Volume 116 Number 2 Summer 2016

Quotation: “Plowed ground smells of earthworms and empires.” —Justin Isherwood

Community Garden Planting

This is the fifth year the Caldwell Service Center has planted a community garden. The first few years the garden was in an-other area. Last year we moved the garden to this south side of the office building. Last year before we were able to fence the garden the rock chucks ate most of the plants. The garden is now planted and growing strong with

help from a drip system. We donate the produce to the el-derly pantry/CCOA (Canyon County Organization on Aging, Weatheriza-tion, and Human Services). We have donated over 2,400 lbs. of produce to CCOA in the last four years. We are looking forward to this years project.

Board of Supervisors …..…...2

New Soil Conservationist…...2

New CSCD Supervisor….…. 2

Control Erosion with PAM.….3

High Tunnel Soil Health…….4

Kid’s Connection …..….…….6

Recipe Spot. ……….………..8

Top picture standing left to right; Martin

Pena-NRCS, Doug Higbee-NRCS, Lori

Kent-CSCD, Justin Ross-NRCS, Kyla

Pearson-FSA, Amie Miller-NRCS

kneeling left to right; Shawna Anderson-

FSA & Erin Brooks-NRCS. Step here and you die

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New Soil Conservationist Welcome Justin Ross

Justin Ross is a recent transfer from Natural Resources Conserva-tion Service (NRCS), Washington where he was working with agricultur-al producers in the Kittitas valley near Ellensburg. He feels lucky to have had his first duty station with NRCS in such a beautiful state; that being said, he is now even more excited to be living in the gorgeous state of Idaho! Justin came to NRCS shortly after returning from 2 years of serving with the Peace Corps in Senegal, West Africa. While in Senegal, Justin focused his work on agroforestry in-cluding intercropping, hedgerows, reforestation, fuel wood lots, and or-chard management. He also conducted side projects which undertook the more sensitive topics of gender roles and health education. Mr. Ross graduated with a degree in Forest Biology and Internation-al Agriculture from The Pennsylvania State University. While there, he assisted with research projects examining biological controls of inva-sive species, and well as the effects of climate change on plant com-munities in our native forests.

Justin is a passionate outdoorsman who loves to travel. He has been to all 50 states and over 30 countries. Justin’s wife and adventure partner, Aviva, works for the Na-tional Weather Service in Boise. They have been married for 6 and a half years. Welcome to Idaho Justin!

Your Canyon SCD

Supervisors: Mike Swartz, Chairman Mike Somerville, Vice Chair Rex Runkle, Sec./Treas. Robert McKellip, Supervisor David Dixon, Supervisor Associate Supervisors: Tom Johnson Rich Sims Matt Livengood District Staff: Lori Kent, Administrative Assistant Outreach Robin Hadeler Soil Conservation Tech NRCS Staff: Amie Miller District Conservationist Erin Brooks Soil Conservationist Justin Ross Soil Conservationist Doug Higbee Civil Engineer Martin Pena Civil Engineering Tech Linda Phillips Earth Team Volunteer Rich Sims Earth Team Volunteer District board meetings are held the first Thursday after the first Tuesday of each month. Meetings are open to the public. Call the office for exact times. All programs and services of the Canyon Soil Conservation District are offered on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, marital or familial status and political beliefs.

* * * New Canyon SCD Supervisor

Welcome Dave Dixon

David Dixon who farms in the Greenleaf area has joined the Canyon

Soil Conservation District (SCD) as a board supervisor. David has been

farming since 1997 with his father Dan, and

they raise mint, beets, onions, beans, wheat

and corn.

David has used conservation practices such

as strip tilling, cover cropping and drip irriga-

tion on their farm to help promote soil health

and conserve water. As a board supervisor

David looks forward to promoting opportunities

and education to take care of our valuable re-

sources.

David and his wife, Betsy, have four children

ages 14, 12, 9 and 6.

Join Canyon SCD and Caldwell field office staff in welcoming David!

