Progress 03/13/04 to 03/12/09
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) We will investigate integrated approaches to increase farm income while addressing environmental concerns. Objective 1 quantifies the physical effect impacts of perennial grasses (seed production fields, grassed waterways, and restored native range) and conservation practices (direct seeding, nutrient management planning, and residue management) on water, soil, plant, and animal resources. Objective 2 will assess the potential use of native grass biomass and crop residues for conversion to energy products and how these components fit into conservation management plans that receive income from conservation program payments. Objective 3 will integrate research results using world-wide-web and GIS tools to develop farming, conservation planning, and policy decision support products to predict the impacts of alternative production strategies and agricultural policies on the sustainability of PNW agriculture. Approach (from AD-416) The impacts of grass seed and other agricultural systems on water quality and economic sustainability over a range of Pacific Northwest environmental conditions will be determined. Emphasis is placed on how agricultural practices such as disturbance and residue management and conservation technologies including direct seeding, buffer strips, and riparian areas affect soil chemical and biological components that can impact surface and groundwater quality and wildlife habitat. The value of crop residues and native grasses in riparian areas and buffer strips will be assessed as dual-use biofuel feedstocks. This research will provide information to assist farmers, land use planners, policy makers, and public interest groups in making science-based decisions that enhance natural resource quality and sustain farm economic viability. The research addresses components of National Program Area 207, Integrated Agricultural Systems and NP 307, Bioenergy and Energy Alternatives. Replacement for 5358-21410-001-00D. (Exp 1/04). Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations Significant progress was made in achieving the goals of NP216 Agricultural Systems Competitiveness and Sustainability. We are developing technologies to support sustainable local-based energy production to enhance rural economic development. This year a farm-scale gasifier was constructed at a site located on a working grass seed production farm. The unit is fully operational and has been used to gasify Kentucky bluegrass straw and mill cleanings. Construction and operation of this unit will enable testing the feasibility of converting agricultural residues into energy at a farm site near the source of biomass production. This research will enhance farm economic competitiveness. Further, an added-value product from the straw gasification process is residual ash (biochar), which could serve as a soil supplement to enhance fertility and reduce fertilizer costs. We are testing this feasibility. Farm economics is also directly linked to agricultural sustainability and environmental protection, through incorporation of conservation practices into farm management plans, thus we have made considerable progress towards understanding relationships among biotic and abiotic changes with respect to various land management scenarios and soil and water quality, as well as aquatic wildlife and birds. Our research data from these studies will be integrated into biophysical models to identify optimal sets of management practices that achieve desired outcomes set by policy makers and/or land managers. To work towards this goal a method was developed to estimate the statistical relationship among the economic variables in the Census of Agriculture, and then calculate a new (or synthetic) data set from these relationships that had all the statistical characteristics of the original data. This method protects confidentiality of the Census individual�s records and can be traced back to individual Census records. The statistical approach described in this research has the potential to support the analysis of many of the economic questions facing U.S. Agriculture today. This project was terminated 3/12/09 (Normal Progression) and replaced by CRIS project 5358-21410-003-00D approved through the OSQR process. Technology Transfer Number of Invention Disclosures submitted: 1
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- El Nashaar, H.M., Banowetz, G.M., Griffith, S.M., Casler, M.D., Vogel, K.P. 2009. Genotypic Variability in Mineral Composition of Switchgrass. Bioresource Technology. 100:1809-1814.
- El Nashaar, H.M., Griffith, S.M., Steiner, J.J., Banowetz, G.M. 2009. Mineral Concentration in Selected Native Temperate Grasses with Potential Use as Biofuel Feedstock. Bioresource Technology. 100:3526-3531.
- Banowetz, G.M., Griffith, S.M., El Nashaar, H.M. 2009. Mineral content of grasses grown for seed in low rainfall areas of the Pacific Northwest and analysis of ash from gasification of bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) straw. Energy and Fuels. 23:502-506.
- Banowetz, G.M., Griffith, S.M., Steiner, J.J., El Nashaar, H.M. 2009. Mineral accumulation by perennial grasses in a high rainfall environment. Energy and Fuels. 23:984-988.
- Floyd, W.C., Schoenholtz, S.H., Griffith, S.M., Wigington, P.J., Steiner, J.J. 2009. Nitrate-Nitrogen, Landuse/Landcover, and Soil Drainage Associations at Multiple Spatial Scales. Journal of Environmental Quality. 38:1473-1482.
- Davis, J.H., Griffith, S.M., Horwath, W.R., Steiner, J.J., Myrold, D.D. 2008. Denitrification and Nitrate Consumption in an Herbaceous Riparian Area and Perennial Ryegrass Seed Field. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 72:1299-1310.
- Mueller Warrant, G.W., Whittaker, G.W., Young, W.C. 2008. GIS Analysis of Spatial Clustering and Temporal Change in Weeds of Grass Seed Crops. Weed Science. 56:647-669.
- Banowetz, G.M., Boateng, A.A., Steiner, J.J., Griffith, S.M., Sethi, V., El Nashaar, H. 2008. Assessment of Straw Biomass Feedstock Resources in the Pacific Northwest. Biomass and Bioenergy, 32, 629-634.
- Boateng, A.A., Banowetz, G.M., Steiner, J.J., Barton, T.F., Taylor, D.G., Hicks, K.B., El Nashaar, H., Sethi, V.K. 2007. Gasification of kentucky bluegrass (poa pratensis i.) straw in a farm-scale reactor. Biomass and Bioenergy, 31:153-161.
- Mueller Warrant, G.W., Rosato, S.C. 2005. Weed control for tall fescue seed production and stand duration without burning. Crop Science.45:2614- 2628.
- Whittaker, G.W., Confesor, R., Griffith, S.M., Fare, R., Grosskopf, S., Steiner, J.J., Mueller Warrant, G.W., Banowetz, G.M. 2007. A hybrid genetic algorithm for multiobjective problems with activity analysis-based local search. European Journal of Operations Research.193:195-203.
- Confesor, R.B., Whittaker, G.W. 2007. Automatic Calibration of Hydrologic Models with Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithm and Pareto Optimization . Journal of the American Water Resources Association.43:1-9.
- Davis, J.H., Griffith, S.M., Horwath, W.R., Steiner, J.J., Myrold, D.D. 2007. Mitigation of Shallow Groundwater Nitrate in a Poorly Drained Riparian Area and Adjacent Cropland. Journal of Environmental Quality. 36:628-637.
