10 December 1997. Bob Sojka and Rick Lentz travelled to Beltsville, MD where they were presented a national ARS award for their team efforts at technology transfer. The award recognized their development and dissemination of practical technology for the use of polyacrylamides to halt irrigation induced erosion control. In 1997, its third year of commercialization, 600,000 acres of US irrigated land used PAM to halt irrigation-induced erosion and improve water infiltration. The technology has also spread rapidly overseas to Europe, South and Central America, the Middle East, and Australia. While acreage estimates for total PAM-use for this application are difficult to come by, one corporate farm in Australia alone recently began treating its entire 55,000 acres with PAM. The technology is also rapidly being adapted for use in other environmentally impacting erosion situations including the construction industry and highway roadcut erosion. (KIM19971217N1)
11 December 1997. Jim Wright presented results of 30 years of research on seasonal patterns of crop-water-use and crop yield in relation to crop-water-use. The presentation was given along with those of representatives of the University of Idaho and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality to about 20 invited farmers from southern Idaho who may be participating in a concerted effort to implement scientific irrigation scheduling programs to improve irrigation management while also reducing irrigation energy requirements. (KIM19971217N2)
16 December 1997. Dr. Charles Brockway recapped 32 years of water management studies in southern Idaho during a seminar given at the USDA-ARS, Northwest Irrigation and Research Center at Kimberly. This was a special event since this was Chuck's last day before retiring from the University of Idaho. He has worked most of his career on water issues on the Snake River Drainage. This included developing models of both surface and ground water, mentoring graduate students, advising farmers and ranchers, and consulting with municipalities, legislators and attorneys. The seminar was attended by representatives from each of those groups from southern Idaho. During those 32 years, Chuck was officed at the USDA-ARS facility near Kimberly. We wish him continued blessings in his retirement. (KIM19971217N3)
10 December 1997. Dale Westermann and Glenn Shewmaker participated in a water quality workshop in Twin Falls, ID. Idaho was ordered by federal court action to develop and implement a total maximum daily load (TMDL) schedule for 84 hydrologic sub-basins in an eight-year period. This workshop was organized to increase public awareness of the TMDL process and its potential impact, and to improve communications between regulatory agencies, landowners and the general public. Westermann and Shewmaker had active roles in the discussion of best management practices (BMPs) for irrigated agriculture and livestock grazing operations. (KIM19971210N1)
19-21 November 1997. Glenn Shewmaker and Hank Mayland met with Dean Falk, Twin Falls, University of Idaho Extension Dairy Specialist, on 19 November and later with Fred Provenza, on the Utah State University campus, 21 November. They compared notes on forage research verifying that our ARS research is on track. They also discussed various aspects of Technology Transfer of some new concepts. (KIM19971126N1)
19 November 1997. Hank Mayland and Glenn Shewmaker met with Dr. Dean Falk, Dairy Extension Specialist, University of Idaho. Their objective was to evaluate approaches of technology transfer of current research results to alfalfa growers, harvesters, and dairy producers. Dr. Falk will take the new information to several advisory groups for evaluation and get back to us. (KIM19971119N1)
27-30 October 1997. Rick Lentz attended the 1997 ASA meetings in Anaheim, CA, where he authored and coauthored two poster presentations on 'Monitoring Water/Solute Movement in Furrow-irrigated Soils with Percolation Samplers and RPM Sensors' and 'Temperature and bulk soil EC effects on the calibration of RPM (TDR) sensors in a silt loam soil.'(KIM19971113N1)
27 October - 5 November 1997. Bob Sojka traveled to the ASA meetings in Anaheim, CA. Sojka was coauthor on several papers. He also attended several committee meetings including editorial board meetings for the Soil Science Society of America Journal, where he presented a proposal for redesign of the Journal's cover which will be effective in 1998. Sojka then traveled to Nashville, TN to attend the Irrigation Association meeting where he represented the Kimberly, ID location at the ARS Exhibit Booth which featured work from the Kimberly Polyacrylamide research.(KIM19971113N2)
5-6 November 1997. Rick Lentz recently returned from a Western Region Workshop on 'Productivity and Conservation: Working Toward Common Goals.' He and Bob Sojka were invited to present a poster on ‘Developing Polyacrylamide (PAM) Technology to Reduce Furrow- Irrigation Induced Soil Erosion and Associated Environmental Impacts. The workshop reviewed and discussed characteristics of successful private/public partnerships and the identification of barriers that need to be addressed. (KIM19971113N3)
26-30 October 1997. Hank Mayland attended the American Society Agronomy meetings in Anaheim, CA. He participated in several cooperator meetings and a committee planning meeting on editing a book on geophagia. He also attended oral and poster sessions and assisted in presenting the following poster papers:
Ajwa, H.A., G.S. Banuelos and H.F. Mayland. 1997. Uptake of selenium by plants grown in soils treated with inorganic and organic selenium. Agron. Abst. 338.
