2019 Costs and Returns for Irrigated Safflower, Northern Utah
Enterprise budgets are the building blocks of a farm or ranch. They represent estimates of income and expenses for a specific period of time using a set of production practices and inputs for that enterprise. This research contains sample costs and return
4R’s of Irrigation Management
The research community and fertilizer industry have developed and utilized a framework termed “4R nutrient management” to help improve fertilizer stewardship. For decades, national and international organizations and institutes such as The Fertilizer Inst
50 Common Questions About Field Crops
Utah State University (USU) Extension strives to provide research-based information and knowledge to help agricultural producers. Producers often have questions about several aspects of field crop production. This article is not comprehensive of all ques
Accurate Irrigation Water Flow Measurement in Pipes
Accurate flow measurement is important to irrigation water management and water rights accounting and protection. Accurate flow measurement is essential in ensuring equitable water distribution to water rights holders and shareholders within irrigation co
Adopting Organic Wheat: Grower Motivations and Concerns
A recent study of wheat producers in the western United States found that wheat growers were actually transitioning out of organic production due to concerns about pest control and profitability. This fact sheet provides an overview of the study results b
Aphids in Alfalfa
Aphids belong in the order Hemiptera and family Aphididae. Aphids are common insects in field and forage crops, with at least six kinds in Utah alfalfa. Aphids can be distinguished from other insects in alfalfa with a hand lens. In general, aphids are sof
Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV)
Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) is found worldwide. It infects small grains like barley, wheat, oats and rice as well as many wild grass species. There are two strains of the barley yellow dwarf virus: BYDV-MAV and BYDV-PAV.
Boom Sprayer Calibration for Pesticide Applications
To protect your investment in agricultural pesticides, a boom sprayer should be calibrated at the start of the season and whenever application conditions change. Also, sprayer output should be periodically checked throughout the season to assure proper ap
Characteristics of Organic Wheat Growers
A recent study was conducted with wheat growers in the western U.S. which found notable differences in the grower and farm characteristics that influence organic adoption, including older age and the lack of importance of gender and farming experience. Th
Chopping and Storing Quality Corn Silage
Properly harvested and stored, corn silage is extremely palatable, superior to other forages in energy content, a great fiber source, and relatively consistent in quality. The high palatability of corn silage encourages feed intake which contributes to hi
Corn Earworm
In Utah, there are typically three generations of corn earworm (CEW) each year. The first generation of adults either come from overwintering pupae (southern and central Utah) or migrate into northern Utah. The adult moth is tannish brown with a 1 1/2 inc
Corn Silage Variety Performance
This report summarizes on-farm performance of irrigated silage corn hybrids at Benson (Cache County) in 2006. The site is at 4439 ft elevation and has a long-term average of 2800 corn growing degree days (50/86° F) per year. Hybrids were seeded with a six
Costs and Returns for Non-Irrigated Safflower
Enterprise budgets are the building blocks of a farm or ranch. They represent estimates of income and expenses for a specific period of time using a set of production practices and inputs for that enterprise. Tables in this research is intended to be a gu
Costs and Returns for Roundup Ready™ Grain Corn
Enterprise budgets are the building blocks of a farm or ranch. They represent estimates of income and expenses for a specific period of time using a set of production practices and inputs for that enterprise. This research contains sample costs and return
Costs and Returns for Roundup Ready™ Silage Corn
Enterprise budgets are the building blocks of a farm or ranch. They represent estimates of income and expenses for a specific period of time using a set of production practices and inputs for that enterprise. This research contains sample costs and return
County-Level View of Irrigation Trends in Utah and the West
As water demand and scarcity increase simultaneously over the coming decades, water managers and growers will need to optimize water use on their irrigated lands. These challenges have been especially noticeable as the Western U.S.faces a prolonged “megad
Cover Crops for Utah
The purpose of this fact sheet is to provide the current state of knowledge on cover crop management for Utah based on USU research and local grower experience.
