Northwest Farm & Ranch, December 2018

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Pend Oreille Ferry

Bonner

Spokane

Lincoln

Grant

Boundary

Stevens

Kootenai

Benewah Adams

Whitman

Shoshone

Latah Clearwater

Franklin Yakima

Garfield Columbia

Benton

Nez Perce

Asotin

Walla Walla

Lewis

Farm and Ranch Winter 2018

Klickitat Umatilla

Wallowa

Morrow

Idaho

Union

Baker

A new beverage on the block ‘Apple to Glass’ grant gives cider makers a boost — Page 10

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Farm and Ranch

Moscow-Pullman Daily News

Table of Contents The sweet smell of success Page 3

Great year for winter wheat in Washington Page 4

Retired grain terminal manager recognized Page 5

WSU receives $5.6M to protect specialty crops Page 6

Farm bill gets a pass Page 6

International pulse market may be drying up Page 7

Working with wool for charity, pleasure Page 8

Courtesy of the University of Idaho

Juliet Marshall, a professor in the University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences inspects a field at the UI Parker Farm. Northwest Farm and Ranch is published quarterly by the Lewiston Tribune and Moscow-Pullman Daily News and printed at the Tribune Publishing Co. Inc.’s printing facility at 505 Capital St. in Lewiston. To advertise in Northwest Farm and Ranch, contact Doug Bauer with the Tribune Publishing Company at dbauer@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2269. Editorial suggestions and ideas can be sent to Devin Rokyta at drokyta@dnews.com or Craig Clohessy at cclohessy@lmtribune.com.

‘Apple to Glass’ grant gives cider makers a boost Page 10

Finding the cause of mastitis Page 11

Plant diseases increasing in Idaho Page 12

Farm and Ranch

The sweet smell of success

Compost developed by WSU gets organic designation from state agriculture department By Joel Mills Lewiston Tribune

It might not have the same cachet as Cougar Gold cheese or Ferdinand’s ice cream, but Washington State University is getting some recognition for another one of its commercial products: compost. The Washington State Department of Agriculture recently registered the university’s prolific compost facility as organic, supplying the university’s Eggert Family Organic Farm and other growers around the Palouse. Rick Finch, the manager of WSU Facilities Operation Waste Management, said it took research and coordination with several departments to ensure only the right materials would make it into the new organic recipe. That included segregating items that always went into the regular compost mix, like food waste and certain types of wood. “We had mixed and processed woods, including plywood, mixed with the prunings and trimmings from trees and brush here on campus,” Finch said. “We had very careful acceptance criteria, but in the (state) organic program, the tolerance for even a board with some incidental paint on it is really low. So we just got the groundspeople to put their natural woods in a separate pile, and then we process it separately.” Wood doesn’t make up much of the compost stream in general, but the materials that are rejected don’t go to the landfill. Instead, they are shipped to places that burn biomass for energy like Clearwater Paper or the University of Idaho. Biodegradable plastic containers were the main problem with including food waste in the organic compost.

While they might degrade over time, in the short term they simply break into smaller pieces like petroleum-based plastics. And that means the state ag department won’t allow it for its organic registration program. So, like the inorganic wood waste, food waste is separated from the organic compost inputs. And it hasn’t been as complicated as some might think, Finch said. “We only process waste produced by WSU and its departments,” he said. “We have quite a bit of control over the materials that are accepted, and where they go.” Some of the administrative work did take some time, but Finch said the cost of launching the organic compost line has been minimal. Emily Barber, a 2017 graduate of the WSU organic agriculture program, launched the organic registration process as part of an undergraduate internship. WSU was the first university in the nation to build a commercial-scale composting facility, launching in 1994. It composts more than 10,000 tons of waste each year, turning it into a nutrient-rich soil amendment for WSU greenhouses, research farms and campus landscaping, according to the university. In a news release, WSU said organic compost helps build long-term fertility in soil. It also provides stability to resist erosion and reduce the need for expensive and bulky fertilizers. Crop and Soil Sciences professor Lynne CarpenterBoggs said it helps improve yields for local organic food production, among other benefits. Now Finch just has to come up with a catchy name like the university’s other commodities. “We should have a contest or something, because right now we just call it ‘organic’ and ‘regular’ compost,” he said. “Maybe we could sell naming rights to some corporation.” Joel Mills may be contacted at jmills@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2266.

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Moscow-Pullman Daily News

| Saturday, December 29, 2018 | 3

Photos courtesy of Washington State University

Above: Material at the WSU Compost Facility is sorted by size using automated machinery. Below: Brad Jaeckel, manager of the WSU Eggert Family Organic Farm, and Rick Finch, manager of WSU Facilities Operations Waste Management, inspect young produce being grown for the first time with WSU organic compost this fall.

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Farm and Ranch

Moscow-Pullman Daily News

Great year for winter wheat in Washington WSU professor says 2019 could see similar results, but it’s a little too early to tell By Garrett Cabeza Daily News staff writer

Courtesy Arron Carter

Winter wheat is harvested in early August at the WSU Spillman Agronomy farm, just outside Pullman. Those in the photo include WSU winter wheat breeder Arron Carter and undergraduate students.

THANK YOU FOR FEEDING THE WORLD!

We want to express our appreciation to the regional agricultural community, the hard working people who ll our nation’s pantries. Your hard work and concern for the environment keeps our land fertile, productive and safe. It is your hard work that has enabled our proud nation not just to feed its own, but to send food abroad and ease hunger in other parts of the world.

Thank you for the vital fruit of your labor!