Fisher, D.S., H.F. Mayland and J.C. Burns. 1997. Diurnal timing of hay harvest and ruminant preferences for hays. Agron. Abst. 142.
Shewmaker, G.E., H.F. Mayland, P.A. Harrison and N.J. Chatterton. 1997. Carbohydrates in tall fescue cultivars: Relationship to grazing animal preference. Agron. Abst. p. 143.
Mayland, H.F., G.E. Shewmaker and R.A. Flath. 1997. Volatiles from tall fescue cultivars: Relationship to grazing animal preference. Agron. Abst. p. 143. (KIM19971113N4)
11 October 1997. Dale Westermann met with Brad Brown and Bob Mahler, University of Idaho, and Lee Brooks and Ralph Fisher, NRCS State Office, in Boise to discuss the development of the `CROPLAND' web page for the Idaho OnePlan web site (www.oneplan.state.id.us). It was decided to include links to separate pages for the topics on water management, pest management, nutrient management, fertilizers, soil quality index-sustainability, cultural practices and crops. The overall objective of the OnePlan is to provide a one-stop Internet access point for those seeking pertinent information on regulatory issues and environmental issues affecting management and natural resources.(KIM19971015N1)
2-3 October 1997. Dr. Bob Sojka traveled to Latah, Washington to meet with Doug Allen, Spokane County Water Resources Coordinator. Bob met with Doug to share ideas and develop approaches for using PAM to help Doug's efforts in watershead water quality protection. Bob provided Doug with some PAM to use in stabilizing concentrated flow areas of recently constructed field waterways in a large watershed near Latah. The cooperative effort is aimed at assessing the ability of PAM to stabilize the waterways in concentrated flow areas and to enhance and accelerate sediment recovery in a series of retention ponds on the watershead. The project may eventually look at several strategies and product forms for delivery of PAM to the runoff streams. (KIM19971009N1)
7-8 October 1997. Drs. Dave Bjorneberg, Dennis Kinkaid, Rick Lentz, and Bob Sojka participated in a two day meeting at the Kimberly, ID, ARS Laboratory, with Dr. Tom Trout (ARS, Fresno, CA), Tom Spofford and Ken Pfieffer (NRCS, Portland, OR), and Clare Prestwich (NRCS, Twin Falls, ID). The meeting was designed to examine field data that had been used to evaluate the WEPP model irrigation subroutine, identifying several aspects of the model that fail to adequately predict infiltration, erosion, runoff, and crop yield in furrow irrigated crop production. The meeting served to identify thrusts of activity needed for further model evaluation, development, or for development of an independent model to properly predict water erosion under irrigation. The same group reviewed the initial draft national program statement for erosion research, identifying areas needing strengthening to adequately address the needs of irrigated agriculture. Spofford and Sojka discussed future research thrusts for use of PAM in western irrigated agriculture and specific research needs. They also discussed the potential organization of a first international irrigation-induced erosion conference that might be held in conjunction with the western conference tour of the 1999 International Soil Conservation (ISCO) meetings. (KIM19971008N2)
21-24 September 1997. Hank Mayland, Soil Scientist, participated with the PNW Forage Researchers in a meeting in Belgrade, Montana. This workshop was attended by about 30 Agricultural Extension Forage Specialists and Industry Seed agronomists from seven northwestern states. Participants learned about variety trials, farmer uses of various forage mixtures, and about information needs and increasing use of internet to obtain information about appropriate varieties to seed in given environments. This latter type of communication emphasizes the need to get information on our Webb site. Plans were made at the meeting to work toward developing a NorthWest Webb Site that would be increasingly useful to agents, dealers and growers. (KIM19971001N1)
30 September 1997. Bob Sojka and Rick Lentz, Soil Scientists, met with Dr. Don Valentine of Cytec Industries to provide an update of current research thrusts and to discuss future directions of polyacrylamide-related research. (KIM19971001N2)
