December 1997 News Releases

Contents » December 1997

December 18, 1997

By Marlene Fritz and Diana Armstrong

BOISE, Idaho--For 1998, University of Idaho agricultural economists are forecasting rising prices for potatoes and beef, continued strong prices for hay, stabilizing prices for milk, fair prices for dry beans and slipping prices for wheat.

POTATOES

Despite late blight, Idaho potato yields reached a state record of 349 hundredweight per acre in 1997--edging up 3 hundredweight over 1996.

Joe Guenthner, University of Idaho extension agricultural economist, says good fall weather helped growers. The longer growing season increased yields, dry weather reduced the impact of late blight and warm temperatures curtailed bruising damage.

Despite historically high yields, production was off 5 percent as growers reduced acreage in response to 1996's low prices. Coupled with strong snack-food demand for potato flakes, prices should be "well above year-ago levels" in 1998, Guenthner projects. Idaho potato growers typically send one-fourth to one-half of their crop to dehydrators.

Freshpack potato growers are guardedly optimistic that last year's lower prices will fuel demand in 1998. Although the domestic outlook for frozen processed potatoes is not as bright as for fresh and dehydrated spuds, exports should continue to grow, Guenthner says.

Open-market prices will be higher than last year's, he predicts. With October prices at about $4.50, late-season prices could rise to $8 a hundredweight.

GRAINS

With the 1997-98 world wheat crop the largest on record, U.S. wheat producers should see farm-level average wheat prices drop from $4.30 to $3.55 a bushel, says University of Idaho agricultural economist Larry Makus.

Barley and corn producers will also continue to feel price pressure due to increasing supplies, Makus says. "Grain stocks aren't yet at the extremely burdensome levels they were in the mid-'80s," he says, "but higher stocks will continue to pressure prices until production shortfalls reverse the trend."

Although world use grew almost 5 million metric tons, the 22-million-metric-ton production increase will build world carryover by 19 percent, Makus says.

The 1997 U.S. wheat crop of 2.53 billion bushels is well above average and the largest crop since 1990. China, Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union --major importers--also increased production.

BEEF

Declining beef supplies will push up the price of beef in 1998, but increasing supplies of both pork and poultry are likely to restrain the extent of that price rise, says Wilson Gray, University of Idaho extension agricultural economist in Twin Falls.

According to Gray, U.S. beef production rose a half-percentage point to 25.67 billion pounds in 1997, but it's expected to tighten by 5 percent during 1998.

Record-high hay prices kept culling pressure on less productive cows and producers retained "very low levels" of heifers during 1997, he says.

Gray projects that 1998 prices for 400- to 500-pound steers will likely range from $87 to $94 a hundredweight , compared with $76 in 1997 and a long-term average of $75. Steers weighing 700 to 800 pounds should bring about $74 to $81 a hundredweight in 1998, compared with $64 in 1997 and a long-term average of $70.

DAIRY

In the wake of 1996's record prices and 1997's sharp market correction, Idaho dairy producers will "likely to see a better year" in 1998, as milk prices and feed costs stabilize, according to Gray.

He says most Idaho dairy producers had marginal or negative returns during the first half of 1997. Profitability improved during the second half as milk prices recovered from $10.80 to $12.83 per hundredweight.

Continuing its upward march, Idaho milk production climbed into sixth place nationally in 1997, reaching more than 5.2 billion pounds. Per cow production rose 2 to 3 percent over 1996--despite high feed costs and bouts of depressed prices--and overall production increased 11 percent. Cow numbers ended the year at 282,000, up 10 percent over 1996.

Gray expects Idaho dairy cow numbers to increase by 7 to 10 percent in 1998 and milk production to expand 8 to 10 percent.

HAY

Acreage and yields of alfalfa hay both climbed in Idaho in 1997, but demand from the state's surging dairy industry--coupled with rains that dampened harvests statewide--is keeping upward pressure on hay prices.

According to Neil Rimbey, University of Idaho extension range economist in Caldwell, apparent shortages in dairy-quality hay are supporting prices of premium hay at $100- to $120-a-ton levels and will pull prices of lower-quality hays into the $75- to $90-a-ton range. Those prices are 30 to 40 percent above year-ago levels.

"As the winter progresses, there could be some additional upward pressure on hay prices, depending on weather conditions and dairy immigration," Rimbey says.

Idaho's 1997 hay acreage rose to 1.02 million acres, up 2 percent over 1996. Yields increased from 4.2 to 4.4 tons per acre, pushing production to 4.5 million tons, compared with 4.2 million tons in 1996 and a 3.9 million ton average since 1975.

