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Wednesday, September 30, 2015

In Conversation with #WomeninAg: Katy Coba

From the #USDA:


Oregon Department of Agriculture Director Katy Coba in a store
Oregon Department of Agriculture Director Katy Coba has a deep appreciation for the hard work Oregon’s farmers and ranchers do every day.
This week, USDA Deputy Secretary Harden begins her next generation of agriculture tour where she will visit with young leaders across the country to discuss the future of agriculture. Many groups, including women, veterans, minorities and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, are shaping an agricultural future that is looking to be more diverse than ever before and we want to share their stories. Every day this week, we will be sharing a story from a woman in agriculture that represents the past, present and future of our industry.
Today, we feature Katy Coba, Director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture. Katy was raised on her family’s wheat ranch in Eastern Oregon. She has a deep appreciation for the land and the hard work Oregon’s farmers and ranchers do every day. Katy has a long career in state government and shares her perspective on the current and future landscape of American agriculture (and how not to be left behind on a trade mission).
How do you start your day?
I always start my day with a quick perusal of the news going on in Oregon, in the U.S. and around the world.  I think it’s imperative to make sure I have at least a bit of knowledge about what is happening in the world that could impact my job.  Oregon agriculture is local, domestic and international.  There are so many factors that impact the success of the industry from weather, to currency, to the latest hot “thing” such as food carts, to trade negotiations, etc.  Knowing what has the potential to impact the industry hopefully means we can be more prepared to respond.  Then I pet my cat and have a latte with my husband!
What are some of the biggest challenges facing agriculture today?
The good news is that agriculture continues to be a very viable part of Oregon’s economy and the U.S. economy.  With the projections in growth for the global population, agriculture will need to continue to use innovation and technology to meet world food needs.  Agriculture will also need to continue to use its scarce resources wisely.  This includes land and water.  Oregon agriculture is extremely diverse.  This is a strength and it can sometimes pose challenges.  We continue to consistently stress the need for farmers of different shapes and sizes to work together as neighbors and co-exist with their different production practices.  And finally, consumer’s interest in how their food is grown and handled has added a new complexity to how farmers and ranchers do their job.  Agriculture will need to continue to be responsible to consumer’s passion around food and be able to demonstrate safe and compassionate practices.
What do you think is missing from the conversation when we don’t have women at the table and in leadership roles?
Women involved in agriculture certainly bring a perspective and a voice that is important to a well-rounded industry.  I think about the key role my grandmother played in our family farming operation when I was growing up.  She was certainly a role model for me.  I find the more diversity in thinking about how to deal with the opportunities and challenges in the agriculture industry, the better the result of that thought process.  Women certainly bring critical diversity.
What has been your most memorable experience as Oregon Director of Agriculture?
That’s a tough one.  I have certainly had amazing experiences in my job, from being left behind on a trade mission (!) to being recognized for my contributions to Oregon agriculture.  I will change the question a bit to what will be one of the best memories I will take from this job.  That is the fact that I have been blessed to represent an industry that is my heritage.  When I think about my ancestors and the hard work they have put into our own ranch, I feel humbled to be in the position I am in.  When I think about my role models, my mom and dad, who raised me to be proud of my heritage and to be a contributor to society through public service, I know I am indeed a very lucky lady.
In seven words or less, what is some advice you would offer your fellow women in agriculture?
Be passionate about what you do.
Katy Coba, Director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture
Katy Coba, Director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture, was raised on her family’s wheat ranch in Eastern Oregon.
    

