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October 12, 2018 CapitalPress.com 7 Registration for popular Wheat Academy opens Program goes deeper, offers hands-on experiences By MATTHEW WEAVER Capital Press Registration opened Oct. 10 for Washington State Uni- versity’s hands-on Wheat Academy. In the past, the program — which has space for 75 participants — has filled up in eight days to three weeks, said Drew Lyon, WSU weed science professor. The two-day academy is Dec. 11-12 on the WSU cam- pus in Pullman. Courses run 90 minutes, with presenters offering hands-on opportuni- ties. Lyon said he hopes grow- ers leave the academy with a deeper understanding of the Online http://smallgrains.wsu. edu/2018-wheat-academy/ science behind management decisions and researcher rec- ommendations. “It’s more intimate with the scientists and present- ers,” Lyon said. “The first year we did this, we had some growers walking out of a (soil chemistry) class just shaking their heads and saying, ‘Wow, that was pret- ty deep, but I loved it.’” Participants pick eight of 12 available courses. “There’s always some- thing to be worried about if you’re a farmer and always something to do if you’re a researcher, always some problem to be looking into,” Lyon said. “Hopefully, we do a good job of covering the bases — we have ento- mology talks, disease talks, soils talks, weeds talks.” Topics this year include herbicide decisions in inte- grated weed management systems; balancing soil fer- tility and crop root growth; nutrient management in wheat cropping systems; market strategy develop- ment; pulse production; di- versifying the PNW’s wheat portfolio; drones in agricul- ture; and a tour of WSU’s wheat greenhouses, with wheat breeders academy participants getting to try to make plant crosses. Farmers pay $75, while industry members pay $125. Farmers who miss regis- tration are put on a waiting list for the next year. About two-thirds of academy par- ticipants are newcomers, Lyon said. “They probably have a little time to think about it, but I wouldn’t think about it too long, or it will be filled up,” he said. Matthew Weaver/Capital Press Drew Lyon, weed science professor at Washington State University. Registration for Lyon’s popular Wheat Academy opened Oct. 10. Some ranchers feel ‘left behind’ without COOL in new trade deal By MATTHEW WEAVER Capital Press Some ranchers who hoped mandatory country of origin labeling would be included in a new trade deal between the U.S., Canada and Mexico now say they’re disappointed it was left out of the agreement. “We were excited and elat- ed when the Trump adminis- tration (was) campaigning on the issue of ‘Buy American, use American,’ and we really thought we had an opportu- nity to get mandatory COOL re-implemented,” said Kenny Graner, a North Dakota ranch- er and president of the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association. “As one of those patriots that he has always mentioned as taking a hit ... I feel left be- hind,” Graner said. “It’s a huge disappoint- ment, it reflects the fact the president continues to listen to the same advisors that have brought these bad trade agree- ments to us in the first place,” said Bill Bullard, CEO of R-CALF USA. COOL was repealed in 2015, when the World Trade Organization authorized Canada and Bill Bullard Mexico to im- pose more than $1 billion in retaliatory tariffs, ruling that labeling violated U.S. trade obligations and dis- criminated against imported cattle and hogs from Canada and imported cattle from Mex- ico. Without COOL, Graner said, competing countries can import cattle from other coun- tries and harvest, package and ship them to U.S. processing plants, where they can be re- packaged and labeled as a U.S. product. “We’re held under some of the highest standards when it comes to production of beef in the world,” Graner said. “The quality of cattle, the standards of the way we raise and feed our cattle – there is a differ- ence.” Other ranchers welcomed the new deal, saying it allows continued duty-free, unre- stricted access to Canada and Mexico markets. “When COOL was the law of the land for five years, it did absolutely nothing to drive demand for our prod- uct, it did nothing to address food safety,” said Kent Bacus, director of international trade for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. “The only thing it resulted in was the WTO decision against the U.S. that could have result- ed in more than $1 billion in retaliation against U.S. agri- culture. There wasn’t a lot to win by adding that in there, and I’m glad our negotiators were wise enough to see that, and did not put us in further jeopardy by bringing up failed policies of the past.” Graner believes COOL was not included in the new agree- ment because multi-national beef lobbying groups with a large influence in Washington, D.C., did not want it. “They enjoy the ability to source cattle or beef outside this country, bring it into the U.S., commingle it, drive down their costs and at the same time drive down our domestic price, which increases the profitabil- ity for the multi-national pack- ers,” he said. “In my mind, they’re part of the swamp.” Graner said his organiza- tion will continue to defend mandatory COOL, writ- ing additional letters to the White House. R-CALF has asked for a meeting with Trade Ambassador Robert Lighthizer. Bullard sees sev- eral opportunities to support or reinstate COOL during the 60-day period when Con- gress reviews the agreement. Bullard believes Trump can be convinced that the new deal doesn’t strengthen American ranchers’ domestic supply chain. “I think this president un- derstands some very import- ant aspects of international trade,” he said. “He has to understand you cannot have transparency and fair trade if you give the meatpackers the ability to continue sourc- ing cheaper, undifferentiated beef and then pawning it off to U.S. consumers as if it were produced under the U.S. superior health and safety re- gime.” ‘Big Idaho Potato Harvest Meeting’ set for Nov. 14 41-1/108 41-1/106 Pacific Building Systems is a pre-engineered metal building manufacturer based in Woodburn, Oregon. Our growing organization is seeking a metal building sales account executive that can be responsible for professionally representing the performance, service, sales, and marketing functions for all of the products and services that PBS provides. Qualifications and Skills MUST HAVE AGRICULTURE SALES EXPERIENCE IN THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY AREA • A minimum of 2 years experience in agriculture sales or equivalent. • Knowledge in construction or related field, with a minimum of 2 years experience is preferred. • Must be proficient in the use of computers and a variety of software programs. • Excellent communication and listening skills are required to work efficiently with all levels of staff and customers. 38-4-3/106 The Idaho Potato Commis- sion’s annual Big Idaho Potato Harvest Meeting will be Nov. 14 at the Shoshone-Bannock Hotel and Event Center in Fort Hall. Commission President and CEO Frank Muir said the meet- ing aims to bring various indus- try leaders together for a single post-harvest event to discuss the growing season, field trends and forecasts and research. It replaced an earlier series of post-harvest meetings between the commission, growers and industry organizations. Ideally, the 10 a.m. Moun- tain start enables attendees from around Idaho to drive to and from the event in a single day, he said. “We have just finished a very strong year for Idaho pota- to farmers” in terms of harvest acres and potato quality, he said. “We expect an even stronger year for Idaho potato farmers in 2018-19.” The agenda includes meet- ings of several industry orga- nizations, and presentations on topics ranging from the eco- nomic performance of the Ida- ho potato industry over the past 15 years to updates on a quality initiative started two years ago and potato cyst nematode con- trol efforts. Scheduled speakers include Muir, Tina Gresham of USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; the Univer- sity of Idaho’s Mike Thornton and Nora Olsen; John Keeling of the National Potato Council and Potatoes USA CEO Blair Richardson. Potato Growers of Idaho will present Grower of the Year awards and host a political ac- tion committee fundraiser. PGI and the Idaho Grower Shippers Association jointly manage the Idaho Potato Industry PAC. To apply email resume to: sandyt@pbsbuildings.com 41-2/100