2022 Agriculture Tab

In conjunction with the 87th Annual Okanogan County Horticulture Meeting A supplement to The Omak-Okanogan County Chronicle — Feb. 2, 2022

800-572-3446

writers/ photographers: Dee Camp, Joseph Claypoole, Brock Hires, Naomi Verbeck , Aaron Wold, Ricardo Angel, Okanogan Conservation District Additional photographs for this publication obtained through reader submissions, social media and Unsplash..

Visitors learn about new products during the Okanogan County Horticulture Association trade show.

AMBER HEDINGTON | The Chronicle

Horticulture meeting set for Feb. 9 at Agriplex

By DEE CAMP The Chronicle

OKANOGAN — Topics ranging from starting an orchard to pest control, pollinator habitat and WA38/Cosmic Crisp will be discussed during the 87th meeting of the Okanogan County Horticultural Association on Feb. 9.

The meeting, for which there is a fee to attend, will be in the Okanogan County Fairgrounds Agriplex, 175 Rodeo Trail.

Pending approval from the state Department of Agriculture, three pesticide license update credits will be available for attendees.

Vendors also will be on site.

The first session, at 9:30 a.m., features Tianna DuPont of Washington State University Extension talking about “Starting the Orchard Off Right. Topics include site assessment, pre-plant fumigation, alternative organic biorenovation options and organic matter additions.

DuPont, a tree fruit extension specialist based in Wenatchee, works to bring research-based information to the tree fruit industry through trainings, applied research, technology and consultations, according to WSU Extension. She has co-written numerous Extension articles on tree fruits,

contributed to websites and videos, co-written several journal articles and done project reports.

Betsy Beers, a WSU entomologist, will speak via recording at 10 a.m. on “New Tools for Codling Moth Management.”

She will share research and how to use it on SIR, nematodes, netting and other tools to add to high-pressure codling moth blocks.

Like DuPont, Beers is based at the WSU Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center, Wenatchee. Beers has been with WSU since 1985, and has a doctorate in entomology from Penn State and a bachelor of science in plant protection from Cornell University.

A break is planned at 10:30 a.m., with discussions resuming at 10:45 a.m.

Wee Yee, U.S. Department of Agriculture, will talk about “Apple Maggot Fly Discovered in Hawthorns in the Okanogan Valley.” The apple maggot fly was discovered infesting longthorn hawthorn in 2020 by the state Department of Agriculture during its annual apple maggot

survey program.

Experiments suggest the flies there have adapted to that species of hawthorn although the flies may still attack apples, according to WSU Extension’s meeting announcement.

Yee is a research entomologist with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, according to the agency.

He has a doctorate from the University of California-Berkeley, a master of science from Ohio State University and a bachelor of science from George Mason University.

His research interests are the behavior, ecology and management of tephitid fruit flies in temperate regions and export issues that could be affected by the flies.

Yee’s talk will segue into “Update on Apple Maggot Survey, What a Potential Quarantine Expansion Would Mean for Growers,” by Bill Walker at 11 a.m. Walker, a regional manager with the state Department of Agriculture’s fruit and vegetable

inspection program, will talk about the agency’s apple maggot survey results, what triggers a quarantine, inspection and cold treatment requirements for fruit from quarantine areas.

At 11:35 a.m., Rena Shawver of the Okanogan Conservation District will talk about “New Opportunity: Create Pollinator Habitats.”

Shawver is the district’s communications and outreach specialist.

A lunch break runs from 11:40 a.m. to 12:50 p.m.

After lunch, WSU entomologist Louis Nottingham will talk about “Pear Psylla Management.” He’ll share information on season-long psylla management for pears, cultural controls, insecticide efficacy and timing.

Nottingham is a research

assistant professor of entomology at the WSU Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center.

He has a bachelor of science in biology and a doctorate from Virginia Tech. He previously worked in fisheries, ornithology and with vegetables, and has done post-doctoral work in pear integrated pest management, according to WSU Extension.

Barnardita Sallato C, also with WSU Extension, will talk at 1:40 p.m. about “Vigor Management in WA38,” also known as Cosmic Crisp.

Sallato, who is based in Prosser, has bachelor’s

DuPont

Beers

Wee Yee

Shawver

Nottingham Sallato

Honeybear upgrades facility, adds to efficiency

BREWSTER — Major upgrades and replacements to the Honeybear Growers facility have resulted in energy savings and other benefits.

The fruit-packing facility also received a check through the Okanogan County Public Utility District for its efforts.

The facility installed new automated packing lines, updated refrigeration controls, installed new pumps with variable frequency drives for washing the produce and installed new, fast-acting doors to save about 152,985 kilowatt-hours of electrical energy per year. That’s enough to power about nine average local homes, according to the PUD.

Honeybear’s efforts translated into an energy savings incentive check for $41,709.83. The PUD manages incentive programs through funding by the Bonneville Power Administration, a major source of its electricity.

The upgrades also have made conditions better in general for staff, who work in a brighter, cleaner building with many new automations that make work more efficient and trouble-shooting easier, according to a PUD announcement.

Now, the lines automatically separate apples based on size

and color, and can finish them off in multiple customized bags

for different clients at more than twice the volume.

“It is great how Okanogan PUD customers like Honeybear

Growers are working with Energy Smart Industrial to make their facilities better and more energy-efficient,” said Tony Simon, Energy Smart Industrial partner. “These long-lasting energy efficiency savings are reducing their monthly power bills, improving their bottom line.”

The PUD has multiple energy efficiency incentives for residential, commercial and other types of customers. More information is at www.okanoganpud.org.

