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Farm and Ranch SUMMER 2022 A joint publication of the

A volatile market Rain has been a bonus but the war in Ukraine has not / Page 2 A combine harvests wheat in the Tammany area south of Lewiston.  Photo by August Frank

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MOSCOW-PULLMAN DAILY NEWS / LEWISTON TRIBUNE

| GLOBAL MARKETS |

War& WHEAT Zach Wilkinson/Farm & Ranch

Water pools together in a Moscow wheat field as a storm passes recently. The wet weather is a mixed bag for wheat planted in the spring: In some areas growers were able to seed. In others, the excessive moisture has kept them idle.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has unsettled grain markets

By Eric Barker For Farm & Ranch

The war in Ukraine has caused wheat prices to rise and the market to become much more unpredictable.

Steep swings are to be expected for the foreseeable future, said Sam White, chief operating officer of Pacific Northwest Farmers Cooperative at Genesee.

“It has made it very volatile,” said

White. “As long as this war is going on, I would expect this volatility to remain in the marketplace.”

Wheat futures were $10.70 on June 6 compared to about $7 a year ago. The price hovered around $8 prior to the start of the war but shot up sharply when Russia invaded its neighbor. The price of wheat hit a high of $12.77 on May 17. Soft white wheat, the most common variety grown in north central Idaho and southeastern Washington, hovered around $11.50 per bushel on June 6.

Most world observers expected a quick victory for Russia. But Ukrainians

have offered stiff resistance and many now expect a protracted conflict in the region responsible for a significant percentage of world wheat exports.

White said the volatility can be traced to uncertainty over just how much wheat will come out of the Black Sea region. Yield in Ukraine is expected to be down because of the bloody fighting and disruption to shipping ports. The United States and European nations have levied tough sanctions on Russia, including on agricultural products, that have the potential to affect the amount of wheat on the market. But only if

“

It has made it very volatile.

As long as this war is going on, I would expect this volatility to remain in the marketplace.”

— SAM WHITE, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF PACIFIC NORTHWEST FARMERS COOPERATIVE AT GENESEE

Northwest Farm and Ranch | SUMMER 2022 they hold. White said if the price remains high, some countries will be tempted to pursue Russian wheat.

The war isn’t the only upward pressure on the market. Drought in places like Texas, Oklahoma, North Dakota and Minnesota and expectations of reduced yield in those states is causing prices to rise.

North central Idaho and southeastern Washington are experiencing a wet spring. White said winter wheat, planted last fall, is in great shape.

“This moisture is fantastic.”

But the wet weather is a mixed bag for wheat planted in the spring. In some areas growers were able to seed.

In others, the excessive moisture has kept them idle.

“There are some places that didn’t get everything planted because it’s too wet,” he said.

MOSCOW-PULLMAN DAILY NEWS / LEWISTON TRIBUNE |

U.N.: War increasing millions’ suffering

By Edith M. Lederer

Global food exports, 2019

Associated Press

This is shown for the largest crops grown by Ukraine and Russia.

Ukraine

Russia

Sunflower oil

% of worldwide exports

42%

Wheat

8.9% 9%

Barley

9.7% 9.5% 19%

Corn

16% 0%

Barker may be contacted at ebarker@lmtribune.com or at (208) 848-2273. Follow him on Twitter @ezebarker.

Saturday, June 25, 2022 | 3

21%

64%

14% 23%

18% 20%

40%

60%

Source: Calculated by Our World in Data based on the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Graphic: Staff, TNS

UNITED NATIONS — The ripple effects of the war in Ukraine are increasing the suffering of millions of people by escalating food and energy prices and worsening a financial crisis, coming on top of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, a U.N. report said this month.

The U.N. Global Crisis Response Group said the war “has exacerbated a global cost-of-living crisis unseen in at least a generation” and it is underming U.N. aspirations to end extreme poverty around the globe and achieve 16 other goals for a better world by 2030.

The group, appointed by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to assess the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, also said 60% of workers have lower

real incomes today than before the pandemic and 60% of the poorest countries are in debt distress or at high risk of it.

Guterres, who chairs the group, said at a news conference that “the war’s impact on food security, energy and finance is systemic, severe and speeding up.”

He said the war, along with other crises, “is threatening to unleash an unprecedented wave of hunger and destitution, leaving social and economic chaos in its wake.”

