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Reducing water, chemical use with UV-C light : WSU researchers develop sanitizing technology for organic fruit — Page 4
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Moscow-Pullman Daily News
Reducing water, chemical use with UV-C light WSU researchers develop sanitizing technology for organic fruit By Samantha Malott for Northwest Farm and Ranch
Researchers at Washington State University are working to bring UV-C technology into organic fruit production as an alternative — and more efficient — sanitizing technique. Shyam Sablani, associate professor of food engineering in WSU biological systems engineering, has been part of the group for four years, focused on developing a lamp that can sanitize fruit surfaces using ultraviolet-C lights. “Currently they (fruit producers) are using chemical-based products,” he said, such as chlorine. Just water washing isn’t always going to completely clean the fruits, either, he said. “Some are even too delicate,” he said. The water can soften the skin of some fruits, such as apricots, making them more susceptible to bruising dur-
ing the packaging process, he said. A 250 nanometer wavelength from the UV-C light can kill nearly all the microbes living on a fruit’s surface, even when applied in only small doses, depending on the fruit’s surface texture and how contaminated the surface is. For fruits with smooth surfaces, such as apples, a short dose of the light is very effective, Sablani said. Rough surfaced fruits like raspberries, strawberries and cantaloupes need to have a larger dose applied to be effective, because the microbes have more small crevices to hide in where the light has a harder time reaching them, he said. Higher doses don’t necessarily mean longer time under the light. Increasing the number of lamps or decreasing the distance between the lamp and fruit surface can also have a great effect. The average time a fruit will be under the UV-C light ranges between See UV-C, Page 9A
Geoff Crimmins/Daily News
Shyam Sablani talks about a device he uses in his research that uses ultravioletC light to sanitize the surfaces fruit Sept. 14 in Pullman. Sablani is an associate professor of food engineering at Washington State University.
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Northwest Farm and Ranch
Moscow-Pullman Daily News
| Friday, September 25, 2015 | 5A
Growers at the table over monarch butterfly debate Efforts continue to reduce use of herbicide Roundup, linked to decline of the species A push to stem the use of herbicides in farm fields because it kills the plant that monarch butterflies rely on for their livelihood has repercussions for regional growers. Robert Blair, past president of the National Association of Wheat Growers and a Kendrick, Idaho, grower, said the association is a major stakeholder in the debate to stem the use of glyphosphates — the herbicide in the Monsanto brand Roundup, because of its importance in producing higher field yields by cutting down invasive plants in cultivated fields. For growers such as Blair, the issue is multifaceted. Glyphosphate doesn’t just control invasives such as milkweed, the herbicide also
helps control erosion and is a boon to soil health. Ecologists have for several years pointed at products such as Roundup as a major culprit in the decline of monarch butterflies because its application efficiently kills milkweed plants. The butterflies in their larval stage rely on milkweed to complete their life cycle. Monarchs are a migratory insect that flock each year in the millions from North America to Mexico, a natural wonder that ecologists think could disappear, at least in part because of the slow eradication of milkweed, a once prolific field plant. A national push to stem the use of glyphosphates has pushed growers into a corner, See Butterfly, Page 15A
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Northwest Farm and Ranch
Moscow-Pullman Daily News
Farmers weigh in on rate hike, new ad slogans Commission also considers new name, research, advertising By Josh Babcock for Northwest Farm and Ranch
Before imposing a three-year, 1 percentage point assessment increase for research and advertising, the Washington Dry Pea and Lentil Commission recently held a public hearing in Colfax, Wash., for farmers to voice their opinions. Tim McGreevy, CEO of the USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council in Moscow, Idaho, said the increase is being proposed in response to the United Nations declaring 2016 the International Year of Pulse Crops. It’s a prime opportunity to begin a pulse brand advertising campaign, McGreevy said, and invest in research to increase productivity. The board is also considering adding faba beans and lupine as commodities covered by the commission and changing the group’s name to the Pulse Crops Commission. “Now is the opportunity for us to grow our market,” Kevin Meyer,
chairman of the Washington commission, said. “We have a lot of ability to increase our production in the U.S. and worldwide.” Farmer and Washington board member Dan McKinley estimated the increase would cost farmers $12,000 per year depending on the size of the farm, but said he supports the increase because it will likely increase production. “You have to pay ahead of time to get the reward,” he said. Doug Morgan, another farmer, said he began farming in 1980 and remembers living on a 3 percent to 5 percent return on investment. “You double this ‘assessment’, for those guys that are beginning and trying to start a farm, this is a pretty big hit,” Morgan said. Everyone at the hearing supported all parts of the proposal, except Morgan who said he did not support the assessment increase. Howard Jones, chair of the Idaho Pea and Lentil Commission in Moscow
said if Washington passes the increase, Idaho growers will follow suit. “Got Milk?,” “Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner,” and “Pork. The other white meat,” were a few of the examples of agriculture advertising campaigns McGreevy cited during the hearing. He questioned why pulse crops lacked such a campaign. McGreevy said the new campaign would target millennials through social and other media. The group has paid Cynthia Sass, author of “Slim Down Now,” and nutrition consultant for the New York Yankees and Rangers, to help push the campaign. McGreevy said the commission is also working to bring first lady Michelle Obama and television networks like MSNBC and Food Network to participate with the campaign, which is hoping to raise a total of $8 million. “We need to give them new snack line-ups,” he said. “Let’s put lentils in your burger; let’s have a black bean lava cake.” McGreevy noted part of creating new snacks is finding new and creative ways to prepare those foods and tying
pulse products with other foods, which requires research. “In pulses we have been behind in investing research in these crops,” but it’s something needed to increase productivity, McGreevy said. The assessment increase would be used to find and employ a research team for a pulse research endowed chair, so they can examine how pulse products work with other foods, he said. Laboratory space and an endowed chair position salary would be provided by Washington State University. McGreevy said the proposed name change is to account for other crops under the commission that are not classified as dry peas and lentils. If the director of the Washington State Department of Agriculture chooses to send the proposal to referendum, a ballot will be mailed Oct. 20 to all producers on the list of affected parties. If producers approve the referendum, the proposal would be adopted Nov. 30 and become effective Jan. 1. Babcock can be reached at jbabcock@dnews.com or (208) 883-4630.
