Washington State University Walla Walla County Extension

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  Extension Agronomist Seeks Feedback By Rachel Wieme, WSU Walla Walla County Extension Specialist The new Walla Walla County Extension Agronomy program is looking for your input! Help us build a program that serves your needs: take the short anonymous survey  to indicate what types of events you want to have offered, what topics of agronomic and soil research you would you like to see or share your thoughts on current regional challenges.  You can always reach out to the Extension Agronomy program at rache.wieme@wsu.edu if you have ideas to share directly. Acidic Soils Solutions: PNW Soil Acidity Workshop Series By Rachel Wieme, WSU Walla Walla County Extension Specialist WSU Walla Walla Extension is partnering with UI Extension (Nez Perce County) and the PNW Farmers’ Network to present a 3-part workshop series on soil acidity management. The series includes two online sessions – November 30th and December 19th – with presentations about the latest results from regional soil pH research and creating an acidity management plan. The series culminates with an in-person gathering held in Clarkston, WA on January 18, 2024. This workshop is a great opportunity to gain valuable insights and participate in conversations about mitigation strategies for low soil pH and related farm management practices.  You can attend any combination of the sessions (online or in-person), but we encourage you to attend all 3 sessions if possible. 10 Soil and Water CCA credits are pending for attendees who attend the entire workshop series.  Coming up… November 11. 9—11 Washington Cattlemen’s Association  Convention and Tradeshow. Wenatchee. Register: www.washingtoncattlemen.org/convention 11. 14—16 Tri State Grain Growers Convention. Couer d’Alene. Register: www.wawg.org/convention/registration/ December 12. 8 Last Chance Pesticide Recertification Class. Walla Walla, Clarkston, Colfax, Pendleton, Online. Pre-Register:  https://tinyurl.com/y3ztp2yx 12. 12—13 WSU Wheat Academy. Pullman. $85—$170. Register: smallgrains.wsu.edu/2023-wheat-academy/ January 1. 8—10 Cropping Systems Conference. Kennewick. Register: www.directseed.org 1. 16 Columbia County Weed Board Pesticide Recertification. Contact naedene.shearer@wsu.edu Vol. 2023: No. 6 Nov.—Dec.  News WSU Walla Walla County Extension   WSU Walla Walla County Extension Newsletter. Vol. 2023: No. 6 Nov-Dec Page 1 Click here to register for Acidic Soil Solutions:  https://bit.ly/AcidicSoilsSolutions   visit www.pnwfarmersnetwork.org/workshops/ to learn more  Take the survey! tinyurl.com/9ff9kdws   FREE Last Chance Pesticide Recertification Credits Offered December 8, 2023 WSU Extension, UI Extension, and OSU Extension are offering a “Last Chance” to get Pesticide Recertification Credits for 2023. 5 WSDA, 5 ISDA and 5 ODA credits are pending.  In—person sessions will take place in Walla Walla, Pendleton, Clarkston, and Colfax. Online sessions will be offered via Zoom. Pre-registration is required Classes are FREE. Instructors are local and regional experts .  Topics include : • Harvest Weed Seed Control for PNW Wheat Production Systems • Label changes  for threatened and endangered species • Russian Thistle Biology & Control • Invasive Weed Control using Targeted Grazing on Rangeland, Pre & Post Wildfire • Residual Herbicide Issues in Rotation Crops What: “Last Chance” Recertification Credit classes When: Friday, December 8 Where: Walla Walla, Pendleton, Colfax, Clarkston, Zoom Cost:  FREE How: Pre-Registration is required. Space is limited. Pre-register today: https://tinyurl.com/y3ztp2yx Did You Know? You can search the WSDA database for upcoming pesticide recertification courses in Oregon, Washington and Idaho.  