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1999 STEEP III Final ReportTITLE: Enhancing the success of direct-seed systems through the use of case studies to facilitate farmer-to-farmer learning in the Pacific Northwest INVESTIGATORS: Tim Fiez (PI), Roger J. Veseth, and Ellen Mallory, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, WSU; R. Dennis Roe, NRCS Resource Conservationist; Donald J. Wysocki, Oregon State University Columbia Basin Agricultural Research Center REPORT TYPE: This is an interim
report. PROJECT OBJECTIVES: To facilitate farmer-to-farmer learning about direct-seed systems, the co-investigators of this proposal were awarded a USDA/CSREES Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program grant in 1997. This grant allowed us to develop and publish twelve case studies (1000 copies each) that describe working direct-seed systems in the Pacific Northwest. Each case study, which will be published as a PNW Extension publication, focuses on an individual farm operation. The purpose of this STEEP III project is to allow us to publish additional case studies (a total of 16 will be published) and to print 2000 copies of each case study instead of 1000. KEY WORDS: Case study, direct seedin STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: While the maintenance of surface residue cover is widely accepted as the most effective means of preventing soil erosion, grower concerns over potential financial risks have limited the use of direct-seed systems. However, the region is fortunate to have a solid group of growers who have implemented highly successful direct-seeding programs. By integrating their own ingenuity and experimentation with university research findings, many of these growers have ten or more years of direct-seeding experience and success. This "working knowledge" of conservation tillage systems can provide invaluable guidance to farmers who are considering adopting conservation tillage practices on their own farm. Many of these innovative direct-seed farmers give selflessly and often speak to growers informally or at various grower meetings. However, due to time limitations and costs, growers cannot be expected to solely bear the task of providing education to those farmers considering reduced tillage systems. ZONE OF INTEREST: We are working with growers in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. The case studies will detail dryland operations with average annual precipitation ranging from less than 10" to over 24". Two of our planned case studies are of operations using supplemental irrigation to produce grain or forage crops. ABSTRACT OF RESEARCH FINDINGS: There are many successful direct seed growers throughout the inland Pacific Northwest with invaluable advice for growers considering direct-seeding and for researchers and grower advisors who work with direct-seeding. Sixteen of these growers will be featured in individual PNW extension publications. Each case study features a single farm operation and contains: 1) how the grower(s) started direct seeding, and lessons they learned, 2) description of their current direct seeding system including crops and rotations, residue management, weed, disease and insect control, fertility management and fertilizer application, and seeding strategies, 3) description and evaluation of the drills they are using, 4) primary benefits and challenges of direct seeding seen by the growers, 5) advice for growers new to direct seeding, and 6) economic summary (when available). The case studies can be ordered through local Cooperative Extension offices or directly from the extension publication offices in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. The publications are free but a small handling and shipping fee may be required. RESULTS AND INTERPRETATION: The farms featured in this case study series are located across the range of rainfall zones in the wheat-producing areas of Washington, Idaho and Oregon. They use a variety of equipment options and cropping systems.
The Aeschliman,
Lange and Rea Case Studies were printed in September and more than 1300
copies of each case study have already been distributed. The Ensley, Thomas,
Riggers and Williams Case Studies will be printed by January, 2000. The
remaining case studies will be printed by summer 2000. INTERACTION (COOPERATION) WITH OTHER SCIENTISTS CONDUCTING RELATED ACTIVITY: We have incorporated
information from the projects of D. Young et al. (Assessing the economic
viability of no-till and related conversation systems for various agro-climatic
zones in the Pacific Northwest) and Bezdicek et al. (Impact of long-term
no-till on soil physical, chemical, and microbial properties) into several
of the case studies. We also presented water use efficiency data collected
from the STEEP III project of F. Young et al. (Integrated conservation
spring cropping systems for the arid and semiarid wheat-fallow region
of the PNW) in a case study of John Rea, and will highlight findings from
the project of B. Schillinger (Alternative crop rotations using no-till
in low-rainfall dryland areas) in the Ron Jirava Case Study. Finally,
case study growers Nathan and Steve Riggers and Art Schultheis are involved
in large-scale on-farm trials on direct-seed systems for grain legumes
as part of the Guy et al. project in Idaho and Washington (Residue production
and retention in small grain cereal and legume rotational systems with
different tillage practices). PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS: Presentations:
Publications
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