PULLMAN, Wash. — Fourteen U.S. and international growers with a wealth of experience in no-till will speak at the 2001 Northwest Direct Seed Cropping Systems Conference Jan. 17-19, 2001 at the Spokane Doubletree Hotel-City Center.
The overseas contingent includes Jeff Esdaile, who has managed a 10,000-acre farm in New South Wales, Australia for 24 years. He began experimenting in no-till in 1977. The entire farm has been under continuous no-till for the last seven.
Several thousand acres of Michael Horsch’s 30,000-acre farm in Germany have been under continuous no-till for more than 35 years. He also has developed a rapidly growing no-till machinery business that has attracted customers around the world.
Carlos Crovetto, a leading no-till grower from Chile, has had his farm in continuous no-till for 22 years and has noted remarkable improvements in productivity from eroded soils. His farm attracts more than 2,000 visitors from around the world every year.
Researchers and agriculture industry representatives from the Pacific Northwest, Canada and Colorado also are on the program. The program offers in-depth sessions on Northern Great Plains and international experiences; improving soil quality and productivity; crops rotations and management strategies and pest management strategies.
The conference is being held in conjunction with Spokane Ag Expo — January 16-18 — at the adjoining Washington Ag Trade Center and Spokane Convention Center, and the Spokane Arena.
Visit the conference web site (http://pnwsteep.wsu.edu/directseed) for more details. You can request a brochure and registration form by calling the NW Direct Seed Conference office at (509) 547-5538 or by e-mail at Direct Seed maurer@owt.com.
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