December

The Strawberry Plant—A Quick Review (Northland Berry News, Fall/Winter ’04) by Penn State’s Elsa Sánchez and Kathy Demchak provides an overview of the two main types of strawberries typically grown commercially: June-bearing and day-neutral. “They are defined primarily by the time of flower bud initiation and therefore fruiting. Short-day or June-bearing types initiate flowers when days are short, less than 14 hours. Day-neutral types initiate flowers regardless of day length.” The authors discuss management practices related to the crown, leaves, root system, runners and flowers. Read the complete article at Strawberry Fact Sheet.

Strawberry, Raspberry, and Blueberry Cultivar Review (Northland Berry News, Fall/Winter ’04) by Courtney Weber, Cornell University, provides “a guideline for New York and the northeastern U.S. No cultivar will work well in all locations, soil types, and production systems,” the authors says, “but many have proven useful in many different situations. In addition, many new cultivars show promise and may be suitable for your operation. However, as always, try new cultivars on a limited basis before abandoning cultivars that have proven reliable in your production scheme.” The article discusses early season, mid-season, late season, day neutral and new strawberry cultivars; early season, mid season, and late season raspberry cultivars; black raspberries; purple raspberries; and blueberry cultivars.” Read the complete article at the Cornell Berry Resource web page by clicking here.

Fresh-cut continues as a growing trend in the produce industry reports The Fruit Growers News (Dec. ’04). “With $12 billion in annual sales, pre-cut, pre-washed and packaged fruits and vegetables remain the fastest growing segment in the produce sector, and the category still has plenty of room to grow. . . . The still-young fresh-cut fruit category, which reports $300 million in annual retail sales, is likely to surpass the $1 billion mark over the next three years to four years.

The importance of staying in the black! is the “Business Management” feature in MNLA News (Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Assn, Dec. ’04). Author David Stougaard, AgStar Financial Services, says, “A practical tip is to manage your tax affairs to always try and report positive net earnings every year. The objective that some business owners have of managing their tax affairs to pay minimal Federal income taxes is usually not a good idea, and in fact can cost you money in the long run.” Stougaard points out that lenders look for “a steady stream of positive net earnings” which indicate the business “should have the ability to pay all their obligations without dipping into working capital. This reduces risk in the eyes of the lender. The lower the risk, the lower the interest rate charged.” He advises, “Work closely with your professional tax advisor to manage your net earnings to remain in the black every year, if at all possible.”

January 31 is AGR-Lite closing date (PA Vegetable Growers News, Dec. ’04) Adjusted Gross Revenue-Lite or AGR-Lite provides protection against low revenue due to unavoidable causes. Covered farm revenues include income from almost all crops and agricultural commodities including animals and animal products such as milk, aquaculture products grown in a controlled environment, and greenhouse production. The program is based on the 5-year average of selected revenue reported on IRS Schedule F 1040 or equivalent tax forms, therefore minimal additional record keeping is required. AGR-Lite is available in: Alaska (selected counties), Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York (selected counties), North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania (except Philadelphia County), Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia. AGR-Lite insurance polices are available from private crop insurance agents. Complete information is available at: http://www.rma.usda.gov/pubs/2003/ PAN-1667-07.pdf A listing of agents is at http://www3.rma.usda.gov/tools/agents/companies/

Growing the Perfect Strawberry (Greenhouse Insider, Dec. ’04). “Researchers are looking at alternative ways of growing strawberries that can eliminate the dependence on methyl bromide, avoid excessive use of water for plant establishment and frost protection, reduce labor costs, and minimize crop protectant usage. Not only can growing strawberries in greenhouses accomplish these things, it also enables growers to cash in on the off-season market prices with increased early production during winter. . . . Large scale greenhouse strawberry operations exist in the Netherlands, Belgium, Israel, the UK, Spain, Italy, and other areas of the world whose aim is to target the off-season market. . . . Biological pest control is common and sometimes inevitable in protected strawberry cultivation since some chemicals are not labeled for use on greenhouse strawberries. . . . The major insect pests of greenhouse strawberries are two-spotted spider mites, aphids, and thrips. . . . The incidence of fungal pathogens like Botrytis cineria, which is commonly found in field-grown strawberries, is negligible in the greenhouse . . . .”

Niche crops require research, pay off with profits writes Vegetable Grower News (Dec. ’04). “A niche crop is anything that is not considered a mainstay as far as commodities go . . . . It could be a value-added product, heirloom fruits and vegetables or something people don’t normally buy such as oriental vegetable, edible flowers and some of the hydroponics crops such as watercress and mesclun mixes. . . . Niche crops generally are intended to appeal to a small market. . . if it is successful, others will try it and that small market could get flooded. . . . If there is a suitable market for a niche crop, a grower might have a good profit, but it’s uncommon to make a living solely off niche crops. . . You have to have bread-and-butter crops and then add a niche crop.” The article describes a niche crop grower as “somebody who has the time and motivation to develop a market and who is constantly looking into new production techniques.”

