2018 Variety Trials & Field Day Features Grain Marketing Specialist on June 28

The 2018 Boundary County Variety Trials and Field Day will be held Thursday, June 28, from 10am to 2:30 pm at Houck Farms, 5285 Farm to Market Road, Bonners Ferry, ID. The guided tour will examine the performance of dozens of new and old varieties of spring and winter wheat, spring and winter barley, spring canola and mustard planted by the University of Idaho on land owned by Houck Farms.

University of Idaho scientists will discuss results of their trials as well as pros and cons of various varieties, including yield, disease resistance, herbicide resistance, and general adaptation to different growing zones and practices. For the spring canola and mustard varieties, topics include variety selection, flea beetle control, new herbicides for canola, and disease control in Idaho.

A special presentation on marketing strategies will be presented by Brett Wilder, a University of Idaho graduate student in the Department of Agricultural Economics. With support from USDA Risk Management Education funds and the Idaho Barley Commission, Brett has created a nine-part video course entitled Commodity Marketing Using Futures and Options as a Risk Management Tool. It will be available for free on the University of Idaho Extension website, www.IdahoAgBiz.com later this summer. Brett will discuss the current market environment for our commodities, and different ways to maximize your returns while minimizing risk using common marketing techniques such as hedging tools, futures and options.

A hosted lunch provided by Houck Farms and Monsanto will be served. There is no charge for the tour. There will be two pesticide recertification credits offered for participants. Please call 208-267-3235 to reserve your spot. The field day agenda is available at https://tinyurl.com/2018VarietyTrials.