Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Capital press. (Salem, OR) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 23, 2015)
October 23, 2015 CapitalPress.com 13 U.S. producers will Corn maze provides spook-tacular fun benefit from TPP, economists predict By TAMMY MALGESINI EO Media Group By MATTHEW WEAVER Capital Press While one economist predicts U.S. fruit and vege- table farmers will be the big winners in the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, another believes the beef in- dustry could ultimately see the biggest gains. The produce industry will gain a lot of customers from the TPP “simply because it reduces their costs in the markets,” said Peter Toz- er, director of Washington State University’s IMPACT Center, which measures the effect of global factors on Washington agriculture. Tozer doesn’t see any ma- jor losers in the deal, just sec- tors of agriculture where the benefits won’t be as large as predicted. U.S. beef and dairy pro- ducers hoped to improve ac- cess into the Japanese market under the deal. “But then you’ve got to also remember Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States all want a piece of that market,” he said. “In the long term, it might end up being a bit of a wash with regard to who benefits the most.” Japan’s involvement in TPP was a major factor for participating countries, since it has some of the most com- plicated trade barriers. Tozer said the deal proba- bly could have gone further, since Japan’s beef and dairy industry are still well-pro- tected, but political sensitiv- ities in Japan are a factor. “I think you’ve got to look at it as sort of the glass half full rather than the glass half empty,” he said. “The tariffs are coming down, so it provides low-cost (entry) into that market. There will be benefits for ag producers in the United States, espe- cially with beef.” Andrew Cassey, associate professor in WSU’s School of Economic Sciences, be- lieves beef exporters current- ly blocked from some TPP countries will benefit most. TPP’s economic success depends on the extent it al- lows firms to access markets they were previously unable to reach. If it happens on a large scale, the benefit goes to consumers or firms that now have more goods and types of goods available to them at lower prices, and ex- porting firms now able to sell to more people and more for- eign firm purchasers. “There should be large gain to middle-sized firms that were maybe just export- ing to Canada and Mexico if TPP allows them to enter new markets,” Cassey said. Firms that make products similar to a foreign product and are not very productive now should be concerned, Cassey said. Increased for- eign entry will further reduce their profitability, regardless of whether they currently export. Vietnam is the country that may benefit the most, gaining export into Pacific Rim countries they did not have access to before, Tozer said. Karen Lewis heads WSU Extension tree fruit team By DAN WHEAT Capital Press MOSES LAKE, Wash. — Karen Lewis, a Wash- ington State University Ex- tension regional tree fruit specialist, has been appoint- ed to lead WSU’s tree fruit extension team. Lewis is assuming some of the duties of the former tree fruit extension program leader, Desmond Layne, who was appointed direc- tor of agricultural and food systems and integrated plant sciences programs at WSU on Sept. 1. Lewis will continue as specialist focusing on inte- gration of orchard systems, people and technology. About 30 percent of her time will be spent in her new role coordinating the delivery of information from research- ers to the industry. Tianna DuPont starts Nov. 1 as a new WSU re- gional tree fruit specialist in Wenatchee, succeeding Tim Smith. She will work with the industry and her WSU colleagues to identify issues and areas to focus her re- search, Lewis said. DuPont has been a sus- tainable agriculture and veg- etable and small fruit educa- tor at Penn State University. Gwen Hoheisel, WSU tree fruit, grape and berry specialist in Prosser, focuses on spray application tech- nology. Many other WSU and Washington Tree Fruit Re- search Commission research scientists are part of the ex- tension team, Lewis said. Her job, she said, will be to coordinate and facilitate their collaborative delivery of information from their work to the industry. Celebrating its 16th year, the Walla Walla Corn Maze has a Sweet 16 theme carved within the rows of corn. However, the sweet expe- rience can be scary. As if the swooshing sound of the corn- stalks in the wind isn’t enough to keep you on edge, masked creatures are lurking within the maze to scare those brave enough to enter in the dark- ness. The maze offers spooky fun Thursdays and Sundays from dark until 10 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from dark to 11 p.m. Parental dis- cretion is required for chil- dren under 12. People are en- couraged to bring a flashlight. For the faint of heart, reg- ular hours are Saturdays and Sundays from 2 to 5 p.m. Families with small children can enter the maze for a non- scary experience. The daytime tours are free for ages 0-3, $5 for ages 4-11 (must be accompanied by someone 16 or older) and $7 for ages 12 and up. The night- time entry for scary fun is $10 per person. Payment is by cash or checks only. The last admission is 30 minutes prior to closing time. Tammy Malgesini/EO Media Group A family can’t decide which way to go while visiting the Walla Walla Corn Maze. The maze, which is open through Halloween, offers regular hours and scary hours. In addition to the maze, visitors can try their luck with the corn cannons during day- light hours Saturday and Sun- days. Launch corncobs for a chance to win cash prizes or extra