2 CapitalPress.com August 3, 2018 People & Places Back to hazelnut fundamentals Nik Wiman looks for methods to maximize growth of popular nut trees Western Innovator By MATEUSZ PERKOWSKI Capital Press For a crop that’s been grown in Oregon’s Willamette Valley for over a century, there’s still a lot to be learned about hazelnuts. As hazelnut growers were preoccupied with defeating their mortal enemy — a fun- gal pathogen known as East- ern Filbert Blight — there wasn’t as much energy devot- ed to studying basic produc- tion. “Everybody’s been chas- ing the Eastern Filbert Blight. We knew very little about the disease when it first came in,” said Nik Wiman, Oregon State University’s orchard specialist in Western Oregon. Now that growers have developed ways to combat the pathogen and OSU has introduced several hazelnut cultivars resistant to the dis- ease, Wiman can focus on the fundamentals: How to protect trees from insect invaders? What is the best mulch to use? How much water to apply? “We’re trying to maximize growth,” he said. While opinions on produc- tion methods are often based on anecdotes, Wiman is trying to develop recommendations grounded in data and science. Much of OSU’s research on nutrients has grown outdat- ed as farmers have replaced traditional varieties, such as Barcelona, with new ones that spring from other parts of the globe. As it turns out, nutrient demands can vary significant- ly among cultivars. Growers Nik Wiman Occupation: Orchard specialist at Oregon State University Hometown: Corvallis, Ore. Mateusz Perkowski/Capital Press Nik Wiman, hazelnut orchard specialist at Oregon State University. also have more flexibility these days with fertilizers that are applied to leaves or through irrigation lines. Traditionally, growers only fertilized during spring because it was thought hazel- nuts didn’t take up nutrients in the summer. However, that’s only the case if they’re not irrigated. Wiman is wrapping up a three-year study that aims to refine the timing of fertilizer applications and better under- stand their effects on tree and nut development. The issue is complicated because the tree’s response to nutrients depends on the accu- mulation of heat over the sea- son, so timing will vary from year to year. “There is so much change, even in a small time frame like a month,” Wiman said. Irrigation studies Hazelnuts were historically grown as a dryland crop but the industry is increasingly turning to irrigation, especially to get young trees established. Wiman has found that trees respond better to sprinklers than drip irrigation, since there’s better water penetration of the entire soil surface. With drip irrigation, on the other hand, dry soil can pull water away from the tree’s root mass. Even so, drip lines are like- ly to remain the standard in hazelnut orchards, simply be- cause many farms don’t have access to ample irrigation wa- ter, Wiman said. Over time, the industry will probably adopt automated irri- gation controls that begin wa- tering orchards as soon as soil moisture or tree sap sensors indicate it’s necessary, he said. “We want to promote re- sponsible water use,” he said. Rows of hazelnut trees growing at Oregon State Uni- versity’s North Willamette Research and Extension Cen- ter in Aurora receive varying amounts of irrigation, with Wiman and his researchers carefully measuring the effects on each tree. It’s likely that releasing smaller amounts of water over time is more beneficial than irrigating all at once, since the water stays closer to the surface rather than seeping too deep for roots to absorb, he said. Pest control As an entomologist, Wiman also spends time on the pests that afflict hazelnut orchards. Flathead borers, for exam- ple, are especially drawn to young trees, which is a prob- lem for Oregon’s burgeoning industry — more than half the acreage is non-bearing, he said. Farmers who found the bor- ers in their orchards brought branches to Wiman, who sealed them in wax to preserve moisture and observed their development. Such observation yielded biological information about the insect that wasn’t previ- ously available. It also turns out the borers have a natu- ral enemy: a wasp that lays eggs into their larvae, killing them. Encouraging such benefi- cial predators is a matter of ju- dicious pesticide use to avoid killing off these “biological controls,” Wiman said. That’s a tough task with brown marmorated stink bugs, a recently introduced pest from Asia that difficult to treat with- out broad-spectrum chemicals that also kill helpful insects. Oregon agricultural groups are asking their members to aid farmers and ranchers who lost crops, live- stock, equipment and feed to the wildfires that have swept across parts of the state. A fund has also been estab- lished for the family of the farmer who died while plow- ting a fire line to protect a neighbor’s property. Both the Oregon Farm Bureau and the Oregon Cat- tlemen’s Association have efforts underway to raise money for the victims. The cattlemen’s association is also collecting hay, equip- ment and supplies for the victims. “Please, please, please consider donating to help out the farmers devastated