Search Results

UI Extension Parma Field Day Tour

All Crops    Treasure Valley, Treasure Valley - Idaho, Magic Valley

Field Tour - Parma

Posted on: June 13, 2023 by Brad Stokes

UI Extension Parma Research and Extension Center Agricultural Field Day is next Wednesday June 21^st 2023 beginning at 8:00 a.m. with registration of participants.  The Field tour located at the UI Parma Research & Extension Center (29603 U of I Ln, Parma, ID 83660) will last until 11:15 a.m. with 2 CEU credits from Oregon Department of Agriculture and Certified Crop Assistants, 1 CEU credit from Idaho State Department of Agriculture.  No need to pre-register and this is a FREE event.  For further information contact James Woodhall, Olga Walsh or Brad Stokes.  

» Flyer - Parma Field Day

UI Extension 2023 Cereals Field Days (Southern/Eastern Idaho)

All Crops    Eastern Idaho, Magic Valley

Posted on: June 6, 2023 by Brad Stokes

UI Extension Cereals Field Days Schedule for 2023 (Southern/Eastern Idaho).  

» https://www.uidaho.edu/extension/cereals/scseidaho

» 2023 Cereal Schools Field Days Flyer (Schedule)

2023 Ag Talk Tuesday - June 6 session

All Crops    All Locations

Posted on: June 5, 2023 by Kasia Duellman

Welcome to the 2023 season of Ag Talk Tuesday, presented by University of Idaho Extension every first and third Tuesday May-August, 11:00 AM to Noon (via Zoom).

» https://www.uidaho.edu/extension/news/ag-talk-tuesday

» https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6g6ZYcM47s85ASnhBlMHbFMD-x-zAGt6

ISDA Spanish Pesticide Applicator Pre-License Training & Exam

All Crops    Treasure Valley, Treasure Valley - Idaho

Pesticide Training ISDA

Posted on: May 31, 2023 by Brad Stokes

ISDA will be hosting a Pre-License Training and Exam sessions in Spanish on June 6th & 7th at the Idaho Fish and Game Southwest Regional Office (15950 N Gate Blvd, Nampa ID 84687).  See flyer for details and for registration.  

» Training Flyer - Espanol

2023 Parma Field Day Tour

All Crops    All Locations

all

Posted on: May 31, 2023 by Ronda Hirnyck

The Agricultural Field Day Tour will be held at the University of Idaho Parma Research and Extension Center Wednesday June 21, 2023.

Registration: 8:00 AM

Field Tour and Speaker Presentations:  8:30 AM - 11:15 AM

Tour includes:  Soilborne diseases of crops, cover crops, cereal nurseries, straw mulch, temperature/irrigation on onion bulb rots and the new experimental hop yard.

Pesticide recertification credits have been applied for with ISDA, ODA and CCA.

For further information please contact:

James Woodhall jwoodhall@uidaho.edu

Olga Walsh owalsh@uidaho.edu

Brad Stokes bstokes@uidaho.edu

» Parma_Field_Day_Tour_Flyer.pdf

REMINDER! 2023 Snake River Weed Control Tour--Malheur Experiment Station

All Crops    All Locations

Weeds

Posted on: May 31, 2023 by Ronda Hirnyck

It is that time of the year when we embark on field tours to learn
about research studies being conducted to advance our knowledge of weed control
in various crops. The 2023 Snake River Weed Research Tour at the Malheur
Experiment Station, Ontario, OR is planned as follows.

Date: June 15, 2023

Event: The 2023 Snake River Weed
Control Research Tour - Malheur Experiment Station

Venue: Malheur Experiment
Station, 595 Onion Ave, Ontario, OR 97914

Registration: 8:00 to 8:30AM

Tour: 8:30 to 12:00 PM MT

Complementary lunch will
follow as soon as tour is completed.

Pesticide Recertification Credits

Idaho
– 3 credits

Oregon
– 3 credits

Featured Weed Studies

First Stop:

1.     
Herbicides for weed control in
dry bulb onion

Second Stop:

1.     
Herbicides for weed control in
potato

2.     
Evaluation of adjuvants used
with Roundup (glyphosate) to manage weeds in sugar beet

3.     
Timing of first irrigation to
activate Sequence and Nortron herbicides for effective management of weeds in
sugar beet

4.     
Herbicides for wild oats and
kochia control in winter wheat

Please save a date and share this notice with those on your
mailing list. We look forward to seeing you on Thursday, June 15, 2023 at the Malheur Experiment Station.

