08/08/07 Parma fruit field day

If you want to get far more than your daily recommended servings of fruit head to Parma on September 6th. That's when the University of Idaho holds it annual fruit field day with dozens of table grape varieties right along with nectarines, peaches, plums, pluots, apples and Asian pears. University of Idaho fruit crop physiologist Essie Fallahi will show a new method of canopy development for table grapes that he is evaluating at the center. Called the arbor or gable system, it allows more light penetration and air movement through grape canopies than traditional systems, potentially improving color and reducing the threat of powdery mildew. At the field day, Fallahi will describe four different approaches to the arbor system. September 6th from 830 am to 1 pm. International businessman Jim Faber will lead the University of Idaho effort to capitalize on outstanding research on biodiesel, oilseed crops and biological pesticides from its College of Agricultural and Life Sciences to industry. Faber spent the last year consulting with the Kenyan government and the four years before that running a 114 thousand -acre farm in Australia. The university's research and education groups already have amassed a strong business track record thanks to work with oilseeds, mustard meal, biodiesel and camelina. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott