Glyphosate Product Performance Webinar Offered to Idaho Wheat Growers

The Idaho Wheat Commission will be presenting a web-based grower education seminar (webinar) on “Glyphosate Product Performance.” The webinar will be approximately one hour. Participation is free! Log onto the website at http://connect.cals.uidaho.edu/wheat (requires Adobe Flash Player which is installed on most computers) and enter your name as a participant.
• Wednesday, April 10 at 8:00 a.m. MDT – Guest Presenter: Donn Thill, Professor Weed Science, University of Idaho.

The Webinar will provide the viewer with a brief history on the herbicide glyphosate, followed by some general facts about glyphosate uptake, movement and breakdown in plants. Because uptake of glyphosate by plants is the rate-limiting step, Thill will present some information on how plant leaf surfaces and herbicide spray droplets affect herbicide uptake. The rest of his presentation will focus on factors that affect the performance of glyphosate, which include project formulation, weed species and size, spray additives, water quality, spray volume, spray nozzle type, environment, time of day when the herbicide is applied, rainfall, dew, dust and tire tracks, and resistant weeds.

Thill is a Professor of Weed Science, and Associate Dean and Director of the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station at the University of Idaho. He is a Fellow of the Weed Science Society of America. Donn has focused his research on herbicide resistant weeds; weed management in dry land small grain cropping systems; herbicide persistence and weed biology.

Idaho Agriculture Continues to be Profitable

In a study conducted by the University of Idaho, Idaho agriculture broke cash receipt and net income records for the third consecutive year.

Cash receipts from sales of crops and livestock in 2012 are projected to be $7.72 billion, a 5% increase over 2011. Six of Idaho’s major commodities (wheat, milk, cattle and calves, barley, dry beans and potatoes) set records for cash receipts.

Idaho’s 2012 net farm income is projected to be $2.57 billion, 5% higher than in 2011, Total revenues are expected to increase by 7% to $8.70 billion, while expenses are projected to rise by 8% to $6.13 billion.

Revenues, expenses, net farm income, and cash receipts are calculated on a calendar-year basis, not a crop-year basis.

Wheat

Wheat was Idaho’s second-largest crop by revenue in 2012. Revenues are expected to be $796 million, up 4% from 2011. Projected at 98 million bushels, 2012 production was down 16% from 2011. Wheat prices in 2012 climbed 8%, with the average price estimated to be $7.50 per bushel.

Direct Seed Workshop slated for March 7 in Idaho Falls

The South Idaho Direct Seed Workshop will be hosted by the Idaho Wheat Commission (IWC) on Thursday, March 7 at the Hilton Garden Inn, 700 Lindsay Blvd, Idaho Falls.

Registration will begin at 9:00 am. The workshop will run from 9:30 am to 3:15 pm.

The topic for this year’s Workshop “Soil Health and Soil Fertility”. Featured speakers are nationally known and respected in their field of study. Ray Archuleta, teaches soil quality and the principles of agro-ecology throughout the country. He has 23 years of work experience with the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Ray is high energy- hands-on instructor who engages his audience with his soil demonstrations.

Elston Solberg, Agri-Trend, is a highly sought after keynote speaker who brings over 25 years of research expertise as the head Cereal Specialist and Research Agronomist with Alberta Agriculture. Elston has raised the awareness of copper fertilization, and is one of the world’s foremost authorities on sulfur nutrition.

Additional presentations include Dr. Juliet Marshall, University of Idaho Extension “Cover Crops with Direct Seed Wheat Rotation” and a yearly favorite “Getting Started and What I did Right,” where local growers share their experiences in direct seeding.

The Workshop provides a great opportunity to network and hear what others are doing. Advanced registration is recommended. Registration fee is $10, payable at the door (cash or check only). Lunch is provided.

To register or for more information contact Cathy Wilson at cathy.wilson@idahowheat.org, or call the Wheat Commission office at (208) 334.2353.

