Results, conclusions, and lessons learned. The expensive software advertised by the major software companies is aimed at commercial web site development operations and assumes that the web site developer knows about the limitations of graphics, photos, etc. This seems to be even truer with each new release of professional software. • There is a huge wealth of information and free or low cost effective software available to the public. The sorting out of the usable “free or shareware software” is the major impediment for any novice web site builder to develop a web site economically. • Specialty crop farmers should find this guide a good usable resource to build their own web site and get on line with a minimum of time and cost. • Comment on the level of grant funds expended: The budget is under the estimated grant funds due to the online search for free or low cost software. It was not necessary to write new software for web site programs as our research located many good free sources of web site software.
Results, conclusions, and lessons learned. A meeting was held on October, 14, 2008. Thirty-five local farmers attended and were given the results of the pumpkin plots. Xxxxx Xxxxx spoke on the viability of raising marketable pumpkins in Pittsylvania County. Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx Xxxxx, all part of our local extension agency, were in attendance. Xxxx Farm hosted the meeting, Xxxx Xxxxx organized the meeting, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx comprised the marketing survey and Xxxxxx Xxxxx aided in the set-up of the meeting. Brochures were disturbed to local businesses and also to the visitor centers. Information was posted on the website and in surrounding newspapers. More than 100 farmers received personal invitations. The following information and results, which were distributed to each farmer that attended, is currently available if needed:
1. The pre-treated seeds did much better than untreated seeds.
2. High yields from pies came from Neon’s, Lil’ Ironsides, and Hybrid Pams. Jack-o- lanterns that produced best were Xxxxxxx’s and Xxxxxxx.
3. Larger pumpkins with a continuing high yield were Atlantic Giants producing sizes exceeding an average of 75 pounds or more and Big Max. The Jarradale, a green pumpkin, still had ripe product in December. • Cover crops did not produce better or more pumpkins. The “pick-your-own” pumpkin patch needs to be planted later in order to have fresh product throughout the pumpkin season. Drought hardy plants need to be chosen due to the hot dry weather in our area. • Pumpkins plants should be treated with insecticides before blooming to prevent worm larva from entering the pumpkin and eating the pumpkin from the inside out. Treat early and often for blight and mold, preferably during the cooler evening time so that the treatment is less likely to evaporate as quickly. Be sure to use bee friendly products so that the bee population is not affected. Proper pollination is needed for uniformed fruit. Plant sunflowers or another early blooming crop next to the pumpkins or rent a hive of bees from a bee keeper. • The production cost per acre based on results of this grant is as follows: Seeds: $60 Fertilizer and lime: $75 Labor-100 hours at $7 per hour: $700 Land: $75 Equipment: $300 Initial start-up cost will run higher due to the need for new equipment or different land preparation. • Grant funds expended: This grant came in under budget. Monies were disbursed under the following categories: Advertising: $1821.97 Supplies: $2029.53 Meetings $486.99 Other: $3456.91 Total: $779...
Results, conclusions, and lessons learned. Overall, the project was successful in achieving its objectives though final publications are still forthcoming. Three extension publications—one on starting a farmers’ market and two characterizing farmers’ markets in Virginia are forthcoming as a result of the project activities. Extension programming has also been enabled by the grant—for example, the listserv and several workshops and planning sessions, while themselves not funded by the grant, were enabled and greatly strengthened as the results from the grant-funded research were used for the programming. • Important lessons for future work in this area were learned, particularly in the area of budgeting as well as feasible timing of project activities. During the first year, there were delays to the implementation of project activities due to the schedule of the farmers’ market season. • Comment on the level of grant funds expended (under/over budget): all grant funds were expended. The grant funds, combined with matching funds, were largely adequate to complete the project objectives although budget redistribution was necessary.