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Moscow-Pullman Daily News
| Friday, September 25, 2015 | 7A
UI professor leads $3.2 million research project By Dominique Wald for Northwest Farm and Ranch
The University of Idaho has received a $3.2 million grant from the USDA Food Security Challenge Area program to research and combat pale cyst nematodes — microscopic worms that threaten potato production. The project is expected to last five years and will be led by UI professor and nematologist Louise-Marie Dandurand. It relies on university, federal and industry effort and includes researchers from Oregon State University and Cornell University, as well as the USDA Agricultural Research Service and international experts. Courtesy Dandurand said even though the project is in Louise-Marie Dandurand, who received a grant to its beginning stages, study potato nematodes, is seen in the UI greenhouse. researchers plan to use the first year to screen said. “These infections counties. Its discovery potato varieties in New can result in 80 percent resulted in a cooperative response program York, Idaho and Oregon potential crop failure.” The nematodes, by the U.S. Department to see which have resistance to the pale cyst Dandurand said, infect of Agriculture and Idaho nematodes. Researchers the plant’s roots and its State Department of will also try to develop cysts or egg clusters can Agriculture that includresistant potatoes suit- survive in soil for up to ed aggressive movement restrictions, sanitation 30 years. able for this region. In 2006, the pale cyst and a ban on potato “We’re trying to understand why a nem- nematode was discovered atode is able to infect in southeastern Idaho in See nematode, Page 12A a potato,” Dandurand Bingham and Bonneville
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Northwest Farm and Ranch
Moscow-Pullman Daily News
Spring crops crippled by summer heat Wheat yields down as much as 30 percent for farmers on the Palouse By Josh Babcock for Northwest Farm and Ranch
Crops on the Palouse didn’t escape the extremely dry weather from this summer’s drought, and decreased yields for a number of commodities may leave some farmers in a financial bind. Sam White, Pacific NorthwestFarmersCooperative chief operating officer, said, “All the spring crops are at less yields than last year.” White said spring wheat yields on the Palouse — both soft white and red hard wheat — saw up to a 30 percent loss. Glen Squires, chief executive officer of the Washington Grain Commission, said that decrease stems back to May when abnormally early and
warm temperatures increased right as farmers were in dire need of rain. As the heat dried out the crops, the wheat stopped growing, kernels began to shrivel, and farmers took to harvest about two to three weeks early, he said. That’s the same reason why Aaron Flansburg, a local farmer for about 15 years, started harvest earlier than ever before and finished in late July. “That’s not normal at all,” Flansburg said. This year, Flansburg said, his spring wheat crop was down about 25 percent. Whitman County Commissioner Art Swannack has been farming on the Palouse for more than 30 years and saw a season similar to Flansburg’s
experience. places in Washington. Swannack said his spring However, the summer heat wheat yield was about 20 per- didn’t only beat the wheat. cent to 25 percent lower than Flansburg said the heat an average crippled his year, and he spring barley finished harand spring vest about peas this year, three weeks pushing his early. spring barley Despite the yield below 20 percent to average and 30 percent decreasing decrease in his yield for wheat yields spring peas by on the Palouse, more than 50 Aaron Flansburg Squires said percent. other places in Garbanzos Local farmer the state have were a relaseen losses tively bright from 15 percent to 50 percent. spot, though. Squires said wheat on the Flansburg said his garbanPalouse may not have been as zo beans yielded just slightly impacted by the early heat, below average. because crops in the area are Last year, a hailstorm and a more accustomed to the dry cli- lack of moisture also left farmmate and aren’t as dependent ers on the Palouse suffering on moisture as crops in other from decreased yields.
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White said some farmers may feel a financial hit from this year’s poor production. Flansburg agreed, “If you are relying on the insurance, typically it doesn’t make up for the loss of production.” Swannack said it’s likely many farmers will cut back on farming costs to save money that was lost from the decreased yields. “Most farmers have cut back on their spending the last few months,” Swannack said. White referred to spring wheat as “a double whammy” for farmers, due to a combination of poor yields and the other major contenders in the world wheat market at least meeting average production, and thereby keeping this year’s prices for wheat relatively low. Babcock can be reached at jbabcock@ dnews.com or (208) 883-4630.
