Recipient Organization
UNIV OF IDAHO
875 PERIMETER DRIVE
MOSCOW,ID 83844-9803
Performing Department
PLANT SOIL & ENTOMOLOGICAL SCI
Non Technical Summary
Idaho growers and grower advisers need access to current research results on and experiences with residue management, crops and rotations, equipment options, pest control strategies, fertility and other management considerations to develop and maintain successful direct seed and conservation tillage systems. Lack of knowledge about successful management strategies and technologies for direct seed and conservation tillage systems, along with limited grower experience, are still major impediments to adaptation. The size and complexity of tri-state research efforts and limited focus on integration of results into PNW cropping systems in our diverse cropping regions have also been obstacles to grower access to new technologies. Historically, extension educational efforts in the region were focused within respective county and state extension boundaries. In contrast, the PNW Extension programs have facilitated integration of new management technologies as part of cropping
systems strategies and made them more accessible to growers in applicable production areas throughout the Northwest. This project disseminates information on conservation tillage research to growers through several means.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
Increase Pacific Northwest (PNW) grower awareness and adaptation of solutions to environmental and economic problems related research technologies for direct seed and conservation farming systems by presenting new technologies as integrated components of direct seed and conservation systems in specific agronomic regions, and making the information available through: 1) Conservation Tillage Update (newsletter) web-based with electronic distribution 2) PNW Extension Conservation Tillage Handbook Series 3) Web Site -- PNW STEEP Conservation Tillage Systems Technology Source (http://pnwsteep.wsu.edu) which includes publications 1 and 2 above, and many other information resources 4) PNW Direct Seed List Server (E-mail / Internet-based) 5) Poster exhibit at the PNDSA Direct Conference 6) Northwest Field Days and Tours
Project Methods
Procedures by objective: PI will work with researchers and other Ag support personnel to summarize state-of-the-art direct seed and conservation farming technologies from an integrated cropping systems approach. Access to this information will assist growers in 1) selecting new technologies for their agroclimatic areas; 2) incorporating the technologies into their farming systems; and 3) addressing interactions of the technologies with other management components in the systems. 1) Conservation Tillage Update: Update issues will be developed, and put on the PNW STEEP Web site. The newsletter is distributed electronically and by mail, depending on the subscribers preferences. Issues feature PNW Conservation Tillage Handbook Series publications,announcements of region and national educational programs and materials, alerts on seasonal management considerations, overview / highlights of STEEP and related research projects, and other direct seed / conservation tillage
systems topics. This Hatch proposal will provide funding for technical assistance electronic formatting and revision of the Update and enclosed Handbook Series publications with improved format and print quality. 2)Conservation Tillage Handbook Series -PNW Extension publications will be produced annually for distribution in electronic format and available on the STEEP Web site. The publications will focus on new developments in research on management technologies for direct seed and conservation farming systems. 3)Web Site - PNW STEEP Conservation Farming Systems Technology (http://pnwsteep.wsu.edu) A part-time Webmaster (not funded out of this Hatch proposal) will continue to assist the PI in putting online new PNW Conservation Tillage Handbook Series publications, PNW Conservation Tillage Update newsletters, NW Direct Seed Conference pages, annual STEEP Accomplishment Reports, as well as updating the calender of events, adding Web resource links and other information resources. It
is imperative that the Web site information resources be kept up-to-date. 4)PNW Direct Seed List Server -The PI will continue to facilitate and expand the PNW Direct Seed List Server. Messages are stored on the List Server page on the Web site for access by those added to the list over time. Efforts will continue to promote the List Server to growers and Ag-advisers across the Northwest. 5)Poster Exhibition at the PNDSA Cropping Systems Annual Conference The PI will coordinate a STEEP poster session at the PNDSA annual cropping systems conference. 6) Northwest Field Days and Tours on Direct Seed Cropping Systems The PI will provide leadership in organizing field days, and tours of research trials and grower farms to share the results and experiences on direct seed cropping systems in cooperation with other university personnel, grower organizations, and Ag support groups, agencies and industries. However, no direct funding is requested for field days and tours under this project
objective.