Farm and Ranch North Central Idaho 2016

farm & ranc h North Central Idaho

Scours

& the Sandhills system

Feeding Fodder

7U Ranch & barley seed

Camas Prairie new wine country?

Yield Decrease

in wheat and barley numbers

2

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NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO FARM & RANCH | SPRING 2016

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Kyle Wetmore 208-983-4195 Orofino

Mike Schwartz 208-507-0783 Orofino

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NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO FARM & RANCH | SPRING 2016

3

North Central Idaho

Contents 6F 11 12 M 14 A 19 C 22 D 26 B 30 R 32 I 36 R

EEDING

FODDER

GUEST EDITORIAL: INIMIZING

SUPPORITNG AMERICA’S FARMERS

HUNGER

AND

RANCHERS

WITH LOCAL RESOURCES AND VOLUNTEERS

SSESSING FERTILITY IN REPLACEMENT HEIFERS

AMAS

PRAIRIE

UDGET

RECAP: WOLF

We hope you find it informative, useful and entertaining.

SARAH S. KLEMENT, PUBLISHER DAVID P. RAUZI, EDITOR

Submit Photos / Stories

DAVID RAUZI, EDITOR

WINE COUNTRY

ECREASES IN YIELD AND PRODUCTION FOR

North Central Idaho’s premier publication of Farm & Ranch is offered to the farming and ranching families of North Central Idaho.

2014-2015

CONTROL

ETURN ON WHEAT EXPORT PROMOTION FUNDS

MPROVING WORKING LANDS EDUCING SCOURS WITH THE SANDHILLS SYSTEM

DRAUZI@IDAHOCOUNTYFREEPRESS.COM

SARAH KLEMENT

SKLEMENT@IDAHOCOUNTYFREEPRESS.COM

Advertising Inquires

SARAH KLEMENT

SKLEMENT@IDAHOCOUNTYFREEPRESS.COM

DEB JONES

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Publications of Eagle Media Northwest 900 W. Main, PO Box 690, Grangeville ID 83530

208-746-0483, Lewiston; 208-983-1200, Grangeville

4

In Brief

NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO FARM & RANCH | SPRING 2016

Nearly 1 million women working America’s lands

The 2012 Census of Agriculture notes that nearly 1 million women are working America’s lands. That is nearly a third of the nation’s farmers. Together, these women are generating $12.9 billion in annual agricultural sales.

Within Idaho, 33 percent (13,043) of farmers are women, contributing a $140 million economic impact to the state.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has established a women in ag mentoring network. Join by e-mailing AgWomenLead@usda.gov or check out #womeninag on Twitter.

USDA, DOD start ag education effort to reach 200,000 transitioning military service members annually

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Department of Defense are providing a joint agriculture education effort that will annually reach 200,000 transitioning military service members.

Every year, approximately 200,000 service members complete the Transition Assistance Program as they prepare for civilian life. This partnership will help to ensure returning service members know about the incentives for military veterans in USDA programs, and the many ways USDA can support military veterans and their families, from farm loans to conservation programs to nutrition assistance to rural rental housing and homeownership opportunities.

Veterans can also visit www.usda.gov/veterans, a website designed specifically to educate them about USDA programs.

Idaho Range Livestock Symposium events in April

Cattle producers and rangeland managers are invited to attend statewide presentations in April.

The Idaho Range Livestock Symposium is hosting one-day events in Marsing (April 19), Twin Falls (April 20) and Challis (April 21) on industry relevant topics.

An April 22 field tour in central Idaho is also planned.

Events are free to attend.

Seven topic will be addressed in the symposiums:

•CONSERVATIONS EASEMENTS 101 Idaho Natural Resource Conservation Service, with invited panel of producers and local land trusts.

•RANGE MONITORING FOR ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT Dr. Jim Sprinkle, University of Idaho Extension.

•TARGETED GRAZING FOR REDUCED FIRE RISK; Chris Schatschneider, U of I. •COOPERATIVE RANGE MONITORING Brooke Jacobson, Idaho State Department of Agriculture.

•DRONE APPLICATIONS IN RANCHING Scott Jensen, U of I Owyhee County Extension.

•LIVESTOCK MARKET OUTLOOK John Nalivka, Sterling Marketing, Inc. •ANIMAL HANDLING DEMO Jim Keyes, Utah State University Extension The event is through the U of I Rangeland Center, sponsored by Northwest Farm Credit, Idaho Beef Council, Idaho Rangeland Resource Commission and Zions Bank.

RSVP for a free lunch at 885-6536; www.rangecenter.org.

Contact Extension offices in the following counties: Owyhee, 896-4104; Custer, 979-2344; Lincoln, 766-2243.

NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO FARM & RANCH | SPRING 2016

5 JEFF ZENNER PHOTOGRAPHY

Farm Revenue Protection Available As part of the Farm Bill, the Risk Management Agency’s (RMA) Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) allows producers, who previously had limited access to a risk management safety net, to now insure all of their farm’s commodities at one time.

This coverage encourages crop diversity on the farm that directly supports the production of a wider variety of food. As the first crop insurance policy available nationwide, WFRP is tailored for any farm with up to $8.5 million in insured revenue, including farms with specialty or organic commodities (both crops and livestock), or those marketing to local, regional, farm-identity preserved, specialty, or direct markets.

To make participation easier for more beginning farmers and ranchers, RMA reduced the required records from five to three historical years, plus farming records from the past year. Additionally, any beginning farmer and rancher may qualify by using the former farm operator’s federal farm tax records if the beginning farmer or rancher assumes at least 90 percent of the farm operation.

And to address expanding operations, RMA increased the cap on historical revenue to 35 percent from its previous 10 percent to better allow growing farms the opportunity to cover their growth in the insurance guarantee.

Value of Idaho’s 2014 agricultural production totals $8.8 billion

The value of Idaho’s 2014 agricultural production reached $8.8 billion, setting a new record high, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service. This is an 8 percent increase from the 2013 revised figure.

Milk remained the leading agricultural commodity in the state with a 2014 value of $3.20 billion. Milk represented 36 percent of the total agricultural value compared with 32 percent in 2013.

Cattle and calves remained in the second position and had value of production totaling $1.73 billion dollars in 2014. This was up 25 percent from 2013.

All hay, valued at $961 million, moved up one spot to number three. This represents a 2 percent increase from the previous year.

Potato value of production dropped 6 percent to $957 million, ranking fourth in the state.

Wheat rounds out the top five with value of production in 2014 totaling $582 million, down 20

percent from the previous year.

These five commodities had a combined value of $7.44 billion, or 85 percent of the 2014 value for all commodities (excluding government payments). The same five commodities in 2013 had a combined value of $6.65 billion, or 82 percent of the total value.

Record high values of production were established for three of the top 10 Idaho commodities: milk, cattle and calves, and trout. Two top 10 commodities that declined in value in 2014 were barley, down 29 percent to $264 million and corn for grain, down 34 percent to $67.2 million. Commodities outside the top 10 that showed significant increases included hops, up 24 percent from 2013; peaches, up 61 percent from the previous year; and honey, up 29 percent.

Dropping out of the top 10 in 2014 were dry onions with a value of $44.1 million, down 38 percent from the previous year. A notable commodity that declined in value in 2014 was the apple crop, down 65 percent to $8.74 million.

USDA removes farm program payments to managers not actively engaged in farming

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) finalized a rule to ensure that farm safety-net payments are issued only to active managers of farms that operate as joint ventures or general partnerships, consistent with the direction and authority provided

by Congress in the 2014 Farm Bill.

