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2 CapitalPress.com March 6, 2015 People & Places Cutting-edge technology boosts precision Olga Walsh wants to expand use of drones to make ag more efficient By SEAN ELLIS Capital Press PARMA, Idaho — New University of Idaho research- er Olga Walsh is studying the use of cutting-edge method- ologies to help farmers use nutrients and water more ef- ficiently. Walsh, a cropping systems agronomist, said farmers have embraced technologies such as global positioning sat- ellites but she believes the next big step is for producers to adopt the use of precision agriculture on a large scale to improve water and nutri- ent use efficiency. The technology is already there to do that, researchers just need to develop ways to help farmers determine how best to use it, she said. “Our big challenge is to use these precision tools to improve the efficiency of our cropping systems,” said Walsh, who started work at UI’s Parma Research and Extension Center in late September. “I think in the future precision agriculture is going to just be a normal part of agriculture.” One of Walsh’s main priorities is to develop a system that uses unmanned aerial vehicles to monitor wheat fields for nutrient and Sean Ellis/Capital Press University of Idaho cropping systems agronomist Olga Walsh uses a pocket sensor to measure crop reflectance Feb. 27 in a winter wheat field at UI’s Parma research center. Walsh is studying the use of cutting edge methodologies to help farmers improve water and nutrient use efficiency. Western Innovator Olga Walsh Title: Cropping systems agronomist, University of Idaho Education: Bachelor’s degree in soil science, St. Petersburg State University, Russia; master’s and Ph.D. degrees in soil science, Oklahoma State University Home: Nampa, Idaho Family: Husband, Stephen, and three children, ages 12, 6 and 3 water stress. Remote sensing cameras on the UAVs would show the light reflectance of the crop’s canopy and an algo- rithm specific to Idaho con- ditions would interpret the data and show farmers how they can best use nitrogen and water to optimize yields. That type of system al- ready exists but it is not specific to Idaho conditions, said Walsh. “We just need to develop the methodology so a grow- er can go and buy the (drone and software) as a package,” she said. That project will include using UAVs to drag sticky traps across wheat fields so researchers can moni- tor populations of fusarium spores and determine if the field needs to be treated for the pathogen, which can lead to fusarium head blight. Parma research station superintendent James Bar- bour said Walsh’s work with UAVs and other precision agriculture techniques is ex- citing, and her background in that area is one of the rea- sons she was hired. “We think (precision ag- riculture is) going to play a huge role in agriculture in the future,” he said. “There is a lot of untapped poten- tial there. I think (Walsh) is going to be a real important player ... in agriculture in Idaho.” Walsh is also working on a project to develop ref- erence strips and precision sensors that can tell a wheat farmer how much nitrogen is in a certain part of his field. “They will know exact- ly how much nitrogen they have down ... and can use that information to gauge the rest of their crop,” said Cathy Wilson, the Idaho Wheat Commission’s direc- tor of research collaboration. Walsh also plans to de- velop sustainable cropping systems for dual-purpose bi- ennial canola and evaluate bi- ological seed and foliar prod- ucts to improve bean yield and quality. She was born in St. Peters- burg, Russia. Walsh worked as a soil nu- trient management specialist at Montana State University from 2010 to 2014. She is looking for growers interested in precision agri- culture to work with. She can be reached at (208) 722-6701, Ext. 218, or by email at ow- alsh@uidaho.edu. Capital Press Established 1928 Board of directors Mike Forrester ..........................President Steve Forrester Kathryn Brown Sid Freeman .................. Outside director Mike Omeg .................... Outside director Corporate officer John Perry Chief operating officer Capital Press Managers Mike O’Brien .............................Publisher Joe Beach ..................................... Editor Elizabeth Yutzie Sell .... Advertising Director Carl Sampson ................Managing Editor Barbara Nipp ......... Production Manager Samantha McLaren .... Circulation Manager Entire contents copyright © 2015 EO Media Group dba Capital Press An independent newspaper published every Friday. Capital Press (ISSN 0740-3704) is published weekly by EO Media Group, 1400 Broadway St. NE, Salem OR 97301. Periodicals postage paid at Portland, OR, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Capital Press, P.O. Box 2048 Salem, OR 97308-2048. To Reach Us Toll free ............................. 800-882-6789 Main line ........................... 503-364-4431 Fax ................................... 503-370-4383 Advertising Fax ................ 