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Washington winter wheat farmers experienced above average yields this year across most of the Evergreen State. Arron Carter, associate professor and winter wheat breeder at Washington State University, said he believes winter wheat yield averages statewide were some of the highest in the past 50 years. “We had a lot of spring moisture and then we had mild summer temperatures,” said Carter, who noted the heavy spring moisture and cooler summer temperatures are the perfect formula for a great winter wheat harvest. He said abundant precipitation during the winter and spring seeps into the soil and is utilized by the crop during the summer as long as temperatures do not exceed the low- to mid-80s. “Our soils have the ability to hold moisture very well,” Carter said of the Palouse. He said it is difficult to predict how much winter wheat will be harvested next year since the weather is nearly impossible to predict that far out. “I can predict it as good as the weatherman can predict what’s going to happen next week,” Carter said. He said forecasters are predicting similar weather in 2019 as this year, which includes light snow and higher levels of precipitation during the spring. Carter said June temperatures in the 90s and July temperatures in the 100s cause great stress to winter wheat, the most common wheat grown on the Palouse, and the water stored from the winter and spring is used faster, resulting in a lesser yield. Carter estimated 60 to 70 percent of wheat grown on the Palouse is winter wheat and 30 to 40 percent is spring wheat. Carter said there is almost no such thing as too much winter and spring precipitation for winter wheat. However, too much spring moisture can delay

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farmers planting the crop as tractors can damage the fields if the soil is too wet. If there is too much of a delay in spring planting, some farmers choose not to plant the crop at all that year. Carter said the Palouse usually does not experience severe snow mold on its wheat. The mold results from wheat sitting under snow for an extended period of time. He said 60 to 70 days of constant snow cover, which can cause some snow mold, is common on the Palouse, but 100 days usually leads to more significant mold. Snow mold can be devastating for northern Washington farmers as the area can receive 150 days of snow cover. So far this year, there has been little snow cover on the Palouse for next year’s crop. “The more moisture you get, the higher your yield potential but the more prone to different diseases,” Carter said. Just like wheat, Carter said stripe rust loves cool, wet conditions, which creates a double-edged sword of great yield potential and potential disease. Most Palouse varieties have a genetic resistance to stripe rust so farmers are not too concerned about it, he said. But even those varieties that are susceptible to disease can be protected with a fungicide. “Most farmers would rather say, ‘I’ll take the rain and a little bit of disease because I can protect it against the disease, whereas if it doesn’t rain, there’s nothing I can do about it,’ ” Carter said. While constant snow cover can create mold, too little snow can also cause problems for wheat during the winter, Carter said. Below zero temperatures can kill wheat but snow provides insulation, and thus protects the crop. Because less-than-average snowfall is expected on the Palouse this winter, Carter said there is some concern for a lack of insulation for wheat. “We want kind of that fine line of not so much snow that you get snow mold disease but not so little snow that when these cold temperatures come, you don’t have that insulation,” he said. Garrett Cabeza can be reached at (208) 8834631, or by email to gcabeza@dnews.com.

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Farm and Ranch

Moscow-Pullman Daily News

Retired grain terminal manager recognized By Elaine Williams Lewiston Tribune

As general manager of the LewisClark Terminal, Arvid Lyons never hesitated to send over a part or lend advice if a competing grain storage facility broke down, even if it was in the middle of harvest. He had lots of reasons. Chances are his terminal would be experiencing a similar issue, and insight from someone else might help fix the problem. He also knew the help would be reciprocated if he got in a bind. “It took care of the industry,� Lyons said. That pragmatism characterized the 29 years he oversaw the terminal, until his retirement in 2016. Under his leadership, the terminal became one of the largest shippers of grain on the Snake and Columbia rivers. Lyons’ stewardship of the terminal has earned him a place in the Idaho Co-op Hall of Fame. He was selected by the Idaho Cooperative Council, which chooses individuals who have demonstrated dedication and service to agricultural cooperatives, according to a news release about the award. Lyons loaded and shipped about 5,700 barges of wheat and other commodities. He served on the board of the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association and helped fight to keep navigation open. His respect for farmers guided everything he did. They plant in the fall or spring, risking thousands of dollars, not knowing if the weather will destroy their crops and having no control over what the price will be. “They got more zeros than their dads,� he said. “This is a stressful time.� During harvest, he would keep the terminal open for more than 12 hours a day, adjusting the staffing on the fly based on feedback from farmers. He would think about the many producers who, when they rolled in at 7 a.m. having risen before dawn and

driven an hour or more to get there. He would try to get trucks emptied in 20 minutes or fewer so farmers wouldn’t sit idle in their combines waiting. “You can’t feel sorry about the hours or the lack of a strict schedule, because everybody is in the same boat,� Lyons said. He looked for ways to avoid problems and save money, knowing those measures would trickle down to farmers and help them be more profitable. “It’s great if you can run a company without financial worry,� he said. Knowing, for instance, that his office manager, Debbie Morrison, was nearing retirement, he hired Rachel Faling. A former customer service representative at a bank, Faling started as a grain clerk. She assumed Morrison’s position after years of learning from her. “He allowed for the creative process,� Faling said. “He gave room for people to think outside the box and create efficiencies.� When the terminal needed a computer system, he opened the telephone book and began making calls, eventually finding a consultant who created custom software. “There wasn’t anything out there for grain elevators in our situation that wasn’t super expensive,� he said. Because Lyons watched the budget so closely, the terminal was in a position to make investments when opportunities presented themselves. The terminal acquired what had been a United Grain river facility in Clarkston in the mid 1990s. In 2012, the terminal purchased a grain elevator and barge-loading facility that belonged to Cargill. The deal added 900,000 bushels of storage space to what was 5.7 million bushel capacity at the time and gave it a second place to fill grain barges. In retirement, his dedication to farmers continues. Lyons staffs the terminal’s Clarkston facility, helping farmers unload grain. On a recent day, he was there in his coveralls, weighing the grain, dumping trucks and making sure product got into the right bins. Later, he would be going 30 feet underground to clean the passageways. One of the chutes has a spot that often gets clogged, but he doesn’t mind

Barry Kough/Lewiston Tribune

Arvid Lyons is seen at the Lewis-Clark grain terminal this fall. the extra work because he’s helping farmers, Lyons said. “That kind of goes with the territory,� he said. “Getting dirty is part of

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it. That’s a good trade off for me.� Elaine Williams may be contacted at ewilliam@ lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2261.

