Life Sciences Commons^™

Simple Sprinkler Performance Testing For Rich County, Kelly Kopp, L. Neil Allen, Dallen Smith, Lauren Thomson

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes how to perform a site inspection and a sprinkler test so you can irrigate your landscape more efficiently. It also provides an irrigation schedule for Rich County, Utah.

Grazing On The Arizona Strip: Catchment History And Repair, Melanie Heaton

All Current Publications

Water, not forage, is the limiting factor for wildlife and livestock grazing the Arizona Strip, a nearly 3-million-acre piece of land located north of the Grand Canyon and south of the Utah border. Since springs and groundwater are rare or absent, harvesting of natural precipitation is the main source of water for animals. Catchment systems, which capture precipitation on a sloped rubber apron and contain it in a large tank or lined pond, are used by government agencies and grazing permittees to efficiently provide water for wildlife and livestock. As catchments reach the end of their useful lives, tank replacement …

Native Wetland Plant Seed Collection And Cleaning Guide For The Intermountain West, Rae Robinson, Maddie Houde, Elana Feldman, Samantha R. Kurkowski, Nathan M. Crawford, Stephanie Aristizabal, Karin M. Kettenring

All Current Publications

Collecting and cleaning seeds from wildlands is an essential part of ecosystem restoration, management, and conservation. Here, we summarize best practices for native wetland plant seed collection and cleaning in the Intermountain West.

A companion guide on seed testing, "Seed Viability Testing Guide for Common Wetland Plant Species," is also available (https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/extension_curall/2389/).

First-Time Market Goat, Ashley Longmore, Cheyenne Reid

All Current Publications

This fact sheet is 4-H youth who are thinking about or have recently purchased their first 4-H goat. This fact sheet is a simple outline that provides information on selection, feeding, housing, basic care, and grooming.

First-Time Market Lamb, Ashley Longmore, Cheyenne Reid

All Current Publications

This fact sheet is 4-H youth who are thinking about or have recently purchased their first 4-H lamb. This fact sheet is a simple outline providing more information on selection, feeding, housing, basic care, and grooming.

Maintaining And Improving Irrigation Application Uniformity In Sprinkler And Drip Systems, Burdette Barker, Sheridan Stewart, Mark Nelson

All Current Publications

The goal of most irrigation system design and management is to provide all plants in an irrigated area with equal access to water. Ideally, each plant should receive the exact amount of water it needs. If a field needs 1 inch of water for irrigation, all parts of the field should receive exactly that. The reality is not so perfect. It is practically impossible to apply the same quantity of water to all plants in an irrigated area, plot, or field. In other words, all irrigation systems have some nonuniformities in the water delivered. Instead of designing and managing irrigation …

First-Time Market Hog, Ashley T. Longmore, Cheyenne A. Reid

All Current Publications

This fact sheet is for 4-H youth who are thinking about or have recently purchased their first 4-H hog. This fact sheet is a simple outline that will give them more information on selection, feeding, housing, basic care, and grooming.

First-Time Market Steer, Ashley T. Longmore, Cheyenne A. Reid

All Current Publications

The target audience for this fact sheet is 4-H youth who are thinking about or have recently purchased their first 4-H steer. This fact sheet is a simple outline that will give them more information on selection, feeding, housing, basic care, and grooming.

The Backyard Garden: Sweet Corn Pests, Nick Volesky, Amelia Olds, Nick Sanchez, Marion Murray

All Current Publications

The Backyard Garden is a series from Utah Pests, Utah State University Extension. This fact sheet explores the pests that affect sweet corn, covering severity, other hosts, general information, symptoms, and management.

Bull Production: Breeding Soundness Exam And Expected Progeny Differences, Ethan Gilliam

All Current Publications

This fact sheet defines a breeding soundness exam (BSE) for a breeding bull and reviews the meaning of expected progeny differences (EPDs). Acronyms used and depended on by livestock producers are reviewed. Understanding the meaning of livestock acronyms is commonly overlooked. Highlights include how a producer makes financial decisions throughout the year in relation to their livestock.

The Backyard Garden: Garlic Pests, Nick Volesky, Bridger Carey, Amelia Olds, Marion Murray

All Current Publications

The Backyard Garden is a series from Utah Pests, Utah State University Extension. This fact sheet explores the pests and diseases that affect garlic plants, covering severity, other hosts, general information, symptoms, and management.

