Jan-Feb07QEUBECOR:quark 12/20/06 2:24 PM Page 1 - Mississippi Farm … · FARM BUREAU DIRECTORS Jim...

Jan-Feb07QEUBECOR:quark 12/20/06 2:24 PM

Features

CONTENTSMISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

Volume 83 Number 1January/February 2007

EDITORGlynda Phillips

Graphic Arts CoordinatorDanielle Ginn

Department AssistantAngela Thompson

FARM BUREAU OFFICERSPresident -- David Waide

Vice President - Donald GantVice President - Randy KnightVice President - Reggie MageeTreasurer - Charles Cleveland

Corporate Secretary - Ilene Sumrall

FARM BUREAU DIRECTORSJim Perkins, Iuka

Lowell Hinton, CorinthTommy Swindoll, HernandoKen Middleton, Glen AllanBud Trout, CharlestonKelcy Shields, MantachieRussell Jolly, Houston

Richard Canull, BrooksvilleJerry Milner, Winona

Jimmie D. Arthur, CarthageFred Stokes, PortervilleRicky Ruffin, Bay SpringsQuinton Mills, Forest

Neal Clinkscales, AnguillaJeff Mullins, MeadvilleBill Pigott, Tylertown

Bobby Selman, MonticelloW.G. Hickman, WigginsO.C. Smith, PoplarvilleLouis Breaux IV, KilnDott Arthur, CarthageClint Tindall, Eupora

HONORARY VICE-PRESIDENTSLouis J. Breaux, David H. Bennett, and

Warren Oakley

Mississippi Farm Country (ISSN 1529-9600) magazine is published bimonthly by the

Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation.

EDITORIAL AND BUSINESS OFFICES6311 Ridgewood RoadJackson, MS 39211

TELEPHONE601.977.4153

ADVERTISINGCall Paul Hurst at1.800.397.8908

Farm Bureau members receive publication as part of their membership benefit. Periodicals

postage is paid at Jackson, MS, and at additional mailing offices.

Postmaster: Send address changes to P. O. Box 1972, Jackson, MS 39215.

Material in this publication is based on what the editor believesto be reliable information. Neither Mississippi Farm BureauFederation nor those individuals or organizations contributingto the MFBF publication assume any liability for errors thatmight go undetected in the publication - this includes state-ments in articles or advertisements that could lead to erroneouspersonal or business management decisions.

ON THE COVERMantachie High School students Kevin Smith, Shea Scott and TimEllis harvest sweet sorghum grown by their FFA ag program. Read their story on page 26.

Departments

FeaturesLAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONSAlcorn State University and Mississippi StateUniversity offer programs and services that helpnot only farmers but all Mississippians. Come with us as we learn more.

SOLVE THE MYSTERYWhat Mississippi road takes travelers on a 444-mile, unhurried journey through parts ofMississippi, Alabama and Tennessee? Read the clues and make your guess.

RURAL LIVINGFrom glorious to devastating, veteran ag writerEd Blake looks at Mississippi’s awesome spectrum of weather.

ANNUAL MEETINGWe look back, through photos and articles, at the 85th Annual Meeting of the MississippiFarm Bureau Federation.

Departments4 President’s Message6 Commodity Update: Aquaculture7 Commodity Update: Swine16 Environmental News20 Safety Notes22 Counselor’s Corner

* A special thanks to the Alcorn State University Extension Service and to the Office ofAgricultural Communications at Mississippi State University for their help with this issueof the magazine. Also, thanks to MSU Ag Communications for the photos on pages 8-11 and 16. Some of the photos are reprinted with permission from Mississippi Landmarksmagazine.

8

18

2428


4 M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y

We must support our land-grant schools

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

By David Waide • President, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation

he focus of this issue ofMississippi Farm Country is on thevalue of land-grant institutions to

the U.S. consumer. It is hard to measurewhat the real value of Congress’s wisdomwas when it developed the land-grant sys-tem in 1862. At that particular time, most ofour country’s citizens were producing muchof their own food and a good bit of fiber. Areal economic system had not been estab-lished. That economic system was some-thing that would be a continuing develop-ment effort, and the role that the land-grantsystem would play would be most notable. Congress developed a mechanism for

funding land-grants, realizing that the “com-mon man” needed to be educated and that aland-grant college would make that possible.However, the land-grant system evolvedinto a much bigger dynamic becauseCongress had the wisdom to utilizeresources from our land, water, and timber. What has developed as a result of our

land-grant colleges? Certainly, one thing isthe efficiency we enjoy in agriculture andthe ability we have to utilize the resourceswe have to develop a much-needed food andfiber base. That continues to be a predomi-nant role of land-grant institutions. Theyhave developed mechanisms and ways tocreate efficiency in every sector of agricul-ture production. But while they have created that efficien-

cy, their mission did not stop there. Today,the land-grant system has been expandedinto consumer education to teach thosethings that are so important to the consumersuch as just preparing daily meals. Land-grant programs educate the public in

what is known as food safety. This is a bigissue. All Americans take for granted theabundance and safety of our food. The safe-ty and abundance of our food system hasdeveloped over the years because of the

research that has come from our land-grantinstitutions.In thinking about what we may look for in

the future from our land-grant systems, Iwould be totally surprised if we do notbecome self-sufficient in energy as the resultof what our farms produce and the researchthat comes from land-grants across theUnited States.Everybody is aware of the huge need we

have as an industrialized nation for vastenergy sources. These energy sources willbe developed from materials that were con-sidered waste in prior years. Through theutilization of the research and technologythat will come from the land-grant institu-tions, we will develop ways to use thesematerials to become energy independent. Most people do not realize the role that

our land-grants play in the area of trying topromote constructive citizenship. One of thebiggest programs we have is 4-H. It is animportant part of what our land-grants do inthis state. It is because of 4-H that manyyoung people are encouraged to make careerchoices and, as a result of their career choic-es, go on to become entrepreneurs in theirfields. While there are probably a limitednumber who go on to excel in any field, theoverall impact of 4-H is tremendous inMississippi. In my judgment, the influence of volun-

teers who give of their time to become rolemodels for our young people is immeasura-ble. One of the highest costs in our statebudget besides education is our prison sys-tem. I can think of nothing better for youngpeople to be involved in than livestock proj-ects or some sort of agriculture-based proj-ect that encourages entrepreneurship andhigh work ethics development. Our 4-H pro-gram does that over and over for our youngpeople throughout Mississippi. As we resolve to put our emphasis on

what is important to the Mississippi con-sumer and the American consumer, let’sremember the role our land-grant institu-tions play. Mississippi is fortunate to haveboth Alcorn State and Mississippi State uni-versities as land-grant schools. We can takeadvantage of both institutions to ensure acontribution to society that states with muchlarger populations than Mississippi simplycannot achieve. We will need to insist that our Legislature

fully fund the opportunities that both ofthese land-grant systems can provide. I hopethat each and every person who takes thetime to read this article will make a call totheir legislator, both their senator and repre-sentative, to tell them how very importantthey feel adequately funding our land-grantsystem is to all Mississippians.The adequate funding of these institutions

can mean a reduced pressure on our prisonbudget. It can mean increased job opportuni-ties for all Mississippi citizens throughvalue-added development of agriculturalproducts. But perhaps the most importantimpact it can have on our state will bethrough the renewable fuels aspect. Much research is being done in allowing

agriculture to be the producer of the feed-stock that will move us from our depend-ence on crude oil products for our energysources. Everybody needs to think about theimportant impact that getting away from apetroleum-based product can have on thisstate and nation. The infrastructure impactalone will be immeasurable. Renewablefuels will result in many rural jobs and ruraleconomic independence all over Mississippiand the nation.

TMMoosstt ppeeooppllee ddoo nnoott rreeaalliizzee tthheerroollee tthhaatt oouurr llaanndd--ggrraannttss ppllaayy iinntthhee aarreeaa ooff ttrryyiinngg ttoo pprroommootteeccoonnssttrruuccttiivvee cciittiizzeennsshhiipp..


J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y 5

David Waide, a Clay County row crop andcattle producer, was re-elected to his sixthtwo-year term as president of the MississippiFarm Bureau Federation (MFBF). The elec-tion was held during the business session ofthe farm organization’s 85th AnnualMeeting in Jackson. Also elected were the organization’s three

area vice presidents: North Mississippi,Donald Gant of Bolivar County; CentralMississippi, Randy Knight of Rankin County;and South Mississippi, Reggie Magee ofJefferson Davis County. Directors in even-numbered districts were

elected or re-elected this year to serve on theMFBF Board. These include: Dist. 2-LowellHinton, Alcorn County; Dist. 4-KenMiddleton, Washington County; Dist. 6-Kelcy Shields, Itawamba County; Dist. 8-Richard Canull, Noxubee County; Dist. 10-Jimmie Arthur, Leake County; Dist. 12-Ricky Ruffin, Jasper County; Dist. 14-NealClinkscales, Sharkey County; Dist. 16-BillPigott, Walthall County; Dist. 18-W. G.Hickman, Stone County; and Dist. 20-LouisBreaux, IV, Hancock County.Clint Tindall of Webster County will sit on

the Board due to his election as YoungFarmer & Rancher Committee Chairman.Dott Arthur, State Women’s CommitteeChair, also serves on the Board.

In Women’s Business Session activities,Regional Women’s Committee Chairs wereelected in odd-numbered districts. Theseinclude Lil Gant of Bolivar County, Reg. 1;Peggy McKey of Hinds County, Reg. 3;Betty Edwards of Amite County, Reg. 5; andCarolyn Turner of Jones County, Reg. 7.Gant serves her first term while McKey,Edwards and Turner were re-elected to theirpositions.

$250 Prize WinnersThese members received a $250 check

when their names were selected in a randomdrawing held for all members whose dueswere paid by Oct. 31: Reg. 1- WilliamLindsey; Reg. 2- Stanley Cooper; Reg. 3 -Herman Atwood; Reg. 4 - Eva M. Poe; Reg.5- Peggy King; Reg. 6- Leora Simmons;Reg. 7- Diane Sekul and Reg. 8- Johnny V.Sanders.

YES! Please send me your FREE DR® FIELD and BRUSHMOWER DVD and Catalog, plus details of how I can try out this machine for 6 months with No Payments!

Name _________________________________________________________________

Address _______________________________________________________________

City ___________________________________State ______ ZIP__________________

E-Mail _________________________________________________________________DR® POWER EQUIPMENT, Dept. 55998X127 Meigs Road, Vergennes, VT 05491www.DRfieldbrush.com

• POWERFUL! Up to 17 HP...cuts head-high weeds, brush, evensaplings up to 2-1/2" thick!

• THOROUGH! Chops mosteverything it mows so there’s noleftover tangle of vegetation!