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Arvid Lyons’ dedication to farmers means he still helps out at Lewis-Clark Terminal

| Saturday, December 29, 2018 | 5

6 | Saturday, December 29, 2018 |

Farm and Ranch

Moscow-Pullman Daily News

WSU receives $5.6M to protect specialty crops Two grants awarded by the USDA will study defenses in garlic, onions, combat fungicide resistance in grapes By Justyna Tomtas Lewiston Tribune

Research teams led by scientists at Washington State University have received two grants totaling $5.6 million to protect grape, onion and garlic crops from pests and diseases that could otherwise devastate crops. The Specialty Crop Research Initiative grants were awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, according to a WSU news release. A $3.29 million grant will help Hanu

Pappu, a distinguished professor in plant pathology, study sustainable defenses in garlic and onions, while Michelle Moyer, an associate professor in the viticulture and enology program, received an initial $2.4 million grant to help better understand and combat fungicide resistance in grapes. Pappu will lead a multistate effort in the fight against pests and disease with a team of plant pathologists, entomologists, a food scientist and others. Scientists will work to reduce the pesticide use that controls thrips, a small insect, while also developing pest-resistant crop varieties.

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“We are going to build on what we know about these pests and diseases to devise ecofriendly management tactics,” Pappu said. “Federal support lets us take our research efforts to the next level. This work was developed in close consultation with onion and garlic stakeholders, and their support is critical for our success.” Moyer has launched a four-year $4.75 million effort with several other institutions to reduce the impact of resistance in grapes. “Just like in human health, pathogens adapt and become resistant to the chemicals we use to control them,” Moyer said. “When that happens, the treatments we’ve relied on for generations to prevent infection no longer work.”

Conference committee agreed on new version of the bill Dec. 12 Lewiston Tribune

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Justyna Tomtas can be reached at (208) 8482294, or by email to jtomtas@lmtribune.com.

Farm bill gets a pass By Kathy Hedberg

We invite you to schedule a complimentary consultation by calling (208) 882-5547 or (509) 339-6368.

More reliable and faster tests will be created, and service centers in grape regions around the nation will be developed to put the resistance tests into practice. Research will also be done on how to engage in spray practices that prevent resistance. The process can later be applied to other specialty crops like apples, cherries and potatoes, once it is perfected. “The end result means more effective use of the tools we have for disease management, sustainable grape production, and ultimately, affordable wine, table and raisin grapes for consumers,” Moyer said.

After passing the Sept. 30 deadline without reauthorizing the Farm Bill, House and Senate agriculture leaders finally agreed on a new version of the legislation Dec. 12. Wheat growers across the country had urged their representatives to resolve the outstanding issues blocking Farm Bill reauthorization because “the economy in rural America is struggling,” said Jimmie Musick, a wheat grower in Oklahoma and president of the National Association of Wheat Growers. Whitman county resident Gary Bailey, who is on the board of directors of U.S. Wheat Associates and the Washington Grain Commission, said the Farm Bill is important to growers for all the different programs it

helps to fund. “All our conservation programs; it provides support for crop insurance, ag research; it is used for developing markets overseas ... and that is critical to us out here in the Pacific Northwest,” Bailey said. When a Farm Bill expires without reauthorization many of those programs are put in limbo until the legislation is renewed. “Some of the overseas market funding expired in September so there’s no funding for that right now,” Bailey said. “But that will be picked up as soon as we have a Farm Bill or an extension.” Some of the issues that delayed timely approval of the Farm Bill included reports that the new bill loosens restrictions on farm program payment eligibility. Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley said the House provisions would make

it easier for distant relatives of farmers to become eligible for farm payments. Grassley said the provision is a “waste of taxpayers’ money” and an “injustice” to the family farmers that have dirt under their fingernails. “Giving all this money to people that aren’t farmers is going to just jeopardize popular support for helping the family farmer,” he said. Tightening work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also called food stamps, that was in the earlier House version of the Farm Bill was not in the final bill. Collin Peterson, DMinn., who is the ranking member on the House Agriculture Committee, said some things were done to add integrity to the food stamp program to make it easier for states to comply. Kathy Hedberg may be contacted at kathyhedberg@ gmail.com or (208) 983-2326.

