Agriculture Commons^™

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 …

Poplar Borer, Marion Murray, Ryan Davis

All Current Publications

The poplar borer is the most commonly submitted wood borer found in aspens and other poplars in Utah. While large trees are seldom killed by this pest, it can cause the decline of trees, weakening of branches or the bole (which promotes wind breakage), and allows the introduction of pathogens. This fact sheet describes poplar borer life cycle, damage, and control.

Poplar Bud Gall Mite, Marion Murray, Ryan Davis

All Current Publications

The poplar bud gall mite belongs to the eriophyid mite family. These mites are microscopic and about one-fourth the size of a spider mite. Adults are about 0.2 mm in length, reddish, and spindle-shaped. This fact sheet reviews poplar bud gall mite biology and habits, damage, and control.

Boxelder Leafroller, Marion Murray, Ryan Davis

All Current Publications

The boxelder leafroller, Archips negundana, is a pest of boxelder and other trees and shrubs in parts of the United States and Canada and is commonly found in Utah. Boxelder is the primary host, but damage can also occur on raspberry, birch, elderberry, white elm, and various shrubs.This fact sheet provides information on the boxelder leafroller's life cycle, symptoms of damage, and control methods.

Implementing Bos Indicus-Influenced Cattle In Utah For Hybrid Vigor, Reganne K. Briggs, Matthew D. Garcia

All Current Publications

Crossbreeding is a tool that cattle producers have used for decades. Hybrid vigor is one of the products of crossing breeding. One way to maximize hybrid vigor is by introducing Bos indicus genetics in a herd. Santa Gertrudis cattle are a great option for introducing Bos indicus genetics.

Gambel Oak Care, Shawn Olsen, Debbie Amundsen, Shital Poudyal

All Current Publications

Gambel oak is commonly called scrub oak, but other common names are Rocky Mountain white oak and Utah white oak. The scientific name is Quercus gambelii, after William Gambel, an American naturalist. This fact sheet reviews Gambel oak's usability in the landscape, its care, growth requirements, diseases and pests, and maintenance.

Using Degree Days To Time Treatments For Insect Pests, Marion Murray

All Current Publications

Insecticides that are applied for a perennial insect pest based on a calendar date often result in poor insect control and a waste of resources. Insect activity varies from year to year depending on weather. For example, in Logan, Utah, eggs of the apple pest codling moth began hatching on May 15 in 2005, May 5 in 2006, and April 30 in 2007.

The Backyard Orchardist – Fruit Pests: Cherry, Marion Murray, Diane G. Alston

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes diseases and insect pests of cherry in order of importance. Shothole attacks dormant leaf buds, blossom buds, leaves, fruit, and twigs (fruit infections are less common on cherry. Other diseases described are crown rot and root rot, gummosis, perennial canker, and powdery mildew, Insects include western cherry fruit fly, spider mites, black cherry aphids, flathead borers, pear sawfly, and speckled green fruitworm.

Codling Moth In Utah Orchards, Marion Murray, Diane G. Alston

All Current Publications

Codling moth (Order Lepidoptera, Family Tortricidae) is the most serious pest of apple and pear worldwide. In most commercial fruit producing regions and home yards in Utah, fruit must be protected to harvest a crop. Insecticides are the main control tactic. There are new insecticides available, many of which are less toxic to humans and beneficial insects and mites than earlier insecticides. For commercial orchards with more than 10 acres of contiguous apple and pear plantings, pheromone-based mating disruption can greatly reduce codling moth populations to allow reduced insecticide use.

The Backyard Orchardist – Fruit Pests: Apple, Marion Murray, Diane G. Alston

All Current Publications

Fire blight is caused by a bacteria called Erwinia amylovora. Some varieties of apples are very susceptible to this disease, such as Jonathan, Jonagold, and Gala. Blossoms, terminal twigs, and sometimes entire limbs or trees are killed.

