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