Healthy Acres Fall 2013

www.missoulaeduplace.org

1healthy acres: Fall 2013/Winter 2014 issue 09

a resource to promote healthy lands and healthy communities

By seth swanson Msu extension horticulture

Summer has been wrapped up for a while here in Western Montana, but we have been treated with a spectacular autumn season: warm sunny days, and crisp nights. Autumn in temperate climates is a wonderful time of year, especially when it materializes into an actual season and doesn’t transition straight from summer to winter. As busy as it can be this is not a time of year to go unnoticed. Just as spring flowers pull us out of a winter gloom with a barrage of colors on trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants, the autumn season hits us with one last blast of vibrant

colors before the long gray winter arrives. For anyone who lives or has lived in the Midwest or Northeast, this is one of the best seasons of the year. Thanks to the many aspens, oaks and maples, the landscape is turned into a collage of brilliant reds, yellows, oranges, and browns. But what actually makes the leaves of the trees change from the persistent summer green to these varying shades, and why do these colors seem to be different every year?

The answer to this is based upon a number of different variables both environmental and biological. Different pigments generate the varying leaf colors; the predominant green color comes from chlorophyll, the yellow and orange from carotenoids and xanthophylls, and the red from anthocyanins.

Trees, like many larch and poplar species, that change to yellow and orange in the fall have carotenoids and chlorophyll pigments in the cells of the leaves throughout the entire growing season. Chlorophyll is the dominant pigment, so it masks the carotenoids throughout most of the year. During the summer months; carotenoids

aid chlorophyll in photosynthesis by contributing to harvesting light, and also protects chlorophyll from damaging sunlight. Photoperiod, or daily duration of light, largely regulates the process of change from green to red or yellow. Photoperiodism in plants plays an important role in regulating many biological activities. In the autumn, the photoperiod acts as a signal to initiate dormancy to help prepare the trees for a potentially long harsh winter. As the leaves of the trees perceive the nights to be growing longer, the production of chlorophyll stops and the degradation of the remaining chlorophyll begins to occur. This will soon result in the unveiling of the underlying carotenoid and xanthophyll pigments, resulting in a display of yellow and orange.

Anthocyanins, which are responsible for the beautiful red fall foliage of maples and serviceberries are not present in the leaves throughout the year, but are synthesized in the autumn months. In many cases anthocyanins are formed as a result of various environmental stresses such as light and temperature. Anthocyanins were found to form during high light periods in the

Fall Foliage

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autumn to mask the remaining chlorophyll, protecting the leaf cells as they senesce. This can result in greater use of existing nutrients in these senescing leaves, which are exported to other parts of the plant before the leaf falls. The formation of this protective pigment is accentuated by cool, but not freezing, night temperatures. Since the formation of anthocyanins is largely the result of environmental conditions, the resulting red foliage can vary greatly from year to year. The most brilliant red colors will be exhibited during autumns that have many bright sunny days, cool nights,

a warm wet spring, and mild summer drought. Conversely, since carotenoids are present in the leaves in relatively the same quantities annually, the yellow and orange colors remain relatively consistent year to year.

And finally those russet brown colors that are characteristic of many oak species come from tannins that are in the leaves. Tannins are secondary chemicals which aid in protection from foraging animals and insects. These attractive browns should not be mistaken for the effects of frost damage.

An early hard frost that occurs before leaf drop can cause leaves to senesce early, which may result in regularly red or yellow leaves to turn brown and drop early. Autumn color is a complicated metabolic process, but it is always spectacular to witness. This protective attribute of many trees is an added bonus for the landscape and should be considered in plant selection. Not all species exhibit an impressive fall display of color, so finding a species with vibrant fall foliage, like burning bush (Euonymus alatus) can extend the landscape season well into late fall.

Fall Foliagecontinued . . .

yellow starthistle Identified along Highway 12

By lindsey Bona-eggeman

All of the action up highway 12 outside of Lolo this summer led to the discovery of several yellow starthistle (Centurea solstitialis) plants along the road right-of-way. Yellow starthistle is a particularly nasty new noxious weed to Montana, this plant has only been found a few times before within the state.

