New Chairman Elected to Head Idaho Wheat Commission

Ned Moon was elected chairman of the Idaho Wheat Commission on June 13, 2013. At the same meeting, Joe Anderson from Potlatch was selected as vice-chairman.

Ned, who grew up on a farm in Heyburn, is the marketing manager for Jentzsch-Kearl Farms, a 16,000 acre partnership growing potatoes, sugar beets, wheat, hay, and seed beans. He also is responsible for chemical and fertilizer inputs, handles all land leases, audits and government programs.

Moon earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications from BYU, and then entered the Air Force where he flew jets for over 10 years. In 1993 Captain Moon left the Air Force and returned to the Burley/Twin Falls area and started his own retail business. He also spent several years as the manufacturing manager for an agricultural chemical company prior to working for Jentzsch-Kearl Farms.

April's Cold Temperatures Delay Mountain Snowmelt

Streamflows remain low as do inflows into reservoirs due to cold temperatures keeping the snowpack intact according to the May Water Supply Outlook Report just released by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

“The current snowmelt rates are about a half an inch per day and the soil can absorb that,” said Ron Abramovich, Idaho NRCS Water Supply Specialist. “The high elevation snowpack hasn't started to melt yet due to the cool spring temperatures. But, the snowpacks are below their seasonal peaks so there is not a lot of snow up there to sustain streamflows.”

Basins south of the Snake River did receive above normal precipitation in April but not enough to improve the water supply for that area. The Idaho Surface Water Supply Index shows that water supply shortages are likely for irrigators in the Magic, Salmon Falls, Big Lost, and Little Lost River basins. Marginally adequate water supplies are expected for the Boise, Snake River and Oakley basins. Impacts to users in other basins will depend on how the water is used.

North Idaho received above average precipitation in April which brought the snowpack to near normal levels.

Abramovich recommends checking the May 2013 Water Supply Outlook Report on the NRCS Snow Survey web page www.id.nrcs.usda.gov/snow for detailed information on specific regions and basins. Also on the web page are links to daily summary reports, Snow Telemetry data, and snowmelt peak streamflow relationship information.

NRCS conducts snow surveys at the end of each month from December through May to make snow runoff predictions and water supply forecasts used in managing Idaho's water resources.

The complete April 2013 Water Supply Outlook Report is available online at www.id.nrcs.usda.gov/snow and click on the ‘April 2013 Water Supply Outlook Report’ link. The report includes snowpack, precipitation, runoff, and water supply information for specific basins.

NRCS conducts snow surveys at the end of each month from December through May to make snow runoff predictions and water supply forecasts used in managing Idaho’s water resources.

Cancelled -- Biology and Management of Russian thistle Webinar

The Idaho Wheat Commission regrets that the educational seminar (webinar) on “Biology and Management of Russian Thistle,” has been cancelled.

The webinar was scheduled for Tuesday, April 30 at 8:00 a.m. (MDT) with guest Presenter: Professor Frank Young, weed scientist/cropping system specialist, USDA Agriculture Research Service, Pullman, Washington.

The webinar will be rescheduled at a later date.

Biology and Management of Russian thistle Webinar

The Idaho Wheat Commission will be presenting a web-based grower education seminar (webinar) on “Biology and Management of Russian Thistle.” 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.

• Tuesday, April 30 at 8:00 a.m. MDT – Guest Presenter: Professor Frank Young, weed scientist/cropping system specialist, USDA Agriculture Research Service, Pullman, Washington.

Dr. Frank Young will discuss with webinar participants how to control Russian thistle in summer fallow. He will discuss the growth and development, competitiveness, and some control/management options of Russian thistle.

Mr. Young was born and raised on a dairy/livestock/crop farm in southern Minnesota. Frank received a B.S. in Wildlife Biology from South Dakota State University in 1972. Mr. Young then served in the Air Force from 1972 to 1976. He later received an M.S. in Agronomy (Weed Science) and a PhD from the University of Minnesota in Agronomy (Weed Science) in 1981. Frank has worked for the USDA Agriculture Research Service (ARS) in Pullman, WA since 1981 as a weed scientist/cropping system specialist. He was project leader for the 9-yr IPM Project in Pullman and the Ralston no-till project (1995-present). His major weed focus was Russian thistle and jointed goatgrass. He is currently conducting winter canola research in the wheat/fallow region of the PNW.

For those who cannot view the webinar in real time, it will be recorded and available at: www.idahowheat.org

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.