The action, which exempts family farm operations, closes a loophole where individuals who were not actively part of farm management still received payments.

“The federal farm safety-net programs are designed to protect against unanticipated changes in the marketplace for those who actively share in the risk of that farming operation,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “To ensure that help goes to those who genuinely need it, such as America’s farm families, the Farm Bill authorized USDA to close a loophole and limit payments from those not involved on a daily basis in nonfamily farm management.”

As required by Congress, the new rule does not apply to family farms, or change regulations related to contributions of land, capital, equipment or labor.

The changes go into effect for the 2016 crop year for most farms. Farms that have already planted fall crops for 2016 have until the 2017 crop year to comply.

6

NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO FARM & RANCH | SPRING 2016

FEEDING

FODDER

PHOTOS & STORY BY SHELLEY NEAL IDAHO COUNTY FREE PRESS LUCILE — Three years ago, the Seth Allen family began feeding barley seed fodder to their livestock and have been pleased with the results.

This ambitious, young family of five – Seth and Raini, and their three teenage kids: Liam, Charise and Rihan — can be found each winter morning at 6:30 a.m. in their homemade fodder facility.

The Allen’s 7U Ranch near Lucile is full of warm smiles, friendly dogs and clucking chickens. This picturesque setting is nestled along Elfers Creek on the west side of Lucile Bluff.

“I was tired of chasing hay,” said Seth, “I didn’t want to have to rely on someone else’s hay crop. The consistency of feeding fodder is a big advantage for us.”

After reading about hydroponics — the growing of plants in nutrient solutions — they decided to grow fodder, a coarse dry food for livestock.

Raini said, “It has been neat to see the kids take an interest in this, with their own ideas and suggestions. They really enjoy doing this.”

Fodder provides livestock with fresh nutrients which have a very high digestibility and a nutritional value of 18- to 23-percent protein.

The Allens purchase approximately 15 tons of grain a year

NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO FARM & RANCH | SPRING 2016

from Camas Prairie producer, Adam Sonnen. Together, Adam and Seth designed an efficient auger system to move grain from the truck up into the barn bin.

From the barn bin a homemade spout, which Seth built, allows the grain seed to flow into a bucket with a scale underneath. The Allens measure out 135 pounds of barley seed and pour into a trough to begin soaking overnight. Any chaff or debris that surfaces is screened off.

Approximately one pound of dry seed equates to six pounds of feed.

A 24-hour soaking period loosens the hard seed hull and triggers the germination process. The seed is soaked in a solution of water and bleach, this solution sanitizes the seed, killing any mold or yeast that may be on the grain hulls.

Adding aerators, often used in aquariums, to the soaking tub seemed to eliminate the mold issue.

The Allens also found using swimming pool bleach tablets mixed with their spring water is beneficial and cheaper than buying gallons of bleach.

Seven days of fodder are being grown at the same time. As day seven is taken out to feed livestock, a new seed start is beginning.

Depending on the weather, Allens feed 75 mats a day to their small herd of Black Angus cattle. This equates to each head receiving between 22 to 31 pounds of fodder per day. A few small bales of barley straw are added for extra dry matter.

A fodder mat weighs approximately 11 pounds with about six inches of tall green fodder and an inch of root systems, which is also palatable to the livestock.

Nutrients start declining in the fodder mats within seven to nine days.

The mats are hand loaded onto a four-wheeler trailer, then hauled to the animals, which include cattle, sheep and a few horses.

“It’s amazing to see the cows eating green when there is snow on the ground,” said Raini.

Tray towers hold two days of fodder not yet requiring light. The other five days of growing fodder are under light and a watering system. Water automatically comes on for 10 minutes every six hours.

“When we decided to get serious about it, we watched a lot of YouTube videos,” Raini said. “It was a challenge to get started when we could only find about 20 percent of the information we needed.”

A construction builder himself, Seth remodeled one side of their old barn to create two rooms for the fodder system.

“It was a disadvantage getting started not knowing the infrastructure needed,” said Seth, “Temperature control was a big learning point. Mold is a real problem if the room is too moist.”

The growing seed emits a lot of heat, requiring air conditioning to maintain proper temperature.

7

The Allens (L-R) Charise, Raini, Rihan, Seth and Liam / SHELLEY NEAL

The Allens fodder room / SHELLEY NEAL

A tub of soaking seed / SHELLEY NEAL

NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO FARM & RANCH | SPRING 2016

8

The Allens cattle eating fodder and barley straw / SHELLEY NEAL

Seventy degrees is the ideal temperature with 70 to 90 percent humidity.

“Insulation was very important,” said Seth, “Re-doing one room with Kydex made a big difference.”

Kydex is a line of thermoplastic acrylic-polyvinyl chloride materials, which combine the beneficial characteristics of acrylic and PVC, giving the Kydex sheets superior rigidity and formability, toughness and chemical resistance.

“We’ve seen a cost savings for the quality of feed,” said Raini.

“There is still a lot to learn, we can always improve,” Seth said.

— by Shelley Neal of Lucile, GARRETT.NEAL@VERIZON.NET

Seth and Liam Allen demonstrating grain auger system / SHELLEY NEAL

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Guest Editorial

NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO FARM & RANCH | SPRING 2016

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Supporting the true stewards of the land AMERICA’S FARMERS AND RANCHERS

BY CONGRESSMAN RAÚL R. LABRADOR America was built by farmers.

Idahoans know that proud history well.

Trappers, miners and loggers were drawn to Idaho by our natural resources. But it was farmers and ranchers who kept them fed and clothed. The richness of the land made America great, sustained us through two World Wars and continues to support American industry and innovation that benefits all mankind.

Unfortunately, the hardworking people who produce our food and fiber have been under assault by the federal government. The maze of red tape during the eight-year reign of President Obama has made it harder for farmers and ranchers to earn a fair living. Under this president, a staggering number of new jobkilling rules — more than 20,000 — have been published.

Perhaps the worst of his overreaching regulatory burdens is the “Waters of the United States” rule, announced by the Environmental Protection Agency and Corps of Engineers in 2014. The rule rewrites a four-decade old definition of “navigable waters” and would force operators to get federal permits for everyday tasks like plowing and ditch digging.

From Day One, I’ve been working to block “WOTUS.” I’m an original cosponsor of the Regulatory Integrity Protection Act, which would have required the agencies to withdraw the rule and replace it only after consulting with stakeholders and state and local officials.

Despite receiving a record one-million comments on WOTUS, the Obama Administration refused to take another look. A bipartisan bill stopping the rule passed the House in January, but the President vetoed it – killing the call for a reset.

Thankfully, 32 governors from both parties have convinced the courts to temporarily block the rule. In late February, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to decide the case.

Ultimately, I believe we will win this fight to roll back unconstitutional executive overreach.

More broadly, federal oversight of our land

and waters is broken. It is expensive, ineffective and bad for our economy. The one-size-fits-all approach ignores differences across our vast nation. That’s why I have joined reform initiatives to shift management to state and local officials.

Among these is my Self-Sufficient Community Lands Act, which establishes pilot projects to permit states to manage up to 2 percent of our National Forests. My bill, H.R. 2316, was heard in the Natural Resources Committee’s Federal Lands Subcommittee Feb. 25, with testimony in support from Valley County Commissioner Gordon Cruickshank.

I agree with countless Idahoans who make their living outdoors: Those closer to the land will demonstrate stewardship far superior to that of bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. In 2014, my Grazing Improvement Act became law. We were able to ease regulatory burdens that threaten our Western way of life.

