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2 CapitalPress.com February 3, 2017 People & Places Variable rates boost crops Ryan Christensen brings high-tech prescriptions to his family’s farm Western Innovator By JOHN O’CONNELL Capital Press GRACE, Idaho — Ryan Christensen didn’t give up when his father balked at the cost of hiring consultants to install variable-rate technolo- gy on the family’s 3,000-acre wheat and potato farm. Instead, Christensen re- searched and set up his own method of precision-applica- tion — an approach to farm- ing that uses GPS technology and field data to vary inputs based on field conditions. Christensen believes his ap- proach requires far less labor but achieves comparable yield and input improvements. It’s one of many examples of how Christensen Farms has been transformed into a more productive, data-driven and high-tech operation since the 32-year-old returned to the family business in 2006. “My philosophy is if data can be collected, I want it,” said Christensen, the fifth generation to farm the land his family homesteaded in the 1880s. He’s also incorporated drones and a cutting-edge ir- rigation method in crop pro- duction — and he’s succeed- ed with new grounds-keeping techniques at the family’s golf course. While studying landscape management at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, Christensen worked under professor Bryan Hop- kins, jointly publishing re- Ryan Christensen Age: 32 Job: A partner in Chris- tensen Farms with his father, Bart, and his brother, Kyle, 42. Innovation: Helped his farm implement variable-rate irrigation, fertilizer and seeding, using a zone-based prescription map he believes is simpler and more efficient to use than other systems. John O’Connell/Capital Press Ryan Christensen shows an image of the variable-rate pivot on his family’s farm in Grace, Idaho, used to irrigate agricultural crops and a golf course. Christensen has implemented a simplified and effective method of devising variable-rate prescription maps on his farm. search on turf grass nutrient management. Hopkins later helped Christensen take on variable-rate production, sug- gesting an approach involving maps with zones that possess common characteristics but may be in different parts of the field. Fewer zones Typically, fields are divid- ed into grids of contiguous 1.5-acre plots, which are all intensively soil sampled to devise variable-rate pre- scriptions. Christensen, who further honed his system by reading GPS mapping in- struction books, may use just a few zones with common conditions, getting by with about 60 soil samples on a 65-acre field compared to roughly 450 samples needed for the grid method. Christensen made his first zone maps in 2012, based on limited yield data, topo- graphical Google Earth maps and his father’s insight about productivity throughout each field. He’s since included bare-soil drone imagery to assess soil quality based on its color, as well as im- proved yield data tied to vari- able-rate fertilizer and seed- ing-rate maps. Drone spots stress He also flies a drone over winter wheat each spring to detect pockets of stressed crops and determine where replanting might be in order. Yields have become far more consistent throughout the farm. “We’ve been able to make very poor ground better and good ground a little better,” Christensen said. In 2015, Christensen also added a variable-rate water map to tweak one of his field prescriptions. That year, he became one of the first Idaho farmers to test variable-rate irrigation. Christensen explained that his family built a nine-hole golf course in 1995 on an un- productive rocky outcropping that bisected a pivot. With its $35,000 variable-rate irriga- tion system, Christensen said the family can now adjust each nozzle independently to provide optimal water for the golf course, as well as the adjacent crops watered by the pivot. It’s variable He and Hopkins are en- tering the second year of a five-year study to assess the economics of variable-rate irrigation and determine the feasibility of installing addi- Education: Bachelor’s degree in landscape man- agement with a business management minor Hometown: Grace, Idaho