July 2003

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Columbia River Channel Improvement Project From WAWG's GreenSheet DOE has issued the 401 Water Quality Certification and Coastal Zone Management determination for the U.S. Corps of Engineers (Corps) proposed Columbia River Channel Improvements project. DOE has approved (with conditions) the Corps to deepen the Columbia River navigational channel by 3 feet between river miles 3 and 106.5. The state's decision can be accessed on Ecology Web site. Or you can request a hard copy by contacting Yvonne Oliva at 360/407-6799. Washington state will require the Corps to monitor what effects dredging may have on crab, fish (sturgeon and smelt), sand and water quality. Monitoring information will be sued to develop solutions under an "adaptive management" plan. Washington's approval requires that dredged sand is used for maximum public and environmental benefits. The sand must be placed in a combination of locations, including beaches, river flow lanes, environmental restoration sites and upland areas. Ocean disposal of sand may only be used as a last resort. Deepening will allow large, deep-draft ships to enter Columbia River ports to improve commerce. With similar permit approvals from Oregon, deepening could begin as early as February 2004. Klamath Irrigators Avert Water Restrictions From, Steve Harris, Far West This Week 7/3/03 Irrigators who receive water for their crops and livestock from the Klamath Basin Project narrowly averted another water shutoff considered by federal officials at the end of last month after lake levels dropped. Area farmers and ranchers averted a potential shutoff of irrigation water in June after they voluntarily implemented conservation measures that reduced their water usage by 400 cubic feet per second. The conservation measures were available to partially offset low inflows due to $200 million invested in conservation projects by area growers and irrigation districts over the past two years. However, inflows into Upper Klamath Lake have continued to drop despite those efforts. At the end of June, lake levels were only 14 percent of normal, likely due to irrigation above and around Upper Klamath Lake, which normally picks up after first alfalfa hay plantings are cut. Unfortunately, unless federal agencies relax lake level guidelines so they more accurately parallel historical flows in and out of Klamath Lake, more conservation measures are undertaken to reduce outflows, or it rains enough in July to improve inflows, irrigators may find themselves facing another battle to prevent agencies from shutting off their irrigation water at the end of July. Australian Monopolist Embedded In Iraq From OWGL's Wheat Letter News from U.S. Wheat Associates: On April 3, Australian Agriculture Minister Warren Truss said that the Australian government and the AWB were working to ensure that Australia's position in Iraqi wheat market was maintained. A couple days later, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told the press that Secretary Powell had assured him that Australia would be given responsibility for the Iraqi agricultural sector. On April 15, U.S. Wheat Associates officials told the State Department that "the U.S. cannot cede to Australia control of grain purchases, or ANY role that exerts undue influence on wheat purchases." Now, according to a Pentagon spokesman, former AWB chairman Trevor Flugge is the senior advisor to the Iraq Ministry of Agriculture. As such, he is responsible for ensuring food security and food supply, and is charged with selecting Iraqis to head ministerial offices. He has veto power over policies and decisions. Dan Amstutz, who was selected by USDA as a "co-adviser," has not yet been to Iraq. USW is not asking for special favors. As Alan Tracy, USW president, told officials at the State Department in April, "we need the strength and commitment of the U.S. government to ensure that the structure for fairness is maintained." Iraq deserves no less than a system that encourages free and fair competition in an open market system, Tracy pointed out. Saddam kept U.S. wheat out of Iraq during the last years of his regime, while he agreed to deals with the AWB. Now, the AWB has "confidential" contracts for wheat sales under the OFF program, and the U.S. wheat industry is shut out from that process. Looking towards the future, Flugge&emdash;a master monopolist&emdash;is firmly embedded into the role that is determining the structure and process of Iraq's wheat buying, and one assumes he's trying to bring Truss' pledge to fruition. All of this while the U.S. wheat industry is continually being told by Bush administration officials that it's too soon" to go into Iraq. USW had high hopes for Dan Amstutz, whose role is characterized by the Pentagon as "supra-ministerial," and the organization still does. "We find it unacceptable that Secretary Veneman's designated representative has not been welcome by the military command in Iraq," Tracy said. "And U.S. Wheat Associates is not prepared to accept