• FAST! Mows a path up to 30" widewith 4 speeds!

• EASY TO USE — with poweredwheels, reverse, lockable differential foramazing traction and easy turning,electric blade clutch, and electric-start!

To learn how you can try one outwith NO PAYMENTS for 6 MONTHS,Call TOLL-FREE

1-877-201-5051

©2007 CHP, INC.

with the Amazing DR® FIELD and BRUSH MOWER!

CLEAR OVERGROWN LAND ASFAST AS YOU CAN WALK!

MFBC

NOPAYMENTSfor 6 MONTHS!(Offer valid through 3/29/07. Call or visit usonline for details)

2007 Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors

OFFICERS, DIRECTORS ARE ELECTEDBy Greg Gibson, Public Relations/Multimedia Coordinator

FC



AQUACULTURE

Farm-raised catfishIn the 1960s, when the catfish we con-

sumed came out of a farm pond or a river,who could have predicted that Mississippifarmers would one day lead the nation infarm-raised catfish production? Not only isit true, but we have been number one sincethe early 1970s.

Today, Mississippi farmers produce 55percent of the nation’s farm-raised catfish,which is 350 million pounds of catfish pro-duced in 100,000 pond water acres. In 2005,farm-raised catfish had a farmgate value ofover $270 million and a total economicimpact on the Mississippi economy of over$2 billion.

Both the Southern Regional AquacultureCenter and the Thad Cochran NationalWarmwater Aquaculture Center are locatedat the Delta Research and Extension Centerat Stoneville. They are both staffed withleaders in research and education, who pro-vide the farmers of Mississippi and the restof the nation with the latest information onproduction methods and disease control.

Freshwater Prawns With approximately 75 water acres in

2005, Mississippi is one of the top producersof freshwater prawns in the nation.

Freshwater prawns are low in cholesterol,fat, iodine, calories and sodium.The United States imports over 80 percent

of the shrimp we consume so freshwaterprawns offer local consumers a chance tobuy a Mississippi farm-raised product.

TurtlesMississippi is second in the nation in pro-

duction of turtles. Production has doubledhere over the last two years to over 3 millionturtles in 2005. Currently all turtles areshipped out of the country.

OthersHybrid stripped bass, Tilapia, and big

head carp are also produced on Mississippifarms.

Aquaculture IssuesWanda Hill is chair of the Mississippi

Farm Bureau Federation’s AquacultureCommittee. She also serves on the AmericanFarm Bureau Federation AquacultureCommittee, which meets each February todiscuss state and national issues that affectthe industry.

In her position as state chair, Wanda worksclosely with the staff of both MississippiState University and The Catfish Farmers of

America to stay informed on all issues con-cerning the industry.

Some of the issues that were addressedthis year included diseases in catfish, trans-portation of Asian carp across state lines andlegalizing turtles to be sold as pets in theUnited States.In July, the MFBF Aquaculture

Committee held its Summer CommodityMeeting in Belzoni. This was the first timethat the summer meeting had been heldaway from Jackson. Over 38 attendees par-ticipated and heard reports from various spe-cialists on issues on both a state and nation-al level concerning the aquaculture industry.This meeting was such a success that thesummer meeting in 2006 will also be heldsomewhere in the Delta.

A Fine ExampleThe story of aquaculture is another fine

example of the entrepreneurship of theAmerican farmer, seeing a need and devel-oping an industry to fill the need for the con-sumer.

See page 14 for more information aboutour state’s farm-raised catfish industry.

Mississippi Leads The Nation in Aquaculture Production

COMMODITY UPDATE

By: Wanda Hill, Chair, MFBF Aquaculture Advisory CommitteePaul Chamblee, MFBF Commodity Coordinator for Aquaculture

Wanda Hill Paul Chamblee

Prior to the 1960s, when people thought of farming they thought of row crops, dairy, beefand poultry. Aquaculture was a word that wasn’t used much in Mississippi. But today,Mississippi is one of our nation’s leaders in aquaculture production.



The largest pig on record with theNational Pork Board weighed approximate-ly 2552 pounds. The pig’s name was “BigBill” and was owned by Buford Butler ofJackson, TN, in the year 1933. “Big Bill”was nine feet long.

Mississippi State University ExtensionService Swine Specialist Mark Crenshaw,who is also the executive secretary of theMississippi Pork Producers Association,

would like to start a list of the biggest pigs inMississippi. If you think you have a pigheavier than Casper, call Crenshaw at 662-325-1689. The pig must still be alive.

Mississippi’s Swine Industry

Mississippi ranks 22nd in the nation intotal swine production. Crenshaw says theMississippi swine industry has been pretty

stable in recent years and cash hog prices arepretty good now in relation to the number ofhogs being slaughtered. A record number ofhogs are currently being processed into porkproducts nationwide.

The export demand for pork has beengood while the domestic demand for allmeat products has experienced a downturncompared to a year ago. Prices per pound forpork are in the low to mid-40s.

National Pork Board Checkoff figuresshow a total gross market value of $47.5million for Mississippi pork in 2005. Thebulk of Mississippi swine are raised within a75-mile radius of West Point.

Swine Industry ChangesThe Mississippi swine industry has

changed in recent years from primarily smalloperations producing feeder pigs as a sourceof supplemental income to farrow throughfinish operations, company owned and con-tract production, where swine is a majorsource of income.

Today’s hogs are leaner, more well-mus-cled and produce more of the lean meat thatAmerican consumers demand. Swine pro-ducers must produce a pork product that sat-isfies the pork packer/processor who in turnmust satisfy the consumer. Consumers wantpork products that are convenient to use,taste good and are inexpensive, nutritious,healthy, and safe.

Public concern has also influenced theway that pigs are produced today. Modernswine producers produce pork in a mannerthat satisfies public concerns about the con-trol of odor, animal rights, the environmentand food safety.

Do You Own A Pig Bigger Than Casper?

Bob Power Larry Brewer

COMMODITY UPDATE

SWINE

By: Bob Power, Chair, MFBF Swine Advisory CommitteeLarry Brewer, MFBF Commodity Coordinator for Swine

Earl W. Casey Sr. of George County believes his pig “Casper”might be the largest pig in Mississippi. When Casey took theanimal to the local livestock sale barn and had it weighedrecently, he was astonished to see that it weighed approxi-mately 1149 pounds.



hen agriculture succeeds,Mississippi succeeds. Agriculture is our state’snumber one industry, mak-ing a significant contribu-

tion to the economies of all 82 counties. Thevalue of production for agriculture andforestry in 2005 was $6.2 billion. Agriculture and forestry industries inMississippi employ 27 percent of the state’sworkforce, either directly or indirectly, inapproximately 400,000 jobs. The ad valoremtax base in a majority of our counties is gen-erated primarily through agriculture andforestry. Mississippi’s cotton, rice, forestry prod-ucts and broiler industries rank among thelargest in the nation. Mississippi is numberone in catfish production and is the nation’snumber one Tree Farm state. Working with farmers to ensure that theyhave the tools they need to succeed are theland-grant institutions of Alcorn StateUniversity in Lorman and Mississippi StateUniversity in Starkville. These universitiesannually reach thousands of farmers withprograms and services designed to maketheir lives easier.

In 2004, Mississippi State University wasranked fifth in the nation by the NationalScience Foundation in funds devoted to agresearch. These expenditures were almost$82 million.

What is a land-grant institution?

Established by Congress in 1862, land-grant institutions were given the charge ofeducating the “common man” in agricultureand engineering. Further congressional actsgave these institutions the missions of con-ducting research on behalf of agriculture andcarrying those research findings into com-munities across the state (ExtensionService). The three-fold purpose of the land-grantsystem became to teach, conduct researchand extend knowledge to improve the quali-ty of life.Alcorn State University (ASU) andMississippi State University (MSU) haveexcellent classroom facilities, research labsand Extension Services. The MSUExtension Service reaches all 82 countieswhile the ASU Extension Service serves 65counties in four of five regions of the state.

In addition, MSU’s Division ofAgriculture, Forestry and VeterinaryMedicine (DAFVM) offers four researchand extension centers and 16 branch stationsor units. The research and extension func-tions are fully integrated in administrationand programs at Verona, Stoneville,Raymond and Biloxi. DAFVM also offers a Forest and WildlifeResearch Center; the College of Agricultureand Life Sciences; the College of ForestResources; and the College of VeterinaryMedicine (CVM). Four CVM DiagnosticLabs are located across the state.ASU has the School of Agriculture,Research, Extension and Applied Sciences;an Extension/Research Demonstration Farmin Mound Bayou; a Small Farm IncubatorCenter in Preston; a Fresh VegetableProcessing Facility in Marks; the Small FarmOutreach program; and the Mississippi SmallFarm Development Center on campus.The ASU Small Farm Outreach Trainingand Technical Assistance Project (SFOP)works closely with all USDA agencies, fed-eral and state agencies and a variety of com-munity-based organizations to ensure thatsmall and limited-resource families receive

W

LAND-GRANT SCHOOLS BENEFIT Farmers and All Mississippians


the training and technical assistance neededto improve their present operations andincrease profitability.

Helping all Mississippians

Besides agriculture and engineering pro-grams, modern land-grant institutions offerdegrees in a variety of subject areas as wellas research and extension programs that pro-vide solutions to opportunities and chal-lenges in many areas of life, from nutritionand fitness to government training to naturalresource enterprises to youth leadershipdevelopment.Whether it’s the 4-H program; consumereducation programs; product developmentand marketing programs; obesity preventionprograms in schools; or government trainingprograms that train local government offi-cials and lend technical assistance to citiesand counties, modern land-grant institutionsoffer something for everyone involved inevery facet of life.

(Estimates in million dollars)

COMMODITY 2005

Broilers/Eggs/Chickens $ 1,977Forestry 1,267Cotton (lint and seed) 697Soybeans 315Catfish 272Cattle/Calves 250Rice 135Corn 102Hay 88Horticulture Crops 79Milk 61Hogs 52Sweet Potatoes *57Wheat 16Grain Sorghum 4Government Programs *841GRAND TOTAL $ 6,214*Record highSource: Mississippi Agricultural Statistics Service, ERS-USDA & Mississippi State University Extension Service.