“Vulnerable people and vulnerable countries are already being hit hard, but make no mistake: No country or community will be left untouched by this cost-of-living crisis,” the U.N. chief warned.

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MOSCOW-PULLMAN DAILY NEWS / LEWISTON TRIBUNE

Suffering from Page 3 have doubled, Guterres said.

“Without fertilizers, shortages will spread from corn and wheat to all staple crops, including rice, with a devastating impact on billions of people in Asia and South America, too,” he said.

“This year’s food crisis is about lack of access,” he added. “Next year’s could be about lack of food.”

According to the report, about 180 million people in 41 of 53 countries where data was available are forecast to be facing a food crisis or worse conditions this year and 19 million more people are expected to face “chronic undernourishment globally in 2023.”

In addition, the report said, record-high energy prices are triggering fuel shortages and blackouts in all parts of the world, especially in Africa.

Guterres said many developing countries are facing a continuing financial squeeze on top of the risk of debt default and economic collapse because of the COVID-19 pandemic and unequal recovery from it and the climate crisis.

Rebeca Grynspan, secretary-general of the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development who is a co-facilitator of the Global Crisis Response Group, said food, energy and finance are interconnected and all three must be tackled to solve the global crisis.

According to the report,

Associated Press file

In this photo taken July 10, 2021, residents of Oworonshoki Slum in Lagos, Nigeria, carry food parcels distributed by the Lagos Food Bank Initiative, a not-for-profit nutrition-focused initiative committed to fighting hunger and solving problems of malnutrition for poor communities. one of every two countries in sub-Saharan Africa remain significantly vulnerable and are exposed to all three dimensions of the crisis.

The Latin American and Caribbean region is the second-largest group facing the cost-of-living crisis, with nearly 20 countries

deeply affected, it said.

Grynspan warned of social unrest and political instability “as a result of the weakened ability of countries and families to cope with yet another global crisis, on top of COVID-19 and the climate crisis.”

She said that “there is no

solution to the cost-of-living crisis without a solution to the finance crisis.”

Grynspan urged international financial institutions — especially the boards of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund — to increase rapid disbursements to bolster

the financial resources of countries in need.

She urged the G20 comprising the world’s 20 leading economies to reinstate the suspension of debt repayments for poor countries and push back debt maturities by two to five years. 

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Saturday, June 25, 2022 | 5

| FEED GRAIN |

Making hay while the prices climb Production is looking good, but costs are high for those needing to purchase the feed for livestock

By Kerri Sandaine For Farm & Ranch

The hay forecast in this region is a bale of good and bad news.

The positive aspect is the crop is much better this year, thanks to the recent rain.

The downside is prices haven’t dropped significantly yet, because of the high cost of fuel, bailing twine and equipment.

“The hay looks great this year,” said Audra Cochran, Lewis County extension educator. “The rain has definitely helped the crop.

Farmers are hoping to have a good window between cutting and baling their hay, so it stays dry.”

As of early June, the price for a ton is averaging $280 to $320, depending on a lot of variables. Hay type and quality are factors in pricing.

Most of the reserves are gone because of the drought in 2021, and input prices are “through the roof,” Cochran said. Buying hay is still expensive and the cost varies, depending on whether customers have it delivered or travel to pick up a load.

“We’re hopeful that prices will be lower than last year, but with the increase in input costs, such as twine and fuel, we aren’t sure what it will look like just yet.

Prices have dropped a bit since last year, but a lot will depend on the hay production this year in the region.”

Some livestock owners go to the Boise area, Columbia Basin, Oregon and Montana

ABOVE: A tractor moves through a field making hay recently along Grelle Avenue east of Lewiston. LEFT: Hay sits outside Kooskia.

Farm & Ranch

to fill their barns, Cochran said. Area extension offices are good places to call if you’re looking for hay contacts.

“Last year was especially tough with the drought,” she said. “But there’s a lot of great hay producers in the region. They’ll help you out as much as possible.”

A horse typically consumes about 2 tons of hay per year, depending on conditions. On a daily basis, a horse eats about 1.5 to 2.5% of its body weight.

“It takes a lot to feed an animal, which isn’t news to livestock owners. But the higher feed prices do force them to look at the bottom line and make tough decisions,” Cochran said. “We saw a lot of cattle be liquidated last year due to the lack of grass and high feed costs. Hopefully, a better 2022 hay crop will ease the burden of making these tough decisions.”

