SCATTERING SEEDS of JOY and HOPE
What Blesses One, Blesses All
Kennett Community Garden's Resurrection Weekend
In celebration of the Easter holiday in April, the city of Kennett, Missouri came together to focus on the need to lessen the impact of food insecurity in the areas of Dunklin County in the southeast region. Reverend Dinah L. Tatman and the devoted members of St. John African Methodist Episcopal Church in Kennett planned a gardening event for the holiday's “Resurrection Weekend.”
Lincoln University Cooperative Research and Extension responded to the invitation to assist with the church’s gardening renewal project at the Kennett Community Garden located on the corner of Commercial and Vandeventer Streets in Kennett. Dr. Clement Akotsen-Mensah (LU State Integrated Pest Management Specialist) and Mr. Jim Shepard (LU ISFOP Farm Worker) and other local community leaders and residents joined together to help and rejoice during this season of “rebirth and renewal.”
With the aid of LU funding, Mr. Shepard installed a beehive box suitable for the garden. To get the garden off to a good start, he also administered soil sampling to ensure the garden would thrive throughout the whole season, in hopes of having an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables to help feed local residents in nearby communities.
To learn more about the Kennett Community Garden, please visit the Kennett Missouri Chamber of Commerce Website.
Lincoln University Awarded Funding for Organic Farming Research
Lincoln University of Missouri was awarded a three-year grant from USDA/NIFA Organic Agriculture Research & Extension Initiative entitled “Scale-Appropriate Strategies: Cover Crop-Based No-till Systems for Small Vegetable Farmers.”
Dr. Frieda Eivazi, Professor of Soil and Environmental Sciences, serves as the project director for this multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional project, in collaboration with University of Missouri-Columbia, University of Massachusetts, and Oregon State University.
The focus of this research is to address the most prevalent critical management concerns of limited resource organic vegetable producers, which include weeds, insect pests, disease control and support profitable, sustainable crop production.
The experiments are conducted at the 280-acre Lincoln University’s Alan T. Busby Research Farm, an organic-certified research farm and one of the key centers for organic research and extension in the Midwest. Four cover crop-based no-till systems, with five spring termination practices, are being trialed. Data on soil health, weed density, arthropod diversity, weed seed predation, soil borne and foliar disease incidence, as well as summer squash and beet crop yields are being collected.
Economic analysis will be performed to evaluate inputs, labor costs and sales value for each production system studied. The outreach objective of this project is to disseminate research-based information on Cover Crop-Based No-till Systems to increase awareness among small and mid-scale organic producers, and to foster the adoption and implementation of these systems.
For more information on this project, please contact EivaziF@LincolnU.edu.
Beginning Farmer and Ranchers Development Program for Latinos in Missouri and Nebraska
Increasing Agribusiness Capacity
On April 16, program facilitators Dr. Eleazar U. Gonzalez (Assistant Professor, State Extension Specialist-Small Sustainable Farms and Ranches, and Ag. Economics and Marketing), Dr. Homero Salinas (Assistant Professor, Extension State Specialist - Animal Science - Small Ruminants), and Mr. David Middleton (Farm Outreach Worker - Southwest Region) conducted an onsite training to grow the agribusiness capacity of Latino farmers in Monett, Missouri. It was the first session of a twelve-workshop training series that mixes onsite and online farm training.
The session helped Latino farmers to develop their entrepreneurial mindset and enhance their knowledge of marketing livestock to final consumers.
Mr. Middleton and Dr. Gonzalez led a group of 11 Latino farmers to enhance their entrepreneurship in the livestock business. For training purposes, they used the case of “Middleton Small Natural Meats” (middletonsallnaturalmeats.com) to help Latino farmers understand what it takes to sell to local consumers. Mr. Middleton shared his innovative marketing strategies on how to sell different livestock products to end consumers.
The following workshop on April 30 focused on training Latino farmers with the tools to be able to access high pay markets (end consumers). During the first part of the training, Dr. Gonzalez assisted Latino farmers in developing an assessment of their farms. Ten Latino farmers responded to an assessment worksheet which outlined their farming resources and their capacities to implement agribusiness plans.
The latter part of the workshop involved Dr. Homero Salinas who offered training on pasture management and livestock. This three-and-a-half-hour workshop helped farmers develop awareness of their agribusiness capacities and pasture management.
LU and MU Collaborate to Improve Lamb Carcass Quality for Sheep Producers
The Lamb Carcass Data Program evolved through cooperation between the Missouri Sheep Producers (MSP), Lincoln University Cooperative Extension and the University of Missouri Extension programs.
