Market Development
Directories
Giving Oklahoma agriculture a helping hand! That's what the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture's Market Development
division is all about. The basic premise of the division is that the best way to help our state's agricultural economy is to broaden
its outlets for agricultural commodities and assist producers, processors, wholesalers, and retailers in marketing these products.
Promoting Oklahoma Agriculture
Current Events
State agriculture officials are hoping the coming new year brings increased economic advances for agriculture and rural Oklahoma and remind producers that the grant and loan application deadline for the next Oklahoma Agricultural Enhancement and Diversification program is January 2, 2009.
Agricultural diversification grants of up to $5,000 are available as well as interest-free loans in three categories: Cooperative Marketing Loans, Marketing and Utilization Loans, and Basic and Applied Research Loans.
Loans may not be used to purchase land, buildings or equipment. Eligible expenses include feasibility studies, business plans, legal expenses, consultant fees, product development and marketing.
“As always we’re anxious to see applications from individuals or groups of producers who have a plan for any form of value-added or marketing program,” said Rick Maloney, Marketing Director for the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry. “We also look forward to seeing more producers who are interested in diversifying their operations with non-traditional or unique crops or livestock programs.”
Among other things, OAED loans and grants have been used to create a variety of diversified enterprises such as agritourism venues, marketing cooperatives and food processing businesses.
Applications are available online from the ODAFF at www.oda.state.ok.us by clicking the “Loans” link. For more information contact Jason Harvey at (405) 522-5563. The mailing address is Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry, 2800 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73105.
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For More Information Contact: Jack Carson (405) 522-4575
OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD, AND FORESTRY
2800 N. Lincoln, Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73105
November 2008
State agriculture officials are hoping the coming new year brings increased economic advances for agriculture and rural Oklahoma and remind producers that the grant and loan application deadline for the next Oklahoma Agricultural Enhancement and Diversification program is January 2, 2009.
Agricultural diversification grants of up to $5,000 are available as well as interest-free loans in three categories: Cooperative Marketing Loans, Marketing and Utilization Loans, and Basic and Applied Research Loans.
Loans may not be used to purchase land, buildings or equipment. Eligible expenses include feasibility studies, business plans, legal expenses, consultant fees, product development and marketing.
“As always we’re anxious to see applications from individuals or groups of producers who have a plan for any form of value-added or marketing program,” said Rick Maloney, Marketing Director for the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry. “We also look forward to seeing more producers who are interested in diversifying their operations with non-traditional or unique crops or livestock programs.”
Among other things, OAED loans and grants have been used to create a variety of diversified enterprises such as agritourism venues, marketing cooperatives and food processing businesses.
Applications are available online from the ODAFF at www.oda.state.ok.us by clicking the “Loans” link. For more information contact Jason Harvey at (405) 522-5563. The mailing address is Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry, 2800 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73105.
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For More Information Contact: Jack Carson (405) 522-4575
OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD, AND FORESTRY
2800 N. Lincoln, Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73105
November 2008
Demand for locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables is at an all time high through farm to school, farmers markets, food cooperatives, restaurants, distributors and at the work place.
Join the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Risk Management Agency, OSU Cooperative Extension Services, OSU Lane Research Center, Langston University, the Noble Foundation and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry for a first hand look at innovative successful producers and how they are maximizing their production to meet demand, current research that is happening in the state and resources that are available to producers.
• Saturday, April 12, 2008 – Plow & Prep Day at the Oklahoma Vegetable Research Station in Bixby, OK located at 13711 S. Mingo Rd. – 1 pm – 3:30pm. Rain date is scheduled for the following weekend April 19, same time.
Start your growing season off right by learning how soil is prepared for small farm acreage for maximum production and how to efficiently cultivate soil and hoe weeds to maintain small farm plots throughout the season. Learn how to harvest and prepare produce for market and also how to calibrate fertilizer applicators and small sprayers. See the right equipment to use, how to use it and also see a demonstration of how plasticulture can be beneficial to growers. For more information contact Sue Gray, Tulsa County OSU Extension Center, 918-746-3717, sgray@tulsacounty.org.