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Progress 10/01/06 to 09/30/07
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) We will investigate integrated approaches to increase farm income while addressing environmental concerns. Objective 1 quantifies the physical effect impacts of perennial grasses (seed production fields, grassed waterways, and restored native range) and conservation practices (direct seeding, nutrient management planning, and residue management) on water, soil, plant, and animal resources. Objective 2 will assess the potential use of native grass biomass and crop residues for conversion to energy products and how these components fit into conservation management plans that receive income from conservation program payments. Objective 3 will integrate research results using world-wide-web and GIS tools to develop farming, conservation planning, and policy decision support products to predict the impacts of alternative production strategies and agricultural policies on the sustainability of PNW agriculture. Approach (from AD-416) The impacts of grass seed and other agricultural systems on water quality and economic sustainability over a range of Pacific Northwest environmental conditions will be determined. Emphasis is placed on how agricultural practices such as disturbance and residue management and conservation technologies including direct seeding, buffer strips, and riparian areas affect soil chemical and biological components that can impact surface and groundwater quality and wildlife habitat. The value of crop residues and native grasses in riparian areas and buffer strips will be assessed as dual-use biofuel feedstocks. This research will provide information to assist farmers, land use planners, policy makers, and public interest groups in making science-based decisions that enhance natural resource quality and sustain farm economic viability. The research addresses components of National Program Area 207, Integrated Agricultural Systems and NP 307, Bioenergy and Energy Alternatives. Replacement for 5358-21410-001-00D. (Exp 1/04). Accomplishments ARS SWAT Model Applied to Flood Prediction for the National Weather Service. Improved weather data for flood prediction are available, but the most appropriate model to use those data needs to be identified. The ARS model that was developed by the ARS researchers in Corvallis, OR to simulate hydrology and agricultural practices was used in a new application to predict flooding. Hourly radar data provided by the National Weather Service from five study watersheds was used to calibrate Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) models of the hydrology of each watershed. The results, which modeled observed data very well, validated the use of SWAT as the primary physical model for this project. Predictions from these calibrated models will be compared with results from other modeling teams and used to guide future National Weather Service distributed modeling research and applications. This accomplishment addresses National Program 207 Integrated Farming Systems; Problem Area 2 Strategies and Tools to Reduce Producer Risks GIS Identifies Weed Hot-spots. Variability in the location of weeds confounds effective management approaches to control weeds. The Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit in Corvallis defined hotspots for the 36 most commonly occurring weeds in grass seed crops using the GIS database developed in FY 2006. Species most likely to be found in concentrated hot- spots were German velvetgrass, field bindweed, roughstalk bluegrass, and annual bluegrass. Success in display hot-spots of these weeds while maintaining grower anonymity will enable more effective weed management. This accomplishment addresses National Program 207 Integrated Farming Systems; Problem Area 2 Strategies and Tools to Reduce Producer Risks. Satellite Imaging Used to Identify Crops. Landscape scale knowledge of crop production is necessary to understand how practices impact natural resources but collecting it is expensive. The Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit in Corvallis used existing satellite images to identify crops produced on specific fields in a watershed in western Oregon. Data derived from these images was used to characterize tillage and ground cover in multiple drainages that were monitored for water quality by unit scientists and Oregon State University collaborators. This enabled us to extend the use of the satellite imagery to a broader range of crops and permitted an improved understanding of the impact of agricultural practices on natural resources and wildlife habitat. This accomplishment addresses National Program 207 Integrated Farming Systems; Problem Area 3 Strategies to Expand Market Opportunities. Differences Among Switchgrass Varieties Impact Use for Biofuel. Accumulation of silica, chloride, potassium and other minerals reduce the utility of grasses when they are used in gasification. ARS scientists in Corvallis, OR demonstrated that there are varietal differences in how switchgrass accumulates these minerals. Mineral accumulation by six varieties grown at five different locations in the Midwest for a period of two years was quantified. This information will be applied by geneticists that are breeding new varieties of switchgrass for improved characteristics for energy conversion. This accomplishment addresses Problem 1B, Objective 1B1, Identify optimal economic strategies to incorporate bio-based energy production into existing U.S. agricultural systems without compromising natural resource quality, of the NP216 Action Plan, Component 1, Agronomic Crop Production Systems. Native Grasses Differ In Their Quality As Biofuel Feedstock. Certain minerals accumulated in grass straw reduce the useful life of gasification reactors. ARS scientists in Corvallis, OR demonstrated that native grasses collected from four western states differed significantly in the quantities of silica, potassium, chloride and other minerals that impact the suitability of the straw for bioenergy use. We quantified the accumulation of these minerals in nine species of native grasses that have utility in conservation buffer strips. This information will be useful where restoration and conservation planting efforts are designed to permit dual use of these grasses as both conservation aids, and as potential biomass feedstock. This accomplishment addresses Problem 1B, Objective 1B1, Identify optimal economic strategies to incorporate bio- based energy production into existing U.S. agricultural systems without compromising natural resource quality, of the NP216 Action Plan, Component 1, Agronomic Crop Production Systems. Excess Straw for Value-Added Uses. Straw produced during cereal and grass seed production represents a potential feedstock in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, but the amount and location of straw in excess of that required for conservation purposes was not known. Scientists in Corvallis, OR quantified total straw production for all counties in these three states, determined the amount of straw that should be returned to the soil for conservation purposes, and developed a resource map to indicate how much net available straw was produced in the region that might be utilized as biofuel feedstock or other value-added purposes. Over seven million tons of available straw are produced annually in the region. This information will be applied by farmers and entrepreneurs interested in conversion of straw to biofuels or other bioproducts. This accomplishment addresses Problem 1B, Objective 1B1, Identify optimal economic strategies to incorporate bio-based energy production into existing U.S. agricultural systems without compromising natural resource quality, of the NP216 Action Plan, Component 1, Agronomic Crop Production Systems. Restoration of Native Pacific Northwest Prairies. Invasive plants, especially non-native perennial grasses, reduce native diversity and alter vegetation structure, fire regimes, soil characteristics, and faunal diversity. Our current knowledge regarding the effectiveness of techniques for controlling many invasive weeds, especially in sites that retain a significant component of native vegetation, is incomplete. A comprehensive baseline characterization of soils at 11 Pacific Northwest prairie sites was developed by ARS researchers in Corvallis, OR and provided to the Nature Conservancy, Priscilla Bullitt Collins Trust, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, and soon will be transferred to USDA-NRCS. These data are providing conservationists information to help improve and maintain native habitat that will benefit livestock, wildlife, and overall ecosystem health. This accomplishment addresses National Program 207 Integrated Farming Systems; Problem Area 1 Strategies to Reduce Production Costs, Increase Profits, and Enhance Natural Resource Quality. Technology Transfer Number of Non-Peer Reviewed Presentations and Proceedings: 19 Number of Newspaper Articles,Presentations for NonScience Audiences: 15
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
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Progress 10/01/05 to 09/30/06
Outputs
Progress Report 1. What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? Why does it matter? Pacific Northwest grass seed and other grass-based agricultural systems occupy a significant portion of the regional cultivated landscape. Over 60% of the world and 90% of the U.S.A. supply of temperate forage and turf grass seeds are produced in this region. Future commodity prices are expected to remain within their historic range while costs of production will increase. Provisions of the Federal Clean Water, Air, and Coastal Zone Management Acts, the Endangered Species Act, and the Food Quality Protection Act designed to improve natural resource quality have significantly affected the production options available to farmers in the region. Further constraints are anticipated because of listings of threatened migratory fish species in the Columbia River and it tributaries. Soil loss to
water erosion continues to be a problem in all states in the region, and restricted land use to manage population growth may disproportionately affect small farm operations. Regardless of the regulations that impact agricultural practices, seed end-product quality must still meet standards specified by the Federal Seed Act and meet consumer demands in the U.S. and exports abroad. Because of natural resource quality concerns and increasing economic pressures, there is a need for new production systems that can enhance natural resources and increase productivity and profitability to farmers. Since relatively small incremental returns are achieved by increasing production efficiency, value-added opportunities that fit into these systems could provide additional ways for increased farm income. Implementation of effective conservation technologies that qualify for Federal conservation program payments also offers a value-added source of revenue. Our research plan investigated integrated