Joel Felix

Forecast is for cloddy with a chance of weeds

Potato    All Locations

Weed control in cloddy fields

Posted on: May 19, 2023 by Pamela Hutchinson

All will agree that weather conditions spring 2023 have been
unusual: wide ranging snow cover, snow melt runoff and water pooling in fields,
and short bursts of intense wind and rain. One of the impacts on soil conditions
after potato growers were finally able to get into the fields for tillage and planting
has been the formation of clods.

What happens: Some preemergence herbicides applied
and sprinkler incorporated, or even chemigated, might not get below the clods,
resulting in patches of weeds emerging though the untreated soil.

What can be done: Questions have arisen about what
can be done proactively and the answer can be keeping herbicide solubility in
mind when designing a tank mixture. A more soluble herbicide might move through
and/or around ending up below clods resulting in better coverage. than a
herbicide with relatively less solubility.

What you need to know: In general, with the medium-
to coarse-textured, moderate organic matter content, neutral to high pH soils
in the PNW, potato herbicide solubility ranging from high to low: Matrix (rimsulfuron)
>> metribuzin, Outlook (dimethenamid-p) > Dual Magnum (s-metolachlor),
Eptam (EPTC) >> Linex (linuron), Reflex (fomesafen), Zidua
(pyroxasulfone) >> Chateau (flumioxazin), Sonalan (ethalfluralin),
Treflan (trifluralin), and Prowl H2O (pendimethalin). NOTE: Sulfentrazone
solubility is similar to that of Outlook unless soil pH is above 7.5, then it
is more soluble than the any of the other herbicides. Use of Trade Names is
not an endorsement for one product over another with the same active ingredient.

Put it together: Design a tank mixture for the weed
species in a field with inclusion of soluble herbicides that can move below the
clods for the best coverage possible.  

Example: Control hairy nightshade, common
lambsquarters, and green foxtail in a cloddy field. Tank mix soluble Matrix or
Outlook for h. nightshade + soluble metribuzin for c. lambsquarters + moderately
soluble Linex for both** of the broadleaves. All provide green foxtail control.

Get out the crystal ball and the umbrella: If “unusual”
amounts of rainfall occur within 1 or 2 weeks after application and incorporation,
the “soluble” herbicides could move too far below the weed seed germination
zone.  

 Reference: Targeted Tank Mixtures for Weed Control in Potatoes – UI Extension
Bulletin 950 https://www.uidaho.edu/extension/publications/bul/bul950

 **Keep in mind that tank mixing herbicides with different Sites
of Action (SOA) controlling the same weed species (“overlapping” control) is highly
recommended for herbicide resistance management. In the example given, Matrix, Outlook,
metribuzin, and Linex all have different SOAs. Without Linex, there is no
overlapping SOA for hairy nightshade and no overlapping SOA for common
lambsquarters. Linex as the third partner in the mix controls c. lambsquarters  and has activity on h. nightshade. As a
result, there is more than one SOA on both weeds. The overlap is necessary for
herbicide resistance management. That one-in-a-million plant in the population naturally
tolerant to one SOA does not survive because the other SOA in the tank mixture will
provide control. If the tolerant plant survives and produces seeds because
overlapping herbicide SOA are not tank mixed and/or not rotated, then resistance
in the population could develop over time if only the one herbicide SOA is used.
         

Examples of Potato
Herbicide Sites of Action and weeds controlled - herbicides within [ ]
have the same SOA:

Hairy nightshade - Matrix, [Outlook/Dual Magnum/Zidua],
Eptam, [Reflex/Chateau], Linex;

Common lambsquarters – metribuzin, [Prowl H2O/Sonalan/Treflan],
Linex;

Redroot pigweed – all of these herbicides except metribuzin
when the population in a field is resistant to metribuzin;

Green foxtail – all of these herbicides.