Agencies may now issue permits and leases for operators continuing current management.

The law also permanently exempts livestock trailing from full review under the National Environmental Policy Act. American ranchers with federal grazing permits own nearly 120 million acres of nearby lands. As Idahoans know, these businesses are vital to rural economies. My hope is more stable conditions will spur investment in improvements that benefit both livestock and wildlife.

I’m also a cosponsor of the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act, which passed the House last July. REINS offers long-term relief by requiring congressional approval of all new major regulations.

I can tell you that many of my colleagues in the East simply don’t understand how different things are out West. They don’t get that having the EPA treat an irrigation canal as if it were a free-running stream would wreak havoc.

On behalf of Idaho agriculture, I work tirelessly to educate them. And I continue to fight for policies that support an industry sustaining every American every day.

12

minimizing

NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO FARM & RANCH | SPRING 2016

with local resources & volunteers STORY BY LORIE PALMER IDAHO COUNTY FREE PRESS

“It’s a way to use some of our local agricultural products and offer nutritious items.”

Greg Nolan - Founder Homestead Ministries

COLFAX, WASH. — With the help of Homestead Ministries out of Colfax, Wash., many hungry people are being fed throughout the region.

Tom Reidner and friend, Greg Nolan, founded Homestead Ministries a year and one-half ago. Though they each work full-time, they take vacation days and work with schools, churches and other organizations to package soup mix. The outlets include food pantries at both the University of Idaho and Washington State University.

Homestead Ministries is a non-denominational faithbased volunteer organization that supports local agriculture and is dedicated to finding solutions to reduce hunger locally and regionally. Their pamphlet states, “Our desire is to help people feed their families by providing a delicious, nutritious protein-based product.”

The mixes go to local food banks and other feeding programs and outreaches and the food comes from locally grown sources. This include peas, lentils, barley and other beans. Dollar stores also sell the mixes with proceeds returning to the program.

Reidner is a commodities buyer and has been able to purchase “slightly less than perfect but still in great shape and nutritionally excellent,” legumes. This includes peas and beans that may be somewhat chipped or misshapen, but perfectly edible.

“It’s a way to use some of our local agricultural products and offer nutritious items,” Nolan said.

“These were grown right here on the Palouse,” added Reidner, holding up a bag of lentil soup mix.

NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO FARM & RANCH | SPRING 2016

13

“Could we do this faster without a wide range of kids and volunteers helping at the schools and other places we go to...Sure.”

Tom Reidner- Founder Homestead Ministries

and offer nutritious items,” Nolan said.

“These were grown right here on the Palouse,” added Reidner, holding up a bag of lentil soup mix.

Reidner and Nolan have the process down to a science and set up assembly lines for groups to pick up a small bag and go through the line while others add the correct amount of chili pepper, onions, garlic and other spices. These are then carried to another table where they are hot sealed by additional volunteers. The same process is followed with the labeling of the mixes and the beans, down to packing 40 bags of soup mix in a box. They use a cargo trailer to take their setup from place to place.

“Could we do this faster without a wide range of kids and volunteers helping at the schools and other places we go to?” smiled Reidner. “Sure.”

“But then they wouldn’t be involved in the process of helping and giving back to their communities,” added Nolan.

“This way, they have a real investment in it.”

The duo said statistics show that one in every five children in the Northwest goes to bed hungry at night and that 34 percent of kids in the Northwest and 21 percent of the elderly struggle with hunger issues.

“Homestead Ministries and our partners are working toward reducing these issues,” the men said.

Nolan said what sold him on Homestead and its value in the first place was, basically, the “bang for the buck.”

“About $5 worth of the soup product can feed 60 people,” he said. “That’s a coffee to many of us. It showed me it takes just a little to be able to do a lot.”

Those who wish to help with the non-profit can donate commodities such as peas, garbanzos, wheat or barley.

Money is also needed to help purchase spices, packing supplies and provide transportation. Volunteers are also sought to help build soup mixes. Schools, organizations, clubs and churches are invites to contact Homestead.

“We like to see a lot of parents come in and help with the process, too,” emphasized Reidner. “It helps to get the project completed more smoothly, but it also helps bring awareness to hunger issues.”

To contact Homestead Ministries call Reidner at 208-3056548 or Nolan at 509-553-6944; write P.O. Box 148, Colfax, WA 99111. See their page on Facebook at WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/HOMESTEAD-MINISTRIES1481492802103941/?FREF=TS.

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NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO FARM & RANCH | SPRING 2016

14

GENETIC TOOLS Assessing Fertility in Replacement Heifers

BY J. BENTON GLAZE, JR. P.H.D. EXTENSION BEEF CATTLE SPECIALIST, ANIMAL VETERINARY SCIENCE DEPARTMENT, UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO

This article originally appeared in the March 2015 issue of the Idaho Cattle Association Line Rider.

raditionally, many beef producers have selected replacement heifers based largely on which heifers are the biggest and which heifers look the best.

While this method of selection tends to emphasize genetics for growth and tends to pick heifers from the earliest calving cows, it does not necessarily result in an adequate focus on genetics for fertility, calving ease, optimal milk production and maintenance energy levels, and longevity.

T

Reproductive efficiency (fertility) determines to a great extent the profitability of the beef cattle enterprise.

There is no question the level of importance reproduction has when compared to other traits. Without live calves on the ground, there are no opportunities to measure other traits and market calves. In a study from a few years back, the relative economic importance of reproductive traits, growth traits, and product traits was estimated to be 4:2:1, respectively. Other studies have placed a much greater emphasis on reproduction.

NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO FARM & RANCH | SPRING 2016

15

While it is clear that reproductive traits should receive the greatest emphasis in selection programs, producers should be diligent not to overlook reproduction and at least place it on an equal level with production and product traits in selection protocols.

Historically, beef producers have found it difficult to select for, and improve, reproduction or fertility. This is due, in part, to reproduction being comprised of a variety of traits and there being little agreement on how reproduction should be described, defined or evaluated.

Overall, as compared to growth traits, the complexity of reproduction and the lack of agreement on how it should be defined and evaluated have resulted in a longer development and slower adoption of genetic improvement programs. In addition, heritabilities for reproductive traits are reported to be low. (Heritability indicates the amount of variation in a trait that is due to genetics and indicates how favorably a trait will respond to selection.)

Despite some challenges, present day genetic tools (crossbreeding, expected progeny differences) and information afford beef producers the ability to produce and select heifers with a higher likelihood of success resulting in improvements in reproductive traits.

The first genetic tool available to producers to improve reproduction is crossbreeding. Results from an abundance of studies have shown that crossbreeding enhances virtually all aspects of reproductive performance. This is due to the effect of heterosis. Heterosis refers to the phenomenon (effects of gene combinations) that causes crossbred animals to have an increased level of performance for certain traits over and above the performance of their purebred parents. As we consider improving reproduction, it should be noted that heterosis and heritability (mentioned previously) have an inverse relationship. In other words, traits that are lowly heritable and respond poorly to selection generally exhibit greater levels of heterosis.

The superiority of crossbred females over straightbred females has been shown to exist in a number of traits including percentage of heifers reaching puberty at a given age, conception rates, pregnancy rates, calving rate, survival to weaning, weaning weight of progeny, and longevity. Results from a crossbreeding study at the UDSA Meat Animal Research Center showed that twobreed rotational cross cows produced 20 percent more calves during their lifetime due to the favorable impacts of heterosis on female fertility and longevity and calf survivability. In addition, it was reported that when mated to a bull of another breed, the two-breed cross cows would wean 36 percent more weight over their lifetime than straightbred cows with straightbred calves. These increases come about from the positive influences heterosis has on reproduction and production in the cows and growth and survivability in the calves.