Crop Revenue Coverage 2007 Commodity Insurance Fact Sheet
Crop Revenue Coverage(CRC), provides revenue protection against a yield loss, a price decline, or a combination of both. CRC is available for these crop and counties Beaver, Box Elder, Cache, Carbon, Davis, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Iron, Juab, Millard,
Defense Against Drought
Utah’s climate can often be harsh and unpredictable. As the nation’s second driest state, Utah is commonly subject to droughts. Extensive statewide droughts have often lasted 5 to 6 years. It is imperative that farmers are well prepared to defend against
Deficit Irrigation of Pastures
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.
Diagnostic Testing for Nitrogen Soil Fertility
Environmental concerns over nitrate contamination of ground water, and the desire of land managers to increase the efficiency of their fertilizer investment, can both be satisfied more completely through diagnostic testing for nitrogen (N) soil fertility.
Downy Mildew of Alfalfa
Downy mildew is an obligate parasite. Even though they look like fungi they are not. They belong to the Oomycota and are more closely related to algae than true fungi. The most common alfalfa downy mildew species in the USA is Peronospora trifoliorum. In
Drought Tolerance Guide for Alfalfa in Utah
Crop variety selection is one of the most important choices on the farm. Crop genetics determine a significant portion of the yield potential and resource use efficiency. Crop types and genetics that use water more efficiently will become increasingly imp
Drought Tolerance Guide for Corn in Utah
Crop variety selection is one of the most important choices on the farm. Crop genetics determine a significant portion of the yield potential and resource use efficiency. Crop types and genetics that use water more efficiently will become increasingly imp
Dwarf Bunt in Winter Wheat
The disease first appeared in Utah in the early 1930s in Cache County near the city of Paradise. The disease was soon found in Box Elder County near Hansel Valley. The outbreak of dwarf bunt became so severe that it affected other crops, such as barley.
Easy Calibration for Backpack and Canister (Handheld) Sprayers
If sprayers are not properly calibrated, it can result in over or under-application of chemicals, causing damage, reduced pest control, and potential safety concerns. Making the effort to properly mix chemicals and calibrate sprayers can save money and in
Easy Calibration for Boom Sprayers
Making the effort to properly mix chemicals and calibrate sprayers can save money and headaches in the long run. This fact sheet provides simple guidelines for calibrating boom sprayers.
Economic Feasibility of Solar Photovoltaic Irrigation Systems
The Great Basin is primarily located in Nevada, western Utah, and small sections of southern Oregon and Idaho. The Great Basin is noted for its arid conditions and high percentage of publically owned land. The potential for solar energy generation in the
Energy Conservation with Irrigation Water Management
Irrigators in Utah experienced rapidly increasing energy costs from the mid 1970s to the late 1980s. These costs remain relatively high. Those who are pumping from deep wells are particularly interested in ways to cut back on energy use without doing away
Fertigation Facts
The purpose of this fact sheet is to provide general information on forms of fertigation for primary plant nutrient, fertigation timing, and fertigation economics.
Grass Pasture Response to Water and Nitrogen
The objective of this project is to study the response of pasture grass varieties to weather, irrigation, and fertility in a field experimental plot at a high elevation. The water variable is accomplished with a line source sprinkler irrigation system. Tw
Growing Safflower in Utah
Northern Utah growers produced approximately 23 million pounds of safflower second only to California in U.S. production.
Guide to Pivot Track Management
Center pivot irrigation systems are the most popular form of irrigation in the western United States. A significant problem with center pivots is wheel track rutting. Deep wheel tracks can cause overirrigation because the pivot moves slower than intended
How Good is Your Water Measurement?
Accurate water measurement is essential to maintaining equity of water delivery within an irrigation company or water districts. Good management of our scarce water resource is dependent upon quantifying supplies and uses with accurate measurement techniq
Irrigation Canal Lining?
Irrigation canals placed in native soil or lined with earth can have seepage water losses varying from 20 percent to more than 50 percent. Well designed, new compacted earth lined canals can have reduced seepage losses similar to concrete lined channels.
Irrigation Water Loss and Recovery in Utah
When deciding which irrigation systems to adopt, permit, or promote, it is important to consider how their efficiency and losses affect the water balance of Utah’s watersheds and drainage basins. Irrigators have no control over precipitation and only limi