FC

MISSISSIPPI VALUE OF PRODUCTION ESTIMATES

By: Glynda Phillips



Land-grant Schools Keep Pace With A Changing

WO R L D

eneral Stephen D. Lee, MississippiState’s first president, wrote that“if we don’t try new things, oth-ers will own the land.” He wastalking about research, and hiswords are as true today as they

were more than 100 years ago.In 1947, anhydrous ammonia was releasedto the public. The success of the new fertil-izer is considered one of the top 10 events inmodern agriculture. Two Mississippi Statescientists, W. B. Andrews and FelixEdwards, developed anhydrous ammoniafor agricultural use. Delta farmers usedanhydrous ammonia on 200,000 acres in1947 and realized increased returns estimat-

ed at $4.5 million that year.When Mississippi’s legislature establishedthe land-grant school in Starkville, nine outof ten jobs in the U.S. were on the farm.Today, just 3 percent of the populationworks on the farm, but that 3 percent feedsall 300 million Americans and 10 percent ofthe rest of the world.In 1937, Mississippi produced 2.7 millionbales of cotton. Using hand labor, it tookalmost 10 million man-days to harvest thecrop. Today, one six-row picker can harvest200 bales per day. The success of technolo-gy in making our farms more productive hascaused a shift in the state’s workforce, andour research and educational outreach has

been responsive to that shift. Today, in the Division of Agriculture,Forestry and Veterinary Medicine, there isan emphasis on workforce training. Suchtraining is an important part of the work ofthe Mississippi State University ExtensionService. The university’s College of ForestResources recently secured a $500,000 grantfrom the U.S. Department of Labor for work-force training in the state’s furniture industry.Extension and other division personnelalso provide training for Mississippians in arange of other areas, including local waterassociations and other local governmentagencies and individuals wishing to starttheir own small businesses.

By Dr. Vance Watson, MSU Vice President Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine

G


The future of agriculture depends on theability to produce the items consumers want.Leaner beef is an important part of our live-stock research. Consumer demand fororganic vegetables has led to increased workin that area at our research units throughoutthe state.New industries have developed out of thechanges in the agricultural sector.Enterprising Delta farmers have taken landonce devoted to row crops and put it intoponds where they produce farm-raised cat-fish. Their marketing efforts and devotion toquality assurance have created nationwidedemand for farm-raised catfish, andMississippi is the number one producer. MSU Extension personnel and researchscientists work with the industry in develop-

ing management plans, nutrition, marketingand other production issues. Especiallyimportant to producers is their access toexpertise in the College of VeterinaryMedicine for diagnosis and treatment whenthey encounter fish health problems.In all areas of research, the university islooked to as an independent, unbiasedsource of information. That includes theinformation generated through animal healthstudies, crop variety trials and a multitude ofother studies.Land-grant schools have always been in apartnership – first and foremost – with thepeople they serve. Others who make the suc-cess of our mission to serve Mississippi pos-sible include producer organizations such asFarm Bureau and the Mississippi SoybeanAssociation; the U.S. Department of

Agriculture and other federal agencies;county boards of supervisors and theMississippi Legislature; private industries;and the individuals who help fund scholar-ships and provide other resources.Cooperation with other universities alsohelps us make the best use of resources.The students who enroll in the academicprograms in the division are one ofMississippi’s most valuable resources.These young men and women will leave theuniversity prepared to assume importantroles in virtually every industry. Some willwork directly with production agriculture.Others will follow careers we don’t alwaysassociate with agriculture – they will workas dietitians, floral designers, landscapearchitects and food scientists. Preparation

for these careers and more is going on in theDivision of Agriculture, Forestry andVeterinary Medicine at Mississippi State. We pride ourselves with being a universitythat gets a lot of first generation students.These young people will go back into theircommunities and make huge contributions.That’s what being a land-grant institution isall about – giving back to the communitieswe serve.


PILOT PROGRAM TO TARGET WOMEN IN AGRICULTUREMississippi Farm Bureau Federation and the Mississippi State

University Extension Service will team up in 2007 to offer a pro-gram called “Mississippi Women in Agriculture.” The program is designed to increase the knowledge and skills of

all women involved in agriculture. It will focus on business, legaland technology skills so that participants will have a better under-standing of bookkeeping, marketing, taxes and computer record-keeping.

The program will target women who farm and wives of farmers.“We’re very excited about the pilot program and are especiallyexcited to partner with Farm Bureau,” said Family and ConsumerSciences State Program Leader Beverly Howell. “We hope to havethe program up and running by Jan. 1, 2007.”Intensive three-day seminars will be held across the state.

For more information, contact Howell at 662-325-3032 or [email protected]

The future of agriculture depends on the ability to produce the items consumers want.

Pictured, opposite page, land-grant researcherscultivate plants for medical use in collaborationwith the University of Mississippi’s NationalCenter for Natural Products Research. Photos,from top: 4-H helps develop the leaders oftomorrow; TimTek pilot project at MSU makes awood product from small-diameter pines; MSUCollege of Veterinary Medicine serves the state,region and nation.

FC


Port Gibson Small Farmer UsesASU Resources ASU Resources

By Glynda Phillips



rybena Wyatt lights up whenshe talks about her farm. Itis her livelihood, but it isalso a source of great pride.The Port Gibson vegetable,

timber and beef cattle farmer has farmed herwhole life. And although, at the age of 88,she now farms in partnership with her son,she still participates in the decision-makingprocess and she still gets her hands dirtyworking with her vegetables and cows.Each year, the longtime Claiborne CountyFarm Bureau member grows about six acresof produce and raises some 100 head of cat-tle. She also manages 30 acres of timber andpastureland. Her son works full-time inJackson, but helps her out when he can, usu-

ally on the weekends.“Do you see these tomatoes?” she asked,

picking her way carefully down a gardenrow. “Don’t they look good? The weatherwas dry this year and that hurt, but I lovefarming. It’s always a challenge.” Like any successful farmer, Brybena is

constantly looking at new and better ways tomake a profit. She appreciates the assistanceshe gets from experts at the Alcorn StateUniversity (ASU) Extension Service and theASU Small Farm Development Center.“Brybena grows vegetables year-round,

selling to people who come out to her farm,”said ASU Extension Service Agent GeraldJones. “I encouraged her to also market hervegetables at the Farmer’s Market inNatchez. This has proven to be a great wayfor her to sell her peas, greens and squash.”At one time, Brybena grew peanuts and

sorghum through the ASU ExtensionService’s Small Farm Outreach Program.

She was also one of the first area farmers toparticipate in the Mill-on-Wheels project formaking and marketing sorghum syrup. Brybena has helped Extension with

hybrid sweet corn demonstrations on herfarm and planted switchgrass to determinehow well it would control erosion. In addi-tion, she participated in a project designed toshow the benefits of no-till over convention-al tillage methods, and she uses an overheadsprinkler system as part of a conservationproject.“Brybena has taken part in several pro-

grams administered through the ClaiborneCounty USDA Service Center,” Gerald said.“One of the programs, EQIP, helped herbuild two ponds.”

Brybena is considering growing organicvegetables in the near future. She plans towork closely with the ASU ExtensionProgram, the ASU Small FarmDevelopment Center and the MississippiDepartment of Agriculture and Commerceto ensure that this endeavor is successful.“I know there’s a growing demand for

organic foods,” she said. “I believe I willhave a good market for my organic vegeta-bles and get a better price by marketingthem as organic.” Through the years, Brybena has attended

numerous Extension and USDA events suchas the Small Farmers Conference hostedannually by the ASU Extension Service. Itwas at one of these conferences that shereceived the Small Farmer of the YearAward.“Alcorn State University has helped me a

lot,” she said, “and Gerald is a fine person towork with.”

B

“Brybena grows vegetables year-round, sell-ing to people who come out to her farm,”said ASU Extension Service Agent GeraldJones. “I encouraged her to also market hervegetables at the Farmer’s Market inNatchez. This has proven to be a great wayfor her to sell her peas, greens and squash.”

FC

ASU SMALL FARM OUTREACHPROGRAM

The Alcorn State University (ASU) SmallFarm Outreach Training and TechnicalAssistance Project, an ASU ExtensionService program, works closely with allUSDA agencies, federal and state agenciesand a variety of community-based organiza-tions to ensure that small and limited-resource families receive the training andtechnical assistance needed to improve theirpresent operations and increase profitability.

This is in line with the following goals:

• To develop educational programs that will assist small farmers in adapting to new innovations while remaining current in their present farming operations;

• To identify production problems faced by small farmers;

• To prepare farmers to take advantage of opportunities for enhancing their profitability by producing non-traditional enterprises and off-farm employment;

• To assist small farmers in achieving profitability in their current operations and in pursuing the production of new alternative agricultural enterprises.

Mississippi has approximately 37,500small farms that have an annual gross farmrevenue of $50,000 or less.For more information, contact the Small

Farm Outreach Training and TechnicalAssistance Project at (601) 877-2305 orvisit: www.alcorn.edu/outreach/farmman-agement/index.htm For information about the Mississippi

Small Farm Development Center, contact(601) 877-6449 or visithttp://www.alcorn.edu/outreach/sfdc



M I S S I S S I P P I

F A R M R A I S E D C AT F I S Ha n d M I S S I S S I P P I S TAT E UN I V E R S I T Y

rom humble beginnings in the 1960s, Mississippi’s farm-raised

catfish industry has grown from a few hundred water acres to

100,000 acres and become a major segment of state agriculture.

Mississippi is also the number one producer of farm-raised catfish in

the nation.

F

-


By Glynda Phillips


In 2005, farm-raised catfish ranked fifthamong our state’s major commodities withan estimated value of production of $272million. Value of production for the U.S.farm-raised catfish industry in 2005 was$450 million.Enterprising state farmers have worked

hard to create a nationwide demand for theirproduct. Helping them with their marketing,water quality management, recordkeeping,nutrition and production issues are theresearchers and Extension experts atMississippi State University.

“We couldn’t make it without MississippiState,” said Wanda Hill, Mississippi FarmBureau Federation (MFBF) AquacultureAdvisory Committee Chair and an Isola cat-fish producer. “We depend on them for theirhelp in a number of important areas.”When the industry was getting started,

MSU researchers and Extension expertsworked with growers to determine optimumdepths to dig ponds in order to control oxy-

gen problems. Hill says researchers continueto work with pond depth issues and are dis-covering, believe it or not, that the deeperponds seem to control oxygen the best.“MSU helped us determine the best stock-

ing ratios and figure out the best type of cat-fish to grow,” she said.Disease is a big issue with farm-raised cat-

fish and, in those early years, researcherslooked for a more disease-tolerant fish. Atone time, producers tried growing the albinochannel catfish but found that it wasn’t dis-ease resistant. The hardy regular channel

catfish is now the standard variety for com-mercial use.“MSU researchers and Extension experts

still help us with water quality and off-flavorissues,” Hill said. “They also give us ideasabout how to control predators like cor-morants and pelicans and parasites liketrematodes (snails).“They research medicated feeds to cure

diseases,” she said. “We depend on the diag-

nostic labs at the MSU College of VeterinaryMedicine and the Thad Cochran NationalWarmwater Aquaculture Center inStoneville to help us with disease diagnos-tics and treatment options.”“When we were having problems with

low prices and high input costs in recentyears, experts at Mississippi State helped usfigure out how to run a more efficient oper-ation,” she said. “Our relationship withMississippi State University has been verybeneficial.” Wanda and husband Herbert farm in part-

nership with Herbert’s brother Charles andtheir son Wayne. Their Humphreys Countycatfish operation, “Tom Hill and Sons,”boasts 710 water acres or 54 ponds. In addition to serving as MFBF

Aquaculture Advisory Committee Chair,Hill is a member of the American FarmBureau Federation Aquaculture AdvisoryCommittee and is MFBF Region 8 Women’sCommittee Chair.