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The second genetic tool available to producers to improve reproduction is expected progeny difference (EPD). Expected progeny differences (EPDs) represent the beef industry’s most powerful source of information for selection and genetic improvement. EPDs are the best estimate of an animal’s genetic worth. EPDs are calculated by breed associations and presented in the breed associations’ sire summaries. Before implementing a selection protocol, producers should define their production goals, set minimum performance standards for each trait of interest, and evaluate their herd. After the directions are set, producers should select breeding animals that are superior for the traits of interest and animals that will allow production goals to be met. Following is a descrip-

NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO FARM & RANCH | SPRING 2016

tion, discussion, and example of how to interpret and use EPDs related to reproduction.

Due to the impact that reproductive efficiency (fertility) has on a beef cattle enterprise’s profitability, it warrants accurate evaluation and careful consideration in beef cattle selection. Given the evidence of the crossbred female’s superiority in reproductive efficiency and the level of importance reproduction has on the bottom line, all commercial cattle operations should consider using crossbreeding. Today, beef producers have excellent tools to estimate the genetic worth of animals for a number of economically important traits. Even though producers face challenges in selecting for improved reproduction, tools (EPD, etc.) are available to assist them along the way.

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NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO FARM & RANCH | SPRING 2016

TABLE 1 EXAMPLE

Bull BW EPD #1

-3.3

#2

+2.1

DIFFERENCE

5.4

CED EPD

CEM EPD

17

HP EPD

SC EPD

ST EPD

+20.0

+15.0

+2.0

+0.4

+9.0

+8.0

+10.0

+7.0

+1.2

-3.0

5.0

5.0

0.8

12.0

12.0

* BW = birth weight; CED = calving ease direct; CEM = calving ease maternal; HP = heifer pregnancy; SC = scrotal circumference; ST = stayability.

BIRTH WEIGHT (BW) – birth weight EPDs

are expressed in pounds and represent the sire’s ability to transmit birth weight to his offspring compared to other sires. Larger values indicate greater birth weights in a sire’s progeny. Birth weight EPDs may be used to keep birth weights in check in a breeding herd and alleviate calving difficulties. In the example presented in Table #1, Bull #1 has a BW EPD of -3.3 and Bull #2 has a BW EPD of +2.1. This suggests that Bull #1’s calves would weigh, on average, 5.4 pounds less than Bull #2’s calves.

CALVING EASE DIRECT (CED) – calving ease direct EPDs are expressed as a difference in percentage of unassisted births and predict the difference in ease with which a sire’s calves will be born when he is mated to first-calf heifers. Larger values indicate greater calving ease (larger percentage of unassisted births) in first-calf heifers. Calving ease (direct) EPDs may be used to assist in preventing and diminishing calving difficulties in a breeding herd. In the example presented in Table #1, Bull #1 has a CED EPD of +20.0 and Bull #2 has a CED EPD of +8.0. This suggests that Bull #1, when bred to first-calf heifers, would sire 12 percent more calves that are born unassisted than Bull #2.

CALVING EASE MATERNAL (CEM) – calving ease (maternal) EPDs are expressed as a

difference in percentage of unassisted births and predict the difference in ease which a sire’s daughters will calve as first-calf heifers. Larger values indicate greater caving ease (larger percentage of unassisted births) in a sire’s daughters when they calve as first-calf heifers.

Calving ease (maternal) EPDs may be used to assist in preventing and diminishing calving difficulties in a breeding herd. In the example presented in Table 1, Bull #1 has a CEM EPD of +15.0 and Bull #2 has a CEM EPD of +10.0. This suggests that 5 percent more of Bull #1’s daughters would calve unassisted as first-calf heifers than Bull #2’s daughters.

HEIFER PREGNANCY (HP) – heifer pregnancy EPDs are expressed as a difference in percentage of a sire’s daughters conceiving to calve at two years of age. Larger values indicate greater numbers of pregnant heifers. Heifer pregnancy EPDs may be used to improve reproductive efficiency in a breeding herd. In the example presented in Table 1, Bull #1 has a HP EPD of +2.0 and Bull #2 has a HP EPD of +7.0. This suggests that 5 percent more of Bull #2’s daughters, on average, would end up pregnant as two-year olds than Bull #1’s daughters.

SCROTAL CIRCUMFERENCE (SC) – scrotal circumference EPDs are expressed in centimeters and represent the sire’s ability to transmit scrotal

growth to his offspring compared to other sires.

Larger values indicate greater scrotal circumferences. Scrotal circumference EPDs may be used to improve reproduction in breeding herds through improved semen traits (males) and decreased age of puberty (males and females). In the example presented in Table 1, Bull #1 has a SC EPD of +0.4 and Bull #2 has a SC EPD of +1.2. This suggests that 5 percent more of Bull #2’s daughters, on average, would end up pregnant as two-year-olds than Bull #1’s daughters. This suggests that Bull #2’s male calves would have scrotal measurements, on average, 0.8 centimeters greater than Bull #1’s male calves at a year of age.

STAYABILTY (ST) – stayability EPDs are expressed as a difference in percentage of a sire’s daughters remaining in the breeding herd until at least six years of age. Larger values indicate greater numbers of cows remaining in the breeding herd for longer periods. Stayability EPDs may be used to improve reproductive efficiency and longevity in a breeding herd. In the example presented in Table 1, Bull #1 has a ST EPD of +9.0 and Bull #2 has a ST EPD of -3.0. This suggests that 12 percent more of Bull #1’s daughters would remain in the herd until at least six years of age, on average, compared to Bull #2’s daughters.

NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO FARM & RANCH | SPRING 2016

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CAMAS PRAIRIE

WINE COUNTRY

Third generation farmer Brent Uhlorn and his family have set out on a journey to make wine country on the Camas Prairie / LORIE PALMER

STORY BY LORIE PALMER IDAHO COUNTY FREE PRESS COTTONWOOD — The Camas Prairie of North Central Idaho may not be known as wine country right now, but who knows what the future holds.

The Uhlorn family farm may have had a few sideways looks during the past few years.

Four years ago, third generation farmer Brent Ulhorn and his family set out on a journey that hadn’t been tried before on the Camas Prairie: They planted grapes. Not just a few, but 1,400 plants on an acre of land.

“Some people might think we’re crazy, I don’t know,” Brent smiled, shrugging.

“Mostly, I think people are simply interested,” added Darrel Uhlorn, Brent’s father.

Thirty years ago, Darrel would have never thought grapes would be a crop on his farmland.

“But look at the changes in the past 100 years,” he said. “It’s always good to try something new.”

And it was with that attitude —BRENT UHLORN that Brent, now nearly 30, entered his college education that led him on his current path.

He attended Walla Walla Community College where he studied agriculture, biology and science, and viticulture.

“We had toured the school and I was very interested in viticulture and the wine making,” Brent explained. “I really knew nothing when I first started.”

From an outsider’s standpoint, “nothing” isn’t quite accurate as Brent was raised on the family farm and spent his life raising and harvesting wheat, barley, canola and bluegrass, but as far as grapes were concerned, his knowledge was very limited, he said.

“Some people might think we’re crazy, I don’t know.”

