|
 Think
About The Bugs Before You Plant
Kelly
Tindall, Area Extension Entomologist
As many of the
farmers are starting to plant, it never hurts to be reminded about
the bugs. There are many soil insects that feed on seeds, seedlings
and roots of plants. One that has been gaining attention in recent
years is wireworm. These insects are beetle larvae that are
attracted to carbon dioxide that seeds release once seeds begin to
germinate. This insect spends most of its life underground.
Larvae may take up residence in the soil for three to four years
feeding on seeds, seedlings and roots, eventually after years of
feeding, they pupate and emerge in the spring as adults. Adults can
live for nine months. A single female lays as many as 350 eggs in
the soil and the cycle starts again. This can cause problems for a
grower because once they are in the soil they can be there for
several years, unless action is taken.
So what can be
done about these critters? Unfortunately, if you do not do
something when you plant, you have to wait until next year.
Currently, there are no rescue treatments available. There are
several insecticides labeled to control wireworms; however, you have
to apply them at planting or plant seeds treated with insecticide.
Anytime that
you are battling an insect that lives underground, tilling has the
potential to disrupt the life cycle. With wireworms, you have to
till deep to reach the depth of the wireworms. When temperatures
are below 50° F, larvae move 9-24 inches deep in the soil. Once
soil temperatures warm to 50-55°F, larvae become active within the
top 6 inches of soil. If the soil temperatures get above 80°F,
larvae begin to move deeper in the soil. Tilling physically injures
soil-dwelling insects, as well as bringing them near the soil
surface which makes wireworms more accessible to predators (i.e.,
other insects, spiders, and birds) and exposes them to harsh weather
conditions.
Use care when
choosing a crop to plant in fields where wireworms may be present.
Tuber crops (ie. potatoes) will most definitely display some
damage. Even the best insecticides are not able to provide
sufficient control wireworm. That can cause problems when you go to
sell your potatoes. It is best to plant a crop that has the
harvested product above ground, like corn or grain that is treated
with insecticide until the wireworms are under control.
Another option
is to rotate your crop, however wireworms feed on a wide variety of
plants, including beans, corn, onions, sugarbeets, potatoes,
grains. As you can tell, that doesn’t leave a lot of options.
Alfalfa is the best rotational option for this problem for two
reasons. First, alfalfa is not a favorite host of wireworms;
second, you have a chance to break the multi-year life cycle of the
wireworm since alfalfa is in the ground for multiple years. Be
sure to keep the alfalfa weed-free or you may provide a host for
wireworms to survive on.
Using a
combination of control methods will enhance the management of this
and all pests. Always be sure to read and follow insecticide
labels.
For more
information pertaining to wireworms or any insect problem, contact
Kelly Tindall, U of I Extension Entomologist at 208-734-9590 at the
Twin Falls County Extension office.
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 Reliable
Internet Information
Diana
Christensen, Extension Educator in Families and Youth, Gooding
County
Like to search
the Internet for information, but sometimes wonder if what you find
is reliable? Food Insights gives us some tips to help us determine
if the information is from a credible source.
Almost anyone
can put up a Web page, or start an email chain, so it makes sense to
find out where information is coming from. Look for background
information under an “About Us” heading on a Web site, a mission
statement, or a personal biography. If you can’t locate background
information on the site, or can’t find out who wrote it and why, the
content probably isn’t the most accurate or reliable. Even if you
do have a name, it might have been made up. Some of the “urban
myths” come from a name that sounds credible, and even a newspaper,
journal, or business they are associated with. But a check with
that newspaper, journal, or business has revealed either that the
person is not connected with them, or the incident did not happen.
Trust your
instincts—look for red flags. Here are four “red flags” that
generally indicate a not reliable information source:
- The
information is accompanied by an advertisement. This product will
“cure” multiple health problems, from headaches to obesity.
Reputable sites give health information for education—not to sell
or promote products.
- The article
is poorly organized, sensationally written, or uses LOTS OF
CAPITAL LETTERS and excessive punctuation!!! Good information
doesn’t need to pound its point home.
- The
information is all anecdotal. It is “word of mouth” and isn’t
attributed to an organization, university, or federal agency.
