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Pacific Northwest Conservation
Tillage Handbook Series No. 15
Chapter 10 - New Technology Access, Adaptation and Economics, December
2000
PNW Web Site Provides Direct
Seed Technology Access
Author: Roger Veseth,
WSU / UI Extension Conservation Tillage Specialist
The Growing PNW Internet
/ E-Mail Connection
The Internet and e-mail are
rapidly becoming major technology access and communications tools for
Pacific Northwest growers and Ag support personnel. Most county offices
of Cooperative Extension, Conservation Districts, NRCS, Ag service industries,
and an increasing number of growers in the Pacific Northwest have Internet
/ e-mail access. A 1999 USDA Agricultural Statistics Service survey of
growers study showed that 40% of PNW growers had Internet / e-mail access,
up dramatically from 18% in 1997. Washington growers lead the NW and were
second in the nation at 50%. At the same time, growers are increasingly
moving towards direct seeding and more intensive cropping systems to improve
productions efficiency and profitability, cropland productivity, and environmental
protection.
A PNW Web site and PNW Direct
Seed List E-Mail Server are helping meet this expanding PNW demand for
computer technology access and an improved communications network on direct
seed cropping systems. The Web site (http://pnwsteep.wsu.edu) "PNW Conservation
Tillage Systems Technology Source" was initiated in 1997 as part of an
educational effort by the PNW STEEP Cropping Systems Specialists Team
under the STEEP (Solutions To Environmental and Economic Problems) research
and educational program on conservation tillage systems in Idaho, Oregon
and Washington. It is also part of the educational efforts under the Columbia
Plateau Wind Erosion / Air Quality Project.
The Web site contains a wealth
of technology resources and communication links. Averaging more than 100
hits per day, the Web site is becoming an increasingly important information
source. Electronic access through the Internet is a low cost, effective
means of providing unlimited access to the latest technologies and communications
networks. The following are brief descriptions of some of the major Web
site features.
NW Direct Seed Cropping
Systems Conferences
You can select the 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 Conferences on the Web site.
These Conference pages help publicize the Conferences and providing later
access to the proceedings and conference video information. In advance
of the conferences, the conference pages include: a conference overview;
agenda; sponsorship prospectus; registration form; and hotel information.
Beginning with the 1999 Conference, the sponsorship prospectus and conference
registration forms included templates that can be completed online, printed
and mailed, or submitted directly via e-mail.
PNW Extension Conservation
Tillage Update
This newsletter provides a timely and effective technology transfer tool
for STEEP and related research projects. The current mailing list is over
2,800, including primarily PNW producers (about 1,950), county Extension
agents, Conservation Districts, NRCS staff, and Ag service industry, Ag
media and other support personnel. Issues have also been posted on the
Web site since 1995 to greatly expand the potential audience. Update issues
highlight new research technologies, information resources and upcoming
events related to direct seed cropping systems.
PNW Conservation Tillage
Handbook Series
This PNW Extension Handbook is a major reference on Northwest research
developments for direct seed / conservation tillage systems. It currently
containing 156 Handbook Series publications that are now available on
the Web site. Since the Handbook was published in 1990, 68 new Series
publications have been completed. Print copies of new Handbook Series
are distributed through the PNW Conservation Tillage Update newsletter.
Direct Seed Resource Directories
Two editions of the Directories in May 1997 and May 1999 are on the Web
site and are also part of the PNW Conservation Tillage Handbook Series.
They describe and provide access information on more than 42 publications,
videos, and other Web sites with additional information on direct seed
cropping systems.
PNW Direct Seed Internet
/ E-Mail List Server
This List Server was initiated in
October 1999 and offers an exciting communications link on new information
resources, events, research results, technology innovations and experiences
from the dryland production regions of the Inland Northwest. It also helps
provide access to direct seed systems technology from other regions and
countries that could be adapted to Northwest production conditions. Messages
are received by e-mail and also stored on the List Server Web site for
later access by those added to the List Server over time. The initial
address list of 230 included PNW university and USDA-ARS researchers,
Extension specialists, county/area Ag Extension educators, Conservation
Districts, USDA-NRCS staff, PNW grower organizations, Ag industries representatives
and growers from across the dryland cropping areas of the Inland Northwest.