“We couldn ’t make it w ithout M iss iss ipp i State ,” sa id Wanda H ill ,


The Hill family partnership includes, from left, Charles, Herbert, Wanda and Wayne

FC


ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS


hey wear lab coats instead of camouflage uniforms and speak in scientific terms instead of military jargon, but they arewaging a daily battle to develop alternative energy solutions which will help free America from a dependency on foreign energy sources. These patriots are our very own scientists and engineers at Mississippi State University.

BIOENERGY TEAMAs the name implies, bioenergy is simply energy or fuel oil created from the processing of biological sources such as plants.

Dr. Sandun Fernando, Assistant Professor of MSU’s Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department, and a staff of five PhD students are on the forefront of bioenergy research. Their work at Mississippi State University (MSU), focusing on alternativeenergy, might provide hope for lessening dependency on foreign fuel in addition to benefiting Mississippi agriculture. The 37-year-old native of Sri Lanka says that he is excited about the work. “It is not a matter of if but when we run out of fossil

fuel,” Fernando said. “The sooner we prepare, the better off we will be to prevent an imminent energy crisis. I feel that the agricultural community should take a very careful look at alternative energy crops.”

T

By Vernon Hartley/ MFBF Environmental Programs Assistant



BIODIESEL Biodiesel refers to a diesel-equivalent,

processed fuel from biological sources orfeedstock such as oil from soybeans, rape-seed and algae; waste vegetable oil or ani-mal fats. It can be readily used in diesel-engine vehicles or as a heating fuel indomestic and commercial boilers. The environmental benefits of biodiesel

use are many. In addition to reducing emis-sions of carbon monoxide and carbon diox-

ide, there is a reduction of aromatic hydro-carbons and direct tailpipe emissions of par-ticulates. Biodiesel is also biodegradableand non-toxic. The U.S. Department ofEnergy confirms that biodiesel is less toxicthan table salt and biodegrades as quickly assugar. “Biodiesel production technology is close

to maturity in which it will become morereasonable to produce. However, we areworking on a few glitches to make it moreenvironmentally friendly,” Fernando said.

BIODIESEL RESEARCH One of the production concerns that

MSU’s bioenergy team is researching is thewater cleaning process. After the soybean orother feedstock oil is extruded from theplant, it then goes into the production phasewhere a catalyst (in most cases, lye-sodiumhydroxide or potassium hydroxide) is added.When heat is applied, the diesel is sepa-

rated from glycerin. This process requires alot of cleaning water, which is polluted withthe catalyst and becomes a concern of pro-ducers as well as environmentalists.Fernando’s team is working to develop a

solid catalyst that does not dissolve in glyc-erin. If developed, the water-washing stepcan be reduced or eliminated. The solid cat-alyst would then be recycled, thereby reduc-ing the amount of water needed, polluteddischarges, and overall time in the produc-tion process. All of the factors should reducethe cost of biodiesel.

Soybean producers stand to benefit froman upsurge in demand for soy oil by thebiodiesel industry and are supporting effortsto increase acceptance of biodiesel by a vari-ety of customers.Farmers have been the biggest users of

biodiesel since it came on the scene about 10years ago, said Jerry Slocum of Coldwater, asoybean producer and director of theMississippi Soybean Promotion Board. Heexpects farmers to remain the biggest cus-

tomers, at least for the near term.The bioenergy team is also researching

ways to get rid of the byproduct glycerin.“In the 90s, you could sell a pound of glyc-erin for 75 cents to large chemical compa-nies,” said Fernando. “But today, most com-panies have stopped purchasing the materi-al, and biodiesel producers have to pay todispose of it.” Fernando and staff are looking at alterna-

tive uses of glycerin such as in value-addedchemical production or, in the distant future,it may be used in pure hydrogen production.

BIOMASS FEEDSTOCK ANDHYDROGEN PRODUCTION Another area of research interest in

MSU’s Agricultural and BiologicalEngineering Department is in usingMississippi’s ample forest, agriculturalresources and other biomass feedstocks toproduce energy from gasification. Biomassfeedstock includes crop residues such as cot-ton stalks, wheat and rice straw, and soybeanand sorghum stalks; process residues such as

cotton gin wastes, wood products, forestintermediate crops and residues and chickenlitter; and biomass crops such as switch-grass, elephant grass, and miscanthus.“I expect that, in the distant future, we willdevelop hydrogen as a fuel source,” he said.“It can be used in a combustible form orused by sending it into a fuel cell. With thisprocess, only unpolluted water is produced,carbon dioxide is taken back by plant lifeand there are zero emissions.” Biomass gasification creates synthesis gas

that can be fermented into ethanol for use invehicles or in multi-fuel engines to generateelectricity.

With the current level of demand, “it is not a matterof if but when we run out of fossil fuel.”

Dr. Sandun Fernando, Assistant ProfessorMississippi State University Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department.

FC



hat historic road takesyou on a 444-mile,unhurried journey fromNatchez to Nashville? Asit winds its way through

Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, thisroad affords you a park-like atmosphere, sce-nic views and historic treasures. Along this road, you will find almost 400types of wildlife and over 800 types ofplants, including dogwoods, live oak, watertupelo and bald cypress. Some of Mississippi’s historic treasuresalong this road include the old settlement ofRocky Springs; the historic stand (or inn) ofMount Locust; the frontier log cabins atFrench Camp; and the Tupelo NationalBattlefield. You will also find a tupelo/bald-cypressswamp; “Little Mountain” at Jeff BusbyPark; a swinging bridge at Tishomingo StatePark; and the Emerald Mound. Built byancestors of the Natchez Indians around1400, Emerald Mound is the second largestof its type in the U.S., covering eight acresand boasting a trail that takes you to the top. This road probably began as a series ofhunters’ paths that slowly became a trail,

stretching from the Mississippi River nearNatchez into the Tennessee Valley. By 1810,the trail had become an important wildernessroad that was one of the most heavily trav-eled in the Old Southwest. With the adventof steamboats – a safer and faster form oftravel – activity along the old road began todie down, and the busy road soon became aquiet forest lane.Thanks to the dedicated work of many, amodern road, which parallels the originalroad, was officially established in 1938 withthe proviso that it be administered by theNational Park Service. In 1995, this roadwas designated an All American Road by theNational Scenic Byways Program. Today,the road is complete, giving present-daytravelers an unhurried route from Natchez toNashville.In addition to beautiful scenery and his-toric sites, you may visit the MississippiCrafts Center near Ridgeland or the TupeloVisitors Center/Natchez Trace ParkwayHeadquarters Museum. Name this road.

A special thanks to the National ParkService for the information in this article.

CORRECT GUESSESMail guesses to “Solve the Mystery,”Mississippi Farm Country, P. O. Box 1972,Jackson, MS 39215. You may also emailyour guesses to [email protected] remember to include your name andaddress on the entry. Visit our MississippiFarm Bureau Federation Web site atwww.msfb.com. When all correct guesses have beenreceived, we will randomly draw 20 names.These 20 names will receive a prize and willbe placed in the hat twice.At the end of the year, a winner will bedrawn from all correct submissions. Thewinner will receive a Weekend Bed andBreakfast Trip, courtesy of the MississippiFarm Bureau Federation.Families may submit only one entry.Federation staff members and their familiesare ineligible to participate in this contest.The deadline for submitting your entry isJanuary 31.The correct answer for the Nov./Dec.“Solve the Mystery” is Hot Coffee.The 2006 Weekend Bed & Breakfast Tripwinner is Catherine Lewis of PrentissCounty.

SOLVE THE MYSTERY

W

FC

Mount Locust

View from Little Mountain Cypress Swamp


SAFETY NOTES

Hunting is a very popular sport inMississippi. Many of us wait all year forhunting season to open. We take our entirevacation during hunting season, and somepeople I know even take a few sick days.Also, every year, we have people killedand injured during hunting season. The thingabout these accidents is that they can all beprevented. In the 2004-2005 hunting season,there were approximately 23 accidents andfour fatalities associated with hunting inMississippi.These injuries were a combination of tree-stand accidents and accidental shootings. There were 14 treestand accidents withtwo fatalities and nine firearm accidentswith two fatalities.Most tree accidents can be prevented bywearing a safety harness and wearing itproperly. I hear a lot of hunters complainabout safety harnesses. They say that theyare uncomfortable and restrict movement. I

have even heard some say that if their standfalls they will be stuck hanging in a tree. Youcan be sure of one thing, I would rather behanging in a harness than falling 25 or 30feet to the ground. Then they say, “I could be hanging there

all night.” That’s when I say, “Not if you arehunting with a buddy or at least let someoneknow where you are hunting. There is noexcuse for not protecting yourself.”As far as accidental gunshots are con-cerned, there is no excuse for those either.Only in one of the fatal accidents last yearwas the person not wearing hunter’s orange.The other five were obeying the law bywearing at least 500 square inches ofhunter’s orange. It is the total responsibility of the shooter to

know what they are shooting at and what’sbeyond their target. Never shoot into the bush-es just because you see something move. Ifyou can’t see a clear target, don’t fire.

More and more people are starting to duckhunt again. This presents a whole differentset of precautions to be aware of. First, dresswarmly in layers. Hypothermia is a majorconcern for those of us in the water huntingducks. Carry an extra change of clothes incase you fall in like some of us do everyyear.If you are hunting out of a boat, make sureyou wear your life jacket. I know the lawrequires us to have life jackets in the boat,but, too many times, we sit on them insteadof wearing them. If you are going to do that, at least tie itaround your waist. That way, they will findyour body sooner. Even good swimmersdrown, especially in cold water. A life jacketis not much good if you don’t have it on.Hunting is one of the greatest sports thereis, and we don’t want to ruin it by beingcareless.

Don’t Ruin Hunting Season By Being CarelessBy Mike Blankenship/Coordinator, MFBF Safety Program & Interim Director, MFBF Member Services Department

ATV Discount Coupon

Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation and Got GearMotorsports, LLC, of Ridgeland have teamed up to offerFarm Bureau members an exclusive $500 discount couponon the purchase of new ATVs, motorcycles and 4-wheelutility vehicles. • This discount only applies to ATVs that are 400cc or greater and motorcycles that are 800cc or greater and does not apply if there are any other special promotions or rebates in effect. Got Gear is a dealer for Yamaha, Kawasaki and Polaris ATVs and 4-wheel utility vehicles; and Yamaha, Victory, Kawasaki and KTM motorcyles. To receive the $500 discount coupon, you must call Dedra Luke at 601-977-4169 or, toll-free, at 1-800-227-8244, ext. 4169, with your Farm Bureau membership number. Upon verification of your membership, a coupon will be mailed to you.

