Pollinators in canola in the Inland Pacific Northwest

Pollinators contribute widely to the growth and productivity of crops worldwide. Due to habitat loss, reduced food availability, increased parasite and pathogen pressure, and increased exposure to environmental toxins, these insects are facing steeply declining populations, which is causing global alarm. While a single approach to solving the pollinator crisis is unrealistic, canola grown in the inland Pacific Northwest region of the United States could have a major positive effect on wild bee populations. This region is exceptionally well suited for canola production, and canola provides extensive pollen and nectar food resources to bees. Canola production in the inland Pacific Northwest could aid bees--this region is dominated by cereal crops, which provide no food resources. At the same time, insect pollination from both wild bees and managed honey bees may increase canola seed yields, creating an economic boost for farmers. The aim of this article is to inform growers of the importance of pollinators in the canola growing region of the Inland Pacific Northwest and to provide crop management recommendations to facilitate habitat and food conservation for these pollinator

Jointed goatgrass : best management practices central Great Plains

Jointed goatgrass is a winter annual grass weed that competes with wheat, resulting in reduced yield and increased grain dockage. Managing jointed goatgrass in winter wheat requires a systems approach that integrates multiple control tactics, described in this bulletin. Control tactics include prevention of seed entry into fields, use of herbicides, seed bank management, improved planting techniques, and crop rotations. Integration of multiple control tactics is the key to effective management of jointed goatgrass. The practices described in this bulletin are intended for dryland wheat producers in the western part of the Central Great Plains. This includes producers in areas of western Kansas, eastern Colorado, western and southern Nebraska, and southeastern Wyoming

Integrated management of prickly lettuce in wheat production systems

Prickly lettuce (Lactuca serriola L.) is a common weed in wheat production systems throughout the Inland Pacific Northwest (PNW). It is an annual, winter annual, or occasionally a biennial, that reproduces only by seed. Individual plants can produce from 35 to 2,300 flowers and 700 to 46,000 seeds. Sanitation (the prevention of weed seed production and dispersal) is an important aspect of prickly lettuce management, as is growing a healthy, competitive wheat crop. Herbicides can provide effective control of prickly lettuce in wheat, but many biotypes are now resistant to ALS-inhibitor and synthetic auxin herbicides. An integrated management approach is required for the sustainable, long-term control of this troublesome specie

Steady State Raw Raman Measurements (12-26-20 to 1-27-21)

Steady State Raw Raman Measurement from 12-26-20 to 1-27-2

WSU Wilke Research and Extension Farm operation, production, and economic performance for 2020

The WSU Wilke Research and Extension Farm is a 320-acre facility located on the eastern edge of Davenport, WA, and is split (north and south) by State Highway 2. Washington State University maintains and operates this facility. This annual technical bulletin is written primarily for farmers and crop consultants in the intermediate cropping zone (12 to 17 inches of annual precipitation). It also provides documentation of the operations and production on the Wilke Farm to assist University faculty with small plot research experiments

Jointed goatgrass genetics

Jointed goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica) is a weed that causes serious problems in winter wheat fields in the western United States. Jointed goatgrass and wheat have a close genetic relationship and share many traits. To date, no herbicide has been developed that can selectively remove jointed goatgrass from conventional wheat. However, current herbicide-resistant wheat technology will provide producers with a tool to control jointed goatgrass in the crop. Concerns remain, though, that the resistance genes could move from wheat into jointed goatgrass populations. Understanding the genetic relationship between wheat and jointed goatgrass will help with the development of management strategies that minimize the potential for gene flow between the two species

Pest management guide for grapes in Washington

The Pest Management Guide for Grapes in Washington presents various chemicals and their uses against pest problems in Washington vineyards. While the recommendations are based on eastern Washington conditions, the information may often be applied to similar pest problems found throughout the state. Specific and more detailed information on pests and diseases can be found in the Field Guide for Integrated Pest Management in Pacific Northwest Vineyards (PNW644). Recommendations are suggested guidelines. They are not intended to represent pest control programs. The use of other materials and varying rates and treatments for control of particular pests depends on individual circumstances

Growing barley in western Washington

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is a versatile, low-input grain which is grown as a part of diverse western Washington cropping systems. Due to the generally high rainfall and moderate temperatures in western Washington, yields of small grains such as barley can be substantially higher than those grown under dryland conditions in eastern Washington. In western Washington, small grains are beneficial as rotational crops in that they can break disease and pest cycles, be used as a transition crop during pasture renovation, and rest the soil between the more intensive cash crops such as bulbs and tubers. A local grain economy, where processors use regionally grown grains, can help farmers in western Washington market barley at a higher price. Barley is a versatile grain that can be used for animal feed, human food, and to produce malt for beer and whiskey. This publication addresses general variety selection, marketing, production, and pest management information for barley grown in western Washington

Testing agricultural water for fruit and vegetable production and postharvest handling

Water is used throughout fruit and vegetable production and postharvest handling for cooling, frost protection, irrigation, fertigation, protective sprays, handwashing, washing produce, as well as cleaning and disinfecting equipment and produce contact surfaces. Water can harbor harmful bacteria, such as Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7, which can cause foodborne illnesses. When contaminated water is used in crop production, there is a risk that these pathogens may contaminate produce. Given its widespread use during production and in postharvest applications, any contamination of water can result in subsequent produce contamination, capable of causing large numbers of people to become ill when the produce is consumed. For these reasons, it is imperative to evaluate how water is used within your farm and develop a plan for testing water so that you can control associated risks. This publication covers best practices for managing risks associated with water, but there has also been a lot of focus on water standards included in a new Food and Drug Administration (FDA) federal regulation, the Produce Safety Rule.Funding for this publication was made possible, in part, by the Food and Drug Administration, grant PAR-16-13

Field and hedge bindweed : identification and biological control

Field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) and hedge bindweed (Calystegia sepium) are similar-looking, weedy vines problematic in North America. Field bindweed is native to Europe and Asia and was introduced to the United States by 1739, likely as a contaminant of crop seed. Hedge bindweed consists of numerous subspecies native to North America and temperate regions worldwide (Brummitt [2012] 2020). The species as a whole was recognized as weedy in the United States by 1889 (Littlefield and Tipping 2004). Both field (Figure 1) and hedge (Figure 2) bindweed are highly competitive for nutrients and water, and both form large mats that smother crop plants, fencerows, and forest understories