Mr. Kevin Minish, President of the Missouri Sheep Producers, reached out to Drs. Bryon Wiegand, State Specialist in Meat Science at MU, and Chris Baughman, State Specialist in Small Ruminants at Lincoln, looking for information about lamb carcasses to share with MSP members. Information on carcass characteristics, producer data, EBVs (estimated breeding values), and other carcass characteristics can aid producers whose sheep are destined for the traditional sheep market or for direct retail sales.
The beef cattle industry has been using genetic information to improve the quality of beef carcasses for years. While carcass information is available in the sheep industry, it has not been used to the extent as in the cattle sector.
EBVs can help producers to improve sheep carcass merit through breeding and genetic selection. However, EBV carcass data for sheep is limited. While more genetic information is likely to become available in the coming years, knowing the quality and yield characteristics of their current market lambs will help guide the production of more desirable carcasses. Gaining carcass data on lambs is challenging. This program provides producers interested in raising lambs of improved carcass quality to gain valuable information on their production efforts.
The data taken from sheep is collected at the processing facility by MU and LU Extension personnel. This data will help producers to know carcass status, and where improvements can be made. It may also improve producer knowledge of lamb carcass quality, yield, and value. LU hopes to see this program continue for several years to benefit producers and the sheep industry in Missouri.
Sheep producers interested in the program can contact:
Dr. Chris Baughman, State Extension Specialist with Lincoln University Cooperative Extension at BaughmanC@lincolnu.edu
Ms. Sheryl Lynette Maxwell of LU Cooperative Extension Receives 2020 DeVerne Lee Calloway Award at Missouri State Capitol
Inside the rotunda of the Missouri State Capitol on April 22, members of the Missouri Legislature and other attendees honored Ms. Sheryl Maxwell (Program Educator Assistant III - Charleston Office) as the recipient of the 2020 DeVerne Lee Calloway Award. This event included the 2021 Women Legislators of Missouri Scholarship Presentation and DeVerne Lee Calloway Award Ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda.
Ms. Maxwell was recognized for her extensive record of community outreach accomplishments in Southeast Missouri during her many years of service, especially during the height and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the ceremony, seats were filled with many of her friends and co-workers, as well as representatives of various government agencies who responded to her call to assist with food insecurity issues in Southeast Missouri during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To personally congratulate her for her achievement, were Lincoln University President, Dr. Jerald Woolfolk; Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Alphonso Sanders; Mr. Carlos Graham, Chief of Staff/Executive Assistant to the President; Ms. Stacey Schulte, Assistant VPAF/Controller; and Dr. Majed El-Dweik, Dean of the College of Agriculture, Environmental and Human Sciences; and Ms. Yvonne Matthews, Associate Administrator, Cooperative Extension.
The DeVerne Lee Calloway Award is named after the first black woman in the Missouri state legislature, who served in office for nine terms from 1962 until 1980. Recipients of this prestigious award are nominated who reflect the same ideals of its namesake—liberty and equal opportunities for all.
Kansas City Neighborhoods Discover the Beauty and Benefits of Native Plant Gardening
The Native Plant Academy in Kansas City
Dr. Nadia Navarrete-Tindall (LU Cooperative Extension Specialty Crop Specialist) is collaborating with Westside Housing Organization in Kansas City and the Missouri Prairie Foundation’s Grow Native program to launch the Native Plant Academy, teaching Westside residents about native plants.
Readers can learn more about these inspiring projects posted on the NeighborWorks America website.
Lean Sheep Flock Lambing in Full Swing on Freeman Farm
The November 2020 Sheep Breeding Project
In April, Dr. Tumen Wiliji identified 120 ewes pregnant from the November 2020 sheep breeding project. The new additions to the flock are expected to be born in mid-April 2021. The first-born lamb on Freeman pasture was recorded on April 12. Most of the ewes are matured dams, so there will be more twins and triplet progeny.
The expected number of newborn lambs by the end of May will be in the range of 150-180.
Pasture lambing paddocks have shown good forage growth and ewes have the very best body conditions. In addition, there is also a small group of farm flock ewes lambing separately at the Lincoln University Carver farm. Farm Managers, Mr. Troy Wieberg and Mr. Eric Groose and their farm crews worked additionally hard, coping with a very busy and successful season at both locations.
Cathedral of St. Joseph Elementary School Students Learn a New Way to Grow Tall
On April 15, the Jefferson City News Tribune daily newspaper featured a news story about the exciting work Dr. Egilla (Assistant Professor of Horticulture -Soilless and Hydroponic Crop Production Specialist ) has brought to the students at Cathedral of St. Joseph School fourth-graders in Jefferson City.
