Specialty Crop Grants Available, Applications due April 15

A program to promote production and marketing of fruits, vegetables and tree nuts offers $379,000 in grants
statewide. Deadline for Specialty Crop Grant applications is April 15.

The program differs from other grant programs in that it focuses on enhancing the competitiveness of specialty crops by increasing nutrition knowledge and consumption of specialty crops, improving distribution systems, improving food safety and funding research in production techniques and systems.

“The Specialty Crop Grant program has been used primarily by university and extension research but others including individuals may qualify,” said program coordinator, Johnny Roberts with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. “An individual grower who is working with an entity such as the OSU Extension Service or the Noble Foundation doing research that is to be shared with other growers would also qualify.”

A manual that gives more details regarding eligibility is available online at http://www.oda.state.ok.us/mktdev-loans.htm. An application form is also available on this site.

Contact Roberts at 405-522-3752 or by email at Johnny.roberts@oda.state.ok.us for more information.

Feral Hog Workshop March 29 in Ardmore

Wildlife Services’ director, Kevin Grant, is on the agenda for a special workshop co-sponsored by Oklahoma State University, the Noble Foundation and Mississippi State University regarding feral hogs. This should be a great opportunity for landowners and other stakeholders to listen and speak to a group of professionals who have studied these pests for years.

The workshop will take place at the Oswalt Road Ranch near Ardmore on Tuesday, March 29 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The workshop is free of charge and lunch will be provided.

Click on the link to register online or call Tracy Cumbie at the Noble Foundation at 580-224-6411.

Here’s the agenda:
8:30-9:00 am Registration/Sign-in

9:00-9:10 am Welcome and Introductions (Russell Stevens, Noble Foundation)

9:10-9:40 am Wild Hog History, Biology, and Ecology (Bronson Strickland, Mississippi State University)

9:40-10:30 am Feral swine diseases, parasites, and potential implications to humans and domestic livestock (Skip Jack, Mississippi State University)

10:30-10:45 am Break

10:45-11:30 am Wild Hog Trapping Techniques, Trap Designs, and Removal Methods (Bill Hamrick, Mississippi State University)

11:20-11:40 am Wildlife Services in Oklahoma (Kevin Grant, Wildlife Services)

11:40-1:00 pm Lunch

1:00-1:20 pm Hog Distribution Map (Russell Stevens, Noble Foundation)

1:20-1:45 pm Laws Governing Removal of Animals (Jeremy Brothers, Oklahoma
Department of Wildlife Conservation)

1:45-3:00 pm Trap Designs and Techniques (outside) – (Josh Gaskamp, Noble Foundation and Bill Hamrick, Mississippi State University)

3:00 pm Evaluations and Dismiss