Oh, how we cried the day you left us
We gathered round your grave to grieve
I wish I could see the angels faces
When they hear your sweet voice sing

Go rest high on that mountain
Son, your work on earth is done
Go to heaven a shoutin’
Love for the Father and the Son

This article was originally printed in the Capital Press.  Here is a link to John O’Connell’s article.

Dryland farmers throughout Eastern Idaho say they’re pleased by the growth and condition of their fall grain crops, which enjoyed strong germination thanks to ample soil moisture, and soil conditions also look good for planting spring grain.

A possible damper on this season’s dryland grain outlook is that certain crop diseases, such as stripe rust, also thrive in the cool, moist conditions that have replenished soil moisture.

In Arbon Valley, dryland farmer Hans Hayden applied humic acid to melt snowdrifts that lingered in his fall wheat fields to reduce the likelihood of snow mold. He had far less winter kill than expected.

“There’s a lot of good dryland winter wheat in the state of Idaho because everybody has got moisture,” Hayden said.

Hayden applied products in the fall to control aphids and protect against barley yellow dwarf, which appears to be widespread this season.

University of Idaho Extension cereals pathologist Juliet Marshall said the recent moisture should help crops infected with barley yellow dwarf outgrow damage, though test weights will still likely be down. She’s also seen rampant stripe rust infections in Brundage soft white winter wheat and recommends growers plant spring wheat varieties with resistance to stripe rust.

Complicating matters for dryland fall wheat growers, Marshall has seen several cases of wheat streak mosaic virus, which is spread by curl mites and is exacerbated by dry and hot conditions that may surface later in the season. Marshall said wheat streak mosaic symptoms are similar to barley yellow dwarf, and she’s seen several wheat samples that have tested positive for both diseases already.

Some good news for fall wheat growers is that May futures prices have rallied recently, with hard red winter contracts out of Kansas City rising a quarter to $5.44 per bushel from April 11 to April 19. Kansas State University Extension agricultural economist Dan O’Brien suspects the rally may be short-lived but attributes the gains to a weakening dollar, rumors of lower stocks in India and an “accumulation of short positions,” involving investors who borrow commodities from a broker to sell on the open market and make a profit by buying it back for less when the price drops.

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John O’Connell/Capital Press Twain Hayden checks his seeding depth after planting spring wheat on April 18. Hayden said he has a good stand of winter dryland winter wheat thanks to ample soil moisture in the fall, and soil moisture is again good for spring seeding.

Students at a small elementary school in Arbon Valley have a new cement hardtop to play on.

With the help of the Idaho Lottery scratch for schools and other fundraisers students at Arbon Elementary School replaced an old blacktop with a new concrete playground.

“They are doing a lot of fun activities they haven’t done in a while,” said Robin Claunch, teacher.

That’s because the new hardtop kids are riding their scooters and rip boards used to be detreating.

“The cracks were getting several inches wide,” says Claunch.

The blacktop was in such bad condition that the kids played most of their games on the grass, but now they are excited to be back on the pavement.

“It’s really exciting because we can ride our rip sticks, our scooters, use roller skates, and if we set up the soccer goals we can use our rip sticks to play soccer,” said Libby Evans, student.

The project cost $12,000 to complete so the school of 16 students saved money for nearly three years. A large portion of money came from the Idaho Lottery “Scratch for Schools” which Idaho Lottery spokesman Dave Workman says is why the program is was created.

“Every school in the state has projects, every school has additional needs, and it’s one way that we help to further our mission by benefiting schools directly,” said Workman.

Students and teachers at Arbon Elementary say it wasn’t easy for a school of their size to raise large amounts of money but the end result was worth it.

“They love it even though it has taken out a few bruises, a few scrapes and stuff but they love being able to come out here and play,” said Claunch.

The elementary school now plans on saving more to expand the rest of their playground.

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–This article was written by Jason Borba from KPVI 6.  Thank you, Jason, for permission to repost!