• Thursday, April 17, 2008 - Farm to School and Direct Marketing Farm Field Day at Crow Farm - 5 pm – 8 pm.
Join Ricky & Claudia Crow at their farm in Earlsboro located near Shawnee. Claudia and Ricky will describe their current foray into farm-to-school, backed up by two decades of experience growing and direct-marketing vegetables. The Crows will showcase their farm to school crops, hoop house tomatoes, plasticulture crops, and wash line facilities. Registration, due by April 14, is $10 and includes dinner. To register, 918.647.9123 or visit www.kerrcenter.com/HTML/events.html#fieldday.
• Sunday, May 4, 2008 - Farm to School at THE Farm – 2pm – 6pm.
Join Vicki and Joe Townsend at The Farm in Atoka County. This event will focus on season extension techniques. These are important for farm-to-school in Oklahoma, because they allow farmers to ripen crops earlier in the spring, and later in the fall, when school cafeterias are serving meals. Registration, due by April 28th, is $10 and includes dinner. To register, 918.647.9123 or visit www.kerrcenter.com/HTML/events.html#fieldday.
• Thursday and Friday, May 21 & 23rd, 2008 - 17th Annual Farming Conference, Langston University’s Oklahoma City campus.
• Join Langston University for their annual farming conference that will cover a multitude of topics related to diversified agriculture. For more information, contact Mathilda Hall, Center for Outreach Programs, 1-866-466-2231(toll free) or 405-466-6154.
• Thursday, May 29, 2008 - From Field to Buyer: Making the Most on Growing Crops at Peach Crest Farm – 5pm – 8pm.
Join Susan Bergen at Peach Crest Farm, north of Stratford. What you will see is how a non-farming person, with the help of many farming people, has made a farm work,” says Bergen. “You will see how we irrigate, integrate and implement what the customer is looking for on this acreage: great tasting produce, grown in environmentally friendly constraints, and sold at a reasonable price. Registration, due by May 29th, is $10 and includes dinner. To register, 918.647.9123 or visit www.kerrcenter.com/HTML/events.html#fieldday.
• Saturday, June 21, 2008 –Lane Agriculture Center Research and Extension Public Field Day, Lane, OK, 9:00am – 3:00pm.
This is a great opportunity to learn about the current research projects that include organic vegetable gardening practices, weed control and fertilizer practices for organic growers, production practices for onions, melons, tomato, squash, etc., vegetable plant disease control, alternative crops for fuel, and selecting and caring for lawn grasses. Trailer tours will be provided for viewing field projects and cold watermelon will be served. Directions: 10 miles east of Atoka, Oklahoma on Highway 3. For more information, call 580-889-7343, www.lane-ag.org
• Thursday, June 26, 2008 – Bixby Vegetable Research Station Field Day, Bixby, OK located at 13711 S. Mingo Rd. 10:00am for farmers market growers and 6:00pm for home gardeners.
This is a great opportunity to learn about the current research that is being done in fruit and vegetable production. For more information, call 918-369-2441.
• Thursday, July 10, 2008 – Organic Soils Building Workshop & Fruit & Vegetable Variety Trials Field Day at Lane Agriculture Center Research and Extension, Lane, OK 2:00 – 6:00pm.
Come and learn how to build healthy soils organically through cover cropping, crop rotation, composting and more – “Healthy Soils make Healthy Plants”. The soils workshop will be followed by dinner and then a tour and discussion of Lane’s certified organic fruit & vegetable variety trials. More information will be available on the Kerr Center’s website at www.kerrcenter.com
• Tuesday & Wednesday, August 5 & 6, 2008 – Future Farms Conference 2008, Oklahoma City, OK.
