Offering Alternatives to Tobacco Production:

Grapes, Vegetables and Cut Flowers

Ben BealeExtension Educator

St. Mary’s Co.Maryland

bbeale@umd.edu

Tobacco in the Last 30 years

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

40000

1973 1978 1983 1988 1993 19982003

Acres Harvested

Lbs (inthousands)

Maryland Tobacco Buyout

• $1 per lb based on average production over a 10 year period.

• Agreement never to raise tobacco again• Requirement to remain in agriculture

production• Does not involve any quota system.• Buyout administered through the Southern

Maryland Agricultural Development Commission

Maryland Tobacco Buyout: Results

• 86% of eligible Maryland producers exited the tobacco industry. This equates to approximately 800 growers.

• Remaining growers have switched to Burley production under contract

• Production of tobacco has stabilized at about 1 million pounds

Introduction to the Presenter

1953

1982

1992

In 1997, the median farm size was 62 acres which generated an average farm gross income of $33,906. In St. Mary’s County, 98% of all farms generated less than $250,000.

Summary:

• In the last 10 years, Southern Maryland has undergone rapid and un-precedented change.

• Local non-farm Environment: Rapid population growth, escalation of land values, influx of new cultures not familiar to farms, expansion of Naval base

• Farm Environment: Rapid change in tobacco industry as result of tobacco buyout, Consolidation in other commodities

Extension’s Role:

– Cooperative Extension is looked to provide opportunities/ alternatives for producers.

– Assist growers with both:• Production• Marketing

– Potential Roles:• Education regarding new crop opportunities• Research on new crop opportunities• Crop budgets and marketing and feasibility plans • Assist growers evaluate new enterprises

Fresh Market Vegetables

A popular choice readily accepted by growers– Marketing and production system

are complex and unforgiving.

Meeting Production Needs

– Expand on existing framework– Held an annual vegetable conference with

area specialist and agents– Twilight Tours to area farms– Developed informational booth with relevant

production manuals and fact sheets.– Distributed production manuals at convenient

locations. Included books as part of registration at vegetable conference.

– Organized tours to various field days

Quality and Consistency: Getting things in the right place!

Tomato Fruit Disorders

Meeting Marketing Needs

• Reinforce the notion that producers must have a home for the product before they grow it.

• Networked with growers and Agricultural Commission to set up Round-Table Talks with area wholesale food companies or distributors.

• Worked with local farmers to develop a wholesale produce marketing auction.

• Developed Enterprise Budgets for local area.

Farming Tour

Grab your boots, get your camera and bring an open mind for this fun and exciting tour of various agricultural operations in the Northern

Neck of Virginia.

Wednesday, August 8, 2001 Tour Bus will leave Leonardtown at 7:30 AM (more pickups along the

way) and will arrive back around 6:00 PM

Free of Charge- Register Now Lunch will be provided

Call the St. Mary’s Extension office at 301-475-4484 to register

Tour Stops Include: Northern Neck Farmers Market H. S. Powell Beef operation Westmoreland Berry Farm Lois’ Produce Farm Ingleside Vineyard and Winery See and experience successful farming operations firsthand. Learn new ideas and make contacts with other farmers in the region. Be sure to register early-these seats wont last! This tour supported through a grant from the Tri County Council Agricultural Development Commission

Equal Opportunity Programs

Where are you selling your produce?

Talk with area wholesalers about opportunities for selling local produce, selling and buying arrangements, and quality standards. Learn about the wholesale industry and whether it will be a good fit for your operation.

May 3, 2001 11 AM

Laurel, Maryland Transportation Available

Seating Limited- Call to reserve a space Ben Beale 301 475 4484

Equal Opportunity Programs

Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland Working together to Build

One of Americas Great Communities

Loveville Produce Auction

•60 growers, many new to vegetable farming•600 buyers•2nd year sales over $1 million

SELLER RULES 1. A permanent grower’s number is required.

2. Seller must fill out consignment forms, listing

seller number, name, address and type of items and quantity to be sold.

3. Seller will tag individual lots with tags provided by Loveville Produce Auction stating the seller number, item and quantity.

4. Unloading of produce is responsibility of GROWER/SELLER.

5. Payment period runs from Monday to Friday

with checks available at the auction on the following Wednesday.

6. Any misrepresentation of produce will be

cause for adjustment. 7. Selling of produce on grounds by the auction

ONLY! 8. Produce of inferior quality may be rejected by

the Loveville Produce Auction. 9. Standard uniform boxing required. 10. Out of Tri-County area consignors with

permission only. 11. Produce raised in Tri-County area will be sold

first. 12. 10% commission charged on all sales. 13. Sellers may not bid or declare “no sale” on

their own produce. 14. By requesting GROWER/SELLER number,

SELLER agrees to these terms and conditions.

We are located at 40454 Bishop Road Loveville, Maryland

Busy Corner Road

Bishop Road

Point Lookout RoadRoute 5

Lov

evil

leR

oad

Ro

ute

247

To

Rou

te 2

35

Loveville Produce Auction

Parsons Mill Road

Driving Directions from the North: Take Maryland Route 5 South to St. Mary’s County. At the Route 5/235 split, bear right to continue on Route 5 for approximately 5 miles. Turn left onto Loveville Road/Route 247. Travel approximately 0.8 miles and turn right onto Bishop Road. The Loveville Produce Auction is approximately 0.1 mile on your left.