Australian decision-making on wheat buying processes for the Iraqi people." Cabinet Officials Announce Renewable Energy Initiative Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton, Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman and Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham announced June 19, 2003, an initiative to encourage the use of woody biomass byproducts as sources of renewable energy. The officials signed a memorandum or understanding (MOU) that establishes consistent policies and procedures across the three agencies to support the use of these byproducts. "The fuels treatment component of President Bush's Healthy Forests Initiative and 10-year National Fire Plan offers an opportunity to convert the renewable biomass wood waste from this work into energy and other usable products," said Veneman. "This initiative emphasizes our commitment to restore forest health in a way that provides ecological benefits." President Bush announced the Healthy Forests Initiative in August of 2002, directing federal agencies to help reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfire to America's forests and rangelands. The MOU promotes the use of woody biomass byproducts that result from forest, woodland and rangeland restoration and hazardous fuels treatment projects, consistent with locally developed land management plans. Woody biomass includes trees and woody plants&emdash;including limbs, tops, needles and other woody parts that grow in a forest, woodland, or rangeland area&emdash;that are byproducts of ecological restoration and hazardous fuel reduction treatment activities. The byproducts that are removed can be used for biomass energy, such as steam and electricity and a variety of other uses. "The Department of Energy is pleased to sign this memorandum of understanding with the Departments of Agriculture and Interior to set forth policy principles that have the potential to increase woody biomass utilization from federal lands for biomass energy and other bio-products," said Abraham. "This cooperative effort with these major federal land-holding departments provides benefits in terms of reducing hazardous fuels and improving forest health while, at the same time, increasing the Nation's renewable energy supply. This memorandum reinforces our commitment and support to the National Energy Policy's charge to re-evaluate access limitations to federal lands in order to increase renewable energy production." Energy is a key market for low-value woody biomass, and DOE, USDA and DOI support and conduct research into biomass energy alternatives. "The challenge has been that markets for biomass and small wood are sporadic and marginally economical in most western states. Stewardship contracting for the next 10 years presents the opportunity for a steady supply, new markets and product uses," said Norton. "Thinning for biomass allows for wildlife habitat improvement with wildlife biologists designing the projects. These projects go on all the time on private land and are profitable both for the environment, energy and the landowner. A million acres have been thinned in the last 25 years for biomass use and 800,000 of those acres were private." The principles of this agreement will be implemented under the relevant authorities of the three federal departments. Under the MOU, the agencies agreed to: • promote understanding among local communities, interested parties and the general public in forest restoration and fuels treatment projects, biomass quality and quantity and seek input on woody biomass utilization strategies; • develop and apply the best scientific knowledge pertaining to woody biomass utilization and forest management practices for reducing hazardous fuels and improving forest health; • encourage the sustainable development and stabilization of woody biomass utilization markets;support Indian Tribes as appropriate, in the development and establishment of woody biomass utilization within tribal communities as a means of creating jobs, establishing infrastructure and supporting new economic opportunities; and • explore opportunities to provide a reliable, sustainable supply of woody biomass and develop and apply meaningful measures of successful outcomes in woody biomass utilization. The MOU continues the Administration's efforts to advance opportunities for the commercialization of biomass energy. USDA and DOE are also working together to fund projects through the Biomass Research and Development program and the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements program. Both programs were created by the Food Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. Details on these programs can be found at http://www.usda.gov/farmbill/ and http://www.bioproducts-bioenergy.gov/ The MOU becomes effectively immediately. Idaho Rangelands From Forever Soil & Water, publication of the Nez Perce Soil & Water Conservation Dist. Conflict between homesteaders and cattle ranchers was a familiar theme across the West many years ago. Now it's resurfacing as population growth