September 2000

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Simple Steps Can Give Homes Better Chance Against Wildfires By Bill Loftus, University of Idaho Homeowners who live in the fringe of Inland Northwest forests can take simple landscaping steps to protect themselves from the wildfires now threatening the region, University of Idaho extension forester Chris Schnepf says. Simple firescaping steps such as providing a well watered green lawn around the home, trimming shrubs that have grown too close to the home and removing lower limbs of trees can all reduce the threat posed by a wildland fire, he said. When a fire does start, Schnepf added, firefighters sometimes have to adopt an approach similar to medical triage teams. Those with the best chance of survival get the most attention. "We have an increasing number of homes in what we call the wildland-urban interface, the area between more urbanized areas and more forested settings. When a fire is blazing through and there's limited staff, firefighters will often adopt a form of triage where they'll spend their time on the homes they think they have a good shot at defending. "If they see a home that there isn't a good road to it, (where) they haven't done some of the presuppression sorts of work and the landscaping things we talk about, they'll tend to put that lower on the list. They're going to spend their time on the ones they're able to protect in the worst case scenarios." Schnepf periodically presents a three-hour program, "Landscaping for Fire Prevention," for groups that is based on a guide published by the university. In the program, which he often holds in conjunction with the university's Master Gardener programs, Schnepf tries to present the problem graphically. "I always start out with footage of homes being burned to the ground by forest fires. It's one of those things people prefer not to think about so they don't tend to act. I'm kind of taking a page from the highway patrol with their blood on the highway films to remind people that fires are a natural part of the ecology here. You need to prepare for them the same way people who live in Oklahoma would prepare for a tornado," Schnepf said. Both immediate and long-term action is appropriate, he said. "Forest conditions in North Idaho are quite primed for fire," Schnepf said. "This year in particular we had a pretty long dry spell here. "Given how thin the firefighters are stretched currently, the response time may not be as quick as it would have been if it weren't for other fires going on in the West. "There are simple things you can do fairly immediately to reduce fire risk. One is pruning trees and branches close to the home and making sure you know your escape routes in the event of a fire going through. Another is", he said, "putting up a sign that has your home numbers in big letters so firefighters can find it." The hot dry conditions can complicate efforts to firescape homes. Schnepf said. "If you're out there with a chainsaw during fire season, make sure it has a spark arrestor on it that's in good shape - you don't want to start a fire in the process of protecting your home from forest fires." Having a hose close at hand can also help lessen the fire risk of such activities. "The big thing they're looking for around homes and in landscaping for fire prevention is what's called defensible space," Schnepf said. "You know, an area that: A, you don't have a continuity of fuels from the forest to the home, and B, there's enough space that firefighters can defend the home if fire does come knocking at the door. Keeping good green trees and a green, healthy lawn also helps." Schnepf co-authored "Landscaping for Wildfire Prevention, " with Yvonne Carree Barkley, UI extension associate &emdash; forestry at Moscow, and W. Michael Colt, UI extension educator- horticulture at Parma. The publication is available for $3 postpaid by sending a check or money order to Yvonne Carree Barkley, Extension Forestry, University of Idaho, P.O. Box 441140, Moscow, ID 83844-1140. National Alfalfa Symposium The National Alfalfa Symposium is scheduled for Las Vegas, Nevada, from December 10-12, 2000. The meeting will be held at the Las Vegas Hilton. The National Alfalfa Symposium will join with the California Alfalfa Symposium this year in Las Vegas. The program is designed for a multi-state audience from all western alfalfa production states. On December 10, there will be a symposium tour with many interesting stops and an evening barbecue dinner. Meetings will continue on December 11 and 12. Look for more information this fall. Consumers Union Targets Diazinon From Far West This Week (Aug 4) Diazinon could be one of the next organophosphates to face new restrictions or prohibition under the Food Quality Protection Act if Consumers Union has its way. CU has asked the Environmental Protection Agency to phase out all uses of diazinon. The organization claims children can pick up diazinon residues from many sources because of the chemical's broad uses. CU consultant Charles Benbrook says EPA's preliminary review of the chemical made a strong case to ban all diazinon uses based on its risk to the environment, and to birds in particular. Norvartis, the manufacturer of diazinon, defends the safety of the product and points out in a recent statement that EPA itself found no specific health risks associated with registered uses. Poetry Corner Poems by Rosa Reyes How Would It Be How would it be: If people would stop and listen And rivers were to always glisten If love was meant to be And we all lived in harmony If our hearts would not be so bold And they'd open up and turn to gold If sunshine gave us peace of mind And troubles were always left behind If dreams came true While our happiness grew Who here now Will tell me how Dreams Tonight Before you close your eyes tonight Think of me holding you tight. Remember always how I've cared, And all the nice things we have shared. You are special, this is true Through this darkness I think of you. Together we will fall asleep, my sweet And in our dreams we shall meet. When we wake up, we won't be alone As our friendship has developed and has grown. Shattered Dreams In a place of shattered dreams Where no one knows And no one cares Where loneliness is a part of life And emptiness is your own demise In a place of shattered dreams Where people cry in despair And love existed in the air Where laughter pondered in the wind And beauty came from within In a place of shattered dreams Where people shared in time of need And happiness had no creed Where everyone longed to blend And hope seemed to transcend In a place of shattered dreams Where you live and walk alone May you find serenity; when you die on your own In this place of shattered dreams Humor "Eight new choir robes are currently needed, due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones."