Family: Wife, Andrea, and children Ava, 8, Lila, 5, Lin- coln, 3, and Claire, 3 months tional systems. Too often, Hopkins hears from growers who want to implement vari- able-rate fertilizer but miss the “low-hanging fruit” by failing to optimize their ir- rigation. Over-watering can push nutrients through the soil profile and hurt yields, he said. “When I first started talking about variable-rate fertilizer, people looked at me like I was nuts, and now it’s commonplace,” Hopkins said. “I think variable-rate irrigation will become com- monplace.” Capital Press Established 1928 Board of directors Mike Forrester Steve Forrester Kathryn Brown Susan Rana Mike Omeg Capital Press Managers John Perry ................................Publisher Joe Beach ..................................... Editor Elizabeth Yutzie Sell .... Advertising Director Carl Sampson ................Managing Editor Barbara Nipp ......... Production Manager Samantha McLaren .... Circulation Manager Entire contents copyright © 2017 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 Circulation ......................... 800-882-6789 Email ........ Circulation@capitalpress.com 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 Oregon Eric Mortenson ................ 503-412-8846 Mateusz Perkowski .......... 800-882-6789 Graphic artist Alan Kenaga ..................... 800-882-6789 To Place Classified Ads Calendar Sponsored by: To submit an event go to the Community Events calendar on the home page of our website at www.capitalpress.com and click on “Submit an Event.” Calen- dar items can also be mailed to Capital Press, 1400 Broadway St. NE, Salem, OR 97301 or emailed to newsroom@capital- press.com. Through Saturday Feb. 4 Organicology 2017. Hilton Portland and Executive Tower, 921 SW Sixth Ave., Portland, Ore. Topics range from FDA down on the farm to farmworker shortages, regulatory updates and seed se- lection. www.organicology.org Saturday, Feb. 4 Ties to the Land workshop. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Bayview Community Center, 20298 E. Perimeter Road, Bayview, Idaho. This award-win- ning workshop uses presentations, video clips and interactive exercis- es to help families who own farm, forest or other rural land learn more about planning for an orderly transition to the next generation. Cost: $35. www.uidaho.edu/ extension/forestry Monday, Feb. 6 Preserving Farmland for Local Food’s Sake. 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Lane Community College Center for Meeting and Learning, 4000 E 30th Ave., Eugene, Ore. The conference offers a unique venue for creating new business connec- tions through networking sessions, educational workshops and a ven- dor trade show. www.localfoodcon- nection.org Tuesday, Feb. 7 Pesticide Short Course-IPM. 8 a.m.-4:10 p.m. Lane Community College, Center for Meeting and Learning, Bldg. 19, 4000 E. 30th Ave., Eugene, Ore. $85 if regis- tered by Jan. 23; $95 after. http:// extension.oregonstae.edu/lane/ farms Alfalfa U. Canyon Crest Dining and Event Center, 330 Canyon Crest Drive, Twin Falls, Idaho. Learn how alfalfa can contribute to a farm’s profitability. alfalfaU.com Tuesday-Thursday Feb. 7-9 Spokane Ag Expo and Pacific Northwest Farm Forum. Spokane Convention Center, 334 W. Spo- kane Falls Blvd., Spokane, Wash. Spokane Ag Expo is the largest farm machinery show in the Inland Northwest. https://greaterspokane. org/ag-expo/ Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers 2017 Con- vention. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Three Rivers Convention Center, 7016 Grandridge Blvd., Kennewick, Wash. This annual event includes the second largest industry trade show in the nation and a welcome breakfast. wawgg.org Wednesday, Feb. 8 Colusa County Almond Day. 8:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Stagehands Theater, Colusa County Fair- grounds, 1303 10th St., Colusa, Calif. www.sacvalleyorchards. com/events Oregon Clover Growers Annual Meeting. Noon-1 p.m. Holiday Inn, Wilsonville. www.oregonclover.org Wednesday-Thursday Feb. 8-9 The 8th Annual Organic Farm- ing Conference. Canyon Crest Event Center, 330 Canyon Crest Drive, Twin Falls, Idaho. The event is organized by the Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesti- cides. www.pesticide.org events Friday, Feb. 10 University of Idaho Cropping School. 