PNW Web Site Provides Direct Seed Technology Access

Pacific Northwest Conservation Tillage Handbook Series No. 15
Chapter 10 – New Technology Access, Adaptation and Economics, December 2000

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.

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.

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.