and sprawling residential developments replace large ranches in seven western states, including Idaho. According to a recent study by the American Farmland Trust more than five million acres of Idaho's best rangeland are at risk. The study analyzed threats to prime ranchland in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. Three Idaho counties (Bingham County, Cassia County, Idaho County) are ranked among the top 25 counties in the seven-state area in total acres of strategic rangeland that could completely disappear by 2020. Idaho and Montana contain the greatest amount of imperiled ranchland each with over 5 million acres. Colorado ranked third with 4.8 million acres likely to go under the backhoe by 2020. Keeping agriculture on rangeland is critical to maintaining local economies, critical wildlife habitat and open space but some argue that private ranches or condos are better for rangeland than cattle. Another recent study conducted by Colorado State University with assistance from USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service proved that private rangeland supports more desirable plant communities than protected wildlife refuges or ranchettes that had about one house per 40 acres. The researchers measured the songbird, plant and animal communities across the three different types of land uses. Their findings: • Ranches had just as many species of the songbirds and animals as the protected wildlife refuges and more than in urban developments. • Native species of plants were more prevalent on ranches. Non-native species such as cheatgrass were less dominant than in either of the two other land uses. • Ranches had the healthiest grasslands, the fewest number of weeds, and the least amount of bare ground. The refuges and ranchettes had the most weeds. • Plants were better on ranches than on protected areas because ranchers know the difference between native species and invasive plants. They also used cows and herbicides effectively to control weeds. • Ranchettes had fewer native species and more invasive species than either the ranches or refuges. • Ranches provided better habitat for wildlife than ranchettes. Subdivisions grew large numbers of common species such as robins, magpies, dogs and cats. Ranches and wildlife refuges supported populations of lesser-known species such as Brewer's sparrows and towhees. Make Your Garden More Bird-Friendly By Carol Savonen, Oregon State University There are 486 bird species that have been identified in Oregon, and more than 250 of those species breed and rear their young in the state. Many of these species build their nests in trees, shrubs, vines or ground cover. To help provide better natural nesting habitat for birds, Dan Edge, wildlife biologist with the Oregon State University Extension Service offers some recommendations to help home gardeners attract and foster birds: Provide a variety of trees, shrubs, hedges and vines in your yard. Native plants are the best habitat for birds. Woody plants with thorns, such as roses or hawthorn are helpful to birds because they provide refuge from predators, such as housecats. Prune with birds' activities in mind. Time your pruning so it happens either before or just after the nesting season. Provide perching branches that spread upwards at 70-degree angles. Hedges should be thin enough to allow room for nests and to allow the birds to escape if predators threaten them. Provide nesting materials such as straw, human hair, pieces of string, moss, rootlets, twigs, feathers, cotton and mud. These materials can be hung from trees in the net bags in which citrus fruits, potatoes or onions are sold in. Plant seed-producing flowers such as aster, blanket flower, cone flower, sunflowers, black-eyed Susans, California poppies, goldenrod, marigolds, phlox, salvias and zinnias. Dandelions and thistles produce good seeds for birds too. Share your wealth of fruit. Leave one or more fruiting trees or shrubs unprotected from birds. Wetlands Reduce Mosquitoes From Forever Soil & Water, publication of the Nez Perce Soil & Water Conservation Dist. A healthy wetland provides habitat for many unique animals&emdash;including the natural enemies of mosquitoes. According to and Indiana Department of Natural Resources fact sheet, mosquito populations are held in check in healthy wetlands by certain birds, frogs, fish, and insects that feed on mosquito adults and larvae. Wetland restoration projects can decrease mosquito populations by providing proper habitat for such predators. For example, when Essex County, Massachusetts, restored a 1,500 acre wetland, the mosquito population dropped by 90 percent (Adubon Magazine, November-December 1996). Other states, such as New Jersey, have also been controlling mosquitoes the "natural way" by eliminating small stagnant breeding depressions and using predators. These "natural methods' reduced the cost of mosquito control, over the traditional method of insecticide application, by more than 97 percent. When designing wetland restoration projects, considerations should be made