Please be aware that you cannot go directly to GotGear to receive this discount without your coupon.

We are working with Got Gear to hopefully expand this program to include discounts on parts, service

and accessories.

1100%% DDIISSCCOOUUNNTT CCOOUUPPOONNFFOORR MMEEAANN MMAALLLLAARRDD

Mean Mallard is offering a 10% discount to Farm Bureau

members only.

This offer is not applicable to guns,optics or ammunition and cannot beused in addition to any other sales

or discounts. Must present this coupon at the time of purchase.

242 Highway 51 • Ridgeland, MS 39157 Phone: 601-605-2661 • Fax: 601-605-2662


Superior OutdoorSupply, LLC

S.O.S.

10% Discount for Farm Bureau Members

only on the “Mobile Hunter”or the “Trail Hunter”

For more information, contact:

Troy Davis Ph: 601.214.9880

Kenneth Davis Ph: 601.616.1042

www.theroadhunter.com


MISSISSIPPI BEEF COUNCIL680 Monroe St., Suite A • Jackson, MS 39202(601) 353-4520Brought to you by Mississippi beef producers through The Beef Checkoff.

*Choose 92% lean ground beef or leaner. If not available at your favorite food store, be sure to ask. Based on USDA data using the average of 3 oz. cooked servings of lean beef compared to 3 oz. cooked servings of boneless, skinless chicken breast.

IS NOT ONLY MEAN, IT S UNTRUE.

CALLING BEEF FAT

Truth is, 29 cuts of beef are now considered lean by USDA standards, and 95%lean ground beef is one of them.* And here’s the really nice part. On average, leanbeef has about one more gram of saturated fat than a skinless chicken breast.For more truths, kindly visit www.BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com.



COUNSELOR’S CORNER

Skinning the Cat: Alternative Dispute ResolutionBy Sam E. Scott/General Counsel, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation

Little did I realize that a proposed title foran article on resolving disputes would itselfbe a fertile ground for controversy. All mylife I heard the proverb: “There is more thanone way to skin a cat.” But I never botheredto consider its origin or its meaning. Some attribute it to a country boy’s gym-

nastic trick of hanging by the hands from abranch or bar, drawing the legs up throughthe arms and over the branch and pulling upinto a sitting position. This description firstappeared in print in America in 1845, but theproverb itself appeared in England in a 1678book defining the term as “many ways to dosomething.”Dispute resolution, in its simplest terms,

means solving problems. Our legal systemof solving problems, both civil and criminal,is the subject of much dissatisfaction todayand understandably so. A system designedtwo centuries ago has not expanded andimproved enough to effectively resolveproblems encountered by a society that nowexceeds a population of 300,000,000. Miredin politics on both state and national levels,the judicial system has not been able toprocess the multitudes of suits filed in a liti-gious society nor render criminal justice in acrime-ridden world.The frustrations with this system (which is

still the best in the world), along with thelong delays and high costs of modern litiga-tion, have led to alternative dispute resolu-tion (ADR), which is nothing more thanother ways to get the job done. Because it isquicker and cheaper than litigation, and alsoas a reaction by business interests to enor-mous jury verdicts that they contend cancripple or destroy them, ADR has becomepopular. The most widely used methods ofADR are mediation and arbitration.Arbitration is the reference of a dispute to

an impartial, third person chosen by the par-ties to the dispute who agree in advance toabide by the arbitrator’s award issued after ahearing at which both parties have an oppor-tunity to be heard. Thus, in arbitration, theparties agree that someone other than a

judge or jury may decide the issues in dis-pute between them. Mediation is a process involving the assis-

tance of a third person in facilitating discus-sions between two contending parties withthe object of persuading them to adjust orsettle their dispute. In mediation, the partiesthemselves must come to a decision, where-as, in arbitration, an independent or neutralthird person makes the decision. There arecertain compulsory arbitration and media-tion procedures; however, these are not the

subject of this article. As noted above, many businesses, includ-

ing issuers of credit cards, have provisions intheir user agreements that require mandatoryarbitration. There are now some compulsorymediation procedures connected to courtdisputes in situations such as eminentdomain that involve usually only a disputeover the fair market value of the property. In voluntary alternative dispute resolu-

tions, which are both informal procedureswith relaxed rules, the parties can makechoices which may work better for themthan litigation. The Mississippi State Bar hasa certification program for both arbitratorsand mediators, and there are both local andnational associations (e.g. NationalArbitration Forum, www.adrforum.com),which can provide capable and qualifiedneutral parties to arbitrate or to mediate.

There are some situations in which arbi-tration can be non-binding yet gives the par-ties an idea of what a judge or jury mightdecide. It is best to use a qualified third per-son in a voluntary arbitration or mediation.The voluntary ADR procedures have the

economic advantages mentioned above, butthere are others that might be just as impor-tant. They can bring prompt closure to a dis-pute, which may be more important than itseems. Throughout my career, I have seenmany people consumed over many yearswith litigation almost to the extent ofCharles Dickens’ “Bleak House.” Theparties often conclude an ADR proceduresatisfied rather than angry or bitter. Because of the many thousands of claims

against insurance companies that arose outof Hurricane Katrina, the MississippiDepartment of Insurance adopted a media-tion program that was entirely voluntary, andthe results have been very favorable. Myown experience with the program has beenfavorable as it was for my client. In that par-ticular case, the cost to the client was about10% of what it would have been in litigationand involved two months’ time as opposedto the usual two years or more in court. Theclient also left the mediation session with acheck for the settlement amount. I believe that an important reason for the

success of these programs is that partiescome with settlement in mind rather than todefeat each other. Hardly ever do both par-ties to a lawsuit leave the courthouse satis-fied. You never hear any explanations of los-ing a court contest such as other contests incivil society where the coaches or the con-testants may say they outplayed us, they hada better game plan or other reasons for thedefeat. A defeat in court usually leaves bit-terness or remorse or both. Bringing dis-putes to a prompt, economical and finaldecision has more value than appears on itsface.If you choose to invoke alternative dispute

resolution to settle a dispute in which youare involved, I offer the following sugges-

In voluntary alternativedispute resolutions, whichare both informal proce-dures with relaxed rules, theparties can make choiceswhich may work better forthem than litigation.



tions. If the dispute is with a large businessor an insurance company, you should seri-ously consider engaging counsel to assistyou in the process. Of course, it is not nec-essary, but it gives you, in a modern idiom, amore level playing field. Another suggestion is to develop a strate-

gy rather than going into a resolution hear-ing with the idea of getting as much as youcan or giving up as little as you must. Theidea is to resolve the matter – not to win orlose. Some of the concepts expressed by

Richard Covey in his “Seven Habits ofHighly Effective People” have particular rel-evance in alternative dispute resolution strat-egy. These are, “think win-win;” “seek firstto understand then to be understood;” and“begin with the end in mind.” If there is away to end the dispute without one partyhaving to concede utter defeat, it makes thepossibility of a satisfactory resolution muchmore likely. Second, it is important to listen to your

adversary and try to understand his or herposition even though you may feel it is com-pletely without merit. If you listen carefully,the odds are much greater that your adver-sary will listen carefully to you, and if youare in arbitration, listening carefully andseeking to understand will put you in a goodlight with the arbitrator. Finally, beginning with the end in mind

gives you the groundwork for a plan. Whatwould you really like to achieve by thisprocess and what is the best strategy to try toget that result? Thinking your objectivesthrough carefully before participating in theprocess will make your chances muchgreater of achieving a successful result.If the parties can come to a resolution and

closure and put the matter behind them forless cost in a much shorter time, then thealternative dispute resolution will prove agood alternative to the court system. It is anidea whose time has come.

Sam E. Scott is general counsel forMississippi Farm Bureau Federation and isa member of the law firm of Scott Mallett &Elder. The foregoing information is generalin nature and is not intended as legal advice.

FC

Look how low your payments could be at aFIXED rate of 5.99% (6.57 APR):

Programs available for: • Self employed/unable to verify income • Refinance to a lower rate • Less than perfect credit

Call anytime, 24 hours a day, seven days a week:

The Mortgage Outlet, Inc. - 1-800-771-0383

• Visit us at www.moneyoutlet.com •

*Payment amounts based on loan with 6.57 APR. 30 yr. term. Subject to credit, collateral and income requirements. Rates as of 11/16/06. Rates subject to change.

Loan Amount$75,000

Monthly Pymt.$449.18*

Loan Amount$100,000


Loan Amount$150,000


(Homeowners only, please)

New YearʼsResolutions:1. Pay off all

your bills.2. Make one,

lower paymentevery month.

3. Start enjoying life again!

If youʼre a homeowner, we can help you keepthose resolutions. One ten minute phone call

is all it takes to get started.

Get out of your adjustable rate mortgagefor a low, fixed rate before it’s too late!

1800 Sandy Plains Pkwy, Suite 302, Marietta, GA 30066 Mississippi Registered Mortgage Company • In business since 1993


MISSISSIPP I WEATHER:An Awesome Spectrum

ach year, the weather in Mississippi throws its arsenal oftricks into our laps for better or worse. Our farmersinvariably are found on the leading edge of this phe-nomenon and suffer the worst as Mother Nature strutsher menu of droughts, floods, air currents totally out of

control, heat sufficiently torrid enough to fry eggs on the side-walks, and deep freeze formats that run us indoors to warm andpray as we winter our livestock and ourselves.It is little wonder that we identify so well with each vicissitude

with such phrases as “glorious autumn” followed by “the dead ofwinter, “the advent of spring,” and “dog days of summer.” And lit-tle wonder we diversify and keep on keeping on no matter what. “We just got to!” becomes an overworked phrase that marks somany of our responses.

WRITER HAS SEEN IT ALLThis old writer and photographer of so many of nature’s most

unforgettable offerings doesn’t have to dig too deep to focus onsuch past occurrences as big ships slung upon the beaches ofGulfport and Biloxi after Hurricane Camille or power linessprawled down on the ground as far as the eye could see in my lit-tle hometown when the 1951 Ice Storm hit. MFBF President Boswell Stevens sent all federation employees

home during the ice storm while they could get home. I rode aGreyhound bus home only to step off and hear the forests crack-ling with falling limbs and trees like a war zone.The Yazoo Basin Floods later sent me aloft in a small aircraft to

shoot an array of flooded Delta pictures northward from Vicksburgwhich were provided to Jackson news organizations to tell thestory of delayed planting as farm homes had only portions of theirroofs breaking the water.Some oldsters will remember the Snowstorm of 1940 when 13

inches of beautiful snow fell swirling from the skies in my villagejust north of Jackson. For three consecutive nights, the tempera-tures sank below zero with the lowest being -7 degrees. Blowtorches burned brightly beneath the homes as burst, galvanizedwater pipes had to be replaced when the record-breaking low tem-peratures finally gave way to thawing.I was a boy farmer then – first a 4-Her and then an FFA mem-

ber – when these weather conditions put me outside with the menas we milked our cows by hand and placed cold foreheads againstwarm sides of the cows to help keep warm. Dead of winter!