Suggested Vegetable Planting Dates: Grand And San Juan Counties, Reagan Wytsalucy, Cory Farnsworth, Dan Drost

All Current Publications

This fact sheet addresses vegetable planting dates in Grand and San Juan counties in Utah. “When should I plant?” and “What should I plant?” are two of the more common questions received from Utah gardeners. To answer the “When” question, you need to know something about the climate where you live. Vegetable plants vary in their response to temperature and are grouped by how they cope with cold or hot conditions. There are four (4) vegetable groups, which include the hardy, half-hardy, tender, or very tender crops. These groups are also referred to as the cool season (hardy or half-hardy) …

Livestock Risk Protection Insurance: Feeder Cattle, Logan B. Haviland, Ryan Feuz

All Current Publications

Livestock risk protection (LRP) insurance is a partially subsidized livestock insurance provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) that provides protection to producers against unexpected price declines. This fact sheet presents specific coverage information for feeder cattle and presents optimal coverage options based on historical contract performance.

Managing Saline And Sodic Soils And Irrigation Water, Burdette Barker, Grant Cardon, Matt Yost, Melanie Stock, Earl Creech, Jody Gale

All Current Publications

Salt is an important factor in plant and soil management. Excessive salt concentrations in soil can cause water to be less available to plants because of the osmotic forces of salt in the soil water. Excessive concentrations of different ions can also be toxic to plants. In agricultural soils and irrigation water, salts are typically described in two ways: (1) total salt concentration or salinity, and (2) sodicity, or the concentration of sodium relative to other cations (positively charged atoms or compounds). Understanding the effect of both total salinity and sodicity on plants and soils, along with management and reclamation …

Livestock Risk Protection Insurance: Swine, Logan B. Haviland, Ryan Feuz

All Current Publications

Livestock risk protection (LRP) insurance is a partially subsidized livestock insurance provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) that provides protection to producers against unexpected price declines. This fact sheet presents specific coverage information for swine and presents optimal coverage options based on historical contract performance.

Livestock Risk Protection Insurance Faq, Logan B. Haviland, Ryan Feuz

All Current Publications

Livestock risk protection (LRP) insurance is a partially subsidized livestock insurance provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) that provides protection to producers against unexpected price declines. This fact sheet presents commonly asked questions and answers surrounding livestock risk protection insurance. It outlines the purpose of the program and explains how producers can use LRP insurance to mitigate price risk.

Livestock Risk Protection Insurance: Fed Cattle, Logan B. Haviland, Ryan Feuz

All Current Publications

Livestock risk protection (LRP) insurance is a partially subsidized livestock insurance provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) that provides protection to producers against unexpected price declines. This fact sheet presents specific coverage information for fed cattle and presents optimal coverage options based on historical contract performance.

Commercially Available Products In Increase Soil Water-Holding Capacity, Shital Poudyal, Jake Powell, Rowe Zwahlen, Grant Cardon

All Current Publications

Although adding organic matter is traditionally the most effective way to enhance soil water-holding capacity, several commercial products in the market also have the potential to increase soil water-holding capacity. In this fact sheet, we discuss the properties and characteristics of those commercially available products and recommended application rates. We also explore some limitations of using these products.

Seed Viability Testing Guide For Common Wetland Plant Species, Rae Robinson, Sandra E. Johnston, Elana Feldman, Maddie Houde, Samantha R. Kurkowski, Amanda Mast, Jes V. Braun, Karin M. Kettenring

All Current Publications

Seeds are used in many aspects of plant research as well as in applications such as ecosystem restoration. However, not all seeds are living (i.e., viable). To successfully work with seeds, it is essential to know how many seeds are viable. Seed viability can be assessed through a few different avenues, such as a basic cut test (i.e., is the embryo fully developed), germination assays, x-ray imaging, or the most common—a tetrazolium (TZ) test. This document focuses on best practices for TZ testing for a wide array of common wetland species that have been the focus of research and restoration …

Safety And Health Management Planning For Veterinarians, Jessie Salter, Michael Pate, Kerry A. Rood

All Current Publications

Veterinary staff health and safety are of primary importance to the profession. Although this is inherently understood, oftentimes, staff safety is not given the time and resources needed to promote a safe work environment free from unnecessary risks or exposures. This handbook educates clinic leaders on valuing and creating a safety culture in practice as well as implementing appropriate safety policies and procedures. Veterinary personnel are more likely to experience a work-related injury than policemen, firefighters, and construction workers. These statistics illustrate the need for a stronger safety culture in veterinary medicine. This handbook provides an outline on how to …

Deficit Irrigation Of Pastures, Matt Yost, Clara Anderson, Niel Allen, Burdette Barker, Melanie Heaton, Justin Wyatt Clawson, Earl Creech

All Current Publications

Deficit irrigation is any irrigation level that does not meet the crop’s full evapotranspiration (ET) demand, meaning evaporation from plant and soil surface and transpiration through plant growth. This strategy is often a last resort for optimizing water use as opposed to those that will not limit production. However, deficit irrigation is often necessary in parts of Utah due to drought or inadequate water supplies. This was especially true in 2021–2022 due to record droughts. Deficit irrigation strategies for pastures have been developed, but they have yet to be compared and evaluated in Utah. This fact sheet summarizes 6 years …