Recycle Your Ag Plastics recommends Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers News (Dec. ’04). Zook’s Plastic Recovery, Leola, PA, “is buying used agricultural plastics for recycling.” Plastic mulch, drip tape, greenhouse covers, pots, flats and other greenhouse plastics are accepted. The Spring Drive takes place from February 21 to March 25 and their Fall Drive from October 17 to December 2. Plastic must be delivered Zooks at 183 S. Farmersville Rd, Leola. Call 717-656-4422 to schedule a delivery time.

Preserving your wealth means accounting for everything (The Vegetable Growers News, Dec. ’04) offers ten strategies for preserving your wealth. Briefly, the strategies are: prepare a will; use your estate tax exclusion; title assets to avoid probate; monitor retirement plan assets; gift away what you don’t need; keep enough assets liquid to satisfy estate taxes; hold life insurance in trust; know what you have and where you have it; choose executors and trustees wisely; and, meet with your financial consultant.”

11 Ways to Reduce Your 2004 Tax Bite is featured in the online edition of Entrepreneur magazine (Dec. 2, ’04). Author Jeffrey S. Parker notes, “It’s not too late to take advantage of some smart strategies that will help you retain more of your hard-earned profits.” Read Parker’s eleven tax-reduction strategies for business owners at http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/0,4621,318867,00.html.

The Organic Way- Some Ideas for Weed Management in Strawberries is discussed in the Dec. ’04 edition of Penn State’s Vegetable and Small Fruit Gazette. The article, by Elsa Sánchez, Assistant Professor of Horticultural Systems Management and Kathy Demchak, Senior Extension Associate, Small Fruits, “describes some alternative weed management strategies to herbicides and mechanical and hand cultivation.” Read the complete article at http://hortweb.cas.psu.edu/extension/vegcrops/vegetable_gazette/2004/
dec2004.htm#organic.

Pesticide gets reprieve (St. Petersburg Times Online, 12/18/04. “On Thursday, the Bush administration announced new rules effective Jan. 1 allowing farmers for a range of crops, from strawberries to tomatoes and peppers, to continue using one of farming's most-popular and effective pesticides. . . . The pesticide was originally scheduled for phaseout in 2001. Farmers in the United States and about a dozen other nations won a "critical use" exemption during negotiations in Prague, Czech Republic, last month. International negotiators granted the United States' request to continue using methyl bromide at 37 percent of the rate used in the country in 1991, or 5,550 tons.” Read the complete article at http://www.sptimes.com/2004/12/18/Business/Pesticide_gets_reprie.shtml.

USDA Forecasts Ag Imports to Equal Ag Exports in 2005 (NCFC Updates, Dec 3, ’04). “The USDA last week released a revised forecast of its U.S. agricultural sales for FY 2005. Exports are forecast at $56 billion in FY 2005, down from the record export sales of $62.3 billion in FY 2004. Of particular note, the forecast for agricultural imports in FY 2005 is forecast to be $56 billion as well, which would mark the first time in over 40 years that the U.S. has not enjoyed a agricultural trade surplus. USDA’s full forecast of agricultural exports can be found on the Economic Research Service’s web site at: http://www.ers.usda.gov.

Tempers Flare on Looming Methyl Bromide Phase-Out reports the “Around the Industry” feature in Growing (Dec. ’04). “Strawberry growers in California and Florida stand to lose $131 million in 2005 if the methyl bromide phaseout proceeds as planned,” says Paul Wenger, a spokesman for the American Farm Bureau Federation. “While a significant amount of time, money and effort have been devoted to finding a methyl bromide alternative during the last decade, researchers have come up short. . . . Industry advocates . . . have been pushing to enable the United States to continue use of methyl bromide at 39 percent of 1991 levels . . . the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) . . . charges that the ag chemical industry has huge stockpiles of methyl bromide and that the United States does not need the large, critical use exemption it is seeking . . .”

The Organic Farm Plan (Growing, Dec. ’04). “The Final Rule of the USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) is the legal standard for organic food production in the United States. This rule requires that every certified organic farm have an organic production plan, sometimes called an organic farm systems management plan, or simply, an organic plan. . . . an organic plan describes how the farm has been, and will be, managed. The plan is put together by the farmer and must be approved by the organic certifying agency that the farmer selects.” The article recommends the public domain forms available at the Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA) website (www.attra.org/attra-pub/OrgPlanTempEnc1.doc as a place to visit if you are developing an organic plan for the first time. “To read the entire organic rule, or to get explanations of what it means and how to implement it, visit the NOP website at www.ams.usda.gov/nop/.”

Dole Food Co. acquires Coastal Berry Co. reports Vegetable Growers News (Nov. ’04). “Coastal Berry is a leading producer of fresh California coastal strawberries and bushberries (raspberries and blackberries). With this acquisition, Dole should become the third largest producer of fresh strawberries for 2004. Fresh strawberry consumption continues to grow on a per capita basis driven by its broad consumer appeal and nutritional properties.”

Clever Plant Tricks That Protect Raspberries (Agricultural Research, Nov. ’04). “While protective coloration is well known among animals that rely on blending in with their environs, such adaptations aren’t often noticed in the plant world. But it appears that raspberries may rely on a similar ruse to hide from deer and insects . . . How do they do it? Some raspberries have evolved leaves with fuzzy, light-colored reflective undersides that fool insects that expect plants to be green.” Read the complete article at http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/nov04/sci1104.htm.

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