Oregon State University Extension Service The Prompter / Rancher Review A Union, Baker and Wallowa County Farm

& Ranch Newsletter

May 2012
Were on the web!! http://extension.oregonstate.edu/union/index.php

CALENDAR
May 1-4
Darrin L. Walenta darrin.walenta@oregonstate.edu Union County Extension Ag Service Center 10507 N McAlister Rd Rm 9 La Grande, OR 97850 (541) 963-1010 Toll Free 1-800-806-5274 Fax (541) 963-1036

OSU Extension Spring Training & CSS Dept. Meetings Corvallis Discussion with ODA Deputy Director-Ag Water Quality, Pendleton OSU-HAREC Hermiston Potato Psyllid Workshop. Register at 541-567-8321

May 2 May 8

May 31 June 12 June 13

OSU-HAREC Hermiston Grass Seed Field Day, 8:30 a.m. to noon. OSU-CBARC Pendleton Field Day, 8:30 a.m. OSU-CBARC Moro Field Day, 7:30 a.m. (Grand opening of Exp. Station, Extension office, Weed District and Planning Offices!) 36th Annual Union Co. Crops and Conservation Tour, 7:30 a.m. OSU-HAREC Potato Field Day, 8 a.m. to noon 10th Annual Canola, Rapeseed & Mustard Field Tour. University of Idaho Parker Farm located on the Troy Highway, Moscow. Start at 7:30 a.m. with coffee/donuts. Hosted BBQ lunch. Contacts: Jack Brown 208-885-7078, jbrown@uidaho.edu or Jim Davis 208-885-4266, jdavis@uidaho.edu.

June 20 June 27
John Williams john.williams.1@oregonstate.edu Wallowa County Extension 668 NW First St Enterprise OR 97828 (541) 426-3143 Toll Free 1-888-844-3143 Fax (541) 426-0243

July 10

OSU Field Days to tour and discuss the research plots at the Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center (HAREC). There will be inthe-field presentations on topics of interest. Pesticide credits for Oregon, Washington, and CCA credits will be applied for. Mark your calendars Grass Seed Field Day - May 31, 2012 8:30 - 11:00am Potato Field Day - June 27, 2012 8:00am - Noon Corn Field Day - August 27, 2012 8:00am - Noon
Oregon State University Extension Service offers educational programs, activities, and materials without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, disability, or disabled veteran or Vietnam-era veteran status. Oregon State University Extension Service is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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NE OREGON CANOLA/RAPESEED PROTECTED DISTRICT TIME FOR REVISIONS?

Next Official Rule Review - December 31, 2012. ODA must receive petitions for review (amendments or repeal) of Oregon Administrative Rule 603-052-0860 by the end of this year. Growers in any of the protected districts can propose rule amendments or repeal actions (see map below of current districts). If growers in Union, Baker and Wallowa Counties have a need to change the NE Oregon Protected District component of the rule, it is recommended to submit proposed changes to ODA no later than September. If needed, grower meetings can be organized to facilitate discussion of any needed changes and to formulate an official proposal to ODA. Give Darrin a call at 541-963-1010 and let him know if the rule works as it is written or if there is need to revise the rule. To find out more about the rule revision process and 603-052-0860, contact Dan Hillburn, ODA Plant Division Administrator, at 503-986-4644. Public hearings will be held in 2013 to obtain input on any proposed changes to the rule. Which protected districts are being revised? At this time, growers in the Willamette Valley are meeting periodically to determine any needed rule changes and to develop proposed rule amendments (which would be applicable only to the Willamette Valley protected canola/rapeseed district). What are the current rules which apply to producers in the NE OR Protected District: If you plan to grow canola or rapeseed in NE Oregon, please be aware of OAR 603-052-0860 which has established 4 protected districts to protect Brassica spp. seed production areas of the state from the potential for cross-pollination between related species. Details available online at the ODA website: http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/PLANT/canola_summary.shtml#Maps The following details are specific only to the NE Oregon Protected District: All field locations must be pinned on the map at the local Extension Office at least 10 days prior to planting the field (permit not required - unique to NE District only!). Growing for seed (seed stock for planting) OK Growing for forage/cover crops OK but not allowed to flower. Plant only Certified and treated seed. 1 in 4 rotation 2 mile isolation required Secure transportation and volunteer control required. Growing brassicas for crushing purposes (e.g. oil) OK if all rules for the Control Area are followed!