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Moscow-Pullman Daily News
| Friday, September 25, 2015 | 9A
UV-C
from Page 4A 30 seconds to two minutes, he said. “The light disrupts the DNA (of the microbes), and they lose their ability to reproduce,” Sablani said. Microbes are a very tiny cell that if ingested can cause people to get very sick, he said. Even just a few can a have a large effect. The light essentially kills them, so they are still present on the fruit, but they don’t have an effect when ingested, he said. The UV-C light has an insignificant effect on the fruit itself, aside from slightly altering the color at times, he said. It does not affect the texture or taste, because it only penetrates the surface. Contamination levels are already commonly low in fruit production due to healthy handling, but this extra step assures fruits are safe as they arrive at stores for consumers, he said. Manufacturers should still use their good handling processes and not rely solely on the lamps for sanitization, Sablani said. Using the lamps will also cut the water and chemicals used, reducing the chemicals being released into the environment, he said..
Geoff Crimmins/Daily News
The surface of an apple is sanitized with ultraviolet-C light Sept. 14 in Shyam Sablani’s research laboratory in Pullman. The next step is to work with lamp manufacturers and fruit producers to incorporate the systems into a packaging line. While the technology is not very expensive, there will be other challenges to address, including designing tunnels around the lamps to keep people safe, he said. Human skin is harmed by UV-C light,
so lamps need to be surrounded by a sort of tunnel to protect individuals working along the production lines, he said. Creating tunnels that have lights completely surrounding the fruit may tackle both challenges at once. “There is no industrial implementation yet, but it shows promise to build effective prototypes,” Sablani said. Research so far has been funded
T
by the Northwest Pear Bureau, the BioAg Program Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources and the National Processed Raspberry Council, but Sablani said the project is looking for additional funding get the technology onto the production lines. Malott may be reached at smalott@dnews.com, at (208) 883-4639 or on Twitter @samanthamalott.
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10A | Friday, September 25, 2015 |
Northwest Farm and Ranch
Moscow-Pullman Daily News
High student debt can affect farm business hopes But a good education in agriculture can provide many career paths By Terri Harber for Northwest Farm and Ranch
A recent study claims there aren’t as many new farmers and ranchers operating in the U.S. because of the rising student debt load. The National Young Farmers Coalition reported this summer that it’s a “significant barrier preventing more would-be farmers and ranchers from entering agriculture.” The coalition used a survey of 700 young farmers and compiled additional information from the USDA Census of Agriculture to reach this conclusion. The total number of farm operators nationwide decreased by more than 95,000 between 2007 and 2012. Only 6 percent of all U.S. farmers haven’t yet
reached the age 35. And survey respondents reported carrying an average of $35,000 in student loans. These loans are preventing or delaying 30 percent of the respondents from farming, and 20 percent of them report having trouble obtaining credit because of those loans. Local academics say the added personal debt that comes from paying for college educations usually aren’t as much of a factor, however. “I would agree that one of the biggest obstacles to entering farmers is capital, and if a student comes out with a lot of debt it’s challenging for them to accumulate capital,” said Larry Makus, associate dean and director of academic programs for the University of Idaho’s College of Agricultural and Life
start up an ag operation, he said. Makus also pointed out Sciences. In this part of the country that for agriculture businessa would-be farmer or rancher es the capital requirements needs to be able to come up are so immense that student debt wouldn’t play a primary with enough role in one’s money for financial abilpay for land, ity to pay. however. And “ I t ’ s that’s not already very easy for most expensive,” people. The he said. average size S t e v e Idaho farm Kaufman is 600 acres, graduated and with from the land prices at Steve Kaufman University of $3,000-$4,000 University of Idaho graduate Idaho in 2005 an acre the with a bachelow-end figlor’s degree in ure would be agribusiness. $1.8 million. He spent nearly nine years Young people with inherited land suitable for agri- working for Northwest Farm culture or from families who Credit Services before returnare successful farmers and ing to work on the family ranchers aren’t numerous but farm near Lewiston about a would be the best situated to year ago.
“
It’s rewarding growing food that feeds the world.”
He’s a fifth-generation family farmer at Kaufman Farms. “It’s rewarding growing food that feeds the world,” he said. Student loan debt “is a bigger deal than it was in the past and a big factor for millennials wanting to go into business no matter their college major,” he said. “I see it as one more payment that makes it harder to take on that tractor loan.” Kaufman agreed with Makus that costs to buy or rent land “are even bigger barriers than student loan debt” to those wanting to start their own ag businesses. He’s proud to help carry on a family tradition. And coming from a family ag operation helped him prepare for a career with more work and less security than many others. He and other farm kids worked through school
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Moscow-Pullman Daily News
| Friday, September 25, 2015 | 11A
see enrollment increase and that it’s at the highest level ever. Student debt is growing nationwide, but there are no more students entering these ag programs from less expensive community colleges than in the past, she said. In the ag industry, “the job market has been incredibly good during the last three to four years,� she said. Starting commercial farms has been cost-prohibitive for a long time. But WSU graduates have been able to go into business for themselves by finding financial backers and thinking small. Parker Byington “Small organic farms are doing well,� Kidwell said, ed his master’s degree in ag even on the west side with its research with a dairy spehigher land prices. cialty earlier this year. The Some specialized ag pro- married father of one arrived grams focus on engineering in Montgomery, Minn., about and technology, she said. an hour from Minneapolis in Families without heirs July looking to operate a dry sometimes will bring in a land dairy farm. His family young outsider to see the in Moses Lake, Wash., sold farm continue into the future, their dairy farm when he was Kidwell said. in high school. He missed the Parker Byington complet- daily activity.