up-front for mosquito control. This does not mean that projects should contain only deep or open water. On the contrary, projects with both deep and shallow waters that are somehow connected are generally preferable. Keep in mind to design projects with a variety of water regimes to foster the development of a variety of plants and animals that will naturally include mosquito predators, such as dragonflies, damselflies, water striders, backswimmers, predaceous diving beetles, topminnows, and mosquitofish. Mosquitoes can be further reduced with the erection of birdhouses that will attract insectivorous birds such as purple martins, tree swallows, and prothonotary warblers. The addition of bat boxes is also a good idea. For example, a single little brown bat can consume 1,200 mosquito-sized insects in just one hour. "Slow" Compost Pile May Be Too Dry University of Idaho HomeWise If your compost pile isn't cooking and you're feeling slightly guilty because you can't remember when you last turned it, consider this: In arid regions like much of Idaho, dryness is the No. 1 reason compost piles slow to a crawl and eventually stop. So, unless your backyard is getting an inch of rain weekly-that is to say, unless you're living someplace other than Idaho-plan to get out your bucket, hose or sprinkler and add about 5 gallons of water each week to a typical 3-foot by 3-foot by 3-foot compost pile. If you've situated your pile near a water source, note the labor-saving reward for your good choice. Add even more water if you turn your pile frequently or if it's exposed to sunlight and wind. Add less if your pile is sheltered or if you store it inside bins with small ventilation openings. You'll find a rich assortment of composting tips in a 48-page booklet called "Composting at Home," available from UI Agricultural Publications for $4.65, including shipping, handling and Idaho sales tax. Request Order #1106 by calling 208/885-7982, writing agpubs@uidaho.edu or clicking on http://info.ag.uidaho.edu. So, how do you determine whether your pile is too wet, too dry or just right? The surface will nearly always look deceptively dry in summer, so reach down a few inches and squeeze a handful. If no water oozes out, the pile is too dry. If water drips without squeezing, the pile is too wet. To drive off moisture, turn that soggy pile or mix in dry materials; in winter, cover your compost pile with a plastic tarp. Ethanol Content To Double From Steve Harris, Far West This Week, 6-12 Corn growers could get a boost from a plan approved by the Senate on June 4 calling for a doubling of ethanol use to at least 5 billion gallons a year by 2012. While most of the corn and other grains used to produce ethanol is currently grown in the Midwest, officials are projecting that the legislation will lead to increased production of those crops, as well as construction of more ethanol plants, in the Northwest and California. Under the Senate energy bill approved by a vote of 67-29, refiners in every state except Alaska and Hawaii would be required to replace gasoline additives made from the natural gas derivative Methanol with the more environmentally friendly ethanol. Proponents of the legislation, including the National Association of Corn Growers, contend that doubling ethanol use would produce several benefits, including reducing United States dependence on foreign oil by 250,000 barrels a day, boosting farm income by $1.3 billion a year, creating 241,000 jobs and lowering gasoline costs. Snake River Facts Forever Soil & Water, Nez Perce Soil & Water Conservation Dist. The Snake River is the tenth longest river in the United States. From its headwaters in Wyoming's Yellowstone and Teton National Parks, the Snake flows 1,056 miles, dropping some 9,500 feet in elevation, to its confluence with the Columbia River in Washington. The West Coast's most eastern seaport, located 465 miles from the Pacific Ocean on the Snake, is Lewiston, Idaho. The Snake passes through 25 dams, In fact, reservoirs account for 508 miles of the Snake, nearly half of the river's total distance. Water from the Snake is used to produce hydroelectric power and irrigate about 3.8 million acres of agricultural land. The Snake is drained nearly dry at on point in south-central Idaho. The rights to every drop of water in the Snake are owned. Of more than three million acres of irrigated land on the Snake River Plain, about one million are supplied by the aquifer and other groundwater sources. The other two million are supplied by surface water through an extensive system of canals. Large-scale irrigation came to the Snake River Plain with Mormon settlement in the 1860s. One of the world's largest and most successful networks of gravity flow canals was built near the town of Rexburg. The Snake River shaped the human geography of southern Idaho. Many (people settled along the banks) of the river or its tributaries. Idaho now leads the country in water use rates with a consumption of 22,200 gallons of water per capita per day. This partially due to the well-drained soils of the Snake River Plain, which require constant watering to produce Idaho's famous potatoes. Idaho uses nearly 19.26 billion gallons of water per day for agriculture and livestock, second only to California in the U.S. Source: Agricultural History, published by the Agricultural History Society (Volume 76/Number 2/Spring 2002) and NRCS Idaho Current Developments (February 2003 Issue/page 5)

