Leaf Spot of Apsen and Popular

"What can I do about the black spots on my quaking aspen trees?" is a common refrain around Idaho in July and August.  University of Idaho Extension has recently publish a new Current Information Series on Leaf Spot of Aspen and Popular. While black spot has a genetic susceptibility component, this publication, written by Dr. Bill Bohl describes the symptoms and lets you know what you can do culturally and chemically to help suppress this unsightly disease on your quakes.

Read it at http://www.cals.uidaho.edu/edComm/pdf/CIS/CIS1202.pdf

Do Grow Pasture Grasses for Seed?

The University of Idaho IR-4 program, which undergoes the registration of special use pesticides for specialty crops is seeking a cooperator who is growing pasture grasses to be harvested for seed.  If you are harvesting seed from you pasture I or around Butte County, please contact the Butte County Extension Office at 527-8587 or ccheyney@uidaho.edu.

In the Cattle Markets: Fewer Cattle on Feed....

Nov. 25, 2013

Tim Petry, Livestock Economist

North Dakota State University Extension Service

 

Fewer Cattle on Feed Will Reduce Beef Production

 

USDA-NASS released the monthly Cattle on Feed report on November 22. The number of cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the U.S. for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 head or more totaled 10.607 million head on Nov. 1. The inventory was almost 6% below Nov. 1, 2012, and marks the 15^th consecutive month with lower cattle on feed numbers than the previous year. And it was the lowest number of Nov. 1 cattle on feed since the data series began in 1996

Read the entire article at
http://www.lmic.info/memberspublic/pubframes.html

Idaho Health Insurance Market Place Workshop Dec 4th

In addition to this information filled evening, Your Health Idaho is committed to providing Idahoans with a magnitude of outlets to seek information. We encourage individuals to contact our Consumer Resource Center at 855-YH-Idaho (855-944-3246) or go online at www.YourHealthIdaho.org to find a Consumer Connector including agents, brokers and In-Person Assisters near them.

ATTRA Invites Sustainable-Agriculture Conversations

'Farmer Knows Best' Forum Offers More Than A Dozen Topics

ATTRA, the nation’s premiere source of sustainable-agriculture information, is asking its users to weigh in with ideas and questions of their own.

A new user forum on the ATTRA website, “Farmer Knows Best,” is a way for farmers, researchers, educators, and anyone else interested in sustainable agriculture to start or contribute to a conversation on more than a dozen topics:

•    Beginning Farmer
•    Water Management
•    Soils & Compost
•    Pest Management
•    Organic Farming
•    Marketing, Business & Risk
•    Local Food Systems
•    Livestock & Pasture
•    Horticultural Crops
•    Field Crops
•    Energy Alternatives
•    What Is Sustainable Ag?
•    Education
•    General

“What better way to support research and sustainable-agriculture education than offering the people who are dedicated and passionate about the subject to share their ideas and insights,” said Carl Little, director of the National Center for Appropriate Technology’s (NCAT) sustainable agriculture programs.

To get to Farmers Know Best, click on www.attra.ncat.org

ATTRA sustainable-agriculture specialists also will keep an eye on the site for conversations to join, adding another venue for their expertise.

Farming and Ranching Means Jobs

Last year water was short in California as it was in many places in the west.  Business people in the west side community came together to help people understand how important production agriculture is to their community

 

USDA Grain Supply and Demand Projectsions fro November 8

USDA released their long-awaited monthly grain supply and demand projections today after cancelling last month’s report due to the partial federal government shutdown.  Projections are considered mostly friendly to soybeans and corn and neutral to wheat.  Highlights below:

FRAUD ALERT! Producers should be aware of fraudulent letter circulating

November 2013

USDA has been made aware that there is a fraudulent letter circulating to producers and/or contractors. The signature line in these letters reads “Frank Rutenberg” and the sender claims to be a USDA employee seeking information about the recipient.  These letters are a fraud, the sender is fictitious and recipients should NOT respond to these letters. Should you receive one of these fraudulent letters, please notify your local Farm Service Agency or a USDA Service Center representative. Please share this information with your fellow farmers and ranchers. Contact USDA/FSA

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

RMA Reminds Growers of Sales Closing Dates for Apiculture and the Pasture , Rangeland, Forage Vegetation Index Program

SPOKANE, Wash., Nov. 5, 2013 – USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds producers in Idaho and Oregon of the November 15 sales closing dates for the Pasture, Rangeland, Forage (PRF) pilot program, Vegetation Index program, and the Apiculture (API) pilot program for the 2014 crop year.

In the Cattle Markets: Considering herd expansion?

by Glynn T. Tonsor, Associate Professor, Dept of Ag Economics, Kansas State University

 

As the meat complex adjusts to lower feed costs and increases interest in expanding production, it is important to step-back and take note of resources available to guide corresponding decisions. A valuable resource to utilize is the user-friendly spreadsheet Dr. Kevin Dhuyvetter has created for assessing the economic situation presented by purchasing replacement females.[1] The spreadsheet is designed to easily be adjusted for a given producer's situation regarding costs and production along with expectations of cattle prices over upcoming years and targeted rates of return.

See the entire article at:
http://www.lmic.info/memberspublic/InTheCattleMarket/cattlemarkets.pdf