Plum Curculio (Conotrachelus Nenuphar), Kate V. Richardson, Marion Murray

All Current Publications

Plum curculio is a brown weevil (beetle with a snout) native to eastern North America, where it is a major pest of pome and stone fruits. It was detected in Box Elder County, Utah, in the early 1980s, and this population remains the only known infestation in western North America, where it is occasionally found in residential and wild fruit trees. Plum curculio is a quarantine pest in western North America (U.S. and Canada), and fruit grown in infested counties is restricted from being exported. Thus, it is a threat to Utah’s fruit industry and requires ongoing monitoring and management …

Moab Local Food Guide 2024, Roslynn Mccann, Shiree Duncan

All Current Publications

Thank you for picking up this Moab Utah Local Food Guide. Those growing and producing food within a 100 mile radius from Moab have been included in this guide to help YOU make locally sourced purchasing decisions!

Cosmos For Cut Flower Production In Utah, Ali Harrison, Melanie Stock, Lorin Harrison, Amanda Pratt, Olive Stewart, Claudia Nischwitz, Nick Volesky

All Current Publications

Cosmos are one of the easiest and most productive cut flowers to grow. As a warm-season annual, blooms are prolific and continued, making cosmos a staple, cut-and-come-again flower. The plants tolerate low water conditions, poor soil, and low maintenance, and perform better in fields than high tunnels. Available in shades ranging from whites and blushes to cranberry and orange, cosmos provide popular colors and airy textures for floral design work, particularly in late summer weddings and events.

You Can Lead A Horse To Water: Mapping Seasonal Water Resources To Predict Wild Horse Movements On Utah Rangelands, David C. Stoner, Eric Thacker, Linden Greenhalgh, Mark Nelson

All Current Publications

All wild horse herd management areas in Utah overlap BLM grazing allotments. Although horses and cattle have similar dietary habits, both species rely heavily on predictable water sources during dry periods. The concentration of wildlife and livestock in mesic areas during droughts can become problems for farmers and livestock producers. We aimed to map the annual distribution of temporary surface water across Utah that cattle, horses, and wildlife could use. Herein we analyzed an 18-year record of satellite imagery to create a statewide map of seasonal surface-water availability for agricultural and wildlife management purposes.

Understanding Cut Flower Consumers, Makaylie Langford, Kynda R. Curtis, Melanie Stock

All Current Publications

This fact sheet provides information on cut flower consumers, such as floral preferences and consumer demographics and psychographics. It discusses possible ways to enhance perceived value and interest in cut flowers.

An Overview Of The Cut Flower Industry, Makaylie Langford, Kynda R. Curtis, Melanie Stock

All Current Publications

This fact sheet provides an overview of the cut flower industry. It provides information about traditional and specialty cut flowers, comparing flowers sourced locally in Utah and internationally.

Cut Flower Markets And Marketing In The Intermountain West, Makylie Langford, Kynda R. Curtis, Melanie Stock

All Current Publications

This fact sheet discusses different markets for cut flowers in the Intermountain West, including wholesale and direct-to-consumer markets. Farmers markets, community-supported agriculture and subscription services, u-pick operations, farm venues, and online options are explored, as well as using social media to advertise and build clientele.

Managing Soil Ph For Crop Production In Calcareous-Alkaline Soil, Cody Zesiger, Jody Gale, Matt Yost, Grant Cardon

All Current Publications

In semiarid soils of the Western U.S., altering soil pH is not easily accomplished nor straightforward. Utah’s soil pH range can be 1,000 times more acidic or alkaline than neutral (7.0) pH soils. In semiarid regions, typical high-pH soils are also calcareous, meaning there is a large amount of solid calcium carbonate (lime) in the soil. When soil-acidifying amendments are added to these soils, the lime dissolves and counteracts any of the applied soil-acidifying amendments. This fact sheet explains how to identify whether crop symptoms are related to soil pH, how to perform an in-field test for soil pH buffering …

Surveying And Evaluating Pests And Beneficial Insects In Utah's Vegetable Production, Nick Volesky, Amelia Olds, Marion Murray

All Current Publications

The Utah State University (USU) Extension Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program conducted a season-long survey evaluating arthropod pests, plant diseases, pollinators, and other beneficials on a ¼-acre vegetable farm and adjacent pollinator habitat located in Logan, Utah. Understanding the roles of these groups on plant health and the efficacy of nonchemical pest management approaches critically impacts the sustainability of Utah’s vegetable industry. Survey findings have been used as a reference for developing video content, fact sheets, and presentations to educate Utah’s commercial and small-acreage farmers.