Farm and Ranch

Moscow-Pullman Daily News

| Saturday, December 29, 2018 | 7

International pulse market may be drying up Farmers concerned as tariffs, competition drive prices down crop production to decline if prices and tariffs remain the same, Rumney said most farmers who have grown legumes Prices on U.S. pulse crops are the low- for years likely won’t switch up their est they’ve been since the early 2000s, crops just yet. “They aren’t just going to turn it off,� and some farmers on the Palouse are considering planting fewer of the legumes Rumney said. “The people who have been in this for years, they have seen these if the prices stay stagnant. “It’s a little early in the game to cycles before, and they are confident in the know,� said Kevin Mader, a fifth-genera- long term the market will come back.� tion Pullman farmer. “We might have to Since 2009, the total acres of lentils switch to wheat; I plan on staying the planted in the U.S. went from 299,981 course, but if there’s not a market, it will to 758,000, or from about 205,934 metric be pretty tough.� tons to about 398,572 metric tons. With the price of U.S. pulse crops During the same time, acres of chickalready down and India imposing a 10 peas planted nationwide have leaped from percent retaliatory tariff on the crops in about 81,633 acres to more than 651,000 response to U.S. tariffs on steel and alu- acres, or from about 52,120 metric tons to minum, domestic pulse production could about 425,870 metric tons. decline dramatically. Rumney said U.S. According to inforfarmers in particular mation provided by the ramped up the producU.S. Dry Pea and Lentil tion of chickpeas to reap Council, India is tradiprofits from the high tionally the No. 1 mardemand in the Indian ket for U.S. dry peas, market, but with Indian lentils and chickpeas, farmers taking the importing more than lead, it is uncertain if 30 percent of all U.S. American farmers will exports. get their foot back in the A news release from market. He noted buildthe U.S. Dry Pea and ing back the relationLentil Council noted ships with foreign marprices for U.S. dry peas, kets can be difficult. lentils and chickpeas With Indian crops have all dropped nearly dependent on monsoon 40 percent since initial rains, Rumney said it is Chinese and Indian tarunknown how successiffs were put in place Jeff Rumney ful each year’s crop will earlier this year. be until American farmVice president of marketing, “It essentially closers have already planted U.S. Dry Pea and Lentil Council es the market,� Jeff their crops. Rumney, vice president Mader said he has to make his deciof marketing for the U.S. Dry Pea and sion by February. Lentil Council, said. Rumney noted the past two years He said farmers are experiencing simi- Indian farmers have greatly increased lar problems at Chinese ports. the acreage of their own pulse crops, and The Indian government is trying it is unknown how many acres they will become more self-reliant by supporting its local farmers, Rumney said, and Indian plant this year. Rumney said the problem isn’t getting pulse crop production has spiked in the past two years, lowering the price for U.S. any better. The recent 10 percent tariff means both nations are not coming any crops and reducing demand. Rumney said the situation is only com- closer to an agreement. To resolve the failing market, Madison Jacobson, assispounded with tariffs. The plummeting price of pulse crops tant marketing manager for the Dry Pea has farmers like Mader sitting on their and Lentil Council, said the council is trying to create a domestic market so pulse product and waiting for the price to rise. “We plan on storing them until we farmers are not so dependent on exports. “As a council, we are working hard to are happy with the price,� Mader said. “It could be this spring, could be 12 develop the market here,� she said. months.� While the U.S. Dry Pea and Lentil Josh Babcock can be reached at (208) 883-4638, Council is expecting U.S. acreage of pulse or by email to jbabcock@dnews.com. By Josh Babcock

Daily News staff writer

“

The people who have been in (the pulse business) for years, they have seen these cycles before, and they are confident in the long term the market will come back.�

Geoff Crimmins/Daily News

Farmers on the Palouse may consider planting fewer lentils and other pulse crops because of low prices and tariffs.

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Farm and Ranch

Moscow-Pullman Daily News

Working with wool for charity, pleasure Asotin County farmer wins ‘Make it with Wool’ contest, takes fourth at state By Kerri Sandaine Lewiston Tribune

When the temperatures were too hot to handle outside, a lifelong Asotin County farmer kept her cool by knitting in an air-conditioned office. Jody Forgey, 49, spent her summer lunch hours working on a project that would win first place in the region’s “Make it with Wool” contest and a fourthplace award at the state level. The contest is sponsored by the Washington Wool Growers Auxiliary and the Washington State Sheep Producers. Forgey started the blue-and-camel colored wool sweater in May and finished in late August. The intricate honeycombed cardigan took about 100 hours to complete. “I used a 50-inch cable with 600 stitches and just went back and forth until I got to where the arm fits in,” Forgey said. “I worked on it when we went on vacation,

at night and on my lunch hour.” Forgey is senior branch office administrator at Christian Leer’s Edward Jones financial adviser office in Clarkston. She’s also a 4-H leader and longtime farmer and rancher. She and her husband, Brad, have been married 23 years and raise wheat and cattle in the Anatone area. Their daughter, Shelby, 17, is a junior at Asotin High School and also a seamstress. Forgey has been involved with 4-H since 1977, when she was growing up in Cloverland. “My mom, Pat Petty, taught me how to sew in 4-H, and I taught my daughter,” Forgey said. She picked up her first pair of knitting needles about 10 years ago and joined a knitting group at Patrick’s Craft Shop in downtown Clarkston. “Unofficially, we’re called the Witty Knitters,” Forgey said. “We work on service projects, chemo caps, blankets and we’ve even made prosthetic breasts. Women tell us the knitted ones are lighter and more comfortable than the silicone ones.” She enjoys knitting because it’s something she can do after a long day of work

while watching television or riding in the car. Forgey taught herself the skill by reading books, then learned more by talking to her friends at Patrick’s. “I’ve done my fair share of ‘tinking,’ which is knitting spelled backwards,” she said. “If you look closely at this cardigan, you’ll find the one obligatory error for the knitting gods.” She spotted the “Bent’s Fort” sweater pattern in a knitting magazine and ordered 20 skeins of wool yarn to get started. The contest called for a two-piece outfit, so she ordered Ralph Lauren fabric from New York City and made a pair of slacks to match the cardigan.

Modeling the ensemble was part of the competition. After winning the district competition in Colfax, Forgey received Pendleton wool yardage and a sewing light as her prize. “It’s always fun to go to a contest and see wool that most of us don’t normally get to purchase,” Forgey said. “I got a dark blue wool that’s real fine and not what you typically see around here. It’s something special that I will have to find the right pattern for.” Kerri Sandaine may be contacted at kerris@ lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2264. Follow her on Twitter @newsfromkerri.

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Jody Forgey, 49, of Anatone, is pictured at her home. Forgey spent her summer lunch hours knitting a wool sweater for the “Make it with Wool” contest. She won first in the region and fourth at the state level.

Farm and Ranch

Moscow-Pullman Daily News

| Saturday, December 29, 2018 | 9

Local farmers discuss alternative meat market Better Meat Co. CEO meets with area pulse growers By Kathy Hedberg For the Daily News

Local growers of dry peas, lentils and chickpeas are being invited to join an innovative food trend that could magnify their profits and add new markets for their crops. It also could land them in the middle of a bitter public policy fight. Paul Shapiro, CEO of The Better Meat Co. of Sacramento, Calif., spoke to a group of about 100 farmers and scientists De. 12 at the annual meeting of the Western Pulse Growers Association at the Best Western Plus University Inn at Moscow. Shapiro said his company, a new start-up, blends plant-based proteins — such as peas, lentils and chickpeas — with ground meat, enhancing flavor and making the products healthier and more sustainable. The problem is labeling such products as “meat� has drawn the ire of beef and pork producers who argue only products that are 100 percent animalbased can be called “meat.� The state legislature in Missouri, for example, as well as the French government, “are concerned about calling (a blended product) a burger,� Shapiro said. “They want to censor companies from calling it a ‘steak’ or ‘burger,’ � and have passed laws making it a criminal offense to do so. “That’s how dire this problem is,� Shapiro said. “The detractors think consumers are being duped.� Adulterating meat with what Shapiro called “the F word: fillers� is nothing new. Burgers have often been filled with cracker crumbs or ground grain for various health and economic reasons.

