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2 M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R
ADT HOME SECURITY SYSTEM Southern Security Services is offering an ADT
Basic Home Security System installed at no
charge (36-month monitoring contract required)
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Please call 1.888.777.0440 or you can visit www.agristar.com.
Departments
FeaturesCONTENTS
MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRYVolume 85 Number 6
November/December 2009
EDITORGlynda Phillips
Graphic Arts CoordinatorDanielle Ginn
Department AssistantAngela Thompson
FARM BUREAU OFFICERSPresident - David Waide
Vice President - Donald GantVice President - Randy KnightVice President - Reggie Magee
Treasurer - Billy DavisCorporate Secretary - Ilene Sumrall
FARM BUREAU DIRECTORSDr. Jim Perkins, IukaKevin Simpson, AshlandPaul Briscoe, Oxford
Bill Ryan Tabb, ClevelandMike Ferguson, SenatobiaDan L. Bishop, BaldwynL.C. Sanders, HamiltonDoss Brodnax, StarkvilleBetty Mills, Winona
Weldon Harris, KosciuskoKenneth Thompson, Philadelphia
Max Anderson, DecaturJames Ford, TaylorsvilleMark Chaney, VicksburgJeff Mullins, MeadvilleBill Pigott, Tylertown
E.A. “Pud” Stringer, FoxworthWendell Gavin, LaurelTerry B. Estis, LucedaleTom Daniels, GulfportDott Arthur, CarthageBrad Woods, Columbia
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 this 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.
*FARM BUREAU®, FB® and all Farm Bureau Logos used in thismagazine are registered service marks owned by the AmericanFarm Bureau Federation. They may not be used in anycommercial manner without the prior written consent of theAmerican Farm Bureau Federation.
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 that mightgo undetected in the publication - this includes statements inarticles or advertisements that could lead to erroneous personalor business management decisions.
ABOUT THE COVERClaiborne County farmer Lonnie Fortner says there’s nothing better than
a field of good-looking cotton. He just can’t afford to grow it right now.
Read about changes within the cotton industry, beginning on page 8.
8
22
31
NOVEM B E R / D E C E M B E R M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y 3
FeaturesCHANGES IN AGRICULTURE Come with us as we look at recent changes
within in the cotton, dairy and catfish industries.
We also learn about Mississippi’s farmers
markets and visit a man who is supplementing
his retirement income growing alternative crops.
SOLVE THE MYSTERYThis Copiah County town was once known
as the Tomato Capital of the World.
Read the clues and make your guess.
SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTSMississippi Farm Bureau knows that today’s
youths are tomorrow’s agricultural leaders.
We offer a number of scholarships to students
majoring in ag-related fields of study.
Meet this year’s recipients inside.
Departments2 Member Benefits
4 President’s Message
6 Commodity Update: Beef
7 Commodity Update: Dairy
26 Counselor’s Corner
he focus of our magazine is on
the changing times of agriculture.
This issue looks at some of the
really big changes that have occurred
and that will continue to occur in agricul-
tural production. Agriculture has been a
continuing evolution since the beginning of
time. It is the oldest known profession.
The thing that has been phenomenal in
agriculture is the number of people involved
in agricultural output. Over the last 100
years, we have gone from almost 100%
participation by our population to something
less than 2% of the workforce being
involved in the production of food, fiber
and energy.
Agriculture is such a vital part of our
economy, not to mention how essential it
is in our everyday lives. At least three
times each day, we all participate in
agriculture, whether we realize it or not.
Those three times include the intake of the
different food groups that cause us to
sustain healthy bodies.
In a day, there are many other ways we
participate in agriculture that we seldom
realize. From the early-morning newspaper
that we read to the various correspondences
we use in our daily activity, it is all rooted
in agriculture.
We in Mississippi are very fortunate
to have the utilization of land, water and
timber to sustain the economy through this
downturn that our nation is experiencing.
While Mississippi has experienced rough
economic times, our downturn has not been
nearly as bad as many of our sister states.
This is because of the economic base we
have in Mississippi and our dependence on
agriculture.
Niche Markets
What does the future hold for agriculture?
It holds great opportunity for various
niche markets. Rather than a reduction in
the number of farms, we are seeing an
increasing number of farms in most all
states but especially in Mississippi. The
fact that we are creating local markets for
homegrown produce is vitally important in
sustaining our domestic food supply.
When transportation costs are reduced and
locally-grown produce is made available, we
are finding there is a huge consumer
demand. This is not going to change in the
future. It will only increase. It will provide
great opportunity for the new agriculturist.
sustaiNable eNergy
The future also holds great promise for
sustainable energy. The land-grants have
always been on the cutting edge of
technological development of our resources
to be utilized in agriculture. This will not
change in the future, but we are going to see
a little different focus from what we have
seen traditionally. The emphasis in the future
will be on how we can produce sustainable
energy products at an affordable cost.
We keep hearing about cap and trade
legislation. We talk about the effect it can
have on our spending of food dollars. In
addition, we hear about the impact it can
have on our cost of transportation. All of this
is real if that legislation is passed in its
present form.
It is our challenge to convince those
powers that be that the science behind
the reasoning is not sound. It is all mere
speculation. Let me offer a prime example
of one of the things that is being touted, and
let’s reduce it to the common sense
approach. Take a glass of water and ice,
filled to the brim. The ice melts. The water
does not overflow. This is a common sense
approach to prove that, if the glaciers melt,
this will not have the effect that many
environmental activists tell us it will have
by reducing our land mass because of the
melting of those glaciers.
If we use common sense and reason, we
can do those things that are essential to
protect our environment. However, we
should be very careful how we approach it,
and we should ask those activists to
scientifically support their claims. I hope
Congress will do that as they deliberate
cap and trade.
The ability we have to produce domestic
energy will increase with technological
advances. In addition, we will see
pharmaceutical plants grown that will make
our diet healthier. It will be essential to
maintaining a resistance to some diseases,
such as diabetes, heart-related illness, and
many cancers.
bright Future
Overall, I see a bright future for
agriculture. I also see numerous challenges
in the regulatory field. I hope, as Farm
Bureau members, we will all engage in
trying to inform our regulators and
legislators that we indeed want sound
science to back those regulations and laws
that are passed that possess the possibility
of having a tremendously negative impact
on what we do in agriculture
T
4 M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R
Agriculture’s Future is Bright
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
By David Waide • President, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation
CALENDAR OF EVENTSNov. 5 State Resolutions Meeting
MFBF Building, Jackson
Dec. 5-7 MFBF Annual MeetingHilton Hotel, Jackson
Jan. 10-13 AFBF Annual MeetingSeattle, Washington
Jan. 26 Winter Commodity Conf.Row Crops and AquacultureMFBF Building, Jackson
Jan. 27 Winter Commodity Conf.Livestock and ForestryMFBF Building, Jackson
Feb. 1-3 Member Tour of the CapitalWashington, DC
JOB#: 132481 DATE: 3/10/09 3:12 PM REV: 0 OPERATOR: Judi L/S@133 PDF
M91454 CLIENT: FARM BUREAU LIVE: 7” X 9.5” AD: DeFilippo 3507 PROOFREADING SIGNOFFPRODUCT: 2009 DODGE RAM NOTES: AE: Lyndsay 4855
INITIALS: ______ DATE: _________
CHANGES:DATE: 03/10/09 3:15 PM TITLE: Works Night and Day AC: Miller 4517
GA: DD SPECS: 4/C Magazine PP: GALLAGHER 3650
260_ucr
*Must be a Farm Bureau member for at least 30 days. Contact your local Farm Bureau offi ce for details. †See your dealer for a copy of this Limited Warranty. Farm Bureau is a federally registered collective membership and a registered service mark of the American Farm Bureau Federation and is being used by Dodge under license from the American Farm Bureau Federation. Cummins is a registered trademark of Cummins, Inc.
WORKS NIGHT AND DAY.UH, WE’RE TALKIN’ ABOUT THE TRUCK.$500 CASH ALLOWANCE* ON A NEW DODGE FOR FARM BUREAU® MEMBERS.We all know farming can be hard work, unless you have a Dodge Ram 4500 or 5500 Chassis Cab. With a standard 6.7L Cummins® Turbo Diesel with an integrated exhaust brake and 610 lb-ft of torque and a 5-year/100,000-mile Cummins Limited Engine Warranty,† plus four available cab-to-axle dimensions and a maximum payload/upfi t allowance of up to 11,880 lb, you’ll realize these trucks don’t know the meaning of the word quit. For more information, go to dodge.com/chassis_cab or call 800-4ADODGE.
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$500 CASH ALLOWANCE* ON A NEW DODGE FOR FARM BUREAU® MEMBERS.We all know farming can be hard work, unless you have a Dodge Ram 4500 or 5500 Chassis Cab. With a standard 6.7L Cummins® Turbo Diesel with an integrated exhaust brake and 610 lb-ft of torque and a 5-year/100,000-mile Cummins Limited Engine Warranty,† plus four available cab-to-axle dimensions and a maximum payload/upfi t allowance of up to 11,880 lb, you’ll realize these trucks don’t know the meaning of the word quit. For more information, go to dodge.com/chassis_cab or call 800-4ADODGE.