approaches to increase farm income while addressing environmental concerns. Objective 1 quantified the physical effects of perennial grasses (seed production fields, grassed waterways, and restored native range) and conservation practices (direct seeding, nutrient management planning, and residue management) on water, soil, plant, and animal resources. Objective 2 assessed the potential use of native grass biomass and crop residues for conversion to energy products and how these components fit into conservation management plans that receive income from conservation program payments. Objective 3 integrated research results using world-wide-web and GIS tools to develop farming, conservation planning, and policy decision support products to predict the impacts of production strategies and agricultural policies on the agriculture. Overall, this research provides information to assist farmers, land use planners, policy makers, and public interest groups in making science-based decisions
that enhance natural resource quality and increase farm economic viability. This project is assigned to National Program 207, Integrated Farming Systems. 2. List by year the currently approved milestones (indicators of research progress) FY2004 Obtain native grass samples from USDA-NRCS Plant Material Centers. Conduct controlled dry mass accumulation and phenology development experiments Obtain yield monitor data. Boundary map 10% coverage completed. Conduct wet chemistry analyses and develop NIR calibration curves . Determine optimal feedstock harvest times for each species and recommendations for the different ecoregions and landscapes . Determine the suitability of grass feedstocks for high-quality synthesis gas production in on-farm scale reactor technology. Data collection for economic and physical effects models. Complete web conversion of RUSLE1, WEPP, SCI, MSBG, SISL, and WinPST. Incorporate Digital Elevation Model function into the map viewer using web tools. Develop beta web
site for Yolo County RCD. CREEDA integration of individual application data inputs and data sharing among applications. Aquatic and terrestrial vertebrate population and concurrent resident water quality sampling and analyses. FY2005 Import data to R statistical package and determine spatial yield distributions. Boundary map 50% coverage completed. Deliver stable platform program with interface to Yolo County RCD. Begin public release of web development tools. Conduct wet chemistry analyses and develop NIR calibration curves. Determine optimal feedstock harvest times for each species and recommendations for the different ecoregions and landscapes. Determine the suitability of grass feedstocks for high-quality synthesis gas production in on-farm scale reactor technology. Data collection for economic and physical effects models. Complete web conversion of RUSLE1, WEPP, SCI, MSBG, SISL, and WinPST. Incorporate Digital Elevation Model function into the map viewer using web tools. Develop
beta web site for Yolo County RCD. CREEDA integration of individual application data inputs and data sharing among applications. Aquatic and terrestrial vertebrate population and concurrent resident water quality sampling and analyses. Adapt WEPP functions to irrigated systems including sediment mitigation analyses. Assess and convert additional stand-alone programs to web-based use. Deliver individual application components to USDA-NRCS partners. Plant, soil, and water data will be collected and used to demonstrate the effectiveness of no till practices on soil and water quality. Impacts of tillage on water and soil quality will be provided to land managers to help implement/improve conservation practices on farm. Plant and soil data will be collected and used to demonstrate the effectiveness of restored native plant grassland on rangeland ecology. Biotic and abiotic effects of restored native perennial grasslands into historical non-native annual grasslands will be known and
information transferred to land managers to facilitate science-based management decisions. Spatial database established and maintained. Analyze drainage network and develop watershed model. Determine impacts of habitat characteristics on aquatic wildlife distributions and health. Field inspection database factors correlated with each other for current boundary map. Fields identified that depart from trends for in-depth follow-up. FY2006 Multivariate analyses and spatial optimizations. GIS visualization and specific maps developed. Boundary map 100% coverage completed. CREEDA integration of individual application data inputs and data sharing among applications. Adapt WEPP functions to irrigated systems including sediment mitigation analyses Assess and convert additional stand-alone programs to web-based use. Deliver individual application components to USDA-NRCS partners. Aquatic and terrestrial vertebrate population and concurrent resident water quality sampling and analyses. Plant,
soil, and water data will be collected and used to demonstrate the effectiveness of no till practices on soil and water quality. Impacts of tillage on water and soil quality will be provided to land managers to help implement/improve conservation practices on farm. Plant and soil data will be collected and used to demonstrate the effectiveness of restored native plant grassland on rangeland ecology. Biotic and abiotic effects of restored native perennial grasslands into historical non-native annual grasslands will be known and information transferred to land managers to facilitate science-based management decisions. Spatial database established and maintained. Analyze drainage network and develop watershed model. Determine impacts of habitat characteristics on aquatic wildlife distributions and health. Field inspection database factors correlated with each other for current boundary map. Fields identified that depart from trends for in-depth follow-up. Integrate results with other
system components and develop landscape- level management recommendations. Collect field samples for carbon balance. DEA modeling. Watershed level hydrologic modeling. Spatial statistical analyses. Seed test database correlated with field inspection database for current boundary map. Spatial links between economic & physical effects models. Proposed USDA-NRCS conservation planning tool interface development. FY2007 Report results and provide site-specific habitat management options to USDA-NRCS and industry to help plan landscape-level management contingencies. Field-specific decision aid developed for crop and conservation area optimizations. Develop remote sensing procedures able to identify grasses grown for seed by species. Integrate results with other system components and develop landscape- level management recommendations. Collect field samples for carbon balance. DEA modeling. Watershed level hydrologic modeling. Spatial statistical analyses. Seed test database correlated with
field inspection database for current boundary map. Spatial links between economic & physical effects models. Proposed USDA-NRCS conservation planning tool interface development. Update boundary map database annually. Policy instrument scenarios, simulations, and analyses. Spatial database established and maintained. Analyze drainage network and develop watershed model. Determine impacts of habitat characteristics on aquatic wildlife distributions and health. Field inspection database factors correlated with each other for current boundary map. Fields identified that depart from trends for in-depth follow-up. FY2008 Integration of model systems with alternative optimized components including carbon cycle and carbon sequestration. Monitor levels of herbicide resistance in weed seeds found in seed lab purity tests. Use remote sensing techniques to add non-certified production to map database. Seed test database correlated with field inspection database for current boundary map. Spatial
links between economic & physical effects models. Proposed USDA-NRCS conservation planning tool interface development. Update boundary map database annually. Policy instrument scenarios, simulations, and analyses. Field inspection database factors correlated with each other for current boundary map. Fields identified that depart from trends for in-depth follow-up. 4a List the single most significant research accomplishment during FY 2006. GIS Analysis of Grass Seed Weeds. A GIS database that relates the severity of grass seed weeds in one year to their severity in surrounding fields during previous years was developed by the Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit in Corvallis. This accomplishment provides landscape-level views of the distribution and changes in weed populations across an entire industry during a recent period of dramatic changes in crop production practices and enables new approaches to determine how management practices impact weed severity. Data on the occurrence and
severity of weeds from over 10,000 inspection reports were linked to actual production fields and related to the cropping practices including crop rotation and stand age that may have impacted the occurrence of weeds in the crops. This accomplishment provided unprecedented detail on how weed species change across the landscape under different cropping practices, identified a need for grass seed herbicide registrations, and documented the efficiency of farmer and seed industry management of grass seed production. This accomplishment addresses National Program 207 Integrated Farming Systems; Problem Area 2 Strategies and Tools to Reduce Producer Risks. 4b List other significant research accomplishment(s), if any. Remote Sensing of Grass Seed Cropping System Components in a Landscape. The Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit in Corvallis developed a Geographic Information System (GIS) representing grass seed cropping system practices utilized during 2004 and 2005 in Linn County, Oregon,
in six major categories from a ground-truth roadside census and a series of Landsat images. The GIS is being used to characterize spatial variability in tillage and ground cover within numerous sub-basin drainages being monitored for water quality by unit scientists and Oregon State University collaborators. Classification methods were developed that distinguished highly similar crops at an accuracy of 74%, and extensions of these methods will allow us to expand the scope of the GIS. In addition to research in water quality and conservation practices, the data are of great interest to private industry personnel looking for improved methods to track grass seed acreage for production forecasting/price negotiations and feasibility studies of biomass conversion to ethanol. This accomplishment addresses National Program 207 Integrated Farming Systems; Problem Area 3 Strategies to Expand Market Opportunities. Geospatial Analysis of Grass Seed Yield Monitor Data. The Forage Seed and Cereal
Research Unit in Corvallis developed procedures to improve the quality of combine yield monitor data by use of variation in ground travel speed as an indicator of suboptimal operating conditions. Traditional approaches for improving quality of yield monitor data used ad hoc removal of aberrant data points, a procedure likely to distort the data by omitting points of interest merely because they differed too far from the average. Data from over 200 harvests were analyzed using automated procedures to improve data quality and evaluate the impact of soil type and field elevation on seed yield. Improved analysis validity will increase the value of combine yield monitor data in developing precision agriculture site-specific management plans to improve production efficiency and economic return. This accomplishment addresses National Program 207 Integrated Farming Systems; Problem Area 1 Strategies to Reduce Production Costs, Increase Profits, and Enhance Natural Resource Quality. Grass Seed