by the Substation Fire,” Kathy Freeborn Hadley of the Ore- gon Farm Bureau wrote in a Facebook post. Associated Press File A boy stands at an area damaged by the Substation Fire near Moro, Ore., on July 20. Education: Bachelor’s degree in biology from Montana State University, Master’s degree in ento- mology from Montana State University, Doctorate in entomology from Washing- ton State University. “They can actually feed right through the shell and damage the kernel inside,” Wiman said. Fortunately, another wasp species preys on stink bugs, which is how their population is limited in Asia. The insects are being bred at OSU’s re- search center in Aurora and released at infested sites. “It showed up on its own. It followed its host,” Wiman said. “We think it’s going to have a huge effect long term.” Wiman said it’s an excit- ing time to work as a hazelnut researcher, since the industry is experiencing “incredible growth.” He also appreci- ates the “culture of sharing” among hazelnut farmers. “These growers feel like family almost,” Wiman said. “There’s a lot of innovation by the growers themselves.” Idaho State Fairgrounds, 97 Park St., Blackfoot, Idaho. Website: https://fun atthefair.com/ 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Lundberg Fami- ly Farms, 5311 Midway, Richvale, Calif. Topics include rice growth, water management, tillage, vari- ety selection, fertility and weeds. Enrollment is limited to 75 people. Cost: $100. Website: http://ucanr. edu/rice2018 East Bardsley Ave., Tulare, Calif. New Food Safety Modernization Act regulations require that import- ers must have a program in place to verify that their foreign suppliers are producing food in a manner that provides the same level of public health protection as the preventive controls or produce safety regula- tions, as appropriate, and to ensure that the supplier’s food is not adul- terated or misbranded with respect to allergen labeling. Participants will receive an official FSVP certificate after the class. Cost. $599. Web- site: https://bit.ly/2uvR7Ez lis, Ore. The special guest speakers are Lauren Gwin of Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network and local pastured poultry farmer Laura Sage of Redbird Acres. Agriculture specialists from Oregon State Uni- versity and the University of Cali- fornia will be present both days to talk with local producers. Cost: $40. Website: https://bit.ly/2n9hk7x Saturday-Sunday Aug. 4-5 The Great Oregon Steam-Up. 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Powerland Heritage Park, 3995 Brooklake Road NE, Brooks, Ore. Foreign and gar- den tractors are featured in this year’s event, which also includes a steam-powered sawmill and thresh- ing and hundreds of displays and museums. The Parade of Power is each day at 1:30 p.m. Cost: $12. Website: http://antiquepowerland.com/ Wednesday, Aug. 15 Thursday, Aug. 23 Sunday, Aug. 5 Raised Country Music Festival. 1-6 p.m. Antelope Church Lawn, Antelope, Ore. Steve and RonaLee Campbell, a Chuckwagon Barbe- cue by Paradise Rose Ranch, a petting zoo and face painting; the Mud Springs Gospel Band and Joni Harms are featured. Cost: Free Tuesday, Aug. 7 Rice Production Workshop. Friday, Aug. 10 Stream Restoration Workshop. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. University of Ida- ho Extension Office, 1808 N. Third St., Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The workshop will include a classroom session and a field trip showing stream restoration projects. Space is limited. For more information, call 208-446-1680. Cost: $20 Web- site: http://uidaho.edu/extension/ forestry Saturday, Aug. 11 Yachats River Valley Farm Tour. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Yachats Chamber of Commerce, 241 U.S. Highway 101, Yachats, Ore. Fun for all on the ar- ea’s small farms. Go to the Yachats Chamber office for information and to download a map. Cost: Free. Contact: 541-547-4461 Monday-Tuesday Aug. 13-14 FSMA Foreign Supplier Verifi- cation Workshop. College of Se- quoias Tulare College Center, 4999 Organic Hazelnuts Second An- nual Summer Farm Tour. 9:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Cold Springs Farm, 35541 Cold Springs Road, Lebanon, Ore. Join the Organic Hazelnut Growers Association’s summer tour at one certified organic farm and one tran- sitioning farm. Cost: $18 for mem- bers of Organic Hazelnut Growers Association. $45 for non-members. Website: http://www.pesticide.org/ organichazelnuts Wednesday-Thursday Aug. 15-16 Pastured Poultry Training. 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Oldfield Animal Teach- ing Facility, Oregon State Universi- ty, 3521 SW Campus Way, Corval- Friday-Sunday Aug. 17-26 Western Idaho Fair. Western Idaho Fairgrounds, 5610 Glenwood St., Boi- se, Idaho. Website: www.idahofair.com Inaugural Washington FFA Foun- dation Golf Tournament. 