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CapitalPress.com
Friday, January 8, 2021
People & Places
Studying manure-methane link
By PADMA NAGAPPAN
For the Capital Press
EMPOWERING PRODUCERS OF FOOD & FIBER
Established 1928
For the past 20 years, Deanne
Meyer has led workshops helping
farmers determine the optimal herd
size for manure and nitrogen man-
agement on California’s 1,300 dairy
farms.
The livestock waste management
specialist who is with the Depart-
ment of Animal Science at the Uni-
versity of California-Davis focuses
on environmental stewardship in
line with the state’s greenhouse gas
reduction target.
“Every project I work on these
days is about reducing methane and
emissions,” Meyer said. “Our dairy
farmers have incredible water reg-
ulatory requirements. I work with
dairy quality assurance programs.”
Methane production and manure
management are closely linked to
how cows are housed, she said.
A majority of the milk cows in the
state are housed in freestall barns, so
they can lounge in the shade and have
fans blowing on them and sprinklers
cooling them on hot days.
About a third of the state’s dairies
house their cows in corrals.
The freestall system tends to gen-
erate more methane because manure
is collected as a slurry or in liquid
form off concrete surfaces, com-
pared to the solid form in outdoor
areas with earthen surfaces.
“If it’s dry it’s not making meth-
Capital Press Managers
Joe Beach ..................... Editor & Publisher
Western
Innovator
Anne Long ................Advertising Manager
Carl Sampson .................. Managing Editor
Jessica Boone ............ Production Manager
Samantha McLaren ....Circulation Manager
DEANNE MEYER
Occupation: Extension specialist,
University of California-Davis.
Education: Bachelor of science
degree, University of California-Da-
vis; master’s degree and Ph.D.,
University of Florida-Gainesville.
UC-Davis
Livestock waste management specialist Deanne Meyer of the Univer-
sity of California-Davis at a dairy farm in Central California. She stud-
ies methane production and water quality.
ane, if it’s wet it is making meth-
ane,” Meyer said. “So the freestall
system is a wonderful system for the
cows, but generates more methane
than a non-freestall.”
Methane is one of the greenhouse
gases linked to climate change.
She studied the situation in a
group of dairy farms and reported
on ways to reduce greenhouse gases
by reducing liquid manure or cap-
turing biogas.
Her analysis on manure man-
agement, dairy cattle housing and
herd size will be used by the Cal-
ifornia Department of Food and
Agriculture and the California Air
Resources Board to inform policy
decisions in the future.
Research: Analyses of production,
collection, storage, transportation,
and utilization of manure manage-
ment waste stream(s) on dairies.
The state has set a target of a 40%
reduction of manure-based methane
from dairy operations by 2030.
Meyers has found that herd sizes
and distribution vary from region to
region, just as manure management
does, so there’s no one-size-fits-all
solution.
She is now looking into cus-
tom solutions for dairies in differ-
ent parts of the state, since farmers
in the low desert region of the Impe-
rial Valley may not be able to use
the same strategies that suit some-
one farther north.
Meyer also assesses feed options
such as sorghum, which some farm-
ers switched to because it requires
less water than corn to grow and
water rates keep rising in the state.
“Sorghum looks good on paper
but in reality it’s not as good as corn
because the energy content isn’t as
effective as corn,” Meyer said.
“These farmers grew sorghum
for a small percentage of the milk
cows. I looked at whether they
should use more acreage for nitro-
gen management from a water qual-
ity perspective or the same amount.
If they switch, they need more acres
on which to apply manure to protect
the groundwater.”
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Idaho
51st Northwest Ag Show goes virtual
Capital Press
The 51st edition of the
Northwest Agricultural Show
will be different from any in
the past half-century. Instead
of an in-person experience,
this year’s show will be com-
pletely online at
www.northwe-
stagshow.com.
The reason
for the change
is no secret.
COVID-19 has
changed
just
about everything we do in our
daily lives, and the Northwest
Ag Show was no different.
But instead of trying to
take a typical ag show format
and translate it to the inter-
net, the Northwest Ag Show
owner, EO Media Events
LLC, and its manager, Cap-
ital Press, decided to create
a new format that provides
unlimited access to the show,
its exhibitors and the presen-
tations they have lined up.
