PULLMAN, Wash. — Research trials on direct seeding for Conservation Reserve Program take-out and spring recropping, and direct seeding demonstrations will be featured in field days near Waterville, June 18 and near Ritzville, June 20.
They are part of Monsanto’s “Fields of Tomorrow” field day program in cooperation with Washington State University; University of Idaho; grower groups and agricultural agencies and agribusinesses.
The trials and Fields of Tomorrow program Tuesday, June 18, are located about 11 miles east of Waterville off Highway 2 on the Tony Viebrock farm, 2 miles west of Farmer and half a mile south.
The site is in an 11-inch annual rainfall zone and in its ninth year of CRP crested wheatgrass. Hard red spring wheat plots were seeded April 18 with five direct seeding drills and air seeders, and under a conventional tillage system.
Direct seeding demonstrations will be conducted adjacent to Monsanto’s April-seeded research trials in undisturbed grass, combine-flailed grass and standing spring wheat stubble. Copies of a March 1996 preliminary summary of a WSU statewide research project on management considerations for returning CRP land to crop production will be available at the field day.
Registration and refreshments begin at 8:00 a.m. Drill demonstrations and tours of the CRP take-out and spring recropping trials are from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m..
A complimentary lunch is scheduled from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.. Presentations are planned from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m..
A panel on direct seeding and annual cropping includes three producers: Darrel Oech, Beach, N.D.; Larry Wood, Joplin, Mont.; Dale and Gary Galbreath, Ritzville; and Dr. Kim Kidwell, WSU Spring Wheat Breeder, Pullman.
Two Monsanto representatives will give presentations on aspects of farming in the future. Dr. Dan Gigax, commercial development manager of biotechnology, will speak on biotechnology and the small grain producer, and Dr. Tom Hoogheem, environmental operations director will speak on pesticides, sustainability and the environment.
A similar program will be presented Thursday, June 20, near Ritzville. It will be conducted about 4 miles west of Ritzville on the Ron Jirava/Grant Miller farms on Rosenoff and Dewald Roads. The land is in a 10- to 12-inch annual rainfall zone. The field is in its tenth year of crested wheatgrass. Hard red spring wheat plots were planted April 3 with seven direct seeding drills and air seeders, and under a minimum tillage system.
Registration and refreshments begin at 8:00 a.m.. Drill demonstrations and tours of the CRP take-out and spring recropping trials are from 9:00 to 12:30.
Both programs offer five credits for Washington pesticide applicator recertification and eight credits for Certified Crop Adviser continuing education. See your Monsanto retailer for preregistration and bus travel information on Fields of Tomorrow.
For more information on the CRP take-out and spring recropping research trials, and the statewide Washington CRP take-out project, contact Roger Veseth, WSU/UI Conservation Tillage Specialist, (208) 885-6386.
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