- A single
ingredient, food, or product is said to be responsible for a host
of health problems. These problems may have been self diagnosed.
Here are some
web sites that give reliable, research based nutrition information:
healthfinder.gov,
ific.org, medlineplus.gov, mayoclinic.org,
berkeleywellness.com.
Page 3. District III Extension Focus - Extension Educators
and Research Specialists Providing Information for Area Families and
Agricultural Producers
 Budget
Grocery Shopping
Lyle Hansen,
Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Jerome County
Saving money at
the grocery store on a regular basis takes planning and practice.
Here is a list of ideas that can help you get the most out of your
grocery dollars.
1- Create a
food budget: Take the time to figure out how much money your budget
allows for food each month. Divide your monthly food budget by how
many times you shop each month. Get cash for the budgeted amount
and only take that amount to the grocery store. This will assure
that you only can spend what you budget.
2- Plan meals
and snacks before each shopping trip: Write up a menu of the meals
and snacks you plan to prepare for the week, while making sure they
are affordable and fit your food budget. Consider using the food
you may already have at home on your menu, which will save you money
and help clean out the cupboards.
3- Make a list
of the foods you will need to prepare your meals: After checking
the cupboards, review your menus and make a list to take to the
grocery store.
4- Shop the
grocery store ads and look for coupons: This will save you money.
5- Don’t shop
on an empty stomach: Hungry shoppers usually end up buying
unnecessary expensive items.
6- Avoid the
end caps: Grocery store end caps are attractively displayed to
entice shoppers to make additional purchases.
7- Shop at
discount grocery stores: Discount grocery stores usually offer food
and other products at deep discounts. The food may be sometimes
near the expiration date, dented, or damaged in some way. However,
by carefully examining the products you can usually find good
quality items and save money.
I hope these
suggestions will help you stick to your food budget and save you
money at the grocery store. Happy Shopping!
 Keep
Your Cool!
Cammie Jayo,
Extension Nutrition Program Educator, Twin Falls County
Your
refrigerator should have a thermometer to be sure the temperature is
consistently 40°
F or below. This will keep your perishable food safe and at the
optimal quality. Following are some pointers for keeping foods cool
and in the safe temperature zone.
- The Chill
Factor. Refrigerate or
freeze perishables, prepared foods and leftovers within two hours
of purchase or use. Always marinate foods in the refrigerator.
- The Thaw
Law. Never defrost food at room temperature. Thaw food in the
refrigerator. For a quick thaw, submerge food in cold water in an
airtight package or thaw in the microwave if you will be cooking
it immediately.
- Divide
and Conquer. Separate
large amounts of leftovers into small, shallow containers for
quicker cooling in the refrigerator.
- Avoid the
Pack Attack. Do not
over-stuff the refrigerator. Cold air must circulate to keep food
safe.
- Rotate
Before It’s Too Late.
Use or discard chilled foods on a regular basis. Check the USDA
Cold Storage chart available at
http://wwwfoodsafety.gov/~fsg/f01chart.html
- Don’t Go
Too Low. As you
approach 32°
F ice crystals can begin to form and lower the quality of some
foods such as raw fruits, vegetables and eggs. A refrigerator
thermometer will help you determine whether you are too close to
this zone.
Visit
www.fightbac.org today for more tips.
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Page 4.
District III Extension Focus - Extension Educators and Research
Specialists Providing Information for Area Families and Agricultural
Producers
 Food
Safety - Pressure Canner Testing
Grace Wittman, Extension
Educator, Family and Consumer Science, Cassia County
Spring is here
again and it’s time to start thinking about canning all of those
wonderful products our gardens produce. When we start thinking
about preserving food we need to consider food safety. Food safety
goes hand in hand with preserving foods since foods that are
incorrectly preserved can be extremely harmful to us and our
families. One of the easiest things we can do to ensure our foods
are preserved safely is to get our pressure canners gauge tested
each year.
Getting your
pressure canners gauge tested is essential to prevent the spread of
Clostridium botulinum or botulism. Clostridium botulinum
cells can form an extremely heat resistant spore that can
survive boiling temperatures at 212 degrees Fahrenheit. The
temperature of 240 degrees can only be achieved with a pressure
canner. So it is essential that we make sure our pressure canner
gauges are accurate. Check with your local extension office to find
out times, locations, and cost for pressure canner gauge testing.