These plants were discovered by a US Forest Service employee assigned to the Lolo Complex Fire. Employees from the Missoula County Weed District and Lolo

National Forest spent several days surveying the area for additional plants. Two individual plants were identified. The plants were blooming but had not yet started to seed. Both individuals were in the disturbed gravel road-sides, on the margin of the pavement. The plants were pulled and the road right-of-way was treated with herbicides. Officials from Idaho, Montana and surrounding counties were notified of the discovery and put on alert. A field survey day with participating partners will be held next summer to search for any newly established plants. This plant is of particular concern due to its toxic nature, causing “chewing disease” in horses. Yellow starthistle is a winter annual (germinates in the fall) and grows to an average of 3 feet tall. The plant blooms in mid-summer and an identifying characteristic is the crown of long spiny bracts at the base of the flower head. Seeds

can remain viable for up to 10 years and this plant will grow in a variety of habitats.

For more information on this weed or the 2014 field day please contact Bryce at 258-4217.



By campbell Barrett 4-h extension agent

With the start of the new 4-H Year on October first, families across Missoula County, having rested up from the busy summer schedule of Fair and other 4-H-related activities, are re-grouping, selecting new projects and preparing for another successful year of “learning by doing” in the 4-H youth development program. While we take this time to look forward and set goals for the coming year, it is also important to reflect back upon the previous year, learn from our mistakes, and celebrate our successes.

Some statistical successes from this previous 4-H year include another 8% increase in member enrollment, a seven-fold increase in Goat Project participation over the last three years, and breaking the 100 member barrier in the Shooting Sports Projects. There are currently 448 members in Missoula 4-H, up more than 25% over the past three years. Goat Projects, which now include Market Goats and Pack Goats, have gone from six members three years ago to 43 members currently. Shooting Sports Projects, led by Archery, Air Rifle and Shotgun, now have 110 Missoula 4-H members participating.

Beyond statistics, several major successes for Missoula 4-H this past year came through the state-wide competitive events at Montana 4-H Congress in Bozeman. Missoula’s delegation to this annual week-long leadership, educational and competitive event consisted of twenty teenage members, a new record number for us. Our competitive teams in Horse Judging and Wildlife Habitat Evaluation placed First in the State, and our teams in Livestock Judging and Horse Skill-a-Thon (a.k.a. Hippology), placed Second in the State. Our Horse and Livestock Judging Teams will travel to Denver in January to compete at the Western National Roundup, the national-level competitive event for these two disciplines. In addition to studying and practicing for their competitions, members from these two

teams are currently raising nearly $8,000.00 to cover travel, lodging and registration expenses associated with this trip. If you, your business or organization are interested in supporting these teams in their fundraising efforts, please contact Campbell at the Extension Office for sponsorship opportunities.

Our big successes are easy to recognize and promote, but many small successes have paved the way to the larger ones. Receiving a blue ribbon on a project interview, making a profit on a Market Hog project, or successfully presenting a speech at a 4-H Club meeting, these may lead to larger successes, like participation on a state- or national-level winning team someday. If you know 4-H members in Missoula County, please congratulate them on their small successes along the way. Your encouragement helps keep them motivated as they develop life skills through 4-H and prepare for larger successes in their lives.

4h in the Fall

horse Judging team Photo (l-r): Stevie Gaudreau, Secora Richardson, Devin Randall, Adeline Richardson

By Diann Pommer, eFneP extension agent

Vegetables are excellent food buys- inexpensive, full of vitamins, minerals and fiber. Vegetables make you look and feel great, give you energy, keep you healthy and lowers your chance of getting cancer or heart disease. MyPlate

recommends eating 2 ½ cups of vegetables every day. Root vegetables are “in season” in the fall. Potatoes, rutabagas, turnips, parsnips, beets, sweet potatoes or winter squash taste great roasted.

Roasted Root Vegetables4 pounds medium sized root vegetables 2 carrots – cut into 1 ½ inch lengths1 medium onion quartered¼ cup olive or canola oilSeason with your favorite herbs/spices – garlic, Italian seasoning, pepper, thyme, rosemary, etc.