DRY BEANS

Idaho dry bean growers responded to healthy 1996-97 prices by expanding planted acreage by 10.5 percent, boosting production by 16 percent and ultimately harvesting 2.2 million hundredweight in 1997.

Unfortunately, with 1997 dry bean production up 5 percent nationwide, prices "softened, as you would expect them to," says University of Idaho agricultural economist Paul Patterson in Idaho Falls.

Patterson projects that the 1997-98 average marketing year price across all classes of beans grown in Idaho will be $20.50, down from $23.60 the year before. Consequently, despite weak grain prices, it's "unlikely" that U.S. dry bean acreage will expand significantly in 1998, he says. Patterson expects planted acreage to increase less than 2 percent and 1998 production to hit between 29 and 31 million hundredweight. That would keep the average Idaho price for the 1998-99 marketing year in the high teens.

December 18, 1997

IDAHO WOOL SCHOLARSHIPS AND BONDS GRANTED TO 4-HERS

by Jerry Adams, Editorial Associate

College scholarships totalling $1,300 have been awarded to four 4-H youth as winners of the 1997 State 4-H Wool Scholarship Award Program. Also granted have been $50 U.S. Savings Bonds to four second place winners.

The state wool competition encourages 4-H'ers to use wool fabric while developing clothing construction skills. Participants must be age 14 to 19 years, enrolled in 4-H, use at least a 50 percent wool blend fabric or yarn to construct a garment or outfit, and receive blue or gold ribbons at county judging.

Julie Roundy, 18, daughter of Jerry and Ellen Roundy of Oakley, made a cream and denim colored sweater of 75 percent wool and 25 percent alpaca yarn. The Oakley High School senior modeled her sweater at county judging in Burley and district in Twin Falls. Julie received a $500 college scholarship for being first in the state.

Julie, of District III, was one of four district winners who also received $200 college scholarships. Others were:

-- In northern Idaho's District I, Anna Stubbers of Cottonwood made a tunic and pants from 65 percent wool, 35 percent rayon. The daughter of Ralph and Debbie Stubbers also was named state alternate.

-- District II winner was Megan Farson, daughter of James and ReGenia Farson of Boise. Her jacket and pants outfit was 100 percent wool.

-- Eastern Idaho scholarship winner was Rebecca Loynd, daughter of Ronald and Rozanne Loynd of Idaho Falls. She made a lined jumper with 50 percent blend wool.

Each district also had a second place $50 U.S. Savings Bond recipient. They were Reionda Hogaboam, Lewiston; Keenan Christensen, Wilder; Jenni Ferlic, Twin Falls; and Jenny Munns, Rexburg.

The 1997 State 4-H Wool Scholarship Award Program is sponsored by the promotion division of the Idaho Wool Growers Association.

December 18, 1997

FOR THE ASSOCIATED PRESS #2

By Marlene Fritz and Diana Armstrong

POTATOES

Despite late blight, Idaho potato yields reached a state record of 349 hundredweight per acre in 1997--edging up 3 hundredweight over 1996.

Open-market prices will be higher than last year's, he predicts. With October prices at about $4.50, late-season prices could rise to $8 a hundredweight.

GRAINS

Although world use grew almost 5 million metric tons, the 22-million-metric-ton production increase will build world carryover by 19 percent, Makus says.

The 1997 U.S. wheat crop of 2.53 billion bushels is well above average and the largest crop since 1990. China, Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union --major importers--also increased production.

BEEF

According to Gray, U.S. beef production rose a half-percentage point to 25.67 billion pounds in 1997, but it's expected to tighten by 5 percent during 1998.

Record-high hay prices kept culling pressure on less productive cows and producers retained "very low levels" of heifers during 1997, he says.

DAIRY

In the wake of 1996's record prices and 1997's sharp market correction, Idaho dairy producers will "likely to see a better year" in 1998, as milk prices and feed costs stabilize, according to Gray.

Gray expects Idaho dairy cow numbers to increase by 7 to 10 percent in 1998 and milk production to expand 8 to 10 percent.

HAY

"As the winter progresses, there could be some additional upward pressure on hay prices, depending on weather conditions and dairy immigration," Rimbey says.

DRY BEANS

Idaho dry bean growers responded to healthy 1996-97 prices by expanding planted acreage by 10.5 percent, boosting production by 16 percent and ultimately harvesting 2.2 million hundredweight in 1997.

Unfortunately, with 1997 dry bean production up 5 percent nationwide, prices "softened, as you would expect them to," says University of Idaho agricultural economist Paul Patterson in Idaho Falls.