Another way we
can be sure that foods are canned safely is to brush up on our
canning procedures by participating in a Master Food Preserver
course. These courses are offered yearly through your extension
office. The course covers different types of food borne illness and
what you can do when preserving food to prevent these illnesses.
The course also goes through proper canning techniques for all foods
so that individuals can perfect their skills and become master
canners. If you’re local extension office does not offer a Master
Food Preserver course or you are unable to attend the course a
person can participate in a course called Preserve @ Home.
Preserve @ Home
is a web-based food preservation course that is conducted
periodically throughout the year. This course covers that same
material as the face to face Master Food Preserver Course however
students are allowed to progress through the lessons at their own
pace or at a time that is convenient to them. The course is offered
through two different methods of instruction: online and
correspondence. The course consists of 10 required lessons and
three supplemental lessons.
The next
Preserve @ Home course will start in August.
Cost:
$35 fee entitles students to web-access or mailed copies of all
lessons.
UI academic
credit is also available. Contact the Preserve @ Home instructor at
208-267-3235 for more information on actual dates and times.
Do Your
Roses Have Borers?
Jo
Ann Robbins, Extension Educator, Crops and Horticulture
Two wood-boring
insects can cause rose problems in southern Idaho. The first
insect, the raspberry cane maggot (Pegomya rubivora), is the
larvae of a small fly. The maggots, or larvae, feed downward in the
new canes. The canes will be hollowed out in the center. The
shoots will wilt as the larvae girdle the stem. Canes also may show
a swelling where feeding occurs. The adult hatches from an over
wintering pupa in the ground in April and lay eggs near the tops of
the young canes. Canes that have been pruned are particularly
attractive. As indicated by the name, this pest can also infest
raspberries.
The second
insect is the rose stem girdler (Agrilus aurichalceus).
Adults of this wood-boring beetle emerge from infested stems in May
and June. They lay eggs on the canes and larvae feed just under the
bark, girdling them and causing simple swollen stem galls. The
canes subsequently can die, be extremely weak the next season, or
are more susceptible to winter injury. This pest also infests
raspberry canes.
Control of
light cases of these borers involves pruning out and destroying the
infected canes just below the bottom of the hollowed out stem or
below the swollen gall on the stem. Placing wood glue or pruning
paint on the ends of cut canes helps to detour egg laying of the
cane maggot. In extreme cases, a systemic insecticide labeled for
these pests on roses will be necessary.
Keep an eye out
for these pests that can weaken or kill canes on all types of roses.
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Page 5.
District III Extension Focus - Extension Educators and Research
Specialists Providing Information for Area Families and Agricultural
Producers
Public Confusion Over Seafood
Gary
Fornshell, University of Idaho Extension, Aquaculture
In 2004 the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) issued a joint advisory on mercury and seafood. This
was the first time the two agencies issued a joint advisory on
mercury and in addition to discussing the risks associated with
mercury ingestion they pointed out the health benefits derived from
seafood consumption.
Unfortunately
when people hear negative news first they tend to ignore the good
news. Studies have shown decreases in seafood consumption following
FDA advisories. A recent national consumer survey conducted by the
University of Maryland Center for Food, Nutrition and Agriculture
Policy confirmed what many within the seafood/aquaculture community
thought: the public is very confused about the benefits and risks of
seafood consumption. Most do not understand the FDA/EPA advisory.
They either believe the advisory applies to everyone or they
mistakenly believe the advisory applies to the wrong groups within
the population, such as the elderly, men, or teenagers. Most could
not identify which species had higher levels of mercury and those
that have extremely low levels. Clearly, the FDA and EPA need to
provide a clear, concise, easy to understand message on the benefits
and risks involved with eating seafood.
Since the
advisory was issued numerous articles on mercury and seafood have
appeared in the print media as well as stories on television news
broadcasts. The media has certainly contributed to consumer
confusion with their mixed messages, misinformation and
sensationalism. Unfortunately many rely upon the media for their
health and nutrition information.
