Actively Engage & Black Leg Confirmed

Actively Engage & Black Leg Confirmed. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

There has been confirmation of an outbreak of blackleg in nearly a dozen canola fields in northern Idaho this week, from Moscow to Grangeville. Blackleg is a serious disease of canola that can result in significant yield loss in susceptible varieties. It is caused by a fungus. Any fields with winter canola (dead or alive) or rape, or 2014 spring canola or other Brassica residues should be checked. To prevent spreading it, you should wear rubber boots and sterilize with 70% ethanol between fields. Report any findings to your local extension office.

Are you actively engaged in farming? USDA has proposed changes to be eligible for payments and benefits under specified programs, all program participants, either individuals or legal entities, must provide significant contributions to the farming operation to be considered as "actively engaged in farming.” Judy Olson

OLSON: The recent press release is to notify folks of what those basic changes are and to inform that those changes have been listed in the federal register and open for public comment.These changes do not change or affect farms that are totally owned and operated by family members.

That’s today’s Northwest Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network of the West.