Illinois Urges Precaution – Potential For Exposure To Toxins In Ohio River

Blue-Green Algae May Cause Harmful Algal Bloom



Illinois.gov - Illinois Government News Network (IGNN) - Search the News Results

NRCS Volunteers Gain Experience and Help Further Conservation Efforts

From the #USDA:


Morgan Boggs, NRCS Earth Team volunteer in Browning, Montana
Morgan Boggs, NRCS Earth Team volunteer in Browning, Montana. Photo credit: NRCS Montana.
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Indian Nations Conservation Alliance (INCA) have partnered in a pilot project to provide new opportunities for Native American high school students across the west.
Morgan Boggs, a high school senior in Browning, Montana, was one of three Montana high school seniors selected by INCA. Through this pilot program, students sign up as NRCS Earth Team volunteers to work side-by-side with NRCS professionals. This on-the-job training increases the students’ qualifications for the USDA Pathways Internship Program, which employs college students working toward a degree in natural resources.
Boggs began working as an Earth Team volunteer in June under the supervision of Anne Stephens, District Conservationist for the Blackfeet Reservation. As an Earth Team volunteer, he spent the summer gaining field experience in a variety of natural resource areas, including basic soils, livestock water design, fencing, irrigation practices and rangeland inventory.
“I identified different plants and grasses and clipped grasses using the rings to determine forage production,” said Boggs.
Boggs also gained insight into Tribal government and NRCS partnerships and what working in the government involves.
“My Earth Team job with NRCS and INCA has been a very helpful daily job. I’ve learned that everyone in this department works hard to get contracts finished and other projects done,” Boggs said. “I’d very much recommend this job to anyone who asked me about it, especially if they are someone like me who likes to be outside in the nice weather – although sometimes it gets pretty hot out.”
NRCS’ Earth Team volunteer program helps the agency meet conservation needs in communities. Volunteers enable NRCS to stretch available resources and help put additional conservation practices on the ground. Volunteers’ efforts help improve land and wildlife habitat and contribute to cleaner water and air – even if they are working behind the scenes in an office. Nationally, more than 25,000 volunteers donated 318,500 hours to the agency worth about $7.2 million last year.
To learn more about NRCS’ Earth Team Volunteer program visit: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/people/volunteers/.
    

Schwabacher Landing

From the U.S. Department of the Interior:




One of the most beautiful and most photographed scenes in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming is Schwabacher Landing. On any given morning, a crowd will gather to shoot the reflection of the Teton Range in the quiet stream or beaver ponds. A few years ago, D. Brent Young was lucky enough to capture this amazing photo of a cow moose feeding in the stream in this photo with fall color and the towering Teton peaks in the background. Photo by D. Brent Young (www.sharetheexperience.org). — at Grand Teton National Park.

In Conversation with #WomeninAg: Tyra Jonas

From the #USDA:


Tyra Jonas, Michigan State University
Tyra Jonas currently serves as the Michigan FFA State Reporter and is a freshman at Michigan State University.
Today in our Women’s Week blog series, we feature Tyra Jonas, a college freshman from the small town of Ravenna, Michigan where the smell of pickles and cheering from the football stadium isn’t uncommon. She is a freshman at Michigan State University studying agricultural communications. She currently serves as the Michigan FFA State Reporter and travels across Michigan to help members build their knowledge on agriculture and leadership qualities and tour many agriculture industries.
How do you start your day?
On a normal day, I typically start by going to breakfast and walking to class on Michigan State University’s beautiful campus to a dreaded 8am class.
How did you first become interested in agriculture?
I wasn’t born into an agricultural background like most people in my small town. It began my freshman year of high school in my plant science course. My teacher, Melanie Block, told the class how agriculture is an important factor in a rapid growing population and that really ignited my interest in agriculture.
Who are your role models in agriculture?
My role models in agriculture are my former ag teacher, Mrs. Block and Alan Green, a friend and past Michigan state officer. Mrs. Block is someone who is taking action and addressing today’s most challenging agricultural issues. As for Alan, he didn’t end his journey in agriculture at the end of his term as a state officer. He continues to be active in agriculture and show others how agriculture affects their lives. As an advocate for this particular field, I am able to look up to these are people when I doubt my ability to help in agriculture.
What has been your favorite experience as a state FFA office and what qualities do you look for in good mentors/leaders?
As someone who has been heavily involved in FFA, I look for leaders who have a positive attitude, value the opinion of others, and motivate others to succeed. At the National Leadership Conference for State Officers in Kentucky, I had the opportunity to work with past national officers and current facilitators who train State Officers. These people were some of the best leaders in the organization. Some of the things I noticed with them were that they didn’t see themselves as someone who had a higher level of importance. They tried to relate to you and focus on helping the officers become better leaders. It was interesting because these facilitators were very genuine, wanted to hear your thoughts, and helped us reach our maximum potential. At that conference was when I realized what a leader truly was. It isn’t someone who wants to be the face of the group, but someone who is willing to serve others and build them up too.
What are you watching, reading or listening to?
Currently I am keeping up with a blog called Modern Day Farm Chick. Not only does she educate people on agriculture, but brings a glimpse of her life into it which makes it really entertaining! She talks about her daily life as a dairy farmer and gives facts about certain agricultural products such as milk. Her posts are always a good laugh yet help me understand certain topics I may have not known a lot about.
In seven words or less, what is some advice you would offer your fellow women in agriculture?
Always be willing to learn and grow.
    

