Conference Overview

An exciting combination of events! The 2001 Northwest Direct Seed Cropping Systems Conference in Spokane, WA will be held in conjunction with the Spokane Ag Expo - the largest Inland Northwest Ag Show (over 300 exhibitors) - with the Northwest Direct Seed Trade Show as a special feature. The Conference will be January 17-19 in the Spokane Doubletree Hotel-City Center and the Spokane Ag Expo / NW Direct Seed Trade Show will be January 16-18 in the adjoining Washington State Ag Trade Center and Spokane Convention Center, and the Spokane Arena. In addition, the Pacific Northwest Farm Forum and seminar series, and PNW Oilseeds Association annual meeting will precede the Conference on January 16 and 17 at the Hotel and Convention Center. The Conference is being organized as a service to Northwest growers by the Pacific Northwest STEEP program and the new PNW Direct Seed Association. The STEEP (Solutions to Environmental and Economic Problems) program is a cooperative research and educational project on conservation tillage systems through the University of Idaho, Oregon State University, Washington State University, and USDA-Agricultural Research Service. The Conference will be co-sponsored by a number of Ag industries, and developed in cooperation with over 10 PNW grower organizations and Ag support groups and agencies, including: Pacific Northwest Oilseeds Association USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council Washington Association of Wheat Growers Oregon Wheat Growers League Idaho Grain Producers Association Washington Association Conservation Districts Oregon Association of Conservation Districts Idaho Association Soil Conservation Districts USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Columbia Plateau Wind Erosion / Air Quality Project Preliminary Program Highlights The Conference program will feature about 26 speaker including 14 growers from Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Montana, North Dakota, Chile, Germany, and New South Wales, Australia, as well as researchers and Ag industry representatives from the Pacific Northwest, Canada and Colorado. The following are some preliminary highlights of the Conference program. Direct Seed Cropping Systems Experiences from Eight NW Growers Leroy Druffel - Colton, WA; David Mosman - Nezperce, ID; Todd Wittman - Lapwai, ID; Randy and Jeff Emtman - Valleyford, WA; Tom Zwainz - Reardan, WA; Jerry Snyder - Ritzville, WA; Doug Drake - Heppner, OR; Berk Davis - Pendleton, WA Focus Session on Northern Great Plains and International Experiences with Direct Seeding Direct Seed Cropping Systems in North Central Montana - Steve Keil, Grower, Conrad, MT Direct Seed Cropping Systems in North Central North Dakota - Mike Dick, Grower, Munich, ND Direct Seed Systems in Germany and Europe - What's Driving it and Important Management Strategies - Michael Horsch, Grower and Equipment Manufacturer, Schwandorf, Germany Managing No-Till Farming in Northeast Australia - Jeff Esdaile, Manager, Livingston Farms, New South Wales, Australia Focus Session on Improvement in Soil Quality and Productivity with Direct Seeding Building New Organic Soil Through Permanent No-Till in Eroded Chilean Soils - Carlos Crovetto, Grower and Author, Concepcion, Chile Improvements in Soil Quality and Productivity with Direct Seeding - John Aeschliman, Colfax, WA Grower Northwest Research Update on Soil Quality Changes with Direct Seeding - NW researchers (to be announced) Focus Session on Crops, Rotations and Management Strategies Strategies for Boosting Yields of Brassicas and Grain Legumes under Direct Seed Systems - George Clayton, Cropping Systems Agronomist, Lethbridge Research Center, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada Polymer Coated Seed for Fall Dormant Seeding of Spring Crops Under Direct Seeding - Kevin Zaychuk, Grow Tec Inc. Nisku, Alberta, Canada Promising Alternative Crops and Their Management Strategies for Direct Seeding in the Inland Northwest - Chad Shelton, Agronomist, Western Farm Service, Spokane, WA Straw Utilization by Emerging Bioproducts Industries: Implications for Direct Seed Systems - Bill Pan, WSU Soil Scientist, Pullman, WA Focus Session on Pest Management Strategies for Direct Seeding Impact of Tillage Intensity on Weed Populations and Associated Weed Management Strategies on the Canadian Prairies - Bob Blackshaw, Weed Scientist, Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada Managing Volunteer After Herbicide-Resistant Crops - Donn Thill, UI Weed Scientist, and Curtis Reinbolt, UI Research Associate, Moscow, ID Strategies for Managing Vole Problems in Direct Seeding - Gary Witmer, Project Leader, Agricultural Rodent Damage IPM Project, USDA National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO Pre-Registration / Brochure Conference pre-registration is $75 (spouse $35) and includes entrance into the Spokane Ag Expo and Farm Forum, the in-depth Conference Proceedings, 2000 PNW STEEP research report, refreshment breaks and Thursday lunch. Registration will be $90 (spouse $45) after January 10, 2001. To receive a Conference program and pre-registration brochure or Conference Sponsorship prospectus, contact the NW Direct Seed Conference office at 509-547-5538, FAX 547-5563, or e-mail (Direct Seed Conference: (maurer@owt.com).