18 Sep 97: Doctors R.W. Hill, W.R. Walker, and several students of the Biological and Irrigation Engineering Department, Utah State University, visited the laboratory. Soil Scientists Jim Wright and Rick Lentz and Ag Engineers Dave Bjorneberg and Dennis Kincaid visited with them and showed them current research on sprinkler nozzling, trash screens, polyacrylamide, and evapotranspiration. (KIM19970924N1)
19 Sep 97: Agricultural Engineer Dennis Kincaid gave a presentation titled "Comparison of lateral move sprinkler and drip irrigation of beans" at the Pacific Northwest Regional Meeting of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers in Boise, ID. Approximately 50 engineers and students attended. (KIM19970924N2)
24 Sep 97: Dennis Kincaid received an ASAE Honorable Mention Paper Award for the paper "Spraydrop kinetic energy from irrigation sprinklers." The paper presents data and relationships which can be used to predict impact energy on the soil surface under most types of sprinklers. Designers can use the information to select sprinklers for soils subject to crusting or surface sealing. (KIM19970924N3)
11 September 1997. Soil Scientists Kris Aase, Jim Entry, Gary Lehrsch, Rick Lentz, and Bob Sojka participated in a morning tour of the Wiersma dairy facility in Buhl and an afternoon meeting with NRCS and other cooperating agencies and parties, regarding establishment of a study and demonstration project at the dairy. The dairy services 1,600 milking cows and is situated on 160 acres of land. Focus of the concern and project is appropriate disposal and utilization of waste lagoon effluent. A proposal is being considered for establishment of extensive hybrid poplar shelterbelt planting to help mitigate sight and odor damages. A hybrid poplar woodlot is being proposed as a sink for nutrients in the effluent. The participation of ARS is being sought to establish appropriate woodlot study design and to perform an assessment of water and nutrient fate, with attention to safeguarding of groundwater quality. Further discussions and meetings are anticipated. Immediate impacts upon completion of the study will likely include guidelines for Magic Valley, and perhaps Idaho-wide guidelines dairy site management to be utilized by state and county governments. (KIM19970917N1)
3 September 1997: Soil Scientist Bob Sojka, Ag Engineer Dave Bjorneberg, and Soil Technician Andy Mutziger met with Ronald Repage and Oakford Bain of American Cyanamid. They discussed updates on PAM- use recommendations and technology for furrow irrigation and sprinkler irrigation. Repage and Bain were making a tour of PAM irrigation sites in the western U.S. to update their technical data and to discuss future directions of PAM-use and research. (KIM19970911N1)
August 31, 1997. Five ARS employees from the Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research Laboratory, Kimberly, participated in a booth at the Twin Falls County Fair sponsored by the Irrigators' Water Quality Committee. This booth highlighted efforts by the committee, public agencies, research organizations, and the Twin Falls Canal Company to improve the water quality of irrigation return flows to the Snake River. ARS is represented on the committee by D. T. Westermann, Research Leader/Location Coordinator for the Northwest Irrigation & Soils Research Laboratory. The employees participating were Dave Bjorneberg, Dennis Kincaid, Hank Mayland, Glenn Shewmaker and Dale Westermann. Over 100,000 people attend this fair every year. (KIM19970903N1)
August 27, 1997. Dale Westermann was interviewed by Charles Lemmon, local KMVT agricultural news person. This interview was aired as several news- spots during the Twin Falls country fair week, Aug. 27 - Sept. 1, 1997, featuring the importance of agriculture to Idaho. Dr. Westermann explained some of the current research activities, funding sources, procedures for project selection, personnel, and the overall mission of the Northwest Irrigation & Soils Research Laboratory. (KIM19970903N2)
August 27, 1997. Bob Sojka and Rick Lentz were selected to receive one of the 1997 ARS Technology Transfer Awards. They received this award for their significant contribution in developing and transferring Polyacrylamide (PAM) technology to reduce furrow-irrigation induced soil erosion and to improve the environment. All winners will be recognized at the ARS Annual Recognition Program December 10, 1997. (KIM19970903N3)
