April 2005

How Do U.S. Farmers Plan for Retirement? asks Amber Waves online (USDA, April ’05). “In addition to working longer past traditional retirement age, farm operator households tend to have several income sources and different forms of wealth, as compared with the general population. Furthermore, because of the nature of the farm business, farm households have different savings habits and more diverse financial portfolios than most other U.S. households. Farm households’ financial portfolios include more personal savings than those of the typical U.S. household and, in general, farm households are also less dependent on social security income during retirement. . . . While fewer farm operators are covered by employer-sponsored pensions than are nonfarmers, a majority of farm operators save from current income on a regular basis and have accumulated diversified financial portfolios, including individual retirement savings.” Read the complete article at http://www.ers.usda.gov/Amberwaves/April05/Features/FarmRetirement.htm.

Blueberry research launches exciting new California specialty crop (California Agriculture, Apr-Jun ’05). “Observational trials . . . indicate that new southern highbush blueberry cultivars, which require fewer ‘chill hours’ to produce fruit are well adapted to the San Joaquin Valley climate. . . . Growers considering planting or expanding blueberry acreage should develop sound business plans, accounting for lower future prices and improved growing, harvesting and packing efficiencies. . . . prudence is appropriate, since blueberries are one of the most costly crops to establish.”
Read the complete article at http://californiaagriculture.ucop.edu/0502AMJ/pdfs/Blueberries.pdf.

Leadership skills at grassroots level essential today says a column in Vegetable Growers News (April ’05). “The vegetable and fruit industries are in constant need of effective grassroots leadership. . . Informed and capable leaders must help monitor and manage issues that arise inside the industry. In addition, agriculture is put under the microscope by outsiders who may not understand the intricacies of food production and marketing but are not reluctant to propose heavy new burdens on producers. Leadership must be in place to deal with such challenges. . . . The most effective spokespersons for an industry are those whose livelihoods are directly affected by developing issues. Articulate growers out front in a public discussion, whether before the legislature or the media or in some other forum, can deliver much more punch because the audience recognizes that the topic touches these people right where they live.”

New America’s Heartland Public TV Series to Celebrate Agriculture (Voice of Agriculture Newsroom, American Farm Bureau, Apr. 21, ’05) America’s Heartland is a weekly television program that celebrates the miracle of American agriculture and the farm and ranch families that help make it possible. The series, which will premiere the first week of September 2005, will help viewers better understand the nation’s farm and ranch families and the challenges and opportunities they face as they produce food and fiber for Americans and people in other countries. The program is made possible through major underwriting by Monsanto Company in collaboration with the American Farm Bureau Federation. The series will be distributed to each of more than 300 public television stations in America by America’s Public Television, the single largest provider of programming to public television stations. Read the complete news release at http://www.fb.org/news/nr/nr2005/nr0421a.html.

Rent, Own or Lease: What’s best for your business? (TurfNorth, Apr. ’05). “Leasing instead of purchasing can be a cost-effective option, especially for those companies that don’t have cash on hand but need the equipment. In fact, many operations with cash to invest have found that, by leasing, they can regulate their cash flow more effectively. . . . Obviously, each equipment acquisition option—buying, renting and leasing—have balance sheet and tax considerations. An operation that owns a piece of equipment has the right to take depreciation deductions, for example. If the operation leases, it takes an expense deduction. . . . The Internal Revenue Service frequently challenges leases as disguised purchases, which means you would not be able to deduct your monthly payments. Back taxes, interest and penalties can add considerably to the cost of any equipment acquired in a disguised purchase.”

Conservation Easements Changes in the Wind (Farming, Apr. ’05). “. . . creating and transferring an easement is one of the most mysterious concepts among those who own farm and forestland. . . . Easements come in two forms: private and public. A private easement, usually, but not necessarily, between abutting owners, is a fairly common method to allow others access rights to land. . . . A public easement is one that largely benefits society. . . . Why would anyone knowingly dump half or more of the fair market value of their land by granting an easement that transfers development rights to a local land trust? Love of the land and ensuring that one’s family maintains its connections to the land can only account for some of what inspires those who transfer development rights. Lucrative tax savings on the ‘charitable contribution’ of such easements simply sweeten the deal. . . . Tax advantages of conservation easements . . . are now in jeopardy thanks to a recent report of a Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation. (The Committee) has taken the position that most conservation easements are nothing more than tax loopholes for the wealthy. So, legislators are contemplating limitations on gifts for conservation purposes so that only easements that ‘benefit a specific government conservation program’ will allow donors to deduct 100 percent of the gift’s value. . . . Such changes will most likely have little or no impact on farm and forest owning families whose intentions are to keep productive land intact.”