“I love being outside, working with and watching the animals,� Byington said. “And I love producing wholesome products people can eat and drink.� He worked at a large dairy farm at one point. He used his bachelor’s in management from Brigham Young University when he worked for John Deere in accounting and finance. Byington hopes to find something of comparable size to his family’s past 300-cow operation, and expects to buy one soon.
Northwest Farm and Ranch to keep down expenses after new jobs annually through graduation, he said. 2020 for graduates from colEveryone “needs to look lege programs that highlight for those niche opportunities. food, agriculture, renewable There are lots of different natural resources or the enviangles. Someone who wants ronment. to farm bad enough will find It predicted almost half the way to make it work,� he of the positions would be in said. management and business While at NFCS Kaufman and about 27 percent in scisaw people doing off-farm ence, technology, engineering work or getand mathing hired by ematics. someone else Only 15 while they percent would started somebe in sustainthing small able food and on their own. biomaterial T h e n production. “they’d invest The rest, back into the about 12 perbusiness, and cent, would Parker Byington eventually be in educaget a farm tion, commuWSU graduate big enough nication and to support government themselves,� services. he said. Kimberlee Kidwell, execThere are plenty of work utive associate dean of the options inside and outside Washington State University the industry for graduates College of Agricultural, of agriculture programs. Human, and Natural Purdue University predicts Resource Sciences, said their there will be nearly 58,000 ag department continues to
“
I love being outside, working with and watching the animals.�
Harber can be reached at (208) 8834631, or by email to tharber@dnews. com.
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efforts have reduced the infestation, and they are no longer found in over half of the previfrom Page 7A ously infested fields. The grant is one of three planting in fields infested projects nationally funded this with pale cyst nematodes. year and includes 18 scien“In these instances, contain- tists — including six UI facment is key,” ulty members Dandurand specializing in said. “It poses plant patholsuch a threat ogy, nemato potato protology, plant duction, so molecular it’s important biology and that we don’t agricultural let it spread.” economics. According During the to the USDA next five years, Animal and Dandurand Plant Health said, she hopes Inspection this project Service, the also serves as Louise-Marie Dandurand area reprea tool for outUniversity of Idaho professor sents less reach educathan 1 pertion. cent of Idaho’s more than “We want to bridge that gap 300,000 acres used to grow for stakeholders,” Dandurand potatoes. The response pro- said. “We’ve got a great team gram ensured that the pest of researchers, and our hope is wouldn’t spread. to educate others during this Dandurand said in the nine process.” years since the discovery of the pale cyst nematode, USDA, Wald may be reached at dwald@dnews. ISDA, industry and university com or (208) 883-4628.
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UN set to kick off Year of Pulses Effort to increase consumption of lentils, peas, beans and chickpeas emphasizes health value By Kathy Hedberg for Northwest Farm and Ranch
The world stage is set to highlight a local rotation crop — mostly unappreciated in this country — that sustains the diets of billions of people in lowand moderate-income nations. The Global Pulse Confederation will kick off the United Nations-sponsored International Year of Pulses in New York City in November with scores of celebrations being held around the world throughout 2016. “It’s pretty exciting,” said Todd Scholz of the USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council in Moscow. International pulse marketers “pushed the U.N. to recognize pulses because worldwide they’re a great source of nutrition and they’re sustainable. So all these crops that are
Our staff of 32 natural resource professionals provide state-of-the-art consulting and management services throughout the Inland Northwest. • • • • • • • • •
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An assortment of lentils, peas, beans and chickpeas are seen in preparation for the International Year of Pulses. grown all across the world are a significant provider of food security.” Hakan Bahceci, president of the International Pulse Trade
and Industries Confederation, said the UN See Pulses, Page 18A
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Open range, open issues
Moscow-Pullman Daily News
| Friday, September 25, 2015 | 13A
Idaho cattle and grain associations working to find solutions to issues without involving state lawmakers By Elizabeth Rudd for Northwest Farm and Ranch
Enticing green crops and nearby cows can often present challenges for both agriculture producers and cattle ranchers, particularly in open range areas. That’s why the Idaho Cattle Association and Idaho Grain Producers Association have begun working together in an effort to find local solutions to the challenges, particularly in areas of open range, without involving the state Legislature. Idaho Cattle Association Executive Vice President Wyatt Prescott said open range has existed in Idaho for as long as it’s been a state and continues to make up a majority of Idaho’s land. It
was added to Idaho Code in 1961 as a way to protect livestock producers as towns, cities and even unincorporated communities began developing into rangeland areas. “Most of the state is in open range,” Prescott said. Open range is defined in Idaho Code as “all unenclosed lands outside of cities, villages and herd districts, upon which cattle by custom, license, lease or permit, are grazed or permitted to roam.” The statute also relinquishes livestock producers from the obligation to keep cattle off of highways that may run through open rangeland and does not hold them liable for any damage or injuries sustained if a vehicle collides with an animal. Prescott said the law is
intended to address “worstcase scenarios,” but how it’s written also places the responsibility of keeping cattle off an individual’s property on them rather than the livestock owner. That’s where the conflict between neighboring agriculture producers and cattle ranchers come into play, he said. In an effort to address some of those conflicts internally, the two state associations have formed an open range committee comprised of five cattle producers and five agriculture producers. Prescott said the organizations have divided the state into five districts with one representative from both See range, Page 15A
Kyle Mills/Lewiston Tribune
A calf looks for some attention from its mother Thursday as the pair graze near Tammany Creek Road south of Lewiston.