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NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO FARM & RANCH | SPRING 2016

A view of the Uhlorn farm in Cottonwood / LORIE PALMER

Brent studied what grapes might be able to survive on the Camas Prairie, how much land and where they might be able to grow, and completed two working internships at vineyards/wineries in the Walla Walla area where he worked hands-on with the entire grape process from growing and care to pruning and harvest, all the way through wine-making.

Darrel, who helped with the planting and has been supportive of his son’s endeavors.

“I was fortunate to get a lot of great hands-on training as well as my school studies,” Brent said. “I learned some valuable lessons.”

“We have learned a lot by trial and error for sure,” Brent said.

This includes placing bird netting over an entire acre after hundreds of birds found the high-sugar content grapes to be pretty tasty. They had to install an electric fence when the deer found the grape plants appetizing, as well.

That knowledge lead Brent to study his family property and figure out if planting grapes there would be feasible.

“My dad had all the temperatures, first freezes and other weather-related items marked on calendars for probably the past 30 years,” Brent said.

“My father did it for at least 20 years before that,” Darrel added.

So, Brent sat down and figured out the average growing seasons including first frosts and made a list of the grape plants he thought might do well at the farm. He came up with four varieties and added a fifth when he was given some plants.

The Uhlorns planted a row of Gewurztraminer, a row of cabernet sobrenome, two rows of noy chardonnay, five rows of Riesling and five rows of pinot noir. In all, 1,400 plants covering an acre, on a south-facing slip near the family home.

Brent chose varieties he felt could survive on dry land with no irrigation and in the area’s climate.

“It took some time to train the plants to trellis, to climb,” said

The entire family – which includes Brent’s mother, Mary, and sisters, Kylie and Holli – have helped with weeding and pruning, as has the family’s hired help.

“We also had some powdered mildew and one year a ton of bees that sucked all the juice out of the skins,” Brent said. “We keep learning and adjusting. Hopefully we’ve checked most of the things off the list that will deter us from getting a good crop.”

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So far, none of the plants has been lost, which the Uhlorns find “pretty amazing.”

“We expected maybe to lose a few due to the climate, but we have been happily surprised,” Brent said.

The past year had been one of the driest the family has seen, so the crops did not produce as they had hoped.

However, they did pick about 500 pounds of Rieslings and had the chance to crush, ferment and bottle that into their own private wine stock.

Currently, they partnered with some other area wineries to utilize their equipment to help in the wine-making process. Eventually, Brent has plans to have his own facility.

“That might be a few years down the road – we would first like to see some return on our initial investment,” he smiled. “It’s kind of a long process that you have to be patient about.”

The grape plants have been in a dormant state this winter and will soon be ready to be pruned. The grape crop should be ready for picking around September.

“We know we’d need more help if everything works out,” Brent added. “We’ll face that when the time comes.”

In all, 1,400 plants cover an acre near the family home. All are varieties Brent believes could survive the area’s climate / Brent Uhlorn

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The following are breakdowns (where available) for Clearwater, Idaho, Lewis and Nez Perce counties in categories of winter and spring wheat and barley.

Production Numbers

WINTER WHEAT

Idaho County: Yield decreased 20 percent from 2014 to 2015 for winter wheat; from 76.7 to 61.5 bushels yield per acre. Production during that time also decreased from 4,328,000 to 3,515,000 bushels (19 percent decrease). In 2014, 60,100 acres was planted and 56,400 were harvested, versus 61,200 and 57,200, respectively in 2015.

Lewis County: Yield saw a minimal decrease from 2014 to 2015; 66.2 to 62.1 bushels per acre. Production dropped 10 percent during this time from 4,555,000 to 4,100,000. In 2014, 73,000 acres were planted and 68,800 were harvested, versus 71,000,000 and 66,000,000, respectively.

2014 - 2015

Nez Perce County: 2015 information only was available — 76,100 acres were planted and 69,700 were harvested for a 74.4 bushels per acre (5,184,000 bushels total production).

SPRING WHEAT

Clearwater County: The region saw a marked drop – nearly 40 percent — in yield, from 46.9 to 28.2 bushels, from 2014 to 2015. Production was 197,000 bushels in 2014, dropping 44 percent to 110,000 the year following. In 2014, 4,400 acres were planted and 4,200 were harvested, with the following year seeing 4,100 and 3,900 acres, respectively.

YIELD, PRODUCTION

NUMBERS DECREASED STORY BY DAVID RAUZI IDAHO COUNTY FREE PRESS Central Idaho production totals for wheat and barley crops saw noted, and in some cases, dramatic decreases from 2014 to 2015, according to statistics released by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

Lewis and Idaho counties saw 10 to 20 percent decreases in winter wheat production, and yield decreases of 36 to 44 percent in spring wheat. Barley yields also decreased approximately 40 percent, from 2014 to 2015, in Idaho and Lewis counties.

NASS prepares and publishes crop annual county data to support USDA farm programs. Data is based on reports from a sampling of farms and ranches.

Idaho County: Yield dropped by more than half (44 percent) from 2014 to 2015: 60.6 to 33.7. During that time, production decreased 43 percent from 1,394,000 to 789,000 bushels. In 2014, 24,000 acres were planted and 23,000 were harvested, versus 24,500 and 23,400, respectively, in 2015.

Lewis County: Yield dropped 36 percent, from 63.0 in 2014 to 40.6 in 2015. During this time, production dropped 30 percent from 995,000 to 695,000 bushels. In 2014, 16,500 acres were planted and 15,800 were harvested, compared with 17,900 and 17,100, respectively, in 2015.

BARLEY

Clearwater County: 2014 information only was available; 700 acres were both planted and harvested yielding 45.7 bushels per acre (32,000 bushels total production).

Idaho County: Production yield decreased 40 percent from 2014 to 2015; 67.9 to 40.8 per acre, and production decreased by more than half from 835,000 to 400,000 bushels. In 2014, 12,400 acres were planted and 12,300 were harvested, versus 10,500 and 9,800, respectively, in 2015.

Lewis County: Yield dropped by 41 percent, from 75.1 in 2014 to 44.1 in 2015: 691,000 to 309,000 bushels (55.3 percent decrease). Acres in 2014 were 9,300 planted and 9,200 harvested; and 2015 saw 7,800 planted and 7,000 harvested.

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2016

Outlook

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Soil moisture expected close to average The Western drought is finally loosening its grip thanks to a strong El Nino. Central Idaho, particularly, has experienced a close to average winter for the first time in several years. Both the Clearwater and Salmon basins have near normal snowpack, according to hydrologist Ron Abramovich, who is part of the Snow Survey Division of the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Idaho.

The NRCS Snow Survey Team uses both manual snow courses and automated SNOw TELemetry sites (SNOTEL) to measure and track snowpacks across the state.

Currently, Snow Survey has 16 SNOTEL sites in the Clearwater basin and 22 in the Salmon basin.

“The mountain snowpack is Idaho’s largest reservoir, so tracking it is critical for everyone, regardless of their industry,” Abramovich noted.

The array of information provided by the manually measured snow courses and automated SNOTEL sites reveal many things. Two of those are (1) how much water is stored as snow and (2) when snowpack reaches its peak for the season and starts to melt. While Snow Survey has no control over when the spring runoff begins, its data is used by water managers, government agencies and other groups to plan how to best utilize that water to benefit the most stakeholders.

This year’s near normal snowpack means Central Idaho is poised to have a pretty traditional runoff season, which normally begins in late April, especially when compared to last season which saw the highest streamflow volumes in February and March.

