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Overview Pesticide and fertilizer use is almost everywhere across the Pacific Northwest’s developed and agricultural landscapes. In order to provide larger harvests of affordable foods, farmers often supply crops with proper nutrients (fertilizers) and protect them from pests (weeds, insects, fungi, etc.) by applying pesticides. In maintaining their landscapes, homeowners tend to use proportionately more fertilizers and pesticides than do farmers and frequently have less training in proper application methods. Human and animal health problems can occur through excessive exposure to landscape and farm chemicals. Environmental pollution can occur when these chemicals enter waterways and groundwater systems. Nutrients and pesticides can enter surface and ground waters through misapplication, movement of treated soils, irrigation return flows, runoff from urban and agricultural land, stormwater runoff, and leaching through soils. Groundwater contamination from pesticides and nutrients is a difficult long-term issue due to the impracticality of cleansing groundwater aquifers. Responsible agricultural producers and homeowners employ methods to assure proper application of chemicals to minimize potential exposure to people, animals, and the environment. The land grant universities of the Pacific Northwest region engage in a broad range of research activities, outreach, and training programs to assist agriculturists, pesticide applicators, and homeowners in properly managing nutrients and pesticides, for optimal production and environmental stewardship. The universities provide research-based educational materials on soils, plant choices, irrigation management techniques, fertilizer, and pesticide use and a range of other related topics.

Outcomes Home gardeners and producers are more aware of dangers from improper management of pesticides and nutrients Return irrigation flows to rivers are cleaner Groundwater is protected from contamination Landowners and agricultural producers better manage chemicals used to enhance landscapes and to grow crops

Pacific Northwest Regional Publications: (note: these publications can be obtained from publication offices at Oregon State University, Washington State University, and the University of Idaho) PNW 255 Tank-Mixing Herbicides PNW 276 Current Nutrient Status of Soils in Idaho, Oregon and Washington PNW 287 Irrigation Runoff Control Strategies PNW 320 Calibrating and Using a Backpack Sprayer PNW 505 Which Test Is Best? Dairy Manure Testing PNW 508 Fertilizing with Biosolids PNW 511 Worksheet for Calculating Biosolids Application Rates in Agriculture PNW 513 Nitrogen Uptake and Utilization by Pacific Northwest Crops PNW 533 Fertilizing With Manure PNW 546 Nutrient Management for Onions in the Pacific Northwest PNW 549 Keeping Track of Manure Nutrients in Dairy Pastures PNW 570-E Monitoring Soil Nutrients Using a Management Unit Approach Fertilizer Guides Each of the four land grant universities in the Pacific Northwest (University of Alaska, University of Idaho, Oregon State University, Washington State University) provides up-to-date fertilizer recommendations for economically important crops. Please see the publication website (on the back page) for specific fertilizer guide publications in your state. Pesticide Use Guidelines Each of the four land grant universities in the Pacific Northwest (University of Alaska, University of Idaho, Oregon State University, Washington State University) provides up-to-date pesticide use recommendations and integrated pest management strategies for economically important crops. Each year WSU, OSU, and UI produce the PNW Weed Management Handbook, the PNW Insect Management Handbook, and the PNW Plant Disease Management Handbook. Please see the publication website (on the back page) for the pesticide management handbooks and for specific pesticide use publications in your state. ALASKA Contacts Fred Sorensen, Water Quality Coordinator, Anchorage, (907) 786-6311, dffes@uaa.alaska.edu Bob Gorman, Extension Pesticide Coordinator, Anchorage, (907) 786-6323, ffrfg@uaf.edu ALASKA Publications FGV-00149A Forage Crops: Field Crop Fertilizer Recommendations for Alaska FGV-00242A Soil Fertility Basics FGV-00348 Nutrient /sources and Lime: Field Crop Fertilizer Recommendations for Alaska FGV-00349 Organic Fertilizers FGV-00442 Cereal Grains: Field Crop Fertilizer Recommendations for Alaska FGV-00643 Vegetables: Field Crop Fertilizer Recommendations for Alaska