Sandaine can be reached at kerris@ lmtribune.com.

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MOSCOW-PULLMAN DAILY NEWS / LEWISTON TRIBUNE

Northwest Farm and Ranch | SUMMER 2022

| BEES |

Protecting the pollinators Good management practices can help prevent colony collapse disorder, WSU researcher says

By Anthony Kuipers For Farm & Ranch

A Washington State University researcher says good management practices can keep Northwest bee colonies thriving and prevent what is generally called colony collapse disorder.

Brandon Hopkins, who runs the Hopkins Lab as part of the WSU Bee Program, said colony collapse disorder is a term coined in the mid2000s when researchers did not know why worker bees were dying at alarming rates.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, beekeepers began to report unusually high losses of their hives during the winter of 2006-07.

“Over time and through a lot of hard work and research, people have kind of figured out the many reasons why colonies die and collapse,” Hopkins said.

These reasons are divided into categories.

They include pests and pathogens, poor nutrition and forage, pesticides and management practices.

To prevent colony collapse disorder, people are encouraged to cultivate bee-friendly lawns that have dandelions or pollinatorfriendly plantings. Hopkins said Washington requires at least 25% of the plantings at its state agencies to be pollinator-friendly.

There have been efforts to improve pollinator

forage and nutrition, better nutritional supplements for bees and solutions for parasites like Varroa mites.

Hopkins said that beekeepers who adopted good management practices have improved or at least stabilized their annual losses of bees. He said this has helped the pollinator system in Washington’s modern agriculture, which includes the fruit industry, remain healthy and stable.

Yet, beekeepers still have to contend with factors outside of their influence, such as urban sprawl, population growth and regulations

on farming practices.

“There’s still a lot of things that are outside of their control that makes it much more difficult now to keep colonies alive than it used to be,” he said.

Hopkins also said there are hundreds of native wild bee species in Washington that are harder to evaluate than honeybees.

“All those same pressures are also affecting native bees and it’s harder to kind of see or know the impacts on native bees,” he said.

ABOVE: A colony of bees swarm around a hive overseen by the Washington State University Bee Program at Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute in Moscow.

Kuipers can be reached at akuipers@dnews.com.

WSU

Zach Wilkinson/ Farm & Ranch

LEFT: WSU professor Brandon Hopkins lets bees crawl on him.

Northwest Farm and Ranch | SUMMER 2022

MOSCOW-PULLMAN DAILY NEWS / LEWISTON TRIBUNE |

Saturday, June 25, 2022 | 7

WSU graduate takes helm of state 4-H than 6 million children skills for students.” through 4-H, nationwide.

The WSU alum wears Heitstuman has three many hats at WSU primary goals for the Extension: livestock and next year in 4-H: community development  Stabilize student regional extension specialist, enrollment in the director of Extension for

By Scott Weybright organization and increase Asotin and Garfield counties, Washington State University the number of volunteer and interim director of Heitstuman leaders for programs Whitman County. He’ll give Mark Heitstuman has spent around the state. up the last position as he more than 20 years in Washington  Work with 4-H faculty and steps into the statewide 4-H role.

State University Extension, helping staff to see what they’re working on “Mark has a great deal of youth with livestock education, and how the state-level organization leadership experience and has STEM programs, organizing youth can help and support them. worked with 4-H as part of WSU camps and more. He’s worked Extension for his entire career  Recruit and retain quality directly with 4-H students and here,” said Vicki McCracken, 4-H coordinators, who do much of volunteers as part of his job. associate dean and director of WSU the day-to-day work with parents That experience will help Extension. “I’m looking forward and youth in the organization.

Heitstuman as he steps into a new “4-H is a powerful force for good role as interim director of Washington to working more closely with him over the next year as he leads and around Washington, and there State 4-H where he started June 1. guides our dedicated 4-H students, are numerous studies that show “4-H is really welcoming to volunteers, faculty and staff.” the value in 4-H programming,” all youth. We can and do make 4-H is delivered in Washington Heitstuman said. “But to continue a difference in the lives of young

by WSU Extension. It’s part of the impactful programs we have, people,” Heitstuman said. “That a network of hundreds of landwe need stability in faculty, starts with strong leaders that grant universities serving more staff and volunteers. That’s how provide mentorship and help develop

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we help and support as many youths as we possibly can.”

