Agriculture Commons^™

High Tunnel Construction Cost Calculation Workbook, Shannon Rauter, Melanie Stock, Brent Black, Dan Drost

All Current Publications

The cost of building a high tunnel fluctuates over time with supply prices. This Excel workbook accompanies the USU Extension fact sheet, "Constructing a Low-cost High Tunnel" by Black, Drost, Rowley, and Heflebower (2011) and allows users to input local supply costs. The workbook then calculates the cost to build a USU low-cost high tunnel with several design options according to high tunnel length and door structure. It also provides an example calculation based on April 2022 pricing for reference.

Fusarium And Verticillium Wilts Of Vegetables, Nick Volesky, Marion Murray, Claudia Nischwitz

All Current Publications

Fusarium wilt and Verticillium wilt are soilborne plant diseases that attack vascular tissue. They cause similar symptoms in their hosts and are difficult to manage as they can survive in the soil for many years. Once a plant is infected, there is no treatment or cure. Therefore, management should focus on preventive and cultural control practices. This fact sheet identifies the many vegetables susceptible to these pathogens in Utah and reviews symptoms, diagnosis, and ways to prevent these diseases.

Temperaturas Críticas De Primavera Para Yemas De Los Árboles Frutales, Michael Pace, Marion Murray

All Current Publications

Esta publicación enumera las temperaturas primaverales críticas para las yemas de árboles frutales cuando el 10% y 90% de las yemas mueren en diferentes etapas de desarrollo después de 30 minutos de exposición.

Managing Vegetation Around Fruit Trees, Teryl Roper

All Current Publications

Fruit trees thrive along the Wasatch Front and in many other locations in Utah. Backyard fruit trees are very common in Utah, and producers quickly become attuned to insect and disease pests that can swiftly spoil substantial amounts of fruit. They are typically less aware of the detrimental effect of competing vegetation around fruit trees. This fact sheet describes the nature of vegetation competition and proposes management strategies to reduce or eliminate competition.

Evaluating Alternative Feed Sources During Drought, Matthew D. Garcia, Ruger P. Carter, Ryan Larsen, Eric Thacker, Jacob Hadfield, Reganne K. Briggs, Justen Smith

All Current Publications

During years of drought, it is important to critically evaluate alternative feed sources available for cattle. The traditional method for sustaining a herd through a drought is feeding extra stored forage to compensate for decreased forage production or decreased forage quality available on rangelands and pastures due to drought conditions. However, hay prices rise substantially, and availability decreases due to irrigation water limitations and increased demand from livestock producers. This fact sheet will evaluate why hay prices rise and what alternatives are available to compensate for forage reductions during drought.

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.

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: 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.

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: Plum, Marion Murray, Diane G. Alston

All Current Publications

Caused by a soil-borne, fungus-like organism (Phytophthora), crown and root rot occurs worldwide on almost all fruit trees. This pathogen is present in most soils, but only causes infection under optimal circumstances— high soil moisture or standing water, and susceptible host tissue. Once trees are infected, there is no cure.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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