrigation, and I’m happy. Those are the very best

conditions for growing vegetables.”

In July, Marty opens up two fields for U-pick customers.

Advertising is primarily word of mouth.

“We have repeat customers, and we enjoy visiting with

them,” he said. “Your customers become your friends, and

you look forward to seeing them year after year.”

SOMETHING YEAR-ROUND Marty stays busy year-round. When he’s not planting and

harvesting, he’s working with seed in two greenhouses on

the property. This past winter, he also built a trailer to

display his vegetables on the farm and at the farmers

market. The trailer is customer-friendly with a metal roof

that overhangs a bit so people will have shelter from the sun

and rain while browsing through the vegetable bins.

In addition to the vegetable greenhouses, the Bost farm


ExtraordinaireBy Glynda Phillips


boasts a greenhouse that Marty’s mother Aileen uses for her

flowers. On the day of my visit, I got to see Aileen’s field of

zinnias and it was absolutely beautiful. She sells the zinnias

as cut flowers at the Mid-Town Farmers Market.

A GOOD SIZE“This is my 11th year of growing vegetables,” Marty said.

“I plan to do this as long as I am able. I can make a living on

just this much acreage and by retailing my vegetables both

on the farm and at the local farmers market.

“If you are a small farmer, you shouldn’t try to wholesale

your crop,” he added. “You will go broke. Sell what you

have at farmers markets and on your farm. That’s the way

to go.”

Marty is often assisted by family members. Aileen, who

serves on the Lafayette County Farm Bureau Board of

Directors, makes a point of helping out on the farm as does

Marty’s wife Rachel, who works at Ole Miss. Marty and

Rachel’s children, Taylor, 11, and Cody, 4, enjoy shelling

peas and shucking corn.

“We’ve grown about as big as we want to be,” he said in

conclusion. “By commercial wholesale standards, we are

small. But we are big enough to make a living for our

family.”

Aileen is interim director of the Mid-Town Farmers Market in

Oxford. She invites you to visit the market, which is open

Wednesdays, from 12 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturdays, from

7 a.m. to 11 a.m., from mid-April to October. The Web site is

www.mtfarmersmarket.com.

FC


Mississippi’s commercial fruit and vegetable industries consist of

approximately 20,000 to 25,000 acres of traditional and specialty

vegetables, 20,000 acres of sweet potatoes, and several thousand acres

of fruit. Among the more popular commercial fruits are blueberries,

muscadines, peaches and strawberries.

In 2010, the state’s approximately 3,000 acres of commercial

blueberries represented the largest concentration of fruit crop acreage

in the state.

Strategic MarketingMississippi is home to several large wholesale fruit and vegetable

operations; however, most fruit and vegetable farms are fewer than

50 acres in size.

“Our large growers market their crops locally and nationally,” said

Dr. Rick Snyder, a vegetable specialist with Mississippi State

University’s Truck Crops Experiment Station in Crystal Springs. “For

small-acreage growers, finding markets is more of a struggle.

“All farmers, but especially those with small acreage, should

figure out their markets before they begin growing anything for com-

mercial sales,” he said. “Some type of strategic marketing plan is good

for both farmers and buyers.”

Snyder says small growers should steer clear of trying to

market their crops wholesale. He says a better price can be gotten

through farmers markets, by selling off the farm, or through

direct marketing to mom and pop grocery stores.

“This is an exciting time for small fruit and vegetable farmers in

terms of availability of markets,” Snyder said. “There exists an

interest on the part of consumers and the government in fostering

local foods. As a result, farmers markets have really taken off.

Mississippi currently boasts about 52 farmers markets scattered across

the state.

“With a farmers market, a producer doesn’t have to travel far and

neither does the consumer,” he said. “If you have a market in your

own county and in neighboring counties, that’s a great situation.”

“We’re seeing two segments in particular who are interested in

farmers markets – older folks and young professionals,” said Dr.

David Nagel, a Mississippi State University Extension horticulture

professor. “These people don’t mind the expense and trouble it might

take to travel to a farmers market to purchase their foods.”

Something for EveryoneMississippi fruit and vegetable farmers are growing something

for everyone.

“Some farmers are concentrating on one or more traditional crops,

while others have a good mix, including traditional crops and

specialty items such as cilantro, papaya, basil and garlic chives,”

Snyder said. “We are also seeing more cut flowers. Vegetable

growers can grow flowers along with their produce and sell them for

50 to 75 cents a stem.”

According to Snyder, growth opportunities exist for wholesaling

blueberries, strawberries and persimmons. Retail specialty crop

opportunities exist for fruits, vegetables, herbs and cut flowers.

Nagel says lettuce has the potential to become an important crop

of the future.

“There’s a lot of interest in lettuce on the part of both the

consumer and the lettuce industry,” he said. “But it’s difficult to grow

here because of weather patterns.”

Nagel says a strong demand also exists for specialty crops like

30-pound-or-larger seeded watermelons.

“Some growers specialize in the larger melons,” he said. “We are

the last state growing mostly seeded watermelons.”

Approximately 6,000 acres of commercial watermelons are grown

each year in Mississippi, primarily in George, Green, Smith,

Simpson and Wayne counties.

Greenhouses & High TunnelsMississippi greenhouse production has declined significantly in

recent years.

“Our state currently has about 100 commercial greenhouses, but

that represents an annual six-million-dollar crop,” Snyder said.