A native and resident of Uniontown, Heitstuman said the call from McCracken asking him to take on the interim 4-H director role took him by surprise. But he’s confident he’ll make positive progress on his goals for leading the state organization.

“I can work with a variety of different types of people and have broad experience in programs, especially for youths,” Heitstuman said. “I understand and value the role 4-H plays in helping young people around the state and the nation. I’m looking forward to the challenge of helping this vital organization succeed.”

Heitstuman takes over as interim director from Nancy Deringer, who is currently serving as interim associate dean for Student Success and Academic Programming for WSU’s College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences. 

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MOSCOW-PULLMAN DAILY NEWS / LEWISTON TRIBUNE

| MEAT |

University of Idaho

Cuts of meat are labeled during a workshop developed by University of Idaho graduate students to teach consumers the factors that influence meat quality.

How would you like that steak, tough or tender?

UI workshop explores the science behind beef palatability

By Amy Calabretta UI College of Agricultural and Life Sciences

A new workshop developed by University of Idaho graduate students is teaching consumers the factors that influence meat quality.

The workshop was originally designed by College of Agricultural and Life Sciences graduate students Sierra Jepsen, Brooklyn Epperson, Jessie Van Buren and Mikayla Heimbuch in summer 2021 as part of the UI Extension 4-H State Teen

Association Convention.

The students wanted to educate attendees in a fun and interactive way about different beef muscles and the best way to prepare different meat cuts to maximize the eating experience. Since then, the team has presentJepsen ed the workshop to various audiences, from student groups to consumers and chefs.

“Ultimately, we want them to understand the difference between selecting a locomotive muscle versus a support muscle and how they might cook something different,” said Jepsen.

“It helps them learn that there is a lot more to selecting meat than just going and looking at the price tag.”

Locomotive muscles are located in areas of the carcass that moved a lot when the animal was alive, resulting in more connective tissue. These muscles are best used with cooking methods that are slower and lower heats. Support muscles are more tender and used as steaks and items typically found on the grill.

“We have students taste products that come from a support muscle versus locomotive to see if they can tell the difference and they always can which is exciting,” Jepsen said.

“That teaches those younger audiences about why we don’t just put all of our meat on a grill and why it’s important

University of Idaho

Graduate student Brooklyn Epperson prepares steaks for the taste-test portion of the workshop.

Northwest Farm and Ranch | SUMMER 2022

MOSCOW-PULLMAN DAILY NEWS / LEWISTON TRIBUNE |

Saturday, June 25, 2022 | 9

Tracking the impact of added fertilizers UI undergrad student’s climate change research project focuses on nitrous oxide emissions from soil their environmental impact by using pulse crops and intercropping methods to reduce these harmful atmospheric greenhouse gasses,” she said.

Since first learning about climate change in high school, Paige Martin has Martin didn’t see herself sought ways she can address the issue. participating in research when she As a senior at the University of Idaho, first arrived at UI as an environmental she found an opportunity through an science major. She was looking for an undergraduate research project in the on-campus job when the opportunity to Department of Soil and Water Systems. work in Kayler’s lab became available.

Martin began working in assistant “It’s so cool to be part of something professor Zachary Kayler’s lab in spring that I never thought I’d be a part 2021, and after only a few weeks, of,” she said. “If successful, this could Kayler asked if she wanted to design provide key insight into current her own research project. She decided environmental health issues associated to dive deeper into nitrous oxide with agriculture and help in guiding the emissions from agricultural soils. Like future of sustainable farming practices.” other greenhouse gases, nitrous oxide For Martin, the opportunity to absorbs radiation and traps heat in the network with fellow undergraduate atmosphere, making it a dangerous and graduate students passionate contributor to climate change. about the same topics has been the Martin, from Coeur d’Alene, will analyze soil samples taken post-harvest most rewarding aspect of research.

“To be able to craft my proposal from a field using traditional nitrogenand collaborate with so many based fertilizer and a field that is intercropped with a pulse crop — edible people on campus is really cool,” she said. “It’s really empowering, seeds of plants in the legume family especially as a woman in STEM, such as chickpeas, lentils and dry peas to contribute something to the — to see if the intercropping method scientific community. The idea of results in less nitrous oxide emissions.