Aug. 3-7, 1997. Dr. Dale Westermann attended the 81st Annual meeting of the Potato Association of America in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. During this meeting the Association accepted a proposal from Dr. Westermann to publish a compilation of plant tissue nutrient concentrations that can be used for diagnostic purposes. A pictorial representation of nutrient deficiencies will also be included. It is anticipated that this document will be used by field production managers and others to identify plant nutritional status and to schedule nutrient applications during plant growth. These enhanced capabilities will facilitate higher crop yields and nutrient use efficiencies, and reduce potential nitrate leaching losses under this intensively managed food crop. (KIM19970827N1)
5 August 1997. Chuck Robbins and Dale Westermann met with representatives of Idaho's Dairy and Beef Industries, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, and EPA to revise Idaho's "Waste Management Guidelines for Confined Feeding Operations". The purpose of this document is to help confined animal feeding operation managers and regulators understand management practices and design criteria that prevent water pollution. These guidelines are to be used to develop best management practices (BMPs) and to assist managers in complying with state and federal water quality regulations. In addition, they may also be eventually used for regulatory purposes. Drs. Robbins and Westermann provided their expertise on the cropping and land application aspects of nutrient management found in the document. (KIM19970813N1)
25 July 1997: Soil Scientists Rick Lentz and Bob Sojka and Agricultural Engineer Dave Bjorneberg met with Cyril Collin, the Project Manager of the Agriculture Division of SNF (an international polymer manufacturer). Cyril wished to learn more about PAM use in the irrigated West and discussed the possibility of SNF becoming involved in a collaborative research effort with the Kimberly Lab, focused on PAM applications other than its already proven furrow irrigation practice. (KIM19970730N1)
28 July 1997: Mr. Steve McGill, Regional Editor for John Deere's publication "The Furrow" magazine, visited with Soil Scientist Hank Mayland and his team regarding the PM/AM forage harvesting options. Steve was gathering information for a feature story on advantages of PM harvest management on animal production. And all this without any additional cost to either the hay producer or the dairyman. Steve was informed of other exciting research going on at Kimberly that he might consider for feature stories upon another visit to the Lab. (KIM19970730N2)
28 July 1997: Dr. David J. Sher, Agronomist, from South Auckland, New Zealand, visited Soil Scientist Dr. Dale Westermann about potato nutrient management. Varieties being produced in New Zealand include Russet Burbank, Ranger, and Shepody. The nutrient requirements of potatoes during all growth stages and the best fertilization methods to supply these needs were discussed. In addition, they compared the petiole nutrient concentrations used for monitoring the plant's nutritional status in New Zealand with those currently being used in the U.S. (KIM19970730N3)
16-19 JULY 1997 - Soil Scientist Jim Wright participated in a water management conference, sponsored by the U.S. Committee on Irrigation and Drainage and Bureau of Reclamation, held on July 16-19 in Fargo, North Dakota. Dr. Wright presented a paper reporting on some of the research using a bromide tracer to evaluate Nitrate-N leaching in an irrigated silt loam soil. Doctors Dale Westermann and Gary Lehrsch are also participants in this research program which was initiated in 1993. A reported conclusion was that with nominal sprinkler irrigation plus precipitation levels 25% greater than annual evapotranspiration, more than seven years would be required to leach the bromide ion from the surface soil the entire 4.25 m to bedrock with at least a ten-fold reduction in concentration. The water management conference was organized to provide a forum for the discussion of best management practices for irrigated agriculture and the environment. Participants were in attendance from the western United States and Canada. (KIM19970723N1)
