The Sentinel from Carlisle, Pennsylvania • 13

Thursday, December 28, 2006 www.cumberlink.com The Sentinel Page B5 Agriculture Growers emphasize change in maximizing profitability By Steve Bogash Regional Horticulture Educator Penn State Cooperative Extension Recently, during a series of conversations I've had with fruit and vegetable growers, the same theme kept coming up while discussing how to keep their agricultural businesses profitable. One word in particular that kept coming up that seemed to sum up this theme was "different." Whether the topic was how to market apples, tomatoes, pumpkins or sweet corn, similar wisdom seemed to prevail. In each case the growers involved had either already made major changes, were in the middle of them, or were tweaking marketing plans made earlier based on lessons they had learned. Normally, you would expect tq hear mixed reviews when business people are making large changes, but to the grower, each was pleased with their decisions and felt that the changes they had implemented had increased their farms overall profitability. The single most influential trend that had both permitted and encouraged these changes has been the huge consumer demand for "locally grown" food products.

exploring season extension techniques. Our relatively short local outdoor growing season poses a major challenge. The first outdoor tomatoes are not available until July. By using crop row covers and various versions of simple greenhouses known as high tunnels, it is possible to move the first tomato harvest date up to early June or late May with only minor additional expense. Other crops that fit this model well are greens, some herbs, peppers, and cucumbers.

Using these same techniques at the fall end of the season can allow a grower to keep marketing produce right up to Thanksgiving. The longer harvest season helps to level out cash flow and provides a longer season for consumers access to great locally-grown produce. Here again, doing something a little different is making a major change in how we do business in the produce sector. Steve Bogash is the Penn State Cooperative Extension Educator for HorticultureSmall Fruit serving the Capital Region. Penn State Extension in Cumberland County is located at 1100 Clare-mont Road, Carlisle, PA 17013, phone: 717-240-6500, fax: 717-240-6548, or email Cumberlandextpsu.edu, Demand for locally grown food regularly trumps "naturally" and "organically" grown products in consumer surveys.

That is not to say that the growth in the demand for organically grown foods is slowing, just that more consumers are motivated to seek and demand products that come from nearby than some version of organic. Locally grown produce What defines a product as locally grown is open to substantial debate. Some large chain stores use "one trucking day" as a very broad definition. Most consumers probably feel more like "I cannot define it, but I know it when I see it." This would likely make the one trucking day a little too broad since that could make Georgia peaches a local product. No offense is meant to Georgia peach growers, they have long grown an excellent product, but it sure does not meet anyone I knows' definition of a local product.

Here in no particular order are some of the specific marketproduction changes that I see growers exploring: Farmers and other direct markets, Heirloom and heirloom-type tomatoes, and season extension. Before I go into any of the details of their moves, it is important to understand that undertaking any of these shifts requires massive research and an almost passionate devotion to making the changes work. After the shift is successful, it may look like "if you build it, they will come," but as a regular observer and consultant during these changes, much blood seems to get spilt along the way. Farmers markets Traditional farmers markets in urban areas are on the increase. Older markets that have been well-tended by their marketers and managers continue to boom.

In addition, many new markets pop up every year as more municipalities grow to understand the multiple benefits that a farmers market brings to their community. Often the contacts made at these markets lead to direct wholesale trade with restaurants, clubs and specialty stores. For some of the growers that have recognized the need to do something different, farmers markets have been at least part of their ticket to greater profits. Motivated consumers know that their produce should taste good. Some even recognize that good looks are not necessarily an attribute when seeking full-flavored produce.

Enter the heirloom or heirloom-type tomato. For many years the Brandywine tomato was the favorite of consumer tomato tasting trials. This heirloom tomato regularly eclipsed other tomatoes in taste panels, unfortunately it has very real production challenges that make it more of a backyard garden item. More recently, breeders have paid attention to these preferences and the many surveys indicating that consumers want tomatoes that taste good and so have bred hybrid tomatoes that look very heirloom-ish. These new hybrids have many of the advantages of modern plant breeding while keeping the good flavor of their parent stock.

Two that placed well in the 2006 Franklin County Tomato Tasting are Brandboy and Mr. Ugly. Create a locally oriented tomato marketing program around these two plus Favorita, Sungold, Carolina Gold and a more standard red sheer and you may have created a produce business that fits the different model. Season extension Finally, there are the many growers Duane G. Duncan receives national hall of fame award 1 i I (V.