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Energy Smart Industrial partner Tony Simon (from left), Okanogan County Public Utility District Energy Services Coordinator Kim Johnson, Honeybear Growers General Manager Jim Divis and Honeybear Growers Production/Refrigeration Manager Ryan Moses gather in the upgraded facility to hand off the energy savings incentive check.

Grant supports testing to fight Little Cherry Disease

PULLMAN — Washington State University will help the state’s cherry growers test more trees for the damaging Little Cherry Disease thanks to a state Department of Agriculture specialty crop block grant received by the WashingtonState Tree Fruit Association.

Cherry trees infected with Little Cherry Disease bear small, bitter or bland fruits that often lack attractive coloring.

Named for its most distinct symptom — small, colorless fruit — what growers call “Little Cherry” is a simultaneous outbreak of Little Cherry virus-2 and the X-disease phytoplasma, both of which produce similar symptoms on infected cherry trees and are difficult to tell apart, even by experts, according to WSU.

Detection is more difficult because symptoms usually are noticed only a few weeks before harvest.

The pathogens are spread in orchards by small insects - the virus by mealybugs and the phytoplasma by leafhoppers.

Tests are available for growers to learn if a tree is infected, but they can be expensive.

The new three-year, $530,000 grant will help to expand testing capacity at WSU’s plant disease diagnostic lab in Pullman with more equipment and supplies. That support will reduce testing fees by approximately 50 percent, to $50 per test.

“Affordable and available testing is a key element of our industry’s response to Little Cherry

Disease,” said Jon DeVaney, association president. “Washington’s cherry growers appreciate the support of the (agriculture department’s) specialty crop block grant program and WSU’s plant disease diagnostic lab in this effort.”

“Active, aggressive tree removal is the best way to suppress this outbreak and prevent further spread, and testing is an essential tool to identify trees in the early stages of infection,” said Scott Harper, WSU virologist and director of the Clean Plant Center Northwest. “It will help growers make informed management decisions for their orchards.”

Harper’s lab supported the initial wave of testing in 2018-2019, and commercial labs took over testing in 2020, but few growers could afford to test every tree that they suspected might be infected, said WSU.

“WSU and collabo-

“Active, aggressive tree removal is the best way to suppress this outbreak and prevent further spread, and testing is an essential tool to identify trees in the early stages of infection.”

WSU

rating laboratories are working hard to provide growers with Little Cherry testing services,” said Tianna DuPont, a WSU tree fruit extension specialist. “Additional support for the WSU plant diagnostic lab is essential to provide sustainable, robust public diagnostics so growers can identify and quickly manage the multiple problems that attack their trees.”

Removing infected trees quickly is the best way to fight the disease, as there is no

Scott Harper

treatment and early removal can limit spread of the virus to nearby trees in an orchard, Harper said. Testing also helps avoid removing a tree exhibiting symptoms that look like the disease, but isn’t infected with little cherry pathogens.

WSU tree fruit scientists work closely with growers to fight diseases and support the Washington cherry industry, which produces more sweet cherries than any other state, said WSU.

virologist and director of the Clean Plant Center Northwest.

WSU plans several farm-related workshops this month

PULLMAN — Several workshops are planned during the next few weeks to help growers and other farmers deal with pests, analyze weather data and improve their operations.

Washington State University is coordinating the workshops, some of which are online and some in person.

Farming by the Numbers — Learn the basics of farm record-keeping, taking sales online, and paying employees

from experts and experienced farmers in the Farming by the Numbers online series Feb. 3, 10, 17 and 24. Fee charged. Sponsored by WSU Snohomish County Extension, Business Impact Northwest, Snohomish Conservation District and SnoValley Tilth.

WSU Weather School — For tree fruit growers, the hybrid WSU Weather School on Feb. 4, examines climate trends, AgWeatherNet weather data and sensing, data quality, installation and

maintenance, show-and-tell and more.

Pear IPM study circle — Learn about current research on thresholds for psylla and natural enemies in pears, as well as input on data access. The integrated pest management session is Feb. 8 in Cashmere.

Halver Lecture: Exotic Animal Health and Nutrition — Hosted by WSU animal sciences, the Halver Lecture in Comparative Nutrition is Tuesday, Feb. 22. Troy Tollefson

will present information on health and diets of exotic animals. In person or via Zoom to be determined.

Tree Fruit: Codling Moth Summit — Take a long-term look at biology, control and treatment of the insect pests in a free virtual codling moth summit Thursday, Feb. 24, with recorded talks and a Q&A session. Presented by WSU Extension, the Northwest Horticultural Council, Wilbur-Ellis, Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission and

Oregon State University Extension Service.

Extension Forestry Winter School — Held online by WSU Extension foresters on Saturday, Feb. 26, winter school is a comprehensive workshop that covers a variety of forestry topics. Details: sean.alexander@wsu.edu. More information about the workshops is available from the WSU College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences.

Washington’s

By DEE CAMP The Chronicle

YAKIMA — Orchardists were challenged in 2021 by a tight labor supply, COVID-19 and wildfires, but they still turned out high-quality tree fruit for the domestic and international markets, according to industry officials.

The 2021-22 fresh apple crop is estimated at 117.9 million 40-pound boxes, said Tim Kovis of the Washington State Tree Fruit Association, Yakima.

That’s down from the August 2021 estimate of 124.85 million boxes and the mid-November prediction of 118.255 million boxes.

“In spite of the smaller harvest, we are seeing high-quality fruit and consumers can expect delicious Washington apples throughout 2022,” Kovis said.

Gala led the way as the most-produce variety, at 20 percent of the crop, for the second yar in a row. Previous perennial leader Red Delicious was at 15 percent, as was Granny Smith.