21 JULY 1997 - Agronomist Thomas Terrill and Seyoum Gelaye, Animal Nutritionist and Director of the Goat Research Institute at Fort Valley, Georgia, visted with Soil Scientist Hank Mayland and his group. Terrill and Gelaye were interested in learning more about experimental details associated with grazing studies. This visit resulted from a contact made while Mayland and Terrill were at the International Grassland Congress in Canada during June. The visitors were grateful for the information exchange. (KIM19970723N2)
9 July 1997: Soil Scientist Rick Lentz led a discussion with a tour group on the use of PAM technology to control furrow irrigation induced erosion and to improve water quality. An erosion table was also used to physically illustrate the effects. This was a tour sponsored by the Irrigator's Water Quality Committee of Central Idaho. It's purpose was to show irrigation water quality improvement projects the Magic Valley sponsored by irrigators, canal companies, and other agencies. Representatives from Idaho Governor's Office, Idaho Department of Agriculture, and Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, as well as farmers, ARS, and canal company personnel attended the tour. (KIM19970716N1)
10-13 June 1997. Soil Scientist Gary Lehrsch participated in the International Symposium on Physics, Chemistry, and Ecology of Seasonally Frozen Soils, held in Fairbanks, Alaska. He presented results of his research revealing that 2-3 freeze-thaw cycles may be beneficial, rather than detrimental, to the physical properties of relatively wet surface soils. (KIM19970708N1)
8 July 1997. Hank Mayland, Soil Scientist, and Glenn Shewmaker, Biological Science Technician, hosted a group from Brigham Young University, Provo. The group was interested in studies on grazing preference, identification of chemical cues used by animals for discriminatory grazing, and harvest management of forage crops for maximum preference and dry matter intake by ruminants. Mayland and Shewmaker also shared information on mineral uptake by plants and the bioavailability to animals. (KIM19970708N2)
16-27 June 1997. Soil Scientist Hank Mayland participated in the XVIII International Grassland Congress in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, during the second and third week of June. He presented two poster papers on his cooperative research. Many U.S. and international scientists sought him out for information regarding experimental design and results from a study of biochemical cues used by grazing animals in forage selection and intake. These discussions led to a New Zealand lab committing to analysis of essential amino acids in some Kimberly forage samples and to an invitation to prepare a chapter for a book entitled "Field and laboratory methods in grassland and animal production research." (KIM19970702N1)
23-24 Jun 1997. Jim Kiniry, ARS Agronomist, Temple, TX visited Kris Aase, Soil Scientist, at the Location on the development of irrigated crop coefficients for the EPIC model. Crops evaluated were irrigated potatoes, sugarbeets, peas, edible beans, spring and winter wheat, and malting barley. Dry matter production, LAI, and light interception were measured on each of the crops. ((KIM19970702N2)
24 June 1997. Soil Scientists Dale Westermann and Bob Sojka made presentations to a touring group of 18 K-8 science teachers. Dale gave a general presentation on the history of the Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research Laboratory and an explanation of its role in soil and water research for the agricultural community and the environment. Bob Sojka gave an overview and demonstration of the Kimberly location website and its potential use for teaching science in the classroom. The presentation emphasized the "Young Scientist" and "Links" sections of the website for their special applicability to the classroom. Later in the afternoon, Bob Sojka hosted a half-hour field presentation that explained the use of polyacrylamides (PAM) for irrigation-induced erosion control and return-flow water quality improvement, and talked about new directions of the PAM research in the areas of sprinkler irrigation and herbidide/weed interactions. (KIM19970702N3)