“Greenhouse production is still a successful enterprise, it’s just that

our existing growers are getting older. Some are retiring while

others are experiencing health problems. New growers are just

trickling in.

“Over 99 percent of our greenhouse producers grow tomatoes.

Some tinker with lettuce, but the market is always good for

tomatoes. It’s lucrative.”

The high tunnel, a relatively new structure for the Deep South, is

designed to shelter crops grown in the ground, thus extending the

growing season for some types of fruits, vegetables and cut flowers.

In Mississippi, the main advantage of the high tunnel lies in a farmer

being able to grow a crop during the six weeks before the last frost in

the spring and the six weeks after the last frost in the fall.

“We have 30 or 40 growers in Mississippi with five acres or less of

produce, and the high tunnel serves them well, although some

farmers with larger acreage also use it,” said Dr. Bill Evans, leader of

a team of Mississippi State University researchers who are studying

the feasibility of this type of structure.

For more information about state fruit and vegetable production,

contact Snyder or Evans at 601.892.3731 or Nagel at 662.325.4558.

MISSISSIPPIFru i t s & Vegetab lesBy Glynda Phillips



By Glynda Phillips


Which lower Mississippi Delta town is the seat of government for

Sharkey County? Read the clues and make your guess.

Each year, our mystery town recognizes the famous Sharkey

County bear hunt, where Theodore Roosevelt refused to kill a

captive bear. That historic moment eventually gave birth to the

popular Teddy Bear. Many chainsaw-carved wooden bears can be

found scattered throughout this town.

AGRICULTURAL AREAPrimarily an agricultural community, Sharkey County was

organized in 1876 and presently boasts a population of 6,580

residents. Our mystery town is the site where the first acre of

cotton was cultivated in Sharkey County in 1828. The cotton was

grown on the spot where the courthouse, built in 1902, now stands.

Back in those early years, our mystery town was a railroad hub.

Deer Creek, a 159-mile-long stream that winds through the Delta

and this town, was once an active waterway with regular traffic

carrying goods and passengers up and down it.

During the Civil War, Deer Creek was large enough (when

flooded) to allow five Union gunboats to infiltrate the town. In

retreat from Confederate forces, the boats were forced to back their

way out of the creek.

BLUES & ARTOur mystery town is located on Highway 61, also known as the

Blues Highway. Sharkey County is the birthplace of McKinley

Morganfield, better known as blues great Muddy Waters. A Blues

Trail marker and a memorial marker honoring Muddy Waters can

be found in our mystery town. The Muddy Waters Blues Cabin can

also be found here.

Our mystery town boasts a downtown square, where you will find

artists hard at work under the guidance of renowned artist Pat

Walker-Fields. You may also visit a wonderful restaurant named

Highway 61 Coffee Shop, Deli and Art Gallery. This restaurant is

owned and operated by Mica Joiner, a local artist who has painted

murals in the downtown area.

One of the state’s oldest newspapers, the Deer Creek Pilot,

established in 1867, is located just off the square on First Street.

In our mystery town, you will find a fascinating shop called Lee’s

Cotton Picker Art. Lee Washington sells unique folk art he makes

from quirky items such as cotton spindles. He is a member of the

Mississippi Craftsman Guild.

You may also visit Blu Boutique at the historic Four Pillars

Inn. Local craftsman Lisa Smith’s beautiful handmade jewelry is

available there.

MONT HELENAWhen you plan your visit to our mystery town, make a point of

visiting Mont Helena. This beautiful home was built around the turn

of the 20th century atop a ceremonial Indian mound. Its original

owners were Helen Johnstone Harris, the infamous Bride of

Annandale, and her husband George Harris, an Episcopal rector

whose previous church was Chapel of the Cross in Madison County.

In its day, Mont Helena was one of the premier homes of the Delta.

Although the house fell into disrepair through the years, it is being

lovingly restored by Drick Rodgers, a distant relative of the original

owners. Our mystery town plans to stage an historic play in the home

each year. The first such production was a resounding success.

A small Methodist Episcopal Church that was built on the

property in 1878 still stands. Its bell tower boasts the original bell.

SOLVE THE MYSTERY

SPECIAL EVENTSTwo great opportunities to visit this town are the Deep Delta Festival, held the second Saturday in

April, and the Great Delta Bear Affair, held the fourth Saturday in October.

Our mystery town is home to several Native American mounds. They are located just north of the fa-

mous Red Barn (an historic mule barn, circa 1918, and later a barn for gated show horses) on Highway 61.

Farmer Jim’s Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze can be found on Highway 16 on the outskirts of our mystery

town. It is open during the month of October. Pick your own pumpkin and make your way through the 5-

acre winding corn maze.

Sharkey County boasts abundant hunting, fishing, biking, bird watching and other outdoor recreational

opportunities. The only bottomland forest in the U.S. Forest System, Delta National Forest, is located en-

tirely in Sharkey County.

Name this town.

A writer couldn’t ask for a better trio of hosts during my visit to our mystery town than Emily Carter,

Meg Cooper and Leslie Miller. Thanks so much for your help.

CORRECT GUESSESMail guesses to Solve the Mystery, Mississippi Farm Country, P. O. Box 1972, Jackson, MS 39215.

You may also e-mail your guesses to [email protected]. Please remember to include your name

and address on the entry. Visit our Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Web site at www.msfb.com.

