November 12, 2021

Your Grower Dollars at Work: University of Idaho Preliminary Yield Results for Spring Wheat in Parma



University of Idaho Cropping Systems Agronomist, Dr. Olga Walsh, conducts both spring wheat and barley variety trials in Parma. 
Preliminary results for 2021 spring wheat trials at these Parma sites have been published and can be found here.

Both Hard Red Spring and Hard White Spring were trialed under irrigation. In a tough production year, the Hard Red trial averaged 54 bu/ac. with a mean test weight of 61.1 lbs. SY Gunsight, WA 8356, and AP Renegade were the top yielders. The Hard White trial yield was similar with a mean of 55 bu/ac. and an average test weight of 60.6 lbs. IDO2002S, SY Teton, and Dayn topped the entry list.

In the Soft White Spring trial, low yields pulled the mean trial yield to 47 bu/ac. while test weights held at an average of 60. IDO1902S, IDO1404S, and UI Stone produced the best in the challenging conditions. Preliminary results for irrigated club wheat, feed, and malt barley can be found at the same link. Further information about Dr. Walsh and her work can be found here.  


By: Dr. Garrett R. Dudley, Research Manager, Idaho Wheat Commission


November 03, 2021

Cropping Systems Agronomy - ASA-CSSA-SSSA 2021

 







1. Walsh OS, Owusu Ansah E, Lamichhane R, and E Nambi. 2021. Nitrogen and Water Management for Optimized Sugarbeet Yield and Sugar Content. Proc of the ASA International Annual meetings

2. Walsh OS, Lamichhane R, Owusu Ansah, and E Nambi. 2021. Water Management for Optimized Hop Production in Idaho. Proc of the ASA International Annual meetings

3. Owusu Ansah E, Walsh OS, Liang X, Neibling H, and R Lamichhane. 2021. Irrigation Methods on Green Beans under Conventional vs Strip-Tillage. Proc of the ASA International Annual meetings

4. Owusu Ansah E, Walsh OS, Lamichhane R, and E Nambi. 2021. Stacking and Intersecting Nutrient 4R’s. Proc of the ASA International Annual meetings

5. Lamichhane R, Walsh OS, Spackman JA, Adjesiwor AT, Owusu Ansah E, and E Nambi. 2021. Varietal Response of Spring Barley to Applied Nitrogen. Proc of the ASA International Annual meetings

6.  Lamichhane R, Walsh OS, Spackman JA, Adjesiwor AT, Owusu Ansah E., and E Nambi 2021. Varietal Response of Spring Wheat to Applied Nitrogen. Proc of the ASA International Annual meetings

7. Nambi E, and OS Walsh. 2021. Dryland Spring Wheat Performance in Response to Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizers in Montana.  Proc of the ASA International Annual meetings

8. Nambi E., Lamichhane R, Owusu Ansah, and Olga S. Walsh. 2021. Effect of Preplant Nitrogen and Phosphorus Application Method and Source on Sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor L.) Grain Yields. Proc of the ASA International Annual meetings

9.     Adjesiwor AT, J. Spackman, and Olga S. Walsh. 2021. Urea Ammonium Nitrate as the Carrier for Preplant Herbicides. Proc of the ASA International Annual meetings





As the research division of the University of Idaho’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station operates nine Research and Extension Centers across the state. Scientists work with producers, businesses and communities to find solutions for issues that directly impact Idaho.

Nestled in the unique microclimate of the Treasure Valley, U of I’s Parma Research and Extension Center conducts research on a diversity of crops grown statewide, from key commodities like potatoes, cereals and onions to specialty crops including tree fruit, table grapes and mint.

Established in 1925, the center comprises 200 acres dedicated to improving crop productivity. Much of the research infrastructure, laboratory space and scientific equipment is over 50 years old. Plans to establish the Idaho Center for Plant and Soil Health at Parma will modernize outdated facilities, upgrade equipment and grow the number of faculty at the center, enhancing the benefit Parma provides to Idaho growers.


Article by Amy Calabretta, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences

Published in the Fall 2020 issue of Here We Have Idaho.