25 June 1997. Three conservation districts in Twin Falls County jointly sponsored an "environmental day" for 57 youth of the Magic Valley Boys and Girls Club on June 25, 1997. Personnel from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service and Agricultural Research Service taught the youth about soil, range, wildlife, archeology, geology, and water. ARS Agricultural Engineer Dave Bjorneberg, this location, presented information about the hydrologic cycle, water use in Idaho, and groundwater flow. (KIM19970702N4)
25 Jun 1997. Dale Westermann, Soil Scientist, and Dennis Kincaid, Agricultural Engineer, met with Dr. Otto Smith, Emeritus Electrical Engineer from Berkeley, University of California to discuss the implications of the recently demonstrated static power converter for irrigation pumps and other changes in irrigation systems that could increase efficiencies and give additional cost savings. (KIM19970702N5)
30 June 1997. Soil Scientists Rick Lentz and Kris Aase, and Agricultural Engineers Dennis Kincaid and Dave Bjorneberg met with five NRCS staff from Ontario, Oregon. They discussed the furrow and sprinkler PAM research at Kimberly and learned from the NRCS staff how the PAM research is being implemented in the Ontario area. Dennis explained his research on drip irrigation, sprinkler head design, and low pressure irrigation systems, while Kris and Dave also discussed their studies on conservation tillage practices under irrigation. (KIM19970702N6)
16-20 June 1997: Soil Scientists Rick Lentz and Bob Sojka participated in the Conway Gulch watershed scale polyacrylamide (PAM) test this week. Every grower with furrow irrigation on the Conway Gulch drainage is using PAM this week. Sediment loads, nutrients, and PAM loss are being monitored. The effects of PAM use on water quality will be compared with sampling made earlier in the month, and with historical records before PAM was available. This is the first watershed scale test to determine the potential of PAM for cleaning up fluvial resources affected by irrigation return flows. (KIM19970625N1)
17 and 19 June 1997: In participation with the Conway Gulch watershed scale project, Soil Scientist Rick Lentz and Research Technician Ron Peckenpaugh traveled to Caldwell, Idaho, and sampled return flows and field runoff for later PAM concentration analysis. Also, on 17 June, Sojka and Lentz visited PAM-users with an ARS Information Staff photographer who took pictures for future ARS Magazine articles. (KIM19970625N2)
18 June 1997: Jim Wood, Pat Wiley, and Ken Pfeiffer, NRCS, and Jim Kiniry, ARS Agronomist from Temple, TX, visited the Kimberly ARS location and staff. The application and validation of the EPIC (Erosion Prediction Impact Calculator) Model was discussed with Jim Wright, Dale Westermann, Kris Aase and Bob Sojka, Soil Scientists at this location. Specific information is needed to develop and validate crop coefficients used in the model for the irrigated potatoes, sugarbeets, beans, wheat, and alfalfa. The staff at the location has several data sets that include plant dry matter, leaf area index, harvest index, dry matter partitioning coefficients, nitrogen and phosphorus uptake, and climatic data that could be used to validate the crop coefficients for the EPIC model. (KIM19970625N3)
23 June 1997: Sixty-plus individuals attended an Irrigation Efficiency Field Tour held in the Magic Valley. This tour was co-sponsored by Idaho Power, NRCS, ARS, IDWRS, three Soil Water Conservation Districts, and the Twin Falls Chamber of Commerce. Concepts presented under field conditions were a static-phase system to run a three-phase motor on a single-phase power line, a 10 psi pivot system pressurized by gravity, a remote pivot monitoring system, and a low-cost diesel pressure system for pivots. The tour included a stop at the ARS South Farm, with presentations by Agricultural Engineer Dennis Kincaid on linear-move sprinkler and drip irrigation systems and a demonstration of different nozzles for pivots; by Agricultural Engineer Dave Bjorneberg on applying PAM through sprinkler systems; and by Soil Scientist Rick Lentz on controlling surface irrigation induced erosion with a PAM application. (KIM19970625N4)
Article Published by Press:
June 1997: The following article regarding research findings of Soil Scientist Hank Mayland, this location, and Dwight Fisher, USDA-ARS, Raleigh, NC, was published by "Beef," magazine, June 1997: "To improve consumption and gains, make hay while the afternoon sun shines.
