Twin Falls Research and Extension Center

Twin Falls Research and Extension Center

The Twin Falls Research and Extension Center conducts research and Extension projects related to agricultural and range economics, agricultural waste management, 4-H youth development and minor use pesticide development.

The center is located on the College of Southern Idaho campus and supports UI Extension and agricultural research programs in south central Idaho. Collaborative relationships with numerous partners result in a vast array of innovative educational programs. Major research and Extension programs are conducted on agriculture, natural resources, youth, economics and environmental issues.

2+2 online agriculture degree

The University of Idaho, in partnership with the College of Southern Idaho, offer a 2+2 agricultural science, communication and leadership degree program in Twin Falls. Courses are delivered through live instruction, DVD, videoconferencing and online.

Contact Amanda Moore-Kriwox for more information.

Agricultural economics

The Agricultural Economics program at the Twin Falls Research and Extension Center focuses on the economics of the livestock industry. Program areas include:

• Farm business management
• FINPACK financial analysis
• Livestock situation and outlook
• Management-intensive grazing

The program provides support to UI Extension faculty, farm and ranch operators involved with beef cattle, dairy, sheep and forage production.

Resources

Enterprise budgets

Knowing cost of production is important to remaining successful in modern agriculture. The U of I Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology department (AERS) publishes a series of cost-of-production budgets on a wide range of Idaho and PNW commodities including dairy, sheep, cow-calf, stocker and feedlot enterprises. These are updated on an every other year basis, crops in odd years and livestock in even years.

AERS also has software available to develop enterprise budgets using a person’s specific data.

Lost rivers grazing academy

Grazing has become more important to livestock operations for controlling their largest expense, winter feeding. The LRGA has been assisting producers in controlling feed costs for over 15 years.

Building farmers in the west

This six-state cooperative program brings beginning producers together with successful operators to improve their business management skills. One outcome of the program was the development of a business plan by each of the 18 operations.

For more information contact Hernan Tejeda at 208-736-3622 or htejeda@uidaho.edu.

Agricultural waste management

The Agricultural Waste Management program at the Twin Falls Research and Extension Center focuses on ways to cope with animal manure management on issues related to environmental quality, nutrient management and value-added products. The intent is to address the needs of stakeholders through development, evaluation and application of advanced techniques to maintain the sustainability of animal productions.

The Extension program is designed to provide research-based educational information to clientele about waste management techniques through various publications, demonstrations and presentations.

Current research

Anaerobic digestion of manure, potato waste and sugar beets waste (supported by USDA and U of I)

• Develop a bench-scale AD system to test diverse feedstocks and conduct Extension demonstrations.
• Characterize different AD feedstocks and evaluate their biogas potential under various AD and co-AD conditions.
• Conduct Extension activities to assist stakeholders in making better decisions regarding AD and greenhouse gas emissions.

Mitigating odor emissions using biofilters (supported by USDA)

• Evaluate biofilters at swine sites to demonstrate biofiltration effects on mitigating odor and gas emissions from fan exhaust air
• Develop on-farm biofilter design manual

Compost (supported by USDA)

• Compost for manure management

Dairy manure collection and land application (supported by USDA)

• Manure management
• Odor and gas emissions
• Manure nutrients

Mitigation of gas emission from manure (supported by private companies)

• Test diverse products’ effects on gas emissions

For more information contact Lide Chen at 208-736-3615 or lchen@uidaho.edu.

Minor use pesticides

University of Idaho’s Minor Use Pesticide Development program is unique in the Pacific Northwest. The State of Idaho’s concern over the lack of safe and effective agrichemicals for the protection of relatively low acreage, specialty crops in the state resulted in the creation of a U of I position for a minor use pesticide development specialist.

The specialist must follow Good Laboratory Practices during all phases of pesticide residue testing. Residue data from these tests support petitions for pesticide registrations with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

For more information contact Will Meeks at 208-736-3630 or wmeeks@uidaho.edu.

News and events

Contact

• Will Meeks, minor use pesticide specialist, 208-736-3630, wmeeks@uidaho.edu