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COVID-19 Guidance for Ag Employers and Workers

All Crops    All Locations

Posted on: June 2, 2020 by Stuart Reitz

The CDC and US Department of Labor have released guidance to protect agricultural workers on farms and other work sites. Please take time to review the recommendations to maintain a safe work environment and reduce the spread of COVID-19 in your communities.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-agricultural-workers.html

» https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-agricultural-workers.html

Ag Talk Tuesday - June 2

All Crops    All Locations

Posted on: June 1, 2020 by Juliet Marshall

Greetings!
This Tuesday (June 2) brings another Ag Talk Tuesday session of the season. These online interactive sessions occur every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the growing season (May through August) from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM MT and provide an opportunity for UofI and the ag industry to share and exchange information about current season crop issues. Featured topics are also presented.

After crop updates, the featured topics are "In-season nutrient management with soil and petiole sampling” with Linda Schott and
"Weed and chemical load on compost vs manure” with Mario E. de Haro-Martí.

You must Register in advance for this meeting:
https://uidaho.zoom.us/meeting/register/vpAkc-uvqTwpZF4DlEg_ZcN8xYE9ezZSkQ

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

If you have already registered, you will not need to register again.

Attached is a flyer for your use to help spread the word.

A schedule with featured topics is available here: https://webpages.uidaho.edu/extension-seed-potato/ATT.html Check back often as items are added regularly.

Sincerely,
Your Ag Talk Tuesday Organizers:
Kasia Duellman
Pamela J.S. Hutchinson
Juliet Marshall

» https://webpages.uidaho.edu/extension-seed-potato/ATT.html

» Ag Talk Tuesday 2020

Ag Talk Tuesdays - May 19 - Register in Advance to Attend

All Crops    All Locations

Posted on: May 16, 2020 by Kasia Duellman, Juliet Marshall, Pam Hutchinson

Hello All:

Please join UI Extension Specialists, Extension Educators and ag professionals for Ag Talk Tuesdays. These sessions occur every first and third Tuesday, May through August. Listen to a featured presentation, hear crop pest and disease updates for the current season, engage with industry professionals, ask questions, provide your crop updates, or sit back and listen on your phone, tablet or laptop with Zoom.

Register in advance for this meeting (required):
https://uidaho.zoom.us/meeting/register/vpAkc-uvqTwpZF4DlEg_ZcN8xYE9ezZSkQ

Register once to be able to attend all 2020 sessions.

To learn more about Ag Talk Tuesdays and to view a schedule of featured presentations, please check the calendar here (check back often as new topics are added regularly): https://webpages.uidaho.edu/extension-seed-potato/ATT.html

After the sessions, read the Ag Talk Report newsletter - this newsletter provides a summary of Ag Talk Tuesday highlights, plus additional timely information that wasn't covered during the live session. The current issue and past issues can be found here:
https://webpages.uidaho.edu/extension-seed-potato/ATT.html

Please distribute this information far and wide.

Sincerely,
Kasia

--------------------------------------
KASIA M. DUELLMAN, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor and Extension Seed Potato Specialist

College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology
kduellman@uidaho.edu
webpages.uidaho.edu/extension-seed-potato/
208-757-5476 | 701-793-9456 (Cell)
U of I Idaho Falls | 1776 Science Center Drive, Suite 205 | Idaho Falls ID 83402 | United States

Ag Talk Tuesday May 5 - Register in Advance

All Crops    All Locations

Posted on: May 4, 2020 by Juliet Marshall, Kasia Duellman

To: Producers, fieldmen, agronomists, consultants and others in ag
From: Kasia Duellman, University of Idaho Extension Specialist
Re: 2020 UofI Ag Talk Tuesdays

Greetings!

You are invited to attend the 2020 sessions of Ag Talk Tuesday. Ag Talk Tuesdays for 2020 kick off next Tuesday May 5, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. You can attend by Zoom on your computer or you can call in on your phone. More information on what Ag Talk Tuesdays are and an agenda for each session can be found here: https://webpages.uidaho.edu/extension-seed-potato/ATT.html

Check back often as featured topics are added. Registration is required.

Register in advance to attend: https://uidaho.zoom.us/meeting/register/vpAkc-uvqTwpZF4DlEg_ZcN8xYE9ezZSkQ

Once your registration is approved, you will receive instructions on how to join the meeting by Zoom or by your phone.

We hope you can fit these sessions in your busy schedule. The more participation we have, the more interesting and relevant these interactive sessions will be. Listen to Featured Topics, ask questions, provide insight from your own experiences as the season progresses and as issues arise, participate in discussion, or just listen in. A follow up newsletter, The Ag Talk Report, will be released after each session to give more info on topics discussed and those not broached.

Wishing you a productive season!