Earlier this year, Sonic Drive-Ins introduced a 25 percent mushroomblended patty called a Slinger — the first of its kind in an American fast-food restaurant. But the food chain was prohibited, Shapiro said, from calling the product a “burger,� though 75 percent of the patty is ground beef. Companies that produce plant-based milk products are facing the same battle, he said. In the past decade, plantbased milk made from soy, almonds or other products has grown to about 13 percent of the milk market. Dairy producers are not happy about it, he added. And meat and dairy producers have far more lobbying clout with the U.S. Department of Agriculture than plant-based food producers. Shapiro likened the trend of blending plant protein with ground meat to the movement years ago from cameras that used film to digital photography. When that happened, he said, the Kodak Co. resisted the move, while Canon decided to buy into the technology. In the end, Kodak went bankrupt while Canon now commands the digital photography market. There are plenty of good reasons for blending plant-based protein — such as pea fiber, which does not shrink during cooking like mushrooms do — with regular ground meat. Blended products reduce fat and calories by a third, he said, and focus groups have determined that plantbased products taste better because they retain the juices of the meat. Shapiro encouraged farmers to consider investing in his company and urged them to become involved in the public policy debate regarding the labeling of plant-based meat products. “At what point do we trust consumers to be at least minimally knowledgeable?� Shapiro said. “Let it be called a hamburger.� At the Dec. 12 conference, the

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Paul Shapiro of the Better Meat Co. talks Dec. 12 in Moscow about the possibilities of using pulse crops combined with meat for healthy hybrid foods.

Barry Kough Lewiston Tribune

Pullman Chamber of Commerce also named Troy farmer Pat Smith winner of the 2018 Lentil Family of the Year award. Smith is a former chairman of the board of the USA Dry Pea and

Lentil Council and has helped lobby on behalf of the industry. Kathy Hedberg may be contacted at kathyhedberg@gmail.com or (208) 983-2326.

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10 | Saturday, December 29, 2018 |

Moscow-Pullman Daily News

Farm and Ranch

‘Apple to Glass’ grant gives cider makers a boost

Funding expected to help find ways to increase production, speed up distribution, analyze economic impact of cideries ers to understand what they need to produce more cider apples. The second year will focus on cider Washington State University makers, Ostrom said, including their researchers hope a $500,000 federal distribution and marketing practices grant will help improve the viability and what they need in terms of apple of small family orchards by expanding supply. In the final year, researchers opportunities in the American cider will survey consumers and address the economic impact regional industry. cideries can have on comAlthough the popularmunities. ity of hard apple cider has Tim Larsen, owner dipped considerably since and cider maker at colonial days, local and Snowdrift Cider Co. in East regional cider brands today Wenatchee, noted the desare one of the fastest-growsert apples found in grocery ing segments of the alcostores aren’t really suitable holic beverage market. for making hard cider. Like craft beer brew“The apple varieties eries, these small-scale found in grocery stores cideries produce distinctive have gone through extendrinks that offer unique flasive modification over vor profiles. They’re similar the years,” Larsen said. to wineries as well, both Marcia Ostrom “They’re essentially big because cider is produced Lead investigator on sugar balls. They have very through fermentation and because each vintage is the U.S. Department of little flavor after you ferment them.” heavily influenced by the Agriculture Cider apples, by contrast, type of apple that goes into tend to be bitter on the palit. ate, but “they’re packed full Nevertheless, hard cider of tannins and polyphenols only accounts for a tiny that provide a lot of differfraction of adult beverage ent flavor profiles,” Larsen sales. The industry faces said. Consequently, hard a number of barriers to ciders made with these growth, including finding varieties can range in taste an adequate variety and from fruity to spicy, sweet supply of cider apples. Marcia Ostrom, the former director of to nutty — or sometimes all of the WSU’s Small Farms Program and lead above. Snowdrift Cider, for example, producinvestigator on the U.S. Department of Agriculture “Apple to Glass” grant, said es about a dozen varieties of hard cider. the funding will help researchers under- According to the company’s website, its stand the various factors that affect the Cidermaker’s Reserve variety is “a celcider industry and work with cider mak- ebration of all the rich complexity cider apples have to offer. ... Its months of coners and orchardists on solutions. “Ultimately, this project is account- ditioning, riddling and finishing yield a able to the growers,” Ostrom said. dry cider with continuously unfolding “We’re looking at improving their com- layers of spicy bittersweet apple character, citrusy brightness and subtleties of petitiveness and viability.” The three-year grant involves toffee, aromatic wood and earth.” Larsen said he’s hoping the USDA researchers in four states. During the first year, they’ll work with apple grow- grant will help give consumers “better By William L. Spence Of the Tribune

Courtesy of Washington State University

Apples used to make hard apple cider on the WSU campus are pictured.

