May 20, 2020 Issue, Page 5 of 8

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Agriculture Wednes« lay 20, 2020 (a The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Page 5 FAPC experts evaluating COVID-19 effects case FAPC to predict the worst- companies, to re-enter the scenario, resulting from economy.” COVID-19. For more information, STILLWATER - event, situational analysis losses in any other industry The ers have had to close. The total negative impact access the full report, The food processing sector plays discussion is speculative affected by COVID-19. Emily Shuping, market could be a potential loss of Potential Impact of COV- an important role in Okla- at best,” said Chuck Wil- Regarding impacts on development coordinator at 3,650 jobs and $115.5 mil- ID-19 on Oklahoma's Food homa’s economy, and there loughby, FAPC manager of food manufacturing, the the Oklahoma Department lion income in food pro- Industry, at http://fapc.biy is no doubt the novel coro- business and marketing rela- news has been mixed, Wil- of Agriculture, Food and cessing, 21,826 jobs and expertise/resources/COVI- $529,753,947 income in navirus pandemic has had a tions, in the release. “How- loughby said. Forestry, said by the end of food service and 2,585 jobs DimpactReportMay2020. significant economic impact ever, given the essential “Many processors are the first week in April, many and $67,517,675 income in pdf. The report was written on the state’s food industry, nature of the food industry, working to meet consumers’ of the larger established food retail. by Willoughby; Rodney Hol- according to a news release it is important to recognize increased demand for food companies have reported Willoughby said while comb, FAPC agribusiness from Oklahoma State. how even short-term shifts products in the food retail operating at maximum ca- FAPC examined the nega- economist; Andrea Graves, Experts from the Oklaho- sector and through online pacity. in business models for food But, at the same time, FAPC business planning tive impacts COVID-19 the smaller companies that might have on Oklahoma’s and marketing specialist; ma State University Robert manufacturers, retailers and sales and home delivery, as primarily market to special- food industry and the state’s and Erin Johnson, FAPC M. Kerr Food and Agricul- food service firms have im- well as to maintain orders ty stores and companies that economy as a whole, the as- business and marketing cli- tural Products Center evalu- pacted the economy.” for the food service estab- primarily service restaurants sumptions are speculative at ated the potential impact of Eight million restaurant lishments still in operation,” and institutions are strug- ent coordinator. best. COVID-19 on the state’s employees have been laid he said. “However, situa- gling. FAPC, a part of the OSU “Tt is difficult to estimate food industry from March off or furloughed, represent- tions of facilities becoming To measure economy how telecommuting in many Division of Agricultural to mid-April and compiled ing two out of every three impacted by loss of labor wide impacts of food busi- industry sectors will offset Sciences and Natural Re- a report of current impacts restaurant jobs nationwide, due to workers becoming nesses during the first sev- potential employment and sources, helps to discover, as a starting point for future according to the Oklahoma infected by COVID-19 have eral weeks of the pandemic, income losses,” he said. develop and deliver techni- FAPC experts used 2019 “Stimulus packages will off- cal and business information assessments and recovery been reported.” Restaurant Association. data provided by the Okla- set income losses to some planning. Jim Hopper, president of Willoughby said these homa Employment Security degree for many American that stimulates and supports “Due to the limited the Oklahoma Restaurant manufacturers have the chal- Commission and a comput- workers and provide oppor- the growth of value-added amount of data available and Association, said job losses lenge of finding available la- er-based system called Im- tunities for small businesses food and agricultural prod- the ever-changing landscape and lost sales in the restau- bor to fill the spots of those pact Analysis for Planning, inall sectors of the economy, ucts and processing in Okla- during this unprecedented rant industry far exceed the workers impacted, and oth- or IMPLAN. This allowed not just small food industry homa. Extension office offers horticulture tips for May and twist of orange that is green and shades of orange. Tf you can’t decide which From the Beckham Late May is the best time visible during this month. system off during and im- ity and being planted in such variegation to get there is County Extension Office to control borers in the or- Post-emergent treatments mediately after a rain event. large quantities, it is no won- ‘Kaleidoscope’ which is a Here are tips for May: chard. Check for label rec- are best applied for the first Don’t water hardscapes. der we have disease and in- variegated