When all correct guesses have been received, we will randomly draw 20 names. These 20 names will

receive a prize and will be placed in the hat twice.

At the end of the year, a winner will be drawn from all correct submissions. The winner will receive a

Weekend Bed and Breakfast Trip, courtesy of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation.

Families may submit only one entry. Federation staff members and their families are ineligible to

participate in this contest.

The deadline for submitting your entry is September 30.

JULY/AUGUSTThe correct answer for the July/August Solve the Mystery is Pontotoc.


Pictured, opposite page, is the historic Red Barn. On this page, from left and clockwise, are achain-saw-carved wooden bear, Mont Helena, and the Muddy Waters Blues Cabin.

2 2 2 2 M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R

COUNSEL’S CORNER

ONE SAFE PLACESam E. Scott, MFBF General Counsel

Though national attention is currently

directed toward the selection process for

justices of the United States Supreme Court,

many other judges are chosen each year

who are likely to have a more profound

effect upon most of us.

Our country has a dual system of

jurisprudence – state and federal in both

civil and criminal law. All federal judges

are appointed for life or good behavior by

the President and must be confirmed by the

U.S. Senate except federal magistrate

judges, who are appointed to specific

terms of eight years by sitting judges. In

order to remove a federal judge with life

appointment, he or she must be impeached

and then tried by the U.S.

Senate.

In Mississippi, there is

yet another dual system,

law and equity, which

harks back to English

common law, and we are

one of only two states

which retain that system.

All of our judges – justices

of the peace, county court,

circuit court, chancery

court, court of appeals and

supreme court – are elected

with the one exception of

municipal judges. All are

elected for specific terms

from specific districts. Two main differences

between law courts and equity courts is that

equity courts do not handle criminal cases

and, except on rare occasions, juries are not

used. In law courts, most all criminal cases

are jury trials as are a majority of civil trials.

Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice

Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to

serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, was

considered an independent swing vote and

was well respected. She recently wrote an

article in the New York Times advocating

what she called “taking justice off the

ballot.” She favors a merit selection system

for state court judges that involves a

selection system by an open nominating

committee, appointment by the governor,

and regular retention elections or referenda

by voters to decide whether to keep the

judges in office. A number of states use

this process.

Justice O’Connor provides some startling

statistics. Each year, more than 100 million

cases are filed in state courts, running the

gamut from child custody, business disputes

and divorces to criminal offenses. This year,

16 states will hold contested elections for

seats on their highest courts. In 2008,

candidates spent nearly $20 million in

television advertising to fill 26 state

supreme court seats. Closer to home, a

candidate for our intermediate appeals court

told me he expected a campaign for that

position to cost about $500,000, about as

much as the salary for the entire 6-year term.

Judicial elections in Mississippi are

said to be non-partisan. Further, campaign

contributions are supposedly not made

known to the candidate. That is akin to

saying that federal judicial appointments are

non-political. There was an instance in

which a state court judge had a campaign

deficiency of hundreds of thousands of

dollars. His solution? Raise the shortfall

after winning the election, a move that few

of us could view with anything other than

intense suspicion.

Both the judiciary and the legal profession

in Mississippi have justifiably suffered

severe criticism and disapprobation.

Lawyers have been the butt of jokes for

longer than my almost half-century career.

No one knows what effect the recent

U.S. Supreme Court decision on campaign

spending may ultimately have on state

elections. The situation could get worse,

not better.

Changing our system for judicial selection

would require an amendment to the

Mississippi Constitution of 1890 and would

also require approval by the

voters statewide. Given our

long tradition of elected

judges, that is not likely.

Given the cost of judicial

elections today, however, it

deserves consideration. Costs

in our legal system have

increased to the point of

being beyond the means of

average citizens – much like

healthcare. Our judges must

be independent and account-

able, as well as qualified.

Popularity should not be

a qualification for judicial

service. What kind of judge

would you want to judge you or your case?

As Justice O’Connor concluded, “Courts are

supposed to be the one safe place where

every citizen can receive a fair hearing.”

How do we best make it that way?

Sam E. Scott is general counsel for

Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation

(MFBF) and practices law in the law firm

of Samuel E. Scott, PLLC, in Jackson. The

foregoing information is general in nature

and is not intended as nor should be

considered specific legal advice, nor to be

considered as MFBF’s position or opinion.

Our judges must be independentand accountable, as well as qualified.Popularity should not be a qualificationfor judicial service. Courts are supposedto be the one safe place where everycitizen can receive a fair hearing.


It’s that time again! It’s the time of year when our thoughts are no

longer on the beach and the baseball fields but focusing on the woods

and football fields. Honestly, by now, most of us are just sick and

tired of the oppressive heat and can’t wait for the sounds and smells

that come with fall.

The transition to fall means that we start to think about, and pray

for, the cool nights we cursed a mere six months ago. After several

months of being held hostage to the indoors and air conditioning,

it’s when that itch to get outdoors to do some hunting and fishing

becomes unbearable.

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks

(MDWFP) and their wildlife biologists have the responsibility of

conserving and protecting our wildlife resources. One of the most

important responsibilities they have in order to achieve these goals

is to recommend and set bag limits.

Bag limits are based on several factors, including population size,

population density, and the herd’s sex and age. Higher bag limits are

usually an indication that we need to remove some animals from the

herd. For deer, bag limits may indicate the type of deer that needs to

be managed to ensure the health and future of our deer population.