The List Server has grown to over 310 participants. More than 110 messages
have been posted since it was initiated.
PNW
Grower Direct Seed Discussion Forum
This Athreaded discussion@ page was initiated at the request of NW growers
in March 2000 as a new feature of the Web site to facilitate more in-depth
discussions on direct seeding and more intensive cropping systems and
technologies among growers and Ag support personnel. The format allows
participants to follow and participate in progressive discussions in 6
"conference" topic areas starting with the original messages and continuing
with successive responses.
STEEP Annual Research Reports
These Reports provide detailed summaries of new developments in current
research through the PNW STEEP conservation tillage systems research program
in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. They are being added to the Web site
beginning with the 1998 issue.
Northwest Direct Seed Case
Study Series
The goal of this new PNW Extension publication series is to facilitate
grower-to-grower learning to enhance Northwest grower adaptation of direct
seed systems. A series of 16, full-color, 8-page publications are nearly
complete with 3000 print copies of each. The Case Studies are also accessible
on the PNW Web site (click on Direct Seed Case Studies), where you can
view and print copies as they look from the publisher.
On-Farm Testing
The results of over 200 grower on-farm trials on direct seed systems and
a variety of related topics are posted on the Web site. It also includes
a number of "how-to" resource publications on on-farm testing.
Web Resource Links
A preliminary compilation of PNW, national and international Web sites
with new technologies and resources for direct seed cropping systems is
being added to the Web site. Web users are encouraged to submit their
favorite Web sites related to direct seed cropping systems for everyone's
benefit.
Coming Events
Announcements of upcoming conferences, field days, tours and other events
related to direct seed systems are continually added to the Web site's
"Coming Events."
Search Engine
A search engine has been installed which provides extensive key-word searches
within the entire Web site.
Your Input Will Be Appreciated
--- Your requests and suggestions will help expand this Web site to better
serve NW growers and Ag support personnel in developing successful direct
seed cropping systems in the region. Contact Roger Veseth by e-mail (rveseth@uidaho.edu),
phone 208-885-6386 or Fax 208-885-7760.
Pacific Northwest Conservation
Tillage Handbook Series publications are jointly produced by University
of Idaho Cooperative Extension System, Oregon State University Extension
Service and Washington State University Cooperative Extension. Similar
crops, climate, and topography create a natural geographic unit that crosses
state lines in this region. Joint writing, editing, and production prevent
duplication of effort, broaden the availability of faculty, and substantially
reduce costs for the participating states.
The Pacific Northwest Conservation
Tillage Handbook is a large, three-ring binder handbook that is updated
with new and revised Handbook Series publications. It was initiated in
1989 as a PNW Extension publication in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Updates
to the Handbook are provided when the updating card is returned. By 1999,
47 new PNW Conservation Tillage Handbook Series have been added to the
original 98. Copies of the complete Handbook are available for $20 through
county extension offices in the Northwest or ordered directly by calling
state extension publication offices: Idaho -- (208) 885-7982;
Oregon -- (541)-737-2513; Washington -- (509) 335-2999
(some shipping and handling charges and sales tax may apply). It's now
accessible on the Internet! All of the PNW Conservation Tillage Handbook
and Handbook Series are on the Internet home page (http://pnwsteep.wsu.edu)
Pacific Northwest STEEP III Conservation Tillage Systems Information Source.
The home page also contains recent issues of the PNW STEEP III Extension
Conservation Tillage Update, listings of other conservation tillage
information resources, coming events and much more. For more information
on the Handbook or updates to the Handbook, contact Roger Veseth, WSU/UI
Conservation Tillage Specialist, Plant Soil and Entomological Sciences
Department, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844-2339, phone 208-885-6386,
FAX 208-885-7760, e-mail (rveseth@uidaho.edu).
Cooperative Extension programs
and policies comply with federal and state laws and regulations on nondiscrimination
regarding race, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, disability,
and sexual orientation. The University of Idaho Cooperative Extension
System, Oregon State University Extension Service and Washington State
University Cooperative Extension are Equal Opportunity Employers.
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