Impact of 2021 Drought in the Pacific Northwest

 


EARN 0.5 CEUs in SOIL & WATER MANAGEMENT

READ MORE HERE

BUL 1003 Quick Facts — Idaho Sugar Beets

 2020 Idaho Sugar Beet Facts (National Agricultural Statistics Service-Idaho)

Area harvested: 169,000 acres (14.8% of US beet fields)
Average yield: 40.5 tons/acre (US average: 29.4)
Production: 6,845,000 tons (20.4% of US yields)

READ MORE HERE




October 21, 2021

Drought Severity: Trends and Management



 


DROUGHT SEVERITY: TRENDS AND MANAGEMENT

Ritika Lamichhane and Olga S. Walsh

Department of Plant Sciences, University of Idaho, Parma R&E Center

Drought is simply a prolonged period of water shortage. Drought can be caused by deficiency of water supply, increase in water demand, or both. Drought starts with less than usual precipitation and its persistence results in a decline in reservoir levels, river flow, and ground water levels. Agricultural drought occurs when the amount of soil moisture no longer meets the crop demand. The severity of drought depends on the degree of moisture deficiency, the duration, and the size of affected area. Drought can have tremendous negative effects on agricultural sector since it reduces both water availability and quality for farming. This significantly impacts the agricultural productivity.










2021 Idaho Hops Virtual Field Day


  • UI Entomologist Justin Clements provides an overview of topics covered at this year’s virtual hops field day.
  • Current and New Pesticide Technologies
  • USDA Hops Genetics and Breeding
  • Hops Entomology Research
  • Hops Plant Pathology and Diagnostics
  • Hops Agronomy

September 15, 2021

Varietal Response of Wheat and Barley to Nitrogen


The University of Idaho researchers and extension specialists are collaborating on a state-wide project to support the development and adoption of technologies that transform nutrients in dairy manure into commercial fertilizers and manure-based bioproducts. Updating nutrient management recommendations for Idaho crops (including wheat and barley) and evaluating the long-term effects of nitrogen fertilizers and newly developed manure-based bioproducts on soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus levels plus soil health (e.g., microbial biomass, organic matter content, and soil carbon content) are among the key objectives.

READ MORE HERE


Teff is a reliable low-risk crop. It is relatively resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses and can be grown under moisture stress or waterlogged conditions. Its short production cycle makes it useful as a rescue or catch crop in areas with limited water availability when perennials have failed. Growing teff as a double crop, green manure crop, cover crop or even an emergency crop when the unfavorable weather conditions delays planting of other grain crops is an excellent option. Teff is often grown as an economically viable rotational crop that’s compatible with a variety of commodity crops.

Though teff has been successfully grown in Idaho since the 1980s, more research and education on its breeding and management are needed. Mechanization is required to minimize grain loss at harvest and handling. The Cropping Systems Agronomy program at the University of Idaho, Parma, is excited about future collaborative research focusing on nutrient and water management for teff, as well as variety evaluation.

August 25, 2021

Recap of the 2021 WSCS meeting

 




The Western Society of Crop Science (WSCS) is a CSSA branch that comprises the states and provinces of Alaska, Alberta, Arizona, American Samoa, Baja California, Baja California Sur, British Columbia, California, Chihuahua, Colima, Colorado, Durango, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Jalisco, Montana, Nayarit, Nevada, New Mexico, Northwest Territories, Oregon, Saskatchewan, Sinaloa, Sonora, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and Yukon Territory. 

The 2021 WSCS virtual conference took place June 22-23 utilizing Zoom. The theme of the WSCS meeting was the same as that of the 2021 ASA, CSSA, SSSA Annual Meeting “A Creative Economy for Sustainable Development. The meeting was attended by 20 participants from New Mexico State University, Montana State University, University of Wyoming, Washington State University, Brigham Young University, University of Idaho, and Columbia Basin College.

READ MORE HERE


June 15, 2021

All About Drones. Applied Technology

 

Analyzing data from drones is very time-consuming and requires specific, high-level knowledge of software, even statistics.

“Data analysis is followed by data interpretation—which is, perhaps, the most vital part in the whole process,” says Olga Walsh, research associate professor at the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Idaho.

READ MORE HERE.