As of Sept. 8, 2021, Pear Bureau Northwest estimated the Washington fresh pear crop at around 8.9 million 42-pound boxes. In

early July 2021, cherry harvest was estimated at 22 million 20-pound boxes.

Tree fruit association members reported smaller crops of some varieties, including Honeycrisp,

Gala and Red Delicious, with high heat earlier in the season affecting what was picked in some cases,

Kovis said.

June 2021 was particularly brutal, with record-setting hot

DEE CAMP | The Chronicle

Workers pick some of the 2021 crop near Monse.

temperatures in much of the state.

An all-time high of 117 was set June 29 in Omak; several days at the end of June and start of July had record temperatures for those days, according to the National Weather Service.

Growers reported some of their cherries cooked on the tree.

Labor also has been a factor, with the supply of workers tight in central Washington for all sectors of the economy, including fruit harvesting and processing.

“Our members are utilizing the (federal) H2-A temporary worker program more to fill the labor gaps,” Kovis said.

H2-A allows employees to bring in workers from other countries when there are domestic labor shortages.

COVID-19 continued to play a role in fruit harvests.

“The bigger challenge was in managing the work force in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Kovis said. “Growers had to adapt quickly to changing conditions and requirements, even as supplies of critical personal protective equipment were sometimes limited.”

And as apple harvest hit its peak in September, fires and smoky

conditions posed a hazard to employees and also disrupted or delayed harvest of some fruit.

“Despite these challenges, we

set new weekly shipping records for apples this year as consumers shifted from eating out to eating at home with a focus on health,”

Kovis said.

The Washington Apple Commission, which promotes the state’s apples worldwide, had its

third celebration of Washington Apple Week from Nov. 27 to Dec. 5, 2021.

The event spanned 15 countries and featured activities designed to connect consumers with their food source through education and building excitement for arrival of new season Washington Apples, said the commission.

“Although due to the pandemic, we can’t bring our growers to export markets as we have done in the past, we hope that through the magic of digital technology consumers will have a chance to experience the orchard and see the care that our Washington apple growers take in producing a high-quality apple,” said apple commission

International Marketing Director Rebecca Lyons at the time.

Washington’s 1,260 apple growers produce eight core varieties – Gala, Red Delicious, Fuji, Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Cripps Pink, Golden Delicious and Cosmic Crisp.

Washington is the leading producer of fresh apples in the United States, growing 65 percent of the nation’s apples annually and exporting to more than 60 international markets, the apple commission said.

DEE CAMP | The Chronicle

A worker moves bins of freshly picked apples north of Brewster.

By AARON WOLD Okanogan Conservation District

OKANOGAN — Since 1989, grazing permits and leases on more than 500,000 acres of tribal, private and public land in Okanogan County have been managed by ranchers, agency staff and others using a cooperative process called coordinated resource management.

Over the years, the process has helped them find creative solutions for concerns such as the need for alternative grazing lands from burnt pastures and preserving water quality while watering cattle.

As the popularity of public land use grows at a time of constrained ecosystem services and increasing natural disasters, finding solutions to shared problems through the CRM process will become even more important.

The CRM process empowers local people to resolve land use and natural resource issues using collaborative problem solving. Locally led, this consensus building process is designed to:

• Implement compatible use of natural resources, including agriculture, fish and wildlife habitat, forage production, forest products, recreation and land development;

such as grazing, fencing, watering infrastructure, noxious weeds, gates, signs and access. Each CRM meets annually to review accomplishments, address standing concerns and develop further plans to meet the needs of all the stakeholders.

Anyone experiencing a natural resource concern or contentious issue can use the CRM process to find solutions. CRMs also have been used for stream water quality and fish passage barrier removal.

More information is available from Aaron Wold at the Okanogan Conservation District at aaron@okanogancd.org or 509-429-3486.

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Coordinated resource management groups can help when there are concerns and conflicts between grazing allotment holders and others.

and • Improve and perpetuate land and water resources in a high-quality condition.

Okanogan Conservation District, along with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, facilitates about 20 CRM meetings annually. In the meetings, stakeholders work together to establish

common goals and resolve issues as a team.

CRM groups are created at the request of a tenant of a federal or state grazing allotment, or a natural resource stakeholder, to address concerns within the user group.

Issues addressed in Okanogan Country often relate to livestock,

A seasonal walkthrough of basic tips for first-time gardeners

By JOSEPH CLAYPOOLE The Chronicle

GARDEN CENTERS ACROSS the county will start to open their doors as the area moves into and through the month of February.

Raised bed and hanging basket displays will usher garden hopefuls through the doors, the succulent smells and vivid colors drawing shoppers inside.

Virgin growers might rush in, snagging seeds and seedlings alike, all for the hope of a late-summer meal grown entirely from the garden, still freshly cooked in their minds as their baskets fill in the store’s aisles.

Once home, the ground, though still a little hard, is workable with some sweat and passion. Everyone knows nothing good comes easily, right?

MEETING

from page 3

and master’s degrees from PUC in Chile.

She works in soils fertility, plant nutrition, stress management and general horticultural practices for tree fruit production, according to WSU Extension.

Her program focus is to improve orchard efficiency and fruit production through horticultural management practices and technology.

Troy Peters, with WSU Extension biological systems engineering, will round out the program at 2:10 p.m. with “Irrigation for Fruit Quality and Efficiency.” He will talk about irrigation strategies to improve fruit quality, irrigation efficiencies for water conservation and evaluating orchard blocks for irrigation challenges.

Peters, who holds a doctorate, focuses on agricultural irrigation. He is based in Prosser.

Closing remarks and pesticide credit information will be given at 2:40 p.m.

Yet, it’s perhaps the biggest mistake for new and first-time growers, says Linda McLean, agriculture educator director with the Washington State University Extension office for the Colville Reservation.