Abelia that has Trees and Shrubs ommendations and controls. time this month. Make cer- Make sure sprinklers are sect issues. As Rose Rosette shades of green, yellow, or- Prune and feed azaleas im- Water Gardens tain warm-season grasses watering the lawn and not continues to claim more and ange, and red. mediately after blooming. Clean out water garden have completed green-up. the street or sidewalks. more roses, you may want to Buddleia or Butterfly Bush Insect Alert: (EPP-7306) and prepare for season. Di- The second application of Avoid heavy _ pruning. consider some rose alterna- is another alternative fra- Bagworms on juniper and vide and repot water garden pre-emergent annual grass Pruning stimulates growth tives. grant shrub. They are great arborvitae. (Late May) plants. herbicides can be applied in and your plants will require While there is no absolute nectar plants for pollinators. Elm leaf beetles and lar- Begin feeding fish when late-May or early June, de- more water. substitution for a rose, stop They come in various shades vae on elms. (Late May) water temperatures are over pending upon timing of first Mature plants require less and consider the qualities of of white, pink, purple, and Mimosa webworms on 50°F. application. Check label for water. Mature plants and arose you want the most —is blue and many of them can mimosa and honeylocust. Turfgrass details. trees have deep root systems it the color, the fragrance? easily get to 5-10 feet tall Lace bugs on sycamore, Cool-season lawns can Vegetative establishment and can be watered less fre- Tf you are looking for a but there are several culti- pyracantha and azalea. be fertilized again. If you of warm-season grasses can quently. shrub with fragrance, you vars that stay much shorter Soak new transplants and did not fertilize cool-season continue. (HLA-6419) Use a rain gauge. Typi- might consider Abelia or now. ‘Miss Molly’, not only newly planted trees unless grasses in March and April, Water Saving Tips cally, lawns requires 1 inch Buddleia. will grab your attention with rainfall is abundant. do so now. David Hillock of water per week to stay There are so many differ- its fragrance, but its rich Pine needle disease treat- Warm-season lawns may Plants need water, but how healthy and up to 2 inches ent cultivars of Abelia on sangria colored flowers will ments are needed in mid- be fertilized again in May. you water and how much you per week to stay green in the the market now, but most of also make you stop and take May. (HLA-6420) water can make a big differ- summer. them range in size between notice. “Miss Molly’ will Flowers Seeding of warm-season ence in plant health and how Take advantage of your 3-5 feet tall. Their tubular max out at about 4-5 feet Annual bedding plants can grasses such as bermudag- much your pocketbook is af- downspouts. Direct the shaped flowers can range tall. If that is still too tall be set out for summer color. rass, buffalograss, zoysia- fected. Below are some tips downspout to your garden from pink to white and have for your space, another cul- Plant summer bulbs such grass and centipedegrass is on how to water so you don’t rather than draining towards a sweet fragrance you can tivar called “Blue Chip Jr.’ is as cannas, dahlias, elephant best performed in mid-May waste water or money and the street. smell as you walk by and very compact only reaching ear, caladiums and gladi- through the end of June. The have healthy plants. Fix or replace broken this shrub will continue to a height of 18-30 inches. olus. soil temperatures are warm Water deeply, but infre- sprinkler heads. Take the produce these delicate flow- If you are less concerned Shake a leaf over white pa- enough for germination and quently. Allowing the water broken irrigation head with with fragrance and more ers from summer until frost. per to look for spider mites. adequate growing season is to soak into the ground and you when buying a new one The foliage is semi-ever- concerned with color, there If the tiny specks begin to present to promote winter letting the soil dry out be- to ensure you get the right green and again depending are some alternatives as crawl, mites are present. hardiness. tween watering forces plants one. on which cultivar you can well. Fruits and Vegetables Dollar spot disease of to produce strong, deep Rose Alternatives range from glossy green to Oklahoma Garden- Plant watermelon, canta- lawns can first become vis- roots. Roses have been a staple an array of variegation with ing Video — https://youtu. loupe, cucumber, eggplant, ible in mid-May. Make cer- Mulch. Mulch retains soil in gardens for hundreds of the “twist of” series. be/IIPN9zTMJro. okra, sweet potatoes, etc. tain fertilizer applications moisture, prevents erosion, years and with such elegant, For more information There is twist of Lime with Fruit spray programs have been adequate before controls weeds, and increas- colorful, fragrant flowers more yellow leaves, twist of contact Greg Hartman should be faithfully contin- ever applying a fungicide. es soil