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2019 cost estimates of establishing, producing, and packing Gala apples in Washington
No full textThe results presented in this WSU publication serve as a general guide for evaluating the feasibility of producing Gala apples in Washington as of 2019. This publication is not intended to be a definitive guide to production practices, but it is helpful in estimating the physical and financial requirements of comparable plantings. To avoid drawing unwarranted conclusions for any particular orchard, readers must closely examine the assumptions made in this guide, and then adjust the costs, returns, or both as appropriate for their own orchard operation
Washington State University 2021 Catalog.
No full textCompiles course descriptions for the Washington State University. Individual issues were published either yearly or every other year. Many issues were published as Bulletins of the State College (or University).School catalog delineating classes offered, credits, requirements, and other academic information believed to be necessary for incoming students
Optimal Overlays for Preservation of Concrete Slabs in Cold Climate: Multi-Criteria Decision Making by the Method of Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation Combined with AHP
No full textExcel data fileOverlays have been extensively employed as an effective preservation or rehabilitation tool to extend the service life of concrete bridges and pavements, especially these deteriorated concrete slabs suffering from salt scaling and abrasion. However, limited attention has been paid to the durability and performance of these overlays which can be jeopardized when they are exposed to freeze/thaw-wet/dry cycles, deicer applications, studded tires, and their coupled effects as well. Various overlays feature different engineering properties, and they might be only effective in specific service environments but not others, and research is lacking to examine the adaptation of various overlays in different environments. This study subjected five overlay products on concrete slabs to the combined action of freeze/thaw (F/T) and wet/dry (W/D) cycles with periodical exposure to either 15 wt.% NaCl solution or 15 wt.% MgCl2 solutions, to simulate the typical field scenarios in an accelerated manner. The bond strength, splitting tensile strength, and abrasion resistance of the overlaid concrete slabs were tested to evaluate the effectiveness of various overlays against the deicer scaling and the abrasion by studded tires. Based on the experimental data, this study demonstrated a multi-criteria decision-making method, fuzzy comprehensive evaluation (FCE) combined with analytic hierarchy process (AHP), for the selection of optimal overlays in three different service scenarios (e.g., states of Washington and Oregon [USA] and British Columbia [Canada]). The analysis results indicated that one epoxy overlay exhibited the comprehensively best performance and could be a promising candidate in all three given scenarios, another polymer overlay took second place, while the adaptability of the three cement-based overlays varied in different environments
Growing winter malting barley west of the Cascades
No full textGrowing malting barley is increasingly being considered by farmers west of the Cascades to serve emerging craft brewing and distilling markets and to function as a rotation crop for horticultural crops, such as potatoes or vegetable and grass seed. Several publications provide information on growing barley generally and the prospects for a malting barley industry in the region. This publication provides a succinct resource for those preparing to grow winter malting barley
Six steps to calibrate and optimize airblast sprayers for orchards and vineyards
No full textThe goal for all pesticide applications should be to get every drop to the crop. Calibration ensures that the appropriate product rate is applied by the sprayer, while optimization ensures that the product is delivered onto the intended target. Calibrating and optimizing the sprayer are essential to sustainability, as they affect the environment, farm workers, and economic impact through fruit quality and pesticide costs. In six steps, this publication explains how to measure ground speed and nozzle output, check and adjust airflow and nozzle alignment, and verify coverage for an airblast sprayer. Methods are outlined for manual completion of the steps, and simplified formulas and suggestions for tools that can make the process faster are included
Jointed Goatgrass ecology
No full textJointed goatgrass management in winter wheat has been difficult because the genetics and growth patterns of these two species are similar. Knowledge of jointed goatgrass growth characteristics can help producers select effective management strategies, as some attributes of jointed goatgrass respond to control practices. In this Extension bulletin, we describe the ecology of jointed goatgrass at various stages of its life cycle, and then relate these characteristics to the effectiveness of cultural practices used for managing jointed goatgrass
Field and hedge bindweed : identification and biological control
No full textField 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
Testing agricultural water for fruit and vegetable production and postharvest handling
No full textWater 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
Financial analysis principles and applications for private forest lands
No full textThere are many reasons for owning forestland. Some are financial, such as generating income from timber harvest or a real estate sale after long-term investment. Others are not financial, such as aesthetics, recreation, or wildlife habitat. Whatever your ownership objectives may be, even if they are not primarily financially motivated, understanding basic financial principles as they apply to forestry will help you make informed decisions for sustainable management of your forest. A financially healthy forest is one in which costs and revenues are carefully planned for, minimizing financial burdens to landowners and providing opportunities for supplemental income that can offset the costs of management, be reinvested in the land to support stewardship activities, be invested in the stewardship of additional acreage, or be used to meet other family needs. Forests need to be managed over long time horizons because there may be several decades between harvests. Depending on rotation length and ownership turnover, some forest owners may only harvest once in their lifetime. A little bit of financial planning can make the difference between a successful harvest that meets multiple objectives or a poorly timed harvest that leads to needless loss for the landowner. The purpose of this manual is to introduce the basic principles of forest finance and provide examples of how these principles might be applied to the management of your property. Some advanced concepts are presented later in the manual in case you wish to go deeper into the subject matter
4-H treasurer's handbook leader guide
No full textFund development is crucial to WSU Extension programming and, especially, to the 4-H Youth Development club delivery model. Lack of an effective and efficient approach to educating members on proper methods of accruing, spending, and recording funds could result in noncompliance with the IRS and state requirements, inappropriate spending of public funds, and, ultimately, legal implications. The 4-H Treasurer’s Handbook Leader Guide is intended as a reference for 4-H Club leaders to use while coaching youth in managing 4-H Club funds. This publication and the 4-H Treasurer’s Handbook direct the spending and accounting of 4-H funds