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36th Annual Union County Crops & Conservation Tour June 20, 2012
Time: Coffee & donuts 7:00 a.m. Program starts 7:30 a.m. Buses return to CPS by 2:00 p.m.

Location: Crop Production Services on Booth Lane, 2.6 miles NE of Island City on HWY 82 Audience: Growers, Ranchers, Ag Service Providers, University Faculty, Local Business, General Public, and anyone else interested in Union County Agriculture! Youre invited to participate in a half-day bus tour of selected sites in Union County to view first-hand and learn about agricultural production, research, and conservation efforts in the area. Please note that a detailed agenda will not be released until approx. June 18th. The day starts with a short program at CPS (7:30 a.m.) followed immediately with the bus tour. The traditional lunch consisting of barbecue steak, baked potato, and salad will be served to tour participants at approx. noon at a site along the tour route (site to be determined). Local 4-H Ambassadors and FFA members will be on hand throughout the day to help out. After lunch, bus passengers will be returned to Crop Production Services at approx. 2:00 p.m. Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made by June 8th by contacting Darrin Walenta, OSU Extension Service-Union County, at 963-1010. For more information, please contact Darrin or Lenard Porfily, Crop Production Services, at 963-3735.

NOTICES FOR UNION COUNTY

Union Co. Mint Disease Control District (OAR 603-052-0334) Notice of Repeal:
In response to a request by the Union County mint industry, the necessary paperwork was submitted to ODA to start the process for repealing the Union County mint disease control district order originally established by OAR 603-052-0334. The rulemaking notice was published in the January 2012 issue of the Oregon Bulletin. The repeal became effective March 20, 2012 when it was officially filed.

Union Co. Assessors Office Seeks Information Regarding 2011 Flood Damage to Farm Ground
The Union County Assessors Office is requesting information regarding crop damage from the 2011 flood event to incorporate in our farm value study. If you experienced significant flood damage during the 2011 crop year please contact Cody Vavra at (541) 963-1002.

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Stripe Rust Update

So far, stripe rust infections have not been reported in NE Oregon (Union, Baker, Wallowa Co.), however, winter wheat in the Columbia Basin, North Central and Western Oregon are showing low levels of active stripe rust. In eastern Oregon, observations of active strip rust were made in SWW varieties Stephens, Tubbs 06, and ORCF-102. Given the level of rust pressure in 2011, it is recommended to scout fields of susceptible and less susceptible varieties frequently (3 or 4 day schedule for example) to catch infections early. Scouting should be done even if fungicide was already applied with herbicide applications. Stripe rust trials currently being conducted on the OSU Hyslop Farm (located near Corvallis) by Mike Flowers, OSU Extension Cereals Specialist, include trials with/without fungicide application to observe varietal response to infection. In the untreated trial, low levels of active stripe rust were easily found in the following varieties: SWW Stephens, Tubbs 06, ORSS-1757, Goetze, Mary, IDO663, AP Legacy, AP Badger, ORCF-102, UICF-Brundage, WB 1070CL; HRW WB Rimrock, Altigo, and Whetstone. None of the varieties (including the previously mentioned varieties) in the treated variety trial had evidence of stripe rust infection. This trial was treated on March 23 with 4 oz Tilt/acre. It is possible that infection may occur in treated areas as spores begin to disperse more readily. Reminder: 1) scout fields frequently, and 2) most registered fungicides in wheat must be applied prior to the beginning of flowering (Feekes 10.5). Refer to the PNW disease management handbook for a current list of registered fungicides: http://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/ NOTE: New re-designed web site!