It's long been known that livestock grazing tends to peak in the afternoon. Now, scientists with USDA's Agriculture Research Service (ARS) say cattle--as well as sheep and goats--prefer grass hays harvested in the afternoon. Scientists let the animals try afternoon-cut hay and morning-cut hay before offering both in a side-by-side comparison. They consumed an average of 50% more of the preferred hay. Their preference held true even though the hay offered was from harvests on three different hays. One possible explanation: Plants' carbohydrate production is at its peak mid-day. The animals may remember afternoon- harvested hay is easier to digest and gives them more energy. Other studies have shown animals can be conditioned to choose higher-energy feeds." (KIM19970625N5)
Press Inquiry:
19 June 1997: Reporter from Capital Press (Oregon) briefly interviewed Soil Scientist Rick Lentz regarding PAM technology, in connection with the Conway Gulch Project (NRCS and Idaho Dept. of Agriculture). (KIM19970625N6)
The following article appeared in the May 17, 1997, issue of the Magic Valley Ag Weekly, Twin Falls, Idaho:
Cattle, sheep, goats prefer evening cut hay. A management change as simple as cutting hay at sundown, rather than sunup, may pay off with greater milk production. Research done at USDA-Agricultural Research Service facilities in Kimberly and Raleigh, N.C., have shown that cattle, sheep and goats clearly prefer evening cut hay to that cut in the morning. "They know which hay tub they want to eat out of," said Hank Mayland, Kimberly ARS soil scientist. The plant itself is probably responsible for the preference, Mayland said. Levels of carbohydrates and sugars increase in plants throughout the day until a maximum is reached late in the day. "This is something we should have known for a long, long time. An agronomist should have been able to say, plants have more carbohydrates in the evening so p.m. cut hay is better," he said. "But nobody ever checked it." The gap between morning and evening carbohydrate levels is greatest during the hot, summer months when the plants respire more. However, feedings tests show that the livestock prefer evening cut hay whether it is baled in August or September. Mayland decided to see whether cattle had a preference for morning or evening cut hay after he completed a preference study where cattle grazed eight different varieties of fescue. A hay preference study was also done using the same varieties. The next step is to see whether the preference holds for alfalfa hay as well as grass hay, but Mayland expects that it will. He has made arrangements with Russell Jarvis, Kimberly, to take both evening and morning cuttings of alfalfa. Hay from the four cuttings will be sent to Georgia to be fed to cattle, sheep and goats to evaluate preference, total forage intake and digestibility. "It's nice to know that animals prefer p.m. cut hay, but what does it mean?" Mayland said. "We anticipate that the increased energy levels (from more carbohydrates) in the p.m. cut hay will translate into greater production. From the information we've seen, that may mean 5 to 7 or 8 percent increase in milk production." He sees this information as a win-win for both hay producers and dairy producers. If the increased production is real and economical, dairy producers may be willing to pay a premium for evening cut hay. And commercial hay producers may be able to set their evening cut hay aside and ask a premium for it. While Mayland and cooperators will evaluate alfalfa this summer and fall, he encourages producers who can cut their hay in the evening to try it. "We're at the point where we have an opportunity for increased milk production, for example, simply by changing harvest management," he concluded. (KIM19970618N1)