“I see this every year,” McLean said. “People get so excited in February and March when the snow starts melting. They see seed and garden displays at the store, and then plant a bunch of stuff too early or too close together; the plants die, and they have to start over.”

Her best advice to first-time growers is to just get started. But jumping head first into planting, before learning a little about the basics, is a recipe for failure, according to McLean.

Getting started

It’s not an attempt to turn away

future gardeners from ever taking up the practice, but an ample warning for first-timers, especially those who might not know that the season, for many, starts in the cold months of January and February, sometimes even December.

In Okanogan County, the last frost of the winter season generally happens within the first two weeks of May, marking the start of the garden season. Or, as locals have said time and time again: Just wait until the snow on Omak Mountain is gone.

Depending on the hardiness of the plant, a light frost in late May can ruin a garden, especially if it’s squash, tomatoes, beans or basil. Nearly any variety that requires indoor sowing before transplanting to the garden will not fare well in frost.

Some plants are little hardier, meaning they might be able to

endure a light frost, though care should still be taken. These include plants like kale, carrots, potatoes and lettuce. The hardiest plants of them all, like peas, onions and spinach, can be planted as soon as the ground is workable with little to no worry.

To keep track of all the notes you might take on plant hardiness, frost dates, planting schedules and more, McLean recommends a journal or diary. It’s one of the best things a gardener can do, whether a veteran with a passion or a high-schooler searching for a new hobby, she said.

Keeping track of timetables, what nutrients worked or didn’t, what was planted where or how long ago – all are important in ensuring a healthier and more productive garden in the future.

This becomes even more important when you begin looking

at pre-season seedlings or plantings for the less hardy plants before they’re transplanted into your garden later in the season.

When it comes down to it though, McLean says the best way to get started is simply getting dirty.

“There’s no bad way to start gardening,” said McLean. “The best first step is to just get out, or in, there!”

The first plant

Before you can pick what you want to plant, you have to understand the space you have, among other things. If you have a large backyard with more room than you know what to do with, space likely won’t be an issue when picking plants or vegetables.

But if all you have is a kitchen windowsill and some planter boxes, there are some

Peters

useful

First is just picking a few plants that may offer a confidence boost down the road due to their low-maintenance needs. This isn’t to say that time and money aren’t an investment you need to make, just that the plant may be a bit more forgiving.

For McLean, the mammoth sunflower is a great choice, especially for Okanogan County. The mammoth sunflower is extremely tolerant of both soil and water conditions. The plant is drought-tolerant, and though it might live through a low-water period, its height may be slightly stunted.

The biggest requirement of the sunflower is, as the name might suggest, sunlight. They thrive on and will grow best with six to eight hours of direct sun a day. Shady planting locations will leave the flowers small and the height stunted.

Mammoth sunflowers will often reach full maturity within 100 days, offering one of the best cost-benefit outlooks for a first-time planting when coupled with the sunflower’s ability to shade other garden plants from too much sun, the edible seeds once the season is over, and the great benefits that come with its extreme hardiness. The butterflies the plant is likely to attract are a plus as well.

Understanding the type of soil you have, the space your plants

will need to thrive, and other conditions surrounding your garden are important items to have down before purchasing the plants you want.

Summer

There are a few keys to maintaining a healthy garden throughout the summer months. Aside from the obvious, like properly watering and fertilizing your soil and pulling weeds, there are some others that might sneak up on or be a little less obvious for firsttime growers.

One of these keys is checking the health of your plants: Being able to recognize pests and destructive bugs like aphids or whiteflies as well as infected, dead or diseased plants that may pass along their afflictions to neighboring plants.

Deadheading, removing old flower blooms to make room for new growth, is also important, especially for floral gardens. Knowing when to cull unhealthy bits of your plants, or clearing out underbrush, will help with keeping pest and insect populations in check as well as promoting space and healthy growth for your plants.

Simply being in the garden, past basic garden maintenance, is one of the best things a gardener can do for their plants, says McLean.

“The best fertilizer for your plants is your shadow,” McLean

A

first-timer’s garden.

said.

Gardening is a full-time hobby. Contrary to non-gardener belief, it’s not just a plant-and-forget activity. Gardening demands investment, timewise as well as financially and physically. The more time you spend in the garden — pulling weeds, watering,

fertilizing and more — the better off your garden will be at the end of the season.

Autumn and winter

As the season comes to an end, and you’ve finally plucked the final harvestable fruits of your labor, you’ll have reached a point

where you need to start preparing for the next season. This starts with some autumn cleaning.

McLean describes this portion of the gardening season as “putting your garden to bed.” It includes the obvious, like basic cleaning and proper storage of equipment.

JOSEPH CLAYPOOLE | The Chronicle

small lettuce blend and basic herbs — basil, cilantro, oregano, parsley — make up the beginnings of a

Less obvious tasks for some might include cleaning gardening tools. In the kitchen, honing your knife before every use, or every two to four uses as most recommend, is sure way to ensure a long-lasting and efficient knife. Caring for your garden tools works much the same way.

According to University of Vermont Extension professor Dr.

Leonard Perry, “clean tools work more effectively, are easier to use, and they last longer.”

Cleaning tools doesn’t just apply to the end of the season either. When pruning dead or diseased plants, a small bottle of rubbing alcohol or disinfectant is a great way to prevent passing along a disease once finished.

Soil work and prep generally

come next. If you have a raised bed, planting cover crops or mulching the soil can help prevent soil getting washed out in winter rains and break up compacted areas.

Composting, whether hot or cold, takes care of two issues at the same time — leftover organic material and fertilizer. After culling your garden, composting

PUMP • ELECTRICAL IRRIGATION •

offers unneeded vegetation and plants a second life while also contributing to homemade fertilizer.

