Freeze, flooding, hail and disease have all taken their toll throughout much of the state. In the certification process, samples of seed from every field, in addition to being inspected before harvest, are tested in the KCIA seed lab. It is anticipated that light test weight and disease, primarily Fusarium (scab), will be a significant problem this year. Typical farmer-saved seed carries more potential for varietal contamination, which jeopardizes the disease package, maturity dates, and...

We will have wet seasons again in the future so I avoid growing any chickpea variety that doesn t have at least partial resistance to ascochyta as this disease will dramatically increase the management time and complexity, expense and potential crop failures of chickpeas. We will have wet seasons again in the future so I avoid growing any chickpea variety that doesn t have at least partial resistance to ascochyta as this disease will dramatically increase the management time and...

Now that the country is facing a wheat shortage, parliamentarians are worried that cheap bread for the poor may become even more scarce. If people weren't selling cut-rate government flour on the black market, "we could have a large amount of flour," says Mr. Corruption in the flour market often means inferior bread and even shortages for the country's poor. Many public bakeries, which receive cut-rate flour from the government, sell their flour on the black market to private bakeries. To...

State DNR warns of wildfire risk In light of current drought conditions across the region, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest Service asks residents to use caution when enjoying Maryland's outdoors in the days ahead to avoid the risk of wildfire. State DNR warns of wildfire risk In light of current drought conditions across the region, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest Service asks residents to use caution when enjoying Maryland's outdoors in the days...

Some of you may wonder about your saved wheat and the quality it may have for producing a wheat crop. After this has been done, wet a paper towel and put 50 wheat seeds on it. If you choose to test germination of your wheat you will need to freeze your wheat sample for one week. In general, OSU researchers have stated seed wheat with test weights below 56 pounds tends to have less vigor and energy to emerge, and produces less forage for grazing. It is likely if you can t find wheat for...