“Any time we get near normal runoff, that’s good news for agriculture and recreationists. Better flows also mean good news for fish and wildlife,” Abramovich said.

The outlook is near normal for dryland farmers as well, with soil moisture expected to be close to the average at the appropriate time for spring growth because of the normal precipitation amounts since last fall.

Despite the positive forecast for 2016, Idaho is not out of the woods regarding its long-term water supply. Past analysis is showing that Idaho is seeing more of its winter precipitation fall in fewer but bigger storms. Emerging climate models are indicating that more winter precipitation in mid-elevations will fall as rain rather than snow, similar to trends observed last winter. For information and the latest water outlook report, visit the NRCS Snow Survey page at: www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/id/snow .

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A Camas Prairie view looking west near Cottonwood / LORIE PALMER

WOLF 26

CONTROL Board budget hearing recap STORY BY ANDREW OTTOSON

IDAHO COUNTY FREE PRESS

Richard Savage /IDAHO CATTLE ASSOCIATION

NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO FARM & RANCH | SPRING 2016

In February, Richard Savage – formerly the Idaho Cattle Association president and currently the livestock industry representative on Idaho’s Wolf Depredation Control Board – told the legislature’s budget committee the board has not been able “to fully develop the program of things we can do to help control depredations” in its first year of existence.

Even so, the board can count a success, Savage said. There were fewer wolf depredation complaints this year than any since 2005, including zero complaints last December.

Savage’s comments came in reply to Democrat John Gannon’s observation that the board – which receives $400,000 annually from Idaho’s general fund – is forecasting a fiscal year 2017 balance of “roughly a whole year’s worth of revenue.”

Gannon asked Savage to contemplate a halving of the taxpayer’s portion.

“We’re learning new things all the time,” Savage told the Joint Finance Appropriations Committee. “I think it’s important that we always have money in the account so that the helicopter can fly when depredation occurs.”

Savage didn’t mention that the helicopters may well have been flying on a wolf control operation at that very moment in the Lolo Zone, where Idaho Fish and Game were in the midst of removing 20 wolves in support of that region’s elk. That operation was funded through the control board using dollars tabbed for that purpose out of Fish and Game’s hunting license sales.

Savage called the board’s funding a “three-legged stool.”

“The livestock people are doing their share, the sportsmen are doing their share, and as it was originally put together, the $400,000 from the general fund, I think is important that we continue,” he said.

JFAC chair Maxine Bell said it would “help if we had more detail on what you had spent to date. We’ll hope for a little more detail as this work goes forward.”

Sen. Sheryl Nuxoll said “what I would like to know is how many wolves were killed in 2015 and what the expense was for that, considering the program as a whole – and also for 2016 so far.”

For that, Savage deferred to U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services state director Todd Grimm. But Grimm didn’t mention the Lolo Zone operation, either.

“In 2015, we conducted 84 depredation investigations related to wolf complaints in the state, for 51 livestock producers in 15 counties,” Grimm said. “Of those 84 investigations, 59 turned out to be a confirmed depredation result of wolves. As a result, we ended up removing a total of 72 wolves last year.”

Sen. Bert Brackett asked Savage what if anything the board is doing about cases where wolf bites that occurred days or weeks earlier are found only after a livestock animal has died of infection.

“The answer to that relates back to Sen. Nuxoll’s question,” Savage said. “I think that dividing the number of wolves killed by the number of dollars spent is really poor math on this situation. Remember, we are a depredation control board. At this point there is no possible way we can put a dollar amount on the cost of depredation by wolves in the state of Idaho. To figure what we’re spending as to what we’re getting, you would have to be able to do that, and I don’t think there’s any way possible.”

Grimm said: “We do see periodic injuries caused by wolves, mostly to adult cattle. We do see them in some young cattle, and to a lesser extent, sheep. Sheep tend not to withstand too many wolf bites before they succumb. In those cases that we are able to confirm the injury caused by wolves, we can initiate a control action and do some removals. However, as you probably know, holding an adult animal still long enough to take some measurements to try to figure out what exact type of animal bit it is rather challenging sometimes.”

NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO FARM & RANCH | SPRING 2016 To which Brackett said, “It seems to me further investigation is required in those situations. Part of that may require more collars on wolves. Helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft are good tools, if they’re there right when the act is happening. So as you develop work plans and strategy, it seems like more collaring will be necessary.”

Judging from Savage’s response, the implication – that the board could shift money spent supporting elk herds to supporting livestock herds – must have been clear. He said: “We haven’t mentioned much about the elk depredation. At this point we’re not as aware of that as we are of what’s happening to livestock. Fish and Game’s data shows that elk herds in certain areas are terribly depleted and not reaching the goals that they have. We need to find that ability to help those populations reach those goals and find that balance. Collaring is not cheap, but it’s a big part of finding the answers.”

Rep. Steven Miller then pointed out that the board has “already expended $318,000 this year.”

“I see you’ve got obligated $621,000 that you see coming,” Miller said. “What are those [expenditures] going to be? It looks like if you stay on track, you’ll expend more than one year’s expenditure.”

Historically, a big year for Wildlife Services’ wolf control costs is about $600,000, Savage said.

Savage’s term began with a 2014 appointment by Gov. Butch Otter, which will expire July 1 this year, as will the term of former Fish and Game commissioner, Tony McDermott, who Otter appointed to represent sportsmen.

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FAQ on Cover Crops

NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO FARM & RANCH | SPRING 2016

JEFF ZENNER PHOTOGRAPHY

CHANGES TO NRCS GUIDELINES

Cover crops, according to the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), are generally recognized by agricultural experts as agronomically sound for the area for erosion control or other purposes related to conservation or soil improvement. Cover crops include grasses, legumes and forbs for seasonal cover and other conservation purposes.

According to NRCS guidelines, cover crops must achieve conservation purposes while minimizing the risks of reducing yields to the following crop due to soil water use.

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Conservation purpose includes reducing soil erosion, improving soil’s physical and biological properties, supplying of nutrients and suppressing weeds.

Concerning guidance on cover crops and the summerfallow (SF) practice, NRCS guidelines now specifically state if a cover crop is planted on SF acreage in a fallow year, the following planted crop will not meet the SF practice definition until the acreage lies fallow for a full crop year.

The Risk Management Agency (RMA) developed its nonirrigated summerfallow practice for producers that use a crop-fallow rotation in the semi-arid western United States, where effective soil water conservation and management is critical to the success of the cash crop.

Historically, the planting of a crop, including cover crops, during the fallow year would render the subsequently planted crop ineligible for the SF practice until the acreage lies fallow for a full crop year. RMA, along with NRCS, recently re-examined this policy by reviewing available peer-reviewed scientific research and concluded that in semi-arid regions, planting a cover crop during the fallow year significantly increases the risk of reducing yield to the following crop due to soil water use.

However, that crop insurance is still available for those producers who use a crop-fallow rotation in the semi-arid west, and who choose to plant a cover crop during the fallow year.

For crops insured in the 2015 crop year, the crop following the cover crop can be insured under the continuous cropping (CC) practice, if it is available. In those counties where CC is not available, producers may insure the following crop by written agreement, provided the land meets crop productivity requirements and the cover crop was not hayed, grazed or otherwise harvested. There will be a slight change for crops insured in the 2016 and succeeding crop years. If a cover crop is planted during the fallow year, the acreage may be insured under the “continuous cropping practice,” if available in respective counties.