1. Preheat oven to 400.2. Scrub and cut vegetables into large chunks (1 ½ inch).3. Place vegetables in medium bowl and pour oil over the top.

4. Add seasonings and mix well5. Spread evenly in a single layer on a baking sheet.6. Bake for 45 minute or until tender. Turn over halfway through the baking time for even browning.

The Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program teaches limited resource families and youth ways to stretch their food dollars, gives ideas for quick, easy meals and snacks as well as tips on keeping food safe.

If you would like more information about the series of EFNEP classes call 258-4207 or 258-4208.

A Harvest of Fall Vegetables



is something growing in your

reFrigerator?

By Kelly Moore Family and consumer science extension agent

Gardens have been pillaged and plowed under for another year. There are those of us who now seek out more climatically controlled environments offering big screen coverage of the World Series. Somewhere between the bottom of the 4th and the top of the 5th, a trip to the refrigerator is in order. Now, there are times when a refrigerator’s contents resemble a sock drawer, especially after a long and busy canning season….various shades of green and gray, unpleasant odors, outdated, expired, and downright moldy. Unfortunately, our socks don’t carry a “get rid of by” tag. Following a strict cleaning regimen is much more crucial in our refrigerators, however.

Spoilage is the process by which food becomes unsafe or unacceptable for human consumption. It’s usually the result of the growth of microorganisms that break down the food, thereby releasing moisture that allows for mold and yeast growth. Granted, mold and yeast aren’t always the bad guys. Just ask any beer, bread, or cheese connoisseur. There are, however, some molds that can form poisonous toxins in food, causing illness and in some cases, even death. A foodborne illness is defined as a disease transmitted to people by food. In

a recent case, an outbreak of Salmonella that hospitalized over one hundred people, was tied to the consumption of Foster Farms chicken. Mold toxins can be avoided by wrapping foods so that air or oxygen can be minimalized or excluded. Dairy products, including fermented ones such as sour cream, should be refrigerated. All moldy items, excluding hard cheeses, should be thrown out. Mold growth on hard cheeses can be cut off by removing at least one inch below the mold line.

Packaged food, as well as commercial dairy products, are labeled with food dates that can be very confusing to say the least; date of manufacture, sell by, use before, best by, freeze by, expiration date. Before you set out on the arduous journey of .deciphering the code, a recent Harvard Law School study is recommending revamping the entire, “Sell By Date” system because of its misleading preface meant to advise the consumer when products are at their freshest but not necessarily, their safest. The NRDC (National Resource Defense Council) reports that Americans throwaway an average of 15- 25% of the food that is purchased. That averages out to about 20 lbs. of food / year/ American. Reducing waste by 15%, could feed 15 million more people annually.

Each one of us can become more responsible and prosperous consumers by

taking a few simple steps. Make sure your refrigerator and or freezer are working at optimum levels. Check temperatures! A refrigerator should be maintained at 34-40 degrees F., your freezer at 0 degrees F. or below. Make sure food is labeled adequately on freezer bags and containers. Purchase only the amount of fresh food you can reasonably consume or preserve (can, freeze, dry, pickle, or ferment) within a two week period. Choose appropriate portions for your family. Organize shelves so that all items are visible and practice “first in-first out.” Store packaged and canned items in dark cool areas so that light does not affect quality. Frequently clean food storage areas and remove any spoiled food to prevent bacterial growth. Donate quality excess food items to your local food bank or pantry.

Rising food costs and the threat of future shortages, demands that we re-evaluate our food habits. Just like your mom always told you, as you were carefully stacking peas on your dinner plate, “There are a lot of starving people in the world who would be happy to eat those.” Because we have evolved into responsible adults, we also know that an ounce of prevention, is worth a pound of cure (or a pound of bacon), as my grandfather would say. Let’s be prudent this week and clean out our refrigerators!