Farmers Cultivating Long-Term Support For People In Need Contact: Ann M. Price, Director of Development and Communications, Second Harvest Bushel by bushel, farmers can make a lasting impact on the problems of hunger and poverty in the region. Farmers Growing Food Forever is a new campaign to support Second Harvest Food Bank of the Inland Northwest's endowment. Through this program, Second Harvest is partnering with area farmers and the elevators that sell the grain. Participating farmers donate bushels of wheat, barley or other crops in any quantity they choose. The elevator managers sell the grain in the account, and the money received is deposited into the Food Forever Fund to provide multiplying, perpetual support to Second Harvestís hunger-relief mission in Eastern Washington and North Idaho. "From their plows to our plates, farmers already play a significant role in the food chain. Through Farmers Growing Food Forever, our friends in agriculture have an opportunity to make an enduring difference in the lives of thousands of people who struggle to put food on the table for their families," says Jason Clark, Executive Director of Second Harvest. For example, at a rate of return of 3 percent, a $10,000 endowment fund would generate $300 annually. The combination of financial and in-kind support from the community enables Second Harvest to distribute $10 worth of food for every dollar donated. That means a $300 annual return would provide $3,000 worth of nutritional support for people in need. The Farmers Growing Food Forever program is endorsed by the Spokane Chamber of Commerce Ag Bureau and the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG). The first donation was made by Bruce Nelson of Silver Creek Farms in Farmington, Wash., a past president of WAWG. "Neighbors helping neighbors has always been a legacy of farmers," Nelson says. "The Food Forever Fund is a great way to help your neighbors in need." Second Harvest is a private non-profit organization that provides food to people in need throughout the Inland Northwest. Incorporating in 1972 as a central warehouse for Spokane food pantries, Second Harvest (formerly the Spokane Food Bank) has grown into a regional distribution site of the Americaís Second Harvest national food bank network. Second Harvest collaborates with more than 280 non-profit agencies, such as emergency food pantries, shelters, group homes, rehabilitation centers and programs for troubled teens, to serve more than 60,000 people per month in 21 counties in Eastern Washington and six counties in North Idaho. Second Harvest's survey of emergency food clients finds that nearly half of the 15,000 people who receive emergency food in Spokane County each month are children. For more information on Farmers Growing Food Forever and other planned giving opportunities at Second Harvest, contact Ann M. Price, Director of Development and Communications, 534-6678 x217 or annp@shfoodbank.org. Or visit www.shfoodbank.org. Thin Plums For Larger Fruit By Carol Savonen, Oregon State University Are you tired of all those tiny, ripe plums dropping onto your car, your lawn or your patio each summer? There is a simple solution, according to Anita Azarenko, Oregon State University research pomologist. Get rid of most of the plums now, in early summer, before they ripen. The result will be fewer, larger, more delectable plums later in the summer. Rather than painstakingly removing each unwanted plum by hand, Azarenko recommends hitting the limbs of each plum tree with something long and flexible. A four-foot length of flexible half-inch PVC pipe or a broom handle with a foot or two of garden hose on the end is the perfect tool. Hit the limbs lightly. Then increase in severity until the plums rain down, but the branches stay undamaged. The unripe plums should fall easily. The average final spacing between the fruits should be about three to four inches. About three-fourths of the plums should be removed for best results. If you take the majority of the young plums off, the rest should get big and ripen more uniformly, she said. DNA Science Foils Cattle Rustler In E. Washington Modern day science defeated an old time cattle rustler earlier this year when DNA testing was used to prove the theft of seven calves. It's the first time DNA testing, so often used to resolve cases involving humans, has unraveled a livestock complaint brought before the state Department of Agriculture (WSDA). Matthew David Goodwin of Deer Park was sentenced to 30 days in jail, with one year of community supervision, after he pled guilty to charges of livestock theft and forgery in March. He also was ordered to pay a $4,000 fine and $5,600 in restitution, court costs and victim assessments. The charges were the result of a four-month investigation by WSDA and the Washington State Patrol. A Cheney area rancher accused Goodwin of stealing his calves. WSDA recovered the calves and DNA testing confirmed that they were the offspring of the rancher's cows. The calves had not yet been branded, a common manner used to prove ownership of livestock and horses. "It was interesting to see a modern-day scientific technique foil one of the oldest professions," said Dr. Robert Mead, state veterinarian. "Our livestock investigator Ron Ferguson and livestock inspector Kris Budde were quite pleased to have solid evidence to resolve the case. The DNA evidence showed conclusively that the stolen calves were the offspring of another man's cows." WSDA's Livestock Identification Program plans to expand its investigative work as recently enacted legislation will allow officials to upgrade Ferguson's position to full-time status. Ferguson, a former law enforcement officer, has been working part-time for WSDA since 2000 to resolve livestock theft cases, ownership disputes, physically recover cattle and perform other services for the agricultural community. WSDA's Livestock Identification Program provides a vital public service for the $492 million cattle industry. The program maintains the official recordings of about 7,000 livestock brands and protects cattle and horse owners by requiring proof of ownership when animals are moved out of state. Cattle also must be inspected at every change of ownership and horse ownership must be verified at public sales. Last year, WSDA inspected nearly 625,000 cattle and 14,000 horses. Website Gives Consumers Inside Track On Buying Local,Farm Fresh Food By Bill Loftus, University of Idaho In June 2003 Rural Roots launched its free on-line directory of local farms, ranches, and businesses that sell direct to the public. If you are looking for freshly picked berries, vine ripened tomatoes or crisp salad greens, this site is for you. The Farm Fresh Food directory can be found at www.ruralroots.org/farmfreshfood.asp. The Farm Fresh Food on-line directory covers the Inland Northwest region of Idaho, Montana, and eastern Washington. On it consumers can find listings of farms, ranches, retailers, co-ops, farmers' markets, restaurants and bed & breakfasts. Each farm and business listing includes the farm or business name, where you can find them, contact information and a list of produce and products offered. Any farm that sells direct to the public or to local businesses, or any business that buys local produce and products can create a listing for their business on the directory for free. Simply go to www.ruralroots.org/farmfreshfood.asp and click on the "Add a Listing" button. Stan Urmann of Riley Creek Farms near Sandpoint, a small acreage farmer who sells blueberries direct to local markets has this to say about the on-line directory. "Small family farms such as ours have a very limited advertising budget. The Rural Roots on-line directory is economical, easy to use and it increases our farm's visibility. It's one of our most valuable tools." Made possible by a grant from the Idaho State Department of Agriculture, this on-line directory was funded for the sole purpose of developing local markets for locally grown produce and locally made products. Any Idaho farm that lists on the directory will receive a free copy of Diane Green's "Guide to Selling Produce to Restaurants." This is an invaluable reference for any farmer looking to increase their visibility and profitability. The Farm Fresh Food on-line directory is a useful tool for anyone looking to buy or sell fresh, locally grown produce. By visiting www.ruralroots.org/farmfreshfood.asp consumers will be supporting local farms and business, while providing their families with fresh, great tasting food, said John Potter, direct marketing project coordinator for Rural Roots. Rural Roots is a member based non-profit organization working in Idaho, Washington and western Montana. Rural Roots is committed to the development of local food and farming systems and works in cooperation with the University of Idaho and other entities. That Tomato Has Been Handled HOW Many Times?! University of Idaho HomeWise It's such a simple thing, but it can make such a big difference in keeping your family safe from food-borne illness. Thoroughly rinsing fresh produce under cool or cold running water cuts the number of microorganisms on vegetables and fruit 10- to 100-fold, says Sandy McCurdy, University of Idaho Extension food safety specialist. It also washes away pesticide residues. "It's always a good idea to wash fresh produce," McCurdy says. According to food safety experts, an average of four people have handled your apple before you picked it out of the grocer's bin and up to 20 have handled your tomato. That's a lot of strange hands-and potentially a lot of coughing, sneezing and dropping. McCurdy usually sets her fresh produce in a colander and sprays it with water. If its surface will withstand it, she also scrubs it with a brush to remove dirt and bacteria. She briefly soaks leafy items like spinach or lettuce to loosen dirt but then rinses them well under running water.       