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Best Western Plus Caldwell Inn & Suites, 908 Specht Ave., Cald- well, Idaho. This event will have presentations on fertilizer and ir- rigation water management, crop diseases, falling numbers, soil health, precision ag, unmanned aerial systems and a drone flight demonstration (weather permit- ting). CEUs available. The cost is $20 and includes breakfast and lunch. owalsh@uidaho.edu, 208- 722-6701 Friday-Sunday Feb. 10-12 2017 Women’s Conference. Chico Hot Springs, 163 Chico Road, Pray, Mont. Women’s lead- ership, communication and other agriculture-related topics will be discussed. Sponsored by the Mon- tana Farmers Union. montana- farmersunion.com Tuesday-Thursday Feb. 14-16 World Ag Expo. International Agri-Center, 4500 Laspina St., Tu- lare, Calif. The nation’s largest ag- ricultural exhibition celebrates its 50th year. www.worldagexpo.com Practical Food Safety & HACCP. The Riverside Hotel, 2900 Chinden Blvd., Boise, Ida- ho. HACCP, or Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points, is a pre- ventive system for the control of health-threatening food hazards during food processing. The com- prehensive three-day workshop is designed for individuals respon- sible for implementing and man- GASES / WELDING / SAFETY / FIRE www.oxarc.com aging a HACCP system in a food processing facility. Participants who pass a final test will receive a certificate of completion. http:// bit.ly/2f2iJ9Q Wednesday, Feb. 15 Soil Health Workshop. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Best Western Burley Inn and Convention Center, 800 N. Over- land Ave., Burley, Idaho. Keynote speaker Marlon Winger, Natural Resources Conservation Service state agronomist, will give a pre- sentation titled “Is It a Cover Crop or a Biological Primer?” Other topics will include cover crops as they relate to eradicating blight and integrated pest management, as well as presentations on biofu- migation and NRCS programs and projects. Thursday, Feb. 16 Keeping Your Family Business Communication on Track. 7:30 to 9 a.m. Hayden’s Lakefront Grill, 8187 SW Tualatin-Sherwood Road, Tualatin, Ore. This session will provide tools and techniques that attendees can use right away to cultivate better communication among family members, employ- ees, and shareholders. Presented by: Mark Wickman, Family Busi- ness Counsel. $40 per person. 800-859-7609, http://bit.ly/2f- PK987. Friday, Feb. 17 Farm Bureau Women’s Leg- islative Reception, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Oregon State Capitol Galleria, 900 Court St. NE, Salem, Ore. Join the Oregon Farm Bureau Women’s Ad- visory Council for coffee and cake to kick off the 2017 legislative ses- sion and recognize the important roles women play in Oregon agri- culture. www.oregonfb.org Rural Farmers’ Market Work- shops. 1-3:45 p.m. Adair Club- house, 6097 NE Ebony Lane, Corvallis, Ore. This interactive series of workshops and small group discussions will focus on topics particularly relevant to ru- ral, small scale or resource limited farmers’ markets. Travel scholar- ships available. Sponsored by the Oregon Farmers Markets As- sociation. Free, RSVP required. Website: http://bit.ly/2iatQ6Q Saturday, Feb. 18 Oregon State University Ex- tension Service Small Farms Pro- gram. 9 a.m.-5:15 p.m. LaSells Stewart Center and CH2M Hill Alumni Center, 875 SW 26th St., Corvallis, Ore. A day-long event geared toward farmers, agricultural professionals, food policy advocates, students and managers of farmers’ markets. Twenty-seven educational ses- 20 Northwest Locations 1-800-765-9055 sions are offered on a variety of topics relevant to the Oregon small farmers and include a track in Spanish. Cost: $50 by Jan. 25, $75 by Feb. 10, $150 at the door. http://smallfarms.oregonstate. edu/sfc goals for the current generation. Presented by: Carol Wachter and Heather Tomsick, Deloitte Tax LLP, and the Austin Family Business Program, Oregon State University. 