Experiences
with Direct Seed Cropping Systems
in the High Precipitation Zone
Kurt
Blume, Genesee, Idaho
I am a 4th generation
farmer on our Idaho century farm located 4 miles north of Lewiston, Idaho
in Nez Perce County. We are 5 miles southwest of Genesee on the rim area
above the Clearwater River. The precipitation ranges from 18 to 21 inches
at our 2600 to 2800 ft. elevation. The soil types are Palouse Athena,
Palouse Naff, and Thatuna Naff. The hilltops are 100 percent clay with
side slopes up to 48 degrees. The organic matter is from 3 to 4 percent
and the soil pH is 6 to 6.5. In earlier times most of the farmland was
in a summerfallow rotation. In the 1930's some of the acreage was continuous
fallow for three years in an attempt to eliminate morning glory.
We started farming
near Palouse, Washington in l976 using all conventional equipment and
were attempting to seed 70 to 80 percent of the farm to fall wheat. I
changed to a 3 year rotation in 1979 planting fall wheat, spring barley,
and lentils. At this time we started plowing the fall wheat stubble uphill
with a new Wilrich plow. The barley and lentil stubble was either disc
or chiseled. In my opinion none of these practices would be acceptable
today. For some crops we were making 9 to 10 trips over a field to complete
the planting.
In 1981 we moved
to Genesee when my parents retired. We used a 2 and 3 year rotation with
spring peas and fall wheat in the 2-year plan. During this time we used
a two pass system of shank and seed on our legume acres going to fall
wheat. The drill was John Deere 8300's with 7 inch spacing. The remaining
crops were treated much the same as we did at Palouse with more emphasis
put on Roundup as an aid-to-till in the fall and spring. During the 80's
and 90's I used nine different no-till drills with varying degrees of
success.
I made the pilgrimage
to "Beck's Habitat" in 1997. After visiting the Dakota Lakes
Research Farm we decided to make some major changes. The decision was
made to implement at least a 3 year rotation on all our acres using direct
seeding. Some of my landlords on crop shares that resisted the extended
rotation chose to cash rent. At this time we also added bluegrass to our
crops. The three-year rotation would include a fall cereal crop, followed
by a spring cereal, and then a legume or brassica crop.
In 1998 and the spring
of 1999 the seeding was done with a 10 inch spaced John Deere 455 drill
which replaced the 8300's. The 455 was purchased only as an interim planter
until something more desireable could be found. The summer of 1999 we
decided to invest in a 30 ft. Flexi-Coil 8100 air seeder with the FSO
single disc opener on 10 inch spacing. This drill at the present time
has only dry starter fertilizer capabilities. I was excited about everything
the drill had to offer except for some concerns regarding the opener.
My reservations have proven to be valid and Flexi-Coil is working to improve
the opener. There are two other drills like mine being used in the Genesee
area in direct seed situations.
Our operation is
quite basic as far as fieldwork is concerned. The combine, with modifications,
distributes the chaff nearly perfect. We use a Highline heavy harrow after
harvest to do some stubble busting in fall and spring grain where necessary.
This promotes a uniform volunteer growth so that one Roundup application
kills 100 percent of everything germinating. I have also discovered that
in certain crops, such as spring barley and spring wheat, the stubble
conditions may warrant using the conventional flex or stiff harrow. For
a disc drill it is better to leave the stubble standing which helps eliminate
some straw tucking. We always try to harrow the same direction that the
seeding will be done. This helps to line up the straw on the soil surface.
Straw tucking would be a minor problem if we could get residue managers
to work in front of the openers.
One Roundup application
is made in the fall if we have moisture to promote a green up. Sometimes
in the spring two applications may be necessary to break the green bridge.
Roundup applications are critical, so we usually spray even if there is
some doubt. I have on occasion chosen not to spray and have been sorry
later.
The fall wheat stubble
is fertilized in late Oct. with a McGregor straw boss when the soil temperature
is below 45 degree F. I usually fall apply about 50 percent of the total
recommended rate from the soil test for the spring cereal. These fields
are fertilized again in the spring with a McGregor ripper or coulter-shank
machine. These multiple passes are necessary for two reasons: I can not
deep band fertilizer with my drill and sometimes the residue is so great
an obstacle we need to incorporate some straw to manage it. This phase
of the operation is not direct seeding and does absolutely nothing to
get the soil into a true no-till environment. Burning the stubble is still
an option; however, I have made a commitment to hopefully make this system
work without using fire.
The spring grain
stubble is direct seeded to winter peas, winter rape, lentils, spring
peas or chickpeas. These plantings have all been successful and are not
a problem to produce a viable crop.
After the legume
and brassica crops are harvested fertilizer is applied with a McGregor
ripper or coulter-shank machine or in some cases dry fertilizer is broadcast.
Fall wheat yields have been comparable using all of these methods.
The Flexi-Coil 8100
air seeder has several features that were important to me. I wanted a
drill that was at least 30 feet wide. The close coupling of the tool bar
to the three-point on the rear of the cart is a big plus for minimizing
side draft on steep hills. The 2340 air cart is precise and easy to calibrate.
Seeding and fertilizer rates can be varied on the go. This drill is capable
of seeding all crops. I have set the drill for 5 lb. of bluegrass and
checked out at 4.97 lb. per acre. There is less draft than a shank drill
and it has fairly good seeding depth accuracy.
Positive things happen
with direct seeding. Over the past five years our tractor hours are down
30 percent and fuel usage has dropped 38 percent. We are pulling lighter
loads and spend a few more hours spraying. The savings in labor, time,
and fuel are quite significant. There is less air and water pollution
since soil erosion is much easier to control.
I see some obstacles
for me in the near future. We have not found a good way to manage fall
wheat straw. I would like a drill capable of negotiating the steep hills
that will seed and fertilize in one pass. Our rotation may need to be
lengthened to more than three years and other alternate crops explored.
Landlords need to be better educated on all aspects of direct seeding.
Their understanding and support can go a long way in helping achieve our
goals. The owner of farmland that is getting the D.S. treatment is also
increasing the value of their long-term capital asset.
Direct seeding is
not a part of a rotation. To make the system work I believe you have to
get the whole rotation into the direct seed mode. This has been hard for
me to do. I would like to modify my drill to deep band fertilizer and
still apply starter with the seed. The solution might require changing
to a different opener.
We have been able
to afford the transition to direct seed by trading or selling equipment
that is no longer in use. To make this program work on our small acreage
the plow, culti-weeder, cultivator, and chisel plow have been eliminated.
Custom seeding is also done when it fits our schedule.
There are still many
challenges ahead. Sometimes it seems that we take two steps forward and
then three steps backward. We have made a lot of progress in the last
five years towards preserving our important natural resource. It is exciting
to think of where we will be in the next five to ten years.
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