The Backyard Orchardist – Fruit Pests: Peach And Nectarine, Marion Murray, Diane G. Alston

All Current Publications

Shothole is a common fungal disease in Utah. It attacks dormant leaf buds, blossom buds, leaves, fruit, and twigs. The first visible lesions occur on young leaves as small, round, tan spots that eventually fall out, leaving round holes.

The Backyard Orchardist – Fruit Pests: Pear, Marion Murray, Diane G. Alston

All Current Publications

Fire blight is caused by a bacterium called Erwinia amylovora. Pears are very susceptible to fire blight. Blossoms, terminal twigs, and sometimes entire limbs or trees are killed. Environmental conditions favoring infection are warm, rainy days during bloom.

Peach Twig Borer Mating Disruption, Marion Murray, Diane G. Alston

All Current Publications

Mating disruption became commercially available in the early 1990s, and was adopted by many Utah growers about a decade later. Use of this pest management technology can be daunting due to high up-front costs and monitoring requirements; however, after two to three seasons of use, the cost of mating disruption is the same or even less than conventional pest management.

Root Weevils, Ryan Davis

All Current Publications

Root weevils are a group of small, black-to-brown weevils that commonly damage ornamental and small fruit plants in Utah. This fact sheet tells how to identify them, their life history and habits, their management including chemical control for larvae, cultural control for adults, and chemical control for adults.

Preserving Corn, Heidi Leblanc, Charlotte Brennand, Paige Wray

All Current Publications

Corn is not only a favorite vegetable, but it is also the source of corn starch, cornmeal, corn oil, corn syrup, bourbon, and laundry starch.

Noxious Weed Field Guide For Utah, Brenda Jarvis Lowry, Corey Ransom, Ralph Whitesides, Heather Olsen

All Current Publications

Invasive noxious weeds have been described as a raging biological wildfire – out of control, spreading rapidly, and causing enormous economic losses. Millions of acres in North America have been invaded or are at risk of being invaded by weeds, including cropland, pastures, rangelands, forests, wilderness areas, national parks, recreation sites, wildlife management areas, transportation corridors, waterways, wetlands, parks, golf courses, even yards and gardens. Noxious weeds are capable of spreading at rates of up to 60% annually (Smith et al. 1999).

Devastation caused by noxious weeds is enormous. Economic losses from weeds exceed $30 billion (Pimentel et al. 2005) …

Sequoia Pitch Moth In Pines, Ryan S. Davis, Katie Wagner

All Current Publications

This fact sheet focuses on the sequoia pitch moth (SPM) (Sesiidae: Synanthedon sequoiae). It includes how to identify, life cycle, damage, and management.

Key Resources Of Ranch Management, Cody Butler, D. R. Zobell

All Current Publications

There are five essentials for successful ranch management. These essentials consist of: 1) A lifelong approach to management needs, both integrative and holistic. 2) Strive for continuous improvement of key resources. 3) Assemble and use good analysis and decision-making tools. 4) Wage war on cost. 5) Place an emphasis on marketing.

Holistic Management, A Lifelong Management Goal, Jesse Russell, D. R. Zobell

All Current Publications

There are many misconceptions concerning farmers and ranchers, and not understood by those living in urban areas. However they are looked upon, the successful managers in today’s production agriculture must have a firm knowledge of many different resources. Some of these resources include but are not limited to; soil, grasses and/or other crops, cattle and/or other production animals and their biological processes, labor resources. In order to be profitable these operators must be able to manage their finances as well.

Beef Cattle Nutrition, Minerals, Troy D. Cooper, Darrell Rothlisberger, Dale Zobell

All Current Publications

Beef cattle require a number of dietary mineral elements for regular bodily maintenance, growth and reproduction. Minerals that are essential in larger amounts are labeled as major or macro elements. Those needed in smaller amounts are called micro, minor or trace minerals. These terms, have no relationship to the metabolic significance of a mineral in the diet. A trace mineral can be as crucial to the health and performance of an animal as a major mineral.

Livestock Marketing And Risk Management, Dillon M. Feuz, Bridger Feuz, Ryan Feuz

All Current Publications

Ranching has always been a challenging and risky operation. Producers deal with production risk on a daily basis. A late winter storm during calving or lambing season can result in sickness and even death for many new born calves and lambs. Drought can reduce available grazed forages and increase feeding costs. Sickness or disease may limit weight gain or be detrimental to reproductive performance

Beaver County Crop Production Costs And Returns, 2012, Mark Nelson, Kynda Curtis, Chris Lewis

All Current Publications

Sample costs and returns to establish and produce alfalfa hay, barley, oats, and corn (grain or silage) under pivot irrigation in Beaver County, Utah, are presented in this publication.

Irrigated Birdsfoot Trefoil Variety Trial: Forage Nutritive Value, Jennifer W. Macadam, Thomas C. Griggs

All Current Publications

Birdsfoot trefoil is a high-quality forage recommended for irrigated perennial pastures, either in mixtures with grasses or in pure stands. In this bulletin we report on the forage nutritive value of pure stands of birdsfoot trefoil harvested at 6- week intervals, and compare it to alfalfa harvested at the same intervals.

Irrigated Birdsfoot Trefoil Variety Trial: Forage Yield, Jennifer W. Macadam, Thomas C. Griggs

All Current Publications

Like alfalfa, birdsfoot trefoil is a deep-rooted legume that fixes its own nitrogen. However, it contains a small amount of tannin which means that cattle and sheep will not bloat, even when grazing birdsfoot trefoil in pure stands. In this bulletin, we report on the dry matter production of a number of cultivars of birdsfoot trefoil and find that it yielded about two-thirds as much as alfalfa in pure stands.

Annual Costs To Establish And Maintain Birdsfoot Trefoil Pastures In Northern Utah, 2012, Kynda Curtis, Trevor Knudsen, Jennifer Macadam

All Current Publications

This publication is meant to reflect birdsfoot trefoil establishment and maintenance costs on a small-scale cattle grazing area (5 to 10 acres). Birdsfoot trefoil is a perennial legume, and under proper irrigation and management, stands in northern Utah can persist for up to 8 years after seeding. Establishment costs are amortized annually based on a 6 year stand life.

A Well Designed Goat Grazing Plan Can Reduce Noxious Weeds, Sterling Banks

All Current Publications

Goat grazing can be an effective tool in reducing noxious weeds, if the right grazing plan is designed and implemented. Areas where herbicides are not an option or limited, goat grazing can reduce noxious weeds by reducing seed production and plant growth.

Northern Utah Small Cow-Calf Pasture Finished Beef Production Costs & Returns, 2012, Kynda Curtis, Trevor Knudsen, Jennifer Macadam

All Current Publications

Sample costs and returns to raise pasture-fed beef cattle for direct to consumer sales on small cow-calf operations in northern Utah are presented in this publication.

Herbicide Strategies To Maximize Yield In Glyphosate-Resistant Corn, Earl Creech, Clark Israelsen, Mike Pace, Ralph Whitesides

All Current Publications

Water, nutrients, space, and sunlight are critical resources for the growth and development of all crops. Over the years, recommendations for inputs such as fertilizer, irrigation, and seeding rate have been fine-tuned to maximize yields while minimizing cost. Weeds compete with crops for this limited pool of resources. As resource availability shrinks, crop yields almost immediately begin to decline

Marketing Strategies For Organic And Natural Meat Producers, Kynda Curtis, Shane Feuz, Nelissa Aybar

All Current Publications

In-person consumer surveys concerning meat consumption preferences and willingness to pay for specialty meat products were carried out in the fall of 2007 (Wang, Curtis, and Moeltner, 2011).

Optimizing Land Use On A Beef Operation: A Utah Example, Nicole Nelson, Mark Nelson, D. R. Zobell

All Current Publications

One of the most important resources that a beef producer has is the pasture or range. This resource must be provided great care in order to continue producing beef cattle.