December 18, 1997

NATIONAL 4-H FASHION REVUE AWARD GOES TO WILDER YOUTH

by Jerry Adams, Editorial Associate

Keenan Kae Christensen, 16-year-old junior at Vallivue High School and a resident of Wilder, earned a $1,500 college scholarship at last month's National 4-H Congress in Memphis. She was one of four National 4-H Fashion Revue winners.

The daughter of Dave and Sandra Christensen is a member of Busy Bugs 4-H Club. Keenan, who has taken fashion projects in 4-H for seven years, completed an application form and wrote an essay that described her growth and development in 4-H clothing projects; clothing construction, selection, and creative skills; and academic and community accomplishments.

Among her achievements in school are junior high student body president, numerous awards for violin, piano, and dance performance, Lloyd Mayberry Citizenship Award, and five years of being a natural helper. She is president of her church youth group and performs with Dance Pros, a pre-professional group in Boise.

Fashion activities include organizing 4-H'ers to sew flags for the Canyon County Fair, making decorative velvet pillows as gifts for friends, designing dance team outfits, and sewing blocks for quilts. Keenan tailored a suit pattern of blue wool crepe fabric for fair competition where she was grand champion in modeling and clothing construction.

“Sewing has developed my creative senses, has helped me be a wise shopper and consumer, and has introduced me to the world of design,” wrote Keenan in her application.

Her career plan is to major in design and minor in dance in college, and to eventually work in fashion or interior design and to continue dancing with a small professional group.

Keenan's scholarship essay was reviewed by a committee chaired by Ann Frazier, extension 4-H specialist at North Carolina State University. Other national winners were from Colorado, Oregon, and North Carolina who each received $1,500 scholarships from donors The McCall Pattern Company; Husqvarna, Viking, and White Sewing Machine Company; and Fabri-Centers of America, Inc.

December 17, 1997

PRICES SOFTEN AS IDAHO DRY BEAN PRODUCTION INCREASES 16 PERCENT

by Marlene Fritz, Communications Specialist

BOISE, Idaho--Idaho dry bean growers responded to healthy 1996-97 prices by expanding planted acreage by 10.5 percent, boosting production by 16 percent and ultimately harvesting 2.2 million hundredweight in 1997.

Unfortunately, with 1997 dry bean production up 5 percent nationwide, prices "softened, as you would expect them to," says University of Idaho agricultural economist Paul Patterson in Idaho Falls.

Patterson projects that the 1997-98 average marketing year price across all classes of beans grown in Idaho will be $20.50, down from $23.60 the year before.

Domestic consumption should remain at its current level of 7.8 pounds per person, he says. That's 2.5 pounds more than in the early 1980s, when U.S. dry bean consumption hit bottom, but it reflects a slowdown in the health-driven increases of recent years.

According to Patterson, a potential bright spot in domestic use is the increasing share of Hispanics in the U.S. population, expected to reach 15 percent by 2020. Per capita consumption of dry beans in Mexico is about five times the U.S. average. Patterson says the current popularity of Mexican and Southwest food should also help sustain recent gains in dry bean consumption.

Nationwide, bean growers harvested 28 million hundredweight from 1.73 million acres in 1997. Yields averaged 17 hundredweight. Weather problems--especially in the flood-stricken Red River Valley of North Dakota and Minnesota--pushed abandonment of U.S. acreage to 9 percent.

During 1997, Idaho bean growers harvested 21.5 hundredweight per acre on 103,000 acres, compared with 20.5 hundredweight on 93,000 acres in 1996. Despite above-normal precipitation, periodic below-normal temperatures, higher-than-average mold incidence and moisture problems in late-maturing beans, Patterson described the crop's quality as high.

“Idaho growers were more fortunate than growers in the Red River Valley and overall it was a good year,” he says.

For the 1996 crop marketed between September 1996 and August 1997, Idaho bean growers received an average $20.50 for great northerns, $22 for pintos, $25.50 for pinks, $28 for small whites and $28.75 for small reds.

Prices for the 1997 crop have remained close to harvest-time lows, Patterson says. Great northern and small white markets are flat--at $18 and $20, respectively--while pinto prices have moved up $1 to $18.50, small reds have climbed $1 to $21 and pinks have edged up 75 cents to $21.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture forecasts 1997 exports at 10 million hundredweight--1 million hundredweight more than in 1996. The U.S. typically ranks second or third, behind China and Burma, in dry bean exports. Major U.S. export markets include the United Kingdom, Japan, Algeria and Mexico.