Farming Landscapes Provide Excellent Fish and Wildlife Habitat. ARS scientists at Corvallis, OR, in cooperation with local farmers and State and Federal extension and scientists of different disciplines, found that native fish and amphibians utilized seasonal streams, originating from western Oregon grass seed fields, serve as refuge during the winter high flow periods and water quality constituents were found to be at ranges not harmful to aquatic wildlife. These are important findings showing that farm aquatic and terrestrial habitats can indeed protect many fish and wildlife species, and thus serve as a valuable resource worthy of enhancement and protection. To accomplish this work, aquatic wildlife populations and water quality measurements were concurrently assessed throughout the year at over 100 field sites. These studies are providing the first-of-its-kind comprehensive information showing how managed upland agricultural landscapes in watersheds where species listed under the
Endangered Species Act can flourish during seed production cycles. This accomplishment addresses National Program 207 Integrated Farming Systems; Problem Area 1 Strategies to Reduce Production Costs, Increase Profits, and Enhance Natural Resource Quality. Development of Dynamic Linkage between Economic and Physical Models. ARS scientists at Corvallis, OR, in cooperation with economists at Oregon State University developed a novel method to use economic and physical models together for policy analysis. It is clear that the environment responds to producer behavior while the producer responds to both the environment and policy, but there was no modeling system that described these interactions all at once. This research used new mathematical techniques from computer science to simulate the simultaneous interactions of producers with the environment. This new software provides a more accurate decision tool than is currently available to evaluate application and placement of
conservation practices in the landscape. This accomplishment addresses National Program 207 Integrated Farming Systems; Problem Area 2 Strategies and Tools to Reduce Producer Risks. 5. Describe the major accomplishments to date and their predicted or actual impact. Economic Pacific Northwest Grass Seed Production Systems That Do Not Need Burning. Due to safety and health concerns, burning has been curtailed for much of the 560,000 acres of grass seed produced in the Pacific Northwestern states. The Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit has completed a 10-year experiment in western Oregon that demonstrated perennial grass seed crops can be economically produced without burning by using no-till seeding in combination with chopping back all of the straw onto fields after harvest. Compared to conventional tillage establishment with straw removed by baling, the ARS conservation system reduces soil erosion 40-77%, nitrate-nitrogen leaching 50%, establishment costs $27-162 per acre, can
increase seed yields, allows earlier spring planting times, and increase recreation time for farmers. Growers are experimenting with how to best use these new practices on 15,000 acres in Oregon and Washington and the USDA-NRCS has adopted no-till seeding and full straw management as practices to help farmers qualify for USDA Farm Bill conservation program payments. This accomplishment addresses National Program 207 Integrated Farming Systems; Problem Area 1 Strategies to Reduce Production Costs, Increase Profits, and Enhance Natural Resource Quality. Web-based Planning Tools for Conservation Managers. The Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit in Corvallis and the Oregon State University, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science have developed the first integrated Web-based conservation planning tool platform linked to a relational database and served by a Web-based (geographic information system) map browser. The Oregon NRCS state office estimates 200 hours of
planning time will be saved annually by using automated conservation worksheets. The Online Agriculture Conservation (OAC) Planning Tool Box was delivered to the Yolo County (CA) Resource Conservation District to evaluate conservation education activities. WebGRMS (Germplasm Management System) software emulating the USDA Genetic Resources Information Network (GRIN) database allows geospatial analyses of germplasm collections and demonstrates managers can easily use GIS tools without any GIS software training using low-cost Linux operating system free-ware. This accomplishment addresses National Program 207 Integrated Farming Systems; Problem Area 2 Strategies and Tools to Reduce Producer Risks. Accurate Method Using Satellite Images to Estimate Disturbance and Landuse in Watersheds. The Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit in Corvallis developed a method using Landsat satellite images to accurately estimate variability from amounts of tillage and kinds of crops being grown within and
among different sub-watersheds of the Calapooia River drainage in the Willamette Valley, Oregon. Six major land use categories were verified by a ground-truth census that showed the method to be 74% accurate. This new geographic information system-based method will help researchers obtain remote-sensed information about agricultural practices impacts on water quality at the landscape-level and help farmers choose the best ways to reduce nutrient and sediment loading from their fields to streams to meet legislated water quality standards. This research also supports the USDA Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP). This accomplishment addresses National Program 207 Integrated Farming Systems; Problem Area 2 Strategies and Tools to Reduce Producer Risks. Benefits Shown for Restoring Native California Perennial Grasslands. The Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit in Corvallis, OR and California Audubon Society showed that central California Mediterranean rangeland restored to
deep-rooted native perennial grasses increased water percolation amount and soil-water retention, and improved soil fertility that in turn resulted in greater of biomass production with higher forage quality than range dominated by annual grasses. Much of the grasslands in central California have been degraded by poor management practices and replaced by invasive annual species. Our research showed that land restored to native perennial grasses allowed greater water infiltration, held more nitrogen and atmospheric carbon, and produced 35% greater biomass with higher nutritive value than range dominated with non-native annual grasses. These findings are assisting conservationists and showing landowners the benefits of restoring annual grasslands that will benefit livestock, wildlife, and overall ecosystem health. This accomplishment addresses National Program 207 Integrated Farming Systems; Problem Area 1 Strategies to Reduce Production Costs, Increase Profits, and Enhance Natural
Resource Quality. Fast and User-Friendly Method for Fitting SWAT to Observe River Flows. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) is a powerful model that estimates the physical effects of agricultural and conservation practices at the landscape level using several hundred variables. The Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit in Corvallis, Oregon developed a method for non- technical users to automatically match the model prediction of water flows throughout a watershed with observed measurements. Our approach is done on a parallel computer to greatly increase the speed of calculations and was applied to the Calapooia River basin with high accuracy. This new automatic calibration method will help watershed managers who do not have the technical expertise or time to use SWAT and find the best ways to manage water quality. This research also supports the USDA Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) to demonstrate the effectiveness of conservation methods supported by the USDA Farm
Bill. This accomplishment addresses National Program 207 Integrated Farming Systems; Problem Area 2 Strategies and Tools to Reduce Producer Risks. 6. What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the science and/or technology likely to become available to the end- user (industry, farmer, other scientists)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption and durability of the technology products? Griffith, S.M. Water Quality in Grass Seed Production Landscapes of western Oregon. Oregon Ryegrass Commission Annual Meeting, Albany, OR, January 18, 2006. Mueller-Warrant, G.W. Hyslop Field Day tour was given to interested growers and field reps, with a talk on GIS analysis of crop rotation and stand age effects on grass seed weeds. May 2006. Corvallis, OR. Mueller-Warrant, G.W. Presentation to European seed production representatives regarding GIS approaches to weed ecology presented July 3, 2006. 7. List your most important publications in the popular
press and presentations to organizations and articles written about your work. (NOTE: List your peer reviewed publications below). Banowetz, G.M. Local-scale bioenergy production. Presented to city council and local citizens in Bellingham, WA, April 17, 2006. El-Nashaar, H.M., S.M. Griffith, J.J. Steiner and G.M. Banowetz. Mineral content of grasses with potential use as biofuel feedstock. Seed Production Research at Oregon State University. Young, W.C. III (ed). p. 87-94. 2006. (technical bulletin) Gavin, W.E., G.M. Banowetz, J.J. Steiner, S.M. Griffith and G.W. Mueller- Warrant. Fast and accurate method for estimating slug densities. Seed Production Research at Oregon State University. Young, W.C. III (ed). p. 32-35. 2006. (technical bulletin) Giannico, G.R., J.L. Li, K.S. Boyer, R.W. Colvin, B. Gerth, M.E. Mellbye, S.M. Griffith, and J.J. Steiner. Fish and amphibian use of intermitagricultural waterways in the south Willamette Valley. p. 61-64. In W.C. Young III (ed.) Seed
Production Research at Oregon State University, USDA-ARS Cooperating. 2005. Dep. Crop and Soil Science Ext/CrS 125, April. Corvallis, OR. 2006. (Technical bulletin) Griffith, S. M. Enhancing environmental quality and resource conservation in Pacific Northwest Kentucky bluegrass seed agriculture. International SWCS Conference - Resource Conservation and Environmental Management Conference, 22-26 July 2006, Keystone, CO Griffith, S.M. Santiam Canal: Water Quality Through Urban and Rural Landscapes. p. 56-60. In W.C. Young III (ed.) Seed Production Research at Oregon State University, USDA-ARS Cooperating. 2005. Dep. Crop and Soil Science Ext/CrS 125, April. Corvallis, OR. 2006. (Technical bulletin) Griffith, S.M. and G.A. Murray. Comparison of Nitrogen Fertilizers: Effects On Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.). In W.C. Young III (ed.) Seed Production Research at Oregon State University, USDA-ARS Cooperating. 2005. Dep. Crop and Soil Science Ext/CrS 125, April. Corvallis, OR. 2006.