EBy Ed Blake



Finally, last year, I witnessed the devasta-tion wrought by Hurricane Katrina. Thatparticular storm was, without question, theworst natural disaster to ever hit our nation,and none of us will soon forget it.

DROUGHT ENDS IN AUTUMN RAINOnly a few weeks ago, I saw the weather

tables turn again. During a trip on theNatchez Trace, the splendor of autumnreminded me that summer droughts do end –

usually with considerable rainfall inMississippi. The hickories flanking the Trace appeared

to have more gold than Ft. Knox. The blackgums and dogwoods blushed deep red as Ipassed. High in the sky above the gentlywinding vistas, the sweet gums were tornbetween turning yellow or red.Cypress Swamp was refilling with rain-

water. A green scum caught each colorfulleaf that fell and put them all on display.At Little Mountain, the splendor of high

places enticed many motorists to the sum-mit, where overlooks into surroundingcounties revealed a mingling of evergreenand deciduous trees such as those whichhave inspired the world of artists to attemptto catch and hold forever.What a gamut our Mississippi weather

runs. From devastating to glorious, it is anawesome spectrum! FC



Mantachie High School ag students and teachers with guests Randy Vaughan and Terry Norwood.

tudents involved in the FFA agricultural program at Mantachie High School received

hands-on experience this year in growing and harvesting sweet sorghum seed through

an agreement with Mississippi Foundation Seed Stocks (MFSS), a support unit of

Mississippi State University’s (MSU) Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station

(MAFES). MFSS was established in 1959 under the

direction of MAFES and is located on the MSU campus.

The students were involved in the field production and

harvest of the ‘Dale’ variety of sorghum, which was

grown under contract for MFSS. They also grew four

additional acres solely to cook as syrup and sell to the

general public.

SBy Glynda Phillips

Dale variety of sweet sorghum seed.




SORGHUM HARVEST Students cut the first mature sorghum seed

heads in late September and carried them toMFSS, where the seed was dried, thrashed,conditioned, tested and packaged for sale asfoundation seed. The seed is sold to interest-ed producers across the large sorghum-pro-ducing area of the eastern United States. “We don’t grow every variety of the four

varieties of sweet sorghum every yearbecause the seed generally retains high qual-ity when placed in our cold storage,” saidRandy Vaughan, MFSS Manager. “It just sohappened that we needed additional seed ofthe Dale variety this year. The other threevarieties that MFSS maintains as seed areM81-E, Theis and Topper 76-6.”Beyond their seed production, the students

harvested mature sorghum stalks in mid-October and cooked and sold sorghum syrupto the general public. Proceeds from the twosorghum projects, along with proceeds fromthe students’ meat-cutting and greenhouseplant projects, help to fund various eventsthe students participate in throughout theyear.“Agriculture is important in this area of

the state,” said Mantachie High SchoolPrincipal Scott Blackley. “Our ag programnot only allows students to get outdoors andget their hands dirty learning the basics ofhow to grow, harvest and further process acrop, it is also good for community andschool relations. “Our ag program shows the people around

here that we care about the future of agricul-ture and are supportive of the industry,” hesaid. “Plus, this type of project is somethingour students will never forget.”

HOW IT STARTEDMississippi Farm Bureau Federation

Region 2 Manager and Corn, Wheat andFeed Grains Coordinator Terry Norwoodgrew sweet sorghum seed for MississippiFoundation Seed Stocks for four years. Last

year, he decided he wanted the school kids atMantachie High School to take over thereigns, and they eagerly accepted.“Terry did an excellent job for us, but one

obstacle to growing sorghum is that it islabor intensive,” said Vaughan. “It was get-ting harder for him to find the time and peo-ple to help him grow and harvest the seed.This is a perfect crop for Mantachie HighSchool because they have both the time andlabor force. “These students also did an excellent job.”Seniors Justin Robbins, Shawn Hurd and

Zack Elliff say they enjoy participating inthe Mantachie High School FFA program.They think the sorghum project is a greataddition, and they appreciate the fact that itprovides them with plenty of hands-on expe-rience. All three are considering ag-relatedmajors in college. “Mantachie High School has one of the

few remaining ag programs in the state,”said Principal Blackley. “It’s certainly notthe only one, but we feel that it is one of themost active. We are very proud of it.”FFA ag program instructors are Joe

Rogers and C. W. Franks. Approximately 80students participated in the program thisyear.For more information about Mississippi

Foundation Seed Stocks, contact Vaughanat 662-325-2390 or email him at [email protected].

Students cook sorghum syrup.

FCStudents also package the sorghum syrup.


85TH ANNUAL MEETING

Kellye Cash, a former Miss America, performed during the Worship Service.

Sen. Thad Cochran, keynote speaker at the convention, received the AFBF Friend of Farm Bureau Award.

Journalist Sid Salter was presented the Ag Ambassador Award.

Regional Women’s Committee Chairs were elected in odd-numbered regions.These include, from left, Betty Edwards, Region 5; Lil Gant, Region 1; PeggyMcKey, Region 3; and Carolyn Turner, Region 7. They are pictured with StateWomen’s Committee Chair Dott Arthur.

Above: Jesse Purvis, Federal Land Bank, presented Discussion Meet winner Dr. Matthew Burnham with a $850 cash award.Left: Jennifer Lott with Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital was presentedChristmas presents collected for the children by the Women’s Program. She is pictured with State Women’s Committee Chair, Dott Arthur.


Jeff Davis County Farm Bureau received the President’s Award for Most Outstanding County Program in the State. (See page 31 for a listing of all Outstanding County Programs.)

The Women’s Program presented their “Pennies for Mississippi” donations to twoGulf Coast school libraries impacted by Hurricane Katrina. Pictured, from left, areNedra Galloway, D’Iberville Middle School; Dott Arthur, State Women’s CommitteeChair; and Jeanie Brooks, Gulfview-Charles B. Murphy School.

Friend of Agriculture Award recipients include Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, Chair of theSenate Ag Committee and Rep. David Gibbs, Vice-Chair of the House Ag Committee.

State Talent Winners include, from left, Debbie Atkins of Moss Point, Division III; AlexWillis of McComb, Division I; and Trent Smith of Noxapater, Division II.

Above: Barbie Bassett, WLBT Chief Meteorologist andMiss Farm Bureau-Mississippi 1990, was Mistress of Ceremonies during the Talent and Miss Farm Bureau-Mississippi contests.Left: Miss Farm Bureau-Mississippi is MeaganHoladay of Madison. She is a freshman at MississippiState University. First alternate is Katie Watson ofLouisville. She is a senior at Winston Academy.


Bill Ryan and Leslie Tabb of Clevelandhave been named winners of the MississippiFarm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmerand Rancher Achievement Award for 2006.The Tabbs operate a 5200-acre family

farm consisting of 900 acres of rice, 4000acres of soybeans and 600 acres ofwheat/soybeans that are double-cropped.They own 575 acres they have had preci-sion-leveled to increase efficiency of theirequipment, reduce fuels costs and conservewater. They consider their farm a conserva-tion farm, and they try to make constantimprovement to make their farm more envi-ronmentally friendly.Tabb has made many changes and

improvements in the operation, which haveincreased yields, while deceasing costs,insect pressure and irrigation needs.Tabb is currently Bolivar County Farm

Bureau president. He has also served as avoting delegate to the state convention, onthe state board of directors and as YoungFarmer and Rancher chairman.Leslie is a nurse at the local hospital. The

Tabbs have two children, Collins, 7, andAnnsley, 3.As state YF&R Achievement Award win-

ners, the Tabbs receive 100 hours use of aJohn Deere tractor; 300 hours use of aKubota tractor; $1800 toward the purchaseof a home computer and an expense-paidtrip to the American Farm BureauFederation Convention. They also receivean extended cab 4-wheel drive pickup truckcompliments of Southern Farm BureauCasualty Insurance Company and a $500check from Dodge

By Greg GibsonPublic Relations/Multimedia Coordinator


TABBS WIN STATE YOUNG FARMER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Left: The Tabb family: Bill Ryan, Collins, Leslie, and Annsley.

Above: The State YF&R Achievement Award winner receives a pickup truck, courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company, and the use of John Deere and Kubota tractors.

State Discussion Meet winner Dr. Matthew Burnham received the keys to a 2007 Yamaha 4-wheeler from Got Gear Motorsports, LLC, courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company (SFBLIC). He is pictured with Joey Stroble, SFBLIC Executive Vice President, Chief Executive Officer.

BURNHAM WINS DISCUSSION MEET

Dr. Matthew Burnham, a cattle farmer and teacher from Covington County, was selectedwinner of the 2006 Farm Bureau Young Farmer & Rancher Discussion Meet. Rogers bestedthree other contestants in the final round, held at Farm Bureau’s 85th Annual Meeting inJackson, Dec. 1-2. As Mississippi’s winner, Burnham will compete in the national competition at the upcom-

ing American Farm Bureau Annual Meeting, to be held in Salt Lake City, Utah, in mid-January. He will be among some 40 other state winners.Burnham won a 4-wheeler ATV, compliments of Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance

Company. He also received cash awards from Federal Land Bank Associations and DodgeCorporation.Burnham and his wife Dana Kaye operate a small Brangus cattle operation. He also teach-

es at Jones Junior College. The Burnhams have one child, Audrey Kate, who is six monthsold.



Mississippi Farm Bureau Federationrecently presented two of its top awards tooutstanding leaders in Mississippi agricul-ture. Dr. Vance Watson of Starkvillereceived the Distinguished Service Awardand Sylvia Clark of Vardaman was present-ed the Excellence in Leadership Award.“Watson has spent his entire career serv-

ing the people of Mississippi,” said MFBFPresident David Waide. “He has a broadunderstanding of the issues facing agricul-ture and provides strong leadership for thefarmers of the state.”Watson is the author of more than 300

publications and has traveled the world on avariety of agricultural missions. He was amember of the official United States delega-tion for setting world policy on seed certifi-cation and served as team leader for review

of Peace Corps agricultural programs inThailand for the U.S. State Department. He is the Vice President of the Division of

Agriculture, Forestry and VeterinarianMedicine, Mississippi State University.Clark and her husband, Norman, raise 300

acres of sweet potatoes near Vardaman. Shespends countless hours promoting the product.“Sylvia has spent more than 30 years

pushing sweet potatoes,” said Waide.“Without her efforts, Vardaman sweet pota-toes would still be one of the best kept

secrets in the South.”The Distinguished Service Award is the

highest honor that Farm Bureau bestows onan individual. It is an honor that is reservedfor someone who has truly made a differ-ence in Misssissippi agriculture. TheExcellence in Leadership Award was estab-lished to recognize the volunteer leaders ofFarm Bureau who have made significantcontributions to Farm Bureau and agricul-ture in Mississippi.