Visit WSDA Course Search: https://tinyurl.com/yhxjf9hy PNW Farmers’ Network Re-Introducing the PNW Farmers’ Network:  “The mission of the PNW Farmers’ Network (PNWFN) is to contribute to building up the space within the inland Pacific Northwest (iPNW) ag community for learning from each other and ‘co-innovating’ towards increasing resilience in the region’s grain-based production systems. If you are a person who likes to try things, is still working to get the most out of what you are trying, and learns from your tractor seat – check out the new podcast On-Farm Trials with the PNW Farmers’ Network. It’s the podcast that puts growers at the center of innovation, as they share their experiences around their experimental processes and adventures–from new crops and livestock integration to new equipment. We have conversations with growers about their own on-farm trials and how some are working in collaboration with the research community to gain a deeper understanding of some of the broader questions within the iPNW’s grain-based cropping system.” -Carol McFarland, PNWFN The PNWFN provides support for on-farm experimentation, connecting growers with each other or with the research community, and has a pulse on all types of regional events and funding opportunities for the agricultural community.   Links:   PNW website: www.pnwfarmersnetwork.org Podcast: rss.com/podcasts/pnwfarmersnetwork/ Sign up for the mailing list: https://tinyurl.com/efcfjddc WSU Walla Walla County Extension Newsletter. Vol. 2023: No. 6 Nov-Dec Page 2 Walla Walla Watershed Strategy Open House The Watershed Strategy is hosting an Open House on Thursday, November 16, from 4:30 – 8 PM, in the Reid Campus Center Ballroom at Whitman College. You’re invited to come learn about water challenges in the Basin and what Walla Walla 2050 is doing to address these issues! The Open House is open to all ages, and will have stations to explore, interactive activities, and a short presentation from local water experts (presentation from 5:00 – 5:30 PM). Light refreshments will be served. For more info, visit https://ecology.wa.gov/WallaWalla2050.  Last Chance Pesticide Recertification Pre– registration form   Why Become a WSU Walla Walla County Master Gardener Volunteer? WSU Extension Master Gardeners are garden educators and on—the—ground scientists. They are neighbors, friends and family you can go to for garden advice that is grounded in science and locally relevant. Master Gardeners receive extensive training. In their first year, they complete a university taught course with topics like:  • Sustainable Gardening • Botany • Vegetable Crops • Soil Health • Integrated Pest Management • Plant Pathology • Plant Problem Diagnosis • Entomology • Fruit crops • Ornamental Landscapes • Turf Grass Management And more! Master Gardener Volunteers enjoy giving back to the community and sharing their love of gardening– and they have fun doing it!  WSU Walla Walla County Extension Newsletter. Vol. 2023: No. 6 Nov-Dec Page 3 Master Gardener Volunteer Training 2024– Apply Now! Garden enthusiasts in Walla Walla County will have an opportunity to become Master Gardeners when WSU Walla Walla County Extension hosts a Master Gardener Volunteer Training course beginning in January.  Walla Walla County residents with an interest in gardening are welcome to apply to become a WSU Master Gardener Volunteer. The Master Gardener Volunteer Program trains volunteers to work in partnership with WSU Extension to share research – based gardening and environmental stewardship practices with county residents.  Master Gardeners are an invaluable resource in Walla Walla County. They are passionate and dedicated volunteers who love learning and problem solving. They enjoy helping local gardeners and giving back to the community. Joining the Master Gardeners is a wonderful way to channel your interest in gardening, have fun, and meet like-minded people in the area. Applications are now being accepted for the 2024 Master Gardener Training Program. Trainees receive over 50 hours of classroom training in horticulture and gain practical experience through a volunteer internship. The training includes topics on vegetable gardening, botany, plant problem diagnostics, landscape gardening, and more, all taught by local and regional experts.  The 2024 training will be held from January to April at the Extension Office in Walla Walla. Training will be a combination of Zoom and in-person lectures, online reading, and hands-on practice. The cost is $140 with an additional $75 fee for access to the required online portion.  Training only happens every other year and space is limited, so if you’ve been thinking about becoming a Master Gardener, get your application in as soon as possible. The deadline to apply is November 3. Contact Amy Rosenberg at the Extension Office, 509-524-2685 or amy.rosenberg@wsu.edu with any questions.  For more information or to apply, visit extension.wsu.edu/wallawalla/gardening/mg.  