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Show Thursday, August 12, 2004 PYRAMID THE Tomatoes one ofsummers pleasures Sandy Miller Hays USDA, AGRICULTURAL SEARCH SERVICE BELTSVILLE, MD- crops." But of course, you're not limited to hairy vetch; other possibilities are common vetch, bigflower vetch, crimson clover, subterranean clover, arrowleaf clover, austrian winter pea, and berseem clover. The important point is that you use a legume-whi- ch provides free "fertilizer," courtesy of Mother Nature. RE- - One of the great joys of summer is .luscious straight from-the-l garden tomatoes (another is sweet corn, but don't even Iget me started on that!). If .you're into growing your own tomatoes, you should know about Dr. Aref Abdul-Bakan Agricultural Research Service scientist 'who's specialized in tomato-- ' growing techniques. I Dr. Abdul-Bakat ARS' Vegetable Laboratory in Beltsville, Md., has been a leading proponent of using legumes as a ground cover to crowd out weeds in your tomato patch, rather than relying on that old stand-by- , black plastic mulch. Not only does the legume crop keep weeds away, but it also adds nitrogen to your garden In case you're not familiar with this amazing process, it's called "fixing' nitrogen. Certain plants called legumes (soybean plants are legumes) have the ability to take nitrogen from the atmosphere and turn it into a form that the plant can use as fertilizer. Isn't Nature incredible? August may seem a little late in the game to be talking about starting to grow tomatoes, but Dr. Abdul-Baprop vides instructions for nis system at the ARS website -- i, soil-natura- lly! 1 ki step-by-ste- http:www.ars.usda.gOvist om (Tower Tomatoes: Here's How to Grow More and Better Tomatoes"). There, in his "How You Do section, he says the time 1 It" t to start thinking about next year's tomato crop is in early September-s- o just consider this your warning." Dr. Abdul-Baki'- s secret weapon for great tomato is a legume called Eroauction (obviously named by the Monty Python Committee for Creation of Plant Names that Make You Want to Giggle). Despite its silly name, Dr. Abdul-Bacalls hairy vetch the "Mercedes of cover "two-minu- ' ' "I Forest health questioned A. Joel Frandsen five-yea- STATE EORESTERDIRECTOR CITY- - Our offices receive a and letters from Utah citizens and visitors asking, "What's wrong with the forests?" This isn't just a case of isolated trees dying; this is a case of sick, unhealthy, dying forests throughout the state. There are literally thousands of acres of gray, dead trees and thousands of acres of red, dying trees throughout the state and it's getting worse. Forest health is a very complicated issue; genes are there are many contributing factors in the deteriorating health of Utahs forests. Utah to sig- has been in a six year drought, but drought nals com- is only part of the problem. Drought acts as ing from an additional stress to already unhealthy forthe specif- est conditions. One of the main stress factors and a subse- ic ratio of these dead and dying trees is nitrogen, Sient cause for have too many trees, as many repeat carbon and other aerial photographic studies show. Tne trees elements are too close together, which restricts their rovided growth and creates competition between trees for the limited water supply and suny the cover crop. light; this places significant stress on the In their trees and makes them more susceptible to atstudies, the tack by insect and disease. scientists Many of the affected forest areas have been excluded from the natural fire cycle. some grew " Over the past century of fire suppression, tomatoes th6 way, with black plas- the trees nave experienced little natural distic mulch and chemical fertil- turbance and have continued to grow and reizer. They grew others in the produce, die, fall over and create "fuel loadsustainable system, giving ing" on the forest floor. Many stands contain tons of fuel per acre. the plants just half the usual When a wildfire starts in these areas, amounts or chemical fertilizer and fungicide. This sys- there may be specific situations and conditem relies on the hairy vetch tions under which agencies can let it burn, to provide soil nutrients and allowing the fire to thin the forest and resome natural leaf disease cycle nutrients. However, with the development in wildland-urba- n protection. The ARS scientists say the interface areas and the forest condition, it cover crop may allow the is often too dangerous, as well as costly, to tomato plants' root system to let fires burn. With our drought conditions, the dead and produce higher levels of natural plant hormones called down fuel adds to the intensity of the fire. cytokinins-hormon- es that Wildfires are burning hotter and faster than delay aging and let the plant anything we have experienced in the past few hundred years. live longer. The "monster fires" we are now experiencSo, if you want to have some outdoor fun