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Farm and Ranch exposure to real cider and what it has been throughout most of its history.” “Most consumers have never experienced real (hard) cider,” he said. “But there’s a whole world of different product out there. My hope is that this grant will illuminate that.” Cidermaking dates back to at least Roman times, and was a widely practiced art in America during colonial times. Ostrom said most orchardists in the United States originally grew cider apples exclusively. However, the industry was essentially wiped out during the Prohibition era. As recently as five years ago, Larsen said, “there were probably less than 100 acres of cider apples being grown in the U.S.” Part of that is because there hasn’t been enough demand to warrant more production, but there are other risks as well. With dessert apples, for example, the best apples can be sold in grocery stores, while others can be sold for juice or applesauce or other secondary uses. “But with a cider apple, there’s only one destination,” Larsen said. Nevertheless, as more regional cideries open — and as cider makers learn how these distinctive varieties of cider apples can improve their product — he expects demand to increase over time. And that could create opportunities for small family orchards. It’s no different from the wine industry, Larsen said. Depending on the quality of the grapes you use and the time and care you put into fermentation and aging, you can make a good, high-end wine or a cheap, $3 bottle. “It’s the same thing with cider,” he said. And just as regional wineries benefit local communities by attracting outside visitors, Ostrom said the final year of the “Apple to Glass” grant will focus on the economic impact of regional cideries. “We’re working with an economist to analyze the economic impact of having cideries,” she said. “It’s the same idea behind wine trails — drawing in people who are interested in the ciders produced in a particular region.” The other states involved in the “Apple to Glass” grant are Vermont, Wisconsin and Michigan. Ostrom said the grant activities will be duplicated in all those regions. The researchers in each state will also work with a stakeholder advisory group. William L. Spence may be contacted at bspence@lmtribune.com or (208) 791-9168.

Moscow-Pullman Daily News

| Saturday, December 29, 2018 | 11

Finding the cause of mastitis University of Idaho researchers working toward cure for common milk-producing disease By Anthony Kuipers Daily News staff writer

University of Idaho researchers are studying how to solve a common problem that can cause massive financial loss for dairy farms. Mastitis is a sometimes painful disease that affects breastfeeding mothers and dairy cows. When cows have it, they must be put on antibiotics and their milk has to be thrown out. For women, it can cause enough discomfort for moms to stop nursing, and some fear the antibiotics used to treat the infection may affect their child. Shelley McGuire, a director and professor in the UI’s Margaret Ritchie School of Family and Consumer Sciences, and her husband, Mark McGuire, a professor

in the Department of Animal a rich community of bacteand Veterinary Science, are ria called a milk microbiome. working on a $2.4 million Before their research, it was project to find the cause widely thought milk was of mastitis. The project is sterile unless it came from being funded by the National an infected mom or cow. Institute of Health. “It’s Mother Nature’s origiStatistics show up to 30 nal probiotic food and we just percent of didn’t know women will that,” Shelley get mastitis McGuire said. at some point, Their disand the data covery creatare similar for ed a new field cows, Shelley of research McGuire said. into milk. In 2011, They are the McGuires now trying to published a determine if first-of-itscertain backind paper teria in that Shelley McGuire that studied microbiome University of Idaho professor could protect bacteria in milk. They from mastitis found all milk, even when or increase the risk of getproduced by healthy cows ting it. and mothers, is loaded with They will work with a

Agriculture Dept. launches second round of payments to farmers Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump has authorized the Agriculture Department to launch the second and final round of $11 billion in trade mitigation payments to farmers hard hit by tariffs. In a tweet Dec. 17, Trump said he is fulfilling a promise to protect farmers against “unjustified trade retaliation by foreign nations.” The Trump administration in July announced it would provide up to $12 billion to offset losses from\trade disputes with China and other countries. The first round of checks went out in September. In total, producers of almonds, corn, cotton, dairy, hogs, sorghum, soybeans, fresh sweet cherries and wheat will receive roughly $9.5 billion. Soybean farmers will get the largest share.

“

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doctoral student who will study dairy cows at her family farm in southern Idaho. For the humans, they are inviting mothers from the Palouse area to take part in the study. Scientists know little about the milk microbiome, including whether it changes during the first six weeks of lactation, if it is affected when a mother has a cesarean section or even if it matters how many siblings the mother has. Shelley McGuire says evidence suggests the milk microbiome can be altered by consuming probiotics, which would provide a simple solution for both mothers and cows. Anthony Kuipers can be reached at (208) 883-4640, or by email to akuipers@dnews.com.

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12 | Saturday, December 29, 2018 |

Farm and Ranch

Moscow-Pullman Daily News

Plant diseases increasing in Idaho UI professor sees climate change give boost to plant diseases

began occurring in higher frequencies. “In 2015, things really hit the fan,� Marshall said. “The barley industry Fusarium head blight, also called found very high levels of the toxin in scab, is a fungal disease that infects malt barley.� The industry has little tolerance wheat and barley. The fungus produces the toxin deoxynivalenol, which for the fusarium head blight toxin in causes some single-chambered stom- wheat meant for human consumption ach animals — including horses, pigs and zero tolerance for the toxin in and humans — to vomit. It has been barley for malting. Marshall remembers farmers would try to deliver their given the nickname “vomitoxin.� And, according to University of wheat and barley and be turned away. Idaho Professor Juliet Marshall, cli- And the growers couldn’t even sell the mate change is increasing the spread of grain as animal feed. Even the dairy industry wouldn’t buy the fungus in Idaho. the grain for their Marshall said a cows — which can tolnumber of crop diserate low levels of the eases have increased toxin – because of food their presence in safety concerns. Idaho because of cli“I’ve seen insurance mate change. In warm company reps come weather, many bacteand find high levels of ria, fungi and viruses the disease in a field simply grow faster, and say, ‘Chop it and increasing their potenplow it down. Don’t tial rate of spread. In harvest,’ � Marshall addition, sick plants said. decompose faster. For the past four Some diseases, never years, Marshall has seen before in Idaho, developed a nursare even starting to ery at UI’s Aberdeen pop up in the southern Research and part of the state. Extension Center that “At higher temperatests for plant resiltures it’s really imporJuliet Marshall ience against head tant to understand University of Idaho professor blight. Her team tries the crops and the to infect different varipathogens, because the environment influences both,� said eties of wheat and barley and analyze Marshall, who holds the Potlatch Joe the amount of toxin that accumulates Anderson Wheat Agronomy Endowed in the grain of any infected plants. “We can advise our growers on the professorship in the Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and more resistant varieties and the fungiNematology and serves as a UI cides that are most effective to reduce Extension specialist based in Idaho the impact of the disease and the Falls. “It can change the ability of the toxin,� Marshall said. “But we don’t host to fight the pathogen or the abil- have 100 percent resistant plants and ity of the pathogen to reproduce, which we don’t have 100 percent control of it with fungicide. When we have a really results in higher disease pressure.� bad infection year, we have difficulty controlling the disease.� Beer and bread Marshall thinks the disease is Fusarium head blight wasn’t much becoming harder to control as temperof a concern in Idaho prior to 2010, atures increase with climate change. Marshall said. The elevation and tem- The fungus can live on corn residues, perature of the intermountain West and Idaho is producing more and more wasn’t conducive for the disease, but it corn as the region warms. The fungus By Leigh Cooper