BEEF
6 M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R
The old saying goes that the first step to recovery is admitting you
have a problem. Objective analysis of today’s livestock sector
requires the ability to tell the difference between a symptom and the
root problem. Let’s take our trusty medical bag and give the beef
industry a checkup.
Beef suffers from a long-term export setback – a 5½-year-old BSE
hangover. Lost export markets have never been fully regained, but
it sure hasn’t been for a lack of trying by this organization and many
others. To be sure, no one is looking at a business that has reduced
cattle numbers since the late 1970s and suggesting that producers
cut herd sizes back. Drought, land-use changes, aging producers,
soaring input prices, and profitability have taken care of that just
fine over the years.
To be sure, the economic slowdown at home has affected beef
demand to a greater degree than pork or poultry. Restaurant demand
at the higher end of the spectrum just plain died. White tablecloth
establishments are key to supporting loin and rib markets for
Prime and upper Choice product. When folks became unsure as to
their future income streams, they curtailed restaurant spending
significantly, beginning almost two full years ago.
According to a tracking survey of its members conducted by the
National Restaurant Association, the outlook improved in July for
the first time in three months. Looking inside their survey numbers
yields this interesting fact: When asked whether they expect higher
or lower sales volume in six months, 31% said higher while 33%
said lower same-store sales. However, when asked about change in
“general economic conditions” in six months, 32% said things
would be better and only 24% said worse.
When 33% believe their sales will be down in six months while
almost the same proportion thinks the economy will actually be
better, it reveals restaurant operators have paid attention to consumer
behavior for the past two-plus years. Even when the “green shoots”
come up, folks are holding onto their nickels and pennies for the
inevitable rainy day. Bad news for restaurateurs remains bad news
for the beef business.
Still, there have been bright spots in the cattle/beef complex.
Black ink has made a dramatic reappearance on many feed yard
closeout statements. Less expensive feed fed to less expensive feeder
steers has gee-hawed nicely with an upward trend in fed cattle
prices. In fact, many feeders actually had opportunities from
mid-June through mid-August to go to the futures and lock-in
prices above expected breakevens for fall closeouts. This is a truly
shocking development considering where we have been for so much
of 2009.
Cow-calf operators are wondering when these few positive
developments are going to start trickling down to their level. Hay
supplies remain tight across most of cow country, and drought has
intensified to record levels across much of Texas. Calf prices remain
below 2008 levels across most of the country, reflecting continued
concerns about beef demand and the inevitable effect of billions of
dollars in lost equity at the feeding level. Our optimism is in short
supply for a fall rally at the auctions, on the video, and in the
country this fall, but we are still set up, supply-wise, for great prices
when (1) our economy and (2) everyone else’s economies improve.
As far as the export market is concerned, we find the spring
doldrums extending over into the summer. Through June (the last
month for which we have government data), beef and beef variety
meats were down only 2% in volume but 6% in value. However, if
you want to know how important the return of the Republic of Korea
to the beef import game has been, consider this: If you take Korea
out of the mix, U.S. beef exports would have been off 8% in volume
and a full 12% in value rather than 2% and 6%, respectively. June
itself was an awful month, beef was down 16%.
We will come back for our yearly checkup and discuss where
inventories actually went, whether we killed too many cows, whose
elections hurt our exports and whose elections helped, and numerous
questions from the markets. What is actually less certain than what the
markets will bring us is what will political change bring?
The Justice Department (DOJ) and USDA jointly announced they
will hold public workshops in early 2010 to address concentration
issues in the agricultural sector. Some of the issues likely to be
discussed are quite familiar to us livestock folks: “market practices
such as price spreads, forward contracts, packer ownership of
livestock before slaughter, market transparency and increasing
retailer concentration.”
A fresh look at market organization, continued debate on health
care and climate change…these are just another few things we have
to pay attention to while we’re trying to make a living raising cattle.
This article was written by Jim Sartwell, III, AFBF Livestock Economist.
Beef Industry CheckupBy: Doug Rogers, MFBF Beef Advisory Committee Chair
Jon Kilgore, MFBF Commodity Coordinator for Beef
Doug Rogers Jon Kilgore
COMMODITY UPDATE
Max Anderson
DAIRYDoug Ervin
COMMODITY UPDATE
N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y 7
The activities of the MFBF Dairy Advisory Committee in 2009
again focused on federal marketing orders, summer forages and
supply management. Farm Bureau is working with surrounding states
throughout the Southeast and in the West to find workable solutions
to our dairy crisis, which entails high input costs, low farm gate
market prices, and less exports of milk.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has put the Dairy
Export Incentive Program (DEIP) into
use after five years of inactivity. This is
a program that subsidizes exports of
milk products in order to move them
outside of our borders. Cooperatives
Working Together (CWT) had a herd
retirement program in July, which
retired 103,000 cows and 1.96 billion
pounds of milk.
Our most recent buyout consisted of
87,000 cows being retired and 1.8
billion pounds of milk. This round,
which is the CWT’s eighth herd
retirement, also removed 3,104 bred
heifers. The 294 farms have been
tentatively accepted. Approximately 73
percent of the farms selected are located
in the East and Midwest, while 70
percent of the cows are from the
Western and Southwestern regions of
the United States.
Our dairy industry is vital to our local
economies throughout the state, with
our infrastructure already beginning to break down. Everyone needs
to realize if nothing is done to save this local, fresh key ingredient, our
overall healthy diet will suffer. Also, the consumers and citizens of
the state of Mississippi will pay more for a gallon of milk at the retail
level due to the increased cost to ship milk in from other states plus
this milk will not be as fresh and wholesome for ourselves and our
children
Working to Help Our Dairy IndustryMax Anderson, MFBF Dairy Advisory Committee Chair
Doug Ervin, MFBF Commodity Coordinator for Dairy
In 2009, the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Dairy Advisory Committeeworked aggressively to aid the dairy industry in Mississippi. Mississippi FarmBureau Federation (MFBF) remained at the forefront of this effort on behalf ofall of our dairy producers.
No Longer Row Crop KingBy Glynda Phillips
Photo
by
Gre
g G
ibso
n
NO V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y 9
Cotton can be an expensive and often difficult crop to grow. But
Clint Tindall and Lonnie Fortner would jump at the chance to grow
it again in large acreage, if only that were economically feasible.
The veteran Mississippi cotton farmers say the current price of
cotton doesn’t make up for the higher cost of producing it. A
recessive economy and high grain prices also make it a less
attractive row crop choice right now.
“Dr. Will McCarty, a former longtime Mississippi State
University cotton specialist, once said that cotton just gets in your
blood,” Fortner said with a smile. “That’s certainly the case with me.
There’s nothing better than a field of good-looking cotton. I just
can’t afford to grow it right now.”
Tindall agrees.
“I’m a cotton farmer through and through, but I have to pay the
bills,” said the Webster County producer. “In recent years, my
father and I made the decision to change our farming operations
from 100 percent cotton to a mix of cotton, corn and soybeans. My
father and I planted a total of 1200 acres of cotton this year com-
pared to 2500 acres two years ago.”
The change from cotton to grains wasn’t easy.
“My father and I decided to diversify our farms during a time
when he was transferring a great deal of the responsibility over to me
and after three years of drought,” Tindall said. “I talked with other
grain producers about how they grow corn and soybeans, but I had
to start from what they were telling me and figure out the best way
to grow those crops in my area of the state.
“Once we got into harvest, I knew nothing about a combine
and had to learn one mistake at a time,” he said. “I also had to learn
how much to put on the hopper bottoms to keep them at the legal
weight limit.
“We still grow some cotton with our grains because we are in the
middle of a five-year drought. It’s difficult to irrigate in our area of
the state, so it’s important to diversify,” he said. “Cotton takes stress
well and comes out looking good.”
Fortner agrees. He and his partners rotate cotton with corn,
peanuts and soybeans on their farm near Hermanville in Claiborne
County. The farmers grew 600 acres of cotton this year compared
to 2200 to 2700 acres two to three years ago. Fortner farms in
partnership with J. O. (Joc) Carpenter and Bob and Emile Guedon.
Fortner and Tindall are among a growing number of farmers from
across the nation who have cut back on cotton acreage in recent
years. In 2009, our nation planted the lowest total cotton acreage
since 1983, approximately 9.054 million acres. State farmers planted
an estimated 284,000 acres of cotton, compared to about 1.2
million acres in 2006.
SMALL - TOWN ECONOMIESAccording to Dr. Steve Martin, Mississippi State University Ag
Economist, Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville, the
lower cotton acreage has hurt cities and small Mississippi towns in
terms of available jobs for laborers, but has not significantly
hurt overall economies because farmers are growing more corn
and soybeans.