Melissa Hartley/UI Creative Services someone learning something from “Since synthetic fertilizer is one of my research is what makes me Paige Martin’s desire to address climate change led her to seek out undergraduate the largest producers of nitrous oxide, I want to see if it’s possible to lessen happy and feel accomplished.” n research opportunities.

By Amy Calabretta

UI College of Agricultural and Life Sciences

to know the difference.”

Attendees participate in a hands-on activity creating their own muscle group to emphasize how marbling, or fat, helps to tenderize beef. Twizzlers, a chewy licorice candy, are used to represent muscle fibers.

Marshmallows stand in for marbling, and rubber bands and aluminum foil are used for connective tissue.

“If you have a bundle of just Twizzlers and tried to bite through it, it would be really tough and chewy,” Jepsen said. “If we take some

of the Twizzlers out and replace with marshmallows, then it’s a less dense product and easier to bite into.”

Educating Consumers The workshop also covers quality grading — the degree of marbling in beef and the maturity of the animal at harvest. Most consumers have heard of the top three quality grades: prime, choice and select, but many don’t know what those terms mean.

“Quality grade is a technical topic,” Jepsen said.

“You can see that some really get it, and some don’t.

I think it proves the point that quality grading isn’t as easy for a consumer as it is for a meat scientist.

“It drives home the message to meat scientists that it’s important for us to have this kind of education. We shouldn’t just assume that consumers know the difference between high quality beef and average and low quality.”

The final piece of the workshop is teaching participants how to read a meat

label from a grocery store to make decisions on the best way to prepare the item.

“If we can train students earlier on how to understand and read a meat label, the less likely they will be confused or lacking in confidence later in their life and the likelihood of them continuing to come back and purchase beef,” Jepsen said.

The demand that Jepsen, Epperson, Van Buren and Heimbuch have seen for the workshop has prompted them to develop an official learning module so

that others can teach the workshop. If approved for publication, the curriculum would be free for anyone to download and present.

“Even beef producers and those that know a lot about beef sometimes don’t know where to start when it comes to teaching others about meat science,” Jepsen said. “That’s exciting for us because we can develop those resources.”

Groups interested in having the workshop presented can contact assistant professor Phil Bass at pbass@uidaho.edu. n

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MOSCOW-PULLMAN DAILY NEWS / LEWISTON TRIBUNE

Northwest Farm and Ranch | SUMMER 2022

| FINDING SOLUTIONS |

Technology to rule the farm skies Automated drones could scare birds off agricultural fields Washington State University

PROSSER, Wash. — In the future, cameras could spot blackbirds feeding on grapes in a vineyard and launch drones to drive off the avian irritants, then return to watch for the next invading flock.

All without a human nearby.

A Washington State University research team has developed just such a system, which they detail in a study published in the journal Computer and Electronics in Agriculture. The system is designed to have automated drones available to patrol 24 hours a day to deter pest birds, like European starlings or crows, that cost growers millions of dollars a year in stolen or ruined fruit.

“Growers don’t really have a good tool they can rely on for deterring pest birds at an affordable price,” said Manoj Karkee, associate professor in WSU’s Department of Biological Systems Engineering and the study’s corresponding author. “With further refinement and industry partnerships, this system could work.”

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Northwest Farm and Ranch | SUMMER 2022 birds and deploying drones automatically. Over a few years, Karkee’s team developed a camera system and algorithm that would find birds and count them as they flew in and out of fields.

The team customized very small drones and deployed them for flight tests on small plots with simulated birds.

Technologically, the system resembles drone package delivery systems. It will be several years before this particular technology would be commercially available for growers because there are still several hurdles, including making sure it works at scale, complies Karkee with federal drone regulations, and continues to deter birds even if drones are commonly flying around.

“Birds are really clever,” said Karkee, who is also affiliated with WSU’s Center for Precision & Automated Agricultural Systems.

“They often find ways around deterrents. We don’t want a system that only lasts for a few months or years before they stop being scared off.”

For now, the birds are scared off just by the motion and whirring noises made by drones. But Karkee said that sounds, like distress calls or predatory bird noises, could be added. Builders could

even design special drones for the job.

“We could make drones look like predators, or have reflective propellers that are really shiny,” he said.

“All of these working together would likely keep birds away from those vineyards and fields. We need to research that over multiple years to make sure.”