On June 4, 1997, 14 agricultural economists from the University of Idaho, Moscow, visited the Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research Laboratory. Location Director, Dale T. Westermann, presented an overview of the Location's history, research mission, and current research activities of each project leader. Dr. Bob Sojka gave the group an update of current studies using polyacrylamide to control irrigation induced soil erosion. Dr. Sojka's talk was featured in the Magic Valley AG WEEKLY, a regional, weekly newspaper addressing issues affecting the agricultural community in southern Idaho. (KIM19970611N1
On June 4, 1997, an Irrigated AG-Tour group viewed a field demonstration on the effectiveness of polyacrylamide to control irrigation-induced soil erosion at the Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research Laboratory South Farm research facility. The group was composed of 49 individuals from the Upper Snake River Basin Advisory Group (BAG), the Mid-Snake Watershed Advisory Group (WAG), the Irrigators' Water Quality Committee, environmentalists, Idaho legislators, and other interested individuals. The purpose of this tour was to illustrate the best management practices that irrigated agricultural is using to met the sediment and phosphorus loading limits for the Mid-Snake Watershed TMDL. The PAM field demonstration was conducted by soil scientists Bob Sojka and Rick Lentz. After the demonstration, the tour group used the South Farm headquarters for a wrap-up session by tour leaders. (KIM19970611N2)
(30 April 1997) Soil Scientist Gary Lehrsch and Biological Technician Glenn Shewmaker of this location, attended an NRCS Workshop in Boise, Idaho. Attending the workshop was about 25 people: 18 NRCS scientists and engineers, 4 Soil Conservation District representatives, and 3 ARS scientists and technicians. These participants examined a number of water quality models, focusing on their (1) usefulness to NRCS Field Office personnel, and (2) applicability to Idaho conditions. The models studied included EPIC, NLEAP, NAPRA, NST, and SPISP-II. Many models lacked subroutines to simulate irrigation effects on water quality. This lack of an irrigation subroutine is a serious shortcoming. Workshop participants recommended that models be written as a combination of easily replaceable modules or subroutines. Moreover, both existing and new models should have a common input structure and appearance of output. (KIM19970604N1)
(April 28, 1997) The Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research Lab is happy to welcome Dr. James A. Entry, who arrived 28 April to fill a newly created position of Soil Microbiologist. He comes to us from Auburn University in Alabama, where he was an Assistant Professor of Soil Microbiology in the Department of Agronomy and Soils. Prior to that he was a Research Associate with the Forest Science Department of Oregon State University in Corvallis, where he also received his Ph.D. Though from Ohio, Jim has spent a great deal of time in the Northwest and is delighted to be back. (KIM19970530N1)
(April 28, 1997) Two soil scientists from this location, Robert E. Sojka and Dale T. Westermann, both coeditors of the SSSA's Glossary of Soil Science Terms Committee, received thanks for their contributions and notice that the first electronic glossary of soil science terms now appears on the internet under the Soil Science Society of America homepage at www.agronomy.org/sssa.html. (KIM19970530N2)
(April 29-30) Personnel from Idaho Department of Water Resources, Idaho Power Company, and A&B Irrigation District calibrated several electronic flow meters using the hydraulics lab at the Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research Lab with Agricultural Engineer Dave Bjorneberg's assistance. Idaho law requires irrigators who pump groundwater to measure their water usage. Accurate measurements from the electronic flow meters is very important because these meters are used to calibrate flow meters connected to irrigation systems in the field. The electronic flow meters are also used to identify pumping efficiency problems and help irrigators improve their irrigation efficiency. (KIM19970530N3)