At the weed district we get a lot of questions on how to go about getting a weed listed as noxious. It’s been over 3 years since Montana last added species to our Noxious Weed List; adding curlyleaf pondweed (Potamogeton crispus), cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) and hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata). In January of this year, the Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) once again put out a call for petitions to add new invasive species to the state list. That call was met with petitions for 8 terrestrial weed species and 3 aquatic plant species. The terrestrial species – field scabious (Knautia arvensis), absinth wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), common mullein (Verbascum Thapsus), black henbane (Hyoscyamus niger), musk thistle (Carduus nutans), perennial baby’s

breath (Gypsophila paniculate), common reed (Phragmites australis) and poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) – have all been petitioned in previous years and some could be considered fairly common in Montana. Of the aquatic species – fragrant waterlily (Nypheae odorata), parrotfeather (Myriophyllum aquaticum) and Brazilian elodea (Egeria densa) – only fragrant waterlily has been found in Montana. So how does a species get listed?

In Montana, there are 2 options for getting an invasive species listed as noxious: 1) petition MDA to list the species on the state list or 2) petition your local county weed board to list a species on the county noxious weed list. Any species that is listed on the state list, must also automatically be recognized by a county weed district as noxious, and while a county listed noxious weed will not necessarily be recognized as noxious by other counties, it is recognized by the state for that district and its treatment is eligible for funding from the Noxious Weed Trust Fund program.

A petition to MDA for state listing will include information about the biology of the species (lifespan, growth

characteristics, method of spread, etc.) as well as information on current distribution in Montana and surrounding states. Additional information is compiled and reviewed by a listing committee and a final determination is made and recommended to the director of the department. On the county level, the determination for a species to be listed can only occur following a notice of intent and a public hearing.

We have heard from a number of folks in the last couple of months about species that managers, landowners and concerned citizens are interested in listing in Missoula County. So this winter, we will be hosting an open forum to discuss the potential species that concern the citizens of Missoula County.

If you are interested in attending, or have species you would like to discuss, please shoot me an email [email protected] with your contact info and the species you would like to discuss, and stay tuned for more information!

New Noxious Weeds on the Horizon?



encouraging opportunities For

growthMissoula Development Park

The Missoula Development Park (MDP) is a 500-acre mixed-use business park surrounded by major transportation corridors: Interstate 90, U.S. highway 10, and the Missoula International Airport; ideal vectors for dispersing noxious weeds. In addition, before this area was designated a business development park it was heavily grazed agricultural land. Consequently, a variety of noxious and generally obnoxious weeds are well established in the MDP.

Within this business park, land has been set aside as county park space. The Missoula County Weed District is working with the property manager of the MDP to develop and implement a vegetation management plan for this public space.

In addition to the challenges associated with transitioning these public parks from weed magnets to desirable vegetation, there are abundant learning opportunities. Park 4, within the MDP, is easily accessible with a paved path that winds along its length. It is also dominated by common weed species that landowners across Missoula County battle on a regular basis. The Weed District plans to use this park as a demonstration area to educate interested folks about how desirable vegetation can be established on degraded lands. The 3.37 acres of undeveloped parkland within Park 4, will be divided into treatment units. These units will evaluate the following treatment options: spot-treatment herbicide application, mowing, irrigation, broadcast

seeding, no-till seed drilling, and an untreated control. Two different seed mixes will be evaluated, one of the mixes will include native grass species. Treatment options were selected based on common concerns posed by the public to the Weed District.

Installing this demonstration site on public land will allow the Weed District to readily share the challenges and successes of this project with interested individuals and organizations. Each treatment unit will be labelled with signage allowing the public to take a self-guided tour of the park at their convenience. Information posted will change as the project develops overtime.

If you would like to learn more about this project, please contact Ashley, at [email protected] or (406) 258-4218.

Fall Soil TestingWas your garden not producing the size and quantities of vegetables it had previously? If you’ve never tested your garden soil, now is a fine time to do so! Before the soil

freezes, take an 8 to 12 inch deep core from several spots within the area you wish to sample. Generally, you should take 10 samples from a 1000 square foot area. This composite soil sample combines soil from several different locations to assure a representative sample. Mix all the samples into a bucket and then select two cups of soil from that mixture. This two cup sample can be sent to a soil lab for analysis. Even though you only need to send in 2 cups of soil, it isn’t cheating to stop at two cups when you’re sampling! Remember that you need a good amount of soil to get a representative reading of your soil.