Distinguished Service Award winner Dr. Vance Watson and Excellence in Leadership Award winner Sylvia Clark are pictured with MFBF President David Waide.

Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation vice presidential elections were held during theorganization’s 85th Annual Meeting in Jackson.Donald Gant of Bolivar County was elected to serve his first term as North Mississippi

Vice President. He and wife Lil farm corn, rice, soybeans and wheat. They have two sonsand one daughter.Randy Knight of Rankin County was elected to his first term as Central Mississippi Vice

President. He and wife Mary V. own a dairy, stocker calf and timber operation. They havetwo daughters. Reggie Magee from Jefferson Davis County was re-elected to serve his fifth term as

South Mississippi Vice President. He and wife Peggy farm poultry, cattle and timber. All three men have served as president of their respective county Farm Bureaus. Magee

is the current president of Jeff Davis County Farm Bureau. Knight and Magee are past dis-trict directors.

AG LEADERS PRESENTED

FARM BUREAU’STOP AWARDS

Donald Gant Randy Knight Reggie Magee

MFBF VICE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONSOUTSTANDINGPROGRAMS

Outstanding County Farm BureauPrograms for 2006 include: Reg. 1-Bolivar-Bill Ryan Tabb, president and Dan Roach,organizational secretary; Reg. 2-Union-ColinCollins, president and Teresa Wiginton, sec-retary; Reg. 3-Jeff Davis-Reggie Magee,president, and Nevelene Cole, secretary; Reg.4-Montgomery-Jerry Milner, president, andTheresa Mitchell, secretary; Reg. 5-Amite-Brad Bean, president, and Tammy Mabry,secretary; Reg. 6-Jasper-John Keenan, presi-dent, and Teri Graham, secretary; Reg. 7-Pearl River-O.C. Smith, president, andMonica Foulon, secretary; and Reg. 8-Madison-Don Brazil, president, and AnnMcKay, secretary.Jeff Davis County also received the

President’s Award as the Most OutstandingProgram in the State. A photo of these winners will be taken in

February and will run in this magazine.



Jan. 5 Tri-State Soybean ForumMS Convention CenterVicksburg, MS

Jan. 7-10 AFBF Annual ConventionSalt Lake City, Utah

Jan. 12-14 YF&R Leadership ConferenceVicksburg, MS

Jan. 15 Winter Commodity ConferenceHilton Hotel, Jackson, MS

Jan. 16 & 17 Delta Ag ExpoBolivar County Exposition CenterCleveland, MS

Feb. 1 Presidents/Secretaries MeetingJackson, MS

Feb. 1 Legislative ReceptionDennery’s, Jackson, MS

Feb. 4-10 Food Check-Out Week

Feb. 6 Food Check-Out Day

Feb. 8-10 AFBF Leadership ConferenceJacksonville, FL

Feb. 10 - 12 AFBF YF&R Leadership ConferenceJacksonville, FL

April 12 Beef & Poultry ExpoSmith County Multi-Purpose BuildingRaleigh, MS

May 18 Summer Beef Commodity ConferenceDoug Rogers’ Farm, Collins, MS


2006-2007 YOUNG FARMER & RANCHER FOUNDATION RECIPIENTS

Benjamin Washburn of Hinds County$2,000 YF&R Scholarship, attends Hinds CC

Candace Megan Stringer of Marion County$2,000 YF&R Scholarship, attends MSU

Colbi Ann Parker of Calhoun County$1,000 Hugh Arant Scholarship,attends MSU

Rachel Aiken of Tate County$2,000 YF&R Scholarship, attends MSU

Kayla Coggin of Monroe County$1,000 Don Waller Scholarship, attends MSU

Meredith McCurdy of Panola County$2,000 YF&R Scholarship, attends MSU

CALENDAR of EVENTS


REGION 6 CONTEST WINNERSRegion 6 contest winners include Anna Claire Webb, WinstonCounty, Division I talent; Trent Smith, Winston County, DivisionII talent; Teresa Savell, Leake County, Division II talent; andKatie Watson, Winston County, Region 6 Miss Farm Bureau.

REGION 7 CONTEST WINNERSRegion 7 contest winners include Debbie Atkins, Jackson County,Division III talent; Rayanna Bray, Jackson County, Division I talent; Dustin and Johanna Collins, Jones County, Division II talent;Paula Brooks, Jackson County, Region 7 Miss Farm Bureau.

ACWW MEETING State Women’s Committee Chair Dott Arthur and State Women’sCommittee Vice Chair Shelby Williams attended a meeting of theAssociated Country Women of the World and County Women’sCouncil in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. They are pictured with, front row,from left, Dato Ursula Goh, ACWW World President; LouiseNichols, ACWW Treasurer; and Kay Engelhart, ACWW-USA AreaPresident.

POULTRY LITTER MANURE TRANSFER INCENTIVESTHROUGH EQUIPThrough the USDA/NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQUIP), landowners across the state of Mississippi may benefit

from “incentive payments” which encourage poultry litter to be “transferred” to other watersheds in the state. This initiative is intended to fund incentive payments for the hauling of poultry litter from areas in the state of high concentrations of

poultry production to areas of the state with no poultry production. The intent is to encourage a market for poultry litter to be used as asource of fertilizer and organic matter on cropland and pastureland. Interested persons who would like to participate in the EQIP “Manure Transfer Initiative” can visit their local USDA/NRCS field office

to signup to have poultry litter transferred to their farm. Poultry farmers can contact Brook Stuart at (601) 977-4243 with MississippiFarm Bureau Federation to register their farm as a source of poultry litter or visit the Poultry Litter Clearinghouse Website at http://poultry.msfb.org/poultry/




FARM BUREAUEVENTS

(Clockwise from left)State Women’s Committee members are pictured with Terry Gilbert, American Farm Bureau Federation Women’s Leadership Committee Chair, and aspeaker at the 2006 Women’s Leadership Conference.; Janie Walters talked about the role of humor in life during the 2006 Women’s Leadership Conference in Jackson;Speakers during the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Resolutions Committee Meeting in Jackson included Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, Mississippi Senate AgricultureCommittee Chairperson; Mike Dwyer, Foreign Agriculture Service Chief Economist, and MFBF President David Waide.; Bill Ryan Tabb, second from left, chaired the 2006Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Resolutions Committee. Subcommittee chairs included, from left, J. B. Brown, Environmental; Scott Cannada, State Agriculture; andJeff Mullins, State Government. The men are pictured with MFBF President David Waide.; Outstanding County Women’s Programs were announced during the 2006Women’s Leadership Conference. These included: Region 1 - Lil Gant, chair; Region 2 - Kitty Morgan, chair and Faye Kelso, vice chair; Region 3 - Tammy Layton chairand Ann Layton, vice chair; Region 4 - Georgia Caffey, chair and Becky Milner, vice chair; Region 5 - Sheila Conerly, chair; Region 6 - Nancy Jones, chair and DottArthur, vice chair; Region 7 - Melba Smith, chair and Charline Smith, vice chair; Region 8 - Evelyn McMullen, chair.; Bryan Dierlam, professional staff, U.S. House ofRepresentatives Agriculture Committee, presented a Farm Bill Outlook during the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Resolutions Committee Meeting in Jackson. He ispictured with MFBF President David Waide.


An endowed scholarship has been established at Mississippi StateUniversity in honor of Mississippi Farm Bureau President David Waideof West Point. MSU Vice President for Agriculture, Forestry andVeterinary Medicine Vance Watson, left, presented Waide a plaque recognizing the scholarship. The scholarship is in an open fund in theMSU Foundation and may be increased by contributions to theFoundation. For more information about the Waide EndowedScholarship, contact Jud Skelton, College of Agriculture and LifeSciences Development Director, at (662) 325-0643.

THANKS,SAMANTHASamantha Webb proved to be a tireless and eloquent spokesper-

son for Mississippi agriculture during her reign as Miss FarmBureau Mississippi 2006. She represented Farm Bureau at numerous events throughout the

year, including the American Farm Bureau Federation AnnualMeeting in Nashville, the Southern Region Women’s Meeting inJackson, Ag in the Classroom workshops across the state, and theWomen’s Leadership Conference in Jackson. She also performedduring the 85th Annual Meeting of the Mississippi Farm BureauFederation in Jackson. She was one of two recipients of the 2006 Berta White

Scholarship. A student at Mississippi State University, Samantha is the daugh-

ter of Forest poultry and cattle farmer Bob Webb and wife Anita,who is the Scott County Extension Director. She is the grand-daughter of Simpson County cattle farmer Maurice Layton andwife Ann. Maurice is a former longtime Simpson County FarmBureau President and Ann is a longtime Simpson County FarmBureau Women’s Vice Chair.

For more information about the Miss Farm Bureau MississippiContest, contact Clara Bilbo at 977-4245 or 1-800-227-8 244, ext.4245.


MSU SCHOLARSHIP HONORS WAIDE

MSU

Ag Com

mun

ications



Dept. 32486 • 125 Rhoades LaneHendersonville, Tennessee 37075

1-800-974-6233 Ext. 32486 • www.4wc.com/ 32486

2 SEAT BIKEDRIVES LIKE A CAR

• Easy to Pedal• Multi-Speed• 1, 2 & 4 Seaters• Optional Electric Motor FREE BROCHURE



PLAY GOSPEL MUSIC #1. PLAY GOSPEL SONGS BY EAR. Piano, key-

board. Add chords to music. 10 easy lessons. $12.95 #2. LEARN GOSPEL MUSIC! Chording, runs, fill-ins.

$12.95. Both $23. Guaranteed. DAVIDSONS MUSIC, 6727 M Metcalf, Shawnee Mission, KS 66204

www.davidsonsmusic.com. Free catalog available.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTEDin purchasing a latemodel used federationvehicle, please visit ourWebsite for pictures andlatest information at:www.msfb.com/pro-

grams/fleetforsale.html.Or contact

Merlene Partridge at 1-800-227-8244,

ext. 4233.