“The switch to grain has lessened the economic impact on our
cities and towns,” he said. “But unless things turn around, they will
begin to feel the loss.
“Some gins have closed – Mississippi has about 71 gins now as
compared to 89 in 2006 – but many are just waiting,” he said. “They
are hoping to start back up again soon.”
Despite the current bleak picture, Martin believes that cotton
acreage will eventually come back significantly.
“With the cuts in acreage and as the economy becomes healthier,
we will see better prices,” he said. “I don’t know if we’ll ever get
back to the acreage we planted prior to 2007 because we’ve gotten
into growing grain crops. We won’t have the one-million-plus acres
we saw before, but we will have substantial acreage within the next
five years.
“We did such a good job and had some of the highest yields in the
nation,” he added. “If we can ever get the price back up, we will be
growing cotton here in Mississippi again.” (Cont’d on page 10)
“Dr. Will McCarty, a former longtime Mississippi State University cotton
specialist, once said that cotton just gets in your blood,” Fortner said with
a smile. “That’s certainly the case with me. There’s nothing better than a
field of good-looking cotton. I just can’t afford to grow it right now.”
DIVERSIFICATION KEY“I can see myself planting more cotton,” Tindall
said. “The population is growing, and we have to
feed and clothe ourselves. Plus, I believe that the
economy will turn around in time. Grain prices may
have plateaued, so it may start looking better to
grow more cotton.”
Fortner agrees that cotton will come back … sort
of.
“I believe cotton will come back in large acreage
in short spurts,” he said. “But the price of cotton is
dictated by where the mills are, and the mills are no
longer here. They are in foreign countries like China
and India. I might be a little pessimistic, but I think
the days of big cotton acreage are gone.”
“Diversification has now become important in
Mississippi,” he said. “It’s what has saved us in
recent years, and I don’t see farmers changing too
much in the future.”
1 0 M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R
FC
Soybeans have taken cotton’s place as Mississippi’s number one row crop with approximately 2.2 million acres in 2009. Corn acreage totaled about
800,000 acres. Peanuts are being added to a growing number of diversified farms. Total acreage this year is about 21,000 acres. Pictured on this page
in a cotton field are MFBF Cotton Advisory Committee Chair Clint Tindall and his wife Kristy, their son, Connor, 5; daughter, Emma, 4; son,
Baylor, 3 months; and Clint’s parents, Butch and Sharon. Also on this page is MFBF Peanut Advisory Committee Vice Chair Lonnie Fortner holding
peanuts. On page 8, Lonnie is pictured with soybeans and Butch is shown with corn.
NO V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y 1 1
iversity has proven to be
an important key to the
continued success of KBH
Corporation of Clarksdale,
especially during times of significant agricul-
tural change.
In its early years, this family-owned company
made a name for itself selling fertilizer and
cotton equipment exclusively. But modifications
in cotton pickers, along with a sharp downturn
in cotton acreage and an equally sharp upturn in
soybean and corn production in recent years, led
this longtime cotton agribusiness to begin to also
manufacture and sell grain equipment, not only
in Mississippi but throughout the U.S., from
coast to coast.
“Our business grew up around cotton. All we
handled for many years was cotton and fertilizer
equipment,” said Buddy Bass, President of KBH
Corporation. “Through the 1990s, we were
feeling very proud of our popular cotton module
builder and cotton cart when cotton pickers suddenly began being
built with on-board module builders. At that point, we realized that
we were too dependent on one crop. We knew that we would need
to diversify.”
When farmers began growing corn in large acreage in the
early-1990s, KBH added dry fertilizer handling equipment to its
product line. In 2002-2003, when soybean acreage increased
substantially, the company saw bulk seed handling and treatment of
seed becoming prominent.
“We were already manufacturing hoppers and using related
components so we realized that it was a natural to manufacture bulk
seed tendering equipment,” said Tim Tenhet, Director of Marketing,
KBH Corporation. “Farmers and fertilizer, seed and chemical
dealers were already our market, and this served to further diversify
our product line.”
SOME HISTORYKBH started out in 1951 selling anhydrous ammonia applicators.
At that time, it was owned by Buddy’s grandfather, B. Bass, and
two other businessmen, Doc Kirby and Duff Holcomb. A year or
two later, Kirby and Holcomb sold out of the business and Bass
took control.
In the 1960s, Bass’s son Hamp, a Delta row crop farmer, began
working at KBH, and the company started manufacturing cotton
trailers. By the early 1970s, Hamp was running the company and
was manufacturing the Roundup Wick Bar, a friction applicator to
rid fields of Johnson grass.
During those years of serving the cotton industry with
increasingly innovative equipment, KBH expanded its market to
serve farmers across the nation. In the mid-1980s, the company
began manufacturing liquid fertilizer application equipment, and
in the late 80s, KBH added a module builder and cotton cart to its
product line.
“By the mid-90s, we were adding equipment lines and searching
for niche markets, and cotton acreage was booming in the Mid
South,” Buddy said. “Our company was hitting one of the many
peaks it has experienced through the years when modifications to
cotton pickers caused us to stop and think hard about what we
were doing.”
“We always assumed that the new module devices on cotton
pickers would result in the decline of our cotton equipment
business,” Tim said. “But one of the keys to our long- term success
has been flexibility and adaptability, and our new Hopper Bottom
Grain Trailer is a great example of this. Future changes in the
U. S. ag industry are certain, and we must see these challenges
as opportunities.”
DIVERSIFICATION IS KEY“The perfect farm is the one that’s diversified,” Buddy said.
“Whereas, 15 years ago, the perfect Delta farm would have been
100 percent cotton, today that perfect farm is split equally between
corn, cotton and soybeans.
“That’s the way we are at KBH Corporation. We’re as diversified
as we’ve ever been,” he said. “We’re set up for just about anything
as long as farmers are farming. That sounds easy, but it is not
a given.”
By Glynda Phillips
DDiversity is Key for KBH
From left, Buddy Bass, President, Lonnie Williams, Distribution Manager, and Tim Tenhet,
Director of Marketing, KBH Corporation of Clarksdale
By Glynda Phillips
1 2 M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R
eteran farmer John Abney of Rolling
Fork never thought he’d one day
consider getting out of the farm-raised
catfish business. But in recent years,
that seems to be exactly where he’s
headed. A couple of years ago, Abney
began draining his ponds– not because
he doesn’t enjoy raising catfish and not
because he doesn’t take great pride in
the industry. He simply can’t make a
living growing catfish anymore.
“Back in the late 1970s, we were
receiving around 55 to 65 cents a
pound for our fish, and that was a
good price,” Abney said. “Now, we are
getting 80 cents a pound, and that
won’t cover our cost of growing
them anymore.
“The cost of feed, fuel, utilities and
all other inputs keeps going up,” he
explained. “Before, we could manage
the higher input costs. Now, we can’t
recoup what we’ve put into our fish
because of these higher costs and
because of competition from cheaper
fish. We invest a lot of time and effort
into this process, and we still can’t
make any money. It’s reached the point
where it’s just not satisfying anymore.”
At the industry’s peak in 2001,
Mississippi boasted about 116,000
water acres of catfish ponds, primarily
in Humphreys and Sunflower counties.
Now, that number has fallen to about
70,000 water acres.
SUPER EFFICIENTAbney says Carter Brothers Farms
grows about 6400 acres of row crops
and, at present, about 360 water acres
of farm-raised catfish each year.
“At our largest, we had 820 water
acres of fish,” Abney said, standing on
the levy of one of his drained ponds.
“Now, we have drained about 56
percent of what we once farmed.
“We’re trying to decide what we will
do with the empty ponds. We keep
going back and forth between row
crops and the Conservation Reserve
V
Program,” he said. “We’ve planted soybeans on some of the land
that was former catfish ponds, and the beans have done really well.
It is very fertile land. But we may decide to convert some of the
drained ponds to CRP, also.”
In the 1990s, the U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish Industry experienced
dramatic growth. But by the early 2000s, overproduction, coupled
with competition from cheaper fish like tilapia and imported
catfish-like fish such as basa, ushered in a time of downturn and
change. Higher input costs and a recessive economy in more recent
years have also hurt the industry.
Abney says that Carter Brothers Farms has been able to survive
these changes by being diversified and by becoming super efficient.
“I’ve cut the stocking rate (number of catfish per acre) in our
ponds down real low so that I haven’t needed to buy fingerlings for
three years,” he said. “I haven’t purchased any equipment because
of the surplus from the drained ponds, and we haven’t spent a lot of
money keeping up the levy roads.
“I believe that all of the farmers who are still in the business are
super efficient managers. Their desire is to stay in the fish business
as long as they can,” he added.
THE FUTUREIf Carter Brothers Farms drains all of its catfish ponds, Abney
will farm row crops. Row crop production is managed by his
brother-in-law, Clark Carter, and his cousin, Gip Carter. His
father-in-law, Jimmy Dick Carter, and Jimmy Dick’s brother,
Lawrence, founded Carter Brothers Farms in the early 1940s.