An important note for composting, McLean says, is to ensure you’re not including diseased or dead plants in your compost as they’ll ruin and infect your entire supply.

Finally, come note taking and winter plants, if wanted. Taking note of what vegetables worked and nutrients you’ve used that maybe didn’t bring about the desired result is extremely important for next season, as it will save you time and money when improving for the next summer.

It’s also good time to review basics from the beginning of the season as well, including space, soil fertility and moisture levels.

If using a greenhouse of some kind, this is also a great time to note what worked and what didn’t.

If you want to continue your garden into the winter months, check out some plants that work great indoors or even specialize in growth during the winter like garlic and kale. Some plants, like onions, can also be harvested through winter, though some care for freezing temps must be taken into account.

A year-round process

Before you know it, the snow will start melting, the ground will start thawing, and garden centers will begin throwing up new displays once more.

If hanging baskets didn’t work too well last year, you might be more inclined to invest in a raised bed. Ideas for companion plants already are monopolizing your garden ideas.

You watch as first-timers make the same mistake you did, purchasing packets of orchid and cauliflower seeds, unaware of the difficulties and unique needs of the plants.

Stepping past the automatic doors and loading your trunk with the season’s supplies, you head home with that harvest meal in mind. You’ve come to realize that gardening wasn’t all that hard in the first place. The daunting prospect of filling an empty yard now entices you with its blank slate, ready for your creativity and hard work.

A successful garden only needs a little time, perseverance and research. Plus, what good has ever come without a little hard work?

SEPTIC TANKS

21B Brewster Airport Road Brewster, WA 98812 (509) 689-1212

NAOMI VERBECK | Special to The Chronicle

These San Marzano tomato seedlings are nearly ready for transplanting.

Bill would aid agritourism efforts

WASHINGTON, D.C — A bill to support agritourism has been introduced by U.S. Reps. Dan Newhouse, R-4th District, and Jennifer Wexton, D-Va.

The Accelerating the Growth of Rural Innovation and Tourism Opportunities to Uphold Rural Industries and Sustainable Marketplaces (AGRITOURISM) Act would create an Office of Agritourism at the U.S. Department of Agriculture to serve as a dedicated voice for agritourism businesses in the federal government and to consolidate information on federal resources available to agritourism business owners.

“From our world-class wineries and breweries to local orchards, dairies and farmers markets, agritourism is a vital part of central Washington’s economy,” said Newhouse. “I am proud to introduce the Agritourism Act to ensure that agritourism businesses have an advocate within USDA which will in turn help preserve our important agriculture traditions and honor our way of life.”

“Agritourism has unlocked new economic potential for small, family owned farms in rural areas

across Virginia and throughout the country - yet I’ve heard from too many business owners in our region that it is difficult to access or to even find out about federal resources available to help cultivate these businesses,” said Wexton. “A dedicated Office of Agritourism would help these small farms get the support they need to start and sustain their agritourism businesses, like loans and grants, access to broadband connectivity programs, promotion of agritourism activities and best practices.”

Agritourism is a successful and expanding industry throughout the country, said Newhouse. According to the most recent Census of Agriculture, agritourism-related income jumped from $202 million in 2002 to $949 million in 2017 — a nearly 370 percent increase.

In areas such as central Washington, agritourism has enabled small farmers to expand their businesses and increase access to high-quality local food sources, which has boosted local economies while maintaining the rural character of the region, he said.

Drones help with irrigation

By RICARDO ANGEL Okanogan Conservation District

OKANOGAN — If you see a drone flying around a pasture or orchard this year, it could be the Okanogan Conservation District staff out working with a landowner to map the area using high-resolution thermal imagery to detect areas of over-irrigation and under-irrigation and plan irrigation-efficiency improvements.

The district recently received a conservation partners program grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to work with agricultural irrigators to improve irrigation efficiency and restore instream flow in local streams.

The grant supports the development of 25 best-practice management plans to refine irrigation water application, reduce water usage and maintain or improve crop production. Irrigators participating in the project may be eligible for funding to upgrade equipment offered by agencies including the Okanogan Conservation District, the National Resources Conservation Service, Washington Water Trust and Trout Unlimited.

Irrigation plans and upgrades resulting from the project will cover 800 acres and improve

A drone is prepared for a fly-over.

instream flow conditions on eight targeted streams in the Methow and Okanogan river basins.

Okanogan Conservation District also works with irrigators in cooperation with the Okanogan County Public Utility District to get reimbursed for improvements to irrigation systems. Upgrades save water and power, putting money back into an irrigator’s pocket, both in savings and earned rebates.

Last year, a local orchardist earned an $8,000 PUD rebate by installing an efficient, variable frequency drive to manage water usage better, increasing irrigation efficiently.

Simple upgrades such as

changing leaky gaskets on wheel lines, adding pressure-compensating nozzles, upgrading pivot-sprinkler packages, replacing or repairing damaged wheel- and hand-line pipe sections and more attainable upgrades also improve water application uniformity.

More involved upgrades such as a new efficient pump, or a variable frequency drive, can provide greater water and power savings.

Rebates vary.

Upgrading irrigation hardware can mean $1 to $275 per qualifying measure. Pump and VFD upgrades are $50 or $80 per horsepower to qualifying pumps; VFDs must be 20-500 hp.

Another way to save on power costs is installing freeze-resistant stock water tanks and fountains. Stock water tanks and fountains require no electric heat, for 100 percent power savings. The $165 PUD rebate can be received for installing multiple qualifying freeze-resistant stock water tanks and fountains.