• Residential• Commercial

628 Lakeland East Dr., Suite B • Flowood, MS 1-800-960-9119 or 601-939-9413

06

73

63

PPrroovviiddiinngg SSeeccuurriittyy ffoorr FFaarrmm BBuurreeaauu MMeemmbbeerrssSee Member Benefits for Special Rates

SPEC AD

2 1/2 x 5" - 5/06Mississippi Farm Country

HERITHERITAGEAGEBUILDINGBUILDING SYSTEMSYSTEMSS®

Established 1979

A Legac y Bui l t to Last

30’ x 50’ x 10’ ......................... $6,087

40’ x 80’ x 12’ ......................... $12,090

70’ x 100’ x 16’ ....................... $28,674

1.800.643.5555www.her i tagebui ld ings.com

S i n c e 1 9 7 9 H e r i t a g e B u i l d i n gSystems’ focus has been to providethe industry with the finest quality,best looking pre-engineered steelstructures at the lowest possble price.

CHOIR ROBES$3195

& UPEXPERT

TAILORING

www.rcgown.com

GUARANTEED SATISFACTIONCall Toll Free: 1-800-826-8612

Finest fabrics including permanentpress and wash & wear. Superior

quality. Free color catalog and fabric swatches on request.

P.O. Box 8988-F Jacksonville, FL 32211

��

��

��

�� !��" !��" !��" !��" ��#��$%&#��$%&#��$%&#��$%&��

�� !��"��#��$�"��%�� &��!��'��!$��(�� !�� '��)��$��%��*� �� "�� !��!��+��!��!��'��'�� ,�'��'�� -��-��*�)�� +��*�,��*�)��.��*��"��(��*��$��*�/��!*�0��-��+��1��)��2�"��!��,��)��'��*�� -��)�'�,��*�)��,��*�0��)��,�� !� 3�� %��*� �� 4!� ,�� *� ��'��!�)�� +��*� �� 1� � 0�� &�� $� 56� ��'�� *��!��$��!�� ''�'�$��!�� '��'��!� �� 7+��$� ��'� �#��$��!�8559:�;��$��!<��8==>� �� 3��$��$�)��'��$��.�� ?)��#��"��85>>��

�� !�� "�#��$%&''%�()%�(''�

America’s First Choice for travel since 1967!

�

Grow 1/2-dollar size muscadines &blackberries. Over 200 varieties of

fruit, nut, and ber ry plants.Ison’s Nursery & Vineyar d

P.O. Box 190, Brooks, GA 30205.Call for free color catalog

800-733-0324 www.isons.com


(By Frank K. Wood)If you want to avoid risky surgery and control your

medical costs, you need Natural Cures and GentleMedicines That Work Better Than Dangerous Drugs orRisky Surgery, an informative new book just releasedto the public by FC&A Medical Publishing® in Peach-tree City, Georgia.

Whether you’re concerned with preventing seriousdisease or treating everyday health problems, thisbook has 1,264 natural remedies for common ail-ments, including pain, allergies, IBS, heart disease,and more. You’ll rediscover genuine cures you mayhave forgotten, plus learn hundreds of new naturaltreatments that really work!

The authors provide many health tips with fullexplanations.� Just a single cup of this refreshing fruit juice daily

is enough to keep cholesterol from turning intoartery-clogging plaque.

� Save your eyesight, no matter your age. These foodsreduce your risk of blindness in old age by nearly half.

� Some of the healthiest foods are actually the cheapest— like this 50¢ meal that can help you lose weight andlower your cholesterol.

� How to keep your vision sharp — nature’s all-naturalcataract preventers.

� How to lose weight without even trying! This dietsecret works only for women!

� Your body produces a natural “fountain of youth”that keeps your heart and arteries strong, lowers yourcholesterol and blood pressure levels, and stops freeradicals from doing damage.

� Women who eat more of this food are less likely todevelop type 2 diabetes.

� If your home’s foundation crumbles and sags, so willyour home. As your body’s foundation, your skeletonworks the same way. Just 4 diet secrets can do the trickfor strong bones that last a lifetime.

� Vitamins and minerals may keep you from gettingcolon cancer, even if this awful killer runs in yourfamily. Good news!

� Fight cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, flu ...even bad breath — just by sipping a steaming cup ofthis pleasant beverage.

� Are you sick and tired of spending too much timeand too much money on doctors and drugs that failto help your arthritis? Try this vitamin remedy.

� Easy ways to boost your metabolism and burn fat.� Melt away tension, depression, anger, fatigue, and men-

tal confusion — all without drugs, doctors, or special

diets. This cure builds confidence and self-awareness,too.

� Diabetic? Now help control your blood sugar withoutinsulin or medication. Research shows that this reme-dy helps regulate glucose, helps you lose weight, andlowers your blood pressure. That’s 3 great benefitsfrom one fantastic remedy.

� Arthritis help ... in your pantry! Just open a can ofthis lunch-time favorite to eliminate pain.

� How the multivitamin you take every day can keepyour vision keen.

� The 2¢ colon cleanser! It may help prevent cancer!� You’ve suspected it all along, and new research now

confirms it — there is a link between arthritis anddiet! 6 foods that may ease your pain, and 8 that mayincrease it ... revealed at last.

� Bring your blood pressure down with the “magic”of minerals. 3 minerals your body really needs.

� Over 100,000 people die each year from drugs pre-scribed by doctors. Seven ways to make sure youdon’t become a statistic.

� You’re looking for something you lost, then youforget what you are looking for! Maybe you shouldcheck your refrigerator. That’s where you may findthe foods you need for peak mental sharpness andfaster recall. 9 nutrients for super memory.

� How to reverse type 2 diabetes!� Change the way you breathe and you could add

years to your life!� Flush cholesterol right out of your body and slash

your risk for heart disease.� From the back roads of China and the ancient cities of

Europe comes a time-honored remedy for a failingmemory. This herb is so effective in promoting increasedblood flow to the brain, it even offers dramatic help forpeople with Alzheimer’s.

� Arthritis relief in a soda can! Walk farther with lesspain, climb stairs faster, grip things more easily. Whatkind of soda?

� Six simple steps to lower high blood pressure nat-urally.

� 10 natural ways to end sleepless nights and awakerejuvenated each morning.

� Add this spice to your rice — it’s proven to fight 8kinds of cancer!

� Boost your metabolism by “eating like a horse”!This book reveals secrets of weight loss.

� Can’t sleep? Don’t turn to drugs when you coulduse these 10 all-natural sleep tips.

� Concerned about cataracts? Millions of people wait

until their vision starts to go, then have a risky oper-ation with an uncertain outcome ... but now you canprevent cataracts in the first place with these 7 tips.

� Five steps to banish an unsightly potbelly.� Type 2 diabetes? Make sure you eat plenty of the

foods listed here. They contain a work-horse nutrientthat shuttles excess sugar out of your bloodstreamand into your cells.

� Could the medicine you’re taking be the cause ofyour painful joints? Here are 19 drugs that causepain instead of heal it.

� 7 easy-does-it secrets to escape back pain. Surprise —none of them call for surgery, drugs, or extra time in bed!

� Mites be gone! Kill dust mites and their eggs withthis no-cost, no-chemical treatment.

� 5 surefire ways to trim your waistline.� Turn up the heat in your internal furnace and burn

fat away with these easy weight-loss tips.� The inexpensive, natural remedy for arthritis and

muscle pain that helped 75% of the folks who tried it!� Fast, easy treatments for bothersome leg cramps.� Whittle your waistline away with the 5 tips that

zero in on mid-line weight-loss.� High blood pressure? Eat more of this fruit.� Natural brain boosters that keep your mind sharp

and precious memories fresh.� Osteoporosis? Beware of the foods listed. They can

prevent calcium absorption.� Don’t accidentally aggravate your arthritis! The foods

that are most likely to make your joint pain flare up.� Save your eyesight from cataracts with one little pill.� Eliminate earwax buildup with this common kitchen

product.Learn all these natural healing secrets and more.

Book includes over 1,200 ways to perfect health. Toorder a copy, just return this notice with your name andaddress and a check for $9.99 plus $3.00 shipping andhandling to: FC&A, Dept. 1MJ1, 103 Clover Green,Peachtree City, GA 30269. We will send you a copy ofNatural Cures and Gentle Medicines That Work BetterThan Dangerous Drugs or Risky Surgery.

You get a no-time-limit guarantee of satisfaction oryour money back.

You must cut out and return this notice with yourorder. Copies will not be accepted!

IMPORTANT — FREE GIFT OFFEREXPIRES MARCH 23, 2007

All orders mailed by March 23, 2007 will receivea free gift, Get Well and Stay Well, guaranteed. Orderright away! ©FC&A 2007

Losing your vision? Eategg yolks.

Sinus congestion? Sootheit with saltwater.

ARTERY90%

CLOGGEDBY PLAQUE

CLEANARTERY

ARTERY50%

CLOGGED BY PLAQUE

“What You Should Never Drink if You’re Taking HighBlood Pressure Medicine!”


No Calling Circles!No Surprises!

No Commitmentsor Contracts!

Call toll-free 1-800-227-8244 ext. 4169Cut Here and Send to: Mississippi Farm Bureau, P. O. Box 1972, Jackson, MS 39215-1972

I choose the Farm Bureau®

Connection™ as my primary long-distance provider for the service(s) and telephone number(s) indicated below and I authorize the FarmBureau

®

Connection™ to act as my agent by notifying my local telephone company of this choice. I certify that I am legally responsible for the payment of chargesincurred on the telephone number(s) listed below and that I have the authority to change the prescribed 1+long distance carrier providing service to these num-bers. Further, I recognize that I can have only one primary long-distance company for a given telephone number, that I will no longer be presubscribed to my cur-rent long-distance carrier’s service(s) and that my local telephone company may impose a charge for this and any later change. I also understand that the FarmBureau

®

Connection™’s name will appear in my long-distance bill as a result of this switch and that this change only affects my 1+long-distance services. I under-stand that my signature on this form means the following services will be provided to me by the Farm Bureau

®

Connection™: IntraLATA* (when available); InterLATA*,interstate and intrastate telecommunications.

Signature Date ____ - ____ - ____

Print Name

Telephone #(s) (_____) ______ - ___________ (_____) ______ - ___________

(_____) ______ - ___________ (_____) ______ - ___________

Farm Bureau Membership #� Please sign me up for _____ Farm Bureau® Connection™ Calling Cards.� Please sign me up for a Personal800 number: ______ yes ______ no

Which number do you want your Personal800 to ring on: (_____) ______ - ___________

Street Address

City State Zip

Mailing Address(if different from above)

City State Zip



Jan-Feb07QEUBECOR:quark 12/20/06 2:24 PM Page 1 - Mississippi Farm … · FARM BUREAU DIRECTORS Jim...

Documents

Transcript of Jan-Feb07QEUBECOR:quark 12/20/06 2:24 PM Page 1 - Mississippi Farm … · FARM BUREAU DIRECTORS Jim...