(Technical bulletin) Mueller-Warrant, G.W., G.W. Whittaker, and W.C. Young III. GIS Analysis of Crop Rotation and Stand Age on Grass Seed Weeds. In: 2005 Seed Production Research, ed. W. Young, III, Oregon State University Extension and USDA-ARS, Corvallis, OR, pp. 10-13. 2006. Steiner, J.J., W.E. Gavin, G.W. Mueller-Warrant, S.M. Griffith, G.W. Whittaker, and G.M. Banowetz. Cropping System Management Options for Willamette Valley Voles. In: 2005 Seed Production Research, ed. W. Young, III, Oregon State University Extension and USDA-ARS, Corvallis, OR, pp. 1- 3. 2006. Steiner, J.J., G.W. Mueller-Warrant, S.M. Griffith, G.W. Whittaker and G. M. Banowetz. Meadowfoam management in perennial grass seed production systems. Seed Production Research at Oregon State University. Young, W.C. III (ed). p. 39-45. 2006. (technical bulletin).
Impacts
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Publications
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Progress 10/01/04 to 09/30/05
Outputs
1. What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? What does it matter? Pacific Northwest grass seed and other grass-based agricultural systems occupy a significant portion of the regional cultivated landscape. Over 60% of the world and 90% of the U.S.A. supply of temperate forage and turf grass seeds are produced in this region. Future commodity prices are expected to remain within their historic range while costs of production will increase. Provisions of the Federal Clean Water, Air, and Coastal Zone Management Acts, the Endangered Species Act, and the Food Quality Protection Act designed to improve natural resource quality have significantly affected the production options available to farmers in the region. Further constraints are anticipated because of listings of threatened migratory fish species in the Columbia River and it tributaries. Soil loss to water erosion
continues to be a problem in all states in the region, and restricted land use to manage population growth may disproportionately affect small farm operations. Regardless of the regulations that impact agricultural practices, seed end-product quality must still meet standards specified by the Federal Seed Act and meet consumer demands in the U.S. and exports abroad. Because of natural resource quality concerns and increasing economic pressures, there is a need for new production systems that can enhance natural resources and increase productivity and profitability to farmers. Since relatively small incremental returns are achieved by increasing production efficiency, value-added opportunities that fit into these systems could provide additional ways for increased farm income. Implementation of effective conservation technologies that qualify for Federal conservation program payments also offers a value-added source of revenue. Our research plan investigated integrated approaches to
increase farm income while addressing environmental concerns. Objective 1 quantified the physical effects of perennial grasses (seed production fields, grassed waterways, and restored native range) and conservation practices (direct seeding, nutrient management planning, and residue management) on water, soil, plant, and animal resources. Objective 2 assessed the potential use of native grass biomass and crop residues for conversion to energy products and how these components fit into conservation management plans that receive income from conservation program payments. Objective 3 integrated research results using world-wide-web and GIS tools to develop farming, conservation planning, and policy decision support products to predict the impacts of production strategies and agricultural policies on the agriculture. Overall, this research provides information to assist farmers, land use planners, policy makers, and public interest groups in making science-based decisions that enhance
natural resource quality and increase farm economic viability. 2. List the milestones (indicators of progress) from your Project Plan. Objective 1. Quantify the impact of perennial grasses and conservation practices on water, soil, plant, and animal resources. Sub-objective 1. Determine the effectiveness of upland grass seed production systems and conservation practices in reducing winter and irrigation sediment runoff, enhancing soil quality, and reducing off-site nutrient loading to drainages and streams. Plant, soil, and water data will be collected and used to demonstrate the effectiveness of no till practices on soil and water quality. FY 2005-2007 Impacts of tillage on water and soil quality will be provided to land managers to help implement/improve conservation practices on farm. FY 2005-2007 Sub-objective 2. Compare the health of annual grassland and restored native perennial grassland ecosystems. Plant and soil data will be collected and used to demonstrate the
effectiveness of restored native plant grassland on rangeland ecology. FY 2005-2007 Biotic and abiotic effects of restored native perennial grasslands into historical non-native annual grasslands will be known and information transferred to land managers to facilitate science-based management decisions. FY 2005-2007 Sub-objective 3. Determine the relative contributions of grass seed fields and adjacent riparian zones to aquatic wildlife habitat quality. Aquatic and terrestrial vertebrate population and concurrent resident water quality sampling and analyses FY2004-2007 Spatial database established and maintained FY2005-2007 Analyze drainage network and develop watershed model FY2005-2007 Determine impacts of habitat characteristics on aquatic wildlife distributions and health FY2005-2007 Report results and provide site-specific habitat management options to USDA-NRCS and industry to help plan landscape-level management contingencies FY 2007 Objective 2. Develop value-added
opportunities for grass seed production systems using residues as bioenergy product feedstocks and participation in Farm Bill Conservation Programs with appropriate use of conservation areas. Sub-objective 1. Determine the potential of native and cultivated grass biomass for conversion to energy products and their role in the profitability of Pacific Northwest agricultural systems. Obtain native grass samples from USDA-NRCS Plant Material Centers FY2004 Conduct controlled dry mass accumulation and phenology development experiments FY2004 Conduct wet chemistry analyses and develop NIR calibration curves FY2004- 2005 Determine optimal feedstock harvest times for each species and recommendations for the different ecoregions and landscapes FY2004-2005 Determine the suitability of grass feedstocks for high-quality synthesis gas production in on-farm scale reactor technology. FY2004-2005 Integrate results with other system components and develop landscape- level management recommendations
FY2006-2007 Sub-objective 2. Determine effective configurations of native grasses suitable for dual use as riparian mitigants in seasonally inundated areas neighboring agricultural fields, and as dry-season energy product feedstocks. Obtain yield monitor data FY2004 Import data to R statistical package and determine spatial yield distributions. FY2005 Multivariate analyses and spatial optimizations. FY2006 GIS visualization and specific maps developed. FY2006 Field-specific decision aid developed for crop and conservation area optimizations. FY 2007 Collect field samples for carbon balance. FY2006-2007 Integration of model systems with alternative optimized components including carbon cycle and carbon sequestration. FY2008 Objective 3. Integrate research results to develop farm production, conservation planning, and policy decision support products to predict impacts of production strategies and agricultural policies on sustainability of Northwest agriculture. Sub-objective 1.
Quantify the impact of contrasting production practices and evolving technologies on long-term, landscape-scale changes in weed demographics. Boundary map 10% coverage completed. FY2004 Boundary map 50% coverage completed. FY2005 Boundary map 100% coverage completed. FY2006 Update boundary map database annually. FY2007-2008 Field inspection database factors correlated with each other for current boundary map. FY2005-2008 Fields identified that depart from trends for in-depth follow-up. FY2005- 2008 Seed test database correlated with field inspection database for current boundary map. FY2006-2008 Monitor levels of herbicide resistance in weed seeds found in seed lab purity tests. FY2008 Develop remote sensing procedures able to identify grasses grown for seed by species. FY2007 Use remote sensing techniques to add non-certified production to map database. FY2008 Sub-objective 2. Quantify the impact of agricultural pollution abatement strategies and policy instruments on production
efficiency and profitability of different sized farms. Data collection for economic and physical effects models. FY2004-2005 DEA modeling. FY2006-2007 Watershed level hydrologic modeling. FY2006-2007 Spatial statistical analyses. FY2006-2007 Spatial links between economic & physical effects models. FY2006-2008 Policy instrument scenarios, simulations, and analyses. FY2007-2008 Sub-objective 3. Deliver web-based decision tools that make integrated economic and natural resource impact assessments and utilize site- specific and landscape-level research findings. Complete web conversion of RUSLE1, WEPP, SCI, MSBG, SISL, and WinPST. FY2004 Incorporate Digital Elevation Model function into the map viewer using web tools. FY2004-2005 Adapt WEPP functions to irrigated systems including sediment mitigation analyses. FY2005-2006 Assess and convert additional stand-alone programs to web-based use. FY2005-2006 CREEDA integration of individual application data inputs and data sharing among
applications. FY2004-2006 Begin public release of web development tools. FY2005 Develop beta web site for Yolo County RCD. FY2004-2005 Deliver stable platform program with interface to Yolo County RCD. FY2005 Deliver individual application components to USDA-NRCS partners. FY2005- 2006 Proposed USDA-NRCS conservation planning tool interface development. FY2006-2008 3a List the milestones that were scheduled to be addressed in FY 2005. For each milestone, indicate the status: fully met, substantially met, or not met. If not met, why. 1. Quantify the impact of perennial grasses and conservation practices on water, soil, plant, and animal resources. Determine the effectiveness of upland grass seed production systems and conservation practices in reducing winter and irrigation sediment runoff, enhancing soil quality, and reducing off-site nutrient loading to drainages and streams. Plant, soil, and water data will be collected and used to demonstrate the effectiveness of no till
practices on soil and water quality. Milestone Fully Met 2. Impacts of tillage on water and soil quality will be provided to land managers to help implement/improve conservation practices on farm. Milestone Fully Met 3. Compare the health of annual grassland and restored native perennial grassland ecosystems.Plant and soil data will be collected and used to demonstrate the effectiveness of restored native plant grassland on rangeland ecology. Milestone Substantially Met 4. Biotic and abiotic effects of restored native perennial grasslands into historical non-native annual grasslands will be known and information transferred to land managers to facilitate science-based management decisions. Milestone Substantially Met 5. Determine the relative contributions of grass seed fields and adjacent riparian zones to aquatic wildlife habitat quality. Aquatic and terrestrial vertebrate population and concurrent resident water sampling for three-year preliminary study and database preparation.