2013 Southern Idaho Cereal Schools

The University of Idaho will be presenting five cereal school events in S. Idaho this week. These educational workshops provide wheat growers the opportunity to learn about insect issues, cereal disease updates, variety trials, weed control and a number of other important issues facing the wheat industry.

The Idaho Wheat Commission will provide an update on research spending for better varieties and increased yields, programs to increase wheat markets, along with world supply and demand numbers.

Southern Idaho Cereal Schools

February 5, Burley, Burley Inn, 8:30 a.m.

February 6, Pocatello, Ramada Inn, 9:00 a.m.

February 7, Idaho Falls, Red Lion, 9:00 a.m.

February 7. St Anthony Relay Station Restaurant, 9:00 am

February 8, Preston, Robinson Building, 9:00 a.m.

All Wheat Production Down from 2011

All wheat production in Idaho is down 15 percent from 2011 to 98.0 million bushels, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service. The winter wheat yield, at 80.0 bushels per acre, is down 2.0 bushels per acre from last year. Winter wheat production totals 59.2 million bushels from 740,000 harvested acres, down 6 percent from last year’s 63.1 million bushels. The 2012 winter wheat production is estimated to be 77 percent white and 23 percent hard red. Spring wheat yield, at 76.0 bushels per acre, is down 8.0 bushels per acre from a year ago. Idaho’s spring wheat production totals 38.0 million bushels from 500,000 harvested acres, down 27 percent from 2011’s 52.1 million bushels. The spring wheat crop is estimated to be 50 percent white and 50 percent hard red. Yield for durum wheat is estimated to be 62.0 bushels per acre, down 7.0 bushels from last year. Durum wheat production in Idaho totals 806,000 bushels from 13,000 harvested acres, up 47,000 bushels from last year.

Nationally, all wheat production totaled 2.27 billion bushels in 2012, up 13 percent from 2011. Grain area totaled 49.0 million acres, up 7 percent from last year. The United States yield is 46.3 bushels per acre, up 2.6 bushels from the previous year and matches the record high from 2010. The levels of production and changes from last year by type are: winter wheat, 1.65 billion bushels, up 10 percent; other spring wheat, 542 million bushels, up 19 percent; and Durum wheat, 82.0 million bushels, up 62 percent.

Soil Health Workshop

Three Workshops Available. All run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Workshops are Free!

August 28- Idaho Falls – Bonneville County Extension Office, 2925 Rollandet Street, Jack Hamilton Building. Contact: Joyce at 208-522-5137 x 101

August 29 – Pocatello- Farm Bureau Office, 275 Tierra Visa Drive Contact: Andrea at 208-237-4628 x 101

August 30 – Magic Valley – Con Paulos Chevrolet, 251 East Frontage Road South, Jerome. Contact 208-733-5380X3

Learn how to farm in “nature’s image” by applying agro-ecology principles to your land

Topics:

• Demonstration of soil structure
• Changing the way we view soils
• Lunch on your own
• Cover Crops in Idaho
• Soil chemistry – the living soil

Speakers:

• Ray Archuleta, Soil Health Specialist/Agronomist, NRCS National Tech Center
• Dr. Rick Haney, Soil Scientists, USDA Agricultural Research Service
• Marlon Winter, State Agronomist Idaho NRCS

USDA Risk Management Agency Billing Date Changes

The Risk Management Agency’s (RMA) Spokane Regional Office reminds Alaska and Pacific Northwest producers of the new billing date for Federal crop insurance premiums on most crops: August 15, 2012. Insured producers have until October 1st to pay their premiums without being charged interest for crops with an August 15 billing date. Interest will begin accruing until October 1 at a 1.25 percent per month.
Although premiums are payable as soon as the crop is planted, an insured producer is not billed until the premium billing date. If an indemnity (loss) payment, prevented or replanting payment is made, any premiums still owed can be deducted from those payments.

The 2012 billing date changes comply with the 2008 Farm Bill that changed the billing date for all crops originally billed after August 15.

Producers are encouraged to contact their crop insurance agent with questions.