They are semi-retired now and not active in the day-to-day
decision-making process.
“I hope we can hang onto what’s left of our ponds,” Abney said.
“We have enough fish to stock the remaining ponds for one
more year, and I have a very good work force.
“I truly believe that there will always be a market for farm-raised
catfish,” he added. “It’s a delicious, healthy product that is grown
in clean freshwater ponds and fed a high-quality protein feed. I
hope there will always be farmers growing farm-raised catfish
because I believe there will always be people wanting to buy it.”
According to experts at the Thad Cochran National Warmwater
Aquaculture Center in Stoneville, our nation’s growing population
plus the growing demand for healthy food and the depletion of fish
from the sea, have people looking to farm-raised fish to fill that need.
“The farm-raised catfish industry is still by far the largest
aquaculture industry in the U.S. – twice as big as trout,” said Dr.
Craig Tucker, Director of the Thad Cochran National Warmwater
Aquaculture Center. “Farm-raised catfish is important to the
agricultural industry across the Southeast and ranks fifth in
Mississippi in importance.
“The industry has experienced a significant downturn, but it is
still a very important part of the economy,” he said. “Because of
the processing facilities still in operation and because the industry
needs seining equipment and fingerlings, farm-raised catfish is still
an important part of the employment picture.”
“We don’t know what the future holds for our farm-raised catfish
industry, but in the short-term, I think we will continue to see
reductions in acreage and fewer farms devoted solely to catfish
production,” said Dr. Jimmy Avery, Extension Aquaculture Leader,
Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center. “It’s just an
economic reality that those farmers who want to continue to grow
catfish will need to diversify. For example, some farmers are
growing row crops along with their catfish ponds and some are
leasing their ponds for duck and dove hunting.
“As water acreage declines, the amount of catfish available to
processors will become tight and prices will rise,” he said. “If the
American consumer wants to continue to have access to this
product, he or she will pay a higher price for it at the retail level.
“On the positive side, I think we have some opportunities, if we
can reduce the pressure from cheap imports and receive true market
value for our fish.”
A GOOD LIFE Abney appreciates the help the U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish
Industry receives from experts at Stoneville, the Catfish Institute,
the Catfish Farmers of Mississippi, the Catfish Farmers of America
and the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation. Furthermore, he
believes that the Country of Origin Labeling law – and getting
the law enforced into all areas of sales, from the wholesale to the
retail level – should help to educate consumers about where the fish
they are purchasing was grown.
“I enjoy growing catfish and contributing a healthy product
to the marketplace,” Abney said. “I hope that things turn around for
the industry, but whatever might happen, this has been a very
satisfying life.”
NO V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y 1 3
FC
CHALLENGING TIMES FOR
CATFISH
By Glynda Phillips
NO V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y 1 5
Billy Ray Brown became a dairyman this summer. At
a time when our nation is losing its dairies, Billy Ray
has settled in for the long haul. He says he can make
money dairying or else he’d be doing something else
with his time and money. So what’s his secret?
Billy Ray isn’t a commercial dairyman with hundreds
of cows that produce thousands of gallons of milk each
year marketed either independently or through a large
dairy cooperative. No, Billy Ray owns only six Jersey
cows that produce a total of 30 gallons of milk a day
that’s marketed primarily through area farmers markets.
“We target farmers markets and sell off our
farm,” he said. “In doing so, we cut out the processor
and the grocery store. We control our market and
get a good price for our product. Plus, we are
reminiscent of the good old days, and that appeals to
today’s consumers.”
The Oxford beef cattle and hay farmer, who also owns
a small fence company, milks his cows twice a day
then pasteurizes and bottles the milk in ½-gallon and
1-gallon glass containers. He sells his products through
local farmers markets, to mom and pop grocery stores,
and out of a cooler on his farm. He also sells to three
area restaurants.
“I got the idea for this from noticing the number of
supermarkets that are selling organic milk,” he said.
“The dairy manager at one of the larger stores said he’d
never seen a niche market grow like the organic milk
market has grown in recent years.
“I was also hearing that local farmers markets
were clamoring for farm fresh milk,” he added. “My
milk is not organic, but it is pasteurized and sold right
off the farm. I thought that was one niche market I
could fill.” (Cont’d on page 16)
Billy Ray serves on the Lafayette County Farm Bureau Board of Directors. He is the son of critically-acclaimed
Mississippi writer, the late Larry Brown, who wrote a book of essays dedicated to him entitled “Billy Ray’s Farm.”
“We are amazed at how many of our customers want to form relationships
with us. They want to know the people who grow their food,” he said
A Niche Market
GETTING STARTEDIn getting started, Billy Ray did his homework and worked closely
with experts at Mississippi State University. He also bought his
Jersey cows from veteran dairyman Bradley Taylor of Prentiss
County, who has been featured in a past issue of our magazine.
Billy Ray says it took him a year and a half to build his dairy and
processing facility because he worked on it a little at a time, as he
was able to save up money.
“I looked at a bunch of older dairies built in the 60s and started
out with a flat barn,” he said. “But then I found a double-four
herringbone parlor in Pontotoc County and was able to fit one side
of it inside the flat barn.
“I bought a used 300-gallon milk tank in Union County, and I
bought a brand new pasteurizer,” he said. “I hired a company in
Canada to design the glass milk bottles. We sanitize the bottles and
use them over and over. Our customers swap out bottles and pay for
just the milk. Or if they forget to return their bottles, they pay for
new bottles in addition to the milk.”
FAMILY FARMThe Brown dairy is a true family farming operation. Billy Ray’s
wife Paula and his mother Mary Annie take turns milking if Billy
Ray has business elsewhere. His mother and mother-in-law, Martha
Klepzig, sell milk at the Oxford Farmers Market, while Billy Ray,
his wife and three kids, Molly, 7, Sarah, 5, and Harris, 2, sell at a
farmers market in Taylor.
“We are amazed at how many of our customers want to form
relationships with us. They want to know the people who grow their
food,” he said. “I’ve invited several of them to visit our farm, and
people come out almost daily with their kids. They want their
children to know where their milk comes from, and I want people to
see that my dairy is very clean and efficient.
“We have customers who want us to start a delivery route, and we
might do that sometime in the future,” he added. “But right now,
we’re still growing and figuring out what we want to do next.
“I love farming,” he concluded. “Filling this niche market is very
satisfying and helps me diversify my operation.” FC
Brown Family Dairy
1 6 M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R
Billy Ray and Paula Brown are shown in front of their
dairy barn and processing facility with their children
Molly, 7, Sarah, 5 and Harris, 2
NO V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y 1 7
Mississippi’s dairy numbers continue to decline. Over the past
decade, several hundred dairies have closed, and more dairy
producers are expected to exit the industry in the near future as profit
margins continue to erode. Down from approximately 350 dairies in
1999, the state can now only claim about 149 Grade A dairy farms, as
recorded in December 2008. Mississippi State University Extension
Dairy Specialist Lamar Adams says this downturn is reflected not
only here in Mississippi but throughout the Southeast and across the
nation as a whole. It is due, he says, to pure economics.
“Milk prices have fluctuated wildly in the last 20 years,” he said.
“They tend to fall much more quickly than they rise, and it’s hard to
plan for the future. In 2007-2008, we had record high milk prices
but also record high input costs. Dairy farmers enjoyed the high
prices, but milk was more costly to produce so producers didn’t have
much net gain.”
The recession has also hurt.
“There’s not as much demand for milk products, and the bottom
has fallen out of milk prices,” Adams said.
Hurricane Katrina dealt a
devastating blow to dairy
producers in our state’s southern
counties in 2005. Many dairies
immediately shut down, while
others sustained serious damage.
An aging population of
dairymen has only complicated
matters here in Mississippi.
“Among the 140 or so dairy
producers operating in Mississippi today, the average age is
probably in the late 50s to mid-60s,” Lamar said. “There are some
older dairy farmers but not many younger farmers.
“It is a tough financial crisis we are experiencing now and few
dairy producers have children or grandchildren who want to take
over,” he said. “Some dairy farmers who have been in the business
for 40 to 50 years say they’ve never experienced a crisis of this
magnitude before.
“Our dairy farmers are averaging a loss of $3 to $7 per cow per
day,” he said. “They can’t do that for very long without dipping into
and eventually depleting their savings. It is time to be establishing
cool season annual grasses and small grains for winter grazing, but
many dairy producers find themselves short of funds to plant. Many
farmers are short on operating capital and are having difficulty in
securing loans. If something doesn’t change in the next few months,
several more dairymen will be forced to cut their losses and sell out
of business.
“If more jobs were available, more dairy farmers would be out
today,” he added. “The availability of health insurance is a crucial
issue. Most dairy producers are members of a cooperative, which
offers health insurance to members. Many producers have legitimate
concerns about being able to secure affordable insurance coverage
if they exit the dairy business.”