Milestone Fully Met 6. Physical and biological characteristics for a sample agricultural drainage network characterized for next phase study. Milestone Fully Met 7. SWAT calibration of entire watershed. Calibration of hydrology for SWAT model of entire basin, with 17 sub-watersheds. Milestone Fully Met 8. Characterization of drainage network effects on aquatic wildlife distribution. Milestone Fully Met 9. Results provided to USDA-NRCS. Milestone Substantially Met 10. Develop value-added opportunities for grass seed production systems using residues as bioenergy product feedstocks and participation in Farm Bill Conservation Programs with appropriate use of conservation areas. Determine the potential of native and cultivated grass biomass for conversion to energy products and their role in the profitability of Pacific Northwest agricultural systems. Wet chemistry analyses and NIR calibration curve development. Milestone Not Met Other 11. Integration of biomass component with overall
production system. Milestone Substantially Met 12. Determine effective configurations of native grasses suitable for dual use as riparian mitigants in seasonally inundated areas neighboring agricultural fields, and as dry-season energy product feedstocks. Import data to R statistical package and determine spatial yield distributions. Milestone Substantially Met 13. Integrate research results to develop farm production, conservation planning, and policy decision support products to predict impacts of production strategies and agricultural policies on sustainability of Northwest agriculture. Quantify the impact of contrasting production practices and evolving technologies on long-term, landscape-scale changes in weed demographics. Milestone Not Met Other 14. Quantify the impact of agricultural pollution abatement strategies and policy instruments on production efficiency and profitability of different sized farms. Data Envelopment Analysis modeling. Milestone Substantially Met 15.
Watershed-level hydrologic modeling. Milestone Substantially Met 16. Spatial statistical analyses. Milestone Substantially Met 17. Spatial links between economic & physical affects models. Milestone Substantially Met 18. Deliver web-based decision tools that make integrated economic and natural resource impact assessments and utilize site-specific and landscape-level research findings. Milestone Fully Met 19. Conversion of stand-alone programs to Web-based applications. Milestone Fully Met 20. CREEDA integration of components. Milestone Fully Met 21. Delivery of Web development tools to public. Milestone Substantially Met 22. Beta Website for Yolo County RCD. Milestone Fully Met 23. Component delivery to Oregon NRCS. Milestone Fully Met 24. Proposed USDA-NRCS conservation planning tool interface development. Milestone Substantially Met 25. Site-specific economic and environmental impact assessments for other project objectives. Milestone Substantially Met 26. Exploration of automated
uploading of site-specific results. Milestone Substantially Met 3b List the milestones that you expect to address over the next 3 years (FY 2006, 2007, and 2008). What do you expect to accomplish, year by year, over the next 3 years under each milestone? 2006 1. Plant, soil, and water data will be collected and used to demonstrate the effectiveness of no till practices on soil and water quality. Findings will show that direct seeding will improve ground and surface water quality and improve soil health by recycling nutrients and enhancing soil physical and biological properties. 2. Impacts of tillage on water and soil quality will be provided to land managers to help implement/improve conservation practices on farm. The experimental data will be analyzed and findings reported in various scientific publications and trade journals and at end-user workshop and conferences. 3. Plant and soil data will be collected and used to demonstrate the effectiveness of restored native plant
grassland on rangeland ecology. Findings will show that restored grasslands using native perennial grass species will improve soil health by recycling nutrients and enhancing soil physical and biological properties and this in turn will enhance forage production and allow native grass stands to better compete with noxious weed invasions. 4. Biotic and abiotic effects of restored native perennial grasslands into historical non-native annual grasslands will be known and information transferred to land managers to facilitate science-based management decisions. The experimental data will be analyzed and findings reported in various scientific publications and trade journals and at end- user workshop and conferences. 5. Aquatic and terrestrial vertebrate population and concurrent resident water quality sampling and analyses Landscape features that enhance wildlife populations will be identified to recommend conservation enhancements for farms. 6. Spatial database established and
maintained. GIS database to support whole-farm conservation management decisions will be available. 7. Analyze drainage network and develop watershed model. A calibrated SWAT model for the Calapooia River watershed will be available for assessing the impacts of production and conservation practice options. 8. Determine impacts of habitat characteristics on aquatic wildlife distributions and health. Wildlife behavior will be understood and incorporated into the decision model. 9. Conduct wet chemistry analyses and develop NIR calibration curves. The range of organic and inorganic constituents through phenological stages of development for native grasses and grass seed straw will be known. 10. Determine optimal feedstock harvest times for each species and recommendations for the different ecoregions and landscapes. The relationship of plant phenology to feedstock quality and anti-quality factors affecting the production of value-added productions will be known. 11. Determine the
suitability of grass feedstocks for high-quality synthesis gas production in on-farm scale reactor technology. The feasibility of converting straw feedstocks to high quality synthesis gas using farm-scale gasification technology will be known. 12. Integrate results with other system components and develop landscape- level management recommendations. The impact of utilizing straw residues for energy production on whole-farm income and natural resource quality will be known. 13. Assess suitability of grass straw and conversion efficiency in a pilot gasification reactor under specific cooperative agreement with Western Research Institute, Laramie, WY. A suitable reactor technology for on-farm use will be identified. 14. Assess the feasibility of on-farm generation of energy products.. A life-cycle analysis of on-farm energy production based on gasification reactor conversion of straw will be available to direct on-farm testing of a gasification reactor. 15. Boundary map 100% coverage
completed. Progress toward this objective will be contingent on resolution of OSU Seed Certification data confidentiality concerns. 16. Fields identified that depart from trends for in-depth follow-up. Seed test database correlated with field inspection database for current boundary map. Progress toward this objective will be contingent on resolution of OSU Seed Certification data confidentiality concerns. 17. Develop remote sensing procedures able to identify grasses grown for seed by species. 18. Classification procedures developed combining Landsat and other remotely-sensed images with data from ground-truth surveys will identify additional production practices and to function over broader geographic regions. 19. DEA modeling. The economic model will be defined using data envelopment analysis. 20. Watershed level hydrologic modeling. The SWAT model will be defined. 21. Spatial statistical analyses. The factors describing the spatial relationships of farmer production
practices and environmental variability across a watershed landscape will be known. 22. Spatial links between economic & physical effects models. By combining physical effects and economic models into an integrated decision tool, we will have the capacity to calculate the profitability and environmental quality optima given different goals specified by farmers and conservation interests. 23. Policy instrument scenarios, simulations, and analyses. We will have the capacity to solve the multiple objective optimization problems involving farm profitability and natural resource management. 24. Development of the Oregon USDA-NRCS of prototype Landowner Self- assessment tool using a Web-based version of the NRCS Conservation Security Program: Self-Assessment Workbook linked to a Web map server. Integrated conservation assessment tools to support delivery of the NRCS Conservation Security Program services. 2007 1. Plant, soil, and water data will be collected and used to demonstrate the
effectiveness of no till practices on soil and water quality. Findings will show that direct seeding will improve ground and surface water quality and improve soil health by recycling nutrients and enhancing soil physical and biological properties. 2. Impacts of tillage on water and soil quality will be provided to land managers to help implement/improve conservation practices on farm. The experimental data will be analyzed and findings reported in various scientific publications and trade journals and at end-user workshop and conferences. 3. Plant and soil data will be collected and used to demonstrate the effectiveness of restored native plant grassland on rangeland ecology. Findings will show that restored grasslands using native perennial grass species will improve soil health by recycling nutrients and enhancing soil physical and biological properties and this in turn will enhance forage production and allow native grass stands to better compete with noxious weed invasions. 4.