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

New #WomenInAg Infographics Show Impact of Women in Agriculture in Every State

From the #USDA:


WomenInAg infographic
New USDA #womeninag infographics showcase the impact women have on agriculture in each state and across the country. (Click to enlarge)
From the classroom to the farm to the boardroom, women in agriculture are helping to pave the way for a better future. As leaders, it is our responsibility to make sure the next generation of women are educated, encouraged and empowered to take on the challenges of meeting the world’s growing food, fuel and fiber needs. To celebrate and honor the contributions of women in agriculture, USDA is releasing a series of state-by-state infographics detailing the impact women have on agriculture in each state and across the country. Be sure to share these infographics on social media or print them to help tell the story of women in ag in your state!
Over the past few months, we’ve also been featuring the powerful stories of women in agriculture on the USDA blog. By following the #womeninag tag on the USDA blog, you can read first-person accounts from women like Carissa Koopmann Rivers, a fifth generation cow/calf rancher from Sunol, California, Casey Cox, the Executive Director of the Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District, and Dr. Jewel Hairston, the Dean of the College of Agriculture at Virginia State University.
To coincide with the release of the new infographics, each day this week, we’ll feature advice and stories from women in agriculture at various stages in their lives and careers. Be sure to check back on the USDA blog later today for our first of five #womeninag blogs this week, featuring Katy Coba, the Director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture.
To learn more and connect with other women leaders in agriculture all across the country, we encourage you to join our women in ag mentoring network. Join the conversation by emailing AgWomenLead@usda.gov and be sure to check out #womeninag on Twitter and on the USDA blog, our #womeninag Storify, and this video message from Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden.
    

Growing Local Food Connections with International Communities

From the #USDA:


NRCS District Conservationist Larette Kolbe helps Storm Lake student volunteers plant rows of vegetables.
NRCS District Conservationist Larette Kolbe helps Storm Lake student volunteers plant rows of vegetables.
Tucked away behind a hardware store and in between several Storm Lake, Iowa, housing developments, sits a freshly planted 4.5-acre garden project organized by “The Bridge of Storm Lake,” a non-profit organization that serves growing immigrant communities.
Supported in part through a $2,500 outreach grant from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), The Bridge Garden Training Project brings together many community businesses, organizations and individuals. The land is on loan to the project from a local church and the hardware store.
The Bridge hopes neighborhood residents, working alongside experienced volunteers, will learn skills to apply in other community or home-based gardens. “We plan to train those in the neighborhood to care for a garden, harvest it and then prepare the produce,” said Jill Engelmann, the organization’s volunteer coordinator.
Many different vegetables are growing in The Bridge Garden Training Project.
Many different vegetables are growing in The Bridge Garden Training Project.
The large garden plot includes dozens of rows of vegetables including peas, beans, radishes, sweet corn, three types of lettuce, chives, white onions, yellow onion, carrots, squash, tomatoes and peppers.
Volunteers from the local Buena Vista University and fourth-graders from Storm Lake Elementary planted the seeds. The harvested vegetables will be distributed to the volunteers and through The Bridge’s weekly food distribution to local immigrant families in need.
“We aren’t sure how much food we will have, but we’ve also discussed taking some to the local farmer’s market,” said Englemann.
In addition to providing locally grown, healthy food and food production education, the garden boasts a corn maze and pumpkin patch as entertainment at the fall festival.
“For 80 years, NRCS has taught the importance of soil and connecting food to this important resource,” said Renae Nicholson – NRCS Hispanic Emphasis Program Manager who coordinated the USDA grant for the garden project. “NRCS is proud to support the Hispanic and refugee communities and volunteers involved as we work together to be good stewards of the land.”
Former Iowa NRCS State Conservationist Jay Mar presents The Bridge with a ceremonial check to help support the Storm Lake garden project serving Hispanics and other underserved communities.
Former Iowa NRCS State Conservationist Jay Mar presents The Bridge with a ceremonial check to help support the Storm Lake garden project serving Hispanics and other underserved communities.
    