Limits on antler beam length or width and limits on anterless deer

can tell hunters a great deal about the deer population in their area.

In addition to MDWFP, hunters and fishermen play a crucial role

in the management of our wildlife resources. In other words,

MDWFP determines how we manage our resources, but it’s up to us

to do it.

Deer management means more than just growing big-rack buck

deer. It involves making sure that the natural habitat can sustain a

deer population. It also involves minimizing human-animal conflicts.

This will probably come as a surprise to many of you, just as it

did to me, but Mississippi has around 990,000 cows and a deer

population of between 1.7 and 1.8 million. There were over 14,000

deer/car collisions on Mississippi roads and highways last year

alone. Each year, farmers face thousands of dollars in economic loss

from deer damage.

One of the most common complaints comes from people

who have recently moved to rural areas. At first, there is the

excitement of seeing deer in the backyard as homeowners are

having their morning coffee. Six months later, come the complaints

of deer eating garden and landscape plants. Much of this damage

can be mitigated through proper deer management during the

hunting season.

Fisheries management is another area where outdoorsmen can

play a significant role in protecting, conserving and improving our

resources. Unlike deer, birds, and other creatures of the land and air,

fish, for the most part, have a defined habitat. Ponds, lakes and

reservoirs will only sustain a certain number of fish. Managing your

pond for a certain type of fish, whether it’s bluegill, catfish or trophy

bass, requires knowing what’s in the pond and knowing what needs

to come out.

MDWFP fisheries biologists study and sample waters to

determine fish populations, and will often set creel or slot limits to

maintain a balanced fishery. Just like bag limits, creel and slot

limits give an indication of management goals. For instance, unless

otherwise posted, the creel limit for bass in state waters is ten. If you

happen to visit a state lake where the creel limit is 30, then that is a

good indicator that some fish need to be removed.

Slot limits dictate a certain size range of fish that may legally be

taken, everything over and under this size must be released. This

will ensure that the remaining fish have an adequate supply of

resources to grow, reproduce and sustain a hatch that will provide

future fish.

Now, I am as guilty as anybody about not doing my part –

although I have been on dove shoots when I was off so bad that my

friends called me a “conservationist.” Many late afternoons, I have

started to take a deer, and my mind has started thinking of all

the work I’m going to create for myself. Looking through the scope,

I hear whispers of “you’re gonna have to get it out of the woods,

clean it and put it up. It’s cold, and you’re not going to get home

until 9:30.”

I know it sounds lazy, but, sometimes, I hear the same voices about

cleaning fish. But I am starting to realize that, “I am part of the

wildlife management process.” Catch and Release is a great program

as long as we are catching and releasing the right fish for the body

of water we are in. The “don’t shoot does” mentality needs to change

in areas where the deer have overpopulated their natural habitat

and resources.

The changing of the seasons happens naturally, whether we like it

or not. If only our mindset about our role in the environment were

so easily changed. It wasn’t very many years ago we realized that

in order to continue to have abundant wildlife resources we had to

“let ’em walk” (remember when we had “doe days?”). In order to

maintain healthy and balanced wildlife resources, we have to realize

that too many can be just as bad as not enough.

If you would like more information on managing your pond,

managing your deer herd, or improving the wildlife habitat on your

property, call and talk to the biologists at MDWFP at 601.432.2400,

or visit their Web site at http://home.mdwfp.com/.

And, by all means, take a kid hunting or fishing. I promise you’ll

be glad you did.

ENVIRONMENTAL

THE EVER-CHANGING SEASONSBy Andy Whittington

MFBF Environmental Programs Coordinator


t’s just an acre of berries. But through the

years, this blueberry patch has meant a lot to

the McCurley family of Wilkinson County.

Some 30 years ago, Dunbar and Mary

Ann McCurley of Woodville planted one

of the first U-Pick blueberry plots in the area. All five McCurley

kids – from Forrest Dunbar to Marti to Virginia to D’Nella to

little brother Clay – took their turns either picking berries or taking

customers’ coins.

The old blueberry patch made a big impression on all of the

kids, teaching them the value of hard work. But it really seemed to

stick with Virginia and D’Nella. They’re still pickin’ and sellin’

blueberries after all these years.

In fact, what started out as a way for the sisters to earn money to

buy a trampoline when they were seven or eight years old, has

morphed into an opportunity for them to work together to earn extra

spending money now that they are married with kids of their own.

Their husbands, Brian and Neal, help with the mowing, and they

helped with the recent replanting of about 100 bushes. In addition,

they do a lot of babysitting during blueberry season.

“It’s just an acre of blueberries, and it will never be any larger,”

said Virginia. “But we love it, and we will probably keep right on

doing what we’re doing for many years to come.”

THE TRAMPOLINEWhen they were small, Virginia and D’Nella charged $6 to pick

a gallon of blueberries for their customers. The girls got to keep $2,

and $4 went into a school account. Customers could pay $4 to pick

the berries themselves.

“We really wanted a trampoline,” Virginia said. “Our parents told

Just An Acre

I By Glynda PhillipsD’Nella, Gracie and Maggie Cavin


us they would match whatever we made off the berries that season.

They didn’t think we’d make enough. But we surprised them and

got our trampoline.”

They were also able, through the years, to set aside a substantial

amount of money to purchase supplies and clothing for both high

school and college.

Today, the girls sell pre-picked berries for $10, and their customers

pay $5 to pick the berries themselves.