The automation research is the third in a series of three studies concerning drones and bird pests. The first showed that manually operated drones, doing random flights, successfully drive off or keep birds away from vineyards. They found that drones reduced bird counts four-fold.

The second project showed the impact driving off the birds can have on crop yield. Karkee’s team followed up on the fields where they manually drove birds off. Those fields had around 50% reduction in damaged fruits.

Karkee plans to meet with growers, technology companies, and other stakeholders to start next steps on working toward a commercially available automated drone system.

“It takes time,” he said. “But the results so far are exciting.

We’re looking forward to doing more work on this project.” n

MOSCOW-PULLMAN DAILY NEWS / LEWISTON TRIBUNE |

Saturday, June 25, 2022 | 11

Smithfield Foods to shutter California meat-packing plant Associated Press

VERNON, Calif. — Meat-packing giant Smithfield Foods said this month it will close its only California plant next year, citing the escalating cost of doing business in the state.

The Farmer John meat-packing plant in Vernon, an industrial suburb south of Los Angeles, will shut down in February, with its 1,800 employees receiving severance and job placement support along with bonuses for those who choose to stay on the job until the closure, said Jim Monroe, vice president of corporate affairs.

Some workers, who on average earn about $21 per hour, also will have opportunities to relocate to other facilities owned by the Virginiabased Smithfield Foods Inc. The Vernon plant slaughters pigs and packages products such as ham and bacon. Some operations will be moved to other facilities in the Midwest, but the overall reduction in processing capacity is prompting Smithfield to reduce its sow

herd in Utah. The company also said it is exploring ways to exit its farms in California and Arizona.

Monroe said operating costs in California are much higher than in other areas of the country, including taxes and the price of water, electricity and natural gas.

“Our utility costs in California are 3½ times higher per head than our other locations where they do the same type of work,” he said. The shutdown is not expected to reduce supply or increase costs on products, and Farmer John Products will still be sold in California, Monroe said.

The Vernon plant has been the target of repeated protests by animal rights activists over its treatment of hogs. It also was hard-hit during the COVID-19 pandemic, with some 300 employees exposed to infections in 2020. Several were hospitalized.

California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health fined Smithfield Foods about $60,000 for safety violations that exposed workers to infection.

12 | Saturday, June 25, 2022 |

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MOSCOW-PULLMAN DAILY NEWS / LEWISTON TRIBUNE

| DEALING WITH DROUGHT |

Bradley W. Parks/Oregon Public Broadcasting

Left: Hopi red amaranth grows in starter trays in a greenhouse at Sakari Farms in Tumalo, Ore. Right: Sakari Farms owner and Indigenous agriculturalist Upingaksraq Spring Alaska Schreiner. Schreiner is growing traditional crops during central Oregon’s historic drought.

When the water runs low, the tough get going Indigenous farmer seeks solutions in drought-plagued central Oregon

By Bradley W. Parks Oregon Public Broadcasting

The pond is full again at Upingaksraq Spring Alaska Schreiner’s high desert farm.

It’s a welcome sight for Schreiner, who owns Sakari Farms north of Bend, Ore. Last summer, as drought punished central Oregon, Schreiner’s irrigation district stopped delivering water.

She watched as the pond gradually disappeared, leaving a mud puddle behind.

“I cried last year when I walked through the dry canal,” Schreiner told Oregon Public Broadcasting. “I was pissed. I was like, ‘There’s nothing we can do.’ ” Schreiner has rights to a

little more than 2 acre-feet of water, which makes its way to the farm from the Deschutes River through a series of pipes and canals.

She only got a fraction of that amount last year.

This year is looking worse.

Gov. Kate Brown has already declared drought emergencies in 16 Oregon counties, including Deschutes. That’s the most ever for this time of year, and Oregon farmers like Schreiner are on edge.

“I’m not sure how to cope with going in this year knowing that there’s less water or no water,” Schreiner said.

Schreiner is Inupiaq, a member of the Valdez Native Tribe of Alaska and

Chugach Alaska Native Corporation. Her tribal name is Upingaksraq, which means “the time when the ice breaks.” She opened Sakari Botanicals in 2012 and Sakari Farms in 2018 to bolster and restore access to traditional foods for Indigenous people locally in central Oregon and across the country.