Late Blight: A Ripening Issue for Central Pennsylvania Farmers

From the #USDA:


A hoop house on Tamarack Farm in Spring Mills, PA.
A hoop house on Tamarack Farm in Spring Mills, PA.
Perhaps there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Many farmers in central Pennsylvania would aptly agree to this notion after experiencing above average amounts of rainfall this summer. In fact, rainfall during June and July in central Pennsylvania was more than four inches above average. The high summer temperatures coupled with these increased wet conditions quickly produced ideal habitats for many plant borne diseases. One disease in particular that inflicted dramatic damage upon many local farmers this past summer was late blight. One may recall that this was the plant disease responsible for the Irish Potato Famine back in the mid-nineteenth century. In memory of this historical event, late blight is nothing to take lightly. 
Late blight is not like other potato or tomato diseases. Most other plant diseases might only affect the leaves or cause minor damage to the fruit/vegetable, but late blight will completely ruin an entire crop. Back in 2011, Michael Arthur, co-owner of Tamarack Farm with his wife, Jan Jenkins (to whom he says, “is the real driver of our farm”), in Spring Mills, PA lost nearly 90% of their tomatoes in a single night due to late blight. Its’ scientific name, phytophthora infestans, aptly translates to mean ‘plant destroyer.’ The disease reproduces quickly; especially at night when the temperature rests between 60-75°F degrees, and leaves are wet from rain, dew, or fog. The outbreak will then spread quickly under the right conditions as wind-dispersed spores can move several miles. To illustrate how fast late blight can travel, Eric Noel, owner of Eden View Farm located in Warriors Mark, PA says that often a farmer about two miles to his West will tell him he has found late blight on his tomatoes. Two days later, Noel will see it show up on his tomato plants. Then two days after that, a farmer to Noel’s East will see late blight bloom. Typically once five to ten percent of a crop becomes infected, the damage is already done because it is near impossible to halt the disease.
Noel has been fighting both early and late blight this season. Knowing that blight thrives off of wet conditions, he aligned his planting so that prevailing winds could blow through plants to better aerate them and keep everything as dry as possible. Noel also utilized copper sulfate and Epson salts as pre-season treatments. However, despite these efforts, he still had to resort to non-organic control in order to keep his tomatoes alive. In his twelve years of farming, this has been the first time he has ever been faced with the decision to use non-organic fungicides. Unfortunately, most of the restaurants that buy from him want only organically grown produce, and he now posts a big sign at his farm stand informing buyers that his tomatoes have been sprayed.  “A little bit of income is better than no income from my tomatoes,” laments Noel.
Inside a hoop house on Tamarack Farm in Spring Mills, PA.
Inside a hoop house on Tamarack Farm in Spring Mills, PA.
Arthur on the other hand reports that he has only had issues with early blight this summer. Although most of his tomato plants are open cultivation, Arthur has been able to avoid insecticide spraying through the use of both agribon fabric and a high tunnel. These tools have not only worked to help protect his vegetable crops from insect predation and plant diseases, but they will also allow Arthur to continue his tomato and eggplant productions late into the season.
In order to better understand why this summer has been so favorable to both early and late, one has only to look at the recorded weather data for the area. In June, only nine out of the thirty days in central Pennsylvania were dry, with the other twenty-one days recording precipitation events. Near the beginning of July, the area then experienced seven consecutive days of rain. In addition to all the rain, moderate temperatures ranging in the mid to upper 70s also helped provide more than ripe conditions for late blight to flourish.  In all his years of farming, Noel notes that this summer has been the worst season of late blight that he has ever seen. Unfortunately, only time will tell if this is a cycle that will repeat periodically or if this disease will keep getting worse as the climate becomes more favorable for late blight. If it does, local weather data, real-time disease updates, and innovative planting practices will prove vital to the success of central Pennsylvania’s potato and tomato yields.
    