Visit extension.wsu.edu/wallawalla/gardening/mg for more information and to apply.   November—December Garden Chores Adapted from OSU Extension Garden Calendars Maintenance:  Service lawn mower.  Check stored flower bulbs, potatoes, and fruits for rot and fungus problems.  Water your plans every 6 to 8 weeks with a deep soaking.  Place a portable cold frame over winter veggies.  Place mulch around perennials for winter protection.  Cover rhubarb and asparagus beds with composted manure and straw.  Rake and compost leaves that are free of diseases and insects. Use mulch to prevent erosion and compaction from rain.  Drain sprinkler systems and insulate vale mechanisms.  Watch for drainage problems in the yard.   Clean and oil lawnmowers and other garden tools before storing them for winter.  Drain and store hoses.  Protect tender trees from drying wind.  Tie limbs of upright evergreens to prevent breakage from snow or ice.  Trim chrysanthemums to 4 to 6 inches after they finish blooming. Have You Seen This Noxious Weed? Adapted from Washington State Noxious Weed Board Tree-of-Heaven Tree-of-heaven is naturalized throughout Washington. It is a fast growing tree, forming thickets that outcompete native plants. It leaches a variety of allelochemicals into the soil that have demonstrated inhibitory or toxic effects on neighboring plants. It is also noted as being a preferred host for the spotted lanternfly, an insect that could damage many crops in Washington if it were able to establish here.  Whenever possible, control tree-of-heaven as seedlings or young plants, prior to the development of their extensive roots. Do not leave cut stems and stumps on moist soils as they may resprout. When necessary, prioritize the control of female trees to prevent further seed production and spread. Contact with plant parts has been reported to cause skin irritation and rashes to sensitive individuals, so make sure to wear gloves and protective clothing.  For more information about controlling Tree-of-Heaven weeds visit the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board: www.nwcb.wa.gov/weeds/tree-of-heaven See the WSNWCB publication about Tree-of-Heaven and Spotted Lanternfly:  www.nwcb.wa.gov/pdfs/Tree_of_heaven_and_spotted_lanternfly_small.pdf  Leave ornamental grasses up to provide interest in the winter landscape.   Protect young, thin—barked trees from sunscald with paper tree wrap.  Pest Monitoring and Management  Rake and destroy leaves from diseased fruit trees and remove and discard mummified fruit.  Check firewood for insect infestations. Burn affected wood first and don’t store inside.  Treat peaches four weeks after leaf fall. Spray for peach leaf curl and shothole diseases.  Check for rodent damage around bases of trees and large shrubs.  Remove weeds to prevent rodents from using them as hiding places.  Avoid mounding mulch around the base of trees and shrubs.  WSU Walla Walla County Extension Newsletter. Vol. 2023: No. 6 Nov-Dec Page 4 Tool care fact sheet: https://tinyurl.com/5n6edm6n Winterize your yard: https://tinyurl.com/4k37dd4t Backyard fruit tree spray schedules: https://treefruit.wsu.edu/backyard-fruit-tree-spray-schedules/ Links   WSU Wheat Academy Adapted from WSU Wheat & Small Grains Two days of comprehensive, hands-on learning await participants of the WSU Wheat Academy. Growers and industry professionals from all over the Pacific Northwest are invited to the WSU Pullman campus on December 12 and 13 to learn about disease diagnostics, insect pest management, herbicide decisions, nutrient management, and much more directly from the experts during intensive, 90-minute sessions. Certified Crop Advisors (CCA) CEUs have been approved and will be available for all offered courses. Pesticide Recertification Credits for Idaho and Washington are pending for appropriate sessions. Topics include: • Wheat Quality • Postharvest Nitrogen Analysis & Nutrient Management • Breeding Small Grains • Diagnosing and Managing Diseases of Wheat • A Deeper Dive into Canola Production • On-Farm Trials • Biology and Management of Insect Pests • Marketing Strategy Development • Agronomics of Dryland Grain Hemp Production • Managing Weeds with Fewer Herbicides • The Soil Microbiome & Soil Health • Interpreting Soil Test Results The Wheat Academy will begin at 8:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 12 and will be held in the Vogel Plant Biosciences Building Teaching Laboratories on the WSU Pullman campus. Registration is $85 for growers and $170 for industry representatives and is limited to the first 72 registrants. The registration fee covers parking on campus, two lunches, a lightly catered social hour, and light refreshments throughout the two-day event. Because registration is limited, we ask that individual companies limit the number of employees they send to the Wheat Academy to a maximum of 10. 