I 'i I f. i I i 1 I i -V Kir "'V' Professional Improvement Conferences. He served as Master of Ceremonies of the NACAA 4-H Talent Shows in 1972-1973, as NACAA Regional Director froml988 -1989, and as Secretary of NACAA from 1995-1998. Comments in his application included "Duane has always been available and and "Perhaps his strongest attribute is the concern he has for the betterment of the community as a Since his retirement in October of 2003 Duane has continued working with several programs including Cumberland County Dairy Promotion Committee, TRACC-Therapeutic Riding Association of Cumberland County, Farm Safety Quiz Bowl Events, Cumberland Ag Expo, Carlisle Rotary Club, Downtown Carlisle Hanging Flower Baskets and Cumberland County Nursing Home Hanging' Flower Baskets. He is also in the process of transferring agricultural related historical materials to the Cumberland County Historical Society.

Duane G. Duncan was recognized by the National Association of County Agricultural Agents at its 91st Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio by receiving one of the first four Hall of Fame Awards. The new Hall of Fame Award is presented to one current or life member from each of the four NACAA regions. Each state may nominate one potential recipient. The winning recipients were selected based on their demonstrated commitment, dedication and effective leadership in job performance as an outstanding educator; association involvement at the state and national level, and humanitarian activities and leadership outside of normal Extension programming.

Duncan served as Penn State Agriculture Extension Educator coordinating and providing educational programs for farm families, in Adams and Cumberland -Countiesi' He served 36 years of his 45 years as Extension Director in Cumberland County. He also initiated taking "Cow to School" programs to the nine county school districts' elemen tary schools (1974-2002), with over 80,000 students participating. He developed "Ag a group of farm leaders who meet every six weeks to discuss educational opportunities and local farm concerns, and established a Future of Cumberland County Agriculture Organization (FOCCA) to help preserve agriculture in the county. Duncan was one of three organizers of the Pennsylvania Young Cooperative Couples' Conference developed in the early 70's. He served as Program Chair for the conferences held annually from 1973-2002.

Extension teamed up with farm organizations, Trauma Society, and Red Cross to develop a Farm Safety Day. Over 1200 youth have participated in this event during the last ten years. He served as Secretary of the Pennsylvania Junior Dairy Show from 1972-1991 and as Treasurer of the Pennsylvania 4-H Horse Pro-" grarti Development Committee from 1980 to present. He received the NACAA Distinguished Service Award in 1980 and has attended 44 NACAA Annual Meetings and Submitted photo v. Duane Duncan, retired Cumberland County Extension director, was, recently honored with the National Association of County Agricultural Agents Hall of.

Fame Award. Duncan was the first winner from the Northeast region for this new award which was established this year. Duncan and his wife Donna are shown receiving the award from Mickey Cummings, NACAA president, during the organization's annual meeting in Cincinnati, Ohio. Livestock grain reports 185.00; Fancy Kids: 80.00-105.00; Fleshy Kids: 68.00-79.00; Small -Thin: 48.00-62.00. Lambs: Good and Choice: (50-75 lbs.) lbs.) 50.00-54.50; U.S.

No. 2-4: (210-310 lbs.) 35.00-40.00. Boars: (all weights) 10.00-25.00. Feeder Pigs: (by the pound) 127 head (19-27 lbs.) 200.00; 28 head (31-50 lbs.) 96.00-150.00. Goats: (by the head) Large Nannies and Billies: 68.00- Tuesday, Dec.

26 Rabbits and Bunnies: 1.00-8.50; Turkeys: 14.00; Ducks: 1.75-2.50; Guineas: 5.50; Quail: 1.00; Banties: 0.50-1.00; Goose: 4.50-9.00; Chickens: 1.50-3.75; Pigeons: 2.30-4.00. All animals sold by the piece. Sale every Tuesday at 5 p.m. Carlisle Livestock Market Tuesday, Dec. 26 Slaughter Cattle Cows: Strong Demand! Breakers; 49.75-55.75; Boners: 44.75-49.50; Lean: 40.00-50.25; Shelly: 30.00-39.75.

Feeder Cattle: Feeder Steers and Heifers: (575-950 lbs.) 58.00-69.00. Calves returning to the farm: Holstein Bulls No. 1: (80-135 lbs.) 92.00-130.00. Holstein Heifers No. 1: (85-120 lbs.) 460.00-550.00; No.

2: (75-95 lbs.) 140.00-375.00. Swine: Hogs: U.S. No. 1-3: (290-360 Sale every Tuesday at 5 p.m. for rabbits, poultry and eggs; 6 p.m.

for livestock, starting with calves. Fed cattle sale Tuesday, Jan. 2. State graded feeder pig sale Friday, Jan. 19.

Flea market open every Sunday, 7a.m.-2p.m. Small Animal Sale 122.00-160.00; (80-100 IDS. 132.00-215.00; (105-130 lbs. 180.00-182.00. Sheep: (all weights) 95.00 102.00.

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ALL Christmas Gifts Decorations Exp. 123006 The Sentinel www.cumberlink.com In New Year's resolutions Apple-pecan French toast.