Sincerely,
Kasia
--------------------------------------
KASIA M. DUELLMAN, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor and Extension Seed Potato Specialist

College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology
kduellman@uidaho.edu
webpages.uidaho.edu/extension-seed-potato/
208-757-5476 | 701-793-9456 (Cell)
U of I Idaho Falls | 1776 Science Center Drive, Suite 205 | Idaho Falls ID 83402 | United States

Malheur County Onion Maggot Control

Onion    Northern Idaho

Onion Maggot

Posted on: April 28, 2020 by Stuart Reitz

Please remember the Malheur County Onion Maggot Control order remains in effect until July 1 mandating the proper disposal or treatment of culls, including volunteers, to protect this season’s onion crop. If you have questions or concerns regarding the Order, please contact Casey Prentiss (see his contact below).

Malheur County Onion Maggot Control Order

The Onion Maggot Control Order 603-052-0360 for Malheur County requires that all cull or waste onions in Malheur County have to be disposed of by a method approved of within this control order prior to March 15th each year. The objective of the control order is to protect the onion industry from the Onion Maggot pest.

Please keep in mind that the cull onion disposal order remains in effect and will be enforced through July 1. All cull or waste onions are required to be disposed of, plowed under and covered by 12 inches of onion-free soil by March 15th at the latest. Additionally, for cull onions produced after the March 15 deadline until July 1 the Control Order permits only a maximum of one week for proper disposal.
Culls include “volunteer” onions growing in last season’s fields, which may be planted to another crop at this time. Because the Control Order remains in effect until July 1, volunteer onions still need to be disposed of or treated properly.

The Onion Maggot Control Order offers several disposal options:

A) Disposal by covering in a dump site approved by the Oregon Department of Environmental
Quality (DEQ). Culls and onion debris shall be dumped and covered by at least 12 inches of onion-free soil by March 15 each year;

(B) Disposal by animal feeding: Culls and onion debris shall be completely removed from feeding areas by March 15 and buried under 12 inches of onion-free soil. Onions tramped into the soil so they cannot be removed shall be plowed to a depth of 12 inches;

(C) Disposal by chopping or shredding: Chopped or shredded onion debris that is incapable of
sprouting may be returned to the field at the DEQ-approved tonnage rate which is no higher than 80 tons per acre and plowed to a depth where no onion parts are exposed on the surface;

(D) Composting: All onion debris shall be incorporated into the compost bed and completely covered by 12 inches of onion-free soil;

(E) Disposal of residue in onion producing fields: Commercial onion fields where sort out bulbs are left at harvest shall be disked to destroy the bulbs and shall be plowed to a depth of at least 12 inches by March 15 each year. Seed bulbs shall be disposed of in the same manner following the last harvest;

(F) Culls may be treated with an EPA-labeled insecticide. David Priebe of the ODA Pesticides Program has provided a list of insecticides that can be sprayed on wheat and/or sugar beet fields for onion maggot control. Please see the link below.

Please contact the Ontario ODA office at 541-889-5274 or Casey Prentiss directly at 541-212-3361 cprentiss@oda.state.or.us

» Malheur Onion Maggot Control Order - Insecticide List

Adjusting Cropping Systems Due to Market Impacts from COVID19

All Crops    All Locations

Posted on: April 25, 2020 by Juliet Marshall

ADJUSTING CROPPING SYSTEMS AFFECTED BY THE COVID-19
Walsh, O.S., Cropping Systems Agronomist, University of Idaho, Parma R&E Center
Thornton, M., Plant Scientist, University of Idaho, Parma R&E Center
Marshall, J.M., Cereal Cropping Systems Agronomist and Pathologist, Aberdeen R&E Center
Morishita, D., Weed Scientist, University of Idaho, Kimberly R&E Center (retired)
Felix, J., Weed Scientist, Oregon State University, Malheur Experiment Station
and Hatzenbuehler, P.L., Agricultural Economist, University of Idaho, Twin Falls R&E Center

The agricultural sector has begun to struggle with the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The economic shocks on Idaho and Oregon agricultural industries have hit dairy, beef onion, and potato producers particularly hard. This is partially driven by the school and restaurant industry closures, where mass quantities of these products are typically utilized. Thus, the impact has been more immediate and direct compared to other commodities.
Following the shelter-in-place orders in Idaho and Oregon, the negative effects of the reduction in food consumption are now coming to light. Most crop producers implement yearly rotations – alternating the annual crops grown on a specific field in a planned pattern in successive crop years. Many Idaho and Oregon growers have been forced to cut their planned potato, barley and onion acreage due to loss of processing contracts for the 2020-21 crop year. With planting under way, many farmers are looking for ways to sustain their productivity.
Adjusting crop rotations may enable producers to stay profitable. Planting different crops such as small grain cereals, beans or corn are some options that may be appropriate for acres initially intended for potatoes and onions. Agricultural practices such as fertilization, herbicide and other pesticide applications already completed last fall and/or this spring are some of the key practices that must be considered. Agricultural inputs that have already been applied could have a significant impact on the alternative crops eventually planted in those fields. Finally, there may be serious implications if the fields are replanted to the same crop as in the previous year. To help growers make more informed planting decisions this spring, the University of Idaho and Oregon State University researchers put the following guidelines in place.

