Subscribe FeedRed Bulls patrol area around COP Najil
LAGHMAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Army Capt. Jason Merchant, the company commander of Company A, 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry Regiment, Task Force Ironman from Dysart, Iowa, hands out cards Dec. (click for more)
64th MPs: Brothers, sisters in arms
KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Army Spc. Lauren Hyman of Texarkana, Texas, armored vehicle driver for the 64th Military Police Company based at Combat Oupost Fortress, says hello to an (click for more)
Iowa town showers small Afghan school with supplies
LAGHMAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Taylor Gingrich, an infantry officer from Cedar Falls, Iowa, with Task Force Ironman, draws a smile from an Afghan boy as Gingrich (click for more)
TF Knighthawk Soldier prepares for recording contract during deployment
LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Army Spc. Brian Stowe, a human resources specialist from Elkmont, Ala., with Task Force Knighthawk, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, sings a ballad he wrote and (click for more)
Guard team partners with Afghan security forces
PAKTYA, Afghanistan – Servicemembers defend the wall after an improvised explosive device detonates on Forward Operating Base Lightning Dec. 5. (click for more)
French forces support Afghan troops in Kapisa
KAPISA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Afghan and French military chiefs conduct a briefing before deployment during a security operation. Afghan National Security Forces and French Task Force Richelieu conducted Operation Montevideo (click for more)
Panjshir PRT engineers inspect Paryan road
PANJSHIR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Phil Compton, Doty, Wash., Panjshir PRT engineer, and PRT local Afghan engineer Abid Wardak check the structural integrity of the retaining (click for more)
TF White Eagle saves lives of mother, infant
GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan – An Afghan family looks at their new family member after she was delivered by the Polish Army medical team at Forward Operating Base Warrior Jan. 3. (click for more)
1st Bn., 187th Inf. Regt., patrols Sabari District
KHOWST PROVINCE, Afghanistan -- Soldiers from 2nd Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion 187th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, maneuver through Sabari District during patrols to disrupt insurgent activity in the (click for more)
Freedom Restoration Center helps troops get back to duty
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – U.S. Army Sgt. Shawn Fouste, Decatur, Ill., noncommissioned officer in charge of the Freedom Restoration Center with the 455th Expeditionary Wing, Task Force Med, plays with (click for more)
![PANJSHIR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Agha Share, foreman for the Dashtak Demonstration Farm, and a fellow worker carry a concrete pole that will be used in a trellis system for growing grapes. Once the post is secure, a wire will be placed at three different heights through the post to train grapes as they grow. In the past, grapes have grown on the ground, causing the leaves to mold from excess moisture; this in turn may cause disease. When the trellis is complete, other farmers can visit the farm to learn the importance, benefit and technique of trellising grapes. (Photo by U.S. Army Sgt.1st Class Peter Ferrell, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team [Mountain], Task Force Wolverine Public Affairs)](/images/stories/feature_stories/images/2010_10/096/101009-a-9212f-016.jpg "PANJSHIR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Agha Share, foreman for the Dashtak Demonstration Farm, and a fellow worker carry a concrete pole that will be used in a trellis system for growing grapes. Once the post is secure, a wire will be placed at three different heights through the post to train grapes as they grow. In the past, grapes have grown on the ground, causing the leaves to mold from excess moisture; this in turn may cause disease. When the trellis is complete, other farmers can visit the farm to learn the importance, benefit and technique of trellising grapes. (Photo by U.S. Army Sgt.1st Class Peter Ferrell, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team [Mountain], Task Force Wolverine Public Affairs)")
PANJSHIR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Soldiers with the Kentucky National Guard Agribusiness Development Team visited the Dashtak Demonstration Farm to observe the building of grape trellises Oct. 9.
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jeffery Casada, Panjshir team leader for the Kentucky ADT and resident of London, Ky., and Jim Hoffman, U. S. Department of Agriculture advisor to the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team and Idaho resident, met with H. Sultan Hamid, chief trainer for the Roots of Peace organization, based in San Diego.
Hamid instructed Agha Share, the foreman for the Dashtak Demonstration Farm, and his workers on the proper installation of a trellis system. The system consists of concrete posts with holes spaced apart for wires to pass through. When the posts are secure, three wires at different heights will run through the posts to train the grapes as they grow.
According to Casada, grape trellising is used to get the grapes off the ground, making for a more productive grape harvest. Growing grapes on the ground (the traditonal way they are grown in Afghanistan) allows excess moisture to collect on and under the plant’s leaves. This can cause the grapes to mold and become diseased.
Traditional growing also includes flood-trench irrigation, an unsanitary practice, said Hoffman. With trellising, this issue is eliminated as each section is flat and watered by rows.
Additional work is necessary to complete the project. A large concrete block, known as a “dead man,” must be installed at the end of each row. The trellis wires are attached to the block and then tightened. The plants must then be properly spaced for maximum production.
“When the trellis project is complete, other farmers can visit the farm to learn the importance, benefit and technique of trellising grapes,” said Casada. “For a demo farm to be at the forefront, it should demonstrate new and different methods. Grape trellising is a great example of these methods.”
The Dashtak Demonstration Farm has completed other demonstration projects assisted by the Kentucky ADT. The grape trellis is the latest of these.