this fall, ing in the west pose a great threat to life, and great tomatoes next property and our natural resources. Then, summer, check out the "Pow- when thunderstorms occur, erosion results er Tomatoes" system. And, in the loss of valuable soil, the lifeblood of our existence. of course, if you need anyForest management is really a balancing one to "taste-test- " the results next year, I'm always avail- act of three critical needs: First; ensuring we have adequate vegetation to protect the soils able! from rainstorms that damage downstream SerResearch Agricultural vice values, remember Farmington and The Agricultural Research second; ensuring we don't have fuel Service is the chief loading from too much vegetation, biomass; scientific research agency of and third; ensuring we have healthy, productive vegetation for multiple values. the U.S. Department of Many of Utah's vegetation types are unproductive and take away the potential to ield sustainable water to the dependent uses elow. As the second driest state in the na "over-expressed- SALT LAKE lot of calls ," insect-infeste- d, -- i, ! and live longer. r In a study, the scientists found that at least 10 genes in the leaves of tomato plants grown in the sustainable agriculture system were turned on longer or which allowed those plants to live longer than tomatoes grown i black plastic mulch. One theory is that these 1 September's a nice time to be outside anyway, and we could all use the exercise, so if you want to try Dr. Abdul-Baki'- s system, all you really have to do in September is start your permanent raised tomato beds, use an inoculum on the beds if this is the first time you're planting there, to establish the rignt soil bacteria, then seeathe beds with the hairy vetch. You'll see seedlings in about a week, and by the time you have your first frost, the vetch plants will be about five inches tall. Don't worry if they go dormant when it's really cold; when spring arrives, they'll be back! Dr. te ki Abdul-Baki'- col- s leagues at the Vegetable Laboratory recently revealed another reason to go with the legume cover crop rather than black plastic and commercial fer- tilizer: they've found that tomato plants grown in a sustainable agricultural system with the legume cover crop actually have better disease resistance "modern-traditional- 40-5- 0 ever-increasi- San-taqui- n; tion with a growing population, Utah has an extra special need for healthy, productive forested watersheds. If we had to give forest health in Utah a measurable grade, what would it be? In certain places, we are failing. Only with concentrated effort and a couple hundred years can we restore it. The untrained eye may not see it, but there is already evidence of insect infestation and disease plaguing seemingly healthy forests. Unless there is a dramatic turnaround, within a few years the plight of these forests will be unmistakable. Fires, insects and diseases do not respect property boundaries. All ownerships, federal, state and private, are affected If we want to enhance Utah's recreational opportunities for visitors, dying and dead forests will surely not be an attraction. Moreover, dying and dead trees provide very little benefit for our needs. dead trees produce no oxygen. Burning trees affect our air quality. Dying and deaa trees also place an increased risk on our pocketbook, for suppression costs and for watershed damage, onsite and downstream. We are letting emotion and the concept of "pristine forests take preference over the reality that there are too many trees, too much fuel loading and too many accompanying problems. Trees are not immortal; all die, sooner or later. But trees are a renewable resource; the trees themselves may not live forever, but healthy forests can, if properly managed. Trees are renewable, sustainable, recyclable, and biodegradable. There is no capitalistic ploy to turn over the forests to corporate greed. In fact, with the help and assistance of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act, there are now opportunities to start mitigating our problems through stewardship practices, utilizing a renewable resource for our benefit and by putting people back to work. But unless the public commits to supporting healthy and sustainable forests, tne future of our forests and especially the water supply will be dim. Tne blame doesn't belong to the professional foresters; they have basically been left out of the equation for too long and the result is obvious. If we are to get our forests back to better health, we need to implement the silvicultural practices that can restore our forests to healthy productive watersheds for all the people. Foresters recognize this need, but as more forests turn from green to red, and from red to gray, or to black from fire, we will realty hear a public outcry. When our livelihood is affected by the water supply in terms of quality ana quantity, it will be too late to make a difference. Changes