PULLMAN, Wash. — The latest research to reduce wind erosion and improve air quality in the interior Pacific Northwest will be discussed at the annual research review of the Columbia Plateau Wind Erosion/Air Quality Project Dec. 4-5 at the Red Lion Hotel, Richland.
Scientists from Washington State University and the USDA Agricultural Research Service as well as Northwest farmers and agency personnel will discuss air quality issues, experiences, agricultural emissions, policies, the physics of wind erosion and research into wind erosion control methods.
The program will include sessions on dryland and irrigated cropping systems research, impacts of long-term climatic variability on agriculture, prediction and modeling of dust emissions, and the newly published book entitled “Farming With the Wind II”.
Scheduled speakers include Don Sleight, president of AgriNorthwest, a large corporate farm in the Tri-Cities area. “AgriNorthwest has taken a very proactive approach to reduce wind erosion and improve farm economics,” said Bill Schillinger, WSU research agronomist and project co-leader.
“This meeting will provide growers, scientists, and the general public with an excellent opportunity to learn about and discuss viable methods to reduce dust emissions from agricultural fields and other sources,” Schillinger said.
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 4. A two-day $75 registration fee covers the cost of the meeting, one lunch, a dinner banquet and coffee breaks. Thursday only attendance costs $65, and Friday half-day attendance will cost $15.
For more information or to register, contact Cindy Warriner at (509) 659-3214 or warriner@wsu.edu, or the Web site at http://pnw-winderosion.wsu.edu/.
The Columbia Plateau Wind Erosion/ Air Quality Project addresses problems of windblown dust in the Inland Pacific Northwest, particularly particles 10 microns in size and smaller than can lodge in lungs and lead to health problems.
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