Publications of Interest
2012 WA-OR-ID Preferred Wheat Varieties (copies available at Extension office) Available online at http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/: Irrigated Kentucky Bluegrass (Eastern Oregon) Nutrient Management Guide (EM 9029) Strategies to Minimize the Risk of Herbicide-Resistant Jointed Goat grass (EM 024) 2012 PNW Weed Management Handbook http://pnwhandbooks.org/weed 2012 PNW Insect Management Handbook http://pnwhandbooks.org/insect 2012 PNW Disease Management Handbook http://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease Growing Farms: Successful Whole Farm Management Planning Book: Think It! Write It! (EM 9043) Meadow Voles and Pocket Gophers: Management in Lawns, Gardens and Cropland (PNW 627) available at http://www.cals.uidaho.edu/edComm/pdf/PNW/PNW0627.pdf EM 9039, Calibrating and Using Backpack Sprayers, March 2011 http://media.oregonstate.edu/index.php/show/calibrating_and_using_backpack_sprayers?id=0_hf9le2ii EC 1478, Soil Test Interpretation Guide, Revised July 2011 PNW 437, Herbicide-Resistant Weeds and Their Management, Revised April 2011 EM 9031, Biology and Management of Knotweeds in Oregon: A Guide for Gardeners and Small-Acreage Landowners, New June 2011

May 2012

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Beef Cattle Field Day, Thursday, May 17th Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center 67826-A Highway 205 Burns, OR
The 2012 Beef Cattle Field Day is an opportunity for ranchers and researchers to come together to discuss current research. It is sponsored by the Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center of the Oregon State University College of Agricultural Sciences and will be at the Burns facility, 67826-A Highway 205. Russ Morgan, ODFW Wolf Program Coordinator, is scheduled to talk about Oregons wolf program from 10:00 to 10:30. Other experts will talk during the morning session about wild horse management, candidate conservation agreements with assurances (CCAAs) related to sage grouse habitat management, and current health issues pertinent to Oregons beef producers. The first session begins at 9:00 a.m. and concludes with a round table discussion with all the speakers. During the afternoon session, beginning at 1:30 p.m., OSU researchers from both the Burns and Union research centers will present their work. In addition, Dr. John Killefer, head of the OSU animal science department in Corvallis, will provide a departmental update. Topics will pertain to various aspects of beef cattle management from birth to harvest. On site-registration begins at 7:30 a.m. followed by an introduction at 8:40 a.m. A no cost lunch will be provided but RSVPs are requested by May 4, 2012. For more information visit OSUs Beef Cattle Sciences website, http://beefcattle.ans.oregonstate.edu or contact David Bohnert at 541-573-8910 or Reinaldo Cooke at 541-5734083. Those planning to attend should call by May 17.

Range Field Day, Tuesday, June 26, 2012 Northern Great Basin Experimental Range near Riley, OR A Systems Approach to Solving Rangeland Management Issues
Registration is from 7:30 to 9:00am Morning Agenda: What we have been working on for our stakeholders Updates from EOARC in Burns and Union and OSU in Corvallis and La Grande Juniper Management field site Kirk Davies & Jon Bates Invasive Annual Grass Management Field site Roger Sheley & Tony Svejcar Revegetation Field site Chad Boyd, Jeremy James & Matt Madsen Lunch will be served on site. Afternoon Agenda: Prioritizing Management of Invasive Annual Grasses using ecologically-based invasive plant management (EBIPM) A mini-workshop Brenda Smith, Roger Sheley, Jeremy James Poster Session Discuss the latest with scientists who are conducting the research. Scientists will be available to answer questions

May 2012

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Society For Rangeland Management Summer Tour

Wed. thru Friday June 20th ~ 22nd Best Western Sunridge Inn, Baker City Rock Piles to Grass: Rolling through the geomorphic terrains of Baker County
Wednesday June 20th Afternoon Agenda: Society for Rangeland Management (Pacific Northwest Section) Advisory Council/ BOD meetings (open to all) Evening Agenda: Registration and social, Speaker (TBA) Thursday June 21st Morning Agenda: Powder River Off-stream Livestock Watering Developments, Travel to McEwen Train Depot and Park, Field Picnic Afternoon Agenda: Sumpter Valley Ranches tour and bovinedredge reclamation, Board the Sumpter Valley Railway @ McEwen traveling to Sumpter, Tour Sumpter Dredge, Tri- tip BBQ at Sumpter Fairgrounds Friday June 22nd Keating Valley Tour of the Cooperative Conservation Project Initiative (CCPI) Arrive in Baker City @ Noon