Bees and Coffee

From the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service:




Thank a bee on #NationalCoffeeDay! Bees make coffee possible by pollinating the coffee flowers. Studies have also shown that bees receive that caffeine buzz from the nectar in the flowers which may contribute to what keeps them coming back for more. ðŸŒ¸
Pollinators: www.fws.gov/pollinators/ 
Bees and coffee: http://bit.ly/1h7QZRU

Forest Service waives fees in support of the nation's largest volunteer effort on public lands

From the #USDA:



As the fall season slowly matriculates and the autumn equinox makes its debut, volunteers are encouraged to give back by participating in the annual National Public Lands Day.
National Public Lands Day, in its 22nd year, is the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer effort in support of public lands. Last year, more than 175,000 volunteers served at over 2,000 sites in every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Since it’s inception in 1994, with only three sites and 700 volunteers, the event has garnered community support year-after-year.
On national forests, grasslands and prairies, nearly 110,000 volunteers and service members contributed 4.6 million hours on critical projects last year. Their service was valued at a whopping $105 million.
This year, several NPLD projects will support Every Kid in a Park, an Obama Administration initiative to get fourth graders and their families onto federal lands and waters that serve as unparalleled outdoor classrooms showcasing the Nation’s cultural and natural resource history.
Nationwide, the Forest Service has registered over 189 National Public Lands Day sites across the United States and Puerto Rico. Some of the projects the Forest Service highlights this year includes 21st Century Conservation Service Corps member organizations and the 50th Anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act.
The following projects were selected as National Signature Events:
Partners will engage urban youth in environmental education and stewardship projects at the Earth Conservation Corps center in Southeast Washington D.C.  This project supports the Urban Waters Federal Partnership, World Water Monitoring Day and National Public Lands Day. Students in the 3rd, 4th and 5th grades will take water quality samples from the Anacostia River, uploading them into National Geographic software. Conservation education activities will be led by Forest Service, Environmental Protection Agency, DC Water, and Earth Conservation Corps staff. The event is free, but closed to the public.
This project will occur at Clinton Park in partnership with the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, the Green Institute at Furr High School and Friends of the National Forests and Grasslands (Latino Legacy) in Texas. The project will serve as an extension of the Fish and Wildlife Service Urban Refuge Partnership which will fund fruit tree plantings and native plant understory to support pollinator conservation and resources for public use and consumption. The event will be held on Oct. 3.
Living Archaeology Weekend takes place on the grounds of the Gladie Visitor Center on the Cumberland Ranger District. Friday, Sept. 18 is reserved for 5th grade students (approximately 1,000) from the surrounding communities. Students will learn about historic and prehistoric Kentuckians through hands-on demonstrations. The event is free and open to the public on Sept. 19, from 8 am – 5pm.
Great Lakes Bat Festival participants have the opportunity to help make “Green Bat Boxes” for placement on public lands including national forests. At the event, coordinated by the Organization for Bat Conservation, participants discover the importance and uniqueness of bats in a fun and interactive environment. Along with building bat boxes, participants can explore the “bat cave”, meet Stella Luna, the fictional children’s book female Megabat character, see bats from around the world and learn about bats and their habitats from state, federal land and wildlife managers. The event is Sept. 26, from 10:00am – 5:00pm. Tickets are $15 (free for 2 years old and under) and include admission to the Institute of Science and opening day of the BATS: Superheroes of the Night exhibit.
To find an event near you, visit National Public Lands Day Find a Site.
The Forest Service also offers fee-free days in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President’s Day, National Get Outdoors Day and Veterans Day. Fees are waived generally for day use areas, such as picnic grounds, developed trailheads and destination visitor centers. Fees are not waived for concessionaire-operated facilities or for overnight use such as camping or recreation rentals. Contact your local national forest to learn if your destination requires a fee and if that fee is waived.
    