The FDA/EPA
advisory is for a specific high-risk group: pregnant women, women
who may become pregnant, nursing mothers, and young children. It is
recommended that this group should not consume shark, swordfish,
king mackerel and tilefish, and limit consumption of albacore
(white) tuna to 6 ounces per week. Further, if consuming
sport-caught fish they should check state advisories for local
waters. However, this group should eat up to 12 ounces per week a
variety of seafood low in mercury such as shrimp, canned light tuna,
salmon, pollock, catfish, tilapia, and rainbow trout to obtain the
health benefits from seafood consumption. Seafood is an important
part of a healthy diet. A high quality protein low in saturated
fats, seafood contributes to a healthy heart and is necessary for
the proper growth and development of children.
Seafood and
especially omega-3 fatty acids are so good for us that the following
organizations all recommend increased seafood consumption:
l
World Health
Organization
l
American Heart
Association
l
Institute of
Medicine
l
2005 U.S. Dietary
Guidelines
l
National Heart, Lung,
& Blood Institute
l
National Cholesterol
Education Program
l
Even the FDA/EPA
advisory – up to 12 oz./wk for the high risk group
In fact
numerous medical experts argue that there is a greater risk to
health with decreased consumption of seafood (American Journal of
Preventive Med.: 2005 volume 29, issue 4).
Due to consumer
concerns and mixed messages in the media about seafood safety and
health benefits the United States Trout Farmers Association had the
Environmental Quality Institute at North Carolina
State University analyze
farm-raised rainbow trout from Idaho, North Carolina and
Pennsylvania for mercury. The study found that mercury levels are so
low in farm-raised rainbow trout that a 160-pound person could eat
up to 600 pounds in a year and not exceed EPA’s recommended
reference dose of 0.1 micrograms per kilogram of bodyweight per day.
Reference doses
are usually based on the most sensitive and relevant studies. Often
adequate human data is not available and it is necessary to rely on
data from animal studies. A dose is set by identifying an exposure
that has shown no harmful effects in the most relevant study and
dividing it by uncertainty factors to allow for possible differences
between experimental animals and humans, and between the average and
most sensitive humans. The reference dose represents an intake that
is without appreciable risk, but gives no indication of the possible
risk at intakes above that level; however, exceeding the reference
dose does not necessarily result in harmful effects, even in the
most sensitive populations. The reference dose is intended as a
gauge, not an absolute number above which a problem is likely to
occur, precisely because of the fact that uncertainty factors are
calculated into the reference dose.
The EPA mercury
reference dose was calculated on the lowest dose at which a subtle
subclinical effect was thought to occur (meaning the effect was not
actually observed) and then building in a 10-fold uncertainty factor
that makes EPA’s reference dose for mercury the most stringent
standard in the world.
So remember the
advice from the American Heart Association – eat fish twice a week.
Reference:
What You Need
to Know About Mercury in Fish and Shellfish,
2004 EPA and
FDA Advice For: Women Who Might Become Pregnant,
Women Who are
Pregnant, Nursing Mothers, Young Children.
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/admehg3.html
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Page 6. District III Extension Focus - Extension Educators
and Research Specialists Providing Information for Area Families and
Agricultural Producers
Would You
Benefit From a MIG Workshop?
Jim Hawkins, Extension
Educator, Livestock, Custer County
A recent survey
of alumni of the Lost Rivers Grazing Workshops indicates that indeed
you could. Thirty percent of the respondents reported an increase
in their bottom line. Forty seven percent of survey respondents
report labor costs remained the same or went down. Another 66 % saw
fertilizer costs remain the same or actually decline. Respondents
reported an increase in weaning weight while experiencing an
increase in the number of cows breed on time. The total number of
days grazed increased as well. Respondents also reported 1) a
decrease in the number of weeds, 2) a decrease in animal health
costs and 3) a decrease in their winter feeding costs. The results
of this survey would indicate that a management-intense approach to
pasture management does reap benefits.
Results reported here are but a few
among many of the successes reported by graduates of the Lost River
Grazing Academy. If these
results intrigue you and you want to learn more, sign up for the
next workshop to be held in Salmon,
Idaho at the Nancy M. Cummings
Research and Extension Center June 12-15, 2006.
