PULLMAN, Wash. — Climate changes over recent decades have resulted in documented reductions in spring snow pack, earlier snow melt and changes in water flow patterns in Washington state.
The Climate Friendly Farming Symposium and Field Day to be held in Pullman June 21 and 22 will explore climate change trends and how they will affect the state’s agriculture industry now and in the future. The Washington State University Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources, the USDA Agricultural Research Service, Northwest Direct Seed Association and WSU Department of Crop and Soil Sciences are sponsoring the event.
The symposium will begin on June 21 with an on-farm bus tour, a demonstration of WSU’s novel anaerobic manure digester technology and an evening public symposium titled “Agriculture and Climate Change.” The symposium will present the latest research on climate change trends from the University of Washington’s Climate Impacts Group.
Thursday, June 22, will be devoted to a field day and additional tours. Topics to be discussed include climate-friendly dryland cropping systems, direct seeding for winter lentils, oil seed crops for biodiesel, biomass crops for energy and ethanol and carbon and nitrogen sequestration and carbon credits. The field day will conclude with a hosted lunch and short program.
There is no charge for the symposium and field day, but space for the on-farm bus tour is limited. Those interested in attending should contact Chad Kruger with WSU’s Climate Friendly Farming Project at cekruger@wsu.edu or 509-663-8181 ext. 235. More information is available at http://csanr.wsu.edu.
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