14A | Friday, September 25, 2015 |
Northwest Farm and Ranch
Moscow-Pullman Daily News
Tracking cattle habitat selections in new ways
Analyzing movement on tighter scales provides clearer maps
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By Samantha Malott for Northwest Farm and Ranch
A more exact method of tracking cattle habitat selection over months, rather than seasons, can help bring better maps to land and herd managers. Dr. Carrie Roever with Oregon State University and the Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center has been working at the Starkey Experimental Forest near LaGrande, Ore., collecting data on how various factors such as human interaction and precipitation affect where cattle choose to move to. Traditionally habitat selection has been observed through functional response by the animal, driven by resource abundance, she said in at a seminar lecture at the University of Idaho College of Natural Resources. Roever’s research has been gathering data on temporal response driven by a
change in resource quality and animal priorities that change throughout the months. The problem with breaking it up by select seasons, rather than months, is that rainfall can change from year to year, she said. For example in the spring a priority is protecting young calves, while in the later summer months cattle are focused on fattening up for the winter, she said. This can have an effect on where the cattle roam, along with a variety of other factors including precipitation. Temperature may have an even bigger impact than precipitation though, she said. Using GPS collars, Roever has collected pinpoint locations of the cattle. Comparing those to various factors in the habitat, some trends have become clear. During periods of high rainfall, the See Cattle, Page 16A
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has made positive strides toward better conservation, including its efforts to minimize soil erosion. The use of from Page 5A glyphosphates has been instrumental in those efforts. Agribusiness has Blair said. been tasked by the U.S. Department “NAWG has to have a seat at the of Agriculture with controlling erotable in (Washington) D.C. if we want sion by curtailing tillage to stem the to be represented,” he said. “If we lose growth of invasive weeds. By using our growers, the ecoherbicides, weeds can nomic impact to the be controlled with state could be tremenminimal tillage, he dous in a very negative said. way.” “By using better Conservation science, and improvgroups across the U.S. ing practices we’re have called for minidoing a better job mizing glyphosphates, than we did 20 years and in some cases ago,” he said. “I’m have pushed a camalways amazed at the paign to replant milkjob farmers do. It’s weed seedlings in nontremendous. We wear Robert Blair irrigated land to boost so many hats.” Kendrick, Idaho farmer monarch populations. In its efforts to The monarch debate find solutions to is nothing new, Blair said. When he was the destruction of monarch habitat, in school in the 1970s he remembers NAWG accepted another hat as it learning about the decline of monarchs, serves on the steering committee of but instead of being pushed to extinc- the Monarch Collaborative, a group tion, he said the butterfly populations helping to frame the issues surroundhave cycled through low and high popu- ing milkweed habitat for monarch lations. butterflies. “It’s becoming an issue again,” he said. Bartholdt can be reached at rbartholdt@lmtribune. Since the 1970s, he said, agribusiness com or (208) 848-2275.
Butterfly
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I’m always amazed at the job farmers do. It’s tremendous. We wear so many hats.”
Range from Page 13A
industries in each district forming the committee. The committee was established two years ago and became active last year, Prescott said. The idea is that if a local agriculture producer and cattle rancher do have an issue, they can contact their district representatives for assistance in finding a solution. Prescott said the primary problem is that the cattle are still animals and a luscious green crop is like candy to them. Many ranchers have fencing to contain the animals, he said, but the cows can sometimes still get out and make their way to the more enticing feed. “They’ll eat the crop,” he said. “Basically, that’s ultimately what the problem is.” While restricting the cattle from crops may legally fall to the farmer, Prescott said there are issues for both parties when the cows are able to roam into the fields or completely freely. Farmers do not want their crop
| Friday, September 25, 2015 | 15A
eaten and ranchers do not want their cattle eating some crops — like alfalfa that can cause them to bloat and kill them quickly — or mingling outside their genetic pool or being exposed to disease. Prescott said ranchers also worry about their cattle getting out of their fence, even if they aren’t liable in an open range area. “Their biggest fear is their animals getting out and hurting someone,” he said. Another aspect is the investment ranchers make into their cattle. Prescott said a minimum cost per head of cattle is about $2,000. It can become pretty expensive if five or six cows get out and either end up sick, injured or dead. There are incentives for both cattle ranchers and agriculture farmers to work cooperatively to address any concerns with neighboring crops and cows, Prescott said. He believes the committee formed between the two associations has been working great and is more beneficial to the local producers than taking the conflicts to the state level. Rudd may be reached at erudd@lmtribune.com, at (208) 791-8465 or on Twitter @elizabeth_rudd.
Cattle from Page 14A
cattle tend to move to higher elevations, while during low rainfall they remain at lower elevations and closer to water sources, she said. During cloudy or high precipitation times the cattle are also more likely to be out in open, uncovered areas, while during the hot and sunny times they spend more time in dense canopy areas to stay cool, Roever said. By collecting this data, land managers can have a clearer image of where animals go at more exact periods of time depending on their surrounding elements and outside factors. Roever said rainfall will affect habitat selection the following month, too, which will additionally help managers predict where the animals will go and how they will behave the following month.
Northwest Farm and Ranch
Moscow-Pullman Daily News
Wildfires take toll on feed stocks UI Extension serves as clearinghouse to connect those with excess to those in need By Joel Mills for Northwest Farm and Ranch
While dozens of homes were lost when wildfires tore through north central Idaho forests this summer, some of the lesser-seen collateral damage was to the hay-filled barns and pastures ranchers rely on to get their stock through the winter. The need for feed saw neighbors and entire communities banding together to ensure animals were fed or relocated to safe grazing areas. But the University of Idaho set up a backstop in the form of a hay and pasture clearinghouse to connect those who have feed with those who needed it. “We have a list available of people who have contacted us who have hay for sale or pasture for rent,” said Idaho County Extension educator Jim Church. “When somebody needs hay, they can just email us at idaho@uidaho.edu, and we will send them that list.”
Malott may be reached at smalott@ dnews.com, at (208) 883-4639 or on Twitter @samanthamalott.
See Wildfires, Page 18A
Barry Kough/Tribune
Farmers dig fire breaks around a barn and house Monday on the Anatone Flats south of Asotin. Area residents and several agencies combined forces with Blue Mtn Fire District firefighters to contain and put out the wind-driven grass fire.
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Northwest Farm and Ranch
Moscow-Pullman Daily News
| Friday, September 25, 2015 | 17A
Scientists conduct drought study in western states U.S. Geological Survey workers to measure stream flow and temperature Keith Ridler Associated Press
BOISE — Federal scientists are conducting a low-flow stream study in six western states in an attempt to gain insights that could help resource managers better allocate scarce water supplies during future droughts. U.S. Geological Survey workers are measuring flows and temperatures through September in nearly 500 streams mostly in upper tributaries in Idaho, California, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington. The report could ultimately be used for everything from deciding how much water to release from dams, how many cattle to allow on grazing allotments, how much water will be available for farmers in irrigation districts and decisions about rivers that contain fish protected under the Endangered Species Act. “If water managers can understand which streams are most vulnerable it
helps them target efforts for drought relief,” said Chris Konrad, a research hydrologist with the federal agency and the study’s project chief. The spring snowpack in the West in 2015 was much lower than longterm averages, and many rivers in the region are now at historically low flows. What is especially unusual about the low snowpack, Konrad said, is that many areas received average amounts of precipitation. However, it came down as rain rather than snow, meaning it immediately ran through basins rather than forming a highelevation snowpack that functions as a kind of reservoir slowly melting through the summer to replenish streams. “This is pretty extreme by historical standards,” Konrad said. “I don’t know that we can expect this kind of year frequently. But at the same time, See study, Page 23A
Associated Press
A hydrologic technician from the U.S. Geological Survey Idaho Water Science Center measures streamflow Aug. 17 in Fall Creek near Anderson Ranch Dam in Mountain Home, southwestern Idaho.
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18A | Friday, September 25, 2015 |
Wildfires
Pulses
People can also call the extension office at (208) 983-2667. Church said the response hasn’t been very heavy due to the existing support structures in the communities impacted by wildfires. “A lot of people had contacts (for hay) directly, but we wanted to offer that service to them,” he said, noting that the recent moisture has reduced the demand even further. “We’ve been getting some good rain up here, and the pastures are starting to green up again. But we’ll still make (the list) available.” The university offered the service for all of northern Idaho, but it was focused in Idaho, Clearwater and Lewis counties where the fires were worst. Church said this is the first time the service has been offered, but if there is another bad fire year, it will be reactivated.
designation is set to increase consumption of lentils, peas, beans and chickpeas by emphasizing their nutritional value, versatility and importance in feeding people around the world. The greatest consumption of pulses is in India and the Middle East, Bahceci said, but new ways of using pulses will be part of the focus of the 2016 events. “We have to be innovative with our pulse ingredients and encourage the food industry to use them,” Bahceci said in a news release. That includes encouraging and expanding the use of pulses in the United States and Canada where pulses are grown, but not used as commonly as in other countries. Scholz said there will be chef competitions during the pulse year illustrating creative ways to use these products. The health benefits of pulses, especially in controlling obesity and cardiovascular diseases, will be emphasized. “This is kind of an effort to reacquaint the world with these crops and focus some research emphasis and improve marketing access and promote their category as a great source of nutrition,”
from Page 16A
Mills may be reached at jmills@ lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2266.
Northwest Farm and Ranch
Moscow-Pullman Daily News
from Page 12A
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Steve Hanks/Tribune
Some of the base mixes of soup starters of Brocke Cedar Ridge Soups. Scholz said. In order to promote the International Year of Pulses growers worldwide are contributing part of their crop assessment to be used for an increased marketing effort. Bahceci said the industry has made a $1.1 million pledge to finance the year, marking the first time
there has been a public-private partnership to promote a U.N. process. For more information about the International Year of Pulses see: http:// iyp2016.org/. Hedberg may be reached at kathyhedberg@gmail.com or (208) 983-2326.