The Kerr Center’s biennial conference once again has a fantastic lineup for the 2 day conference. The first day will consist of 3 full day bus tours to choose from. Each tour will be traveling to different parts of the state and show examples of diversified agriculture, from fruit and vegetable production to specialty livestock production to cheese making to vineyards and more. The second day will offer 3 tracts of workshops in production, financial planning and marketing. For more information and to register, call 918-647-9123 or visit www.kerrcenter.com
• Sunday, September 14, 2008 – Season Extension & Hoop Houses at Trebuchet Gardens, 2:00 – 6:00pm.
Fall is the perfect time to build a hoop house to extend your growing season. Join Tod & Jaime Hanley at Trebuchet Gardens located on the east side of Norman, OK and see how they took the information learned at a workshop at the Noble Foundation and combined their engineering background, and built a 25’ X 96’ hoop house for under $1000 and grows in them for year-round production. They market their produce through 3 local food markets, individual customers and work with children through the Farm to School program.
Upcoming Classes, Short Course, College Courses, and internships to look for:
• The Oklahoma Market Gardening School Short Course will commence on Thursday, October 2, 2008 and will be held weekly for 8 weeks in Oklahoma City. The course will teach you all aspects for being successful in market gardening from developing your business and marketing plan to soils and fertilizer management to crop establishment, irrigation, season extension, pest management, food safety and fruit and vegetable production guidelines. Increase your chance for success in your market garden business by enrolling in this short course. For more information, contact Steve Upson, Noble Foundation, 580-223-5810, sdupson@noble.org or Lynn Brandenberger, OSU Vegetable Extension Specialist, 405-744-5408, lynn.brandenberger@okstate.edu
• OSU-Oklahoma City Horticulture Center will begin its brand new Associates of Applied Science degree with a Sustainable Crops Production emphasis. This first time in Oklahoma degree program will begin Fall 2008. For more information, contact Julia Lauglin, Horticulture Department Head, 405-945-3348, jlaugh@osuokc.edu
• Sustainable Agriculture Internship Program sponsored by the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture – under construction – watch the Kerr Center website for details as they develop at www.kerrcenter.com
• Look at your individual County Cooperative Extension office calendars for local county market garden classes.
If you need help connecting with markets to sell your fresh locally grown produce or would like to sell to a school close to your farm or need more information about the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry Marketing Division and its resources, please contact Chris Kirby, Farm to School Program Administrator, 405-522-2106,
Oklahoma Department of Agriculture www.okfarmtoschool.com
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For More Information Contact: Jack Carson (405) 522-4575
OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD, AND FORESTRY
2800 N. Lincoln, Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73105
June 2008
Eight creative Oklahoma cooks took home nearly $10,000 in prizes today after winning categories of the third annual Made in Oklahoma Recipe Roundup.
This year’s Grand Champion was Machelle Hamilton of Weatherford who won a $7,000 KitchenAid appliance makeover for her Jalapeno Ranch Beef Wrap recipe.
Other winners included: 1st Place Entrée, Carmen L. Bradford, Broken Arrow, Choc’ken Fried Chicken; 2nd Place Entrée, Sherry Verser, Bethany, Okie’s Beef Fiesta Cheesecake; 1st Place Dessert, Lori McGrath, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Blueberry Bites; and 2nd Place Dessert, Lori Richardson-Morphew, Bethany, Ft. Washita Explosion Cake.
A new category added this year was called “Kid’s Cuisine,” recipes aimed at appealing to younger diners. 1st Place winner this year was Theresa Ingram of Tulsa for her Bug Juice Smoothie recipe. 2nd Place winner in the category was Linda Lancaster, Ada, for her Brownie Flies recipe.
All first place winners received KitchenAid stand mixers and all second place winners received KitchenAid food processors. Oklahoma City based Neighbors Coffee added to this year’s prizes by awarding a Capresso coffeemaker to the best recipe featuring a Neighbors Coffee product. Danielle Patterson was the winner with her recipe for Oklahoma Cow Patty Brownies.
Chef’s Requested Foods also added to this year’s prizes by awarding a stainless steel grill to 1st Place Entrée winner Carmen Bradford. Harry’s TV and Appliance store in Oklahoma City hosted this year’s award presentations.
Entries were judged by a panel of celebrity judges and all recipe finalists were tested by the Platt College Culinary Arts Program.