I recommend taking a sample at least every third year from each section of your garden that you treat separately. Keep the results of these tests in a folder so you can look back on them. Home testing kits can be used, but they are not usually as accurate as sending a sample to a commercial testing lab. Choose a lab and stick with it. If you use a different lab each year, it’s difficult to compare the results over time. Always test your soil at the same time of year. If you test this fall, next time you take a soil sample, do it again in the fall. When testing for soil pH, you can use litmus paper test kits.



How do you Interpret a Soil Test?The soil test result reads just like a school report card. It has a list of abbreviations, representing different components of the soil. For each component, a corresponding number indicates the amount in your soil, expressed as a percentage or in parts per million (ppm). Here are the optimum levels of the plant nutrients required for best plant growth.

Most of the labs will also give you fertilizer recommendations based on the crop you plan to grow. If the soil test results don’t make sense to you, come into the Plant Clinic and we can help you find the right amendments to get your garden productive again.

MISSOULA COUNTY GARDEN SOIL SURVEY SOIL TEST AVERAGE MAXIMUM

LEVELMINIMUM LEVEL

OPTIMUM

pH 7.3 8.0 6.0 6.5-7.2 % organic matter 5.2 8.4 1.0 >3 %Nitrate-Nitrogen (N) (ppm)

28 236 1 30-100 ppm

Phosphorus (P) (ppm) 55 196 0.2 40-90ppmPotassium (K) (ppm) 348 2820 52 250-500 ppm

Fall Soil Testingcontinued . . .

by ashley Powellagricultural education teaching assistant and Graduate student, Montana state university

Reprinted from Big Sky Small Acres: Rural Living in Montana, Fall 2013 No matter how large or small the property,

weed control is something that everyone deals with. As a landowner, multiple methods are at your disposal to control the weeds on your property. Biological control is just one of those options. Biological weed control is when an insect or disease and natural enemy of the weed is introduced to reduce the invasive weed population on your property.

How do you know when biological control is right for your property? Your decision to use biological control should be dependent upon a couple of factors. The first thing to consider before purchasing biological control agents is the number of different invasive weed species on your property. This is very important since biological control agents target only specific species or closely related groups of invasive weeds. For example, the Aphthona cyparissiae beetle would be an effective biological control agent for leafy spurge, but not for thistles.

A second factor to consider is the severity of the weed’s invasion and your desired timetable of control. If your property is overrun with invasive weeds and time is

restricted, you may want to consider a different type of control method. Biological control agents are best suited for the long-term control of invasive weeds and a long period of time may go by before you witness any positive impacts on your property as a result of biological control.

It is important to the health of your property and to maximize the effectiveness of the biological control to also properly proportion the number of biological control agents to the quantity of the invasive weeds present. Once biological control agents are introduced on your property in appropriate numbers, they will continually attack the weed and cannot be removed from the ecosystem.

The third factor to consider is the size of the infestation (i.e., patch size) and plant density. Different species of invasive weeds require different patch sizes in order for the biological control agents to become well-established. In most cases, the larger the infestation, the better the chances are the biological agents will be effective in controlling the invasive weed population.

Biological Control: Is it Right for Your Property?



However, infestation sites can be too small. Table 1 (to the right) outlines a few invasive weed species in Montana and their preferred site characteristics that will promote population establishment and effectiveness of biological control.A fourth factor to consider is the desired or expected intensity of weed suppression. With biological control agents, property owners run the risk that the agents will not suppress the weed to the desired degree. A best practice is to make sure that the agents are present at the site when the plant is beginning to actively grow. By introducing agents when the weed is actively growing, the chances of root establishment of the weed are reduced. It is important to note that biological control agents will not fully eradicate the invasive weed from your property.