“We want the demonstration farm to be on the cutting-edge [of agriculture] because farmers visit and learn new ways to grow old crops by trying new agricultural ideas,” said Casada.![PANJSHIR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - H. Sultan Hamid, chief trainer for the Roots of Peace organization out of San Diego, visits the Dashtak Demonstration Farm. Hamid is explaining to the farm foreman, Agha Share (white vest) and his farm workers step-by-step instructions of how to install trellis posts. Once the posts are secure, a wire at three different heights will run through the posts, training the grapes as they grow. In the past, grapes have grown on the ground which has caused the leaves to mold and caused disease to the grapes. When the trellis is complete other farmers can visit the farm to learn the importance and benefits of trellising grapes. (Photo by U.S. Army Sgt.1st Class Peter Ferrell, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team [Mountain], Task Force Wolverine Public Affairs)](/images/stories/feature_stories/images/2010_10/096/101009-a-9212f-036.jpg "PANJSHIR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - H. Sultan Hamid, chief trainer for the Roots of Peace organization out of San Diego, visits the Dashtak Demonstration Farm. Hamid is explaining to the farm foreman, Agha Share (white vest) and his farm workers step-by-step instructions of how to install trellis posts. Once the posts are secure, a wire at three different heights will run through the posts, training the grapes as they grow. In the past, grapes have grown on the ground which has caused the leaves to mold and caused disease to the grapes. When the trellis is complete other farmers can visit the farm to learn the importance and benefits of trellising grapes. (Photo by U.S. Army Sgt.1st Class Peter Ferrell, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team [Mountain], Task Force Wolverine Public Affairs)")
![PANJSHIR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Workers from the Dashtak Demonstration Farm install a grape trellis system. Concrete posts are used to support a three-level wire system to have the grapes grow upward instead of on the ground. Traditionally in Afghanistan, grapes are grown on the ground. This method traps moisture under the leaves and causes the leaves to mold and disease. Once the trellis is complete, other farmers can visit the farm to learn the importance and benefits of trellising grapes. (Photo by U.S. Army Sgt.1st Class Peter Ferrell, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team [Mountain], Task Force Wolverine Public Affairs)](/images/stories/feature_stories/images/2010_10/096/101009-a-9212f-093.jpg "PANJSHIR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Workers from the Dashtak Demonstration Farm install a grape trellis system. Concrete posts are used to support a three-level wire system to have the grapes grow upward instead of on the ground. Traditionally in Afghanistan, grapes are grown on the ground. This method traps moisture under the leaves and causes the leaves to mold and disease. Once the trellis is complete, other farmers can visit the farm to learn the importance and benefits of trellising grapes. (Photo by U.S. Army Sgt.1st Class Peter Ferrell, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team [Mountain], Task Force Wolverine Public Affairs)")
![PANJSHIR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Jim Hoffman, U.S. Department of Agriculture advisor for the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team and Idaho resident, meets with H. Sultan Hamid, chief trainer for the Roots of Peace organization, at the Dashtak Demonstration Farm Oct. 9. The purpose for the visit was to start installing a grapes-trellis system on the farm. Hamid explained to the foreman and the workers of the farm all the steps involved in installing the system and how important it was to follow each one. When the trellis is complete, other farmers can visit the farm to learn how to trellis their own grapes. (Photo by U.S. Army Sgt.1st Class Peter Ferrell, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team [Mountain], Task Force Wolverine Public Affairs)](/images/stories/feature_stories/images/2010_10/096/101009-a-9212f-023.jpg "PANJSHIR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Jim Hoffman, U.S. Department of Agriculture advisor for the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team and Idaho resident, meets with H. Sultan Hamid, chief trainer for the Roots of Peace organization, at the Dashtak Demonstration Farm Oct. 9. The purpose for the visit was to start installing a grapes-trellis system on the farm. Hamid explained to the foreman and the workers of the farm all the steps involved in installing the system and how important it was to follow each one. When the trellis is complete, other farmers can visit the farm to learn how to trellis their own grapes. (Photo by U.S. Army Sgt.1st Class Peter Ferrell, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team [Mountain], Task Force Wolverine Public Affairs)")
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| Afghan forces, TF Bastogne continue operations in Sherzad District |
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NANGARHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Afghan National Security Forces and Soldiers from 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Task Force Bastogne, continued operations in the Sherzad District Jan. 8 clearing the village of Toto of insurgent fighters to reinforce a foundation of security in the area. |
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| TF Iron eliminates insurgent IED team |
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GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Soldiers form Task Force Iron Rakkasan and members of the Afghan Uniformed police, using the Precision Threat Detection System blimp at Forward Operating Base Andar, identified a group of insurgents with weapons and explosives Jan. 3. |
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| TF Iron Rakkasan uses PTDS to prevent highway robbery |
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GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Recently, Soldiers from Task Force Iron Rakkasan watched a member of the Afghan Uniformed Police conduct an illegal checkpoint on the route between Ghazni and Sharana. Using the camera system on the Persistent Threat Detection System, Soldiers observed a man standing in the road collecting money from vehicles. The practice is common by insurgents who fund their attacks by taking money from locals. |
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| Joint operation helps clear Sherzad of insurgent activity |
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NANGARHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Afghan National Security Forces and Soldiers from Task Force Bastogne began operations in the Sherzad District Dec. 23. |
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