 When common lambsquarters is in a field with hairy nightshade,
then getting satisfactory SOA overlap is challenging. Linex seems to be the
only herbicide in that situation that can provide overlapping SOA for hairy
nightshade AND overlapping SOA for common lambsquarters.  

» Solubility of herbicides labeled for use in potatoes

Ag Talk Tuesdays resume in 2023

All Crops    All Locations

Posted on: April 17, 2023 by Kasia Duellman

Mark your calendars for every first and third Tuesday in May, June, July and August, 11:00 AM to Noon for Ag Talk Tuesday - live, online sessions (via Zoom).

Presented by University of Idaho Extension, the 2023 sessions of Ag Talk Tuesday continue with the second session of the season, this Tuesday, May 16. Sessions start at 11:00 AM with crop updates (everyone is invited to contribute). Following crop updates, enjoy a Featured Topic presented by a Guest Speaker. For this second session, we have invited Albert Adjesiwor with University of Idaho to discuss the Pacific Northwest Herbicide Resistance 

Initiative and Idaho.

» https://www.uidaho.edu/extension/news/ag-talk-tuesday

» https://uidaho.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwoceuqpzgrHtcuo-JwYrywKfEBP_jNgMcE#/registration

Lions and Tigers and Bears? Not quite, but Snow mold, dwarf smut and voles...

All Crops    All Locations

Snow molds, dwarf bunt and voles

Posted on: March 30, 2023 by Juliet Marshall

Spring is…. Here? According to the calendar, yes. But
looking out at additional snow this morning in southeast Idaho and reviewing
the extended forecast, mother nature has stubbornly dug in her heels on winter.

The implications are that winter cereals are likely to be at
risk for damage and spring grain will never get planted. Or maybe it just seems
that way.

The extra moisture we are receiving with these consistent
spring snows and rain events makes so many of us relieved and happy. Our
subsoil moisture has been replenished and the reservoir system is recharging.
What a stroke of fortune!

Some areas in southeast Idaho haven’t seen bare ground since
early November. A mild fall facilitated the establishment and early growth of
winter wheat until cold temperatures rapidly shut down the season. However, what
is the outlook for the crop health of winter grain given how long we’ve had
snow cover?

Like any “good scientist”, I will say – That depends. When
we have long periods of time where snow covers the ground, two diseases can
become a major problem: snow mold and dwarf bunt. Snow can insulate the ground,
keeping the surface moist, preventing the soil from freezing and allowing these
cold-tolerant fungi to infect and grow on winter wheat. While difenoconazole seed
treatments are effective against dwarf bunt on susceptible varieties, there is
very little fungicide protection that is effective for snow mold when the snow
coverage exceeds three months – or in this year, up to five months!

Several years ago, I participated in a study that examined
the genetics of snow mold resistance up at the University of Idaho Tetonia
R&E Center. There were varieties that had a much higher tolerance for
fungal attack based on their genetic traits – the varieties that accumulated
more complex carbohydrates were less susceptible to being killed by snow mold
fungi. That meant that varieties when planted early enough to establish a
strong crown and high carbohydrate reserves survived long periods of time under
snow where there is very little sunlight. That was quite a while ago, and those
tolerant varieties are no longer grown.

Snow mold fungi feed off leaves, slowly depleting the
carbohydrates (or complex sugars) that plants need to survive – kind of like a
slow death by a thousand paper cuts. The longer the time spent under the snow,
the less the likelihood that the plants can survive. One of the stories I used
to hear was that growers would have fly ash flown on the fields to increase
rapid melting of the snow. That would require sunny days without additional
snow accumulation. That hasn’t happened this year. However, wheat can make a
recovery as long as the crown survives. After snow melt, check to see if the
crowns are white and firm. If they are soft and brown, then the plant is dead.

To add insult to injury, a healthy wheat stand under long
periods of snow cover allows voles to proliferate like mad! While worse in alfalfa,
stands can be significantly reduced in winter wheat as well. See the Feb 8
article written for “Catching up with CALS” with strategies and advice by
Danielle Gunn and Joseph Sagers: https://www.uidaho.edu/news/news-articles/colleges/cals/2023/020823-vexed-voles

As I head further south from Idaho Falls, I see large areas
of water ponding in low areas of the fields. The freeze-thawing cycles that
occur with substantial water saturation reduces plant survival as plants suffer
from frost-heaving, which rips and severs roots, and from anoxia – no oxygen
under flooded areas.