quality. it is no wonder we all want Lemon with copper-tinged Beckham/Washita — County ued during the next several (EPP-7658) Install a rain sensor. A rain them in our garden. Unfor- yellow leaves, twist of Va- Extension at 589-928-2139 weeks. Nutsedge plants become senor turns the irrigation tunately, with their popular- nilla that is green and white, or 580-832-3356. Agriculture in a time of ash: Eruption did little to stop momentum of record wheat year By Kip Hill, The Spokes- mom’s house, clearing it had any long-term impact on the summer farmers were more years wearing out with that were typically custom- man-Review, Spokane, off,” Schillinger said. agriculture, either positive looking at a bumper crop. just a few days’ use,” Mel ers of the hard red variety Wash. Fears of a wheat harvest or negative,” Koenig wrote “The wheat is so good Kagele, a wheat farmer near grown elsewhere in the Much of the 540 million adversely affected by the in an email last month. “The and so thick in the low rain- Ritzville, told The Spokane country. Scarcity of that tons of ash that spewed volcanic ash were amount of ash was variable, fall (nonirrigated) areas, short- Daily Chronicle on Aug. 20, variety caused Washington from Mount St. Helens lived, however, as 1980 but still relatively small you’d almost swear you 1980. during its eruption fell on farmers to find new cus- turned out to be a record compared to the overall could walk across it without And once it was out of the ranchlands and crop fields year for the crop. Reports mass or volume of soil.” touching the ground,” Scott ground, there were fewer tomers in Egypt, Morocco, across Central and Eastern from the time show most Most farmers simply Hanson, then-administrator places to sell it, initially. Yugoslavia and Poland, ac- Washington, creating a brief agriculture in Eastern Wash- of the Washington Wheat President Jimmy Carter cording to a Dec. 28, 1980, plowed the ash into the soil period of uncertainty for ag- ington and North Idaho was after harvest, said Randy Commission, told The in January had ordered an agriculture report published riculture. either largely unaffected by Suess, a retired wheat farm- Spokesman-Review on July embargo on wheat sales to in The Spokesman-Review. “Tt was a pretty big deal. the cataclysmic eruption, er who was working for the 20, 1980. Russia after the country in- Other crops that had faced People didn’t know what or that larger market forces schools in Steptoe in 1980. Getting the wheat out of vaded Afghanistan. In April, uncertainty also experienced to do, and that included the were at play in determin- “Tt was a Sunday after- the ground, however, proved Carter ended diplomatic ties bumper years, The lentil farmers,” said Bill Schil- ing the financial success of noon when it erupted,” Suess a challenge. Suess spent his with Iran in the midst of the linger, a professor and scien- crops and livestock. said. “I came out of church, summer as a volunteer fire- hostage crisis, cutting off crop in 1980 also set a re- tist at the Washington State While some areas, like looked up and saw this big fighter hosing down streets, the monthly sale of about cord, and potato yields were University dryland research Odessa, were blanketed with cloud. I thought, ‘I’ve got to sidewalks and the sides of 200,000 tons of Northwest higher than the year prior, station in Lind. ash, the clouds didn’t cover mow the lawn real quick, it’s buildings, as more and more wheat to the country. although production acre- In May 1980, Schillinger all fields in the area to the going to rain.’” ash would be kicked up By the end of August, age had fallen. That caused was just returning from a same depth. The Palouse The ash fell just as the when cars drove by. That wheat was being stockpiled prices for a bag of potatoes trip to Nepal to his family is also known for its deep, winter wheat had started to ash would be sucked into at elevators as the ships car- to jump $1 in 1980. farm in Odessa. Schillinger rich soil. A few inches of poke up out of the ground, the filters of trucks and com- rying grain to the coast were Some cattle were lost as a said it was one of the hardest ash wasn’t enough to cause which may have insulated bines plying the Palouse’s overwhelmed by a record result of ranchland ash dam- hit areas, with 4 or 5 inches long-term effects on the soil, the plants and killed off hills, leading to increased crop estimated at about 155 of ash coating the fields, said Rich Koenig, chair of feeding insects, Suess said. expenses in maintenance million bushels. By the end age, but for cattle ranchers, it farm equipment and homes. the Department of Crop and Couple that with an above- and parts. of the year, other countries was increasing interest rates “T spent a lot of time that Soil Sciences at WSU. average year of precipita- “We're seeing parts that had begun buying soft white that raised costs, according summer on the roof of mv “T am not sure the ash has tion. and by the middle of should last two or three wheat from the Northwest to that Dec. 28 report.