Native people will send seeds to Sakari, which means “sweet.” The farm will grow the plants, collect the new seeds and send them back, keeping Indigenous plant varieties going strong. Sakari also hosts farm education, tribal cooking classes and tribal community events.

Water has sustained that vision to this point, but now

Northwest Farm and Ranch | SUMMER 2022 Schreiner knows that water is no longer a guarantee.

“All I can do is implement it practically,” she said.

She’s channeling the frustration she felt last year into solutions.

On a hill behind the farmhouse are four old chainlink fence panels surrounding a bare patch of dirt. Beneath the surface is an elaborate pattern of squash seeds, beans and corn — the three sisters.

Schreiner won’t water the plot, but said she’s hoping seedlings will soon emerge from the dirt.

She said the moment will surely bring her to tears.

“It’s literally your ancestors telling you thank you for trying this,” Schreiner said.

The hilltop plot represents one of the best hopes for Sakari’s future. Indigenous people, particularly the Hopi, have practiced dryland farming for thousands of years in semi-arid regions, relying solely on rain and snowmelt to grow crops.

“It’s imperative that we look for guidance from

MOSCOW-PULLMAN DAILY NEWS / LEWISTON TRIBUNE |

Saturday, June 25, 2022 | 13

Left: Stakes mark where Upingaksraq Spring Alaska Schreiner has planted corn, beans and squash in a dryland plot. Right: Harrison Hill (left) and Kobe Stites plant beans in rows in one of Sakari Farms’ greenhouses.

Bradley W. Parks/Oregon Public Broadcasting

Indigenous people on fire management, climate change, water usage, how we grow our crops, when, why,” Schreiner said. “No one asks us how to do things. They just kinda push us in the corner. And that’ll bite them, I think.”

Schreiner is also installing more drip irrigation at Sakari and securing grant

Here for the hard workers, early risers, and extra milers.

money to implement new technologies like weather stations and water sensors on-farm to improve efficiency.

She said she’s learned lessons on what not to do by watching other farmers fail. For example, Schreiner won’t truck in water from elsewhere if her pond goes dry again this year.

“I’m still promoting all the farmers to grow as much food as they can and extend the seasons,” Schreiner said. “But it’s not natural, so that’s where we’re going to be ahead of the game.”

Sakari is almost fully planted and will only plant once this year. Farm workers Harrison Hill and Kobe Stites

were busy putting bean starts in the ground on a hot Wednesday in late May. “The water that we did have to start out the season isn’t always going to be here,” Hill said. “We’re going to have to learn how to use it most effectively.”

Schreiner said if the water’s shut off again, she’ll cut off the farm plot-by-plot and seek financial relief for failed crops.

Still, the plants’ resilience and that of the people who have grown those plants since time immemorial give Schreiner confidence — even in the face of Oregon’s drier future.

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14 | Saturday, June 25, 2022 |

Northwest Farm and Ranch | SUMMER 2022

MOSCOW-PULLMAN DAILY NEWS / LEWISTON TRIBUNE

| PLANT BREEDING |

A new kinda blue (grass) WSU introduces the grasses of tomorrow at its new turfgrass farm Washington State University

Growing tall just east of Pullman, experimental grasses have the potential to produce seed prolifically, save water, and become beautiful additions to Northwest landscapes.

Grass seed producers and members of the public recently got their first chance to see these trials and tour Washington State University’s new Perennial Grass Breeding and Ecology Farm during the Washington Turfgrass Seed Commission Field Day on June 9 at Pullman.

“It’s the first time we’re going live,” Michael Neff, head of WSU’s turfgrass research and education program, said Neff before the tour. “We built this entire farm during COVID.” The new farm replaces the program’s previous home on Fairway Road, now under commercial development. It gives scientists a place to breed and study improved varieties of Kentucky bluegrass and other promising grasses in service to seed producers in eastern Washington and northern Idaho. The best performers could wind up in lawns, sports fields, highway margins, and land reclaimed from industrial use or natural disasters, worldwide.

“About 90% of the bluegrass seed

WSU

The diversity of Kentucky bluegrass is on display in trials at Washington State University’s new Perennial Grass Breeding and Ecology Farm, looking west toward Pullman and the university campus. used in the world is grown in the Inland Northwest,” said Neff, a professor with WSU’s Department of Crop and Soil Sciences. “With our cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers, we have an ideal climate for high quality seed production.”