As Mississippi and the Southeast lose their local milk supply,
more milk will be transported cross-country to processing facilities
in our area. This will increase the cost of milk to the consumer, and
consumers will also probably notice a loss of freshness and reduced
shelf life of milk and other dairy products.
“We need to do everything we possibly can to maintain our dairy
industry to provide consumers high-quality, locally-produced
dairy products,” Adams said. “One way of doing this is through
producers placing greater emphasis on intensively managing their
pastures and forage crops to support more cost-efficient milk
production. This type of idea is fueled by the high cost of grain.
“Mississippi dairy farmers know how to grow grass, and they
know how to manage cows to produce milk on grass,” he said. “We
may see more dairy farms being established in our state as interest
increases among investors from countries like New Zealand, where
dairy farmers effectively utilize intensively-managed pastures. In
fact, several investors have expressed genuine interest in developing
pasture-based dairy farms in Mississippi – to be operated similarly
to New Zealand grazing dairies.
“And that brings up another
issue. Several states have tax
incentives and other lucrative
benefits designed to recruit
dairy producers from other areas
to relocate there,” he said.
“Mississippi doesn’t have that
yet.”
As a result of efforts by Farm
Bureau, Dairy Farmers of America, National Milk Producers
Federation and other ag groups to seek immediate financial
assistance on the federal level for dairy farmers, USDA Secretary
Tom Vilsak announced relief in July by raising the price of milk
through the Dairy Product Price Support Program.
“Unfortunately, this might be too little too late for many producers,”
Adams said. “Dairy farmers are also discussing the possibility of
initiating a national milk supply management (milk quota) system.
“Dairy farmers have debated and discussed this issue for years
without finding much common ground upon which to build,” he
added. “If some sort of national supply management program is
established, milk marketed by a producer during a specified time
period will be established as his initial production base. He will be
paid full market price for milk produced up to his established base
level, with the pay price for milk production over his base being
significantly discounted.”
“Such a system should provide more stability in milk prices in
future years by discouraging huge herd expansion when prices return
to more profitable levels,” he said. “But trying to get this type of
system established and administered through USDA and trying to
get a consensus on this among producers throughout the nation is a
challenge. Then dairy producers and the industry have to get it
approved in Congress, and that is another major task.”
By Glynda Phillips
“We need to do everything we possiblycan to maintain our dairy industryto provide consumers high-quality,locally-produced dairy products”
1 8 M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R
ack in the good old days, farmers
markets (or fruit stands as they were
often called) were a common sight
along Mississippi’s rural highways
and country roads. Then suddenly,
they disappeared.
In recent years, the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and
Commerce (MDAC) has begun working with rural communities
and farmers to increase the number of farmers markets across our
state. MDAC believes that farmers markets benefit everyone.
“Farmers markets are a great opportunity for farmers, both
large and small, to sell at retail prices instead of wholesale,”
said Andy Prosser, Director of Public Relations and Market
Development, Mississippi Department of Agriculture and
Commerce. “This helps their bottom line because there’s no
middleman that they have to pay.
“Farmers markets also appeal to consumers because of the
public’s demand for safe and healthy food and their desire to
know where their food is grown,” he added. “People want that
connection. They want to trust the growers of their food.
“Finally, farmers markets help the economies of our rural
communities by serving as an added attraction in our cities and
small towns.”
GROWINGThe number of farmers markets in Mississippi has grown
from around 35-38 in 2002 to around 55-57 in 2009. More
Mississippi farmers have increased their operations to provide
for these markets.
“Our farmers markets sell all kinds of products, from produce
to farm-raised eggs to pastured poultry and grass-fed beef,”
Prosser said. “We are also selling value-added products like
jams and jellies, pies and cakes.
“Farmers are seeing that they can make a good profit through
a local farmers market,” he added. “Some are also doing well
with U-pick operations and by selling to restaurants.
“We have local restaurants come down to the Mississippi
Farmers Market in Jackson and fill orders with our farmers
there,” he said, “They know that their customers are willing to
pay more for products grown locally by people they trust.”
BPhoto courtesy of MSU Ag Communications
WORKSHOPSThree years ago, MDAC, in cooperation with the
Mississippi State University Extension Service, began
conducting grower workshops across the state. These
workshops specifically address fruit and vegetable
production (including crops for different growing
seasons, including fall crops); selling to farmers
markets; and marketing and public relations.
“Thus far, we’ve held 15 workshops with
approximately 800 attendees,” Prosser said. “There
is a demand for this. Farmers see that they can
make a good profit if they know how to market
themselves.
“Because of these workshops, we are seeing growers
extend the growing seasons for various crops, and we
are seeing them try different crops and varieties,” he
added. “They are also using marketing techniques
they’ve never used before.”
MISSISSIPPI INITIATIVEMDAC is in the second year of offering a Certified
Farmers Market Program. This marketing initiative
recognizes Mississippi farmers markets that have at least
two Mississippi growers or more and sell at least 50
percent Mississippi-grown or made products.
This year, 17 farmers markets were certified through
the program. Certified markets are eligible to receive
funds for marketing and promotion that they can spend
at their discretion. They are also recognized in the
Mississippi Market Bulletin newspaper.
“We inspect every farmers market to certify that they
meet the requirements of the Certified Farmers Market
Program, and we stay in contact with their market
managers on a regular basis,” Prosser said.
For more information about Mississippi farmers
markets, contact Prosser at 601.359.1158 or
By Glynda Phillips
FC
Photos of Hitching Lot Farmers Market, Columbus, courtesy of Columbus Main Street & MDAC.
dwin Harris has a plan. Alternative agricultural crops, like shiitake mushrooms, organic
vegetables and Boer goats, will provide him with an additional source of retirement
income both now and in the years to come.
The 72-year-old former New Orleans resident, who lives and farms on family land east of Lorman, has been growing shiitake
mushrooms for three years. He successfully markets the mushrooms to restaurants in New Orleans, Natchez and Port Gibson,
and he also sells through a farmers market in New Orleans.
“I met a guy 20 years ago in Florida who was making a good living growing button mushrooms,” Edwin said. “I kept that idea
in the back of my mind until my circumstances allowed me to grow mushrooms on my own farm.”
MUSHROOM PRODUCTIONEdwin has been assisted in his alternative agricultural pursuits by Alcorn State University’s (ASU) Small Farms Development
Center.
“Ricky Johnson and Joe Buzhardt (retired ASU Specialty Mushroom Program Director) have helped me a lot with this,” he
said. “I started using blocks of wood to grow my mushrooms after Joe came out and visited my farm. He saw that I was trying
to grow them the hard way…on logs. Joe introduced me to experts at Alcorn State University, and I began to get better
information and support.”
Edwin soon joined the Mississippi Natural Products cooperative, a group of professional, dedicated shiitake mushroom
farmers with a central facility for processing and distribution in New Hebron. From the co-op, he obtains sterilized substrate
blocks of hardwood sawdust enriched with nutrients and inoculated with shiitake mushroom spawn.
Mississippi Natural Products was formed seven years ago and now has 19 members. Grower members sell their mushrooms
back to the co-op or through farmers markets and restaurants where they have cultivated their own markets. You will find
Mississippi Natural Products mushrooms in some larger supermarkets and numerous high-end restaurants.
“I water and care for the wood, and when the mushrooms are the right size, I pick them, bag them, and they are ready to eat,”
he said. “You don’t need to wash them or anything. It is a very clean process.”
Edwin is at his lowest level of production right now because he’s been helping to care for his brother, who is terminally ill.
2 0 M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R
Growing Alternative Crops
By Glynda PhillipsE
But he’s in the process of constructing two buildings that will be
devoted exclusively to growing mushrooms. He plans to eventually
grow 1,000 blocks of shiitake mushrooms a year. He says you can get
six to seven crops out of each block of wood, and he will use the wood
until everything is grown out of them. That translates into quite a few
pounds of mushrooms.
“The market is there,” he said with confidence.
OTHER CROPSEdwin is also in the process of learning how to grow Boer goats and
organic vegetables.
“I’ve had a number of siblings die from heart disease so I am
dedicated to healthy food and healthy eating,” he said.
Through ASU, meat goat farmers in South Mississippi have formed
a cooperative called Southwest Mississippi Meat Goat Producers.
Edwin has networked with cooperative members and plans to provide
Boer goats for processing.
He is also attempting to learn how to grow organic vegetables. He
had a good crop this past year, but experienced problems with deer
eating his plants. He’s learning how to keep the deer out of his garden
and is looking forward to growing 3 ½ acres of organic vegetables in
the coming year.
“It looks like my retirement plan is going to work,” he said with
a smile.
MORE INFORMATIONFor more information about growing shiitake mushrooms, organic
vegetables and Boer goats, contact the Alcorn State University Small
Farms Development Center at 601.877.6449 or write them at Alcorn State
University, 1000 ASU Drive #1080, Alcorn State, Mississippi 39096.