shots. The cost is $1 per shot or $10 for 12 shots. Also, sit around the bonfire and enjoy some food from the concession stand. Keri’s Con- cessions offers burgers, hot dogs, corn dogs, fries, tater tots and nachos. The Walla Walla Corn Maze is located at 853 Five Mile Road, Walla Walla. To get there, follow the signs east on Isaacs to Mill Creek Road, and go right at the Y onto Five Mile Road. Travel approximately 1/2 mile to the parking lot of the corn maze on the left. For more information, vis- it www.wallawallacornmaze. com or call 509-525-4798. Researchers anticipate more yellow dwarf trouble By JOHN O’CONNELL Capital Press University of Idaho Ex- tension researchers warn that aphid pressure is mounting amid a warm fall, and con- ditions may be aligning once again for widespread barley yellow dwarf virus infections in winter grains. UI Extension cereals pa- thologist Juliet Marshall ad- vises growers to monitor their fields for aphids and to spray a foliar insecticide on emerging fall grains as their initial seed treatments begin to wear off. “We’re pretty confident there will be another wide- spread infection,” Marshall said. Symptoms of the aphid- spread virus include yellow- ing leaves, often with red tips. It weakens plants, mak- ing them more susceptible to other crop ailments, and can contribute to yield reductions in excess of 60 percent. According to the National Weather Service, tempera- tures haven’t dipped below freezing yet this fall in Bur- ley and Blackfoot, and the forecast calls for above-nor- mal temperatures throughout Southern Idaho for the next two weeks. The current re- cords for latest date in fall before a freezing temperature are Oct. 17 in Blackfoot and Oct. 28 in Burley. Pocatel- lo dipped below 32 degrees briefly on Oct. 12, but freez- Courtesy of Russell Patterson Winter barley planted by Russell Patterson in Idaho’s Golden Valley yellows and shows symptoms of barley yellow dwarf virus. Patterson had to destroy and replant 900 acres of infected barley. ing temperatures must persist for a few hours to become a killing frost. “We normally have a kill- ing frost a lot earlier than now,” Marshall said. “I’m concerned how long this warm fall will continue. In- secticidal seed treatments may not last long enough.” Marshall said Southern Idaho winter wheat yields were generally down by 10 to 15 percent this season — a surprisingly small impact given the extent of infections — and a wet May in South- ern Idaho likely helped crops recover. Twin Falls County grower Roger Wells said barley yel- low dwarf caused little dam- age in some fall wheat fields he harvested this season, but losses approached 50 percent in other fields, despite his use of seed treatments. Wells has delayed planting winter wheat this fall to min- imize aphid contact. He used seed treatments and plans to spray a foliar insecticide if his area doesn’t receive a killing frost within the next few days. Based on his seed deliv- eries, Mike Erickson, a seed treatment specialist with Mc- Gregor Co. in Twin Falls, believes many growers, like Wells, have delayed planting fall grain by two weeks to a month. He’s also encouraged that more growers seem to be getting the message about yellow dwarf and using seed treatments. He said aphids have been out in force since late Septem- ber. He’d like UI to resume aphid trapping to help grow- ers make better management decisions. Marshall said UI has yel- low dwarf chemical trials un- derway in a commercial field near Buhl and is screening winter wheat varieties, in- cluding some promising Kan- sas State University types, for resistance. With Idaho Wheat Com- mission funding, UI Exten- sion entomologist Arash Rashed said UI has also be- gun monitoring aphid popula- tions and testing for the virus in corn, which is a potential host. Rashed said most corn has tested negative thus far, though he’s found an abun- dance of aphids. The virus has been confirmed in some grassy weeds, and Rashed said widespread volunteers this fall could serve as hosts. “It’s about time for cutting corn,” Rashed said. “Aphids will be moving into volun- teers and winter crops.” Here’s what Ag teachers say about our NIE Program. “Students use the Capital Press for research on Ag current events and FFA speaking competitions. We use the articles as part of the implementation of reading/writing strategies in Ag classes.” - Ryan Maiden, Grandview High School Grandview, WA “By researching current events, students stay updated on what is happening in the agriculture industry in our region, across the nation and around the world! Thank you for promoting life-long learning!” - Brook Vander Veen, Echo High School Echo, OR Educating the next generation is very important to Capital Press. All of us here wish to extend a sincere “Thank You!” to all the valued sponsors who have contributed to our NIE program. It’s your continued support that will help educate the next generation on the importance of agriculture. Cultivating young minds. www.capitalpress.com 1-800-882-6789 Help educate the next generation about the business you that feeds the world - AGRICULTURE! Thank for your Yes I can help Capital Press’ NEWSPAPER IN EDUCATION program by sponsoring an ag classroom for $150. This provides 6 classroom copies. Yes I want to sponsor papers in the classroom. Here is my check for __________. * generosity and gift to secure the future of agriculture. Name _____________________________ Address ____________________________ City ____________________________________ State ______ Zip ______________ Make check out to Oregon Newspapers Foundation (ONF) and note on the reference line of the check “Capital Press NIE fund.” *Your donation may be tax deductible. P.O. Box 2048 Salem, OR 97308