My best advice for spring grain, is to plant as soon as you
can (and not to bury the tractor in the low spots!) and to be sure the spring
grain is protected with fungicides that are effective against Pythium. These
fungal-like pathogens love cool and wet conditions and require specialized
“fungicides” that include metalaxyl. With the prevalence of metalaxyl-resistant
Pythium in the area, you may also need to consider the relatively new products
ethaboxam (Intego from Valent) and picarbutrazox (Vayantis from Syngenta).

In the meantime, we sit and wait. Good luck.

» https://www.uidaho.edu/extension/cereals/scseidaho

» https://www.uidaho.edu/news/news-articles/colleges/cals/2023/020823-vexed-voles

Need to study for a pesticide exam?

All Crops    All Locations

Posted on: March 23, 2023 by Kimberly Tate

The UI Extension Pesticide Safety Education Program will be offering pre-license trainings ONLINE, via Zoom. This 4-day class is designed to be both with live instructors and work on your own, at your own pace. Students are required to have a computer or smart tablet with internet access. You will learn core pesticide safety practices and prepare for the following Idaho State Department of Agriculture pesticide exams; Private Applicator, Professional Applicator: Core Competency; Agricultural Herbicide; Agricultural Insecticide; Ornamental Herbicide; Ornamental Insecticide; General Pest; Right of Way; Rodent Control; and Chemigation. 

Classes meet twice daily Monday through Thursday. Our next training session is scheduled for April 3-7, 2023, from 9-11:30 am (MST) and 1:30-4 pm (MST). Registration closes, April 3, 2023 at 8 am (MST).

Enrollment includes access to 12-eLearning modules and educational materials until May 15, 2023. The class fee $50 per student. 

To register, visit our Marketplace website link.

» https://marketplace.uidaho.edu/C20272_ustores/web/store_main.jsp?STOREID=53&SINGLESTORE=true

» 2023-PreLicense_Hybrid_POSTER.pdf

2023 Pruning Deciduous Trees & Shrubs

General Landscape and Garden    Treasure Valley, Treasure Valley - Idaho

Tree & Shrub Pruning

Posted on: March 17, 2023 by Ruth Givens

The dormant season is a great time to prune deciduous trees (landscape & fruit) and shrubs. As a general guide remove no more than one-third of the tree when pruning. Below are a few resources on how to prune. 

·       Training Young Shade Trees, University of Idaho

·       Pruning Deciduous Shade Trees, University of Arizona  

·       Pruning Deciduous Trees, University of New Hampshire 

·       Deciduous Fruit Tree Pruning Videos, University of Arizona (https://extension.arizona.edu/deciduous-fruit-tree-pruning-videos)

·       How to Prune Trees Video, Colorado State University 

Prune shrub species which grow on the current season’s growth during the dormant period, usually late winter early spring. A few examples of flowering shrubs in this grouping including butterfly bush, heather, heavenly bamboo, hydrangea, shrubby roses and rose of sharon. Reference the third link for more information. 

For shrub species which form buds on last season’s growth prune these species within about two months after the flowers fade. On these species, flower buds form in late summer and early fall. Winter pruning decreases the number of flowers the following spring as branches containing flower buds are removed. A few examples of flowering shrubs in this grouping include azaleas, lilac, magnolia, mockorange, serviceberry, and witchhazel. Reference Pruning Ornamental Trees & Shrubs, from Purdue University. (https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/HO/HO-4-W.pdf)

For most areas of Idaho, plants that bloom before June 1 formed the flowers the previous year on old wood. Those that bloom after June 1 form flowers on new growth. Keep in mind that this is rough guideline.

The City of Nampa Parks & Forestry Department will offer tree pruning classes. See the attached file for more details. 