Okanogan Conservation District provides technical assistance to fruit growers interested in irrigation efficiency and, when possible, cost-share financial assistance. Services are free. More information is available from Ricardo Angel at the Okanogan Conservation District, ricardo@ okanogancd.org or 509-429-3468.

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Native pollinators improve resiliency

OKANOGAN

CONSERVATION DISTRICT

OKANOGAN — The decline of both domestic and wild bee populations has serious implications for orchard pollination.

To help, the Okanogan Conservation District, with grant support from the state Department of Agriculture, is working with orchardists to build diversified pollination strategies by creating native pollinator habitats to attract native bees and other pollinators.

Incorporating native pollinators into farming practices is a low-cost way to support sustainable pollination.

Over the next two years, funding is available to help orchardists establish 10 new acres of pollinator habitat in Okanogan County. The first half-acre went in last year when the conservation district worked with an area orchardist to develop a native pollinator habitat on an uncultivated area of land outside the orchard’s edges.

A variety of diverse native plant species was selected to flower spring, summer and fall. Longer bloom times help attract and keep native pollinators in the area and support healthier bees. Fruit trees alone do not provide season-long habitat for native pollinators.

Trees were planted along the lower fence edge to protect establishing plants. Bunchgrasses, brush piles and rock piles were added for additional cover and nesting sites.

An irrigation system was installed for use the first three to five years after planting to help establish young plants. After that,

the need for irrigation should be minimal.

The orchardist also installed a temporary fence to discourage foraging by deer during the plants’ early growth. Additionally, white clover seeds were planted in the orchard’s drive rows to attract beneficial insects and fix nitrogen in the soil.

More than 600 native species of bees in Washington pollinate wild lands. Growers who include native pollinator habitat in their orchard operations can expect a range of benefits including:

• Lower costs for beekeeping and hive rental.

• Beneficial insects that prey on

orchard pests, possibly reducing pesticide use.

• Longer pollination season.

• Improved soil health and less erosion with pollinator plantings. According to University of California-Davis, wildflower habitats attract “on average six times the number of native bees and three times the diversity compared to unplanted controls, without attracting pests.”

Okanogan Conservation District provides technical and financial assistance to fruit growers interested in establishing native pollinator habitats. Services are free. More information is available from Ricardo Angel at the Okanogan Conservation District at ricardo@okanogancd.org or 509-429-3468.

Scholarship support offered for AgForestry

SPOKANE — Scholarship support is available for the Washington AgForestry Leadership Program.

The late Harold Cox talked about the value of education for his family and for those seeking leadership roles in agriculture. His fascination with diverse culture, farming methods and politics took him to more than 20 countries and led him to AgForestry’s original board of directors.

He built a successful farming and ranching business in the Tri-Cities and was a leader in local, state and national agricultural and civic efforts. Among many other activities, he served as the president of the Washington State Cattlemen’s Association and the Washington State Cattle Feeders Association.

He served on the National Beef Board, where he was instrumental in creating the “Where’s

the Beef?” campaign of the late 1980s.

When Cox died in 2017, he donated $100,000 to the Agriculture and Forestry Education Foundation supporting financial scholarships to producers looking for professional growth in the AgForestry Leadership Program.

Applicants must be a: -Producer in agriculture (including livestock, fishing, aquaculture) or forestry, or on the production side of a vertically integrated business in agriculture or forestry.

-Member of a current class or applying for an incoming leadership class (new applicants must be accepted to a leadership class to receive the scholarship).

Application information is available at https://agforestry. org/harold-s-cox-scholarship/. The application deadline is April 30.

DEE CAMP | The Chronicle

A bee flies toward blossoms on an Okanogan County fruit tree.

Agriculture through the years

Did you know?

• In 1847, a man named Henderson Lewelling traveled from Iowa to western Oregon by ox cart. He brought with him nursery stock which became the first cherry trees planted in the Northwest.

• There are more than 1,000 varieties of cherries in the United States, but fewer than 10 are produced commercially.

• At one time it was against the law to serve ice cream on cherry pie in Kansas. — Washington State Fruit Commission

FRANK S. MATSURA | Okanogan County Historical Society

from Okanogan in the early 1900s.

THE CHRONICLE

An unidentified man lights an orchard heater ahead of a brisk evening.

Did you know?

• More land is planted to wheat in the world than any other crop.

• Wheat is a staple food for more than 35 percent of the human population.

• Wheat provides 20 percent of the world’s nutritional needs.

• In 2020, the U.S. exported 926 million bushels of wheat to nearly 60 countries.

• The Pacific Northwest produces enough wheat each year to fill the Seahawks’ stadium

• Washington state produced 165.6 million bushels of wheat in 2020.

• At least $0.88 of every $1.00 generated by Washington wheat goes to businesses that support farmers

WILLIAM C. BROWN COLLECTION | Okanogan County Historical Society An early orchard on Pogue Flat near Omak. The family is unidentified.

FRANK S. MATSURA/OKANOGAN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

A sternwheeler leaves Omak for Wenatchee for a tour of the city and a baseball game. Omak Fruit Growers was the name of the Omak town team.

An apple a day...

Apple Crisp

6-7 cups peeled, seeded and sliced apples

¾ to 1 cup granulated sugar (depending on sweetness of fruit)

4 Tablespoons flour

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

3/4 cup quick rolled oats

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

6 Tablespoons (2/3 stick) butter or margarine, melted Preheat oven to 375 degrees and grease a 9x9x2 pan or casserole of similar size. In a large bowl, stir together apples, 4 Tablespoons flour, ½ teaspoon cinnamon and granulated sugar. Pour evenly into prepared pan.

Mix oats, 3/4 cup flour, brown sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Add butter and stir until mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle evenly over fruit. Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until

fruit is tender and bubbly.

