Agriculture and Horticulture
University of Idaho Extension provides training and educational programs to fill the agriculture and horticulture needs of Valley County residents. Extension Educator Melissa Hamilton is involved with several community projects and educational programming.
Training
Starting Your Sustainable Small Farm in Idaho
Take a realistic look at your goals and resources and evaluate what type of small acreage enterprise is right for you.
Students are exposed to various types of farming and ranching systems. Guest farmers speak to the class, and field trips are taken to local farms. Students complete a whole farm plan.
Pesticide Applicator Training
Recertification Credits Available
Valley County's Extension office offers pesticide applicator training each fall. Please contact our office to be added to the distribution list to be notified of these annual trainings.
These classes are open to the public. However, the courses are catered to fill the requirements of recertification credits for private and public pesticide applicators to ensure they maintain levels of competence.
The seminar sponsor issues recertification stickers.
- Private applicators must obtain stickers totaling 6 credit hours during their licensing period.
- Professional applicators must obtain stickers totaling 15 credit hours during the licensing period.
For more information on upcoming workshops, please visit the Idaho State Department of Agriculture Pesticide Recertification Seminars website.
Services
Soil Sample Testing
Find a soil testing lab on the University of Idaho’s Nutrient Management website.
View the UI Extension publication Using Soil Test Results For Garden Fertilization (CIS 1182) to learn how to read soil test results.
Insect Identification
Find a bug or pest you are not sure of in your yard or garden? Bring it into the UI Extension, Valley County office along with an Insect Submission Form (Word) or (PDF).
If you would like to identify the bug or pest yourself, find information in Iowa State University’s BugGuide on insects in Valley County, including millipedes and snakefly larva.
Related Resources
Wildlife Damage Management
- Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management
- USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Damage
Trees, Shrubs, Groundcovers and Vines
UI Extension’s Idaho Landscapes and Gardens website can help you diagnose plant problems, prune, plant and fertilize.
Cattlemen's Corner
Owyhee County has produced a newsletter known as Cattlemen's Corner.
Pasture Management
Are you interested in joining a Hay and Forage Updates email list? Contact Bruce Anderson, Extension Forage Specialist, University of Nebraska-Lincoln,