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STEEP
FUNDING, OBJECTIVES, ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND COMMITTEES
Funding
Funded by USDA
- Cooperative Research, Extension and Education Service during 1996
through 2004 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
March, 2004
Industry
Advisory Committee*
Steve Johnson,
Idaho Grain Producers Association (2007)
Lee Hawley, Idaho Association
of Soil Conservation Districts (2005)**
Chris Rauch, Oregon
Association of Soil Conservation Districts (2004)
Bill Jepsen, Oregon
Wheat Growers League (2006)
Tracy Eriksen, Washington
Association of Soil Conservation Districts (2006)
Don Wellsandt, Washington
Association of Wheat Growers (2005)**
David Wilken, USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council (2007)
Ron Jirava, PNDSA (2006)
* Term ends
at the January meeting in the year indicated
** Second term
Technical
Coordinating Committee
David
Bezdicek, STEEP Tri-Chair WSU, Pullman
Rick
Koenig, WSU, Pullman
Donn Thill, STEEP Tri-Chair
UI, Moscow
Don Wysocki,
STEEP Tri-Chair OSU, Pendleton
Stephen
Guy UI, Moscow
Russ Karow, OSU,
Corvallis
Dennis Roe, USDA-NRCS,
Pullman
Bill Schillinger, WSU, Rtizville
Steve Petrie, OSU,
Pendleton
John
Williams, USDA-ARS, Pendleton
Kim Campbell, USDA-ARS, Pullman
Administrative
Committee
Antoinette
Betschart, ARS Western Regional Research Center Director,
Albany, CA
Charles
Boyer, Associate Director, OSU Agric. Experiment Station,
Corvallis, OR
Ralph Cavalieri, Assoc.
Director, WSU Agricultural Research Center, Pullman, WA
Sandra
Ristow, 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
Gus
Hughbanks, State Conservationist, USDA-NRCS, Spokane, WA
Ed Adams, WSU Cooperative
Extension, Spokane, WA
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