Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Capital press. (Salem, OR) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 12, 2021)
Friday, February 12, 2021 CapitalPress.com 9 Spokane Ag Show Spokane Ag Show goes virtual this year By MATTHEW WEAVER Capital Press The Spokane Ag Show will be Feb. 23-25, and this year’s edition is virtual for the first time ever. “We need to make sure our industry is supported during a year when resources are scarce,” said Melisa Paul, the show’s director. “Agriculture is the bedrock of a strong community, and now more than ever, we want to make sure it’s a strong bedrock. Whether it be politics or COVID, we’re going to Melisa Paul weather it just fine.” Pesticide recertification and first aid credits for Washington, Oregon and Idaho will be a primary focus, offered each day. The show typically brings in 7,000 to 8,500 visitors. Paul expects an even larger crowd because of the credits offered. “It’s not as easy to stay current on those when you’re not able to walk into a meeting and update your hours,” Paul said. This year’s presentations will be a combination of previously recorded and live sessions. Sched- ules will be finalized and posted a week before the show, she said. A youth-focused session is in the works for Feb. 25, she said. Organizers had planned to have the show in person, but then piv- oted using the online platform Map Your Show. The platform allows exhibitors to manage their content, connect with customers, post vid- eos and demonstrations and host private events, Paul said. Exhibitors who register by Feb. 16 will be able to use the platform to connect with clients for an entire year, Paul said. The show typically draws 300 exhibitors. With it online, it could draw more than normal, Paul said. “The sky’s the limit,” she said. “Now more than ever, it’s really important to stay in front of your clients.” The virtual trade show will likely “forever change the land- scape” for the show’s exhibitors and attendees, Paul said. It’s forced the organizers to grow and provide more resources, she said. “I think we’ll forever have a stronger, more robust online plat- form,” she said. “That said ... the way we connect as an industry is best done in-person.” Ag economist will offer a look into future Celebrating region’s agricultural leaders By MATTHEW WEAVER Capital Press By MATTHEW WEAVER Capital Press At this time of year, wheat farmers should pay attention to the pace of exports, a Northwest ag economist says. If there are more exports than the USDA projections, that’s price positive. If there are less, prices might decline, said Randy Forten- bery, small grains econo- mist at Washington State University. Fortenbery will offer his annual economic analysis during this year’s virtual Spokane Ag Show. For 2021, Fortenbery will look at USDA crop acreage projections, fall delivery prices for wheat and how they will affect spring plantings. Corn acres are expected to be slightly down, but soybeans are expected to be up. He will weigh the effect on wheat plantings. The 2021 U.S. wheat supply could be smaller than in 2019 or 2020, because carryover will be down if exports continue at their current pace. The decline could be greater than the acreage increase with average yields would produce, Fortenbery said. “It’s not clear that sup- ply will be significantly higher even if acreage goes up,” he said. Other forecasters made Agricultural leaders don’t do it for recognition. The Spokane Ag Show wants to honor them anyway. “We’re looking for those that go above and beyond, really do something special to highlight a certain product or the industry overall,” said Tim Cobb, chairman of the Excel- lence in Agriculture com- mittee and owner of Farm- land Company Management, which sponsors the award. “When we do find them, we do our best to celebrate them.” The award recognizes individuals or organizations that make a significant con- tribution to agriculture in the Inland Northwest. The selection commit- tee considers four criteria — innovation in agriculture, economic and environmen- tal stewardship contribution to agriculture, positive impact on agriculture and industry awareness and outreach. Matthew Weaver/Capital Press File Randy Fortenbery, small grains economist at Wash- ington State University, will discuss the outlook for grain prices during his virtual Spokane Ag Show pre- sentation. early predictions that the number of U.S. wheat acres could increase. Those pro- jections were made before any winter wheat seeding surveys, Fortenbery said. Spring wheat seeding infor- mation is available in June. “While there is a bit of an increase, it doesn’t nec- essarily translate into a huge increase of supply if ending stocks go down as they’re expected to this coming year,” Fortenbery said. U.S. ending stocks are projected to be lower, but that picture will become clearer in May, Fortenbery said. Higher prices are reflected in the reduced domestic supply, Forten- bery said in December. Several factors deter- mine whether planting more wheat makes sense for a farmer, Fortenbery said, including the price of alternative crops such as pulses. By late February, Fortenbery hopes to have a clearer picture of the Biden administration’s agriculture policies. Tom Vilsack, the agri- cultural secretary in the Obama administration, has been chosen to return in the USDA’s top job. That could indicate a return to Obama- era agricultural policies. Tim Cobb Marci Green “You know the folks, the type that are putting them- selves out there for the greater good,” Cobb said. “The coun- tryside is full of them.” Fairfield, Wash., farmer Marci Green received the 2020 Excellence in Agricul- ture Award. “There are lots of good leaders in agriculture, and so the fact I was singled out is very flattering,” she said. “I was surprised but very honored.” To Green, a leader is will- ing and able to put in the time, effort and energy to make a difference. “It also has a lot to do with listening to the people you’re working with and working for,” she said. Her advice to possible leaders? “If there’s something you have an interest in, show up,” she said. “Almost every orga- nization is looking for the peo- ple to be involved, to spread the workload, to have new ideas and new voices.” This year, Cobb expects to receive some nominations for folks who have perse- vered during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Agriculture is essential, and we feel like these excel- lence awards are going to find those that made sure it was essential,” he said. Cobb urges members of the industry to think about the leaders they know, and con- sider nominating them in the future. “In an industry where most people would just as soon step to the side as opposed to step- ping forward to receive an award, those are the best kind of people to give awards to,” he said. Weatherman to offer outlook for the region By MATTHEW WEAVER Capital Press When Art Douglas talks, Northwest farmers listen. The weatherman — a longtime fixture at the Spokane Ag Show — will be talking again during this year’s show, albeit online. He will be a fea- tured speaker during this year’s virtual ag show. Public gatherings and events such as ag shows have been banned by state officials trying to stanch the spread of the COVID- 19 coronavirus. Douglas is a professor emeritus at Creighton Uni- versity in Omaha, Neb. His forecasts are highly anticipated by farmers who attend the show each year. COMPOST • Adds valuable organic matter S193706-1 • Improves soil structure • Increases water penetration & holding capacity • Stabilizes pH and helps store nutrients Sprague, WA Call Scott 509-590-0437 S225396-1 Authorized Dealer of Pik Rite Manure & Compost Spreaders www.Barr-Tech.net S229640-1