If the continuous cropping practice is not available, producers may be able to insure their cash crop by written agreement provided the cover crop is terminated at least 90 days prior to planting the insured crop. This means that for counties in which only a SF practice is available, producers are required to terminate the cover crop 90 days prior if they wish to qualify for a written agreement for CC practice. For counties in which both SF and CC are available, producer should terminate the cover crop according to the zone requirements in the termination guidelines.

When a cover crop is planted on SF acreage in a fallow year, the following planted crop will not meet the SF practice definition until the acres lie fallow for a full crop year.

Producers interested in exploring how cover crops can fit into their farming operations are encouraged to look over the actuarial documents in their county and discuss all available options with their crop insurance agent.

NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO FARM & RANCH | SPRING 2016

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RETURN ON WHEAT EXPORT PROMOTION FUNDS?

45 1 -to-

Studies show increased revenue

U.S. wheat producers invested an average of $4.9 million in checkoff funds per year to promote their milling wheat overseas between 2010 and 2014, and for every one of those dollars they received up to $45 back in increased net revenue. That is a principal conclusion of a recent economic analysis of wheat export promotion by U.S. Wheat Associates (USW).

USW commissioned the study with funding from the

USDA/Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Market Access Program. Dr. Harry M. Kaiser, the Gellert Family Professor of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell and director of the Cornell Commodity Promotion Research Program (CCPRP), designed and conducted the research using established methods from his 30 years of research experience.

NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO FARM & RANCH | SPRING 2016

“The study showed that investing in U.S. wheat export promotion had a large and beneficial impact for producers and the economy that far exceeded its cost,” Dr. Kaiser said. “The econometric models we used showed that between 2010 and 2014 the total investment in wheat export promotion by farmers and the government increased total annual gross revenue by $2.0 billion to $3.0 billion. So for every $1 farmers and the government invested, the estimated return in gross revenue to the U.S. economy was between $112 and $179.”

Dr. Kaiser added that the most likely annual gross revenue return is about $149 for each dollar spent based on USDA supply elasticity studies.

Dr. Kaiser quantified the impact of wheat export promotion through models that account for several factors affecting commodity export demand such as prices and exchange rates. The study determined that cutting promotion by 50 percent between 2010 and 2014 would have significantly reduced wheat exports by about 15 percent.

That represents a total potential export loss equal to nearly 161.5 million bushels per year. The value of that loss was determined, then compared to total wheat export promotion cost to calculate a series of benefit-to-cost ratios (BCR).

The BCR from the total promotion cost averaged 14.9 to 1.

Because producers contributed about one-third of the total producer and FAS investment through state checkoff program, the BCR for their investment averaged about three times the total, or about 45 to 1. Assuming farmers get 10 percent of the total revenue, Dr. Kaiser said the study shows wheat export promotion increased net revenue for farmers by more than $247 million per year.

The impact of in-kind contributions from state commissions was not considered in this study.

“Our organization is accountable to wheat farmers and other taxpayers who fund the market development work we do,” USW President Alan Tracy said. “Dr. Kaiser’s research methods are well respected and the conclusions echo previous studies in 2004 and 2009, so we can very confidently say that the money farmers provide for export promotion is well worth the investment. In fact, the study predicts that increasing the promotion investment has the potential for even greater returns to wheat farmers, the wheat supply chain and the U.S. economy.”

USW will use additional results from the study to help plan and manage its future activities. The organization has posted full study results on its website, WWW.USWHEAT.ORG.

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NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO FARM & RANCH | SPRING 2016

Improving working lands

USDA to invest $150 million nationwide through Conservation Stewardship Program

U.S. Department of Agriculture is making $150 million in funding available for agricultural producers through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), the USDA’s largest conservation program that helps producers voluntarily improve the health and productivity of private and Tribal working lands.

The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) plans to add an estimated 10 million acres to the rolls of CSP during fiscal 2016.

“The Conservation Stewardship Program is one of our most popular programs with producers because it results in real change on the ground by boosting soil and air quality, conserving clean water and enhancing wildlife habitat,” Vilsack said.

“With this investment, we’ll be able to build on the already record number of acres enrolled in the USDA’s conservation programs, enabling producers to achieve higher levels of conservation and adopt new and emerging conservation technologies on farms, ranches and forests.”

NRCS accepts applications for CSP throughout the year, but producers should submit applications by March 31 to USDA service centers to ensure they are considered for enrollment in 2016.

Participants with existing CSP contracts that will expire on Dec. 31, 2016, have the option to renew their contracts for an additional five years if they agree to adopt additional activities to achieve higher levels of conservation on their lands. Applications to renew are also due by March 31.

NRCS also makes CSP available to producers as an additional opportunity to participate in regional landscape-level conservation efforts including the Sage Grouse Initiative.

• Funding is available for nearly 100 kinds of enhancements in Idaho to help participants: •Improve soil quality through use of cover crops, conservation crop rotations and other activities that increase soil productivity.

•Use water wisely and improve water quality through enhancements such as more efficient irrigation systems and weather monitoring.

•Restore habitat for wildlife and pollinators such as the greater sage-grouse.

A CSP self-screening checklist is available to help producers determine if the program is compatible with their operation. As part of the application process, applicants will work with NRCS field personnel to complete a resource inventory of their land to determine the conservation performance for existing and new conservation activities. The applicant’s conservation performance will be used to determine eligibility, ranking and payments.

For information, contact the NRCS office in Grangeville, 9831050, or go online at www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted.

NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO FARM & RANCH | SPRING 2016

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Northwest region’s horticulture sales increase by 15% from 2009 The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) recently released the 2014 Census of Horticultural Specialties report, which allows that U.S. horticulture operations sold a total of $13.8 billion in florticulture, nursery and specialty crops in 2014, up 18 percent since 2009. The number of horticulture operations in the U.S. increased 8 percent during this time to 23,221.

Horticulture production was concentrated in 10 states which accounted for 65 percent of all U.S. horticulture sales in 2014. California ($2.88 billion), Florida ($1.8 billion) and Oregon ($932 million) led the nation in sales.

NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO FARM & RANCH | SPRING 2016

Alaska showed a 35 percent increase in the total number of operations reporting horticulture specialty crops sold between 2009 and 2014, while total sales increased 65 percent to $16.8 million.

Idaho showed a 6 percent increase on the total number of operations, while sales decreased 11 percent to $67.4 million. Idaho ranked third in the U.S. in vegetable seed sales.

Oregon showed an 8 percent increase of total number of operations while total sales increased 12 percent.

Oregon ranked first in the U.S. in cut Christmas tree sales and second in vegetable seed sales. It also ranked third in cut flowers, nursery stock sales, flower seed sales and cut cultivated green sales.

Washington showed a 14 percent increase while total sales increased 31 percent to $366 million. The state ranked second in the U.S. in cut flower sales, rhizomes and tuber sales.

For the full report got to www.agcensus.usda.gov.

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Scours: A Calf’s Worst Nightmare Calving in the winter and early spring can be a challenge due to bad weather conditions and mud. Scouring calves at this time of year can also be a big concern for some operations. Scours are caused by several factors including: exposure to disease causing agents, a compromised immune system due to poor quality colostrum or nutrition and environmental stresses related to inclement weather and

R EDUCING SCOURS with the Sandhills Calving System STORY BY JIM CHURCH IDAHO COUNTY AGENT UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO

NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO FARM & RANCH | SPRING 2016 poor facilities.

