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  1999 Table of Contents

1999 STEEP III Final Report

RESEARCH PROJECT TITLE:

Northwest Coalition on Direct-Seed Cropping Systems Research.

INVESTIGATORS:

(Original list) R. James Cook, Eric Gallandt, and Roger Veseth, Washington State University; Mike Weiss and Roger Veseth, University of Idaho; Richard Smiley, Oregon State University; Dave Huggins, Anne Kennedy, and Dale Wilkins, Agricultural Research Service; Dennis Roe, National Resoruce Conservation Service; and Russ Zenner, USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council.

INTERIM REPORT:

OBJECTIVES:

  1. To establish a technical working group of researchers, growers, and agribusiness representatives as a communications network and process for exchanging technical information and new innovations among the existing and emerging direct-seed cropping systems studies in the Inland Northwest;
  2. To establish a taskforce that includes applicable agricultural/environmental/financial groups and government agencies as a source of ideas and support needed to accelerate the development and grower-adoption of direct-seed cropping systems in the region;
  3. To establish a broad-based Northwest coalition on direct-seed cropping systems research as an on-going grass-roots mechanism for identifying, prioritizing, conducting, implementing and funding direct-seed, intensive-cropping research and education across the agronomic zones of the region.

KEY WORDS:

Direct-Seed, Cropping Systems, Coalition,

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM:

Direct-seed cropping systems, combined with more intensive cropping, hold the promise of simultaneously increasing the region's economic competitiveness while significantly improving environmental quality. However, grower transition to and adoption of direct-seed intensive-cropping systems represents the most revolutionary and complex change in the history of dryland agriculture in the Inland Northwest and would significantly impact the entire agricultural system and supporting institutions of this region. Providing significant resources for the research and education necessary to help farms undergo this change within the limits of reasonable economic risk are beyond the bounds of any one research discipline, institution, or organization. So as to expand awareness and participation by stakeholders, develop and prioritize research needs, and both optimize and justify the use of resources, a strategic plan is needed as a shared vision and framework for coordination, cooperation, and communication among the researchers, growers, agribusinesses, financial institutions, environmentalists, and the public.

ZONE OF INTEREST:

All agronomic zones in the Inland Northwest will be represented in this Coalition, including the low- intermediate- and high-precipitation zones of this region.

ABSTRACT OF RESEARCH FINDINGS:

The idea of a "Northwest Coalition on Direct-Seed Cropping Systems Research" came first from the USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council in early 1998 as a mean to bring industry representatives together in support of more research and education on direct seeding. This STEEP project is making it possible to develop a process for achieving the goals envisioned for this Coaltion. A Steering Committee has been formed with representation from growers and researchers from the Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Eight long-range goals were developed as a vision for what can be accomplished through this Coalition. Two levels of activity are planned as the infrastructure: 1) The research and extension/education programs of the region's land grant universities, USDA-ARS, and the private sector; and 2) a wider circle of stakeholder representation, such as commodity organizations, financial institutions, agribusinesses, and environmental groups. A briefing document, referred to as "talking points," is being distributed among growers, researchers, bankers, university administrators, and others as a guide to understanding the complex issues driving and retarding the trend towards greater use of direct seeding. An analysis/description/inventory of the research and extension/education programs will be documented by mid-2000 to help identify gaps as well overlap within the region's research and extension/education programs. This document will also serve as an educational resource for use by the broader political-level group. A half-day symposium is also being planned on the topic of building coalition-support for a retooling Inland Northwest agriculture toward more profitable, environmentally sustainable, and socially acceptable systems. A summer meeting will be scheduled with area leaders invited to serve as the core for the wider circle of organizational and stakeholder component of this Coalition. from each of commodity groups in the Inland Northwest.

RESULTS AND INTERPRETATION:

The idea to establish a "Northwest Coalition on Direct-Seed Cropping Systems Research" came first from the USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council in early 1998 as an attempt to bring industry representatives together in support of more research and education on direct seeding. A meeting was held January 6, 1998, in Pasco, WA, just prior to the first Northwest Direct Seed Intensive Cropping Conference. This was followed by a meeting at WSU TriCities in February, 1998. Growers and researchers from each of the three states of Oregon, Idaho, and Washington were present at each meeting, and there was a consensus that a broad-based cooperative effort was needed in both research and education within the region to provide growers with the information needed on whether and how to make a transition on their farm towards direct seeding and more intensive cropping. However, there were no clear next steps in forming this a coalition and consequently the concept was not pursued further although the need has not diminished. This STEEP project is making it possible to develop a process for moving ahead towards achieving the goals envisioned for this Coalition.