U.I. Veterinary Pathologist Investigates Puzzling Intestinal Disorder In Dairy Cows By Marlene Fritz, University of Idaho University of Idaho veterinary pathologist Bruce Anderson is investigating a mysterious intestinal disorder responsible for sudden death in some Idaho dairy cows. Called "jejunal hemorrhage syndrome" or "dead gut disease," the disorder is characterized by swollen, blood-filled sections of the middle or lower portions of the small intestine, or jejunum. Anderson first reported the disorder in 1991 and has since seen 16 more cases in Idaho. Responding to a query Anderson placed in a scientific journal, veterinarians and researchers have also reported similar cases in Washington, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Prince Edward Island, Canada. "We are very early in the investigation of what may be an important problem," Anderson says. "On the other hand, it may prove to be of little or no consequence to animal agriculture." Anderson is asking Idaho dairy producers and veterinarians to let him know if any of their cows have progressed rapidly from producing high volumes of milk one day to no milk the next. "They're sore, they act like they have a bellyache, they may kick at their bellies&emdash;and within 48 hours they're dead of anemia." Because their intestines are suddenly plugged by a 12- to 18-inch long blood clot firmly attached to the lining, the cows suffer from a buildup of intestinal toxins before succumbing to continuing blood loss upstream from the blockage. Small amounts of feces may be very dark and liquid. "Veterinarians should necropsy dead cows and look specifically for that clot," Anderson says. Caught early, the ailment can apparently be cured by surgically removing the blocked section of intestine. Producers or veterinarians can reach Anderson at 208/454-8657 in Caldwell to report suspicious cases or to discuss the syndrome. He can provide digitized color photos of affected intestines. Whose Job Is It?? There is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was asked to do it. Everybody was sure Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done! Greenpeace Suit From Far West This Week (Aug 4) Greenpeace says it will sue the U.S. company at the heart of a French dispute over genetically modified organisms (GMOs), accusing the firm of deceiving customers and jeopardizing the French maize crop. Dredging up a controversial issue that the French government tried to lay to rest last month, Greenpeace accused U.S. seed company Golden Harvest of "deliberately commercializing and spreading in the environment unauthorized GMOs." Bulletin On Drying Fruits And Vegetables Available By Dennis Brown, Washington State University Home drying of fruits and vegetables is a good way to preserve some of the tastes of summer from your own garden. The process prevents spoilage by depriving microorganisms and enzymes of the moisture they need to be active. "Home Drying of Fruits & Vegetables," a 28-page bulletin published jointly by Cooperative Extension at Washington State University, the University of Idaho and Oregon State University, provides information on drying methods, selection of food for drying, drying in a dehydrator, packaging, storage and a variety of other topics. Copies can be ordered from the Washington State University Cooperative Extension Bulletins Office by calling 1-800-723-1763. Ask for PNW397. Cost is $2.50 including shipping and handling. Washington residents should add 17 cents sales tax. 8 Idaho Counties Declared Agricultural Disasters On September 5, 2000, Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman declared eight Idaho counties as agricultural disaster areas due to losses caused by severe and widespread lightning-caused wildland fires. The fires consumed more than 35,000 acres of federal, state, and private land. Farm and ranch buildings and equipment; public and private grazing, forage, and grain crops; and livestock have been destroyed. "Idaho has been hit hard by the fires," said Secretary Glickman. "USDA is providing all the help we can to aid local farmers in Idaho." Jerome and Lincoln counties in Idaho were named as primary disaster areas on September 1, 2000. All contiguous counties are also covered by the declaration and therefore eligible for the same benefits. Contiguous counties are: Blaine, Camas, Cassia, Gooding, Minidoka, and Twin Falls. The designation makes all qualified family-size farm operators in both primary and contiguous counties eligible for low-interest emergency loans from the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of this declaration to apply for the loans to help cover part of their actual losses. FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available, repayment ability, and other eligibility requirements. FSA has a variety of loan programs available, in addition to the emergency loan program, to help eligible farmers recover from adversity. Interested farmers may contact their local FSA offices for further information on eligibility requirements and application procedures. Additional information is also available online at: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/pas/disaster/assistance1.htm. This Is Disgusting By Dennis Brown, Washington State University The latest publication from Washington State University Cooperative Extension is filled with more than 500 disgusting color pictures: cherries coated with brown rot, evergreens desiccated by winter winds, pansy petals covered with spots of gray mold fungus. But it's those disgusting pictures that make MISC0194 "Landscape Plant Problems" one of the most popular publications in Extension's inventory of more than 2,600 titles. The vivid photos are taken from real-life gardens and landscapes. They illustrate signs of disease, insects and mites, cultural and environmental problems as they occur on 78 ornamental and fruit-bearing plants popular in Washington and the Pacific Northwest. This updated 172-page reference is a must-have for avid home gardeners, licensed pesticide applicators, Master Gardeners, nursery workers and others interested in identifying the causes of plant problems, the first step to treatment. It is spiral bound for easy use. Copies of MISC0194 can be ordered from the Washington State University Cooperative Extension Bulletins Office by calling 1-800-723-1763. Cost is $30. Shipping is $5.50. Washington residents must add 7.6 percent sales tax. Visa and MasterCard accepted. Hay Acreage By Bill Ford, WSU Coop.Extension, Franklin & Benton Co. According to a March 2000 survey conducted by the Washington Agricultural Statistics Service, farmers intend to plant more hay from year ago levels. Growers intend to harvest 770,000 acres of all hay, up 30,000 acres or 4% from the 1999 harvested acreage. A part of this increase could be attributed to timothy plantings last fall. Oregon showed a 5% increase in acreage compared to year ago levels. Idaho showed a 2% decrease in acreage compared to year ago levels.

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