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Easy Erosion Control Using Anionic Polyacrylamide (PAM)

Natural Resources Conservation Service Fact Sheet

Definition Anionic polyacrylamide is a manufactured (water-soluble) synthetic polymer. The product is available in dry pow-der form, liquid emulsion, and gelatinous blocks. The product is typically used to minimize or control irrigation induced soil erosion and to reduce wind and/or precipitation induced ero-sion on disturbed areas such as construction sites where the timely establishment of vegetation may not be feasible. General Information All Applications Only anionic polyacrylamide should be used for erosion control. The acrylamide should meet monomer limits of < 0.05%. The PAM should have a charge density of 10 to 55% by weight and have a molecular weight of 6 to 24 mg/mole. PAM should be mixed and/or applied in accordance with all Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Material Safety Data Sheet requirements and the manufacturer’s recom-mendations for the specified use. PAM application rates may need to be adjusted based on soil properties, slope, and type of irrigation system being used. PAM works best when used in combination with other conservation and best management practices. Irrigation Induced Soil Erosion When used in surface irrigation systems the concentration of PAM in irrigation water should not exceed 10 ppm of pure form PAM. In sprinkler irrigation the application rate of PAM active ingredient should not exceed 4 pounds per acre per application event. Application of PAM typically increases infiltration of irrigation water. To compensate for this increase, adjustments in flow rates, time of set, and tillage practices should be considered. Clogging of irrigation system components such as screens, valves, tubing and nozzles is possible when PAM is used. Care should be taken to avoid this problem. Steps such as pumping surfactants (crop oil) through the sprinkler irrigation system before and after PAM use help to re-duce clogging. Wind or precipitation induced Soil Erosion (Critical Areas) The maximum application rate of PAM to reduce this type erosion shall not exceed 200 pounds of pure form PAM per emulsion batch. Care shall be taken during application to insure uniform coverage of the target disturbed ar-ea and to minimize drift to non-target areas. Adding seed to the PAM mixture may provide additional erosion protection beyond the life of the PAM material. Safety and Health Use proper personal protective equipment such as gloves, dust masks, and other health and safety precautions in accordance with the label, industry, and other federal or state rules and guidelines. Continued on page 5

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Eleven Tips To Boosting High Tunnel Soil Health

By: Kara Lyn Dunn From: Western Farmer-Stockman

Accurately monitoring nutrients and pH soil and irrigation water are just part of the rules for high tunnel productivity. Related: High tunnel’s ‘tired soil’ mystery solved 1. Test soil pre-season, ideally in the fall when soils are still warm. 2. Obtain nutrient analysis for any compost used. 3. Apply compost or other fertility sources before planting at rates based on soil test values. 4. Test irrigation water pH and alkalinity. 5. Adjust water pH based on test results with citric acid through an injector. 6. Conduct foliar testing every two to three weeks in-season. 7. Add fertility to irrigation water, or foliar applications, based on foliar test results. 8. Remove summer crop and debris at conclusion of season. 9. Soil test before any winter crop or cover crop. 10. Use fall irrigation to provide moisture for cover crop or winter greens. 11. Plan to move tunnel(s) for long-term precision nutrient management. Managing high-tunnel soil health from Judson Reid, Cornell University Extension vegetable pro-gram specialist. More Best Management Practice tips for high tunnels are online at http://blogs.cornell.edu/hightunnels.

* * *

Mission:

The Canyon Soil Conservation District is committed to providing quality leadership, information, education, technical assistance and financial assistance for the conservation and wise use of natural resources.

If you are interested in highlighting a project you are installing this year in the Canyon Soil Conservation District Newsletter, please

contact Lori at 454-8684 ext. 126.

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Coming Events . . .

District Board Meeting Caldwell Field Office (F.O.)

2208 E. Chicago Street July 7

August 4 September 8

7:00 PM

Lower Boise River Watershed Advisory Group Caldwell Airport

September 8 1:00—3:00

Canyon County Fair July 28-31

CSCD Speech Contest Caldwell F.O. September 30

4:00 PM

CSCD Poster Contest Caldwell F.O.

October 3

PAM solutions can cause surfaces, tools, and other items it con-tacts to become very slippery when wet. Caution should be used in PAM application areas. Operation And Maintenance An operation and maintenance plan should be prepared for and used by the persons responsible for PAM application. The plan should provide specific instructions on PAM application. Compo-nents of the plan may consist of: Reapply PAM to disturbed or tilled areas, including high traffic

use areas. Monitoring advance phases of the irrigation to assure applica-

tions are discontinued when runoff begins. Equipment is operated and maintained to provide uniform ap-

plication rates. Maintenance of screens and filtering facilities. Rinse all PAM mixing and application equipment thoroughly

with water to avoid formation of PAM residues. PAM is a flocculating agent that may cause deposition in down-

stream watercourses or other locations when it comes in con-tact with sediment-laden water. Downstream deposition from the use of PAM may require periodic cleaning to maintain nor-mal functions.