The workshop will help improve the
livestock operator’s understanding and implementation of the
principles of Management-intensive Grazing (MiG). Topics covered in
the intensive 4 day, hands-on workshop include the five principles
of grazing, tools for managing grazing, anatomy and physiology of
forage plants, grazing cell design, low stress livestock handling
techniques, and livestock health considerations. Participants in
this workshop come away with a better understanding of the
principles involved in grazing management.
A growing network of operators are
developing, adapting and implementing more economically efficient
and environmentally acceptable methods for harvesting and utilizing
forages. Are you ready to join them?
The cost of this intensive, hands-on
workshop is $450 and includes all materials and most meals. Full
ride scholarships are available for qualifying Idaho producers. For
more details, scholarship opportunities, etc. call Jim Hawkins at
208 879 2344 or email jhawkins@uidaho.edu.
Monitoring
and Adaptive Management
Kenneth D. Sanders,
University of Idaho Range Specialist
Why monitor?
Monitoring is
the very basis of management for any business. We set objectives,
develop a management plan to meet those objectives, then monitor to
determine whether the objectives are being met and if not, why. The
Society for Range Management (SRM, 1998) defines range monitoring
as, “The orderly collection, analysis and interpretation of resource
data to evaluate progress toward meeting management objectives.
This process must be conducted over time in order to determine
whether or not management objectives are being met.” Monitoring
must also identify what areas of management need revision to produce
the desired objective. We cannot make effective management
decisions if we do not know the effect of past management actions.
Although this
guide is designed for use by public land livestock permittees, it is
just as important that ranchers monitor their private rangeland
too. A primary goal of both public and private land managers/owners
is to insure the sustainability of rangeland resources and the use
of those resources, including their productive capacity. The
monitoring plan is as important a part of the ranch/allotment plan
as the grazing system or stocking rate. The objectives, sampling
techniques, study locations, monitoring responsibilities and time
tables for monitoring should be as detailed as possible.
Who should
monitor?
As ranch or
allotment management plans (AMPs) are developed, a detailed
monitoring plan should also be developed. Just as AMPs on public
land allotments should be a cooperative, coordinated plan developed
by the agencies and permittees, so should the monitoring plan. Both
the permittees and the agencies can benefit from a cooperative
effort. In most cases, a permittee may be interested in acquiring
some, but not all the monitoring information or data that the
federal agencies desire. Collecting the same kind of information at
the same time is an inefficient duplication of effort. By working
together, more monitoring can be accomplished and better decisions
made.
The two most
important factors in effective rangeland monitoring are: (1) the
commitment to diligent monitoring and (2) the interpretation of the
monitoring information that is collected. Permittees are on the
allotment much more often than agency personnel, thus they are key
to meeting both factors. Monitoring methods that require frequent
data collection, such as photographs, are best done by the
permittees. Even more important, permittees are likely to observe
events that may be critical to the proper interpretation of
monitoring data, such as an unusual storm event or insect invasion.
The degree of
commitment will vary by permittee; each permittee should only commit
to those monitoring elements that they are realistically willing to
accomplish. However, all permittees should at least become familiar
with the location of the monitoring sites and types of information
being collected. In some cases the permittees may be able and
willing to monitor additional sites, using the established
methodology, thus adding to the data base and increasing its
accuracy. Monitoring is a long-term commitment but it should result
in more effective management.
Adaptive
management
In recent years
the U.S. Forest Service (FS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
have started using the term adaptive management in their monitoring
and management documents. Adaptive management is defined as the
process of adjusting management strategies based on monitoring
results. While this is really what management has always been
about, there appears to be a new-found willingness of public land
agencies to use this process. Currently, there is a window of
opportunity for permittees to be involved in providing monitoring
information to the agencies, being involved in the interpretation of
monitoring data and, most importantly, having input in grazing
management adjustments to meet the goals and objectives of both the
agencies and the permittees. It is up to the permittees to take
advantage of this opportunity.