Consumers should be particularly cautious with cantaloupe, McCurdy says. The federal government has documented Salmonella infections originating in imported Mexican cantaloupe for the past three years. "Wash the outside rind thoroughly before you cut into a cantaloupe," she says. "Otherwise, you may drag harmful bacteria into the flesh with your knife." USDA Sign-Up For New Grassland Reserve Program Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced recently that the first sign-up for the Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) will begin nationwide on June 30, 2003. The 2002 Farm Bill amended the Food Security Act of 1985 to include authorization for this program. "Grasslands provide critical ecological benefits and play a key role in environmental quality, as well as contributing to the economies of many rural areas," said Veneman. "This voluntary program helps protect valuable grasslands from conversion to other land uses, thus helping to ensure this national resource is available to future generations." Grasslands make up the largest land cover on America's private lands. Privately-owned grasslands and shrublands cover more than 525 million acres in the United States. For the first time, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will direct financial resources and technical expertise to help landowners protect and restore these lands. Applications for participation will be accepted on a continuous basis at local USDA service centers. Once funding has been exhausted, eligible applicants will remain on file until additional funding becomes available. Veneman previously announced that $49.9 million in fiscal year 2003 funds are available to implement GRP. The Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency and Forest Service are coordinating implementation of GRP, which helps landowners restore and protect grassland, rangeland, pastureland, shrubland and certain other lands and provides assistance for rehabilitating grasslands. The program will conserve vulnerable grasslands from conversion to cropland or other uses and conserve valuable grasslands by helping maintain viable ranching operations. When properly managed, grasslands and shrublands can result in cleaner water supplies, healthier riparian areas and reduced sediment loadings in streams and other water bodies. These lands are vital for the production of forage for domestic livestock and provide forage and habitat for maintaining healthy wildlife populations. These lands also improve the aesthetic character of the landscape, provide scenic vistas and open space, provide for recreational activities and protect the soil from water and wind erosion. GRP offers producers several enrollment options: permanent easements, 30-year easements, rental agreements (10, 15, 20 or 30-year duration) and restoration agreements. For permanent easements, USDA makes a payment based on the fair market value of the property less the grazing value. For 30-year easements, USDA pays 30 percent of what would be paid for a permanent easement. For rental agreements, USDA pays 75 percent of the grazing value in annual payments for the length of the agreement. For restoration agreements, USDA pays up to 90 percent of the restoration costs on grassland and shrubland that has never been cultivated and not more than 75 percent on restored grassland and shrubland (land that once was cultivated). To participate in GRP, offers must be private land that includes at least 40 contiguous acres. Additional eligibility criteria are described in the "Notice of Availability of Program Funds for the Grassland Reserve Program" that was published in the Federal Register on June 13, 2003, and is available on the NRCS Web site listed below. This notice applies only to fiscal year 2003 funds and will be used for the initial sign-up. For more information about GRP and other conservation programs, contact your local USDA Service Center, listed in the telephone book under U.S. Department of Agriculture, or online at http://offices.usda.gov/. Information, including Federal Register notices and rules, also is available at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/farmbill/2002. Idaho, Washington OK BLOCKERTM 4F Use On Potatoes From Steve Harris, Far West This Week, 6-12 Both the Idaho and Washington state departments of agriculture have granted new 24 © registrations for use of AMVAC Chemical Corp's BLOCKERTM 4F soil fungicide for use through sprinkler systems to control white mold in potatoes. The 24 © registrations allow potato growers in Idaho and Washington to make up to three irrigation applications of the fungicide at 3- to 10 pints per acre up to 45 days before harvest, or up to two applications at 3- to 5 pints per acre up to 20 days before harvest. The fungicide can be applied with 0.1 to 0.3 inches of water through center pivot, solid set