If you have additional questions, contact your local University of Idaho Extension office. To search by county visit https://www.uidaho.edu/extension/directory/counties

Additional Resource 

PNW 400 Training & Pruning Your Home Orchard – 

https://extension.oregonstate.edu/pub/pnw-400

The Second Annual Organic Agriculture Workshop Thursday, March 2nd

All Crops    All Locations

Posted on: February 28, 2023 by Ariel Agenbroad

The Second Annual Organic Agriculture Workshop
hosted by the University of Idaho on Thursday, March 2^nd from
10:00-1:30 PM MST.

Registration (and lunch) are free! If
you are planning to attend in person, please register by February 28^th.
You can register at: https://uidaho.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0ApO2kf6L7Iozbw

This is an IN-PERSON workshop at the University of Idaho
Caldwell Research and Extension Center (1904 E. Chicago Street, Suite AB
Caldwell, ID 83605).

There is also an option to attend virtually. Those
attending in-person will receive a free lunch. There is also an opportunity to
tour Peaceful Belly Farm, which is located about 15 minutes from the meeting
location, and hear about the ways that they are honoring and fostering a
collaboration with nature to build ecological resilience and community on their
farm.

Workshop
Details:

1. Hear
   important updates from ISDA and learn about the exciting new national
   Transition to Organics Partnership Program (TOPP)
2. Learn
   more about the cryptic and amazing world of soil biology
3. Learn
   more about how your management practices influence earthworms and
   nematodes
4. Share
   experiences and knowledge to better understand the challenges and
   opportunities with soil fauna assessments

Registration (and lunch) are free! If
you are planning to attend in person, please register by February 28^th.
You can register at: https://uidaho.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0ApO2kf6L7Iozbw 

» https://uidaho.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0ApO2kf6L7Iozbw

» Event Flyer

2023 Cereal Schools are this week Feb 7 - 10, 2023

All Crops    Eastern Idaho, Magic Valley

Cereals - wheat and barley

Posted on: February 6, 2023 by Juliet Marshall

Southern / southeastern Cereal Schools will be this week at various locations - Burley, Pocatello, Idaho Falls, St. Anthony, Grace and Preston. See attached flyer for additional information.

» Cereal_School_flyer_2023.pdf

Miller Research Winter 2023 Potato Disease Management Seminar

Potato    All Locations

Posted on: January 12, 2023 by Jeff Miller

Miller Research will be holding its annual Potato Pest
Management Meeting in person on February 16, 2023, at the Historic Wilson
Theater in Rupert, ID. The meeting will run from 9:00 am to 12:15 pm with a 15-minute
break at 10:30 am. CCA credits and ID, WA, and OR pesticide recertification
credits have been requested for the meeting.

For those not able to attend in person, a virtual option
will be available. If you want to participate by Zoom, contact Cheryn Suarez
(cheryn@millerresearch.com) after registration and she will
send you the link to attend. Virtual attendees will need to answer questions on
Zoom to verify participation. Thus, each person desiring credits needs to be
logged in and stay logged in for the duration of the meeting. Contact us if you
need to make other arrangements.

Registration is $20 to cover the cost of the meeting.
Additional proceeds will be donated to the local 4-H program.

The agenda is in the attached file.

» https://millerresearch.com/event/miller-research-winter-2023-potato-disease-management-seminar/

» 2023_Seminar_Announcement.pdf

Ornamental Pesticide Applicators Pre-License Training

General Landscape and Garden    Treasure Valley, Treasure Valley - Idaho

Pesticide Pre-license Training

Posted on: January 5, 2023 by Ruth Givens

The University of Idaho (UI) Extension Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) will be offering pre-license training during the 2023 Idaho Horticulture Expo in Boise. This training will be in-person with a two-day agenda. Focus will be on the following categories: Ornamental Insecticide (OI), Ornamental Herbicide (OH), General Pest (GP), and Core (CO). 

Registration includes access to online modules and study materials housed on the National Extension Foundation website. These materials prepare students for the 2-day class and the statewide exams. ALL materials will be available to each registered student with continued access until three weeks after the training. 

January 19 – 20, 2023, daily at 9am – 4pm (MST)

Boise Centre, 850 W Front St., Boise 83702

The cost is $75 per student. To register, visit our website https://www.uidaho.edu/extension/ipm/pesticide.