“D’Nella and I work and have families of our own now so we can

only pick in the afternoons or on the weekends,” Virginia said. “We

push to get 200 to 300 gallons picked a season, and we encourage

people to come and pick themselves.

STRONG WORK ETHICMcCurley Blueberry Farm sends out a yearly letter to all

of its established customers. Beyond that, the advertising is word

of mouth.

“We used to be open one or two days a week,” Virginia said.

“Now, we are open daily from dawn to dusk, from late May through

mid-July. But we encourage our customers to call first to verify the

availability of berries.

“People ask us why we keep doing this,” she mused. “I know

we do this for our customers. But we also enjoy working together,

appreciate the extra money, and enjoy the berries ourselves.”

She thought for a moment then added, “Maybe it’s because our

parents used this blueberry patch to instill in all of us a strong work

ethic, and we want that for our own kids.”

Virginia and Brian McKlemurry have two children, Tyler, 4, and

Bryson, 16 months. D’Nella and Neal Cavin have three children,

Maggie, 8, Gracie, 6, and Austin, 8 months.

For more information about McCurley Blueberry Farm, call

601.888.4434 or 601.888.6574.

Of BerrIes

FC

Virginia McKlemurry


hat started out as a hobby some 30 years ago has turned into a successful and satisfying

business for fruit and vegetable farmer Tim Cooper of Cooper Farms and Vineyards near

Morton. Juggling an off-the-farm job with his farming interests, Cooper has slowly grown

his operation to its present-day size of 35 to 40 acres of vegetables, muscadines,

blackberries and blueberries.

It has been a long and interesting journey.

BERRY PRODUCTION“Right out of college in 1981, I began growing blackberries,” he said. “I continued to

do that for about 15 years until disease wiped me out. At that time, I expanded into

muscadines.”

Tim says he was growing muscadines for the fresh fruit market when Commissioner of Agriculture Jim Buck Ross began encouraging

farmers to grow the smaller muscadines for a processing facility that was being built in South Mississippi.

“I was asked numerous times if I would consider growing the smaller berries, but I refused,” he said. “I told them I could make more

money off the larger fruit that people enjoy eating rather than the smaller fruit that is used to make juice.”

&VegetablesBy Glynda Phillips

Berries

W


Cooper currently grows 20 varieties of muscadines on 14

acres of farmland. He says he is one of the largest fresh fruit

muscadine growers in the state.

“I usually sell an average of about 75,000 to 80,000 pounds

a year,” he said. “I market my berries here on the farm,

through several farmers markets in the Jackson area, and

through independent grocery stores in Mississippi, Tennessee

and northern Louisiana.”

At harvest, in August and September, everything is

hand-picked.

“I hire labor seasonally to pick the fruit,” he said. “There

are mechanical pickers, but you have to have a different

type of trellis system for the pickers, and you must wash

the berries when you are finished. When you hand-pick, you

don’t have to wash them, you just grade them, box them and

put them in a cooler.”

VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONIn 2005, Cooper lost most of his muscadine crop to

Hurricane Katrina. At that time, he decided he was through

concentrating on one agricultural commodity.

“I began to diversify,” he said. “I got into vegetable

production, and we grew slowly as we built our markets.

Today, I sell my vegetables here on the farm, at the

Mississippi Farmers Market in Jackson, and through one

or two local independent grocery stores. The Mississippi

Farmers Market has been very good to me.”

In his agricultural pursuits through the years, Cooper has

received help from Mississippi State University Extension

fruit and vegetable specialists, John Braswell (now retired)

and Rick Snyder, and various MSU plant pathologists. He

says his best advisor was now-retired MSU Extension county

agent Bill Goodwin.

“We all grew up together, learning about commercial fruit

and vegetable production here in Mississippi,” he said

with a smile. “We had very little available research back then

and got most of our information from the University of

Georgia. Times have changed, and, sometimes, it’s hard to be-

lieve that I’ve been farming for 28 or 29 years.”

ADVICE TO GROWERSCooper advises small produce growers to find markets before they plant seeds.

“If you get out and establish your markets before you plant your seed, you will be successful,” he said. “Too many people plant the

wrong thing and they can’t sell it.

“It’s also important to remember that it’s a learning process,” he said. “You start out small, and you grow as you learn. And, every year,

you add something new. Two years ago, I began growing carrots. Now, carrots and beets are two of my best sellers at the farmers market.

“I’ve seen the number of small truck crop farmers here in Mississippi increase substantially in the last few years,” he said. “There’s

room for more growers if their operations are managed properly and if they all work together. There are enough markets for everyone.”

The Cooper operation is a family affair with Tim’s wife Vivian, his mother Barbara, and his brother Ricky helping out on the farm.

His daughter, Brittany, manages the booth at the Mississippi Farmers Market, and his daughter, Miranda, helps out with marketing. Cooper

says he hopes at least one of his daughters will take over eventually and keep the operation, or parts of it, going and growing.

“Produce farming is very time consuming and very labor intensive,” he said. “But I enjoy doing this. It has been very good to me

and my family.” FC

Scenes from the Cooper Farms & Vineyards booth

at the Mississippi Farmers Market in Jackson


Clocks Are A Fascinating Hobby

Millard Long of West Point enjoys collecting and repairing clocks. It’s a hobby he finds both fascinating and rewarding.