Not only can visitors
“attend” the show from the
comfort of their computer, lap-
top or smart phone, they can
do it anytime of the day or
night — and it’s free of charge.
Though the show officially
runs Feb. 16-18,
virtual visitors
can get a “sneak
peek”
online
starting Feb. 8.
In addition, all
of the informa-
tion will remain
online for an entire year, so
visitors can return to any
exhibits or presentations as
often as they want. The new
format is built around farmers
and ranchers and their needs,
said Anne Long, advertis-
ing manager of the Capital
Press and one of the show’s
organizers.
In addition to “attending”
the show online, farmers and
ranchers can explore the many
NWAS
The Northwest Agricultural Show homepage is the
jumping off point for a virtual visit to this year’s exhibi-
tors and presentations.
exhibitor “booths” on the
home page of www.northwe-
stagshow.com, which serves
as a virtual show floor.
In addition to the Exhib-
itor’s Showcase, there’s
an Equipment Showcase,
Agri-Business Showcase and
Learning Center. Each is just a
mouse-click away.
When visitors find a prod-
uct or service of particular
interest they can view a video
or other information about
it. Then, if they would like
to know more, they can set
up an in-person meeting or
demonstration.
Returning this year are pre-
senting sponsor Harvest Capi-
tal Company and major spon-
sors Coastal Farm and Ranch
and Kubota Tractor.
“We’re proud to have them
aboard in this exciting new
venture,” Long said.
An added bonus: When
visitors register for the show,
they’ll automatically be
entered into a drawing for a
$500 gift card from Coastal
Farm and Ranch.
In addition to exhibitors, a
full slate of informational pre-
sentations will be offered at
the Learning Center on top-
ics related to farming and
ranching.
The ag show has been at the
Oregon State Fair and Exposi-
tion the past two years, and
will return there next year.
“We look forward to
returning to the fairgrounds
in 2022,” said Joe Beach, the
editor and publisher of the
Capital Press and manager
of the Northwest Ag Show.
“We see this enhancing a
live event in the future, not
replacing it.”
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UC-Davis barley breeder Lynn Gallagher dies at 77
Lynn W. Gallagher, who for 30
years was the barley breeder at the
University of California-Davis, died
Dec. 15, 2020. He was 77.
He was born in San Francisco
on June 2, 1943, and was raised in
Marin County. After earning a bach-
elor’s degree in political science
at UC-Davis, he joined the Peace
Corps. He taught primary school for
2 years on the slopes of Mount Kili-
manjaro, Tanzania, and then joined
an agricultural project on the shores
of Lake Turkana in northern Kenya.
This last experience caused him
to refocus his goals from law to agri-
culture, so he returned to UC-Davis
Courtesy of Frank Endres
Lynn Gallagher talks with barley
producers at a 2016 field day on
the Endres Ranch in Corning, Calif.
to earn a doctorate in plant genet-
ics. His first job after completing
his Ph.D. was in Debre Zeit, Ethio-
pia, before he joined the University
of Minnesota’s agricultural program
in Morocco, spending 8 years there
breeding barley, teaching and devel-
oping a faculty of agriculture.
The last 30 years of his profes-
sional life were spent at UC-Davis
as its barley breeder. He released a
great many barley varieties for feed,
food, forage and malting. His most
recent achievement was the devel-
opment of several malting barley
varieties bred specifically for Cal-
ifornia conditions, the first since
World War II.
One of them, Butta 12, has been
enthusiastically received by Cal-
ifornia growers and artisan brew-
ers. His efforts were additionally
supported financially by a checkoff
from the National Farmers Organi-
zation-Northern California Barley
Growers members.
Lynn loved to travel. At any
opportunity, he would board a plane
or ship to explore new places and
people. He was a skilled photogra-
pher who shared his travel photos on
Facebook.
He is survived by his wife, Judy
Smith; his brother and sister-in-law,
Bill and Liz Gallagher of Santa Rosa;
and two nieces and their families.
He was cremated, and his ashes
will be scattered at a later date.
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Letters to the Editor: Send your
Idahoans tapped for American Farm Bureau committees
Three Idaho farmers
have been chosen to serve
on American Farm Bureau
Federation committees.
AFBF represents farm-
ers and ranchers across the
U.S. It works with state
Farm Bureau organiza-
tions to protect produc-
ers’ rights, educate people
about agriculture and pro-
mote the industry.