May 2012

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Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Core Training Workshop

New program offers Conservation Reserve Program training for conservation professionals Spokane, WA (April 15, 2012): USDAs Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Conservation Professional Training Program is introducing a new initiative to train conservation professionals to provide services associated with Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) planning, implementation, and management. The new initiative, funded by USDA-NRCS, is called the Conservation Reserve Program Readiness Initiative (CRPRI). CRP gives farmers and landowners technical and financial assistance to reduce soil erosion and runoff, leading to improved water quality and wildlife habitat. Once the landowner is accepted under the programs continuous sign-up, a conservation plan is required. NRCS employees and conservation partners provide most of the technical services to landowners for CRP planning. The CRPRI offers training to a broader range of professionals to assist NRCS in developing CRP conservation plans for enrolled landowners. Participants in the CRPRI will be trained to create, implement and maintain these plans based on established conservation practices. The initiative will allow NRCS to draw upon a trained and qualified pool of CRP conservation planners when heavy sign-ups occur. Independent conservation professionals, TSPs, members of conservation associations, and employees of organizations with formal connections to NRCS are encouraged to participate. Participants in the CRPRI will have the opportunity to attend a FREE two-day training workshop, work directly with a project mentor, participate in online forums and webinars, and sign up for supplemental training courses as needed. The free training workshop will be held at the Holiday Inn Express in Pullman, WA, May 2-3, 2012. The sign-up deadline is April 25, 2012. For more information and to signup for the free workshop online, visit: http://conservation-training.uwex.edu/crpworkshops.

Native Plant Seed Production Field Day

May 16, 2012 OSU, Malheur Experiment Station 595 Onion Avenue Ontario, Oregon 97914 Registration: 8:30 AM, Lunch at noon, RSVP required. Program: 9:00 AM, Welcome by Clint Shock and Nancy Shaw Native forage legumes Shaun Bushman Native plant irrigation for seed production Clint Shock Pollination and pollinators Byron Love Establishing plant stands Erik Feibert Drip irrigation systems Jim Klauzer A native plant for anti-cancer pharmaceuticals Cheryl Parris and Alison Doniger To RSVP for lunch or for more information contact: Jan Jones, Malheur Experiment Station, 541-889-2174 or janet.jones@oregonstate.edu

May 2012

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Herbicide Carryover in Hay, Manure, Compost, and Grass Clippings:

Damage to vegetable and flower beds after applying horse or livestock manure, compost, hay, or grass clippings to the soil has been reported by home gardeners as well as commercial growers. The symptoms reported include poor seed germination; death of young plants; twisted, cupped, and elongated leaves; misshapen fruit; and reduced yields. These symptoms can be caused by other factors, including diseases, insects, and herbicide drift. They could also be caused by the presence of certain herbicides in the manure, compost, hay, or grass clippings.

The Herbicides of Concern

Aminopyralid, clopyralid, fluroxypyr, piclo-ram, and triclopyr are in a class of herbicides known as pyridine carboxylic acids. They are active ingredients of commonly used pesticides like Milestone, Curtail, Forefront, Redeem and Tordon. They are registered for application to pasture, grain crops, residential lawns, commercial turf, certain vegetables and fruits, and roadsides. They are used to control a wide variety of broadleaf weeds including several toxic plants. When these herbicides are applied to hay fields or pasture, the forage can be safely consumed by horses and livestockincluding livestock produced for human consumption. These herbicides pass through the animals digestive tract and are excreted in urine and manure. They can also remain active in the manure even after it is composted. The herbicides can also remain active in hay, straw, and grass clippings taken from treated areas. The chemicals of greatest concern are picloram, clopy-ralid, and aminopyralid because they can remain active in hay, grass clippings, piles of manure, and compost for an unusually long time. These herbicides eventually break down through exposure to sunlight, soil microbes, heat, and moisture. Depending on the situation, the herbicides can be deactivated in as few as 30 days, but some field reports indicate that complete deactivation and breakdown can take several years. Degradation is particularly slow in piles of manure and compost if those piles are not stirred or turned. When mulches, manures, or composts with residual herbicide activity are applied to fields or gardens to raise certain vegetables, flowers, or other broadleaf crops, potentially devastating damage can occur. Crops identified as susceptible include: Beans, tomatoes, peas, lettuce, strawberries, carrots, potatoes and any legume, to name just a few.