The steps have taken to date or planned are outlined below.

Formation of a Steering Committee

A Steering Committee was formed in May, 1999, that includes representation from each of three major commodity groups in the Inland Northwest (wheat, barley, and pulse crops) as well as researchers from the University of Idaho, Oregon State University (Pendleton), Washington State University, and the USDA Agricultural Research Service. This Steering Committee.

Establishment of long-term goals for the Coalition

The following goals were developed as a vision for what can be accomplished through this Coalition over the long-term, with significant progress towards some of these goals expected within the one-year time-frame of this STEEP project.

  • Increase the educational opportunities on benefits and risks of direct seeding, including at the level of 1) producer, 2) regulatory agencies, and 3) legislators;
  • Help growers in the transition phase from tillage-based to direct-seed cropping systems;
  • Document profitability of direct seeding and associated more intensive cropping systems;
  • Address environmental concerns, including both water and air quality concerns, and the potential effects on the environment from this technology;
  • Address loss of soil and soil quality due to conventional farming practices, including, provide the tools, expertise, and/or leadership to evaluate effects of farming practices on the natural resource base of this region;
  • Consider endangered species issues (salmon, etc.) as impacted by an increase in direct seeding;
  • Lead and facilitate a "retooling" of inland Northwest agriculture, including the research and education programs, cropping systems, and resource management, all with the goals of enhancing the competitive advantages of the region's agriculture while reducing the effects of farming practices on the environment and natural resource base.
  • Expand the budget base for direct seed cropping systems research and education in the Northwest.

Work Underway for the One-Year Duration of this Project

Two levels of activity are envisioned as the infrastructure of this Coalition: 1) The research and extenstion/education programs of the region's land grant universities, USDA-ARS, and the private sector; and 2) a wider circle of organizational and stakeholder representation, such as state commodity organizations, financial institutions, agribusinesses, and environmental groups. With this infrastructure in mind, the Steering Committee has the following projects underway with the expectation that each will be completed within the one-year duration of this project.

  • A short document referred to as "talking points" and considered as a "work in progress" is being shared with growers, researchers, bankers, university administrators, and others as a guide to understanding the complex issues including the economic risks to growers, but also the need for this change if Northwest growers and especially dryland farmers in the region are to remain economically competitive while being in compliance with issues such as clean water and air.
  • A project aimed as the development of a complete analysis/description/inventory of the research and extension/education programs on direct-seed cropping systems currently is underway within the three-state region. The major part of this project will be done under contract with a freelance writer with guidance provided by the Steering Committee. The final product will be delivered as both a hard- and electronic-copy document with illustrations and written primarily for a lay audience. This document is intended to complement the Case Studies also produced with STEEP funding . The output of this phase of our project will serve two purposes: 1) serve as a resource to gaps as well overlap within the region's research and extension/education programs; and 2), combined with the Case Studies, serve as an educational resource for use by the broader political-level group. This project should be completed by June 30, 2000.
  • A half-day symposium is being planned with invited speakers on building coalition-support for a retooling Inland Northwest agriculture toward more profitable, environementally sustainable, and socially acceptable systems. This symposium has been tentatively scheduled for January 25, 2000, on the WSU campus, with at least two outside speakers-Dr. Dwane Beck of the Dakota Lakes Farm in South Dakota and a represtative of the Wisconsin potato IPM program. Both of these projects/programs have involved building broad-based coalition support for advancing change in a region's agriculture. A meeting of the Steering Committee will follow to map out next steps towards building the Northwest Coalition.
  • A summer meeting, possibly carried out as a tour of the region, will be scheduled with area leaders invited to serve as the core for the wider circle of organizational and stakeholder component of this Coalition. This meeting will be used both to formally consider the need for or means to form a Coalition and continue the process of providing input for area research and education component of this Coalition infrastructure.

INTERATION (COOPERATION) WITH OTHER SCIENTISTS CONDUCTION RELATED ACTIVITY:

This project is highly interactive, involving scientists, industry representatives and eventually a wider base of stakeholders from Idaho, Oregon, and Washington as the core team to carry out the work.

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS:

Cook, R. J. The Northwest Direct-Seed Cropping Systems Research Coalition. Invited Presentation, Whitman County Wheat Grower's Annual Banquet. Colfax, November 1, 1999.
     
 

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