Biotic and abiotic effects of restored native perennial grasslands into historical non-native annual grasslands will be known and information transferred to land managers to facilitate science-based management decisions. The experimental data will be analyzed and findings reported in various scientific publications and trade journals and at end- user workshop and conferences. 5. Aquatic and terrestrial vertebrate population and concurrent resident water quality sampling and analyses Landscape features that enhance wildlife populations will be identified to recommend conservation enhancements for farms. 6. Spatial database established and maintained. GIS database to support whole-farm conservation management decisions will be available. 7. Analyze drainage network and develop watershed model. A calibrated SWAT model for the Calapooia River watershed will be available for assessing the impacts of production and conservation practice options. 8. Determine impacts of habitat
characteristics on aquatic wildlife distributions and health. Wildlife behavior will be understood and incorporated into the decision model. 9. Report results and provide site-specific habitat management options to USDA-NRCS and industry to help plan landscape-level management contingencies. Information and technology will be provided to develop technical guidelines in support of USDA Farm Bill conservation programs. 10. Conduct wet chemistry analyses and develop NIR calibration curves. The range of organic and inorganic constituents through phenological stages of development for native grasses and grass seed straw will be known. 11. Determine optimal feedstock harvest times for each species and recommendations for the different ecoregions and landscapes. The relationship of plant phenology to feedstock quality and anti-quality factors affecting the production of value-added productions will be known. 12. Determine the suitability of grass feedstocks for high-quality synthesis gas
production in on-farm scale reactor technology. The feasibility of converting straw feedstocks to high quality synthesis gas using farm-scale gasification technology will be known. 13. Integrate results with other system components and develop landscape- level management recommendations. The impact of utilizing straw residues for energy production on whole-farm income and natural resource quality will be known. 14. Assess suitability of grass straw and conversion efficiency in a pilot gasification reactor under specific cooperative agreement with Western Research Institute, Laramie, WY. A suitable reactor technology for on-farm use will be identified. 15. Assess the feasibility of on-farm generation of energy products.. A life-cycle analysis of on-farm energy production based on gasification reactor conversion of straw will be available to direct on-farm testing of a gasification reactor. 16. Develop remote sensing procedures able to identify grasses grown for seed by species. 17.
Classification procedures developed in FY2005 combining Landsat and other remotely-sensed images with data from ground-truth surveys will be further refined to identify additional production practices and to function over broader geographic regions. 18. Watershed level hydrologic modeling. The SWAT model will be defined. 19. Spatial statistical analyses. The factors describing the spatial relationships of farmer production practices and environmental variability across a watershed landscape will be known. 20. Spatial links between economic & physical effects models. By combining physical effects and economic models into an integrated decision tool, we will have the capacity to calculate the profitability and environmental quality optima given different goals specified by farmers and conservation interests. 21. Policy instrument scenarios, simulations, and analyses. We will have the capacity to solve the multiple objective optimization problems involving farm profitability and
natural resource management. 22. Develop CREEDA Budget Generator tree-view with user security controls and integrate with Web-map server functions. This Web-based tool will allow NRCS conservation planners to focus more of their time on assessing landowner program qualifications rather than conservation plan development. 2008 1. Aquatic and terrestrial vertebrate population and concurrent resident water quality sampling and analyses Landscape features that enhance wildlife populations will be identified to recommend conservation enhancements for farms. 2. Spatial database established and maintained. GIS database to support whole-farm conservation management decisions will be available. 3. Analyze drainage network and develop watershed model. A calibrated SWAT model for the Calapooia River watershed will be available for assessing the impacts of production and conservation practice options. 4. Determine impacts of habitat characteristics on aquatic wildlife distributions and
health. Wildlife behavior will be understood and incorporated into the decision model. 5. Report results and provide site-specific habitat management options to USDA-NRCS and industry to help plan landscape-level management contingencies. Information and technology will be provided to develop technical guidelines in support of USDA Farm Bill conservation programs. 6. Conduct wet chemistry analyses and develop NIR calibration curves. The range of organic and inorganic constituents through phenological stages of development for native grasses and grass seed straw will be known. 7. Determine optimal feedstock harvest times for each species and recommendations for the different ecoregions and landscapes. The relationship of plant phenology to feedstock quality and anti-quality factors affecting the production of value-added productions will be known. 8. Determine the suitability of grass feedstocks for high-quality synthesis gas production in on-farm scale reactor technology. The
feasibility of converting straw feedstocks to high quality synthesis gas using farm-scale gasification technology will be known. 9. Integrate results with other system components and develop landscape- level management recommendations. The impact of utilizing straw residues for energy production on whole-farm income and natural resource quality will be known. 10. Assess suitability of grass straw and conversion efficiency in a pilot gasification reactor under specific cooperative agreement with Western Research Institute, Laramie, WY. A suitable reactor technology for on-farm use will be identified. 11. Assess the feasibility of on-farm generation of energy products.. A life-cycle analysis of on-farm energy production based on gasification reactor conversion of straw will be available to direct on-farm testing of a gasification reactor. 12. Monitor levels of herbicide resistance in weed seeds found in seed lab purity tests. 13. Use remote sensing techniques to add non-certified
production to map database. 14. Watershed level hydrologic modeling. The SWAT model will be defined. 15. Spatial statistical analyses. The factors describing the spatial relationships of farmer production practices and environmental variability across a watershed landscape will be known. 16. Spatial links between economic & physical effects models. By combining physical effects and economic models into an integrated decision tool, we will have the capacity to calculate the profitability and environmental quality optima given different goals specified by farmers and conservation interests. 17. Policy instrument scenarios, simulations, and analyses. We will have the capacity to solve the multiple objective optimization problems involving farm profitability and natural resource management. 4a What was the single most significant accomplishment this past year? Due to safety and health concerns, new production practices were needed for the 560,000 acres of Pacific Northwest perennial
grass seed crops that were burned after harvest. The Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit completed a 10-year experiment in western Oregon that demonstrated perennial grass seed crops can be economically produced without burning by using no-till seeding in combination with chopping back all of the straw onto fields after harvest. Compared to conventional tillage establishment with straw removed by baling, the ARS conservation system reduces soil erosion 40-77%, nitrate-nitrogen leaching 50%, establishment costs $27-162 per acre, can increase seed yields, allows earlier spring planting times, and increase recreation time for farmers. Growers are experimenting with how to best use these new practices on 15,000 acres in Oregon and Washington and the USDA-NRCS has adopted no-till seeding and full straw management as practices to help farmers qualify for USDA Farm Bill conservation program payments. 4b List other significant accomplishments, if any. Increasing amounts of information are
available over the Internet that could help farmers and conservation planners make conservation practice decisions. The Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit in Corvallis and the Oregon State University, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science have developed the first integrated Web-based conservation planning tool platform linked to a relational database and served by a geographic information system map browser. The Oregon NRCS state office estimates 200 hours of planning time will be saved annually by using automated conservation worksheets, and NRCS headquarters has provided $100.000 to begin development of a landowner self-assessment Web tool to support Conservation Security Program delivery by all state offices. The Online Agriculture Conservation (OAC) Planning Tool Box was delivered to the Yolo County (CA) Resource Conservation District to support conservation education activities. WebGRMS (Germplasm Management System) software emulating the USDA Genetic