For more information about the Mississippi Natural Products
cooperative, a participant in the “Make Mine Mississippi” program,
visit their Web site at www.NaturalMushrooms.com. You may also call
them at 601.694.2893 or email them at [email protected].
FC
2 2 M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R
Which Copiah County town is known for the
popular Tomato Festival held there each June?
Read the clues and make your guess.
Agriculture played an important role in the
development of this town. Farmers grew cotton
then switched to produce in the 19th century. In
1879, the first load of tomatoes was shipped out
by rail, and the town eventually became known as
the Tomatopolis or Tomato Capital of the World.
Cabbage was also grown and shipped in large
quantity.
Name this town. Here are more clues.
SOME HISTORYThis town was founded in 1820 by Rev. Elisha
Lott, an itinerant Methodist minister. Rev. Lott
gave the town its name after discovering cool,
crystal-clear springs in the area.
The railroad came through in 1858, and the town
began to prosper. Because it is the highest point
between Memphis and New Orleans, this town
became an important train stop. Lake Chautauqua
was built by the railroad as a source of water to fuel
steam engines.
In the late 1800s, this town became a premier
location for shipping out vegetables. Around the
turn of the 20th century, along the railroad tracks,
you could see packing sheds for tomatoes, cabbage
and other vegetables. After World War II, the truck-
ing industry grew and produce farming declined.
This caused an abrupt drop in produce shipping.
Most of the sheds are gone now, but one former
shed remains and is home to Kitchens Law Firm.
NAME THIS TOWNToday, this town boasts some 5,000 residents
and many busy downtown shops. It is a popular
bedroom community to Jackson, and several local
industries provide employment opportunities.
Some of the industries include Kuhlman Electric,
which makes transformers that are shipped all over
the nation; Georgia Gulf in Gallman, which makes
plastic pellets that are also shipped around the
nation; and Sanderson Farms in Hazlehurst, which
boasts a large hatchery and processing facility.
The Mississippi State University Truck Crops
Experiment Station is located in this town.
This town has access to great fishing, hunting
and other outdoor recreational opportunities. It is
also the home of historic Chautauqua Park, a
74-acre site with wooded rolling hills, flowing
springs and a 35-acre lake.
Chautauqua Park was established in 1872 as a
SOLVE THE MYSTERY
Methodist religious retreat. In 1892, a Chautauqua Assembly was
incorporated, and the grounds were renamed Chautauqua Park.
Chautauqua is an Indian word that means “a boy leading the blind.”
The Chautauqua Assembly remained active until 1917. During
those years, noteworthy scholars, evangelists and actors of the
period visited our mystery town. In 1909, delegates from five cities
convened at the site of the park’s present amphitheater to form the first
Mississippi Conference of Parents and Teachers Association (PTA).
In addition to a lake, Chautauqua Park boasts a Treetop Trail that
takes hikers through an arboretum. It also has an Oriental Garden, a
Memorial Garden, and the Tomato Museum.
The Tomato Museum was established so that the history of
the area would not be lost. On display are antique farm equipment
and other items that have been handed down from generation to
generation. The museum also exhibits photos and other historical
memorabilia related to our mystery town and its history, the park,
area agriculture and the railroad.
Each year, people from all over the world visit Chautauqua
Park and our mystery town. Name this town.
CORRECT GUESSESMail guesses to Solve the Mystery, Mississippi Farm
Country, P. O. Box 1972, Jackson, MS 39215. You may also
e-mail your guesses to [email protected].
Please remember to include your name and address on the entry.
Visit our Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Web site at
www.msfb.com.
When all correct guesses have been received, we will randomly
draw 20 names. These 20 names will receive a prize and will be
placed in the hat twice.
At the end of the year, a winner will be drawn from all correct
submissions. The winner will receive a Weekend Bed and Breakfast
Trip, courtesy of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation.
Families may submit only one entry. Federation staff members
and their families are ineligible to participate in this contest.
The deadline for submitting your entry is November 30.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBERThe correct answer for the September/October solve the Mystery
is Woodville.
Left page: Classes are still held in the historic high school
building. Tomato artifacts are on display at the Tomato
Museum. Below, Wisteria Inn Bed and Breakfast.
NO V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y 2 3
2 4 M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R
BOARD TOURS CENTRAL MS RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTERThe Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors and their spouses toured the facilities of the Central Mississippi Research and
Extension Center (CMREC) as part of their August board meeting. CMREC, located in Raymond, provides oversight to a staff of state
specialists from the Mississippi State University Extension Service and Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station (MAFES).
Tour participants visited the Brown Loam Branch Experiment Station in Raymond, which specializes in improving beef and forage
systems and also studies cotton, soybean, corn, wheat, oats and conservation management, and the Truck Crops Branch Experiment
Station in Crystal Springs, which serves an urban-rural area with research on both commercial and home garden fruit and vegetable crops.
The Coastal Plain Branch Experiment Station near Newton, also a part of CMREC, performs forage variety tests and small-game production
studies. CMREC serves these counties: Adams, Amite, Claiborne, Copiah, Franklin, Hinds, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lincoln, Leake,
Madison, Pike, Rankin, Scott, Simpson, Smith, Walthall, Warren, Wilkinson and Yazoo.
A special thanks to Dr. Dwayne Wheeler, head of CMREC, to his staff, and to MAFES Associate Director Dr. Reuben Moore.
HHeerrbb--SSeeaassoonneedd RRiibb RRooaasstt wwiitthhRReedd WWiinnee PPaann SSaauuccee
SSeeaassoonniinngg::2 T. steak seasoning blend2 t. dried oregano leaves2 t. dried thyme leaves
RReedd WWiinnee PPaann SSaauuccee::1⁄2 cup finely chopped red onion3⁄4 cup dry red wine1 can (13-3/4 to 14-1/2 ounces) ready-to-serve beef broth
2 T. unsalted butter, softened2 T. all-purpose flour
IInnssttrruuccttiioonn::1. Heat oven to 350°F. Combine seasoning ingredients; press evenly
onto all surfaces of beef roast.2. Place roast, fat side up, in shallow roasting pan. Insert ovenproof
meat thermometer so tip is centered in thickest part of beef, not resting in fat or touching bone. Do not add water or cover. Roast in 350°F oven 1-3/4 to 2-1/4 hours for medium rare; 2-1/4 to 2-3/4 hours for medium doneness.
3. Remove roast when meat thermometer registers 135°F for medium rare; 150°F for medium. Transfer roast to carving board; tent loosely with aluminum foil. Let stand 15 to 20 minutes. (Temperature will coninue to rise about 10°F to reach 145°F for medium rare; 160°F for medium.)
4. Meanwhile prepare Red Wine Pan Sauce. Skim fat from pan drippings, reserving 1 tablespoon. Heat reserved 1 tablespoon fat in 3-quart saucepan over medium heat until hot. Add onion; cook and stir 1 to 2 minutes or until tender. Meanwhile place roasting pan over medium heat; add wine. Cook and stir 1 to 2 minutes or until browned bits attached to pan are dissolved. Add wine mixture and broth to onion in saucepan; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook 12 to 13 minutes or until reduced by about 1/3 (about 1-1/3 cups). Reduce heat to low. Combine butter and flour in small bowl until smooth. Whisk into wine sauce; cook and stir 1 minute or until sauce is thickened.
5. Carve roast into slices; season with salt, as desired. Serve with wine sauce.
Total recipe time: 2-1/4 to 3-1/4 hours - Makes 6 to 8 servings
For more recipes go to: www.BeefitsWhatsForDinner.comFor more recipes go to: www.BeefitsWhatsForDinner.com
EEnnjjooyy AA HHoolliiddaayy CCllaassssiicc
Mississippi Beef Council(601) 353-4520Brought to you by
Mississippi beef producers through The BeefCheckoff
2 6 M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R
COUNSELOR’S CORNER
RIGHTS AND FREEDOMSam E. Scott, MFBF General Counsel
In the present, emotionally-charged
debates over expanded or universal
healthcare, there is the controversial
question of whether Americans have a
right to healthcare. This is, of course, an
entirely different question from the
affordability of such expanded coverage or
whether the government is capable of
administering such a program or even
should attempt to do so.
Whether there is a right of citizens to
adequate (which one assumes means
competent and affordable) medical care, yet
there seems to be little disagreement that
healthcare has become unaffordable nor
much about whether it is competent as
compared to countries such as Great Britain
or Canada, which have what is called
socialized medicine. Quality is not a big
issue, but the cost of it is.
The question of whether there is a right
to healthcare is seemingly a moral and,
perhaps, a legal question, rather than
an economic issue. That this is a free
country is a bedrock principle of American
life. Even before our government was
established, the Declaration of Independ-
ence, the core document of our democratic
government, declared:
We hold these truths to be self
evident, that all men are created
equal, that they are endowed
by their Creator with certain
unalienable rights, that among
these are life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness.