While 1997's weak grain prices would typically encourage an acreage shift to dry beans, Patterson says projections of merely fair prices for dry beans during the 1997-98 marketing year make it “unlikely” that U.S. dry bean acreage will expand significantly in 1998. He expects planted acreage to increase less than 2 percent and 1998 production to hit between 29 and 31 million hundredweight. That would keep the average Idaho price for the 1998-99 marketing year in the high teens.

“The wild card is whether or not El Nino brings unusual weather problems to dry bean production areas,” Patterson says.

December 18, 1997

LOWER SUPPLIES, HIGHER PRICES BUT MORE COMPETITION FACE IDAHO BEEF PRODUCERS IN 1998

by Marlene Fritz, Communications Specialist

BOISE, Idaho--Declining beef supplies will push up the price of beef in 1998, but increasing supplies of both pork and poultry are likely to restrain the extent of that price rise.

U.S. beef production rose a half-percentage point to 25.67 billion pounds in 1997, says Wilson Gray, University of Idaho extension agricultural economist in Twin Falls, but it's expected to tighten by 5 percent during 1998.

That's because fewer cows in the wake of aggressive culling will produce fewer calves and because producers will eventually need to hold back more heifers to rebuild their herds. “Given this scenario, beef supplies will likely decline at least through 1999,” Gray says.

In addition, should feed prices drop during the second half of 1998, producers will be even less inclined to cull and more inclined to retain heifers—thus further reducing the amount of beef available to the marketplace.

“Weather is always the caveat that adds uncertainty to the outlook,” Gray says. The 1997-98 El Nino, with potentially widely varying impacts, “definitely justifies early planning and consideration of management alternatives.”

During 1997, record hay prices kept culling pressure on less productive cows and producers retained “very low levels” of heifers, Gray says. Idaho cattle numbers dropped 1 to 2 percent during 1997, following on the heels of a 2.5 percent decline during 1996. Nationwide, cattle numbers fell 3 percent in 1996 and 1 to 2.5 percent in 1997.

According to Gray, prices for 400- to 500-pound steers are likely to range from $87 to $94 a hundredweight in 1998, compared with $76 in 1997, $54.60 in 1996 and a long-term average of $75. He expects steers weighing 700 to 800 pounds to bring $74 to $81 a hundredweight in 1998, compared with $64 in 1997, $60.50 in 1996 and a long-term average of $70.

While first-quarter 1998 prices are likely to be constrained by large fall 1997 placements in feed yards. Gray says fed-cattle price increases should kick in at $3 to $5 a quarter beginning with the second quarter.

Higher beef prices at the meat counter won't just help cattle producers, Gray says. They will also “support prices on pork and poultry as those supplies increase.” Pork production, up 2 to 3 percent in 1997, is expected to rise another 6 percent in 1998. Poultry supplies rose 3 to 4 percent in 1997 and are anticipated to end 1998 4 to 6 percent higher.

Beef exports, up 5 percent during 1997, will likely continue to improve by 6 to 10 percent during 1998, Gray says, although higher prices could also limit growth in export markets.

December 17, 1997

IDAHO DAIRY HERD SIZE, MILK PRODUCTION EXPECTED TO CONTINUE UPWARD MARCH

by Marlene Fritz, Communications Specialist

BOISE, Idaho—In the wake of 1996's record prices and 1997's sharp market correction, Idaho dairy producers are “undoubtedly hoping for a smoother ride this year,” says Wilson Gray, University of Idaho extension agricultural economist in Twin Falls.

Gray thinks they will get their wish and are “likely to see a better year in 1998 than in 1997, as milk prices and feed costs stabilize by comparison.”

But as the dairy industry moves towards greater dependence on the marketplace, volatile prices are likely to become the norm, he says.

According to Gray, most Idaho dairy producers had marginal or negative returns during the first half of 1997. Profitability improved during the second half as milk prices recovered from $10.80 to $12.83 per hundredweight.

Continuing its upward march, Idaho milk production climbed into sixth place nationally in 1997, reaching more than 5.2 billion pounds. Per cow production rose 2 to 3 percent over 1996, despite high feed costs and bouts of depressed prices. Cow numbers, bottoming at 264,000 in March due to low prices and winter weather problems, ended the year at 282,000 head—up 10 percent over 1996 levels. Overall, Idaho milk production rose 11 percent in 1997.

Gray expects Idaho dairy cow numbers to increase by 7 to 10 percent in 1998 and milk production to expand 8 to 10 percent. By contrast, U.S. milk production should increase by only 1 to 2 percent as national cow numbers decline 1.5 to 2.5 percent.