The WSU breeding program prioritizes seed germination and yield: grasses need to be able to consistently produce a good crop of seed. After that, Neff seeks desirable qualities such as a great appearance, low maintenance and water needs, and tolerance for drought, acidic, or salty soils. Kentucky bluegrass needs a significant spate of cold winter weather to properly flower, so an exciting development for Neff’s program is bluegrass that can flower in milder conditions. That could help farmers facing warmer winters.

Scientists are also looking at the

use of plant hormones to Kate Kraszewski, stormwater repair damaged turf, such ecologist and assistant as heavily used sports fields, professor in WSU’s School and studying several native of Design and Construction grasses for use on reclaimed in the Voiland College of land or highway margins.

Engineering and Architecture, will show research plots One, Prairie Junegrass, can testing hardworking grasses grow in a desert thanks to that could replace pavement its very low water needs.

Kraszewski in urban landscapes.

“It’s also stunningly “Parking lots require a beautiful,” Neff said. lot of carbon, but they don’t sink any The field day gave Neff, students, of it,” she said. “Grass pavers do.” and colleagues a venue to “show the At the farm, she’s been testing phenomenal amount of diversity in different grass blends to see which are Kentucky bluegrass,” while showing the most resilient. Future experiments their ongoing breeding and turf will examine how pavers made with management efforts. “WSU is in living grasses can handle vehicle the turf business — we’re working traffic and capture road runoff. to support seed producers and “Ultimately, grass can provide the end users of those seeds.” a healthy alternative to traditional parking lots,” Kraszewski said.

Grass instead of pavement The field day was sponsored by During the tour, Professor Ian the Washington Turfgrass Seed Commission, which funds grass Burke discussed weed management in turfgrass for seed production, while breeding and research at WSU. n

Northwest Farm and Ranch | SUMMER 2022

MOSCOW-PULLMAN DAILY NEWS / LEWISTON TRIBUNE |

Saturday, June 25, 2022 | 15

Agility Dog Network offers online series for veterinarians The Agility Dog Network will have a six-part webinar series for veterinarians to treat agility dogs in their care.

The webinar will be at 5 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month from July 13 to Dec. 14.

Each session will last an hour.

The cost to veterinarians will be $40 per session or $200 for the entire series. The cost for veterinary technicians and other veterinary practice employees will be $20 per session or $100 for the entire series.

There will be no charge for interns, residents and veterinary students if they provide documentation of their status in a qualified educational program. Sign up for classes can be done at bit.ly/3y5X0t4.

The list of sessions include:  July 13 — “Introduction to the Sport of Dog Agility.” An overview of agility with an emphasis on health impacts of sports participation.  Aug. 10 — “Injuries in Agility Dogs/Health Needs Assessment.” An overview of the types of injuries that are most common in agility dogs.

 Sept. 14 — “Orthopedic Evaluation of Agility Dogs.”

Presenting complaints that might be unique to agility dogs such as “popping” weave poles, knocking bars, refusing to do individual obstacles, early take-off syndrome or other

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in Agility Dogs.” An in-depth look at iliopsoas muscle injuries and cruciate ligament rupture in agility dogs.  Dec. 14 — “Working with the Traveling Competitor and Her Dogs.”

Discussing the unique veterinary needs for the competitor who travels extensively across the U.S. or across the world to compete in agility and how can you, as their veterinarian, contribute to a safe travel plan.

Debra Sellon, professor of equine medicine and faculty member in the Washington State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Equine Medicine and Critical Care Services, is one of the speakers for the first session of the webinar series and part of the Agility Dog Health Network.

She has competed in agility for more Adobe stock than 20 years with six border collies, a Shetland sheepdog and a papillon.

The Agility Dog Health Network is poor performance situations. a platform to encourage collaboration  Oct. 12 — “Shoulder Injuries among individuals engaged in evidenceand Digit Injuries in Agility Dogs.” based discovery and innovation to An in-depth look at shoulder injuries enhance the health of dogs competing in and digit injuries in agility dogs.  Nov. 9 — “Iliopsoas Injuries and canine agility and to disseminate that information to agility participants.  Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture

16 | Saturday, June 25, 2022 |

Northwest Farm and Ranch | SUMMER 2022

MOSCOW-PULLMAN DAILY NEWS / LEWISTON TRIBUNE

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