Wisconsin Farm Serves as an Example for How Conservation Benefits Agricultural Operations

From the #USDA:


Greg and Karon Nettekoven manage an 800-acre vegetable farm in the Fox River watershed in Wisconsin where they use a variety of conservation practices. Photo: Tivoli Gough.
Greg and Karon Nettekoven manage an 800-acre vegetable farm in the Fox River watershed in Wisconsin where they use a variety of conservation practices. Photo: Tivoli Gough.

Some people are born to farm. Others grow to love it. Greg Nettekoven was born into a farm family, and he and his wife, Karon, have grown to love farming.
Greg is a second-generation farmer, and when he took the reins of the family farm in 1988, he changed the livestock operation into a vegetable farm – growing peas, sweet corn and beans.
Greg and Karon are passionate about what they do, and they take care of the land, making sure the operation stays productive while also conserving natural resources. To do this, they use a suite of conservation practices, which improve soil health on the farm and water quality downstream. This conservation work is especially important because their farm sits in the Fox River watershed, which ultimately flows into Lake Michigan.
Greg was an early adopter of conservation practices. He remembers a time when plowing led to washing, gullies, and erosion in his fields. Driving his tractor through fields with a cloud of dust around him, watching his top soil blow away, had an impact.
“We were one of the first ones in the area to get a soil saver chisel plow to help reduce tillage and start utilizing conservation practices actively,” he said.
This interest led him to USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), where he worked with his local conservationists to choose the best practices for his land. Through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Greg and Karon plant cover crops on their farm, which hold soil in place when cash crops are not growing.
Additionally, CSP provided them with technical and financial assistance to begin using slow-release nitrogen sources and drift reduction strategies, which ensure nutrients and pesticides are carefully placed to prevent waste and possible runoff into waterways. Through CSP, they recycle farm lubricants and used oil filters, too.
“Many farmers think about implementing conservation practices but need help with resources and advice, and that’s where NRCS comes in,” Greg said. “CSP is a great planning tool to help farmers think through applying conservation enhancements on the ground. They have great people with expertise on staff to direct questions and needs in the right place, examples of what has worked well before, and having a local service center connection in almost every Wisconsin county is priceless.”
Greg and Karon have taken their program successes one step further to help share information and resources with the public and other landowners. Their farm serves as a demonstration farm for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, a collaborative effort with 11 federal agencies including NRCS. Through GLRI, they show other farmers how leading-edge conservation practices can reduce runoff of phosphorous and provide other benefits to the farming operation.
For example, Greg is assisting NRCS in considering the use of urea and gypsum, which are soil amendments that help prevent phosphorous runoff.
“Greg is a progressive farmer and is an excellent partner to collaborate with to promote conservation on the land,” said Lynn Szulczewski, NRCS district conservationist in Appleton, Wisconsin. “He sets an example for others, applying conservation for the good of his farm, and making his farm a model with productivity and sustainability being the goals.”
For more on technical and financial assistance available through conservation programs, visit nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted or a local USDA service center.