|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|||
2000 STEEP III Progress 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: Roger J. Veseth, (PI), Washington State University Department of Crop and Soil Sciences and University of Idaho Department of Plant, Soil and Entomological Sciences); Tim Fiez (PI until December 1999) and Ellen Mallory (until March 2000), Washington State University Department of Crop and Soil Sciences; R. Dennis Roe, USDA-NRCS; Donald J. Wysocki, Oregon State University Columbia Basin Agricultural Research Center PROJECT TYPE: Final 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. KEY WORDS: Direct seeding, case studies 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 case studies are on operations using supplemental irrigation on part of their farms to produce grain or forage crops. ABSTRACT OF RESEARCH FINDINGS: Northwest direct
seed growers have invaluable experience to offer other growers, researchers
and grower advisers who are interested in direct seed system. Sixteen
growers were featured in a new PNW extension publication series on "Direct
Seeding in the Inland Northwest" to increase access to their knowledge
and experience. 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). Nine case studies have
been published by November 2000 and over 15,000 copies have been distributed.
The last 7 publications are in press. All of these publications will be
available through PNW county Extension offices or the state Extension
publications offices in Idaho (208-885-7982), Oregon (541-737-2513) and
Washington (800-723-1763). There are also accessible in PDF format on
the PNW STEEP Web (http://pnwsteep.wsu.edu/dscases) as soon as they are
sent to the printer. 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 publications were developed through a series of detailed interviews with the growers, plus follow-up visits for photos and additional data collection, and consultation with the growers. The Aeschliman, Lange and Rea Case Studies were printed in September 1999; Ensley, Thomas, and Riggers Case Studies were printed in January 2000; and Williams, Melville, and Barker / Shoun Case Studies were printed in April 2000. Over 15,000 of these first 9 Case Studies were distributed by early November 2000; an average of 1600 per Case Study (ranging from 875 to 2080 each). The remaining 7 Case Studies are currently in press. Due to the high demand for the publications, the print number for each publication has been increased to 3000 with available funds from the SARE and STEEP grants, and funding from other related projects. The Case Studies can be ordered through local Cooperative Extension offices or directly from the state Extension publication offices in Idaho (208-885-7982), Oregon (541-737-2513) and Washington (800-723-1763). The publications are free but a small handling and shipping fee may be required. These publications are also available on the PNW STEEP Web (http://pnwsteep.wsu.edu/dscases) in PDF format as soon as they are sent to the printer. 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 highlighted 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). PRESENTATIONS
AND PUBLICATIONS: Presentations:
Publications:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Contact
us: Hans Kok, (208)885-5971
|
Accessibility | Copyright
| Policies | WebStats | STEEP Acknowledgement |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