or wheel irrigation systems suitable for application of pesticides. For more information visit the AMVAC website at www.amvac-chemical.com. Protect Your Plants From Dreaded Slugs Slugs thrive west of the Cascades. Damaged plants are marked by slime trails and irregular-shaped holes with smooth edges. The amount of slug damage depends mainly on rainfall and nighttime temperatures. Slugs must have soil moisture, and they feed when temperatures are greater than 50°F. They love mild winters, wet springs, moist summers, and irrigation. Cold, windy winters and hot, dry summers reduce their numbers and cause some slugs to become dormant. Grass cover, mulches, soil cracks, and worm tunnels provide places for slugs to hide and lay eggs. Remove dark, moist habitats and rototill to a depth of 6 inches to eliminate these hiding places. Slugs lay eggs in the fall after rains start, typically in late September and early October. If you reduce the population before they lay eggs, you have won half the battle. Hand Picking&emdash;Hand pick slugs about 2 hours after sunset. Slice them in half, pierce them, sprinkle them with salt, or scrape them into a bucket of soapy water. Barriers And Traps&emdash;• Copper strips. When a slug touches copper, it is charged with current, an unpleasant experience that makes it reverse course. Place a band of copper (preferably 3 inches wide) around beds or individual plants. Or form copper wire into a tight, conical spiral around each plant, with the small end at the bottom, and push the wire into the soil. Make sure slugs are not trapped inside barriers. • Trap boards. Slugs seek shelter during daylight. Place small, flat boards under plants and between garden rows. Remove slugs each morning and scrape them into a bucket of soapy water. • Beer traps. Slugs are attracted to yeasty odors. To make a beer trap, cut a 2-inch hole about two-thirds up the side of an empty margarine tub or plastic yogurt container. Bury the container so the hole is just above ground. Add 2-3 inches of beer (or a mixture of 1 Tbsp each, yeast, flour, & sugar, plus 1 cup water, and cover with a lid. Remove dead slugs daily. • Trap crops. Slugs love to eat marigolds. Plant marigolds along your garden's border and hand pick slugs and dispose of them in late evening. Nontoxic Control Products&emdash;• Iron phosphate granules (e.g., Sluggo, WorryFree, and Escar-Go). These granules have a wheat aroma to attract slugs. After eating them, slugs stop feeding, dry out, and die within 3 to 6 days. Bait remains active for about 1 week or longer depending on the environment. • Diatomaceous earth. Made of ground mineral fossils, this powder punctures slugs' soft covering. Sprinkle it in a 1-inch-deep, 3-inch-wide band around a plant's base. Rain can destroy its effectiveness, so you may have to reapply it. Chemical Control Products&emdash;• Ammonia-water spray. When sprayed directly with a solution of equal parts household ammonia and water, slugs dehydrate. Test a plant's sensitivity to ammonia by spraying a small section and watching for a reaction in the next day or two. • Metaldehyde. Metaldehyde is the most common active ingredient in synthetic chemical baits. Use these baits in the fall. By late winter and early spring, conditions are too wet and slugs can recover. These baits are toxic to earthworms and may affect nontarget insects. However, it's possible to use them safely. Place a few pellets under a board and remove dead slugs each morning. Or, place granules in a 1-gallon plastic milk container. Make a 1-inch by 2-inch hole in the side of the container near the top and bury the container so the hole is above ground. For more information, see the following OSU Extension publication: Slugs, FS 277 (html) OSU Professor Wins Award By Carol Savonen, Oregon State University Oregon State University professor Michael J. Burke was awarded the American Distance Education Consortium's highest award for service, the Irving Award, at ADEC's annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas. Burke is associate dean of OSU's College of Agricultural Sciences, associate director of the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station and professor emeritus in the Department of Horticulture. "Burke has provided outstanding leadership to ADEC in the development of academically focused distance education programs," said Thayne Dutson, dean of OSU's College of Agricultural Sciences and director of the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station. Dutson chairs ADEC's board of directors. "His wisdom, his warmth, his creativity and wit have served the organization and its membership in a superior manner," said Janet Poley, president of ADEC. With ADEC, Burke has studied ways that land grant university education and research programs might be improved in Mexico, Latin America and the Middle East. ADEC is an international consortium of state and land grant colleges and universities that provide distance education programs via the web and satellite.

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