HGA-00131 Make Your Own Complete Fertilizer HGA-00436 Tree Maintenance and Pesticides HGA-00236 Lawn Maintenance and Pesticides GWQ-00547 Protect Water Resources – Understand Pesticide Movement LPM-00340 Animal Manure as Fertilizer IDAHO Contacts Robert L. Mahler, Water Quality/Nutrient Management, Moscow, (208) 885-7025, bmahler@uidaho.edu Brad D. Brown, Crop/Nutrient Management, Parma, (208) 722-6701 Ext 216, bradb@uidaho.edu Jason W. Ellsworth, Extension Soil Fertility, Twin Falls, (208) 736-3611, jellswo@uidaho.edu Don W. Morishita, Extension Weed Science, Twin Falls, (208) 736-3616, don@uidaho.edu Edward J. Bechinski, Extension Integrated Pest Management, Moscow, (208) 885-5972, ejb@uidaho.edu Ronda Hirnyck, Pesticide Coordinator, Boise, (208) 364-4046, rhirnyck@uidaho.edu IDAHO Publications CIS 757 Nitrogen and Phosphorus BMPs: Fertilizer Placement CIS 792 Calibration of Lawn and Garden Pesticide and Fertilizer Applicators for Homeowners CIS 861 Pesticide Handling Practices to Protect Groundwater CIS 863 Fertilizer Primer: Terminology, Calculations and Application CIS 865 Pesticides and Their Movement in Soil and Water CIS 872 Quality Water for Idaho – Nitrate and Groundwater CIS 907 Phosphates in Detergents CIS 938 Quality Water for Idaho: The Role of Integrated Pest Management CIS 962 Best Management Practices for Nitrogen Management to Protect Groundwater CIS 963 Best Management Practices for Phosphorus Management to Protect Surface Water CIS 1065 Improving Sprayer Accuracy: Simple Methods for Correct Calibration

CIS 1070 Nutrient Management Plans: Who Needs Them and How to Prepare Your Own CIS 1099 Idaho’s Nitrate Areas of Concern OREGON Contacts Jeff Jenkins, Pesticide Extension Specialist, Corvallis, (541) 737-5993, jeffrey.jenkins@orst.edu Jed Colquhoun, Extension Weed Specialist, Corvallis, (541) 737-8868, jed.colquhoun@oregonstate.edu Mike Gamroth, Extension Water Quality Coordinator, Corvallis, (541) 737-3316, mike.gamroth@oregonstate.edu John Hart, Extension Soil Fertility, Corvallis, (541) 737-5714, john.hart@oregonstate.edu Dan Sullivan, Extension Soil Fertility, Corvallis, (541) 737-5715, dan.sullivan@oregonstate.edu OREGON Publications EC 628 Soil Sampling for Home Gardens and Small Acreages EC 1094 Calculating the Fertilizer Value of Manure from Livestock Operations EC 1278 Fertilizing Lawns EC 1478 Soil Test Interpretation Guide EC 1503 Fertilizing Your Garden: Vegetables, Fruits, and Ornamentals EM 8559 How Soil Properties Affect Ground Water Vulnerability to Pesticide Contamination EM 8560 Site Assessment for Ground Water Vulnerability to Pesticide Contamination EM 8561-E Understanding Pesticide Persistence and Mobility for Groundwater and Surface Water Protection (available only online) EM 8585 Nutrient Management for Dairy Production: Manure Application Rates for Forage Production EM 8586 Nutrient Management for Dairy Production: Dairy Manure as a Fertilizer Source EM 8646 Nutrient Management for Dairy Production: Assessing Your Manure Management for Water Quality Risk EM 8705 Oregon Water Quality Decision Aid (OWQDA): An Overview EM 8768 Calculating Dairy Manure Nutrient Application Rates EM 8841-E Get to Know the Pesticide Label (available only online)

EM 8848-E Agricultural Phosphorus Management Using the Oregon/Washington Phosphorus Indexes (available only online) EM 8850 Oregon Pesticide Safety Education Manual: A Guide to the Safe Use and Handling of Pesticides EM 8913-E Feed Management as a Tool for Balancing Nutrients on Dairies and Other Livestock Operations (available only online) EM 8920-E Monitoring Soil Nutrients in Dryland Systems Using Management Units (available only online) FS 315 How to Avoid Chemical Trespass When Applying Pesticides PNW 255 Tank-Mixing Herbicides PNW 259 Valuing Forages Based on Moisture and Nutrient Content PNW 278 First Aid for Pesticide Poisoning PNW 320 Calibrating and Using a Backpack Sprayer PNW 505 Nutrient Management for Dairy Production: Which Test Is Best? Customizing Dairy Manure Nutrient Testing PNW 506 Date, Rate, and Place: The Field Book for Dairy Manure Applicators PNW 511-E Worksheet for Calculating Biosolids Application Rates in Agriculture PNW 549 Keeping Track of Manure Nutrients in Dairy Pastures PNW 570-E Monitoring Soil Nutrients Using a Management Unit Approach (available only online) PNW 591 How to Reduce Bee Poisoning from Pesticides VTP 17 Calibrating and Using Backpack Sprayers video (16 min.) (Includes publication PNW 320) WAEM0167 Agricultural Weed Management Principles WASHINGTON Contacts Carol Ramsay, Pesticide Education Coordinator, Pullman, (509) 335-9222, ramsay@wsu.edu Robert G. Stevens, Extension Soil Scientist, Prosser, (509) 786-9231, tapiod@wsu.edu Craig Cogger, Soil Scientist, Puyallup, (253) 445-4512, cogger@wsu.edu Allan Felsot, Agriculture Chemicals Toxicologist, Tri-Cities, (509) 372-7365, afelsot@tricity.wsu.edu

