Fort Hall hosts University of Idaho Extension’s biggest cereal school ever for east Idaho grain farmers

FORT HALL — Early registration is underway through Jan. 23 for the University of Idaho Extension’s biggest cereal school ever for east Idaho grain farmers on Feb. 5 at the Shoshone-Bannock Hotel & Event Center.

In this context, a cereal school is an educational event organized by agricultural extension services focusing on cultivating, managing and marketing cereal crops such as wheat, barley, oats and other grains.

In prior years, UI Extension hosted six smaller cereal schools — each drawing between 20 and 60 guests — in St. Anthony, Idaho Falls, Soda Springs, Preston, Pocatello and Burley. This cereal school in Fort Hall will host up to 280 eastern Idaho farmers and others working in the agricultural sector.

“It’s always been a struggle for us to get speakers because they have to come and travel around with us for the whole week,” said UI Extension educator Justin Hatch, Caribou County, head of the event’s planning committee.

“Cereal school has played a huge role in the success of cereal grain growers for generations. We are taking cereal school to a whole new level by hosting a bigger and better event that combines all of our efforts and resources into one location,” he added.

According to Hatch, the new format will allow the school to run concurrent sessions, allowing participants to attend sessions pertinent to their needs. The conference will also offer Idaho pesticide applicator recertification credits (four) and CCA credits.

Presentations will include an economic outlook by UI Extension Agricultural Economist Brett Wilder; talks by leaders representing the Idaho Wheat Commission, the Idaho Barley Commission, and the Idaho Grain Producers Association; and a panel discussion on the water outlook and details of an agreement to avert water-call curtailments.

The water panel will include Craig Chandler, watermaster of Water District 1; James Cefalo, Idaho Department of Water Resources eastern regional manager; Mark Dallon, a hydrologist with the National Weather Service’s Pocatello field office; and T.J. Budge, a water attorney based in Pocatello.

The agenda also includes concurrent breakout sessions. One room will be devoted to pesticide-related topics, and pesticide applicator recertification credits will be awarded. Other breakout rooms will focus on local research covering topics such as lime applications, variety selection, cost of production, nutrient barley residue biomass, new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations related to endangered species, mitigating drift while using drones for pesticide applications, mixing growth regulators with herbicides, wild oat control and risk management.

Additionally, several researchers will display posters on their projects, and vendors will showcase products and services in the hall outside of the conference rooms.

“There will be something for everyone, regardless of your experience level, from seasoned veterans to up-and-comers,” said Hatch. “We hope this will bring in speakers, make it a bigger event that benefits more people, and consolidate our efforts into one really good event. Come socialize and learn with us at the East Idaho Cereals Conference.”

Registration for the event is $25 in advance, with preregistration available through Jan. 23 or $35 at the door. Lunch is included. On-site registration will open at 8 a.m., followed by a welcome in the main conference room at 9 a.m. The day’s final session will end at 4 p.m.

“This format will allow us to share more topics people are interested in. We’ll be able to branch out to hot topics that are going on and still present local research, and we’ll meet the needs of our growers better,” Hatch said. “Come socialize and learn with us at the East Idaho Cereals Conference.”

For more information, contact Justin Hatch at (208) 547-3205 or jlhatch@uidaho.edu.

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