University of Idaho Communications

Courtesy of the University of Idaho

Juliet Marshall, a professor in the University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, studies wheat in a microscope at the UI Aberdeen Research and Extension and Center in Aberdeen, Idaho. IN PRINT. ONLINE. NOW OPEN

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We don’t have 100 percent resistant plants and we don’t have 100 percent control of it with fungicide. When we have a really bad infection year, we have difficulty controlling the disease.�

Farm and Ranch can easily transfer from the corn to wheat and barley fields through airborne spores. Wheat appears to be more susceptible to the fungus than barley, and the amount of harvested grain testing positive has increased over the past five years.

An uptick in disease Marshall oversees UI Extension variety trials, where her team studies how environmental factors like temperature, precipitation and soil type affect the quality of grain produced by UI, private industry and other univer-

Moscow-Pullman Daily News

sities’ new varieties. When the climate shifts, these tests become more difficult. “Increasing environmental variability makes it hard for us to produce consistent quality in our varieties,” she said. “If you have sudden swings in temperature when the plants are at a specific growth stage, it will change the starch and protein accumulation and affect grain functionality, potentially influencing how the grain can be used. Our research and Jianli Chen’s breeding programs have been testing the effect of large temperature swings on grain.”

An associate professor at the Aberdeen Research and Extension Center, Chen is breeding wheat resistance to a number of pests and diseases that are becoming more problematic with climate change. As part of the trials and her work with growers, Marshall has come across a number of plant diseases benefiting from warmer temperatures. Fungal disease stripe rust and the bacterial disease called Xanthomonas black chaff — or bacterial streak — both of which damage the leaves of wheat and barley. Marshall said the stripe rust fungus has adapted itself to warmer temperatures, creating a longer timeline each year for disease spread. In addition, warmer winters may allow the fungus to survive through the winter, increasing the disease pressure early in the growing season. Bacteria grow more rapidly in warmer temperatures, and black chaff infections have intensified as a result. Barley yellow dwarf virus has also caught Marshall’s attention. The virus lives in the gut of an aphid that particularly enjoys corn. As corn production in Idaho increases, more of these aphids and their hitchhiking viruses make their way into Idaho’s wheat and barley fields. In the past, cold winters and frost events killed many of the aphids, stalling the virus’s spread in

| Saturday, December 29, 2018 | 13

spring. But, as climate change delivers less harsh winters, more aphids survive into spring.

Nematode infections Wheat and barley in Idaho have always had problems with the cereal cyst nematode, a type of roundworm that damages the grains’ roots. If growers can remove the nematodes’ food source — wheat, barley and oat — for a little while, the population will drop. If farmers don’t practice proper crop rotation, their fields are susceptible to a buildup of cereal nematodes, a problem that often goes unnoticed by farmers, said Pooria Ensafi, a doctoral student working with Marshall on nematodes. As part of his graduate work, Ensafi helped identify wheat and barley varieties that have higher degrees of resistance to the nematode. Unfortunately, some of the most popular varieties of barley for the malt barley industry happen to be susceptible to the cereal cyst nematode, Ensafi said. “Farmers can’t always shift to more resilient crops or grain varieties,” Ensafi said. “They rely on that one popular crop, often wheat and barley, so they get heavily infested fields. It influences the ability of the growers to produce an economically stable yield.”

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Marie Mellick had a specific goal in mind when she enrolled in the agricultural science, communication and leadership program at the University of Idaho: gain the skills and knowledge needed to support her community through the development of a cow-calf operation for the Coeur d’Alene Tribe.

Marshall inspects a field at the UI Parker Farm.

Courtesy of the University of Idaho

Find out how the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences can help you reach your goals: www.uidaho.edu/cals-majors.

14 | Saturday, December 29, 2018 |

Farm and Ranch

Moscow-Pullman Daily News

Earthworms answer soil questions UI professor Jodi Johnson-Maynard tackles farmers’ inquiries about ground health By Leigh Cooper University of Idaho Communications

Jodi Johnson-Maynard became a soil scientist so she didn’t have to decide between chemistry, biology and physics. “In an odd way, it was my lack of focus within the sciences that drew me to the subject,� said Johnson-Maynard, who is department head of Soil and Water Systems at the University of Idaho. “When I took my first soil class, I realized I needed to integrate all these different fields of science to understand how the system works.� Johnson-Maynard didn’t start her career in agricultural fields, instead focusing on forest systems for her master’s at the UI. In a portion of the Clearwater National Forest, she found ferns growing in the sunny openings created by fallen trees were chemically altering the volcanic ash soils to such an extent that local conifers couldn’t grow back. “This study set the tone for the rest of my career,� she said. “I’ve tried to focus

on the impact plants and soil organisms have on soil process.� After finishing her doctorate at University of California, Riverside, Johnson-Maynard returned to the Palouse in 2000 to join UI’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. “I saw the need to work in agriculture, because of the rather complex challenges that growers face in managing their soils,� she said. “They want to know how their conservation efforts affect the earthworms and other beneficial organisms and the overall health of the soil.�

the use of cover crops,� Johnson-Maynard said. “It’s a really challenging and exciting time. The farmers want to know how everything will affect not just their

bottom line this year, but also their soil health and fertility 20 years from now.� To answer their questions, JohnsonMaynard has turned to earthworms. Previous research elsewhere shows an increase in earthworm density can

REACCHing for sustainable cereal production Right now, growers are asking questions about the resiliency of their soils and climate variability. “From my experience, farmers have become more proactive in the area of soil conservation. They are now pushing researchers to answer tough questions regarding conservation efforts such as

We think beyond insurance.

