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Increasing value of corn silage in corn-triticale system by intercropping with forage soybean
No full textIntercropping is an old and commonly used agricultural practice of cultivating two or more crops in the same space at the same time. Double cropping is when two crops are planted sequentially in one year. Double cropping corn–triticale rotation for silage is a common practice in the Columbia Basin and in the Treasure Valley of Idaho and Oregon as it increases the amount of feed that can be grown for dairy cows. Double cropping provides protection of the soil from wind and water erosion during the winter months and additional organic matter to the soil via root degradation. Double cropping will also enhance intercropping of corn and soybean as the later planting will increase soybean competition in the intercrop mixture with corn. The most common advantage of intercropping is the greater yield on a given piece of land by making efficient use of the available resources. Moreover, intercropping with legumes improves soil fertility through biological nitrogen fixation, increases soil conservation, and provides better lodging resistance for crops susceptible to lodging. Intercropping provides financial stability, especially during extreme weather conditions such as drought, and makes the system particularly suitable for labor-intensive small farms. In addition, intercropping minimizes agriculture’s environmental influences and reduces fertilizer and pesticide application requirements. However, there are some disadvantages with intercropping, such as the selection of the appropriate crop species, sowing densities, crop management, and harvest
Jointed goatgrass genetics
No full textJointed 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
Jointed goatgrass : best management practices central Great Plains
No full textJointed 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 jointed goatgrass in the Pacific Northwest
No full textJointed goatgrass is a 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. Although jointed goatgrass is a major problem in most winter wheat growing areas west of the Mississippi River, the climate and cropping patterns of the Pacific Northwest (PNW) are unique and may influence the choice of options available for effective management of this pest. In particular, producers have noted that by adopting direct seed/reduced tillage management systems, both the number of jointed goatgrass infestations and the densities of these infestations tend to increase
Fir engraver damage in western Washington
No full textThe fir engraver beetle (Scolytus ventralis) can cause significant damage and mortality to conifers in the Abies genus in western Washington. This small insect bores below the bark of trees and feeds on the sugar-rich phloem. In the process, they also cause severe damage to the cambium, the tissue responsible for annual diameter growth. If enough beetles feed on the tree, they will eventually girdle its circumference, cutting off nutrient flow and causing the tree to die. While this beetle is capable of killing trees, in western Washington it behaves as a secondary agent. This means it typically can only establish itself in trees dealing with a preexisting stressor, such as drought or a root disease. When trees are under significant stress, they are less able to defend themselves. Because of this, severe drought conditions in western Washington often correlate with a spike in fir engraver beetle populations. Since climate models predict hotter, drier summers in the coastal northwest, fir engraver damage and mortality may become more commonplace in the years to come
Food preservation for special diets : adjusting sugar and sodium when preserving at home
No full textHome food preservation can be an excellent option for people who want to reduce the amount of sugar or sodium in their diets. At harvest, foods are naturally low in sodium and added sugars. When fresh foods are processed commercially, both sugar and sodium are added because they function as preservatives. By processing fresh foods at home, you can modify the amounts of sugar and sodium, giving you the chance to prepare foods that interest you and meet your personal dietary goals. This publication provides a synopsis of the changes you can safely make to the sugar and sodium content when preserving foods at home. It also describes the few instances where these ingredients cannot be altered because they are essential to the outcome or the safety of the product
Pest management guide for grapes in Washington
No full textThe 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
Integrated management of prickly lettuce in wheat production systems
No full textPrickly 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
Growing barley in western Washington
No full textBarley (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
Biodiesel in the Pacific Northwest
No full textThis publication presents background about biodiesel fuel and discusses its role in the Pacific Northwest (PNW), including relevant policies, usage, feedstock sources, and production. Biodiesel is an alternative to petroleum-derived diesel that is produced from fats, such as vegetable oil and used cooking oil. Potential benefits of biodiesel include reduced greenhouse gas emissions, lower dependence on foreign oil, air quality improvements, safer fuel handling and storage, and rural development opportunities. Both federal and state policies incentivize biodiesel production and use. These policies were created in response to rising oil prices and limited supply of domestic oil in the early 2000s. The PNW appeared to be a promising region for a biodiesel industry, with the ability to grow and process feedstocks and produce, transport, and consume biodiesel. Today in the PNW, biodiesel and its feedstocks are made, sold, and consumed, but significant economic barriers (e.g., low petroleum prices) and policy uncertainties have limited the expansion of the biodiesel industry. However, one of the largest US biodiesel production facilities is located in Hoquiam, Washington. Oregon is enforcing low-carbon fuel policies, and there is potential for increased regional growing and processing of biodiesel feedstocks