Dr. Egilla’s research in vertical hydroponic gardening has captured the attention of gardeners of all ages.
The news story credited to Ms. Julie Smith tells of the collaborative efforts of School Principal Spencer Allen and Dr. Egilla on ways to increase student engagement.
According to the news story, Principal Allen was allowed to use federal Title IV funding to acquire the hydroponic gardening equipment for the school’s cafeteria.
To read the full story, please visit the News Tribune website.
To learn more about Dr. Egilla's hydroponic research, please visit the Lincoln University website.
Creating New Wonders with Little Handfuls of Soil
4-H “One-4-One” Program in the Bootheel Celebrates Earth Day!
Lincoln University’s 4-H One-4-One Club and Girl Scout Troop #71259 celebrated Earth Day by planting trees at the Kennett Community Garden April 22.
The group, which is led by 4-H Area Educator Mariann Wright, invited other area youth and community members to participate in the planting of eight trees on the eastern border of the community garden property. The Willow Oaks and Roughleaf Dogwoods were obtained from the Missouri Department of Conservation’s tree seedling program that offers Missouri residents a variety of tree seedlings for reforestation, windbreaks, and erosion control as well as for wildlife food and cover.
The Kennett Community Garden was chosen for the site of this project due to Lincoln University Cooperative Extension’s current collaboration with the garden and its management team at St. John AME Church. In addition to Ms. Wright, guidance and preparation for the project were provided by Mr. Jim Shepard, Horticulture Area Educator with Lincoln University Cooperative Extension; Dr. Michael Milam, County Engagement Specialist in Agriculture and Environment with MU Extension; and Reverend Dinah Tatman, Pastor of St. John AME Church in Kennett.
More than forty area youth and community members supported the event. The youth participants who assisted with the project were given a tree with instructions on how to plant at their own homes.
Right Photo Caption (from left to right): Christina Mezo (co-leader), Chyna Palmer, Jim Shepard (project support), Kherington Mezo, Courtlynn Lynn, Chloe Chase, and Mariann Wright (leader)
The event was live streamed on Facebook and covered by local news media.
Sprouting Early Interest in Agriculture
Building Intergenerational Relationships through Gardening
Plans are underway in Charleston Missouri to develop agricultural teaching and learning skills for elementary-aged students. Educators will include several members of LU Cooperative Extension staff who specialize in healthy eating habits. Efforts to prepare selected gardening areas began in March in anticipation of having plots ready for the start of the spring season.
By establishing the Lincoln University Cooperative Extension Charleston Outreach Center gardens, its staff planned a special program that will provide an opportunity for students, program participants, and the local community to learn about sustainable gardening techniques.
Agriculture has deep roots in Charleston, and it is important for the local populace to strengthen and renew these bonds. The gardens will help demonstrate what produce grows best in Missouri’s climate zone and give people an appreciation of the efforts it takes to bring food from the farm, the market and ultimately to the dinner table.
It has been estimated over 50% of all produce grown is wasted worldwide. Some of this waste correlates to an improper understanding of how to store and subsequently cook a variety of produce. With these gardens, Charleston Outreach Center will demonstrate to local stakeholders and the community residents how to not only grow exceptional fruits and vegetables, but how to properly store them, and the best ways to prepare them to maintain their highest nutritional value. This will allow participants to fully experience the joys of gardening and understand how much is invested in the entire process.
On the week of April 26, students participating in the Closing the Gap Afterschool Program were involved in service projects of preparing container gardens for various community programs. These container gardens are the beginning of intergenerational relationships between the students, the garden, program participants, and members of the Charleston community who will receive the benefits of the garden. Gardening is a way to provide not only fresh, healthy foods, but also provide people with a sense of ownership, enjoyment, and satisfaction of watching their vegetables grow.
The new garden will consist of tomatoes, squash, okra, peppers, greens, potatoes, and other vegetables that were requested by senior citizens in the community. Vegetables selected grow well in the Missouri Southeast area, produce in abundance, and are staples for a well-balanced diet. Vegetables will be distributed to senior citizen groups as well as other residents in the community to decrease food insecurities.
Ms. Michelle Hopkins (Family Consumer Science Teacher) and Sarah Eber (LU Human Nutrition and Health Program Coordinator) will work with students and stakeholders to teach the nutritional benefits of growing produce. Ms. Eber will also provide healthy recipes for preparing meals for the harvested items.
The garden area was prepared and will be used for already established plants to reduce the amount of time necessary to begin harvesting. Once harvested, the Program Educator will demonstrate how to properly clean and store the different varieties collected. Finally, the Program Educator and the Family Consumer Science Teachers will showcase a variety of ways to prepare fruits and vegetables while incorporating them into a balanced meal.
