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Pollinators in canola in the Inland Pacific Northwest
No full textPollinators 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
Food safety considerations for postharvest washing of produce and sanitation of packing areas
No full textMany food safety issues that occur in postharvest unit operations are associated with: 1. Cross contamination between contaminated and uncontaminated produce during washing, or 2. Improper cleaning and disinfection of tools, equipment, and facilities used during packing and holding of produce. For these reasons, we will focus on proper use of two commonly used sanitizers, chlorine and peroxyacetic acid (PAA) during postharvest washing as well as how to develop a robust sanitation program for your farm or packinghouse.Funding for this publication was made possible, in part, by the Food and Drug Administration, grant PAR-16-13
Fruit pie fillings for home canning
No full textHome canned fruit pie fillings make it easy to prepare delicious pies and dessert all year long. The recipes in this publication have been specifically developed for home canning and, when followed, will produce a product that tastes good and is shelf-stable and safe. In this publication, you will find instructions for making apple, blueberry, cherry, and peach pie fillings
WSU Wilke Research and Extension Farm operation, production, and economic performance for 2020
No full textThe 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
Growing quinoa in Washington State
No full textQuinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is gaining popularity as a relatively new crop for Washington State. It has been cultivated for thousands of years around its center of origin in South America, but recently has gained worldwide recognition for its nutritional benefits and adaptability to a variety of environments. Quinoa production in North America was very limited until recently. Quinoa has been successfully cultivated in regions such as the Canadian prairies, the San Luis Valley of Colorado, coastal areas in central California, Willamette Valley of Oregon, and the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. Other areas of Washington State could also provide the right climate and conditions for producing quinoa, such as the maritime climates found along much of the western region, the mountainous regions in central and northern areas of the state, and the Palouse River Basin on the eastern edge. Quinoa may be a suitable crop for a variety of cropping systems that can be found in Washington State. Quinoa is known for producing quality yields even in adverse conditions, including low fertility, throughout the world. For any system, quinoa can be a beneficial rotation crop to help break cereal disease cycles, and even the conventional market value is high compared to similar crop types
Jointed goatgrass best management practices (BMP) Intermountain region
No full textJointed goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica) is an annual invasive grass weed that infests winter wheat fields in the western United States, resulting in reduced wheat yield and quality. Native to southern Europe and Russia, jointed goatgrass is believed to have been introduced into the United States in contaminated wheat in the late 1800s. Most recent estimates place the number of infested acres in the U.S. at five million, across several western and mid-western states. Research has shown that jointed goatgrass infestations can reduce wheat yields up to 30%. In 2003, yield losses due to jointed goatgrass infestations for the Intermountain region, including Utah, southern Idaho, and parts of Nevada, were approximately 139,000 bushels of winter wheat. Spikelets of jointed goatgrass cannot be completely removed from contaminated wheat grain with conventional sieve-type, or special length-grading seed cleaners. This results in increased dockage and a lower market price when marketing the wheat grain. Jointed goatgrass identification and management are complex issues. Similarity to wheat in appearance and life cycle make jointed goatgrass difficult to accurately identify in the field. Additionally, genetic similarities to wheat make it difficult to selectively control with herbicides. Under conditions of adequate precipitation, wheat is more competitive for resources than jointed goatgrass. However, this relationship reverses once moisture becomes limiting. This is of particular concern in the Intermountain region because of severely limited moisture available for dryland cropping systems. In areas where annual precipitation is less than approximately 15 inches per year, producers generally use a winter wheat-fallow rotation to ensure sufficient moisture for maximum crop yields
Davenport living snow fence demonstration : fifteen-year survival and growth update
No full textThis Washington State University publication discusses the Davenport Living Snow Fence, a dryland Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum) demonstration project planted in 2003, and provides data on tree growth and survival rates during its first 15 years. The primary purpose of this planting was to demonstrate implementation. A secondary purpose was to examine tree growth, row variability, and survival. This demonstration was not intended to measure snow catchment effectiveness, although this could be accomplished in subsequent years. Empirical observations for snow catchment, impact of reducing snow drifting onto the state highway during periods of adverse winter weather, and wildlife uses of the Davenport Living Snow Fence are included
Steady State Raw Raman Measurements (12-26-20 to 1-27-21)
No full textSteady State Raw Raman Measurement from 12-26-20 to 1-27-2
How to Take Representative Samples to Quantify Plastic Particles in Soil?
No full textR program and codes used for the simulations
Jointed goatgrass : best management practices southern Great Plains
No full textJointed Goatgrass is an invasive weed that is closely related to wheat and can have a negative impact on wheat profitability. This publication details the best management practices in a multi-practice approach, specific to the Southern Great Plains region, for successful control of jointed goatgrass