It is significant that happiness was not
deemed an unalienable right, only the
pursuit of happiness – the opportunity to
seek it. By June 21, 1789, the required
nine of 13 states had ratified the new
Constitution, but not without controversy
and not until the first 10 amendments,
known as the Bill of Rights, were enacted in
1791 did all states ratify it.
These amendments spelled out basic
rights, including religion, speech, the
press, to assemble, bear arms, be safe from
unreasonable searches and seizures, not
be deprived of life or liberty without due
process of law, nor have property confiscated
without just compensation, to a speedy trial
by jury in criminal matters and confronting
witnesses, and many more so well known
but still subject of much litigation.
It is interesting to note that all of these
fundamental rights are free and available
to all American citizens except some
convicted felons. They were expanded by
later constitutional amendments adopted
after the Civil War and in the early 20th
century. Interestingly, none of these rights
had to be purchased or were even available
for purchase.
Often mentioned in the ongoing furor
are Medicare, Medicaid and even Social
Security. I am familiar with the first and last,
and like others, I became eligible after
decades of deductions from paychecks.
Medicaid is different. It is a government
healthcare subsidy for people who qualify
by being relatively poor, and is perhaps
comparable to welfare, rent subsidies and
food stamps, which help supply food and
shelter but are generally considered to be a
form of charity, not entitlement, the same as
not being turned away from a hospital
emergency room regardless of ability to
pay. Healthcare as an entitlement is a
recent issue.
If there is a right to healthcare, is it
“unalienable,” is it free and should we
compel healthcare givers to provide it to
everyone? Government does set the rate of
payment for Medicare and Medicaid, but
healthcare providers are free to refuse to
treat patients who pay for their care with
these programs.
Should government force insurers to
cover people they deem uninsurable? If so,
do they pass that cost on to their other
insureds? Are healthcare providers free
to determine what they charge for their
services as do providers of shelter, food
and gasoline?
No matter how one feels about whether
this is a right or a privilege, the reality is that
healthcare costs are not affordable to most
citizens without some kind of insurance or
subsidy, and unless significant changes are
made, that will only get worse than the
present 17% of our economy it costs.
It seems wrong for medical care to
consume a life savings, but on the other
hand, who would turn away a sick child
whose parents cannot pay? Also, is it fair to
charge a person who does not have health
insurance more for the same services than
someone who does have it?
There is no quick or easy solution.
Politics and emotion make answers more
elusive and are natural enemies of logic,
which seems to be on holiday.
Sam E. Scott is general counsel for Mississippi
Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) and practices
law in the law firm of Samuel E. Scott, PLLC, in
Jackson. The foregoing information is general in
nature and is not intended as nor should be
considered specific legal advice, nor to be
considered as MFBF’s position or opinion.
We hold these truths to beself evident, that all men arecreated equal, that they areendowed by their Creator withcertain unalienable rights, thatamong these are life, libertyand the pursuit of happiness.
Call toll-free 1-800-362-FARMContact your state office or visit www.countryconnect.us for more information
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NO V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y 2 7
2009 MFBF ANNUAL MEETING U.S. Senator Thad Cochran will address
the opening General Session of the 88th
Annual Meeting of the Mississippi Farm Bu-
reau Federation to be held Dec. 5-7 at
the Hilton Hotel in Jackson. Dr. Samuel
Marshall Gore, a noted Mississippi artist
and adjunct professor of art at Mississippi
College, will conduct the Sunday morning
worship service.
Other highlights this year include the
Farm Bureau General Store and Young
Farmers and Ranchers Silent and Live auc-
tions; State Talent and Miss Farm Bureau-
Mississippi contests; Safety, Environmental
and Farm Bureau Issues conferences;
Young Farmers and Ranchers State Discus-
sion Meet and State Achievement Award
activities; and the Women’s Recognition
Breakfast and Business Session.
Annual meeting activities will close
Monday with the Business Session, where
policy will be determined for the coming
year and elections will be held for directors
from odd-numbered districts.
Here is how the schedule looks at
presstime:
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5Registration - 8 a.m.-5 p.m.YF&R Silent Auction - 7 a.m.-9 p.m.Farm Bureau General Store - 7 a.m.- 9 p.m.9 a.m. - Talent & Mississippi Farm Bureau-
MississippiBarbie Bassett, MC
2 p.m.-2:30 p.m. - General SessionSenator Thad Cochran
3:30-4:30 p.m. - Safety Conference - Defensive Driving
4:30-5:30 p.m. - Invasive Species (Feral Hogs) Conference
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6Registration - 8 a.m.-5 p.m.YF&R Silent Auction - 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m.Farm Bureau General Store - 9:30 a.m.- 9 p.m.7 a.m. - Women’s Recognition Breakfast
9:30 a.m. - Women’s Business Session10:45 a.m. -Worship Service, Dr. Sam Gore2 p.m. - County Recognition Program4 p.m. - Farm Bureau Issues Conference6:30 p.m. - General Session
YF&R Discussion Meet FinalsYF&R Achievement Award Program
MONDAY, DECEMBER 78 a.m. - Business Session
Election of Directors-Districts 1, 3, 5,7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19Election of State Women’s Chair & Vice ChairElection of Regional Women’s Chairs, Regions 2, 4, 6, 8Announcement of Voting Delegates to AFBF Annual MeetingAnnouncement of Women’s Voting Delegates to AFBF Annual Meeting
Recognition of Outgoing Directors
Installation of 2010 Board of Directors
2 8 M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R
RECIPESCATFISH BREAD1 loaf French bread
4-5 catfish fillets
½ c. margarine, melted
½ c. mayonnaise
6 green onions, chopped
1 (4-oz.) can chopped black olives
½ tsp. garlic powder
1 c. mozzarella cheese, grated
1 c. cheddar cheese, grated
Season fish with liquid smoke, salt, pepper, soy sauce and Creole
seasoning and broil until fish flakes. Mix all other ingredients in a
bowl and stir in chopped fish. Cut French bread lengthwise and
spread the fish mixture over bread. Put on a cookie sheet and cover
with a foil tent. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Slice in strips
and serve.
Wanda Hill
Humphreys County
SPINACH MADELEINE2 (10-oz) pkgs. frozen chopped spinach
4 T. margarine
2 T chopped onion
2 T. flour
½ c. evaporated milk
½ c. liquid from spinach
6 oz. jalapeno cheese
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp. black pepper
¾ tsp. garlic salt
¾ tsp. celery salt
Dash of red pepper
½ tube Ritz crackers, crushed
1 T. margarine, melted
Cook spinach according to package directions. Drain and reserve
cooking liquid. Melt margarine over low heat. Add onions to
margarine and sauté until soft. Stir in flour. Cook until smooth and
thick. Add liquids slowly, stirring to avoid lumps. Add cut-up cheese
and seasonings, stirring until cheese melts. Fold in spinach. Place in
casserole dish and sprinkle topping with Ritz crackers mixed
with melted margarine. Heat at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or
until bubbly.
Pauline McMahan
Forrest County
IRON SKILLET CHOCOLATE PIE2 c. sugar
4 T. cocoa
½ c. flour
4 egg yolks
2 c. milk
1 stick butter, softened
1 T vanilla
Mix sugar, cocoa and flour. Add milk, beaten eggs and butter. Cook
in iron skillet on top of stove until thick. Stir non-stop. Remove from
heat once thick and stir in vanilla. Pour into baked pie shell and add
meringue if desired.
Melanie Wood
Itawamba County
these recipes were taken
from “country cooking,
Volume iV,” which is
available at most county
Farm bureau offices. the
cost is $15. if you order
from the state office, it will
cost you $15 plus postage.
For more information,
contact Women’s Program
coordinator clara bilbo at
1.800.227.8244, ext. 4245.
FLEET VEHICLES FOR SALEIf you are interested in a used federation vehicle,
please visit our Web site at www.msfb.com for moreinformation. Click on the About Us link, then click theFleet Vehicles for Sale on the drop down menu orcontact Merlene Partridge at 1.800.227.8244, ext. 4233. These vehicles are late model, usually one - two years old. NADA retail, wholesale, and loan values are used to calculate price.
PRINT PRODUCTION TURNOVER
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SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
STEP # CP2 DOCUMENT NAME: 133009_DRP_PG_YFRCOMP.INDD WORK_ORDER_#: NONE
M91777 CLIENT: IEV LIVE: 7 in x 10 in AD: McQuillan 3445 PROOFREADING SIGNOFFPRODUCT: DOD TRIM: 7.875 in x 10.5 in AB: None
INITIALS: ______ DATE: _________
CHANGES:DATE: 8/18/09 10:14 AM TITLE: 2009 YFR Farm Bureau BLEED: 9.375 in x 11.25 in AC: Miller 4517
GA: dd SPECS: 4/C Magazine BROPHY #: 133009 PP: HATTLEY 3668
ISSUE QUESTIONED BY RESPONSIBILITY RESOLVED?ISSUE QUESTIONED BY RESPONSIBILITY RESOLVED?
