Plant enthusiasts are warmly invited to a virtual talk by Dr. Lynn Kinter, botanist with IDFG, on Idaho’s orchids this Tuesday, January 19th at 6:30 pm for the Wood River Chapter.

Idaho is home to 28 native orchids, which occur in an amazing array of colors, shapes, and sizes.  Some attract insect pollinators in unusual ways.  A few lack chlorophyll and parasitize other plants.  All are uniquely beautiful.  This presentation will cover Idaho orchids and their habitats, as well as distinctive traits of the Orchid Family.

Register here

Presenter’s bio

Dr. Lynn Kinter has been the Lead Botanist at Idaho Department of Fish and Game since 2007.  She has >30 years of experience in plant research and resource management, including work with the Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, and Wyoming Game and Fish Department.  She has also taught Botany and Biology at Boise State University.  She has BS, MS, and PhD degrees from University of Idaho, University of Wyoming, and Washington State University, respectively.  She is a long-time member of INPS.

Join Palouse Conservation District for the Soil Health Sit Down, a monthly conversation with producers, industry professionals, and researchers about soil health. This producer-driven event is to encourage dialogue surrounding cover crops, companion crops, and alternative cropping systems on the Palouse. Raffle items will be given away to those in attendance.

For more information and to register go to
Palouse Soil Health Sit down
Thank you to Washington Department of Ecology, Green Cover Seed, The Shepherd’s Grain, Plants of the Wild, Roots of Resilience, and Community Colleges of Spokane for their support.

This monthly series will be held on the third Wednesday of each month at 7am on December 16^th, January 20^th, and February 17^th.

11 am – 12:00 noon PST

Advance registration not required

Session Details: Jan 27, 2021 2:00 pm US/Eastern     Duration: 01:00 (hh:mm)
*** Please join the session 30 minutes prior to the start of the webinar. ***

What will you learn?
Join this webinar as we discuss the soil health impacts of organic high tunnel management and opportunities to improve soil quality. This final in a three-part series focused on organic management of high tunnels will discuss soil health. Speakers will describe the state of soils in high tunnels and some issues of concern. Participants will learn about soil health measures, the effects of soil disturbance and interactions between nutrient management and cover crops.

Learn more about how to join here.

Presenter(s):

Dr. Julie Grossman, Associate Professor, Soil Agroecology and Organic Food Systems & Organic Programs Coordinator, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN

Dr. Krista L. Jacobsen, Associate Professor of Sustainable Agriculture, Department of Horticulture, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY

Dr. Cary Rivard, Director, K-State Research & Extension, Horticulture & Forestry & Extension Vegetable & Fruit Crop Specialist, Manhattan, KS

Session Details: Jan 27, 2021 2:00 pm US/Eastern     Duration: 01:00 (hh:mm)
*** Please join the session 30 minutes prior to the start of the webinar. ***

All live webinars are recorded. Within a week of the live event, a View button provides access to the on-demand replay. CEUs are available for on-demand webinars.

Who should participate?
Land Owner, Conservationists, Agronomists, Land Managers, Technical Service Providers

Education Credits Units:

Certified Crop Advisors (CCA) – 1 hour CCA – S Credit    [status: Approved]

Certificate of Participation – 0 hour NA Credit    [status: Approved]

Prepare your computer to view Adobe Connect on-demand webinars: This webinar is an Adobe Connect recording and may require additional setup on your computer or device to view. Visit our FAQ about setting up your device to view Adobe Connect on-demand webinars for more information.

Cultivating Success

Ag Instrumentation Two-Part Workshop Agenda

DAY 2: Friday, January 22, 2021 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM PST

Sustainable Small Acreage Farming & Ranching is brought to you by:

9:00 AM PST Welcome and introductions Live Webinar Colette DePhelps, Kate Painter

9:10 AM PST Presentation l: PAR Meters Zoom: Sandpoint Jen Jensen

9:30 AM PST Questions & Answers on PAR Meters

9:40 AM PST BREAK Local Site Site Facilitator

9:45 AM PST Using Tensiometers Zoom: Nez Perce Ken Hart

10:05 AM PST Questions & Answers on Tensiometers Zoom: Nez Perce Ken Hart

10:15 AM PST BREAK Local Site Site Facilitator

10:20 AM PST Using Smart Flow Meters Zoom: Moscow Iris Mayes 10:40 AM PST Questions & Answers on Smart Flow Meters

10:50 AM PST Evaluation Live Webinar Kate Painter & Carmen Willmore

11:00 AM PST Adjourn

PRODUCE SAFETY ALLIANCE REMOTE GROWER TRAINING

Dates: Dates are filling up so sign up early!