“I love history and I have a mechanical bent,” explained the retired mechanical engineer. “I can spend a whole afternoon just working

on clocks.”

Through the years, Millard has repaired a variety of clocks made in a good cross-section of countries, including Germany, France,

Switzerland and America. One of his favorite clocks, which he owns, is an original N. L. Davis clock sold by the N.L. Davis Clock

Company of Columbus, Mississippi, in the mid-1800s.

The Davis clock was actually made by the Gilbert Clock Company of Winstead, Connecticut. In the years immediately following the Civil

War, Southerners wouldn’t buy Northern clocks, so Gilbert Clock Company established distribution centers under other names in both

Columbus, Mississippi, and Texarkana, Arkansas.

Gilbert Clock Company teamed up with N. L. Davis to distribute clocks at the Columbus center. The Davis clock owned by Millard

possesses its original wooden parts.

WOODEN & METAL PARTSIn America’s early years, clocks were made by individual craftsmen or family-owned companies. The parts were wooden, clocks were

expensive, and owning one was a luxury. It wasn’t until the Industrial Revolution of the 1800s to 1900s that metal parts began to be used

in clock-making. During that time, clocks were mass-produced and became affordable to one and all.

By Glynda Phillips

Through the years, Millard has repaired clocks with wooden parts and

clocks with metal parts. He’s worked on grandfather clocks (tall case

clocks), store regulator clocks (used at the turn of the 20th century to

advertise products), parlor clocks, calendar clocks, cuckoo clocks,

schoolhouse clocks, and simple kitchen clocks, to name just a few.

REPAIRING CLOCKS“When I repair a clock, I clean the whole movement with

an ultrasonic cleaner so I can determine if there has been

much wear to it,” he said. “I mark each place where a bushing

(bearing) is required. I ream out the plate so I can press in the new

bushing (s).”

To do this, Millard must disassemble the entire movement. In

the process, he cleans the springs with steel wool. If a spring is

damaged, he replaces it.

“When I reassemble the

movement, I test run it for

several days to make sure that

it is working properly,” he said.

“Then I lubricate it and reinstall it in

the clock.”

One interesting

piece of equipment

Millard uses when repairing

clocks is a pair of “optimizer eyeglasses.”

These glasses greatly magnify all of the parts and pieces that he must

examine. He also hooks up his clocks to an “amplifier” in order to listen to the

rhythm of their ticking, much as a doctor listens to a patient’s heartbeat. He says

you can tell a lot about how well a clock is working by the rhythm of the ticking.

“Some of the newer clocks have built-in mechanisms that automatically ensure

that the clock beats in-rhythm,” he said. “With the older clocks, if the rhythm is

off, I have to set the beat to get it back in proper working order.

“Most of the older clocks must be kept perfectly level in order to work

properly,” he added. “An unlevel surface will throw the beat off.”

HISTORICAL LOREA lover of history, Millard enjoys the various stories attached to the clocks

he has repaired or collected through the years. For example, in the old days,

many clocks were made with a large hole in the face so that customers could

peer inside to determine whether the movement was metal or wooden.

“Some people felt that clocks with metal movements were superior to

clocks with wooden movements,” he said. “But it really shouldn’t have

mattered because the old wooden movements have stood the test of time.

They work well still today.”

Millard also notes that some early clocks had a reverse painting or a mirror in the

lower glass. Sometimes, the clock mirror was the only mirror in the house. It

was used by the women of the household to fix their hair or apply cosmetics or by the

men to shave.

MORE INFORMATIONMillard is a member of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors.

“We have two chapters in Mississippi – one in Brandon and one in Meridian,” he said.

“We have programs about clock collecting, how to repair watches and clocks, and how

to refinish the cases.”

If you are interested in clocks, Millard invites you to contact him at 662.494.6937. FC



PROGRAM TO SUPPRESS COGONGRASSCogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) is an invasive, non-native grass that occurs in the southeastern United States.

A pest in 73 countries and considered to be one of the "Top 10 Worst Weeds in the World," Cogongrass affects

pine productivity and survival, wildlife habitat, recreation, native plants, fire behavior, site management costs,

and more.

Cogongrass is currently documented in 62 of the 82 counties in Mississippi and has become a serious

problem for land managers in the southern part of the state. But something is being done to help stem the tide

of this invasive plant scourge.

Mississippi now has a Landowners Assistance Program to help suppress the spread of Cogongrass. It is the

Mississippi Invasive Plant Control Program (MIPCP). The program is COST-FREE to eligible landowners.

MIPCP is a publicly-funded project made possible through an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) stimulus grant.

This ARRA grant is administered, with oversight, by the USDA Forest Service. The grant program is being implemented by the Mississippi

Forestry Commission (MFC).

The mandate of this grant is to suppress

invasive plant species, primarily Cogongrass,

through specific strategies in targeted areas of

Mississippi, while allowing for the creation

and retention of employment opportunities.

As of July 16, 2010, the MFC Invasive

Plant Control Landowner Assistance Program

for Cogongrass suppression affects the

following counties: Attala, Choctaw, Clarke,

Clay, Kemper, Lauderdale, Leake, Lowndes,

Neshoba, Newton, Noxubee, Oktibbeha,

Scott, Webster and Winston.

Applicants from these counties may be

eligible for COST-FREE herbicide applica-

tion. The MFC Web site, www.mfc.ms.gov,

has all the details.