503-364-2692 News Staff N. California Tim Hearden .................... 530-605-3072 E Idaho John O’Connell ................. 208-421-4347 Idaho Carol Ryan Dumas .......... 208-860-3898 Boise Sean Ellis .......................... 208-914-8264 Central Washington Dan Wheat ........................ 509-699-9099 E Washington Matthew Weaver .............. 509-688-9923 Logging conference opens doors to students Oregon Eric Mortenson ................ 503-412-8846 Mateusz Perkowski .......... 800-882-6789 By JAN JACKSON Graphic artist Alan Kenaga ..................... 800-882-6789 Online For the Capital Press EUGENE, Ore. — Compe- titions, industry accreditation seminars and displays of the latest in timber management equipment were the most ob- vious components of the 77th annual Oregon Logging Con- ference held Feb. 19-21, at the Lane County Fairgrounds in Eugene. Less visible were the more than 800 third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students who spent the better part of a day learning about the timber industry. Women in Timber mem- bers, in cooperation with the Oregon Forest Resources Insti- tute, Project Learning Tree and Society of Oregon Foresters and other industry groups, have sponsored the student education program since 1991. Industry members consider educating the young people critical to the future of Oregon’s forests. Mary Loftin, a retired teach- er who volunteers as a Lane County facilitator for Talk About Trees, talked about the Women in Timber: www. womenintimber.org For information on free class- room education programs: www.oregonforests.org or www.talkabouttrees.org Associated Press FRESNO, Calif. — After spending 67 years together as devoted husband and wife, there was no question how Floyd and Violet Hartwig would end their lives — together. Sensing the couple was close to death, their children pushed their two hospice beds together and gently placed their father’s hand in their mother’s palm. Floyd, 90, died first. Vi- olet, 89, followed five hours later. They died Feb. 11 at home, just as they had Photos by Jan Jackson/For the Capital Press Elementary school children take an outdoor guided tour of equip- ment and displays at the 77th annual Oregon Logging Conference in Eugene. role she played in Friday’s pro- gram. About 100 children arrived at a time and went to a class- room for a 30-minute overview of the forest industry, Loftin said. “We want them to under- stand the importance of forest stewardship and what part it plays in meeting their own so- cial, environmental and eco- nomic needs,” she said. “We talk about the importance of science and teamwork, wild- life and clean water and show them a short video before they go into a couple of small group sessions.” They also got a guided tour of the grounds so they could watch demonstrations and see the equipment up close. K.C. VanNatta, a logger and tree farmer from Colum- bia County who has attended Tiffany Roddy, a forester for Weyerhaeuser, introduces school children to the boots she wears on her job in the woods. the conferences since the early 1970s, believes the future of the industry relies on educating young people. “The next generation will be right at home with today’s eco-friendly computer-oper- ated equipment the size of a cell phone that can now tell us where our equipment is lo- cated and what it is doing, the diameter measurement of a tree we are about to harvest and the weight of the logs as we load them on the truck,” VanNatta said. “While us old guys have had to struggle to learn how to use the new technology, these already computer-savvy kids will find it to be a piece of cake.” “Everybody enjoys going to the conference to see friends and colleagues, watching the competitions and getting up- dates on the latest methods and equipment,” he said, “but it’s programs like the Women in Timber provide that will help keep our forests alive. Thanks to them and organizations like them, these kids are getting the education they need as well as an understanding of what is really going on in the woods.” wished, the family said. “They wanted to go to- gether,” their daughter, Donna Scharton, said Thursday. “It was meant to be that way.” The two knew each other as children, growing up in the Central California farming com- munity of Easton. Romance sparked at a local dance hall one night when Floyd, a decorated Navy sailor, was home on shore leave. They were married on Aug. 16, 1947, and while away Floyd showered Violet with af- fection through love letters the family cherishes. Returning home for good, the two raised three children on their small farm, growing cot- ton and raising turkeys. Violet helped on the ranch and kept the house. She prepared breakfast early each morning for her hus- band, seeing him off to work as a ranch foreman and delivering eggs. “They were dedicated to each other,” Scharton said. “Even other people who met them said they had that connec- tion.” The couple, who had four grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, remained active until recently. Around