“Plans already on the drawing boards will insure continuation of growth for the near term in Idaho,” says Gray. “Longer term, several factors are likely to combine to bring growth back down.

“Local environmental concerns and stricter zoning will be one factor. Another will be processing capacity and whether processors feel they have already grown enough or need to add additional plant capacity.”

The Idaho dairy industry added processing capacity during 1997, but Gray says there are “few plans for more growth in 1998.”

December 17, 1997

1997 IDAHO HAY PRODUCTION INCREASES, BUT DAIRY DEMAND KEEPS PRICES HIGH

by Marlene Fritz, Communications Specialist

BOISE, Idaho--Acreage and yields of alfalfa hay both climbed in Idaho in 1997, but demand from the state's surging dairy industry--coupled with rains that dampened harvests statewide--is keeping upward pressure on hay prices.

According to Neil Rimbey, University of Idaho extension range economist in Caldwell, apparent shortages in dairy-quality hay are supporting prices of premium hay at $100- to $120-a-ton levels and will pull prices of lower-quality hays into the $75-to $90-a-ton range. Those prices are 30 to 40 percent above year-ago levels.

“As the winter progresses, there could be some additional upward pressure on hay prices, depending on weather conditions and dairy immigration,” Rimbey says.

Idaho's 1997 hay acreage rose to 1.02 million acres, up 2 percent over 1996. Yields increased from 4.2 to 4.4 tons per acre. Combined, acreage and yields pushed production to 4.5 million tons, compared with 4.2 million tons in 1996 and a 3.9 million ton average since 1975.

According to Rimbey, carryover stocks on May 1, 1997, were a “pretty low” 286,000 tons--“well below” the long-term average 600,000 tons. Production of other hays, primarily grass hay, totaled 660,000 tons, bringing Idaho's total 1997 hay supply to 5.4 million tons--“essentially unchanged” from 1996.

Idaho's surging dairy industry remains the primary driver of hay demand. At 280,000 head in September, growth is slowing from recent years' 2,000-a-month clip but is still “trundling along” at 1,600 more dairy cows monthly, Rimbey says.

“This increased demand continues to have a big impact on the hay market,” Rimbey says. “Big bales of alfalfa in the Treasure Valley were trading at a $5 to $10 a ton premium over smaller bales late this summer, primarily due to the influence of dairies.”

He expects that federal land grazing rates, kept low by modest beef prices, will again be near the $1.35 per animal-unit-month floor of the federal grazing fee formula. However, if the U.S. Senate passes the Forage Improvement Act of 1997, HR 2493, those costs could rise to $1.84.

State land grazing lease rates for 1998, reflecting 1996's lower cattle prices, have been set at $4.16 per AUM. That compares with $4.58 in 1997. Private grazing lease rates will likely hold between $10 and $15 an AUM, Rimbey says.

December 11, 1997

FOR THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

By Diane Noel

MOSCOW, Idaho--Unusual "glossy" surface waxes on pea and cabbage plants appear to give an edge to lady beetles, lacewings and other good-guy insects that ply plant surfaces devouring insect pests, according to research by University of Idaho entomologist Sanford Eigenbrode.

If the glossy trait--or others that promote the natural enemies of insect pests--can be bred into crop varieties, farmers might reduce their reliance on chemical insecticides as they depend more on natural predators and parasites to control insect pests.

Scientists know that certain plant chemicals attract the natural enemies of crop pests, that rich pollen sources can encourage them, and that some leaf shapes appeal to them more than others.

"It's yet to be proven that those traits can be bred into a cultivar in an economic fashion," said Pedro Barbosa, University of Maryland entomologist and a leader in the effort to breed "natural-enemy-friendly" crops.

Eigenbrode considers natural enemies important in pest control even today. "This year we had one of the most spectacular lady beetle years in history," he said. At one point, "canola plants were hanging with lady beetles, and there was not an aphid to be found."

More often, the natural enemies can't keep up. Then farmers apply insecticides so broadly targeted they kill the natural enemies, too. Plant breeders occasionally produce crops that resist or tolerate insect attack.

But only recently have scientists looked seriously at breeding crops that promote natural enemies.

"They have just been so irrelevant for such a long time because we've sprayed," said Eigenbrode. "The more we use softer insecticides or limit insecticide use, the more important these predators will be."

Eigenbrode has found that pea and cabbage plants with "glossy" leaf surfaces--ones with less of the whitish wax that coats normal plants--suffer less damage from several different pests. The effect is strongest when the pests' natural enemies are present, and appears to depend at least partly on their superior performance on glossy plants.

