Boise News

Not cows eating asparagus

Idaho Farmers, Researchers Testing Green Manure Methods

By Jennifer Gelband, 10-18-06

Idaho potato farmers are in the news today. Growers of the tasty state carb have discovered what might be a new way to fight weeds, insects, erosion, and high costs of farming. These new biologically-friendly agents are robust and potent plants Oriental mustard seed and arugula, and the folks in white coats are calling them “green manure.” More importantly, these new plants might be a catalyst for changing the future of Idaho’s agricultural practices.

The first thing the term green manure conjures is, obviously, the product of cows that have been eating asparagus. But that’s not true (maybe it is, but not in this case); in fact, it refers to plants grown to improve the quality of soil.

Farmers and University of Idaho researchers and scientists met at the Fort Hall Indian Reservation to discuss how best to use these agents to benefit the crops and the land. Oriental mustard seed and other plants were planted in test fields in August. And when the plants are cut in several weeks they will seep into the soil over the winter to work their magic by releasing natural chemicals to kick out nasty nematodes.

“What the oriental mustards have is a chemical compound that has a fungicidal effect,” John Taberna, a Blackfoot seed distributor, told the Idaho State Journal.
Additionally, plants, unlike pesticides and chemicals, won’t seep into the ground and taint the water, which was a concern to leaders on the Fort Hall Reservation.

Though green manure’s utmost benefits and long-term results aren’t yet known, preliminary tests look good. And it’s been working well in Washington State and for distributor Taberna, who has been using green manure for several years.

The test program was made possible by grants from the American Farmland Trust and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

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