The following link will help you

learn about Cogongrass: www.mfc.ms.gov/

fh_cogongrass.htm. This link is about MIPCP

and how to apply: www.mfc.ms.gov/

FH_C_landowner_assistance_program.htm.

The toll-free phone number for those without

Internet access is 1.877.708.7651.

Andy Brown of

Starkville recently

completed a six-week

summer internship

with the Mississippi

Farm Bureau Federa-

tion, spending time

with each program

and learning all about

the organization.

Brown is majoring in Ag Economics at

Mississippi State University with an interest

in the public policy arena.

Students interested in the summer

internship should visit www.msfb.com to

download an application and instructions

for applying.

BelzoniDonahoo Htg & Cooling Service(662) 247-3579

CarthageCarthage Htg & Cooling(601) 267-4611

CorinthHarbin Htg & A/C, Inc.(662) 287-6809

Gulf CoastAdolph Bourdin(228) 255-3859

GulfportWoods Htg & A/C Service, Inc.(228) 832-8945

HattiesburgB.C.’s Htg, AIr & Sheet Metal Works, Inc.(877) 909-2918(601) 731-1743

MeridianSanders Htg & A/C(601) 693-4054

Helbon Htg & Cooling(601) 483-8156

Olive BranchAir & Heat Services Co., Inc.(662) 838-8088

Ocean SpringsVaughan Htg & Cooling(228) 875-9961

PearlComfort Designs, Inc.(601) 932-7555

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL WATERFURNACE DEALER

In today’s economy, wise purchases are more important than ever. With the skyrocketing

price of fossil fuels, homeowners around the world have found that WaterFurnace is a smart

choice. WaterFurnace geothermal comfort systems operate at a fraction of the cost of

ordinary systems, saving you money every month. That’s because WaterFurnace geothermal

systems use the clean, renewable energy in your own backyard to provide savings up to

70% on heating, cooling and hot water. For more information and an analysis of savings

potential, contact your local WaterFurnace dealer. It’s money in the bank.

SUMMER INTERN

Candy Harvison, a fifth-grade reading teacher at Liberty Elementary School in

Amite County, won the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Teacher Grant

Award for 2010. Candy received an expense-paid trip to the National Ag in the

Classroom Conference in Baltimore, Maryland, and is pictured at the conference

with Region 5 Women’s Committee Chair Betty Edwards.

Keyonna Jenkins of Bolivar County is the

State Coloring Contest winner. She is

pictured with her winning artwork and her

regional and state medals. The coloring

contest, designed for second-graders,

features an agricultural scene that depicts

some aspect of farm life.

Young farmers attending the Region 1 Summer Young Farmer Leadership Meeting

in Cleveland learned all about “Telling Agriculture’s Story.” The keynote speaker for

the event was Stewart Doan, Senior Editor of Agri-Pulse in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Teachers and volunteers attending the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation

(MFBF) Ag in the Classroom workshops in June learned about state agricultural

commodities through lectures and activities. The workshops, held in Verona,

Collins and Jackson, were hosted by the MFBF State Women’s Committee.

Making a presentation is Jody Bailey, Region 4 Women’s Committee Chair.


FARM BUREAUEVENTS


Adams County Farm BureauThursday, Nov. 11, at 9 a.m.Farm Bureau Office, Natchez

Alcorn County Farm BureauTuesday, Sept. 14, at 6:30 p.m.County Extension & 4-H Bldg.(Bring your favorite dessert.)

Amite County Farm BureauThursday, Oct. 14, at 6: 30 p.m.Farm Bureau Office, Liberty

Attala County Farm BureauThursday, Nov. 4, at 6 p.m.County Extension Center (Behind building.)

Chickasaw County Farm BureauThursday, Oct. 7, at 7 p.m.Farm Bureau Office, Houston

Choctaw County Farm BureauThursday, Oct. 14, at 6 p.m.Choctaw County Community Center

Claiborne County Farm BureauThursday, Sept. 16, at 1 p.m.Farm Bureau Office, Port Gibson

Clarke County Farm BureauThursday, Oct. 21, at 6:30 p.m.County Multipurpose Bldg.(Please call the office to RSVP.)

Clay County Farm BureauTuesday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m.Farm Bureau Office, West Point

Copiah County Farm BureauMonday, Sept. 27, at 6 p.m.Farm Bureau Office, Hazlehurst

Covington County Farm BureauThursday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m.Collins Multipurpose Building

Forrest County Farm BureauTuesday, Sept. 14, at 6 p.m.MSU Extension Office

George County Farm BureauMonday, Sept. 13, at 7 p.m.Farm Bureau Office, Lucedale(Serving cake and coffee.)

Hancock County Farm BureauSaturday, Sept. 25, at 4 p.m.Farm Bureau Office, Kiln(Bring lawn chair! Door prizes!)

Harrison County Farm BureauSaturday, Oct. 2, at 6 p.m.Harrison Central High School

Hinds County Farm BureauMonday, Sept. 27, at 1 p.m.Farm Bureau Office, Raymond

Itawamba County Farm BureauTuesday, Sept. 21, at 6:30 p.m.Jamie Whitten Center, Fulton(All members are asked to bring a dish.)

Jackson County Farm BureauSaturday, Sept. 25, at 4 p.m.East Central Community Center, Hurley

Jeff Davis County Farm BureauTuesday, Oct. 5, at 7 p.m.Farm Bureau Office, Prentiss

Jones County Farm BureauTuesday, Oct. 5, at 7 p.m.Farm Bureau Office, Laurel

Kemper County Farm BureauTuesday, Sept. 21, at 6:30 p.m.County Farmers Market Bldg.