the holidays, the family noticed that Violet’s dementia had wors- ened, and in late January a doc- tor said Floyd’s failing kidneys gave him two weeks to live. The family moved the couches from the living room of their ranch house, making space for the hospice beds. Cyn- thia Letson said that after her grandfather passed, they told her grandmother that she could go, too. They told Violet that Floyd was waiting for her. Letson said her grandpar- ents are a positive example at a time with too many broken marriages. Fair & Expo, Linn County Fair and Expo Center, Albany, www.equine- promotions.net Fruit Association Annual Meeting, The Grand Del Mar , San Diego, www.CA- FreshFruit.com FFA Conference, Selland Arena, Fresno, www.calaged.org/statecon- vention IDAHO March 27 — Forestland grazing workshop, 1 to 5 p.m., Federal Build- ing meeting room, Seventh Avenue and College Street, St. Maries, 208- 245-2422, http://www.uidaho.edu/ extension/forestry APRIL OREGON April 18 — Oregon Women for Agriculture Auction and Dinner, Linn County Fair and Expo Center, Albany, 503-243-FARM (3276), http://owaon- line.org/ April 25-26 — AgFest, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Oregon State Fairgrounds, Salem, $9 for adults, under 12 are free, http://www.oragfest.com IDAHO April 8-11 — State FFA Leadership Conference, College of Southern Idaho, Twin Falls, www.idffafoundation.org/ CALIFORNIA March 17-18 — Fruit Ripening & Retail Handling Workshop, Uni- versity of California-Davis, http:// postharvest.ucdavis.edu/Education/ fruitripening/ March 22-24 — California Fresh CALIFORNIA April 18-21 — California State WASHINGTON April 4 — Washington State Sheep Producers Lambing and Man- agement School, Sprague, $50 (mem- ber), $60 (non-member), 509-257- 2230, dvm@feustelfarms.com April 6-11 — Washington State Sheep Producers Shearing School, Moses Lake Mail rates paid in advance Easy Pay U.S. $3.75/month (direct with- drawal from bank or credit card account) 1 year U.S. ...................................$49.49 2 years U.S. .................................$89.89 1 year Canada .................................$275 1 year other countries ......... call for quote 1 year Internet only ............................$49 1 year 4-H, FFA students and teachers ....$30 9 months 4-H, FFA students & teachers .....$25 Visa and Mastercard accepted To get information published Mailing address: Capital Press P.O. Box 2048 Salem, OR 97308-2048 News: Contact the main office or news staff member closest to you, send the in- formation to newsroom@capitalpress.com or mail it to “Newsroom,” c/o Capital Press. Include a contact telephone number. Letters to the Editor: Send your comments on agriculture-related public issues to opinions@capitalpress.com, or mail your letter to “Opinion,” c/o Capital Press. Letters should be limited to 300 words. Deadline: Noon Monday. Capital Press ag media www.capitalpress.com www.FarmSeller.com www.AgDirectoryWest.com www.OnlyAg.com www.facebook.com/capitalpress www.facebook.com/farmseller www.facebook.com/onlyAGdotcom twitter.com/capitalpress www.youtube.com/capitalpressvideo www.blogriculture.com Index AP Photo/Cynthia Letson Floyd and Violet Hartwig pose together in 2014 in a yard in Easton, Calif. Calendar MARCH OREGON March 16-17 — Oregon State University Blueberry School, LaSells Stewart Center and CH2M Hill Alum- ni Center, OSU campus, Corvallis, http://osublueberryschool.org/ March 17 — What To Do with My Small Farm? Oregon State University Extension Small Farms, Jackson County, 541-776-7371, ext. 208 paula.burkhalter@ore- gonstate.edu. Cost: $25 Register: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/ sorec/farms March 20-23 — Oregon FFA State Convention, Silverton, www. oregonffa.com March 20-22 — Northwest Horse Ad fax .............................. 503-364-2692 or ...................................... 503-370-4383 Telephone (toll free) .......... 866-435-2965 Online ......www.capitalpress.com/classifieds Subscriptions California couple married 67 years dies holding hands By SCOTT SMITH To Place Classified Ads April 16-19 — Washington State Spring Fair, Puyallup, 2-10 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri- day and Saturday and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday, http://www.thefair.com/ spring-fair/ MAY WASHINGTON May 14-16 — Washington FFA Convention, Washington State Univer- sity, Pullman, www.washingtonffa.org/ convention CALIFORNIA May 1-2 — Forest Landowners of California annual meeting, Holiday Inn, Auburn, www.forestlandowners. org/ California ...............................11 Dairy .................................... 14 Idaho ...................................... 9 Livestock ............................. 14 Markets ............................... 18 Opinion .................................. 6 Oregon .................................. 8 Washington ......................... 10 Correction policy Accuracy is important to Capital Press staff and to our readers. 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