LOVEVILLE

PRODUCE AUCTION

Fresh Produce Picked Daily

Located at 40454 Bishop Road Loveville, Maryland

Mailing address: Loveville Produce Auction

24025 Brubacher Lane Leonardtown, MD 20650

APRIL 2005

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

MAY 2005 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

JUNE 2005 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

JULY 2005 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

AUGUST 2005

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

SEPTEMBER 2005 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

OCTOBER 2005 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Auction sales scheduled to begin Mondays at 11:00 a.m.

Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:00 a.m.

Buyers and Sellers should be registered before sale time.

BUYER RULES

1. Cash or pre-approved checks only. 2. BUYER is to pay in FULL on day of auction. 3. A buyer’s number must be obtained before

bidding. Regular buyers will be given a permanent number.

4. Inspection of produce prior to purchase is

responsibility of BUYER. 5. BUYER is responsible for produce after

purchase. 6. BUYER agrees that Loveville Produce Auction

serves as an agent of the seller only and is not responsible for accident, injury, or inferior products.

7. NO SALE OR RESALE OF PRODUCE ON

GROUNDS, EXCEPT THROUGH THE AUCTION.

8. Any adjustments for produce rejected must be

transacted prior to produce leaving Loveville Produce Auction.

9. ALL produce will be sold in the quantity stated

on the tag of that lot. We do not split lots. 10. By requesting BUYER number, BUYER

agrees to these terms and conditions.

Loveville Produce Auction Fresh Produce Picked Daily

Over 40 growers representing 125+ acres

Located at 40454 Bishop Road Loveville, Maryland

Mailing address: Loveville Produce Auction

24025 Brubacher Lane Leonardtown, MD 20650

Many other specialty items too numerous to mention.

Auction sales scheduled to begin

Mondays at 11:00 a.m. Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:00 a.m.

April 22&29 Bedding Plant Sales

May2-Oct. 31 Regular Sale Schedule

Product

Apr

il

May

June

July

Aug

ust

Sept

embe

r

Oct

ober

Bedding Plants Peppers Beans

Broccoli Cabbage

Cauliflower Cantaloupes Cucumbers Cut Flowers

Eggplant Hanging Baskets

Kale/Turnips Pumpkins/Gourds

Sweet corn Tomatoes

Watermelons Summer Squash

Cut Flowers

Meeting Production Needs

• New crop for the area with many unknown production variables

• Set up grower trials for varieties in specific areas.

• Simplify pesticide recommendations and provide information on crop use and labeling requirements

• Network growers with other areas,• Conducted cut flower conferences and twilight

tours

Meeting Marketing Needs

• Establishing market contacts in this business is critical. Do not recommend growers start until markets are identified.

• Network growers with potential buyers. Arrange for tours of facilities and company operations

• Provide growers with information on new varieties on the market

Wine Grape

Production

Why Grapes?

• Small acreage requirement– Up to 5 acres: Part-time venture– 5-10 acres: Part-time plus seasonal hired help– 10-15 acre: full time potential

• High Dollar return per acre– $3000-$7000 per acre gross returns

• Labor demands are spread throughout the year– Harvesting requires additional help– Dormant Pruning in winter time, training and spraying in spring –

summer,

• Soil and climate seem suitable• Low water reguirement

Production Needs

• Established a research and demonstration vineyard at Experiment station

The vineyard was comprised of 27 varieties.

A volunteer vineyard team was formed to aid the care and management of the vineyard.

The research vineyard also served as an excellent teaching and outreach tool as volunteers became involved in viticultural practices in the vineyard.

Production Needs

– Twilight Tours on three occasions to 168 growers– 1 day Beginning Grape Growers Workshop for 85

producers– Farm Walking Tour on 5 occasions to 120 producers– Area vineyard tour for policy makers on 2 occasions

to 49 attendees– Field visits and individual on-site consultations on 150

occasions– Presentations at regional conferences at 7

conferences to 300 producers

April 16, 2001

May, 2001

Matching Vine Grant Program

A joint collaboration was formed with the Southern Maryland Agricultural Commission to offer a matching grant program for purchase of vines.

Extension developed a set of criterion for evaluation of each applicant, evaluated each applicant, conducted site visits, organized the vine order and provided the educational training component.

Wine Cooperative

• The program helped to initiate and continues to support a regional Southern Maryland Grape Growers and Winery Association.

• This association works to promote the grape and wine industry in the region and serves as a networking and teaching opportunity

Why Grapes?—It’s the market!

• Market availability is the critical factor for successful wine grape production.

• Market demand for local grapes exceeds supply. Linked to law requiring wine labeled as Maryland wine to have percentage of Maryland grapes.

Why Grapes?—It’s the market!

• Grapes have political connections– Vineyards attract people who like to spend money

making them attractive agritourism sites– Vineyards and wine go together.

– Wine is a constant proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. - Benjamin Franklin

– Wine is bottled poetry. - Robert Louis Stevenson

So get ready, hold on and enjoy the ride. The trying is half the fun.

And after all the hard work, you get to reap the benefit of your efforts!

The End