The MIO Coalition is a group of Oklahoma companies that employ more than 20,000 Oklahomans and last year had a combined payroll of over $480 million and reported sales of over $2.6 billion.
2008 MIO Recipe Roundup Grand Champion:
Jalapeno Ranch Beef Wrap by Machelle Hamilton, Weatherford, OK
6 Chef's Requested Bacon Wrapped Beef Steaks Daddy Hinkle's Southwest Instant Meat Marinade 4 oz Cream Cheese Softened
1/2 C Hiland Dairy Sour Cream
2 tsp dry ranch dressing mix
1 jalapeno seeded and finely chopped
6-10 inch jalapeno & cheddar tortillas
4 oz Braum’s shredded cheddar cheese
6 lettuce leaves
1 tomato thinly sliced
1 avocado thinly sliced
6 tsp Griffins Jalapeno Mustard
Thaw the Chef's Requested bacon wrapped beef steaks in the refrigerator overnight. Sprinkle steaks with the wet and dry Daddy Hinkle's Southwest Instant Marinade while grill is preheating.
Grill or broil for approximately 9 minutes per side at medium high heat or until a meat thermometer reaches 160 degrees. Let meat rest 10 minutes then thinly slice.
Mix together the cream cheese, Hiland Sour Cream, ranch dressing mix, and the chopped jalapeno.
Spread mixture evenly over the 6 tortillas. Top with shredded cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, sliced steak, and the Griffins Jalapeno Mustard. Roll up burrito style and cut in half diagonally.
Makes 6 hearty servings.
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For More Information Contact: Jack Carson (405) 522-4575
OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD, AND FORESTRY
2800 N. Lincoln, Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73105
June 2008
Lt. Governor Jari Askins today inducted the late Paul Hitch, Guymon livestock producer, farmer and agribusiness leader into the Oklahoma Agriculture Hall of Fame and presented his family with the Governor’s Outstanding Achievement Award in Agriculture.
Hitch was a fourth generation Oklahoma agriculturist in Texas County. His great grandfather, James K. Hitch drove cattle from Missouri to the area near present day Guymon. Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture, Terry Peach, said that cattle drive was the beginning of one of the state’s largest agricultural legacies.
“The Hitch family has always been pioneers in terms of recognizing opportunity, having the vision to capitalize on it and the courage to embrace new technologies and ideas in agriculture,” he said. “People such as Paul and his family are one of the reasons Texas County is the number-one agricultural county in Oklahoma and is always one of the top 10 agricultural counties in the nation.”
Hitch was nominated for the award by the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association and the Oklahoma Pork Council. He passed away last month after a lengthy battle with cancer.
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For More Information Contact: Jack Carson (405) 522-4575
OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD, AND FORESTRY
2800 N. Lincoln, Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73105
Sue Kirk, first-grade teacher at the Wayland Bonds Elementary School in the Moore public school system, has been named 2008 Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year.
The AITC program provides core curriculum material that incorporates agricultural information in studies such as math, science, language arts, reading and social studies. Jamey Allen, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry coordinator for the program said Kirk uses agricultural themes in her class as well as the usual core curriculum.
“When the students walk in to the classroom they are greeted by a big, red barn and a rooster puppet that crows to greet them to a new school day,” she said. “Mrs. Kirk is one of the most dynamic and personable teachers in the state and we are thrilled to have her working with us in the Ag in the Classroom program.”
Kirk was recognized at the State Capitol during the Oklahoma Agriculture Day celebration and receives a $500 honorarium provided by Dosia Jackson in memory of Paul Jackson. The Oklahoma Farm Bureau Women’s organization will provide airfare for Kirk to attend the National Ag in the Classroom Conference in Costa Mesa, CA.
The Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom program is a joint project of the ODAFF, Oklahoma Department of Education, and the Oklahoma State Cooperative Extension Service.
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For More Information Contact: Jack Carson (405) 522-4575
OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD, AND FORESTRY
2800 N. Lincoln, Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73105
April 2008