In greenhouse studies, lady beetles confined in cages with glossy pea plants ate more aphids than those confined with normal ones, at least when aphid populations were low. In two seasons of field trials at Moscow, glossy pea plants harbored 50 to 60 percent fewer aphids than normal plants.

What about glossy plant surfaces favors lady beetles and other natural enemies? "It makes them stick better," said Eigenbrode.

On normal plant surfaces, their feet tend to pick up wax. "They have all this junk on their feet," said Eigenbrode. "They lose their grip at a certain point in the operation.

"On a glossy surface they have perfectly clean feet, so it's a good place to walk around."

They spend more time on glossy leaves, walk more, and distribute their walking more productively: exploring well beyond the leaf edges and stems where they concentrate on normal leaves.

But glossy plants might have pitfalls. Some pests or pathogens might damage them more than normal plants. Their lighter wax coatings might make them more vulnerable to herbicide damage. "If they don't have these problems, or if they have a few, but they can be worked around, I'd be pretty hopeful," said Eigenbrode.

Eigenbrode is working with geneticist Charles Simon at the USDA Plant Introduction Station in Pullman, Wash., to introduce the glossy trait into a Northwest pea variety and with University of Idaho oilseed breeder Jack Brown to introduce the trait into canola.

Canola suffers from "lots and lots" of insect pests and little in the way of natural defenses against them, so farmers apply insecticides three or four times a season, said Brown.

Brown hopes to combine the glossy trait with traits that deter pests directly. "You're always going to be better off if you have more than one defense mechanism," he said. Enhanced natural enemies might even help prolong pest resistance by gobbling up more of the insects that inevitably overcome it.

Natural-enemy-friendly crops will likely work together with judicious insecticide use, said Eigenbrode, and find greatest use in crops that can withstand some pest damage.

"It's almost impossible for biocontrol to bring us down to an effective cosmetic level [of damage]," said University of Idaho integrated pest management specialist Ed Bechinski.

Still to come is proof that a specific trait bolsters natural enemies to the point of making a practical difference in pest management, said University of Maryland entomologist Dale Bottrell. "The whole concept of manipulating natural enemies by plant breeding is very much of an incomplete story until we show it's something farmers can benefit from."

December 9, 1997

UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO POTATO CONFERENCE CELEBRATES 30^TH YEAR JAN. 20-22 IN POCATELLO

by Marlene Fritz, Communications Specialist

POCATELLO, Idaho—Kicked off with intensive pre-session seminars on precision agriculture and seed production, the University of Idaho's 30^th annual Potato Conference will offer participants their choice of 23 workshops and 12 short seminars when it convenes Jan. 20-22 at the Idaho State University Student Union Building in Pocatello.

Late blight research and management will top the agenda, with presentations on seed-borne disease, national fungicide trials, fungicide application methods, vine killing and cull piles, and research and industry panels.

Other topics will include net necrosis, new sprout inhibitors, production systems, new varieties, fertility, irrigation set length, non-fumigant nematicides, seed management, hollow heart, pesticide resistance management, sustainable agriculture, and insect, disease, and weed management.

Speakers will also discuss worker's compensation, changes in tax laws, the current potato market, pricing decisions, estate planning, crop insurance, the Federal-States Market News Service, and the Internet.

Idaho Department of Agriculture pesticide applicator recertification and certified crop advisor credits will be available during the conference.

The precision agriculture meeting will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 20 at the Pocatello Park Hotel. It will include discussions on the benefits and basics of precision agriculture as well as practical information on yield monitors, application equipment, soil testing, data management, global position system equipment, fertility management, mapping software and weather stations. Admission, which includes lunch, is $45 for those who pre-register and $60 at the door.

The Jan. 20 afternoon seed seminar, sponsored by the Idaho Seed Potato Growers and the Idaho Crop Improvement Association, begins at 1:30 p.m. at the Pocatello Park

Hotel and includes presentations on new varieties, late blight, green peach aphid

management, certification and the state seed law. Registration is $35 in advance or $40 at the door.

Pre-registration by Jan. 13 is strongly encouraged for both the precision agriculture and seed seminars.

The Potato Conference itself begins at 8 a.m. Jan. 21 and concludes at 3 p.m. Jan. 22. Admission is $15 for those who pre-register by Jan. 13 and $20 at the door. Out-of-state residents pay $75 if pre-registered and $90 at the door.

The National Potato Promotion Board will host a Jan. 21 luncheon and present a special seminar on its efforts to increase potato consumption.

For more information or to register, call Jim Hughes or Maureen Briscoe at the University of Idaho in Idaho Falls, 208/529-8376.