The Idaho Farm Bureau
said in a release that Alan
Clark of the Rigby area
and Kyle and Jessica Wade
of Downey will serve two-
year terms on AFBF com-
mittees starting in March.
Clark is a fifth-gener-
ation farmer and rancher.
He has 500 beef cows
and farms 1,500 acres of
hay, barley and wheat. He
was selected to serve on
AFBF’s 10-member Pro-
motion and Education
Committee.
“It’s super important
to promote agriculture
and educate people about
the industry and where
their food comes from,”
he said. “If we as farm-
ers and ranchers don’t tell
our story and promote our
industry, people who don’t
know anything about agri-
culture will tell the story
and they will get it wrong.”
Clark also chairs IFBF’s
Promotion and Educa-
tion Committee, which is
entering its second year. “I
hope to take what I learn
Submit upcoming ag-related
events on www.capitalpress.com or by
email to newsroom@capitalpress.com.
tion. Classes are geared toward small
farms and rural properties, but any-
one is welcome. We will provide tech-
nical assistance to complete conserva-
tion plans and potentially find funding
for conservation projects on your land.
Plan to attend all four free sessions,
which will be from 5 to 8 p.m.:
Jan. 14: Conservation planning
— Soil.
Jan. 21: Water and vegetation.
Jan. 28: Streamsides and
woodlands.
Feb. 4: Working lands — Putting it
all together.
Contact: Marion Soil and Water
Conservation District, 503-391-
9927. Registration: http://virtualpfyl.
eventbrite.com
from the AFBF P&E Com-
mittee and use that to help
our program succeed,” he
said.
The Wades have a cus-
tom cattle grazing, feed-
ing and calving opera-
tion. They were selected to
serve on AFBF’s 16-mem-
ber Young Farmers &
Ranchers Committee.
IFBF said national and
state YF&R programs aim
to help develop the next
generation of leaders in
the ag industry by offering
them opportunities to net-
work as well as to sharpen
public-speaking and prob-
lem-solving skills during
competitions and other
events.
Jessica Wade said she
and Kyle aim to help
bridge the gap between
FFA membership and the
Farm Bureau’s Young
Farmers and Ranchers
Program, open to produc-
ers ages 18-35.
upon its farmer-to-farmer education
model, EcoFarm is an essential net-
working and educational hub for eco-
logically minded farmers, ranchers
and all who work to support their suc-
cess in growing a healthy food system
and world. Mark your calendars for
Jan. 20-23 and get ready for an Eco-
Farm Conference unlike any before
as we will convene online for our 41st
event. Phone: 831-763-2111 Email:
info@eco-farm.org Website: https://
eco-farm.org/conference
shop is designed to strengthen the
skills of consulting foresters, state-em-
ployed service foresters and other nat-
ural resource professionals who work
with family forest owners. It serves as
a forum to provide updates on emerg-
ing technology and knowledge appli-
cable to family forestry. This year’s pro-
gram will be held online via Zoom.
There is no registration fee this year,
but those wishing to participate
should register at https://bit.ly/3llJsB0
by Jan. 15. For questions, contact Chris
Schnepf at cschnepf@uidaho.edu,
(208) 446-1680; Sean Alexander at sean.
alexander@wsu.edu, (509) 680-0358,
or Andy Perleberg at andyp@wsu.edu,
(509) 667-6540.
CALENDAR
SUNDAY-WEDNESDAY
JAN. 10-13
American Farm Bureau Annual
Convention (virtual): The convention
will focus on top issues including the
impact of COVID-19, sustainability and
the future of the supply chain. Website:
https://www.fb.org
THURSDAY, JAN. 14
Create a Plan for Your Land Work-
shop (virtual): Learn from experts
about soil, water and wildlife conserva-
TUESDAY-WEDNESDAY
JAN. 19-20
Dairy Strong Annual Confer-
ence (virtual): The annual conference
is organized by the Dairy Business
Association. More details to come.
Website: https://www.dairystrong.org
WEDNESDAY-SATURDAY
JAN. 20-23
41st EcoFarm Conference (vir-
tual): Save the date for the 41st Eco-
Farm Conference Jan. 20-23. Building
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.
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Index
FRIDAY JAN. 22
Family Foresters Workshop
(virtual): The Family Foresters Work-
Opinion ...................................................6
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