For more
information about monitoring and adaptive management, you may go to:
http://www.cnrhome.uidaho.edu/range then click on Rangeland Info
and look for the article “A Rancher’s Guide to Monitoring
Rangelands”.
Back To Top
Page 7. District III Extension Focus - Extension Educators
and Research Specialists Providing Information for Area Families and
Agricultural Producers
 Protect
Our Export Markets From Being Sabatoged
Richard Garrard, Extension
Educator, Agriculture, Cassia County
Despite
a slowdown in their rate of growth during the last decade, export
markets still consume a significant share of U.S. meat and poultry
producers’ annual production. Today we export 8% of the beef,
pork, and poultry produced in the U.S. It is projected that we will
export 11% of our production by 2015. This expected growth is due
to factors such as the high quality of our products and the
weakness of the U.S. dollar. A week dollar makes buying U.S. meat
less expensive for foreign customers. Various bilateral and
regional free trade agreements that the United States has recently
entered into have removed or reduced many of the traditional forms
of import restriction on agricultural products---such as tariffs,
quotas and levies.
The United
States must continue to challenge “non-tariff” barriers to free
trade in order to meet projected growth. As trade negotiators have
worked to bring down tariffs, more countries, have turned to
measures to protect their domestic production. These limiting
measures are often referred to as SPS which is short for “Agreement
on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.”
Some countries
are using a new troubling justification for some SPS. It is the
argument that a restriction on imports is necessary to respond to
“consumer concerns.” As this argument goes, a valid scientific
basis for an SPS measure is not necessary as long as it is designed
to address consumer fears. Variations of this argument have been
used by the European Union to defend its import ban on U.S. beef,
its moratorium on approvals of new products of biotechnology, and
even the prohibition on antibiotics in feed.
Of particular
concern to U.S. meat producers is the twisted use of meat inspection
requirements to restrict imports. In the ultimate frustration, we
may celebrate one day the opening of a new market for our meat
products after a trade agreement, only to find out the next day our
exports have actually been reduced or shut down completely because
of bogus meat inspection issues. As results of recent negotiations
with Peru they agreed to recognize the U.S. meat inspection system
and to accept its inspection for imported meat.
In order to
get more trade agreements like this we need to support our farm
organizations such as the Cattlemen’s Association, Grain Growers and
the Farm Bureau, requesting them to push for our trade negotiators
to:
- Oppose any
SPS measures that are not based on sound science.
- Build
pre-determined dispute settlement mechanisms into all free-trade
agreements.
- Enforce
existing agreements that aren’t being adhered to.
- Ensure U.S.
regulators remain faithful to science-based regulation, so our
approvals can stay above question.
We personally
need to contact our legislators and insist that all trade agreements
be voted on by both houses of congress and the President is never
given a fast track on trade agreements.
 Price
Risk Management Classes
Richard Garrard, Extension
Educator, Agriculture, Cassia County
All dairy
managers that are in business 5 years from now will make routine use
of price risk management tools. Will you be one of them? The 1996
farm bill changed dairy markets. The security provided by the
support program is gone. The 2002 farm bill did not bring them
back. Since 1990, when price support levels were lowered
substantially, prices have become much more volatile and this
volatility is not going away.
Milk prices
fluctuate over the year because of seasonal demand and supply
fluctuations. Milk prices usually are lowest in late spring and
early summer and highest in late fall. Over longer time periods, a
variety of economic factors determine milk price changes. Recently,
prices have been weak because of weak demand for cheese. Milk
futures and options can be used to hedge milk prices in order to
manage milk price risk.
A future
contract is a contract traded on a futures exchange for the delivery
of a specified commodity at a future point in time. The contract
specifies acceptable delivery methods and locations, and clearly
defines the standards of the commodity such as weight, quantity,
quality and form. Futures contracts are available for 200,000
pounds of milk on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. (A Class IV milk
contract is also traded and the ideas behind the examples are the
same.) If a futures contract is held open until maturity, it is
settled at the announced USDA Class III milk price.
A hedger takes
a position in the futures market that is equal and opposite to the
position that the individual either has or expects to have in the
cash market. This position protects against adverse price
movements. The hedger could be a dairy producer desiring to protect
the price of milk. The milk producer considering hedging must
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