Pacific Northwest Regional Water Quality Coordination Project Partners Land Grant Universities Alaska Cooperative Extension Service Contact Fred Sorensen: 907-786-6311 http://www.uaf.edu/ces/water/ University Publications: http://www.alaska.edu/uaf/ces/publications/ Idaho University of Idaho Cooperative Extension System Contact Bob Mahler: 208-885-7025 http://www.uidaho.edu/wq/wqhome.html University Publications: http://info.ag.uidaho.edu/Catalog/catalog.htm Oregon Oregon State University Extension Service Contact Mike Gamroth: 541-737-3316 http://extension.oregonstate.edu/ University Publications: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/ Washington Washington State University WSU Extension Contact Bob Simmons: 360-427-9670 ext. 690 http://wawater.wsu.edu University Publications: http://pubs.wsu.edu/ Northwest Indian College Contact Charlotte Clausing: 360-392-4319 cclausing@nwic.edu or http://www.nwic.edu/ Water Resource Research Institutes Water and Environmental Research Center (Alaska) http://www.uaf.edu/water/ Idaho Water Resources Research Institute http://www.boise.uidaho.edu/ Institute for Water and Watersheds (Oregon) http://water.oregonstate.edu/ State of Washington Water Research Center http://www.swwrc.wsu.edu/ Environmental Protection Agency EPA, Region 10 The Pacific Northwest http://www.epa.gov/r10earth/ Office of Research and Development, Corvallis Laboratory http://www.epa.gov/wed/ For more information contact Jan Seago at 206-553-0038 or seago.jan@epa.gov
	The Project Land Grant Universities, Water Research Institutes and EPA Region 10 have formed a partnership to provide research and education to communities about protecting or restoring the quality of water resources. This partnership is being supported in part by the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Our Goal and Approach The goal of this Project is to provide leadership for water resources research, education and outreach to help people, industry and governments to prevent and solve current and emerging water quality and quantity problems. The approach to achieving this goal is for the Partners to develop a coordinated regional water quality effort based on, and strengthening, individual state programs. Our Strengths The Project promotes regional collaboration by acknowledging existing programs and successful efforts; assessing program gaps; identifying potential issues for cross-agency and private sector collaboration, and developing a clearinghouse of expertise and programs. In addition, the Project establishes or enhances partnerships with federal, state and local environmental and water resource management agencies, such as by placing a University Liaison within the offices of EPA Region 10.
	Catherine Daniels, Pesticide Information Center, Tri-Cities, (509) 372-7495, cdaniels@beta.tricity.wsu.edu Joe Harrison, Dairy Nutrient Management, Puyallup, (253) 445-4638, jhharrison@wsu.edu John Stark, Environmental Toxicology, Puyallup, (253) 445-4419, stark@puyallup.wsu.edu WASHINGTON Publications EB 0712 Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Under Irrigation EB 1386 Safe Disposal of Home Use Pesticides EB 1543 Pesticide Movement in Soils-Groundwater Protection EB 1716 Farming Practices for Groundwater Protection EB 1631 Protect Your Groundwater: Survey Your Home Environment EB 1632 Why the Concern about Agricultural Contamination in Groundwater? EB 1633 Role of Soil in Groundwater Protection EB 1644 Protecting Groundwater from Pesticide Contamination EB 1721 Defining Water Quality EB 1722 How Fertilizers and Plant Nutrients Affect Groundwater Quality EB 1730 Pesticide Mixing and Loading Options to Protect Water Quality EB 1744 Your Yard and Water Quality: Simple Things Gardeners Can Do To Prevent Water Contamination EB 1751 Economic Issues in Protecting Groundwater Quality EM 4885 Irrigation Management Practices to Protect Surface and Ground Water Quality in the State of Washington	National Water Quality Program Areas The four land grant universities in the Pacific Northwest have aligned our water resource extension and research efforts with eight themes of the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Animal Waste Management Drinking Water and Human Health Environmental Restoration Nutrient and Pesticide Management Pollution Assessment and Prevention Watershed Management Water Conservation and Ag. Water Management Water Policy and Economics
		PNW0287 Irrigation Runoff Control Strategies PNW0550 Encouraging Beneficial Insects in Your Garden
	This material is based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U. S. Department of Agriculture, under Agreement No 2008-51130-4734.

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HOME | About | Calendar | Contacts | Links | PNW Water Updates | Sitemap NIFA National Water Quality Program This material is based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under Agreement No. 2008-51130-04734. all external sites will open in a new browser window page last modified on August 27, 2006