Nutrients/soil fertility
Situation:
• Most onion and potato fields receive relatively low rates of nitrogen fertilizer (less than 100 pounds per acre) prior to planting.
• Both crops traditionally receive high applications of phosphorus and potassium at the time of bedding in the Fall.
Recommendations:
• Take a new soil sample (2 ft depth) now to determine the current levels of nutrients in each field. For soil testing instructions, please refer to Soil Sampling guide.
• If the soil contains more than 150 pounds of nitrogen per acre in 2 ft sample – beans are not recommended (excessive nitrogen in the soil will hinder nodulation in bean roots). If soil nitrogen levels suggest that a bean crop may be successful in a field, levels of phosphorus and potassium must be considered. If the soil contains at least 120 ppm of potassium in the 12 inch-sample – no additional potassium fertilization is required. Furthermore, soils containing more than 30 ppm (12-inch sample, Olson) require no additional phosphorus, even at the highest free lime content. For complete information regarding bean crop nutrient management, please refer to the Southern Idaho Fertilizer Guide: Beans.
• Spring wheat may be a good choice for the fields relatively high in nitrogen. An irrigated soft white spring wheat crop with a yield potential of 120 bushels per acre (typical for southern Idaho) requires a total of 240 pounds of nitrogen per acre. As a rule of thumb, two pounds of available nitrogen per bushel are required for irrigated soft white spring wheat. Hard red and white spring wheat requires additional nitrogen, in the range of 2.5 to 3.0 pounds of nitrogen per bushel with additional nitrogen top-dressed at heading to flowering to meet protein requirements. For detailed information on spring wheat nutrient management, refer to Southern Idaho Fertilizer Guide: Irrigated Spring Wheat. Please note, that high levels of phosphorus (above the 20 ppm in the top 12-inch soil sample) may reduce wheat yields. Although addition of potassium to wheat is not required at more than 75 ppm (12-inch soil sample), higher potassium levels should not cause issues for wheat growth.
• Silage corn may be another good option for fields high in nitrogen. For a silage yield of 40-50 tons per acre, at least 100 pounds of nitrogen in the soil (based on the 2 ft soil sample) are recommended. Higher levels of potassium and phosphorus are not an issue for most corn hybrids. For complete information, please refer to Nutrient Management for Field Corn Silage and Grain. Sileage varieties of wheat, triticale and barley are also available.

Herbicides and other pesticides
Situation:
• Most potato fields should not have received herbicides yet. Many onion fields would have had Dual Magnum applied last Fall and may have gotten an application of a soil residual herbicide (Ex. Prowl or Nortron) this Spring.
• Furthermore, fumigants may have already been applied last Fall or this Spring.
Recommendations:
• Make sure to check the label for all pesticides that have been applied to determine plant back restrictions.
• Fields that have received Dual Magnum are suitable for both beans and corn (forage, grain or sweet) planting. Herbicides such as Dual Magnum and Prowl would eliminate the possibility of planting small grain cereal crops like spring wheat or barley.
• Fumigants should not impact subsequent crops. If fumigants have been applied, there should be no damage to the crops themselves, just the additional expense associated with application.

Additional considerations
• For cereals, expect a reduction in yield associated with soil-borne pathogens. Use certified seed with appropriate seed treatments, and plant to a uniform seed depth of about 1 to 1.5 inches in good moisture to allow rapid emergence. Make sure volunteer grasses (including cereals) are removed two-three weeks prior to planting.
• Regarding farm management, the Farm Bureau has several resources available online to help keep you and your staff stay safe and physically and mentally healthy. Such resources include draft email templates to send to staff to inform them of protocols and procedures that are being and/or will be instituted to ensure the safety and health of all is maintained throughout the growing and harvest seasons (https://www.fb.org/land/impact-covid19-on-ag).
• Ensuring that best practices for crop and commodity storage are maintained may help provide opportunities for sales later in the current crop year or early in the 2020-21 crop year as supply chains are re-established or alternative supply chains emerge.
• For cash flow considerations, USDA ARC/PLC program payments for the 2019-20 crop year are expected to be made in October 2020. PLC payments for producers with base acres in wheat remain likely despite an upward change in the estimated marketing year average (MYA) price 2019-20 in the USDA WASDE report for April 9, 2020 from the March report (from $4.55/bu to $4.60/bu, with a reference price of $5.50/bu). The 2019-20 barley MYA remained unchanged at $4.60, and a PLC payment is still expected due to a reference price of $4.95/bu. The MYA price for corn was revised downward from $3.80/bu to $3.60/bu, so a PLC payment may now also be made for corn (reference price of $3.70/bu).
• Uncertainty remains regarding eligibility, payment rates, and timeline for USDA administered agricultural producer payments under several bills enacted by Congress in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the payments made under the discretion Office of the Secretary of the USDA are likely to be allocated to specialty crops (including potatoes) and other agricultural industries (such as cattle) not covered under Farm Bill Title I (except dairy is expected to be included in both). More details will be provided by the USDA will be forthcoming, but payments may likely occur around October 2020 as is planned with the PLC/ARC programs (https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2020/04/17/usda-announces-coronavirus-food-assistance-program).