4-H Happenings If you have a youth interested in joining 4-H, fill out our interest form online, or call the office at 509-524-2685 to find out more. Congratulations to our 4-H State Fair participants:    Page 5 WSU Walla Walla County Extension Newsletter. Vol. 2023: No. 6 Nov-Dec Riley Bowe Blake Bowe Jacob Brouillette Johanna Brouillette Macy Chvatal Nicholas Chvatal Grace Eaton Faith Eaton Madi Huse Marlaina Kreger Washington Small Fruit Conference November 29-30 2-day conference with the latest relevant research information delivered by the scientists performing the research. This conference is presented in association with the Lynden Ag Show, a trade show featuring vendors serving the small fruit community.  Remote viewing location is available for both days of the conference in Prosser.  https://www.wasmallfruit.com/ Rem McBride Meredith Nelson Ryan Newton Carly Newton Joseph Newton Jaden Olson Anna Ortega Siobhan Ryle Makenzee Smith Hannah Wise   Practice Food Safety this Holiday Season Adapted from USDA Safe turkey roasting instructions from the USDA  1. Set the oven temperature no lower than 325 °F. Preheating is not necessary. 2. Be sure the turkey is completely thawed. Times are based on fresh or thawed birds at a refrigerator temperature of 40 °F or below. 3. Place turkey breast-side up on a flat wire rack in a shallow roasting pan 2 to 2 1/2 inches deep. Optional steps: • Tuck wing tips back under shoulders of bird (called "akimbo"). • Add one-half cup water to the bottom of the pan. • In the beginning, a tent of aluminum foil may be placed loosely over the breast of the turkey for the first 1 to 1 1/2 hours, then removed for browning. Or, a tent of foil may be placed over the turkey after the turkey has reached the desired golden brown color. 4. For optimum safety, cook stuffing in a casserole. If stuffing your turkey, mix ingredients just before stuffing it; stuff loosely. Additional time is required for the turkey and stuffing to reach a safe minimum internal temperature (see chart). 5. For safety and doneness, the internal temperature should be checked with a food thermometer. The temperature of the turkey and the center of the stuffing must reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F. Check the temperature in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast. 6. For quality, let the bird stand 20 minutes before removing the stuffing and carving the bird to allow juices to set. The turkey will carve more easily.   POSTMASTER send address changes to: WSU EXTENSION 328 WEST POPLAR WALLA WALLA, WA    99362  WSU EXTENSTION NEWSLETTER  PUBLISHED 4-6 TIMES ANNUALLY VOLUME 2023 NO. 6 WSU EXTENSION WALLA WALLA COUNTY 328 WEST POPLAR WALL WALLA, WA   99362 Celebrating 100 Years of Extending Knowledge and Changing Lives. Debbie M. Williams      County Extension Director WSU Walla Walla County Extension Newsletter. Vol. 2023: No. 6 Nov-Dec Page 6 Local Food System Infrastructure Grant Open Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) is offering Local Food System Infrastructure Grants to support local food supply chains and market access for farms, ranches, food processors, and food distributors. The intention is to fund projects that expand and strengthen collaboration across linkages in the regional food supply chain. This includes planning, equipment, and facilities that support on-farm post-harvest handling, aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, distribution, and sale of Washington grown, caught, and raised foods.  https://agr.wa.gov/departments/business-and-marketing-support/small-farm/infrastructure-grant  

Walla Walla County Extension Newsletter, November-December 2023

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Walla Walla County Extension Newsletter, November-December 2023

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