in policies and action are needed to get America's, and particularly Utah's, forests healthy again. Its the price we must pay, as the present situation has eliminated other alternatives. & NS summer tennis (nrnmfttrmmmfifkmxf) MT. 3110 50R15 PLEASANT-Fifty-fo- ur youth from the North Sanpete area finished their summer tennis program July 29. Coach Jeff Ericksen had four classes with a e of students from second to 12th grades. The students played many hours of tennis in tire hot summer sun, but the final word from all was that it was great fun and all plan to do it again next summer. The two older classes were held four one and one-hahoursper day, all of June and July. The two younger classes were held two for one hour each day. Students learned all the basics of tennis including backhand and forehand groundstrokes, volleys, overheads, serves, scoring and match strategy. If anyone wants to learn to play tennis, have a fun time and meet new friends, summer tennis is where its at, Diane Slack, r veteran of summer a tennis commented. I wouldnt trade the great times Ive had during the summers for anything. Coach Ericksen said, If I can get kids to try tennis, they usually fall in love with it. Thats why I have summer tennis, because I love it and hope I can spread that love infection of tennis with everyone. Tennis is a spat, are that anyone can play and enjoy. One great side benefit of starting kids out young with tennis is the strength and depth it gives to the tennis program at wide-rang- LT26575R16 No cash & carry Exdudes mount a balance Jilt IKUISftW) irfcM ftO) (:Jac-FTTZmj- O W Price Size I 3110.50R15 LT22575R16D LT23585R16E 27X8.50R14 No cash a carry Exdudes mount & I days-a-wee- 17.99 131.99 134.99 lf S1 days-a-wee- balance GnasnniB oteqe SD4T i I l i i Transmission Flush & Fill I i I Coolant Flush & Fill i Pleasant store only Not valid with any other otters Expires 083104 mm mm mm mm mm mm I I i i Mt Mt Pleasant store only Not valid with any other otters Expires 083104 L J I I I j Set of 4 Shocks i $ grass j Freon I AC Recharge j i i Check-u- p BRAKES 1 BELTS SHOCKS E STRUTS I TIRES 1 Mt Pleasant store only Not valid with any other otters Expires 083104. I Flush & Fill J . life-lon- , i Pleasant stoie only Not valid with any other otters Expires 083104 (iliiQ71irS Any j i Alignment I i ! i Pleasant store only Not valid with any other offers. Expires 083104 Complete Brake Service Pleasant store only Not valid with any other otters Expires 083104 Mt. fifth-yea- i IS(pj00l Mt a ! Mt (HE0T7r7r43 ilFBUHi Vacation I Pleasant store only Not valid with any other oilers. Expires 083104. T71?t07f7m m. Power Steering Mt. Pleasant store only Not valid with any other otters. Expires 083104 Mt i i i .. Pleasant store only Not valid with any other otters Expires 0831 '04 mm mm mm Mt tma0viir43l S Rotate & Balance , I i g Co-e- d the high school level. It is also a builder. There great is always room for more next year, so come and play some tennis with us! Beginning class members included Patrick Rawlinson, Jordan Ericksen, Tanner Ericksen, Justin Ericksen, Keesha Jorgensen, Darby Farr, Brandon Coates, John Sumsion, Heather Olson, Amanda Sorensen, Dustin Allred, Cole Seely, Kathryn Alexander, self-estee- softball league MT. PLEASAN- T- In coed softball action this week, Sheps defeated Mt. Pleasant, Taylors beat Tucker, Trina Peel, Chins Olson, Jynae 17-- Burrs over Mikklesen Cut List Busby, Levi Stum and Corbin Construction, 18-MarsnalL beat Sanpete SteelBlitzz, 23-Intermediate class members and Johansens Black were Brooke Seely, Rosemary Sheep defeated Salt Creek Stum, Car lee Earl, Julianne Kel- Lounge, 224. James Nielsen Construcso, Britney McArthur, Riley Allred, Jake Cox, Kimberly tion defeated Sanpete SlackHeaps, Chris Sumsion, Whitney ers, 19-Thompson ConBritRaberta struction over Salt Creek Garlick, McKay, ney Black, Natalie Workman Lounge, 18-- Allreds over and Caleb Rose. Wool City Dimmicks, Advanced Class members in- beat Tucker, 22-- and Dovey clude Maria Peel, Toni Garlick, defeated Mt. Pleasant, 25-27-1- 0; 5; 8; 2; 7; 8; 20-1- 1; 8; 7. Whitney Ericksen, Carlee Earl, Amanda Hermansen, Kristy Strate, Heather Garlick, Diane Slack, Jen Nielson, Kristine Busby, Parker Earl, Jordan Black-haChad De Mill, Scott Wash-bum- , Spencer Poulson and Prestwich. Kayla The girls Noth Sanpete High School tennis team tryouts will begin Aug. 11, at 330 pm The Lady Hawks tennis team will be holding a car wash Aug. 7, from 9 am, until 1 pm, at the Mt. Pleasant Far West Bank. Come out and support the North Sanpete Lady Hawk tennis team 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Black Sheep Allreds 34) 30 30 J.Nielsen Const Thompson Const. ...3--1 Sheps Wool City 2-- 1 .2-- 1 Burrs 2-- 1 Taylors 2-- 1 Cut List 10- .Dovey ll.Sanpete Slackers 12- .Dimmicks 13. Mikklesen Const. 14- .Mt. Pleasant SteelBlitzz 16. Tucker 17.Salt Creek Lng 15.S. 2-- 1 2-- 1 ..20 1-- 2 ..1-- 2 1-- 3 14 .04 0--5 |