Gardening is a wonderful way to give people, especially our youth, a newfound appreciation and understanding of everything that goes into satisfying our nutritional needs. All involved are growing as a community, sprouting changes, and blooming beautifully together.
CLEARING AWAY OBSTACLES FOR MINORITY FARMERS
Longtime Minority Farming Couple Shares Feedback on Obstacles of Minority Farmers
April 8, 2021 was a remarkable day for the Innovative Small Farmers Outreach Program (ISFOP) as Dr. Clement Akotsen-Mensah (LU Assistant Professor and State Extension Specialist for Integrated Pest Management) and Mr. Lester Gillespie (LU Southeast Missouri ISFOP) had the pleasure to visit with Mr. and Mrs. Harris of Wentzville, Missouri. The couple who has been farming for over three decades were very excited to learn about the Agriculture and Research programs that Lincoln University offers.
During the visit, the Harris’ shared very useful feedback on ongoing and future recruitment of minority farmers. The Harris’ were very supportive of the idea of having a minority farmer’s regional conference preceding the statewide conference, suggesting that it would have a positive effect on the needs of small farmers.
The LU team and the Harris’ further discussed the need to have a minority farmer as a motivational speaker at the conference. The Harris’ were very straight forward about the frequency of conferences which prevents farmers from managing their marketable crops. Mr. Harris added that more grant funding opportunities and low-interest rate loans are critical and still greatly needed.
The Harris’ also expressed great concern about the frustration that minority farmers incur as they approach different agencies for assistance. Mr. Harris could not stress enough how important it is to have a farm number which helps minority farmers gain access to available resources from USDA.
Dr. Akotsen-Mensah shared the many ways Lincoln University can assist in improving their farming business and operations by explaining the role of the LU-ISFOP Outreach workers and their mission and how LU can help minority small farmers navigate through the different farm agency’s programs.
Throughout the meeting with the Harris family, they repeatedly stated they would be more than happy to lend their support to any minority farmers who reaches out to them, stating their goal is to help keep small farms alive and thriving!
The LU Team thanked Mr. & Mrs. Harris for their warm hospitality and willingness to network with Lincoln University. The couple spoke very highly of three other Lincoln University employees who have always been a great support to them throughout the years: Mr. Julius Moody, (USDA Liaison), Dr. Kamalendu B. Paul (Professor of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences and a State Extension Specialist-Retired), and Ms. Miranda Duschack (ISFOP Farm Worker–St. Louis).
New Administrative Assistant for a Growing LU College of Agriculture Department
The former Department of Auxiliary and Engagement now includes the College’s Media Center. Due to the growth in staff, Cindy Thompson has been selected as the new Administrative Assistant for the Department of Media, Engagement and Auxiliary. Although Cindy started her new position on April 1, she has worked for Lincoln University in different capacities for a total of twelve and a half years.
Cindy started working for Lincoln University in 2006 as a secretary for the Paula J. Carter Center. Cindy moved to the Department of Agriculture in August of 2008 and was promoted to an Administrative Assistant for the Department of Agriculture and Cooperative Research in 2010. Cindy left the university in August of 2016 to care for her ailing mother and returned to Lincoln University in April of 2019, as an Accounting Clerk in Accounts Payable.
Cindy loves garage sales, crafting and spending time on the water fishing and boat riding. She is married to her high school sweetheart of thirty years. They have three grown children and five grandchildren, who are the center of their world! Cindy further shared that she is very excited to be a part of the Lincoln University’s College of Agriculture family again and is looking forward to working in her new role in the Media Center.
CDC Funding to Get More Shots into Arms
Lincoln University Cooperative Extension recently received funding from the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in conjunction with Cornell University, in efforts to promote the safety and efficacy of vaccines to decrease the number of COVID-19 infections and reinfections.
Dr. Jessica Epple-Farmer (Assistant Professor of Animal Science) will train a team of LU faculty and staff whose goal will be to get as many community residents vaccinated as soon as possible, especially those most reluctant. Additional funding for training will focus on food chain safety, produce safety/handling and agribusiness training.
Crowder College Welcomes Back LU Farm Outreach Worker for Her Expertise
Ms. Angela Brattin Revisits Crowder College as Guest Speaker
Ms. Angela Brattin, one of the newly-hired Farm Outreach Workers (FOWs) for LUCE-ISFOP in the Southwest Region of Missouri, was invited by Crowder College to make a presentation at its horticulture class on gardening. It was such an honor and a pleasure for Angela to receive this invitation from her alma mater.