Continued from page 3

Washington D.C. folks visited Idaho On May 19th Geno Butzomi-Admin Enterprise Business Initiatives, ID; Frank Geter-Enterprise Business Initiatives, CO; Jeff Dziedzic-Director of NRCS National Employee Development Center, WA; Melissa Drummond-Human Resources Officer, WA; Tom Christensen-Assoc. Chief of Opera-tions, WA,; Curtis Elke,-ID State Conservationist; Tony Sunseri-ID West Area Conservationist; Mike Raymond-District Conservationist in Payette, Weiser & Council, Erin Mora, Travis Youngberg & others in Division III from Idaho met to discuss USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) programs. Afterward the group toured Canyon and Ada county projects.

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We All Need Trees From: Soil Stewardship Week

Is It TRUE or FALSE? 1. _____ Trees are the largest and longest living organisms on the plant. 2. _____ One large tree can provide the oxygen needed for two people to breathe. 3. _____ A tree can absorb 48 pounds of carbon dioxide from car emission per year. 4. _____ Invasive plants cover about 133 million acres of land in the U.S., and are spreading over a million acres per year. 5. _____ One large tree can remove up to 100 gallons of water out of the soil and release it into the air in a single day. 6. _____ One person uses enough wood-related products per year to equal a 100-foot tree that is 18 inches in diameter. 7. _____ Giant sequoia trees can weigh over 4 million pounds. 8. _____ There are Bristle Cone pines in California and Nevada that are over 4,000 years old. 9. _____ If you hang a birdhouse in a tree, it remains at the same height even though the tree grows taller.

Kids Connection. . .

Pollinators Are In Trouble

Bees, bats, and other animal pollinators face many challenges in the modern world. Habitat loss, disease, parasites, and environmental contaminants have all contributed to the decline of many species of pollinators. You Can Help! Use pollinator-friendly plants in your landscape. Shrubs and trees such as dogwood, blueber-

ry, cherry, plum, willow, and poplar provide pollen or nectar, or both, early in spring when food is scarce.

Choose a mixture of plants for spring, summer, and fall. Different flower colors, shapes, and scents will attract a wide variety of pollinators.

Reduce or eliminate pesticide use in your landscape, or incorporate plants that attract benefi-cial insects for pest control. If you use pesticides, use them sparingly and responsibly.

Accept some plant damage on plants meant to provide habitat for butterfly and moth larvae. Provide clean water for pollinators with a shallow dish, bowl, or birdbath with half-submerged

stones for perches. Leave dead tree trunks in your landscape for wood-nesting bees and beetles. Support land conservation in your community by helping to create and maintain community

gardens and green spaces to ensure that pollinators have appropriate habitat. Learn more at www.nifa.usda.gov/Extension/index.html or www.nrcs.usda.gov.

Answers on page 7

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Kids Connection

True/False Puzzle:

All True

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Old Fashioned Rhubarb Pudding Cake

http://commonsensehome.com

Ingredients 2 cups chopped rhubarb 1 3/4 cup sugar, divided 3 tablespoons butter, softened 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup milk 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon almond extract 1 cup sifted flour 1 tablespoon cornstarch 2/3 cup boiling water Instructions 1. Cover the bottom of an 8 or 9 inch square pan with fruit. (I prefer an 8 inch or 9 inch square glass

baking dish. Your could also use a deep dish glass pie plate.) 2. Mix 3/4 cup sugar, butter, baking powder, salt, extracts milk, and flour together (add a little more milk

if it is too thick to pour); pour over fruit. Mix remaining sugar and cornstarch; sprinkle over mixture in pan. Pour boiling water over the top.

3. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes, a little longer for gluten free flours. Yield: 9 servings. Note: You may also substitute a gluten free flour blend such as Namaste Foods Gluten Free Flour Blend.

Recipe Spot . . .

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NON-PROFIT ORG

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CALDWELL, ID PERMIT NO. 65

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Canyon Soil Conservation District 2208 E. Chicago, Suite A Caldwell, Idaho 83605