1:30-6 p.m. Apple Tree Golf Course, 8804 Occi- dental Road, Yakima, Wash. To take part, contact FFA Foundation Executive Director Jesse Taylor at jesse@wash- ingtonffa.org or 253-208-9071. A dinner and auction will follow the tournament. Friday-Monday Aug. 24-Sept. 3 Oregon State Fair. Oregon State Fair and Exposition Center, 2330 17th St. NE, Salem, Ore. https://oregonstate- fair.org/ Friday-Saturday Aug. 31-Sept. 8 Eastern Idaho State Fair. Eastern Capital Press Managers Joe Beach ..................Editor & Publisher Elizabeth Yutzie Sell .... Advertising Director Carl Sampson ................Managing Editor Samantha McLaren .... Circulation Manager Calendar To submit an event go to the Com- munity Events calendar on the home page of our website at www.capi- talpress.com and click on “Submit an Event.” Calendar items can also be mailed to Capital Press, 1400 Broadway St. NE, Salem, OR 97301 or emailed to newsroom@ capitalpress.com. Write “Calendar” in the subject line. Rick Hansen Chief Financial Officer Jessica Boone ........ Production Manager said. To make a donation of fencing material, hay, truck- ing or time, email OCA Com- munications Director Robyn Smith at robyn.smith@orcat- tle.com. “We are working hard to build a relief effort team and would appreciate any assis- tance we can get,” the organi- zation said. Checks made out to the “Oregon Farm Bureau Fire Relief Fund” can be mailed to the Oregon Farm Bureau, c/o Patty Kuester, 1320 Cap- itol St. NE, Salem, OR 97301. The OFB and Wasco County Farm Bureau will work to- gether to decide where to best use funds that are received. For those wanting to help the family of John Ruby, the farmer who died, Columbia Bank in The Dalles has set up a fund. Donations can be sent to Columbia Bank, 316 E Third St., The Dalles, OR 97058. Call 541-298-6647 for more information. gon — much of it farms and ranch land — before it was brought under control late last week. A farmer, 64-year- old John Ruby, died as he was plowing a fire line in an ef- fort to protect his neighbor’s property, and growers lost upwards of 2 million bushels of wheat to the flames. That’s about 25 percent of the area’s wheat crop. “It is with heavy hearts Corporate Officers Heidi Wright Chief Operating Officer Family: Wife, Michel, and two daughters that we continue to witness the mass destruction and dev- astation caused by wildfires that continue to rage across Oregon, affecting ranching families,” the cattlemen’s association said in a press release. “Not only have these ranchers lost horses, feed and beef cattle, one farmer lost his life trying to prevent fire from spreading. “We ask Oregon ranchers to come together and support their fellow ranching families in this time of need,” the or- ganization said. To donate to wildfire re- lief, go to the OCA Stew- ardship Fund at https:// orcattle.com/donate/ and click on “Donation-Steward- ship Fund.” Under purpose, click “Fire Assistance Fund.” Funds raised will be given to a wildfire relief fund. “The surviving cattle and ranching families are in des- perate need of essentials like hay and fencing,” the OCA “Rural Oregonians sup- port their neighbors, as we saw by the immediate action taken by many heroic farm- ers who worked alongside first-responders to put out the Substation Fire,” said Anne Marie Moss, Farm Bureau communications director, in a press release. The wind-driven Substa- tion Fire burned 123 square miles of north-central Ore- Established 1928 Board of Directors Mike Forrester Steve Forrester Kathryn Brown Susan Rana Harrison Forrester Mike Omeg Cory Bollinger Jeff Rogers Age: 42 Ag groups seek donations for Oregon wildfire victims Capital Press Capital Press Friday-Sunday Aug. 31-Sept. 23 Washington State Fair. 110 Ninth Ave. SW, Puyallup, Wash. www.the- fair.com/ Tuesday, Sept. 18 Oregon Farm Bureau Classic Golf Tourney. 1 p.m. Stone Creek Golf Club, 14603 S. Stoneridge Drive, Oregon City, Ore. Contact: tiffany@oregonfb.org Saturday, Sept. 22 Hood River Hops Fest. Noon- 8 p.m. Columbia Lot, Fifth and Columbia, Hood River, Ore. The Hood River Hops Fest is an annual celebration of beer’s bitter friend, freshly harvested hops. Hood River County is surrounded by world-re- nowned hop growing regions, and since 2003 brewers have gathered each September in downtown Hood River to share their fresh-hop beer creations. The family-friendly event features more than 50 breweries with more than 60 fresh-hop beers, plus a variety of food vendors, live music, and an awesome collectible mug. Website: http://hoodriver.org/ hops-fest/ Entire contents copyright © 2018 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 Idaho Carol Ryan Dumas .......... 208-860-3898 Boise Brad Carlson .................... 208-914-8264 Cent. 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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 marketplace.capitalpress.com www.facebook.com/capitalpress www.facebook.com/farmseller twitter.com/capitalpress www.youtube.com/capitalpressvideo Index Dairy ...................................... 9 Markets ............................... 13 Opinion .................................. 6 Clarification Prior to the May 19 fatal mauling of a cyclist in Western Washington, the last human killed by a cougar in the U.S. was a 55-year-old man in New Mexico in 2008. A story in the July 27 edition of the Capital Press reported the last fatal attack was in 1924, and it was not clear that the reference was to attacks in Washington.