Path: ...oy-Production:Volumes:Troy-Production:2009_Advertising_Projects:Dodge:FarmBureau_2009:M90000:M91777_DRP_2009_YFR:Assembly%0:133009_DRP_PG_YFRComp.indd
USE YOUR BRAIN. GET THE BRAWN.
Farm Bureau is a federally registered collective membership and a registered service mark of the American Farm Bureau Federation. Dodge is a registered trademark of Chrysler Group LLC.
Most accolades come in the form of flimsy ribbons or cheap pieces of plastic. The American Farm Bureau Federation® Young Farmer & Rancher competitions give you the chance to win a legendary Dodge truck. Show off your agricultural know-how at the National Convention in Seattle, WA, January 10–13, 2010, and you could win a brand new 2010 Dodge Ram. The contest is open to all Young Farmer & Rancher members, so contact your local Farm Bureau for all entry details. For more information about Dodge Ram trucks, visit dodge.com or call 800-4ADODGE.
FARM BUREAUEVENTS
3 0 M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R
Members of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers and
Ranchers State Committee spent the weekend touring Mississippi State
University research activities at the Coastal Research and Extension
Center in Biloxi. Part of the tour included a visit to Rocky Creek Nursery.
The 2009 Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Youth Safety
Seminar was held in July at Timber Creek Camp in Scott County.
Approximately 47 students from across the state participated in
training sessions that included CPR, Electrical Safety, ATV Safety,
Fatal Vision and Tractor Safety. Students also enjoyed the Ropes
Challenge Course and other fun activities. Make plans now for
next year’s seminar to be held June 14-17.
Soybean grading clinics were held this summer in four locations
across the state. The clinics provided hands-on training and
education about the grading process for Mississippi soybeans
and were sponsored by the Mississippi Soybean Promotion
Board, Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce,
Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, Delta Council,
Mississippi Soybean Association and Mississippi State
University Extension Service.
Jan Holley of Itawamba County participated in the 2009 Farm Bureau Women’s
Communications Boot Camp held in Washington, D.C. this summer. Women took
part in media training exercises and a mock testimony before lawmakers. They
also learned how to master the preparation and presentation of public speaking.
She is pictured with MFBF President David Waide and MFBF State Women’s
Committee Chair Dott Arthur.
NO V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y 3 1
2009-2010 Young Farmers & Ranchers Foundation Recipients
2009-2010 Berta Lee White Scholarship Recipients
Christopher Baker of Calhoun County$1,000 Hugh Arant Scholarship
Jason Camp of Calhoun County$2,000 YF&R Scholarship
Tyler Flowers of Oktibbeha County$2,000 YF&R Scholarship
Emily Irwin of Carroll County$2,000 YF&R Scholarship
Ben Ruscoe of Lafayette County$2,000 YF&R Scholarship
Kaleb Smith of Greene County$1,000 Don Waller Scholarship
Kristy Mayo of Neshoba County$2,000 Berta Lee White Scholarship
Jennifer Kelly Williams of Hinds County$2,000 Berta Lee White Scholarship
3 2 M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R
Give Students a Gift thatKeeps Giving
Christmas is a time of giving.
At the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federa-
tion Annual Meeting in December, you will
have several great opportunities to do your
Christmas shopping, while helping a good
cause. The Young Farmers and Ranchers
Program will again host silent and live
auctions and the Women’s Program will
host the Farm Bureau General Store.
Proceeds from these events will help
students with tuition costs.
This year, the Young Farmers and
Ranchers Scholarship Foundation awarded
$10,000 in scholarships to deserving
college students. The Women’s Program
awarded the $2,000 Berta White Scholar-
ship to two female college students
(See page 31).
Remember to bring your checkbook
to annual meeting. Do your Christmas
shopping and give our ag students a gift that
keeps on giving.
For more information, contact Young
Farmers and Ranchers Coordinator Greg
Shows at 601.977.4277 or Women’s
Program Coordinator Clara Bilbo at
601.977.4245.
ADDING VALUE TO YOUR MEMBERSHIPBy Greg Gibson/Director, MFBF Member Services
If I told you that you could save hundreds of dollars on products and services
that you use every day, would you be interested to find out how? Of course you
would! Your membership in Farm Bureau costs you only a few dollars each
year, but that fee allows you to participate in many Member Benefit programs
that can save you hundreds, perhaps thousands, of dollars.
Farm Bureau has signed agreements with many partner companies to provide
products and services to Farm Bureau members at a discount. All of these
services are available to you as a member, and all you have to do is provide
your membership number or the special Farm Bureau code that is associated
with that particular program.
Rental Cars: Farm Bureau has agreements with six major car rental companies
to save you money when you need to rent a car. Enterprise, Alamo, National,
Hertz, Avis, and Budget all provide Farm Bureau members with certain
discounts. Each company has certain restrictions so check out the Farm Bureau
Web site to find out contact information for each company.
Industrial Supplies: Grainger, Inc., America's largest supplier of industrial
supplies, offers more than 500,000 parts and supplies at a discounted rate to
Mississippi Farm Bureau members. Grainger offers an efficient solution to the
need for a speedy and consistent supply of electric motors and other electrical
equipment as well as painting, cleaning and other supplies. Members may order
supplies online, by phone, fax, or by visiting your local Grainger branch.
Child Safety Seats: According to Mississippi law, all children under the age
of 4 must be protected by a child passenger restraint device or system. All
children who are between the ages of 4 and 7 and are less than 4 feet 9 inches
tall or weigh less than 65 pounds must be protected by properly using a belt
positioning booster seat system. Farm Bureau offers a child safety seat for
$25 and a booster seat for $15.
For more information on these and all of the other Member Benefit programs,
visit our Web site at www.msfb.com and click on the Member Benefits link. Or
you can call Farm Bureau’s Member Benefits Coordinator Dedra Luke at
601.977.4169.
Win a New Dodge Ram at the YF&R Competitions Most accolades come in the form of flimsy ribbons or cheap pieces of
plastic…but the American Farm Bureau Federation’s® Young Farmer and
Rancher competitions give you the chance to win a legendary Dodge truck.
Show off your agricultural know-how at the National Convention in
Seattle, WA, Jan.10-13, 2010, and you could win a brand new Dodge Ram.
The contest is open to all Young Farmer & Rancher members, so contact your
local Farm Bureau® for all entry details.
For more information about Dodge Ram trucks, visit dodge.com or call
800-4ADODGE.
For information about the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Young
Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) contests, which also offer great prizes, contact
YF&R Coordinator Greg Shows at 1.800.227.8244, ext. 4277.
Farm Bureau is a federally registered collective membership and a registered service mark of the
American Farm Bureau Federation. Dodge is a registered trademark of Chrysler LLC.
NO V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y 3 3
3 4 M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R
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NO V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y 3 5
Digital Home Advantage offer requires 24-month commitment and credit qualifi cation. If service is terminated before the end of commitment, a cancellation fee of $15/month remaining will apply. Programming credits will apply during the fi rst 12 months. All equipment is leased and must be returned to DISH Network® upon cancellation or unreturned equipment fees apply. Limit 4 leased tuners per account; lease upgrade fees will apply for select receivers; monthly fees may apply based on type and number of receivers. HD programming requires HD television. All prices, packages and programming subject to change without notice. Local channels only available in certain areas. Offer is subject to the terms of applicable Promotional and Residential Customer Agreements. Additional restrictions and fees may apply. First-time DISH Network® customers only. Offer ends 1/31/10. HBO/Showtime: Programming credits will apply during the fi rst 3 months. Customer must downgrade or then-current price will apply. Cinemax: Requires enrollment in AutoPay with Paperless Billing. HBO®, Cinemax® and related channels and service marks are the property of Home Box Offi ce, Inc. SHOWTIME and related marks are trademarks of Showtime Networks Inc., a CBS company. Infi nityDISH charges a one-time $49.95 non-refundable processing fee. Gift with purchase requires enrollment in America’s Everything Pak with DVR and AutoPay with Paperless Billing, in addition to the one-time $49.95 non-refundable processing fee. Shipping and/or handling fee is required to be paid for redemption. Gift with purchase is provided courtesy of Infi nityDISH. Please visit www.Infi nityDish.com/gifts for terms, conditions and privacy policy.
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$3499REGULAR
PRICE
LOCK IN YOUR SAVINGS FOR A YEAR
Call Today to Receive Your Gift
1.877.266.2598Se Habla Español
FREE (4) ROOM INSTALLATION FREE HD-DVR UPGRADE
OVER 120ALL-DIGITALCHANNELS
$1999$1999$$$$$$$19191191919919191991919919199999999999999999999999A MonthFOR 12 MONTHS
FREE One YEAROne CENT
8 Channels for 3 mo. 10 Channels for 3 mo. 5 Channels
MP3 Player DVD Player Digital Camera
Examples of gifts are subject to change. Visit www.infi nitydish.com/gifts.Certain restrictions apply see disclaimer for details.
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