Results, conclusions, and lessons learned. Establishing Colonies: Environmental conditions can severally impact expansion plans. Because pollination providers have no control over extreme weather conditions, they must develop plans to mitigate the risk. Unlike some animal husbandry operations where corrective actions are more readily available and can occur at almost any time, the beekeeper is restricted in what can be done. Flying insects are inherently more difficult to manage, as they can simply leave the nesting sites (hives) if things get really bad, or rob each other and thus destroy weaker colonies that might have survived with care. Feeding is exceptionally difficult if there are too many collocated colonies. • Unexpected delays and impediments Effects of Extreme Weather: The most significant unfavorable issue impacting the project was an extreme drought that negatively impacted colony survival and resulted in colony collapse of 50 percent of the project hives. Hanover and adjacent counties were declared drought disaster areas by the Governor and the USDA. Drought impacts the bees by cutting off the flow of nectar that sustains the colony. In Virginia, excess nectar is collected in the spring and the minimal nectar flow in summer months sustains the colony until a fall flow of nectar provides additional winter foods and, more importantly, supports brood rearing of bees that over-winter. The drought caused the queen bees to stop laying earlier than normal, and the bees ate up most of the excess honey for the winter by early August. The colonies began robbing from weaker colonies with abandon. Populations declined as a result of the lack of brood rearing and combat between honey bees. In the end, the colony population dwindled to critical levels and collapsed even though sufficient food stocks were provided. Over-wintering of colonies was expected to be poor. However, additional sugar patties were added to the colonies on warm days in December, and it appeared that most of the remaining hives had a fair chance of survival. A major cold snap and winter snow storm in March 2009 resulted in further losses. Only nine of the over-wintered colonies survived. • Recommendations: Have alternate sites available to spread out colonies (miles apart). Have access to a ready supply of a large quantity of feed. Feed early. Combine hives early so you have more strong colonies to resist robbing when you feed. Have a plan to restock bees on your equipment, order early, and order enough to replace 80 percent th...
Results, conclusions, and lessons learned. Late spring and summer of 2008 were dry, and we experienced some loss in the blueberry planting. Lesson learned: irrigation frequency was increased in the latter half of the 2008 growing season and plant losses ceased. Most of the seven varieties of blueberries flourished with the variety “Legacy” being the standout with demonstrating good growth and nearly 100 percent survival. “Tifblue” proved to be the weakest variety with considerable losses in the field; perhaps due in part to insufficient watering. Bed plastic (white in color) was removed and hardwood mulch was applied to the blueberry beds in summer. Hardwood mulch and composted fines were obtained locally and delivered to the farm. A less expensive supplier of hardwood mulch will be needed as this will be a considerable expense when mulching all plants each year. Weeding around the plants was necessary at least once a month and cutting/weeding between the rows of blueberries required a fair amount of labor throughout the summer. For the first season, rows of tomatoes were grown and produced between the beds of blueberries to make efficient use of the space since the blueberry plants were still small. A cover crop of rye was planted in the fall where the tomatoes had been-effectively creating a winter windbreak and reducing weed growth in the aisles over the winter. In future years, the aisles will simply be mowed and we will try to find an appropriate permanent cover for this area. Regular feeding of organic fertilizer was accomplished through foliar and drip applications of fish and seaweed during the 2008 season. The plants were side dressed with fish meal and Planters II micronutrient formula in the spring of 2009. In late May 2009, the variety “X’Xxxx” had begun to ripen with nice large berries. • Raspberry plants began to bear in early August and we were delighted to find a favorable response from customers when we added this fruit to our markets. Raspberries were sold throughout the months of August and September for $5 per half pint. On September 8, 2008, we picked 75 half pints, which was the most so far for the season. In September, we began to see rust on the raspberry plants, and the fruit was no longer suitable for sale by the end of the month due to the rust on the fruit itself. • We continued to pick and process the berries for our own use since the fruit was fine for making preserves etc. The yellow variety “Xxxx” did show resistance to rust, and we were happy to note this fact. We’l...
Results, conclusions, and lessons learned. At the beginning of this project period, only a handful of growers in southwest Virginia used hoop houses or other season extension techniques. As a result of the workshops and demonstrations funded by this project, at least 15 growers now use hoop houses for either spring or fall production, and several others have shown interest. It seems feasible to think that hoop houses will become increasingly widespread over the next several years, both for Appalachian Harvest and farmers market type growers. • The other positive development resulting from this project was the expansion of markets for organic produce seconds. In addition to Healthy Families, Family Farms, and East Coast Fresh Cuts, the emergence of college and university dining services as a buyer of seconds opens a potentially enormous market for these good quality but aesthetically imperfect foods. Because they can be sold at a discount and still provide a good return to farmers, it may be feasible to move substantial volumes of local, organic produce into university food service. • The overall increase in local farmers raising organic produce during this project was about 30, including both Appalachian Harvest and direct market farmers.