» Adjusting_Cropping_Systems_affected_by_the_COVID-_final.pdf

UofI Ag Talk Tuesday Sessions resume May 5

All Crops    All Locations

General announcment

Posted on: April 22, 2020 by Kasia Duellman

The 2020 season of Ag Talk Tuesday sessions will be held the first and third Tuesdays of May, June, July and August during 2020. The first Ag Talk Tuesday session for 2020 kicks off online on May 5 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

Join University of Idaho personnel and your peers in agriculture to discuss current crop issues and timely topics as the field season progresses. Each session will offer featured topics along with other items determined by YOU and those who attend. Meetings are held 1st and 3rd Tuesdays during May, June, July and August, 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

Pre-registration is required for online sessions. To register, click on this link and follow the instructions: https://uidaho.zoom.us/meeting/register/vpAkc-uvqTwpZF4DlEg_ZcN8xYE9ezZSkQ

Once your registration is approved, you will receive an email with instructions on how to attend the 2020 Ag Talk Tuesday sessions.

These sessions are FREE! Click here for more information and check the site frequently for updates: https://www.uidaho.edu/cals/potatoes/news

» https://www.uidaho.edu/cals/potatoes/news

» https://webpages.uidaho.edu/extension-seed-potato/ATT.html

Focus on Potato webcasts available at no cost.

Potato    All Locations

Posted on: April 21, 2020 by Jeff Miller

Focus on Potato webcasts (as well as all PMN webcasts) are now available for viewing at no cost. These webcasts are a great learning resource.

» https://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/infocenter/topic/focusonpotato/

2020 Master Gardener Plant Giveaway - Donations Accepted

General Landscape and Garden    Treasure Valley

Posted on: April 17, 2020 by Maria Held

Canyon County Master Gardeners are holding a Spring Plant Giveaway at Canyon Springs 1444 Cornell St, Middleton, and Fujishin Winery 15593 Sunny Slope Rd, Caldwell on Saturday April 25th from 9 AM to 1 PM.

Donations are appreciated and can be left at each neighborhood site in the donation jar.
Master Gardeners will not be available to interact with the public, but resource materials will be provided.
Please take only the plants that you will use.
Practice Social Distancing.
For variety information please use the link below.

» https://bit.ly/PlantGiveawayLocation

Free Victory Garden Class 2020

General Landscape and Garden    Treasure Valley

Posted on: April 9, 2020 by Maria Held

Are you or people you know thinking about starting or expanding your garden? University of Idaho Extension has updated and opened this online course for free public access for the rest of the year. This popular, family-friendly program is packed with instructional videos, activities, readings and more to help you grow, eat, and preserve food at home, while saving money! This program was created with love for our Idaho communities and gardeners, please share. http://bit.ly/IDVictoryGarden

» http://bit.ly/IDVictoryGarden

» Victory_Garden_class_photo.jpg

Potato Growers: Be prepared for the updated USDA GAP Audit

All Crops    All Locations

Posted on: March 24, 2020 by Nora Olsen

The University of Idaho has updated the previously available Potato GAP Audit Organizational Manual. The UI manual is designed to simplify the collection of information necessary to pass the USDA GAP Audit and is now available for download at https://www.uidaho.edu/cals/potatoes/food-and-farm-safety. Included are helpful hints, adaptable standard operating procedures (SOP), examples of policies, documentation and records to use, employee health and hygiene policies in English and Spanish, description of a mock recall drill, and other resource information.

In September of 2019 the USDA replaced and updated their Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) & Good Handling Practices (GHP) Audit Verification Checklist. The updated UI GAP Audit Organizational Manual incorporated these changes into the newest version and this manual can be used in preparing for the 2020 GAP Audit.

Attached is an article highlighting some of the changes and additional helpful hints to develop a strong food safety plan and to successfully pass the USDA GAP Audit.

» https://www.uidaho.edu/cals/potatoes/food-and-farm-safety