Gus' View...

Fairs & Festivals...Off and Running

We’re off and running with the annual parade of fairs and festivals. In mid-May we officially opened the festival season with the 68th West Virginia Strawberry Festival. Tamika Roy, of Clarksburg, has the honor this year of presiding over the Strawberry Festival. Hilary Johnson, also from Clarksburg, was chosen to be the 2009 West Virginia Strawberry Teen Queen. Tamika and Hilary are both students at Robert C. Byrd High School. Congratulations and best wishes to these ladies. It was also my pleasure to crown the 2009 Strawberry King, Ethan Butler. Ethan is a 16-year-old junior at Buckhannon High School and is president of the Honor Society. He is active in 4-H and in the Upshur County Livestock Show and Sale. Ethan is involved in a lot of activities, but this lad still finds time to grow great strawberries. He has been innovative in trying to mature strawberries at an earlier date, and has been experimenting with plastic as a make-shift tunnel for his berry production. Full story (pages 1 and 2)

Also on page 2 . . .

New State Program Offering Free Prescription Drugs

Business owners and individuals between the ages of 18 and 65 without prescription drug coverage and who are not eligible for Medicaid can now receive free prescription drugs through the West Virginia Rx Program (WVRx). The West Virginia Department of Agriculture is working with the Governor’s Office to let you know about this valuable program. Funded primarily by the Governor’s Pharmaceutical Advocate Office, the Heinz Family Philanthropies and the Benedum Foundation, WVRx provides 70 brand-name drugs from eight manufacturers to help West Virginians lead healthier, more productive lives by better managing their health issues. Full story (page 2)

WVDA Announces Second Round of Specialty Crop Block Grants for 2009

The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) is inviting groups or individuals with ideas for improving the competitiveness of the state’s specialty crops industries to submit grant applications. The additional funding is through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Farm Bill funding which differs from the 33 statewide awards made last month by the WVDA. Deadline for submission is June 22.

Specialty crops are defined as fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, tree nuts, nursery crops, floriculture, herbs, honey, maple syrup, mushrooms and Christmas trees. Both fresh and processed specialty crops are included. Full story (page 2)

On page 3 . . .

Ag Mailbag, Click here (page 3)

Garden Calendar, Click here (page 3)

Ailing Economy Doesn't Hurt FFA Ham, Bacon and Egg Sales

An unstable national economy had no apparent effect on the annual FFA State Ham, Bacon and Egg Show and Sale, held in Charleston March 9.

“Thanks to the continuing generosity of the bidders who support these educational programs, West Virginia FFA students will have money to put toward next year’s projects, or money to help offset the cost of college,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass. “Nearly all the bidders show up year after year, and their support has helped a generation of young farmers.”

Proceeds from the state show totaled $36,769, nearly $750 more than the 2008 sale, and the fifth highest total in the history of the event. More than $1.1 million has been raised since it was started in 1941. Numerous county sales have provided an untold number of additional dollars for students. Full story and photos (page 3)

WVU-Extension Offers Cattle Farmer Financial Assistance in North Central West Virginia

Increasing input cost of fertilizer, fuel, machinery and feed are forcing livestock producers to consider more economical farming methods. West Virginia producers cannot cover these increasing input costs by handling large volumes of livestock due to the small size of their farms. Typical West Virginia cattle farms in North Central West Virginia average 124 acres of farmland and consist of approximately 17 cows. State farmers could increase income by adding sheep to their farming operation. When a farmer adds sheep to a cattle only grazing operation, it is referred to multi-species grazing. Full story (pages 3 & 4)

On page 4 . . .

Something to Ponder While Mowing Hay
By Tom McConnell, Director, WV Small Farm Center of the WVU EXtension Service

I love to mow hay. That precious time mowing is when I have an opportunity to ponder about the big picture on the farm and how it is going. It seems harder and harder to make a small herd of beef cows resemble an agricultural enterprise as opposed to a very expensive hobby. As I mow that hay with a three day forecast for clear weather, I tend to forget the expensive winter and focus on the good times. Here are some things you can ponder as you mow hay.

I read an article recently where it was suggested that when the margins are slim, don’t try to catch up by chasing production. This is correct. An example, if your calf check doesn’t go far enough, don’t manage toward more production like heavier calves by feeding them. The law of diminishing returns will work against you as the cash outlay to do this will be very high and the net margin from each increased unit of production will be less. In commodity agriculture the key to profitability is efficiency. Dr. Barton Baker at WVU when asked about what he and others learned from the many years studying the families with the Allegheny Highlands Project of the 1960s and 1970s, replied, “those that spent the least made the most!” He went on to explain that after the fertility needs were met and the farmers used good genetics, conservative management was the most profitable. Full story (page 4)

Agriculture Commissioner Delivers $50,000 for Flatwoods Farmers' Market Construction

West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass presented Braxton County businessman Greg Skidmore with a $50,000 check May 4, to formally kick off the Flatwoods Farmers’ Market project.

The new market – to be built just off Interstate-79 near the entrance of the Flatwoods Factory Outlet Stores – is one of three to receive grants from the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) to create year-round farmers’ markets. Full story (page 4)

On page 5 . . .

WHAT'S COOKIN' . . . Happy Dairy Month!
By Jean Smith, Director, Marketing and Developement Division

This month is devoted to thanking our nation’s dairy farmers for their hard work in supplying our nation with a wonderfully safe supply of milk and of course great dairy products! Hats off also to our West Virginia Dairy Princess, Whitney Henry of Hedgesville, W.Va. Whitney is the official ambassador to the West Virginia dairy industry and will spend this month and a great deal of additional time visiting various parts of the state promoting this great industry! Full recipes (page 5)