December 4, 1997

SCIENTISTS BREW UP NEW WAYS TO MANAGE PESTS IN HOPS

By Marlene Fritz, Communications Specialist

BOISE, Idaho--It's the agricultural equivalent of a bar room brawl. Every year, the U.S. hops industry dukes it out in the fields with insect pests that threaten to leave their soots and smells on American hop cones.

In one corner, mandatory week- to month periods before harvest when growers can't spray pesticides. In the other corner, hop aphids and two-spotted mites poised to pounce at the first opportunity.

It's enough to send the industry in search of integrated pest management techniques that might someday offer relief.

At the University of Idaho's Parma Research and Extension Center, entomologist Jim Barbour has rolled up his sleeves. He's looking at ways to increase levels of a native beneficial mite--the Western predatory mite--in Pacific Northwest hop fields. Adapted to hot, dry climates, Western predatory mites prey almost exclusively on two-spotted spider mites. Barbour says the predators "do very well" once established on hops, but current management practices tend to disrupt their population cycles.

Because sparsely-occurring or late-arriving two-spotted spider mite populations can starve out Western predatory mites--as they did this summer--Barbour doesn't expect biocontrol to manage mite problems entirely. He's evaluating wild hops for mite resistance and is testing several promising new miticides.

Unfortunately, while they're generally environmentally friendly and targeted specifically at mites, new-generation miticides will likely have a limited life and some destroy beneficial mites along with the pests. And, unless they can be used closer to harvest, Barbour says growers still face late-flaring mite populations "that you can't treat and there's absolutely nothing you can do about."

When two-spotted spider mites clamber into hop cones--the fruit of the hop that adds aroma or bittering to beers--the result is off-odors, off-colors and off-flavors. "If they tasted like beer, I guess we could harvest mites, but they don't," says Barbour.

Aphids present other problems, sucking on cone juices and excreting honeydew on which sooty molds form. At Washington State University's Prosser research facility, agronomist Steve Kenny is developing aphid-thwarting hops that support fewer of the pests. Kenny's work is grounded in cooperative research with one of Barbour's predecessors, Keith Dorschner.

Rather than spending 80 to 90 percent of their time feeding, as they do on fully susceptible hops, aphids eking out survival on Kenny's experimental hops feed only 50 percent of the time. That means lower nutrition levels, fewer young and hopefully an opportunity for aphid-killing predators to keep aphid populations in check.

But Kenny says a commercial hop variety that combines high aphid resistance with superior brewing quality is probably a decade away. "The aphid-resistant hops either don't have very good agronomic qualities or they don't have very good brewing qualities," he says. "We're trying to combine desirable traits into finished products, but that's much easier to say than to get because there are a number of genes responsible for each trait."

In Corvallis, U.S. Department of Agriculture research geneticist John Henning is examining hop breeding lines for naturally occurring chemicals that either invite or repel insects. Scientists suspect that some chemicals may attract spider mites while others may repulse aphids.

One hop line, with clear differences in its volatile compounds, acts almost as a spider mite magnet, Henning says. Other hop lines vary in their levels of beta-farnesene, an "alarm" pheromone that signals trouble to hop aphids and prompts their flight. But even if the approaches prove promising, it will take time for undesirable chemicals to be bred out of hop plants and for desirable chemicals to be bred in.

Theoretically, genetic engineering could speed hop improvement, but hop acreage is so low nationally--fewer than 40,000 acres, and only 4,000 in Idaho--that scientists' understanding of the plant's genetic composition trails that of major crops.

Barbour's research extends beyond mites and aphids to insects that are more fundamentally damaging to hop plants. In addition to chemical controls, he's developing methods to disrupt mating among California prionus beetles and examining the potential for new nematode strains to reduce populations of both prionus and black vine weevils.

Current controls for black vine weevils can cause spider mites to flare. An insect growth regulator that Barbour is evaluating keeps the mouth parts of weevil larvae from hardening and prevents them from chewing their ways out of their egg shells.

Not pretty--but all part of a no-holds-barred brawl with hop insects that the U.S. beer industry is aiming to win.

December 1, 1997

GROWTH REGULATOR COULD HELP PACIFIC NORTHWEST ORCHARDISTS NIP PROBLEMS IN THE BLOSSOM

By Marlene Fritz, Communications Specialist

BOISE, Idaho--During the stark days of early winter, visions of spring bustin' out all over delight all but the most zealous winter recreationists--and Idaho orchardists.

When blossoms bust out all over fruit trees, the natural result is an overabundance of under-sized fruit--and prices that leave the orchard business economically unfruitful.