Ms. Brattin fondly remembers Crowder, a Community College located in Neosho in Southwest Missouri, from where she earned her Associate Degree as a Veterinary Technician in 2007 and was a member of its first graduating class. Ms. Brattin came to LU Cooperative Extension with 27 years of farming experience that includes dairy, cow-calf operation, poultry and market garden, among others. She also has successfully completed the Master Gardener course offered by the University of Missouri Extension. Naturally, Crowder College was only happy to invite Ms. Brattin to teach its’ gardening class on March 16, 2021.
Ms. Brattin started her presentation by asking the question, “Why plant a garden?” Then she explained to the class the importance of site selection, soil testing, pH, organic matter content, etc. She discussed the “pros” and the “cons” of planting seedlings on flat beds versus raised beds. She brought with her gardening essentials to include seeds, seed-planting trays and potting soil.
After demonstrating the seed planting techniques, Brattin encouraged students to repeat all the steps themselves. She also provided students and the Agriculture faculty several Extension publications on a variety of topics including: Soil Testing, Soil Health, Vegetable Disease, Insect Pests and their Control, Weed Control, and of course, ISFOP brochures. Brattin encouraged everyone to contact Lincoln University Cooperative Extension (LUCE), and especially ISFOP for questions. It was definitely a very rewarding and productive day both for both Brattin and her class attendees at Crowder College.
Continuing Efforts to Educate and Support Small Farmers and Ranchers - Here and Abroad
A Focus on Herd Health Concerns
On April 15, LU Assistant Professor and Extension State Specialist for Cooperative Extension & Research (Animal Science - Small Ruminants) Dr. Homero Salinas conducted a presentation titled “Foot Care and Common Herd Health Concerns” as part of his ongoing Small Ruminant Webinar Series. The two guest speakers were Dr. Christopher Baughman, DVM - State Extension Specialist for Small Ruminants and LU Cooperative Extension Associate Ms. Amy Bax.
The webinar discussion included topics on:
• Foot Scald and Foot Rot
• Zoonotic Diseases
• Common Diseases for Sheep and Goats
Cheese Production Skills Training for Haitian Women
To establish training for a group of women with dairy goats and cheese production in Jean Rabel in Haiti, the F2F Farmer to Farmer program at Partners of the Americas contacted Lincoln University for assistance. Dr. Homero Salinas (LU Assistant Professor, Extension State Specialist – Animal Science), has previously worked with the Haitian organization, Home Roots.
The goal of the training was to help the group advance in their skills and knowledge on safe and effective ways to increase cheese production. The training for the 15 Haitian women also included strategies for managing work teams.
The virtual event took place on April 30, in conjunction with Ms. Sara Dzimianski of the Purdue University Extension System.
LU Graduates Present Research Work at Two Annual Conferences
Mrs. Donna L. Stallings (LU Assistant Professor of Mathematics – Retired) and Student Perry Grimes presented a video highlighting Ms. Tori Spencer, a 2019 LU Biology graduate and MOLSAMP scholar.
Tori Spencer, an LU Agriculture graduate, started graduate school and currently works in the Winemiller Aquatic Ecology Lab in Texas. She is seeking a PhD and studying Brazilian fish species at Texas A & M University. In March 2021, she was notified that she was awarded funding to support future research through NSF's Graduate Research Fellowship Program. Ms. Kayla Allen (LU School of Business Instructor), Ms. Tori Spencer and Mr. Perry Grimes traveled to California and attended the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) where Tori presented her work on Large Mouth Bass. Her research work was completed under the guidance of Dr. James Wetzel of Lincoln University.
While at the conference, Perry Grimes also filmed Ms. Roslyn Stallings, 2019 Lincoln University Wellness graduate, who was also presenting her research work completed under the University of Missouri's Summer MOLSAMP REU Program. At that time, Roslyn was a part of the NIH funded Post Bac IPREP program hosted by Indiana University Purdue University of Indianapolis (IUPUI). Roslyn is currently at Washington University in St. Louis pursuing her doctorate degree in physical therapy.
Spencer, T. (2019, October). Optimum Feed Enhancement Methods for Non-Domesticated Largemouth Bass Micropterus Salmoides Fingerlings Feed Trained at Two Initial Sizes. Poster session presented at the 2019 ABRCMS Conference. San Francisco, CA.
Stallings, R. (2018, November). The effect of intermittent hypoxia on the hypoxic ventilatory response in healthy men and women. Poster presented at the MU Summer Research Symposium. Columbia, MO.
Please visit this site and vote for Perry's video starting May 11 through May 18. The three-minute videos reveal the under-reported, positive side of STEM learning and teaching.
Please vote for Mr. Perry Grimes (Student Photographer) below:
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