Calves that get the scours can, of course, die from complications, but even if they survive, research has shown that it can have a lasting effect on their future performance as it relates to rate of gain while on pasture and in the feedlot.

Dr. David Smith, a professor and extension veterinarian from the University of Nebraska, has conducted a great deal of research on calf scours. According to Dr. Smith, newborn calves are the most susceptible to getting sick from disease agents that cause scours during the first 7 to 14 days of age.

Dr. Smith indicated that the adult cow herd is the source of calf scour pathogens each year. The cows shed small numbers of pathogens which can be picked up by the newborn calves. Once the calves start being born, then they become the main multipliers of the pathogens and can expose calves born later to calf scour agents. So, in other words, the older calves infect calves born later in the calving season.

Continued on page 38

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NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO FARM & RANCH | SPRING 2016

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Continued from page 37

I

n the early 2000s, Dr. Smith developed a calving system and tested it on two herds in Nebraska that were having problems with calf scours. These herds were located in the Sandhills region of Nebraska, hence the name, Sandhills Calving System.

The system was tested on Herd 1 for six calving seasons. They had a death loss that ranged from 6.5 to 14 percent in the three years before the study.

The system was tested on Herd 2 for five calving seasons and they had a 6.5 to 11.9 percent death loss.

After using the Sandhills Calving System, Herd 1 had no calf death losses and only minor treatments for scours. Herd 2 reported a reduction in calf death loss to 2.3 percent but none of the calves died from calf scours after putting the system into practice on their ranch.

Dr. Smith’s calving system had these two main components: Separating calves by age to prevent the older calves from infecting the younger calves.

Moving pregnant cows to clean pastures away from cows that had already calved to minimize pathogen load.

So how does the system work?

According to Dr. Smith, the Sandhills Calving System uses multiple pastures for calving instead of a single pasture or calving lot that has a high density of cows. Producers need to have multiple pastures that can accommodate cows and calves.

The system works as outlined below:

All cows are turned into the first clean pasture as soon as the first calf is born.

• For two weeks, the entire herd is held in this pasture while calving continues.

• After two weeks, the cows that have not calved are moved to another clean pasture.

The cows that have calved are left in the first pasture.

The cows that were moved are held in the second pasture for one to two weeks for calving.

• After a week or two, whatever the producer chooses, the cows that have not calved in the second pasture are moved to a third clean pasture.

• The cows that calved in pasture 2 are left with their calves. The cows moved to the third pasture are held there for a week or two and allowed to calve.

• Cows that have not calved are moved to a fourth pasture while the cows that calved in pasture 3 are left with their calves.

• When the youngest calf in the herd is four weeks of age, the entire herd can be commingled again.

Producers adopting this system will have multiple pastures with calves that are approximately within a week of age of each other. What happens is newborn calves are born on clean ground and are not exposed to older calves. This greatly reduces the exposure to scour causing pathogens, especially during the critical period when the calves are less than two weeks of age.

NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO FARM & RANCH | SPRING 2016

Can I adopt this method here in the Northwest?

Sure, but you will have to consider the following: Calving Season – severe winter weather conditions may cause problems when calving out in the open. Winter calving may be the most difficult; however, it will work if there are adequate facilities on the ranch.

Pasture Availability – there will need to be multiple clean pastures available during the calving period. Of course this will include having a water source for each pasture.

Calf Shelters – if the cows are calving during periods of bad weather, each pasture will need a calf shelter to allow calves an opportunity to get relief from cold, windy and wet conditions.

Access to Calving Facilities – steps will have to be taken to make sure that there is easy access to calving facilities if a cow or heifer needs assistance during calving. Take into consideration how the cow will be moved from the various pastures to the working corrals or calving barn.

Labor – there will be an increased demand on labor. The cows will have to be sorted and moved every week or two and it will take longer to check the cow-calf pairs and the cows that are close to calving when there are multiple pastures.

Can I adopt bits and pieces?

Most producers may think that they can’t adopt the Sandhills Calving System because they lack multiple pastures to separate the cows. If you are one of these people, you still can adopt the concept because it is valid and effective in reducing scours.

Analyze ways that younger calves and their mothers can be separated from the older calves until they are old enough to fight off scours. Remember the magical age is four weeks.

Look to see if there is an opportunity to cross fence the calving area into multiple areas to provide a clean calving area for later calving cows. Maybe you can locate other sites to move cows around during the calving season. Anything you can do to separate younger and older calves will help reduce scours.

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What have we learned?

The Sandhills Calving System has been tested thoroughly and used for years successfully to reduce scours, not only in the Sandhills area of Nebraska, but all over the country.

The Sandhills Calving System has two components: 1) separating calves by age to prevent older calves from infecting younger calves; and 2) moving pregnant cows away from cow/calf pairs.

Implementation requires some planning on how to divide pastures to provide multiple clean calving areas. Producers that have struggled with scours in previous years should seriously consider adopting this system.

NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO FARM & RANCH | SPRING 2016

Bark beetles may attack trees damaged in November windstorm

Damaged ponderosa pine from last November’s windstorms, seen at Rathdrum / IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF LANDS

Severe windstorms in northern Idaho last November did more than cause widespread damage to structures and power lines – they made forested areas more susceptible to infestations of certain bark beetles this spring.

Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) forest health officials advise forest landowners that trees uprooted or broken in the storm can become infested by bark beetles once the weather warms up again, and what they can do now to minimize the chance for infestations. The beetles can build up populations in the damaged logs and then attack and kill neighboring healthy trees.

Ponderosa pine and lodgepole pine larger than three inches in diameter can be infested by the pine engraver beetle. Pine engraver beetles that infest wind-thrown trees in April and May will lay eggs that develop into adults and emerge in June of the same year. Beetles that emerge in June often attack adjacent live trees.

Douglas fir can be infested by Douglas fir beetle. Beetles infesting damaged Douglas fir in the spring will produce offspring, which could infest live trees in spring of 2017.

Both bark beetle species are highly attracted to the moist tissue under the bark of wind-thrown trees, broken tops, and logs.

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The best option to reduce beetle infestations is to remove damaged trees, according to IDL. If there are not enough trees to economically salvage, consider safely burning or chipping, or removing branches and cutting green logs into smaller pieces.

Forest owners can hasten the drying of logs and green wood by placing them in a sunny area before beetles fly in the spring. Leaving damaged trees or decks of green logs in shady areas increases the chances that they will be infested. Owners are advised not to stack green firewood next to live standing trees. The idea is to reduce the number of places for the damaging beetles to breed and then kill live trees.

Detailed information for forest landowners on how to manage pine engraver and Douglas fir beetle is available on the IDL website under “Hot Topics� at this link: WWW.IDL.IDAHO.GOV/FORESTRY/FORESTHEALTH/INDEX.HTML .

Idaho Department of Lands private forestry specials

are available in offices across the region to assist forest land owners. A list of IDL office locations within the region: Clearwater Supervisory Area: Jay Sila, Area Manager, 10230 Highway 12, Orofino, ID 83544; (208) 476-4587 Maggie Creek Supervisory Area: Zoanne Anderson, Area Manager, 913 Third Street, Kamiah, ID 83536 (208) 935-2141 Craig Mountain Forest Protective District, P.O. Box 68, 014 E. Lorahama, Craigmont, ID 83523; (208) 924-5571 Payette Lakes Supervisory Area: Scott Corkill, Area Manager, 555 Deinhard Lane, McCall, ID 83638 (208) 634-7125

NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO FARM & RANCH | SPRING 2016

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NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO FARM & RANCH | SPRING 2016