What we can do about Herbicide Carryover

Hay Producers and Dealers If you raise hay, make sure you know if any herbicide used has the potential to remain active in the manure or urine after consumption. Communicate verbally and in writingif manure is not suitable for use as a fertilizer, soil amendment, or compost for broadleaf plants. Landowners should know and have a written record of the herbicides applied to their fields. Livestock and Horse Owners If you buy hay for your animals, ask the farmer or seller which herbicides, if any, were used in producing the hay. Farmers and Gardeners Wanting to Use Manure or Compost Before acquiring or using manurefresh, aged, or compostedask what the animals were fed, the origin of the hay, and what, if any, herbicides were used on the hay or pasture. Some livestock owners can tell you this, but many might not know the products used or origin of the hay they purchased.

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How to Prevent Herbicide Damage to Non-Target Plants

The label on every herbicide contains detailed instructions, including animal feeding restrictions and safe use of manure or crop residues. The problems arise when the hay, manure, grass clippings, or other affected materials are sold or given to others who have no knowledge of the herbicides used or of the adverse effects their residues can have on other plants. The information about the herbicide persistence and effects on broadleaf plants does not always follow the hay, manure, compost, or other materials. Every individual in the chain of use of products treated with these herbicides should provide detailed information on the herbicide restrictions to prevent potentially catastrophic problems for other farmers, gardeners, and for themselves (including possible liability).

How to Test for the Presence of Herbicides: Pot and Field Bioassays
Some laboratories can test for the presence of these herbicides, but the tests are expensive and may not be as sensitive as a plant bioassay that you perform yourself. This simple pot bioassay involves growing beans, peas, or tomatoes, which are very sensitive to the presence of these herbicides, in the aged manure or compost. First, take a number of random, representative samples (small shovelfuls) from throughout the pile of aged manure or compost, being sure to get deep inside the pile. Mix thoroughly. Prepare three to six small (4- to 5-inch) pots with a 1:1 mix of the manure or compost with a commercial potting mix containing fertilizer. Fill several control pots with only the commercial potting mix. Plant three pea or bean seeds or a small tomato transplant in each pot, water, and let them grow for two to three weeks. There should be at least three sets of true leaves on the peas or beans. If the plants in the control pots grow normally and the ones in the pots with manure or compost do not, you can assume the manure or compost is contaminated with an herbicide that will adversely affect sensitive plants. If they all grow normally, it would be reasonable to assume that the manure or compost is fine. Keep in mind, however, that the test will be only as good as the samples you take. Animal manures and composts made from them are excellent sources of nutrients and organic matter for growing food crops. Soils mulched or amended with manure and compost become dark, aromatic, fertile, and active with earthworms and beneficial micro-organisms. Farmers and gardeners are encouraged to use these products but must exercise proper caution to prevent damage.

This information was taken from the North Carolina Cooperative Extension publication titled: Herbicide in Hay, Manure, Compost, and Grass Clippings: Caution to Hay Producers, Livestock Owners, Farmers, and Home Gardeners. Prepared by: J. Davis, Johnson, S. & Jennings, K.

OSU EXTENSION SERVICE UNION COUNTY OFFICE 10507 N McALISTER RD RM 9 LA GRANDE OR 97850 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID LA GRANDE, OR PERMIT NO. 204

PROMPTER/RANCHER REVIEW - May 2012

Wallowa Co. Fair August 4 - 11, 2012 Baker Co. Fair August 6 - 11, 2012 Union Co. Fair August 1- 4, 2012 Eastern Oregon Livestock Show June 4-10, 2012