Variations: Add ½ cup raisins or dried cranberries. Peeled and sliced peaches or pears; unpeeled plums, nectarines or apricots, or berries — or a combination of fruits — may be substituted for apples.

Chicken saladfilled apples

10 Granny Smith or GoldenDelicious apples

Juice from 4 lemons

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked Salt and freshly ground pepper

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 Tablespoons light mayonnaise

3 Tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped Core and cut 4 of the apples into small cubes. Pour 1/2 of the lemon juice over the apples to prevent browning. Chop the chicken breasts into small cubes and season with salt, pepper and cinnamon. In a bowl, mix the apple, chicken, mayonnaise and parsley. With a sharp knife, cut and

DEE CAMP | The Chronicle An apple crisp makes a perfect dessert dish.

When one cold night can ruin an entire year’s work...

It’s best to play it safe.

CASCADE WIND MACHINE

Since 1967, we have hand-crafted our wind machines with precision technology. We take pride in the details, which is why growers from around the world trust Orchard-Rite® wind machines to protect their mature stock and new plantings from the dangers of frost. We are dedicated to serving you and your crops by providing the tools, knowledge and service to stave off those frosty nights, protecting your harvest and your future. ®

remove the tops from the other 6 apples. Hollow out with a spoon, leaving a ½-inch-thick shell. Brush the inside of the apples with lemon juice to prevent browning.

Fill the apples with the chicken salad. Refrigerate before serving.

Apple butter

4 pounds Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and quartered

1 cup water

1 cup apple cider

Brown sugar as needed

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon allspice

Grated rind and juice of 2 lemons

Cook the apples in the liquid until soft. Pass through a food mill. Add 1/2 cup brown sugar for each cup of puree. Add the spices, rind and lemon juice and cook over very low heat until thick and dark brown. This may take three to four hours.

If not to be used within a week or two, refrigerated, pour into hot, sterilized jars and seal tightly. Process.

Did you know?

• Pears are versatile. In addition to being served raw in almost anything, pears bake, poach, saute, roast and grill very nicely.

• Pears are also a natural source of other antioxidants, which, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, are important in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes, and may improve immune function and lower risk for infection.

— USA Pears

Chunky apple molasses muffins

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup sugar

1 Tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 Fuji apple, peeled, cored and

finely chopped

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup molasses

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 large egg

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Lightly grease eight 3-inch muffin pan cups. In large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Add apples and stir to distribute evenly.

In small bowl, beat together milk, molasses, oil and egg. Stir into dry ingredients and mix just until blended. Fill muffin pan cups with batter. Bake 5 minutes, then reduce heat to 350 degrees. and bake 12-15 minutes longer or until centers of muffins spring back when gently pressed. Cool in pan 5 minutes. Remove muffins from pan and cool to warm; serve.

Some of these recipes are courtesy of the Washington Apple Commission. Its website, waapple.org, contains dozens of apple recipes, plus information about apple varieties, nutritional information, grower information and more.

Native pollinators improve resiliency

OKANOGAN

CONSERVATION DISTRICT

OKANOGAN — The decline of both domestic and wild bee populations has serious implications for orchard pollination.

To help, the Okanogan Conservation District, with grant support from the state Department of Agriculture, is working with orchardists to build diversified pollination strategies by creating native pollinator habitats to attract native bees and other pollinators.

Incorporating native pollinators into farming practices is a low-cost way to support sustainable pollination.

Over the next two years, funding is available to help orchardists establish 10 new acres of pollinator habitat in Okanogan County. The first half-acre went in last year when the conservation district worked with an area orchardist to develop a native pollinator habitat on an uncultivated area of land outside the orchard’s edges.

A variety of diverse native plant species was selected to flower spring, summer and fall. Longer bloom times help attract and keep native pollinators in the area and support healthier bees. Fruit trees alone do not provide season-long habitat for native pollinators.

Trees were planted along the lower fence edge to protect establishing plants. Bunchgrasses, brush piles and rock piles were added for additional cover and nesting sites.

An irrigation system was installed for use the first three to five years after planting to help establish young plants. After that,

the need for irrigation should be minimal.

The orchardist also installed a temporary fence to discourage foraging by deer during the plants’ early growth. Additionally, white clover seeds were planted in the orchard’s drive rows to attract beneficial insects and fix nitrogen in the soil.

More than 600 native species of bees in Washington pollinate wild lands. Growers who include native pollinator habitat in their orchard operations can expect a range of benefits including:

• Lower costs for beekeeping and hive rental.

• Beneficial insects that prey on

orchard pests, possibly reducing pesticide use.

• Longer pollination season.

• Improved soil health and less erosion with pollinator plantings. According to University of California-Davis, wildflower habitats attract “on average six times the number of native bees and three times the diversity compared to unplanted controls, without attracting pests.”

Okanogan Conservation District provides technical and financial assistance to fruit growers interested in establishing native pollinator habitats. Services are free. More information is available from Ricardo Angel at the Okanogan Conservation District at ricardo@okanogancd.org or 509-429-3468.

Scholarship support offered for AgForestry

SPOKANE — Scholarship support is available for the Washington AgForestry Leadership Program.

The late Harold Cox talked about the value of education for his family and for those seeking leadership roles in agriculture. His fascination with diverse culture, farming methods and politics took him to more than 20 countries and led him to AgForestry’s original board of directors.

He built a successful farming and ranching business in the Tri-Cities and was a leader in local, state and national agricultural and civic efforts. Among many other activities, he served as the president of the Washington State Cattlemen’s Association and the Washington State Cattle Feeders Association.

He served on the National Beef Board, where he was instrumental in creating the “Where’s

the Beef?” campaign of the late 1980s.