Nov 30 & Dec 1 (dates are full)
Dec 14 & 15 (dates are full)
Jan 26 & 27
Feb 8 & 9
Feb 22 & 23

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm PST both days using Zoom

$25 fee per person covers shipping and handling of course materials. All other course fees were covered through funding from the WSDA Produce Safety Program

Sign up WSU Produce Safety.

Remote PSA Grower Training

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this training is being offered temporarily via remote delivery. In order to participate, individuals must have video and audio capability, and will be required to have both operating during the entire training. Companies registering multiple participants, please be aware that each participant must be at their own desktop or laptop

It is a Produce Safety Alliance requirement that participants are monitored in order to verify participants’ attendance and engagement. Participants will only be eligible for the PSA/AFDO Certificate of Course Completion if they are present for all modules of the course. The training will take place via Zoom, which does not require special software. Please make sure that your system meets the requirements for Zoom meetings.  All participants will need to have access to a laptop or desktop with the following:

• An internet connection – broadband wired or wireless (3G or 4G/LTE)
• Speakers and a microphone – built-in or USB plug-in or wireless Bluetooth
• A webcam or HD webcam – built-in or USB plug-in
• For security purposes, you must have a Zoom account.  Please create a login.
• This virtual meeting experience will be more enjoyable on a laptop or desktop.  It is more challenging on a mobile phone.

*** IMPORTANT NOTES FOR REGISTRATION ***

Produce Safety Rule Grower Training Manual v1.2 will be mailed to registrants prior to the training – please be sure that the shipping address you provide at the time of registration is current (especially if working from home or remotely) and capable of receiving packages. No PO Boxes, only street addresses.

Please use an email address that the participant can be reached at, as evaluations and a Zoom link for the training will be sent in a confirmation email prior to the training date.  Manuals will be shipped to all paid participants.  Registration will close 5 business days before the start date of the meeting allowing for enough time for shipping the manual.

Idaho Produce Safety Alliance

Two-Day Remote Training Course

Due to COVID-19 restrictions on in-person learning, 2020-2021 PSA courses offered through UI Extension will be taught in a remote, online format over a two-day period.

The following courses listed below are FREE for Idaho growers.

Two-Day Course Dates – Via Zoom

November 12 – November 13, 2020

January 12 – January 13, 2021

January 28 – January 29, 2021

February 16 – February 17, 2021

March 9 – March 10, 2021

All courses will be 9:30 am MST – 2:00 pm MST (this is 8:30 am – 1:00 pm PST)

(approximately four hours of content per day)

Register for a course at University of Idaho Extension.

Course requirements include reliable internet connection, a web camera, and a computer. Participation will be monitored through Zoom for the entire duration of the course via webcam. If you are not able to access these requirements and need further accommodation, please contact Lu Hauger at the contact information detailed below.

Who Should Attend? 
Fruit and vegetable growers and others interested in learning about produce safety, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR), Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), and co-management of natural resources and food safety.  The PSA Grower Training Course is one way to satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement outlined in § 112.22(c) that requires ‘At least one supervisor or responsible party for your farm must have successfully completed food safety training at least equivalent to that received under standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by the Food and Drug Administration.’

If you are unsure if this class is required for your operation, UI has developed a Decision Tool resource – an anonymous self-guided online questionnaire – which can help determine your coverage under the PSR.  It can be accessed at http://bit.ly/psrdecisiontool. The course is open to anyone, regardless of coverage.

Have You Had Personnel Changes in the Last Year?
Remember: If the person who completed this training in the past is no longer working for your operation, you must have their replacement trained by completing the course again.

Virtual Learning Details
The virtual courses offered in 2020-21 are free of charge for Idaho growers. If you are out of state, contact Lu Hauger for pricing and registration details. Course materials and certificates are included with registration and will be sent via mail prior to the course. The cost associated with manuals and certificates is sponsored in full by a grant from the Food & Drug Administration (FDA).

To receive an AFDO certificate, participants must be present for the entire training and submit the appropriate paperwork to their trainer at the end of the course. Participation will be monitored by trainers over Zoom for the duration of the course. After attending the entire course, participants will be eligible to receive a certificate from the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) that verifies they have completed the training course

What We Will Cover
The trainers will spend approximately eight hours of instruction time covering content contained in these seven modules:

• Introduction to Produce Safety
• Worker Health, Hygiene, and Training
• Soil Amendments
• Wildlife, Domesticated Animals, and Land Use
• Agricultural Water (Part I: Production Water; Part II: Post-harvest Water)
• Post-harvest Handling and Sanitation
• How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan

In addition to learning about produce safety best practices, key parts of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements are outlined within each module.  There will be time for questions and discussion, so participants should come prepared to share their experiences and produce safety questions.

Lu Hauger
Associate Educator, Commercial Produce Safety
University of Idaho Extension, Boise
(208) 364-4579
322 E Front St, Suite 120, Boise, ID 83702
University of Idaho Extension Produce Safety Website