Courtesy of the University of Idaho

/B

Jodi Johnson-Maynard, department head of Soil and Water Systems in the University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, works to answer farming questions about soil health in the region. Johnson-Maynard oversees garlic planting at the UI’s Soil Stewards Farm.

Moscow-Pullman Daily News

provide a roughly 25 percent bump in middle of the century, said Sanford crop yields through their influence on Eigenbrode, a distinguished professor soil structure and chemical processes. in the Department of Entomology, Plant In addition, Johnson-Maynard has Pathology and Nematology and director found different types of tilling influence of REACCH. the species and number of earthworms “We don’t have a four-alarm fire in in the soil. the near-term in To study the interterms of viable wheat section of climate and production regionalearthworms,Johnsonly,� Eigenbrode said. Maynard joined the “But challenges for Regional Approaches long-term sustainto Climate Change ability are expected in Pacific Northwest and may be exacerAgriculture project, a bated if we allow our $20 million endeavor soils to become more led by UI researchdepleted.� ers to ensure the susThe outputs for tainable production of REACCH include regional cereal crops. “Advances in The region’s growers Dryland Farming� produce more than — a 600-page manu130 million bushels al for growing wheat of wheat each year, sustainably in the and climate models region, published predict the region will through Washington likely experience an State University Jodi Johnson-Maynard increase of 3.3 degrees Extension. University of Idaho Soil and Water Celsius by the end of In addition, Systems department head the century. Johnson-Maynard “We have to be preworked with colpared for the future,� Johnson-Maynard leagues in the Department of Agricultural said. “Already, our farmers are having and Extension Education at UI to develissues such as planting on time and op curricula based on the science and water availability.� practice of wheat and cereal production as climates change. “We wanted place-based curricula A worm’s view of climate change for fourth-graders and high schoolers As part of REACCH, Johnson- in Oregon, Washington and Idaho,� Maynard surveyed Palouse earthworms Johnson-Maynard said. “Even students and only found species that were exotic with no direct connection to agriculture, — not native to the region. Individual but who are surrounded by crops, should earthworm species were not distributed understand what is happening in the evenly across the REACCH study area, fields and how food is produced.� instead living in soil types that favored their needs. Beyond the REACCH “The REACCH earthworm surOne of the results from the REACCH vey was important to show that under certain climatic conditions, you won’t findings concern Johnson-Maynard. The have earthworms, and, in others, you study suggested changing climate may are going to have only certain types,� lead to an increase in fallow fields, and fallow fields experience high erosion Johnson-Maynard said. Now that the team knows where rates — a change that could lead to the earthworms are located, Johnson- declines in soil health. Johnson-Maynard is leading a Maynard plans to investigate how the worms interact with plant roots and new $3.4 million project, known as nutrient cycling. She is now working on Landscapes in Transition, to study alterhow the earthworms are affecting the native crops farmers could plant to protect their fields instead of letting them availability of soil nitrogen. The survey results can also be used to sit fallow. Because many standard cover determine how climate change is likely to crops don’t fit well into the growing seaaffect where the various species of earth- son on the Palouse, her team is studying worms will live in the future. Johnson- a few different options – including cover Maynard suspects drier climates will crop mixes for grazing and winter pea result in a loss of certain earthworm species. “We want to provide all the informaspecies. Overall, REACCH found local con- tion growers will need to use these alterditions for wheat production will like- native crops, and the crops’ impacts on ly remain similar, and average yields factors like pests, weeds and soil health,� may even improve slightly through the she said.

“

From my experience, farmers have become more proactive in the area of soil conservation. They are now pushing researchers to answer tough questions regarding conservation efforts such as the use of cover crops.�

| Saturday, December 29, 2018 | 15

Idaho, US sign logging, restoration agreement By Keith Ridler Associated Press

BOISE — State and federal officials signed an agreement Dec. 18 they said will help protect Idaho’s national forest lands, which are at risk of insect infestations and destructive wildfires. Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch� Otter, Gov.elect Brad Little and U.S. Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Jim Hubbard and other state and federal officials signed the Shared Stewardship Agreement, which they said could be a template for other Western states. “We need these kinds of agreements, and they need to be with the kind of scale and commitment that a state brings to the table,� Hubbard said. It’s the first such agreement the Agriculture Department has signed with a state. The agreement calls for ramping up a federal-state partnership of with the Good Neighbor Authority, which allows Idaho workers to assist on timber sales and restoration work like prescribed

burns on U.S. Forest Service land. Money made from timber sales pays for the restoration work as well as for workers assisting on the projects. The program has managed to log or have plans to log about 3,500 acres. Nearly 50 restoration projects have been done, are being done or are planned. “The success that we’ve had in Idaho has not gone unnoticed,� said Otter, a key figure in starting the Good Neighbor Authority as chairman of the Western Governors’ Association. But officials say landscape-scale projects are needed to treat 6.1 million acres of national forests in Idaho. The amount of work to be done and the small amount that’s been done so far led to the Shared Stewardship Agreement. Details on how that additional work will get done are unclear, said Hubbard and Idaho State Forester David Groeschl. On the state level, Groeschl said two large projects are being planned, with a possible request to lawmakers early next year to hire more workers in the state Department of Lands.

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16 | Saturday, December 29, 2018 |

Moscow-Pullman Daily News

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