For more information, contact UI Extension Sr. Instructor, Kimberly Tate at (208) 364-4581 or email ktate@uidaho.edu. 

Note: We will be offering two prelicense hybrid courses this spring; one in March and the other in April. More information will be available in February.

PNW Pest Alert Network Survey

All Crops    All Locations

PNW Pest Alert Network Survey

Posted on: December 20, 2022 by Ruth Givens

Ruth Givens and Ronda Hirnyck from the University of Idaho Extension are conducting a research study. The purpose of the research is to evaluate the effectiveness of the PNW Pest Alert Network. You are being asked to participate in this study because you are a subscriber to thePNW Pest Alert Network alerts.

Your participation will involve completing a voluntary survey which will provide feedback to the principal investigators. The survey should take about 3 minutes to complete. The survey includes questions such as indicate how you have used the information in the past year? How did you access the PNW Pest Alert Network alerts? How useful were the landscape and garden alerts? Your involvement in the study is voluntary, and you may choose not to participate. You can refuse to answer any of the questions at any time. There are no names or identifying information associated with your responses. There are no known risks in this study, but some individuals may experience discomfort or loss of privacy when answering questions. Data will be housed on a password protected server and deleted upon completion of the study.

The findings from this project will provide information on providing better outreach programming to control landscape and garden pests. If published, results will be presented in summary form only.

Special Incentive: Surveys completed by January 17 will be entered into a drawing for one of three $75 certificates to Texas Roadhouse.  Three lucky winners will be announced on the website and the gift cards will be sent out later in January.

If you have any questions about this research project, please feel free to call Ruth Givens at 208-459-6003. By submitting this survey, you certify that you are at least 18 years of age and agree to participate in the above described research study.

Start Survey Here

2022 Pulse Crop Survey

Dry Beans    Treasure Valley, Treasure Valley - Idaho, Eastern Idaho, Magic Valley

2022 Pulse Crop Survey

Posted on: December 8, 2022 by Ruth Givens & Ronda Hirnyck

The Pulse Crop Survey is an annual survey of pulse crop growers and consultants about pulse crop diseases and their management, conducted by Montana State University. Through this survey we aim to understand which resources pulse growers and consultants seek out for information, which diseases challenge pulse crop production, which integrated pest management practices are implemented, and how effective they are perceived to be. 

Please consider participating in this survey. Your participation in this survey will help us identify research needs and resources needed to support economic and sustainable pulse crop production in the Northern Great Plains and Pacific Northwest. Your participation in this survey is entirely voluntary and anonymous. This survey should only take 10 minutes of your time.

You can access the survey by clicking on the following weblink: https://bit.ly/Pulses2023 

PNW PestAlert Landscape & Garden Survey

General Landscape and Garden    Treasure Valley, Treasure Valley - Idaho

Home Garden & Landscape Survey

Posted on: November 21, 2022 by Ruth Givens

Ruth Givens from the University of Idaho Extension, Canyon County is conducting a research study. The purpose of the research is to evaluate the effectiveness of the PNW Pest Alert Network with respect to Landscape & Garden. You are being asked to participate in this study because you are a subscriber to the landscape and garden alerts.

Your participation will involve completing a voluntary survey which will provide feedback to the principal investigator. The survey should take about 3 minutes to complete. The survey includes questions such as indicate how you have used the information in the past year? How did you access the PNW Pest Alert Network alerts? How useful were the landscape and garden alerts? Your involvement in the study is voluntary, and you may choose not to participate. You can refuse to answer any of the questions at any time. There are no names or identifying information associated with your responses. There are no known risks in this study, but some individuals may experience discomfort or loss of privacy when answering questions. Data will be housed on a password protected server and deleted upon completion of the study.

The findings from this project will provide information on providing better outreach programming to control landscape and garden pests. If published, results will be presented in summary form only.

Special Incentive: Surveys completed by December 11 will be entered into a drawing for one of three $75 certificates to Texas Roadhouse.  Three lucky winners will be announced on the website and the gift cards will be sent out later in December.

If you have any questions about this research project, please feel free to call Ruth Givens at 208-459-6003. By submitting this survey, you certify that you are at least 18 years of age and agree to participate in the above described research study.

Start Survey HERE.