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Moscow-Pullman Daily News
Bean harvest begins
| Friday, September 25, 2015 | 19A
Idaho farmers pleased with this year’s crop Cindy Snyder Times-News
TWIN FALLS, Idaho — Average. That’s how bean growers are describing the 2015 crop, though it’s still a little early to call it. Statewide, about 15 percent of the dry edible bean crop was harvested as of Sept. 1. In the Magic Valley, the number was probably closer to 5 percent. Glen Gier, a field representative with Gentec Inc., said only five fields had been threshed in the Twin Falls area but a lot of fields were just getting cut. He expects the majority of beans to be cut in the next two weeks. “Harvest is progressing good,” Gier said. “The beans are right where they should be.” South of Twin Falls, Bill Bitzenburg was cutting beans. Given the intense heat in June and how early small grain harvest was this year, he thought the bean crop might be further ahead than it is. When many fields started turning yellow a couple of weeks ago, he thought
harvest might pick up but the beans are taking their time. And that might help push yields a bit higher. Some of the early maturing varieties had undersized beans, likely because of that early heat stress. Cooler temperatures in August may help boost bean size in later maturing varieties. Compared to last year, plants did not seem to have as much foliage. Although leaves covered the rows, the canopy was not so thick that air couldn’t move through it. During the monsoon in early August when thunderstorms formed nearly every afternoon and humidity was high, growers were watching for mold but most did not have to spray fungicides to protect the crop. Red spider mites are starting to show up in fields, but infestations are spotty and it’s late enough that they aren’t expected to impact yields. Growers reported seeing a lot of thrip this summer and damage can be seen in fields, but not at a level that demanded treatment. Bitzenburg was expecting yields to be
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off based on the thinner plant structure. “It’s hard to have a heavy building on a weak foundation,” he pointed out. But when he’s pulled back the leaves to check sets, he’s been surprised to find more pods lower on the plants. Both Bitzenburg and Gier expect yields to be average to slightly above
average this year. But that’s somewhat disappointing after last year’s great crop. “I’ve got reds and they don’t look bad, but last year I knew they looked good,” Bitzenburg said. “We had some really good beans (in the Magic Valley) last year.”
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Northwest Farm and Ranch
Moscow-Pullman Daily News
Cautious optimism as potato harvest approaches Farmers expect improvements in shape and size
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Post-Register
Young potato plants grown by Mickelsen Farms get a drink in a field along Wolverine Road east of Firth. The weather has worked out well for eastern Idaho potato farmers, with a dry spell for planting, plenty of rain for germination and now some sunshine to help with growth.
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IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — As the potato harvest approaches, eastern Idaho farmers are hoping to improve on a middling 2014 crop. Nobody is predicting a banner harvest. But demand appears healthy, experts said, while overall yields and spud sizes are expected to be better than a year ago. Everyone warns it’s still early in the process, however. Most local farmers won’t begin harvesting the famous Idaho variety, the Russet Burbank, until late this month. And there could yet be major issues with late blight disease, a problem some say has been worse than ever in eastern Idaho this year. “We’re hopeful there’s some money in it for us this year,� said Osgood farmer Greg Risenmay. He said he will be digging “full-speed� by Sept. 28. Risenmay said that so far, it feels
like “just a typical year for Idaho.� Idaho Potato Commission President Frank Muir said across much of the state, the overall yield might be no better than last year — but the size and shape of the potatoes is expected to improve. Last year was marked by a glut of undersized spuds, possibly related to the excessive late-summer rain. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, about 4,000 more acres of potatoes were planted this year across Idaho compared to 2014. Those increases are tied to farmers with larger contracts with processors, Muir said — a sign that demand is healthy, particularly from overseas. Muir said this year has been especially bad for late blight, however. The disease has been known to cause widespread destruction to potato crops. Kent Sutton, who farms outside
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Northwest Farm and Ranch
Moscow-Pullman Daily News
The buzz around native bees Studies show native bees are two to three times more effective pollinators Torrie Cope Idaho Press-Tribune
MIDDLETON, Idaho — A latesummer breeze carried the scent of rosemary and basil as Tim and Mike Sommer spoke about their organic farming methods at Purple Sage Farms in Middleton. The father and son grow certified organic herbs, greens and vegetables on their 50-acre family farm. They use 12 greenhouses to grow their crops, which increases the length of their growing season and enhances the flavor of the products. They also put in four terraced beds behind the greenhouses four years ago, where they’ve planted additional varieties of crops. Tim and his wife, Tamara, started the farm 26 years ago, when they returned home to Middleton. They decided to farm organically, even though it presents additional challenges. “We became stewards, in that you learn about organic farming and what
it takes and how much harder it is, but there are reasons why, so we’ve embraced that,” Tim said. There are 211 organic farms in Idaho and eight in Canyon County, according to the most recent U.S. Census of Agriculture in 2012. That’s a small fraction of the 24,816 total farms in Idaho. There are more than 14,000 organic farms in the United States. Farms must grow through a fivestep process with the USDA to become certified, that includes farm inspections and an organic system plan for the producer or handler, according to the USDA. As an organic farm, Purple Sage doesn’t use chemical fertilizers or pesticides to aid their crops. Instead, manure from their herd of grass-fed sheep and compost piles add nutrients to the soil. They’re also finding ways to attract native pollinators — bees — to the farm. The Sommers are required to enhance the biodiversity on their farm
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as part of their organic certification program, Tim Sommer said, but that can be difficult for small farms like Purple Sage. “I didn’t know that you can do that by providing additional habitat for pollinators,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be a giant thing that takes a third of your farm to do. It’s a small thing that’s easily incorporated into what you’re doing and takes minimal space.”
