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STEEP
FUNDING, OBJECTIVES, ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND COMMITTEES
Funding
Funded by USDA
- Cooperative Research, Extension and Education Service during 1996
through 2002 at approximately $500,000/year
Objectives
- Determine
the impact of farming practices and systems on soil, water and
air quality
- Develop
new technologies and increase efficiency of inputs that improve
profitability of conservation farming systems.
- Assess
the profitability of conservation farming systems, document growers’
progress in implementing conservation farming practices, and identify
effective and profitable conservation policies.
- Accelerate
grower access to and adaptation of profitable conservation farming
systems technologies.
Highlights
of STEEP Accomplishments
This research
has provided producers with new technology to help them meet ever
pressing environmental, resource conservation and economic challenges.
The following list provides a few examples of these accomplishments
and advances towards more environmentally friendly and profitable
farming in the PNW.
- Adapted
soil erosion prediction technology for the climate conditions,
soils, landscape, and production systems unique to the PNW.
- Developed
and tested many of the conservation options producers are using
to meet conservation compliance requirements of recent Farm Bills.
- Documented
the impacts of cropland soil erosion on long-term soil productivity,
environmental quality and farm and regional economics, and increased
producer and public awareness of the problem.
- Increased
producer use of conservation tillage systems and supporting conservation
practices in the PNW
- Developed
technology and prototype equipment for improving residue placement,
fertilizer use efficiency, seed placement, and overall success
of conservation tillage systems.
- Increased
number of agricultural service industries and producers building
or modifying their equipment for direct application of fertilizer
with little or no prior tillage under “shank and seed”
minimum tillage systems, which provides cost-effective conservation
options.
- Improved
understanding of the interactions between crop pests and tillage
systems, crop rotations and other production practices has lead
to the development of more successful pest management systems
in conservation tillage and reduced the reliance on pesticides.
- Breeding
of new crop cultivars with improved pest resistance has facilitated
the adoption of conservation practices and reduced pesticide use.
- Adaptation
and evaluation of predictive models to help develop effective
pesticide and nutrient management practices for increased protection
of surface and groundwater quality.
- Development
of alternative crops and their production practices have improved
the success of conservation tillage systems through improved pest
control and economic stability.
- Increased
producer access to new technologies for improved effectiveness
and profitability of conservation farming systems.
Why
Has STEEP Been Effective?
- Producer
motivated - The idea for STEEP originated with concerned producers
in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. They actively participate with
scientists and agricultural support personnel in planning and
evaluating research, and field-testing of new technologies.
- Multidisciplinary
research effort - about 90 scientists in over 14 disciplines have
participated in research and technology transfer.
STEEP
Committees
Effective August 2002
Industry
Advisory Committee*
Garry
Esser, Idaho Grain Producers Association (2004)
Lee Hawley, Idaho Association
of Soil Conservation Districts (2004)
Chris Rauch, Oregon
Association of Conservation Districts (2004)
To be named, Oregon Wheat Growers League (2006)
Tracy Eriksen, Washington
Association of Conservation Districts (2003)
Don Wellsandt, Washington Association of Wheat Growers (2005)
Russ Zenner, USA Dry
Pea and Lentil Council (2004)
Mike Stubbs, PNDSA (2005)
* Term ends
at the January meeting in the year indicated
Technical
Coordinating Committee
David
Bezdicek, STEEP Tri-Chair (WSU)
Donn Thill, STEEP Tri-Chair
(UI)
Don Wysocki, STEEP
Tri-Chair OSU-Pendleton
John Hammel, (UI) - Moscow
Russ Karow, (OSU)
- Corvallis
Dennis Roe, (USDA-NRCS)
- Pullman
Bill Schillinger, (WSU) Ritzville
Steve Petrie, (OSU)
- Pendleton
Dale Wilkins, (USDA-ARS)-
Pendleton
Roger Veseth, (UI/WSU)
- Moscow
Kim Campbell, USDA-ARS - Pullman
Administrative
Committee
Antoinette
Betschart, ARS Western Regional Research Center Director, Albany,
CA
Michael Burke, Assoc. Director, OSU Agric. Experiment Station,
Corvallis, OR
Ralph Cavalieri, Assoc. Director, WSU Agricultural Research Center,
Pullman, WA
Richard Heimsch, Director, UI Agricultural Experiment Station,
Moscow, ID
Lyla Houglum, Director, OSU Extended Education and Extension Service,
Corvallis, OR
Leonard Jordan, State Conservationist, USDA-NRCS, Spokane, WA
Charlotte Eberlein, Acting Director, UI Cooperative Extension
System, Moscow, ID
Michael Tate, Director, WSU Cooperative Extension, Pullman, WA
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