CONTACTS:
Tony Galloway, Chairman of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes' Land Use Policy Commission at (208) 478-3891
Jennifer Miller, project coordinator, at (208) 850-6504

Fort Hall, Idaho - Farmers are invited to attend a tour of mustard green manure fields growing on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Friday, October 14. The event, sponsored by the Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides and Three Rivers Resource Conservation & Development Council, includes morning presentations on potato best management practices and a tour of four mustard fields.

The mustard green manures are grown between wheat and potato crops to improve soil physical characteristics, water infiltration and pest and disease management. The mustard fields were planted in early August and will be incorporated into the soil soon after the tour. Fields of two different mustards, Pacific Gold and a Caliente blend, will be viewed on the tour.

Bryan Hopkins, University of Idaho Potato Cropping Systems Soil Scientist/Specialist, will speak about his on-farm research of best management practices in potatoes. Over the past three years, the fields under best management practices consistently provided better economic returns than fields managed for maximum yields, with the added benefit of reduced fertilizer and pesticide use.

Keith Esplin, executive director of the Potato Growers of Idaho, will share a checklist designed to help producers implement integrated pest management practices. This year's addition of PGI's checklist contains information on practices that will help potato growers qualify for the USDA Conservation Security Program.

Jennifer Miller, program coordinator for the Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides, will share results from a green manure demonstration project on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation.

Meet at the Fort Hall Housing Authority conference room, the red A-frame building in Fort Hall at exit 80 from Interstate 15. For more information, contact Jennifer Miller at (208) 850-6504 or Tony Galloway at (208) 478-3891.

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