Lafayette County Farm BureauTuesday, Sept. 14, at 6 p.m.Farm Bureau Office, Oxford

Lamar County Farm BureauMonday, Sept. 20, at 6 p.m.Okahola Voting Precient

Lauderdale County Farm BureauTuesday, Oct. 5, at 6 p.m.Farm Bureau Office, Meridian

Lawrence County Farm BureauTuesday, Nov. 2, at 8 a.m.Farm Bureau Office, Monticello

Lincoln County Farm BureauTuesday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m.Farm Bureau Office, Brookhaven

Madison County Farm BureauTuesday, Sept. 16, at 10 a.m.Farm Bureau Office, Canton

Marion County Farm BureauThursday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m.Columbia Exposition Center, Columbia

Monroe County Farm BureauTuesday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m.Farm Bureau Office, Aberdeen

Montgomery County Farm BureauThursday, Oct. 21, at 6:30 p.m.Farm Bureau Office, Winona

Neshoba County Farm BureauTuesday, Oct. 12, at 6:30 p.m.Neshoba County Coliseum

Newton County Farm BureauThursday, Oct. 28, at 6:30 p.m.Coastal Plain Experiment Station(51 Coastal Plain Road, Newton)

Noxubee County Farm BureauTuesday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m.Noxubee County Civic Center

Panola County Farm BureauMonday, Sept. 20, at 7 p.m.Panola County Extension Bldg.RSVP by Sept. 10 @662-563-5688Meal: $5 for adults & $3 for kids(Door Prizes!)

Pearl River County Farm BureauSaturday, Oct. 2, at 11 a.m.Old Armory Bldg, County Fairgrounds(Food and entertainment provided.)

Pontotoc County Farm BureauThursday, Sept. 9, at 7 p.m.Pontotoc Community House

(Bring a covered dish. Meat,bread and drinks will be provided.)

Quitman County Farm BureauTuesday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m.Marks Community House, Marks

Rankin County Farm BureauMonday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m.County Farm Bureau Office, Brandon(Refreshments will be served.)

Scott County Farm BureauThursday, Sept. 9, at 6:30 p.m.Roosevelt State Park, Alfredo Lodge$4 per plate(Tickets must be purchased by Sept. 2.)No Carry-Outs!

Simpson County Farm BureauTuesday, Sept. 21, at 6:30 p.m.Simpson County Livestock Barn(A light meal will be served.)

Smith County Farm BureauTuesday, Sept. 21, at 6:30 p.m.County Ag Complex, Raleigh

Tallahatchie County Farm BureauThursday, Oct. 21, at 6 p.m.Farm Bureau Office, Charleston

Tippah County Farm BureauMonday, Sept. 20, at 7 p.m.Tippah County Fairgrounds(Ladies, bring a dessert.)

Tishomingo County Farm BureauThursday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m.County High School Cafeteria

Wayne County Farm BureauThursday, Oct. 14, at 6: 30 p.m.Farm Bureau Office, Waynesboro

Winston County Farm BureauThursday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m.Winston County Shrine Club, Louisville

Yazoo County Farm BureauThursday, Nov. 18, at 10 a.m.Farm Bureau Office, Yazoo City

2010 COUNTY ANNUAL MEETINGS

© 2010 United Soybean Board. (38420-MFC-7-10)

WHAT IF YOUR LOCALANIMAL AGRICULTURE

INDUSTRY DISAPPEARED?

What else would disappear with it?

Well, to start, the millions of dollars that livestock and poultry producers generate to help build and restore your local schools and parks.

Then there’s the locally produced meat that we trust to be part of the safe and healthy meals we feed our families.

And of course saying goodbye to your local poultry and livestock industries would also mean saying goodbye to the number one customer for U.S. soybean meal.

Animal agriculture helps our community thrive. That’s why it’s important that we continue to give them our support. Because a safe and secure food supply and a safe and secure rural community both come from the same place – inside the barns and out in the fi elds of America’s farmers and producers.

Soybean farmers helping livestock and poultry producers just makes sense.

www.animalag.org

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Sept. 17 Rice LuncheonDelta State UniversityCleveland

Nov. 11 State Resolutions MeetingMFBF BuildingJackson

Dec. 4-6 Annual MeetingHilton HotelJackson

Jan. 9-12 AFBF Annual MeetingAtlanta, GA

Jan. 20 Winter Commodity Conf.Livestock and Forestry Jackson

Jan. 21 Winter Commodity Conf.Row Crops and Aquaculture Jackson


BOB MOORE JOINS STAFFBob Moore of Corinth has joined the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) staff as Legal Advocacy

Coordinator in the Public Policy Department, effective July 27, 2010. He succeeds Billy Brake, who nowworks with USDA/GIPSA in Atlanta, Georgia. Bob holds a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law and is a member of

the Mississippi Bar. He previously practiced as an associate attorney with the law firm of Daniel CokerHorton & Bell, P.A., in Jackson. Bob also holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Mississippi State University.


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To advertise in this magazine, please contactour national ad rep Paul Hurst at

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FLEET VEHICLESFOR SALE

If you are interested in a used federation vehicle,

please visit our Web site atwww.msfb.com for more information. Click on the

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