New Research Promising for Growers (Growing, Apr. ’05). “U.S. Agricultural Research Service (ARS) researchers say they are attempting to develop a new pest control tool to combat a number of fungi capable of plaguing . . . strawberry plants. . . . The experimental tool is sampangine, a naturally occurring compound that was patented by the University of Mississippi in 1990 as a treatment for human fungal infections, but was never released commercially. David Wedge, an ARS plant pathologist, says the compound shows promise of replacing more common fungicides that are proving less reliable with repeated use against Botrytis fungal strains, as well as serving as a postharvest and anti-decay agent. . . . Specific fungi being studied . . . . include . . . . Colletotrichum fragariae, which causes anthracnose crown rot and wilt in strawberry plants. Other fungi showing some initial susceptibility to the compounds include C. gloeosporioides, which sickens a number of crops including . . . strawberries.

Marketers must grow before they can grow the farm, by Jane Eckert of Eckert AgriMarketing, appears in Fruit Growers News (April ’05). “Successful farms are realizing that tourism connections can help them grow their businesses. . . . Working together, a group of farms and tourism folks can really make a significant impact on the regional economy. . . . Direct farm marketers now recognize that their real competition is not necessarily their farm neighbors. The competitors are the large retail operations, the amusement parks, and even the video games . . . . As we realize whom we are competing with, we can learn to use some of their tricks – expanding our offerings, setting up unique product displays, offering special activities and coupons and so forth.. . . Your farm visitors no longer look in the newspaper or the phone book to find out when you are open, when the season starts, or how to find the farm. . . . If you haven’t got a Web site, you have customers that are turning to other farms that do.”

Strawberry Latent Ringspot Virus, a New Virus Disease in North America is discussed in The Strawberry Grower (Apr. ’05). “Strawberry latent ringspot virus (SLRSV) was recently discovered in North America by USDA ARS research scientist Dr. Bob Martin and cooperators. They found SLRSV in 17% of the California strawberry samples and in 4% of British Columbia strawberry samples, and also in variegated mint. SLRSV has probably been present in the U.S. for many years unnoticed on an ornamental mint popular for its bright yellow color (partially induced by the virus) and sold throughout the country. . . . The control of this virus is very difficult once it is established in an environment where susceptible hosts and/or the nematode are present. Many of the chemicals that have been used to control nematodes are being eliminated because of environmental concerns. The most effective way to control SLRSV and other viruses on strawberries and other small fruit crops is through certification programs and the use of virus-tested plants.” The original ARS news release is online at http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2005/050218.htm.

Pruning and management help decrease risk of phomopsis notes Fruit Growers News (Apr. ’05). “The fungus Phomopsis vaccinii causes the disease known as phomopsis twig blight and canker. This disease can be common in blueberry plantings in Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York, Ohio, New England and North Carolina. . . . Wilting and dieback of shoots in the early summer are the most common symptoms of this disease. . . . the first step in management of phomopsis begins during the pruning season. Pruning out diseased canes is extremely important to reduce inoculum levels. . . . Remove infected wood from the field and burn it. This is important because infected canes left on the ground will still emit spores that can be rain-splashed onto new susceptible tissues in the spring. Good pruning practices alone will not be adequate to manage phomopsis if inoculum levels are moderate or high. Fungicide applications, especially during a wet spring, will be required.”

USDA Releases New Food Pyramid. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns has unveiled MyPyramid, a re-vamped food pyramid symbol and an interactive food pyramid system. This web-based system is designed to carry the message of dietary guidelines and promote the health benefits of good nutrition and physical activity. The new MyPyramid site can be found at http://www.mypyramid.gov/.

New America’s Heartland Public TV Series to Celebrate Agriculture (Voice of Agriculture Newsroom, American Farm Bureau, Apr. 21, ’05). America’s Heartland is a weekly television program that celebrates the miracle of American agriculture and the farm and ranch families that help make it possible. The series, which will premiere the first week of September 2005, will help viewers better understand the nation’s farm and ranch families and the challenges and opportunities they face as they produce food and fiber for Americans and people in other countries. The program is made possible through major underwriting by Monsanto Company in collaboration with the American Farm Bureau Federation. The series will be distributed to each of more than 300 public television stations in America by America’s Public Television, the single largest provider of programming to public television stations. Read the complete news release at http://www.fb.org/news/nr/nr2005/nr0421a.html.

Indar for Mummy Berry in PA for 2005 (Vegetable & Small Fruit Gazette, April ’05). Kathy Demchak reports “The U.S. EPA granted an emergency exemption for the use of Indar 75WSP (fenbuconazole) to control mummy berry disease in blueberries in Pennsylvania for 2005.” The Dow AgroSciences website has the Specimen Label, Materials Safety Data Sheet, and Section 18 Specific Exemption sheets for Indar 75WSP for Pennsylvania and for Georgia, Washington, Oregon, North Carolina, New Jersey, Indiana, New Hampshire, Michigan and Massachusetts at http://www.cdms.net/manuf/mprod.asp?mp=11&lc=0&ms=3691&manuf=11.

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