When Cox died in 2017, he donated $100,000 to the Agriculture and Forestry Education Foundation supporting financial scholarships to producers looking for professional growth in the AgForestry Leadership Program.

Applicants must be a: -Producer in agriculture (including livestock, fishing, aquaculture) or forestry, or on the production side of a vertically integrated business in agriculture or forestry.

-Member of a current class or applying for an incoming leadership class (new applicants must be accepted to a leadership class to receive the scholarship).

Application information is available at https://agforestry. org/harold-s-cox-scholarship/. The application deadline is April 30.

DEE CAMP | The Chronicle

A bee flies toward blossoms on an Okanogan County fruit tree.

Agriculture through the years

Did you know?

• In 1847, a man named Henderson Lewelling traveled from Iowa to western Oregon by ox cart. He brought with him nursery stock which became the first cherry trees planted in the Northwest.

• There are more than 1,000 varieties of cherries in the United States, but fewer than 10 are produced commercially.

• At one time it was against the law to serve ice cream on cherry pie in Kansas. — Washington State Fruit Commission

FRANK S. MATSURA | Okanogan County Historical Society

from Okanogan in the early 1900s.

THE CHRONICLE

An unidentified man lights an orchard heater ahead of a brisk evening.

Did you know?

• More land is planted to wheat in the world than any other crop.

• Wheat is a staple food for more than 35 percent of the human population.

• Wheat provides 20 percent of the world’s nutritional needs.

• In 2020, the U.S. exported 926 million bushels of wheat to nearly 60 countries.

• The Pacific Northwest produces enough wheat each year to fill the Seahawks’ stadium

• Washington state produced 165.6 million bushels of wheat in 2020.

• At least $0.88 of every $1.00 generated by Washington wheat goes to businesses that support farmers

WILLIAM C. BROWN COLLECTION | Okanogan County Historical Society An early orchard on Pogue Flat near Omak. The family is unidentified.

FRANK S. MATSURA/OKANOGAN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

A sternwheeler leaves Omak for Wenatchee for a tour of the city and a baseball game. Omak Fruit Growers was the name of the Omak town team.

An apple a day...

Apple Crisp

6-7 cups peeled, seeded and sliced apples

¾ to 1 cup granulated sugar (depending on sweetness of fruit)

4 Tablespoons flour

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

3/4 cup quick rolled oats

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

6 Tablespoons (2/3 stick) butter or margarine, melted Preheat oven to 375 degrees and grease a 9x9x2 pan or casserole of similar size. In a large bowl, stir together apples, 4 Tablespoons flour, ½ teaspoon cinnamon and granulated sugar. Pour evenly into prepared pan.

Mix oats, 3/4 cup flour, brown sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Add butter and stir until mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle evenly over fruit. Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until

fruit is tender and bubbly.

Variations: Add ½ cup raisins or dried cranberries. Peeled and sliced peaches or pears; unpeeled plums, nectarines or apricots, or berries — or a combination of fruits — may be substituted for apples.

Chicken saladfilled apples

10 Granny Smith or GoldenDelicious apples

Juice from 4 lemons

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked Salt and freshly ground pepper

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 Tablespoons light mayonnaise

3 Tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped Core and cut 4 of the apples into small cubes. Pour 1/2 of the lemon juice over the apples to prevent browning. Chop the chicken breasts into small cubes and season with salt, pepper and cinnamon. In a bowl, mix the apple, chicken, mayonnaise and parsley. With a sharp knife, cut and

DEE CAMP | The Chronicle An apple crisp makes a perfect dessert dish.

When one cold night can ruin an entire year’s work...

It’s best to play it safe.

CASCADE WIND MACHINE

Since 1967, we have hand-crafted our wind machines with precision technology. We take pride in the details, which is why growers from around the world trust Orchard-Rite® wind machines to protect their mature stock and new plantings from the dangers of frost. We are dedicated to serving you and your crops by providing the tools, knowledge and service to stave off those frosty nights, protecting your harvest and your future. ®

remove the tops from the other 6 apples. Hollow out with a spoon, leaving a ½-inch-thick shell. Brush the inside of the apples with lemon juice to prevent browning.

Fill the apples with the chicken salad. Refrigerate before serving.

Apple butter

4 pounds Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and quartered

1 cup water

1 cup apple cider

Brown sugar as needed

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon allspice

Grated rind and juice of 2 lemons

Cook the apples in the liquid until soft. Pass through a food mill. Add 1/2 cup brown sugar for each cup of puree. Add the spices, rind and lemon juice and cook over very low heat until thick and dark brown. This may take three to four hours.

If not to be used within a week or two, refrigerated, pour into hot, sterilized jars and seal tightly. Process.

Did you know?

• Pears are versatile. In addition to being served raw in almost anything, pears bake, poach, saute, roast and grill very nicely.

• Pears are also a natural source of other antioxidants, which, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, are important in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes, and may improve immune function and lower risk for infection.

— USA Pears

Chunky apple molasses muffins

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup sugar

1 Tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 Fuji apple, peeled, cored and

finely chopped

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup molasses

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 large egg

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Lightly grease eight 3-inch muffin pan cups. In large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Add apples and stir to distribute evenly.

In small bowl, beat together milk, molasses, oil and egg. Stir into dry ingredients and mix just until blended. Fill muffin pan cups with batter. Bake 5 minutes, then reduce heat to 350 degrees. and bake 12-15 minutes longer or until centers of muffins spring back when gently pressed. Cool in pan 5 minutes. Remove muffins from pan and cool to warm; serve.

Some of these recipes are courtesy of the Washington Apple Commission. Its website, waapple.org, contains dozens of apple recipes, plus information about apple varieties, nutritional information, grower information and more.