800-859-7609, http:// bit.ly/2gW7Kjq Monday-Tuesday Feb. 20-21 Wednesday, March 15 Larry Branen Idaho Ag Summit. Red Lion Downtowner Hotel, 1800 W Fairview Ave., Boise, Idaho. www.idahoagsummit.org Wednesday, Feb. 22 Marion Soil and Water Con- servation District annual meeting and celebration. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Macleay Conference and Retreat Center, 2887 74th Ave. SE, Sa- lem, Ore. RSVP by Feb. 7 to jan- ice.calkins@marionswcd.net or call 503-391-9927. Oregon Ryegrass Commis- sion meeting. 6-8 p.m. Cascade Grill restaurant, 110 Opal St. NE, Albany, Ore. www.ryegrass.com Wednesday-Friday Feb. 22-24 2017 Family Farm Alliance Annual Meeting and Conference. Monte Carlo Resort and Casino, 3770 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Ve- gas, Nevada. www.familyfarmalli- ance.org Saturday-Sunday Feb. 25-26 Second Annual Mid-Valley Winter Ag Fest. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Polk County Fairgrounds and Event Center, 520 S Pacific High- way W, Rickreall, Ore. This event will promote all aspects of local ag commerce and provide a family friendly event that is fun and ed- ucational for kids. Proceeds will benefit Polk County 4-H and FFA. www.mvwagfest.com Thursday-Friday March 2-3 Idaho Hay and Forage Con- ference. Best Western Inn, 800 N. Overland Ave., Burley, Idaho. Speakers will include Dan Under- stander, a University of Wisconsin forage specialist; Steve Orloff, a University of California Extension adviser; and Doug Robison, se- nior vice president of Northwest Farm Credit Services. www.ida- hohay.com Wednesday, March 8 Taxes and Succession Plan- ning. Noon-1 p.m. Join us for a free online webinar and an intro- duction to how planning ahead for estate and gift taxes can help address family and busi- ness needs and meet retirement Agricultural Biodiversity on Farms: Conservation Practic- es Working for Western Farm- ers. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. McMenamins Edgefield, 2126 SW Halsey St. Troutdale, Ore. A first-of-its-kind conference on the benefits of ag- ricultural biodiversity in Western farming systems and the practices that support it. Sponsored by the Oregon State University Integrated Plant Protection Center, the Xerc- es Society and Oregon Tilth. http:// bit.ly/2kpWRsK Thursday, March 16 Building Family Business Val- ue from the Inside Out. 7:30 to 9 a.m. BridgePort BrewPub, 1313 NW Marshall St., Portland. Much can be done to build the value of the business from inside the en- terprise, and the earlier the pro- cess begins, the more sustainable the results will be. In addition to building value, most businesses become more efficient and profit- able along the way. Presented by Francis Brown, Key Private Bank and the Austin Family Business Program, Oregon State Univer- sity. 800-859-7609, http://bit. ly/2gR3KC0 Friday-Sunday March 24-26 18th Annual Northwest Horse Fair and Expo. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Linn County Fair and Expo Center, 3700 Knox Butte Road, Albany, Ore. Three days of clinics, semi- nars and performances for horse enthusiasts. Cost: Adults $12 a day, children ages 6-12 $6 a day. Parking $4. www.equinepromo- tions.net Friday-Monday March 24-27 Oregon FFA State Convention. Deschutes Fair & Expo Center, 3800 S.E. Airport Way, Redmond, Ore. www.oregonffa.com Tuesday, April 11 Do Your Kids Want the Busi- ness? Planning for Yes or No. 7:30 to 9 a.m. Hayden’s Lake- front Grill, 8187 SW Tuala- tin-Sherwood Road, Tualatin, Ore. Presented by Steve Ben- nett, Farleigh Wada Witt and the Austin Family Business Program, Oregon State University. 800- 859-7609, http://bit.ly/2h3k8Ck Ad fax .............................. 503-364-2692 or ...................................... 503-370-4383 Telephone (toll free) .......... 866-435-2965 Online ......www.capitalpress.com/classifieds Subscriptions 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. ...................................$49.99 2 years U.S. .................................$89.99 1 year Canada .................................$275 1 year other countries ......... call for quote 1 year Internet only .......................$49.99 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. 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