Helping bees help farms Purple Sage showed off its efforts and experiments last week during a field day hosted by the Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides. Standing in front of the terraced beds, Mike Sommer listed the various plant families that he rotates through the farm in the greenhouses and outside. In all, there are about 150 varieties of plants. He keeps track of them using detailed Excel spreadsheets going back four years. The different varieties have overlapping flowering periods to provide food for the pollinators, which keeps them around. Sommer also plants a mix of annuals and perennials. When the ground is disturbed to rotate annuals, there are still places for insects to go, so it’s less disruptive to their habitat. Those plant varieties serve more than one purpose. They provide income to the farm and attract the beneficial insects the farm needs for pollination by creating habitat. “The important thing to think about is what we’re doing is providing a really good habitat and a really good place for native bees to exist, for their populations to improve and increase and for them to potentially start to
| Friday, September 25, 2015 | 21A
contribute to crop pollination on your farm,” said Jessa Kay Cruz. Cruz is with the Xerces Society, a nonprofit group that works with farmers, including the Sommers, to support habitat to increase native bee populations and crop production. Native bees are different from honeybees, which originate from Europe. Most honey bees live in managed hives, but native bees are largely solitary, Cruz said, and don’t form hives and colonies like honeybees. There are about 4,000 species of native bees in North America. Of the main groups of native bees in Idaho, the largest are ground nesting bees that nest in loose soil. Others include bumblebees and tunnel nesting bees. “Over time it’s become fascinating to see varieties of insects that you’ve never seen before or noticed before that are pollinators,” Tim Sommer said. “We’ve learned a lot.” There has been a focus on the decline in honeybee population and their pollination benefits, but native bees have been shown in some studies to be more effective pollinators than honeybees. A 2011 study by Cornell University professor Bryan Danforth found that native bees were two to three times more effective pollinators than honeybees and that native bees may be doing more work than they’re getting credit for. In 2009, native pollinators contributed crop benefits valued at more than $9 billion in the U.S., according to a White House fact sheet. The Sommers are now experimenting with what are called hedge rows. The rows are between the greenhouse and terraced beds and will eventually have a diverse mix of more than 100 plants in those rows to attract even more of those beneficial insects. Along with the native pollinators, the plants also become important habitat for natural enemies to pests including insects, spiders and birds.
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22A | Friday, September 25, 2015 |
Northwest Farm and Ranch
Moscow-Pullman Daily News
Potato harvest gets underway in earnest following an excellent growing season for 2015, potato farmers said.
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Optimism from Page 20A
Rexburg, said it’s the worst year for late blight in eastern Idaho in recent memory. “It’s just everywhere this year,” he said. It isn’t a problem regional farmers have always had to deal with, unlike other areas of the country, Sutton said. A longer, warmer growing season than normal might have given the disease more time and ideal conditions to multiply and spread, he said.
Farmers fight late blight by applying protective fungicidal sprays. But Sutton said it’s hard to shield the whole crop — some plants always end up dying. And farmers need to be wary that the disease doesn’t continue to fester even after harvest. “If you get those infected potatoes going into storage, it can spread within your pile and cause some real storage losses,” Sutton said. As with any crop, a lot can go wrong in a short amount of time. But Sutton said he’s optimistic he’ll be harvesting a healthy field of potatoes in less than two weeks.
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Moscow-Pullman Daily News
Study
from Page 17A we also know climate models are telling us we should expect warmer winters and in some years less snowpack. If we see one year like this, it’s likely that we’ll see more years like this.” One of the key goals of the $465,000 study is to determine which basins are most vulnerable to a low snowpack and which basins have the kind of geology that can mitigate a lack of snow with groundwater. About 160 of the streams are in Idaho. “Groundwater can act kind of like a buffer,” said Dave Evetts, data chief at the Geological Survey’s Idaho Water Science Center. “They’re going to know based on snowpack and precipitation amounts which areas may be impacted more severely by that kind of drought situation.” That kind of information could be used by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management when it comes to grazing allotments or setting stream flows where fish are present in water rights agreements, agency spokeswoman Jessica Gardetto said. “We use a lot of USGS products
and studies,” she said. “We incorporate a lot of their data into our NEPA reports.” Brian Sauer, water operations manager for the Middle Snake River field office with the Bureau of Reclamation, said the additional information could be helpful in knowing how much water to expect in the spring when managers are trying to fill reservoirs but also leave space to protect against downstream flooding. It could be especially helpful following a winter like 2015. “It’s possible that more rain than snow could make us operate slightly differently,” Sauer said. Joel Fenolio, senior water manager for the Upper Columbia with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said one year won’t change how the agency operates dams. But he said the agency would be interested in the USGS report for 2015. “It was a challenging winter to figure out total water supply,” he said. “There was a lot of precipitation, but it didn’t build as snow like is usually does. It just kept running off.” Another key component of the study is tracking water temperature. Many species of fish, some with federal protections, can’t survive in warm water. Geological Survey officials say the report will be published in 2016.
| Friday, September 25, 2015 | 23A
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24A | Moscow-Pullman Daily News | Friday, September 25, 2015
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