Knowing the reproductive method(s) of the invasive weed and the feeding pattern of the biological control agent is crucial to the effectiveness of your biological weed control plan. Some biological control agents feed solely on root material, while others feed solely on vegetation or on seeds and flowers. Matching biological control agents that target primary and secondary sources of propagation of invasive weeds will promote increased levels of suppression. For example, since biennials and annuals spread mostly by seed, agents that feed on flowers and seeds would be most effective for controlling them.Biological weed control can be an effective method, but should not be used as the only method. When deciding whether or not to use biological weed control, there are a few factors that landowners must take into consideration before putting together a

biological weed control plan, including the following:

• The number of invasive weed species on your property,

• The severity of invasive weeds on your property,

• Infestation size and plant density,

• The dispersal method of invasive weed depends on the type of biological agents purchased,

• Your desired timetable of invasive weed control, and

• Understand that biological control agents will not fully eradicate the weed.

Biological weed control, when combined with chemical, mechanical, and cultural methods, can be effective for landowners in Montana. Biological control agents can be purchased at retailers across the state, and are often distributed through local weed districts. Biological control agents are available for the following invasive weed species in Montana: leafy spurge, spotted knapweed, Dalmatian and yellow toadflax, thistles, St. Johnswort, tansy ragwort, and purple loosestrife.

Name Minimum Infestation Size DensityLeafy Spurge 1 acre; preferably larger Medium density (7-10 stems/ft2)Thistles 1 acre; preferably larger Medium densityDalmatian and Yellow Toadflax

1 acre; 5 acres is ideal Dependent upon the type of insect purchased

St. Johnswort 1 acre; preferably larger Moderately denseKnapweed 2 acres; preferably larger Moderately dense (3 or more

knapweeds per yard2)Tansy Ragwort 1 acre; preferably larger Medium density

Table 1. Invasive Weed Species and Preferred Site Characteristics

Biological Control: Is it Right for Your Property?

Continued . . .



WinterCattleGrazingatHayhookRanch photo credit Tracy Mosely.jpg

Jeff Mosley, PhDextension range Management specialist, Montana state university

Pasture stewardship is easier in winter than during other seasons because plants tolerate heavier grazing during winter. The main reason is that dormant plants don’t try to regrow after grazing, so they don’t draw upon stored energy reserves.

BUT, overgrazing is still possible during winter. Some residual stubble must remain after grazing to insulate plant buds against extreme cold temperatures

and to help plants capture moisture from snow and rain. Stubble also protects soils from trampling and erosion, and stubble replenishes soil nutrients.

Sod-forming grasses store more energy reserves below-ground than do bunchgrasses, making sod-forming grasses more tolerant of heavy grazing in winter. Shrubs also store energy reserves below-ground in roots and rhizomes, but shrubs store some energy in buds and twig tips that are more vulnerable to removal by browsing. Consequently, shrubs tolerate less winter use than grasses.

Winter Grazing Guidelines1. Frozen soils are not harmed much by trampling, but trampling compacts wet soils. Keep animals in a corral when soils thaw during brief periods of warm winter weather.

2. Divide your winter pasture into two or three smaller paddocks and rotate grazing

use among these paddocks every 3 to 4 weeks. This is especially important where warm weather occasionally causes plants to break winter dormancy for several days. Heavy grazing during these warm periods weakens plants. If grazing rotation is not feasible, keep animals in a corral during warm spells until colder weather returns.

3. Plants tolerate grazing during the growing season when grazing removes 50% or less of a plant’s current year’s above-ground growth. Grazing intensity can be greater in winter when plants are dormant, up to 80% use. Remember, however, that grazing during the growing season and during winter is additive. For example, if 50% of the forage is consumed during the growing season, then an additional 30% can be removed during winter dormancy. Suggested minimum heights of stubble that should remain after winter grazing are 4 inches for alfalfa, 2 to 3 inches for bunchgrasses, and 1 inch for sod-forming grasses.

Pasture Stewardship in Winter

Easier but Not a No-Brainer



a resource to promote healthy lands and healthy communities


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Healthy Acres Fall 2013

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