Idaho AgBiz

Wheat Head Armyworm Pest Alert for eastern WA and northern Idaho

kpainter — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 19:28:10 +0000

Moths of the Wheat Head Armyworm complex are showing up early this year and in high numbers, according to an integrated monitoring system for insect populations in wheat across eastern Washington conducted at Washington State University. The red cells in the table indicate potential hot spots. In previous years we have not found larvae in fields where the adult count averaged 30 moths. The pheromone draws the moths in from a wide area, so it is a sensitive test. Farmers and crop consultants should start checking fields for larvae by the end of this week (June 12), as they hatch 10 days after moths lay eggs. The Lincoln County, WA, area near Reardan, Davenport, and Edwall appears to be a hot spot. For more information, go to http://smallgrains.wsu.edu/wheat-and-barley-insect-pest-surveys/

The small grains team at Washington State University will be conducting weekly sampling of insect pest populations in wheat and barley fields throughout the dryland region of Washington State in order to alert the small grains industry about the size and location of damaging insect pest populations. The pests include Hessian fly, Aphids, Cereal Leaf Beetle (CLB), Grasshoppers and Wheat Head Armyworm. Next week results from pheromone trapping of wheat midge will be posted.

Managing downy brome (cheatgrass) in winter wheat

kpainter — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 23:40:18 +0000

Downy brome, commonly known as cheatgrass, can drastically reduce winter wheat yields. Learn integrated methods of managing this common pest in a new PNW publication, available for download here. Management techniques include preventing the weed from infesting new areas, growing a competitive crop, and keeping weeds off balance by changing management practices. Crop rotation is one of the best methods of reducing cheatgrass infestations, as it has a relatively short lifespan in the soil (2-3 years), such as two or more years of spring-planted crops, with or without fallow.

Blackleg outbreak confirmed in North Idaho canola fields

kpainter — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 16:03:44 +0000

As of April 2, blackleg has been confirmed in 10 of 11 winter canola fields from Moscow to Grangeville, ID. Infestations have ranged from 1% of the plants to 30-40% of the plants. It was also found in residue of a 2014 spring canola field on the southern Winona Butte east of Greencreek, Idaho. If you have any live canola or other Brassicas, winterkilled canola residue, live cover crops or cover crop residue, 2014 spring Brassica residues (e.g. canola, mustard, camelina), or even Brassica weed species in or near fields, take a few minutes to get a close up look at the leaves and stems for any sign of blackleg. As mentioned previously, the best defense is buying certified blackleg-free seed, selecting blackleg resistant varieties, crop rotation, and making sure there is seed treatment applied. Fungicide spray programs are going to be very important for keeping the disease in check as the crops bolt/flower this spring. Other information:

Image of lesion on winter canola leaf from field near Grangeville (right)
Blackleg Field Scouting Protocol
What to do with samples and where to deliver for diagnosis
Blackleg information from Canada
Blackleg fact sheet from North Dakota
Presentation about blackleg by WSU seed pathologist Lindsey du Toit
Questions? Contact Tim Paulitz, Jim Davis, Karen Sowers, or Lindsey du Toit or go to http://css.wsu.edu/biofuels/

New pocket-size bulletin uses a visual approach to describe economic contributions

kpainter — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 00:02:47 +0000

One in 7 jobs in Idaho is generated by agribusiness in 2012, totaling 20% of Idaho’s total economic output with $25.1 billion in sales. This small format booklet written by Phil Watson, an Associate Professor in the department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology and Steven Turi, a graduate research assistant, is full of graphs and photos describing the impact of agriculture and agribusiness in Idaho. Idaho ranked first in potato production in 2012, producing 31% of the nation’s potatoes. It is also number one in food size trout production. Idaho ranks second for production of barley, sugarbeets, and Austrian winter peas and third in milk, hop, mint, prune, and plum production. Total cash receipts from livestock was $4 billion in 2012, while cash receipts from crop production was $3.6 billion. For more information, download Bulletin 892.

Calculating Break-Even Prices for Organic Poultry Production

kpainter — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 19:31:30 +0000

Learn the basics of producing organic meat chickens in chicken tractors and learn how to calculate the price you need to charge to cover all your production costs with these new UI Extension publications (Livestock Publications)!

Cost of Production Studies for Idaho Potatoes Now Available

kpainter — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 22:33:37 +0000

Three new reports on potato costs and returns by UI Extension Economist Paul Patterson are now available:

AEES 1403: 2014 Cost of Potato Production for Idaho With Comparisons to 2013

AEES 1501: 2014 Idaho Potato Cost of Production: 2003 – 2014 and Five-Year Trend

AEES 1502: 2014 Cost of Potato Production Study for Colorado, Idaho, Washington and Wisconsin

Recorded Webinars on 2014 Farm Bill Options

kpainter — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 00:14:30 +0000

Were you unable to attend any workshops on the details of the 2014 Farm Bill? The following links will allow you view webinars and presentations on the following topics:

ARC/PLS Overview Webinar:
http://connect.cals.uidaho.edu/p1q15wwoiv5/

ARC/PLS Overview Presentation (pdf):
ARC-PLC Overview

Estimation Tool Overview:
http://connect.cals.uida ho.edu/p86x3jp41fk/

Decision Tool Overview:
http://connect.cals.uidaho.edu/p4jrjw689pa/

2014 Farm Bill Deadlines and Resources

kpainter — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 18:54:21 +0000

2014 Farm Bill Deadlines and Information, Crop Producers

2014 Farm Bill Information, Livestock and Dairy Producers

Critical deadlines for crop producers and decision aid tools to help growers analyze the alternatives in the 2014 Farm Bill can be found here. Crop producers will need to choose between the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) and Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC). In addition, ARC can be based on production in your county or it can be based on the individual’s production history.

We have a list of resources and links for more information on the Dairy Margin Protection Program as well as new livestock policies posted here. The 2014 Farm Bill provides support to dairy producers through two new programs and to livestock operations through disaster assistance programs. New decision tools and guides as well as other useful links for dairy and livestock producers related to the 2014 Farm Bill are described.