Thinning young fruit is one alternative, but the inevitable delays in farm work that occur in spring allow time for fruitlets to send gibberellins to fruit spurs. Gibberellins tell the tree to produce less fruit next year.

What growers need are chemicals that thin blossoms.

At the University of Idaho's Parma Research and Extension Center, fruit tree physiologist Essie Fallahi has been evaluating a blossom thinner he hopes will soon replace a previous product--elgetol--whose manufacturer chose not to re-register it back in 1990.

Called hydrogen cyanamide, the new plant growth regulator has roots as a broadly used fertilizer and is demonstrating "outstanding and very promising" effectiveness as a blossom thinner, Fallahi says. "We are very excited about it."

It has a very different chemical makeup than hydrogen cyanide, with which it is sometimes confused.

Blossom thinners burn flowers chemically so they can't be pollinated. Fruit thinners, on the other hand, simply loosen the connections between stem and fruit. Orchardists need fewer than 5 percent of their blossoms for good crops, but blossom thinners can't work crudely, Fallahi says. "It's very difficult to finetune them--to not overthin or underthin the blossoms."

Timing is also critical because if blossom thinners are put on too soon and a hard frost hits, there won't be enough blossoms left for a financially rewarding crop after the frost takes its share.

Fallahi has tested hydrogen cyanamide for eight years in Idaho apples, peaches or plums and has determined the product's most effective rates. Commercial orchardists John Williamson of Caldwell and Jerry Henggeler of Fruitland participated in the research.

"I believe it has an excellent potential for a thinner," says Williamson, who presently spends between $200 and $500 an acre to have his peach blossoms hand-thinned. Hand-thinning apple blossoms would cost at least $1,000 an acre and "would be almost impossible," Williamson says.

According to Henggeler, even hand-thinning apple fruit--much easier than hand-thinning apple blossoms--normally costs $500 to $800 an acre "and I have seen it go as high as $1,200." He says the blossom-thinner "looked to be very effective and should be a tool that we can use to grower benefit."

Dennis Kristof, president of DK International of Marietta, Ga.--the product's exclusive U.S. distributor--says the firm hopes to make the Pacific Northwest the site of its first emergency registrations of hydrogen cyanamide as a blossom-thinner in apples, peaches and plums next spring. Slated to be marketed as Hi-cy Thin, it "works very well and it has great potential," Kristof says, "but we want to go in small steps and gather experience. We have a cautious--but very optimistic--approach."

Hydrogen cyanamide is presently registered in the U.S. for breaking dormancy in grapes and kiwis grown on California and Arizona deserts, says Rick Melnicoe, regional field coordinator for the Western Region IR-4 program at the University of California-Davis. The program guides registration of agricultural chemicals for small-acreage crops.

Greg Moller, technical director of the University of Idaho's analytical laboratories in Moscow, says repeated tests show that hydrogen cyanamide leaves no detectable residues whatsoever on apples, peaches or plums or in apple juice, apple pumice or prunes.

December 1, 1997

THREE COUNTY EXTENSION EDUCATORS BEGIN NEW JOBS

By Marlene Fritz, Communications Specialist

BOISE, Idaho--The University of Idaho Cooperative Extension System has hired or transferred three extension educators into Bonneville, Bannock and Bingham counties this fall.

Wayne Jones, who managed the potato laboratory at the university's Idaho Falls Research and Extension Center since 1993, begins his new job as Bonneville County extension educator on Dec. 1. His assigned responsibilities will include 95 percent agricultural crops and home horticulture and 5 percent 4-H programming.

Jones, who holds a master's degree in biology and a bachelor's degree in botany from Utah State University, worked for Native Plants Incorporated in Salt Lake City and Frito-Lay in Texas before joining the University of Idaho.

Reed Findlay, formerly University of Idaho coordinator of the USDA Snake River Water Quality Demonstration project in Burley, transferred to Bannock County on Nov. 3. He will spend two-thirds of his time on 4-H programming and the remainder on home horticulture and agricultural crops.

Findlay earned master's and bachelor's degrees in agronomy from Brigham Young University and was an extension agent for Montana State University for a year before joining the University of Idaho extension faculty in 1994.

Scott Nash, Bannock County extension educator since 1995, transferred to Bingham County on Sept. 8. He will concentrate two-thirds of his efforts on 4-H and the other third on adult livestock. Nash has a master's degree in animal science from Texas A&M University, a bachelor's degree in animal science from Brigham Young University, and managed a purebred charolais ranch in Texas from 1986 to 1995.