Resources Information Network (GRIN) database allowing geospatial analysis of germplasm collections was delivered to the USDA-ARS Plant Germplasm Introduction and Testing Unit at Pullman, WA to demonstrate managers can easily use GIS tools without any GIS software training using low-cost Linux operating system free-ware. Time intensive census must be taken over large areas to collect data about the kinds of crops and amounts of tillage that are done annually so estimates can be made about the impacts of agriculture on water quality at the watershed level. The Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit in Corvallis developed a method using Landsat satellite images to accurately estimate variability from amounts of tillage and kinds of crops being grown within and among different sub-watersheds of the Calapooia River drainage in the Willamette Valley, Oregon. Six major land use categories were verified by a ground-truth census that showed the method to be 74% accurate. This new geographic
information system-based method will help researchers obtain remote-sensed information about agricultural practices impacts on water quality at the landscape-level and help farmers choose the best ways to reduce nutrient and sediment loading from their fields to streams to meet legislated water quality standards. This research also supports the USDA Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP). Much of the grassland area in central California has been degraded by poor management practices and replaced by invasive annual species. The Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit in Corvallis, OR and California Audubon Society showed that central California Mediterranean rangeland that has been restored to deep-rooted native perennial grasses has increased water percolation amount and soil water availability to plants, and improved soil fertility. The establishment of native grasses that in turn resulted in greater plant biomass production with higher forage quality than exotic annual grass
range. These findings are assisting conservationists in rangeland planning and showing landowners the benefits of restoring annual grasslands that will benefit livestock, wildlife, and overall ecosystem health. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) is a powerful model that estimates the physical effects of agricultural and conservation practices at the landscape level using several hundred variables, but requires advanced technical expertise to calibrate for specific watersheds. The Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit in Corvallis, Oregon developed a method for non-technical users to automatically match the model prediction of water flows throughout a watershed with observed measurements. Our approach is done on a parallel computer to greatly increase the speed of calculations and was applied to the Calapooia River basin with high accuracy. This new automatic calibration method will help watershed managers who do not have the technical expertise or time to use SWAT and find the
best ways to manage water quality. This research also supports the USDA Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) to demonstrate the effectiveness of conservation methods supported by the USDA Farm Bill. 5. Describe the major accomplishments over the life of the project, including their predicted or actual impact. The accomplishments listed in this report are the first for this new project. 6. What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the science and/or technology likely to become available to the end- user (industry, farmer, other scientists)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption and durability of the technology products? The Oregon Water Quality Assessment worksheets from Oregon USDA-NRCS Technical Note No. 1 were delivered to the State Office in Portland, OR to be used by all field personnel. These tools will be incorporated into a prototype landowner self-assessment tool for Oregon NRCS to support Conservation Security Program
delivery. The NRCS Associate Deputy Chief for Programs will assess the prototype for use by all state offices. The conservation worksheet website can be viewed at: http://yukon.een.orst. edu/ms_apps/wq_indexes/forms/index_menu.html A prototype conservation planning Website that uses various USDA conservation assessment tools was delivered to the Yolo County (CA) Resource Conservation District. Further development of the OAC planning tool depends of additional funding provided by the Yolo RCD. Funding has been provided to extend the tool using the Web-based ARS Water Erosion Prediction Program (WEPP). The Website can be viewed at http://yukon.een. orst.edu/OAC/OACHome.htm WebGRMS software emulating the USDA Genetic Resources Information Network (GRIN) database was delivered to the USDA-ARS Plant Germplasm Introduction and Testing Unit at Pullman, WA. WebGRMS allows geospatial analysis of germplasm collections and demonstrates large collection managers can easily use GIS tools without
any GIS software training using low-cost Linux operating system free-ware. The Website can be viewed at: http://yukon.een.orst.edu/greene/ms_apps/home/index.htm 7. List your most important publications in the popular press and presentations to organizations and articles written about your work. (NOTE: List your peer reviewed publications below). Ciotti, D., Griffith, S.M., Kann, J., Baham, J. Runoff water quality from a flood irrigated cattle pasture in the Klamath Basin, Oregon. 58TH Annual Meeting of the Society of Range Management, Ft. Worth, TX, February 5-11, 2005. Davis, J.H., S.M. Griffith, W.R. Horwath, J.J. Steiner, and D.D. Myrold. Fate of 15N-labeled ammonium and nitrate in a poorly drained Lolium perenne field and herbaceous riparian zone in a western Oregon. 9th International Symposium on Biogeochemistry of Wetlands, at LSU Baton Rouge, LA, March 20-23, 2005. Griffith, S.M. presented an invited oral paper Differences in soil quality and plant characteristics among
restored and non-restored sites using native perennial grasses at the 3rd Biennial CALFED Bay-Delta Program Science Conference Abstracts. October 4-6, 2004. Griffith, S.M. presented made an oral presentation Water Quality of the Santiam Canal and Agricultural Runoff to the City of Albany, Oregon Department of Agriculture, and Linn-Benton County Soil & Water Conservation group. June 16, 2005. Griffith, S.M. Soil quality characteristics of restored native perennial and non-restored exotic annual California grasslands. 58TH Annual Meeting of the Society of Range Management, Ft. Worth, TX, February 5-11, 2005. Science Action, News from the CalFed Bay-Delta Science Program. Bringing back native grasses. June, 2005. Steiner, J.J. and Banowetz, G.M. A new look at on-farm production of energy products from grass seed straw. Forage Seed News, p. 15-17. Manitoba Forage Seed Association, Arborg, Manitoba, Canada. Winter, 2004. Focus on Forestry, Oregon State University College of Forestry.
Written in the river. Fall 2004. Oregon's Agricultural Progress. Oregon State University Agricultural Experiment Station. Profile: Guillermo Giannico learns about the land from the fish he studies. Summer 2005. Banowetz, G.M., Steiner, J.J., Boateng, A. and El-Nashaar, H. Potential for on-form conversion of straw to bioenergy in seed producing operations. In 2004 Seed Production Research at Oregon State University, W.C. Young III (ed.). Dep. Crop and Soil Science Ext/CrS 124, pp. 75-78. March 2005. Floyd, W.C., Schoenholtz, S.H., Griffith, S.M., Wigington, P.J., Jr. and Steiner, J.J. Seasonal relationships between dissolved nitrogen and woody vegetation at multiple spatial scales in the Calapooia River watershed, Oregon, USA. American Water Resources Association Specialty Conference: Institutions for Sustainable Watershed Management: Reconciling Physical and Management Ecology in the Asia-Pacific. June 2005 Griffith, S.M. Santiam Canal Water Quality Analysis for Organic and Inorganic
Nitrogen and Other Chemical Constituents. In 2004 Seed Production Research, W. Young, III (ed.), Dep. Crop and Soil Science Ext/CrS 124, Corvallis, OR, pp. 79-81. 2005. Mueller-Warrant, G.W., Whittaker, G.W., Steiner, J.J., Griffith, S.M. and Banowetz, G.M. Identification of grass seed crops of Linn County, Oregon, through remote sensing. In 2004 Seed Production Research, ed. W. Young, III, Oregon State University Extension and USDA-ARS, Corvallis, OR, pp.82-85. March 2005. Steiner, J.J., Griffith, S.M., Mueller-Warrant, G.W., Whittaker, G.W., Banowetz, G.M. and Elliott, L.F. Effects of direct seeding and full chop- back residue management in perennial grass seed production. In 2004 Seed Production Research, W. Young, III (ed.), Dep. Crop and Soil Science Ext/CrS 124, Corvallis, OR, pp. 37-38. March 2005.
Impacts
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Publications
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Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/04
Outputs
1. What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? What does it matter? Pacific Northwest (PNW) grass seed and other grass-based agricultural systems occupy a significant portion of the regional cultivated landscape. Over 60% of the world and 90% of the U.S.A. supply of temperate forage and turf grass seeds are produced in this region. Future commodity prices are expected to remain within their historic range while costs of production will increase. Provisions of the Federal Clean Water, Air, and Coastal Zone Management Acts, the Endangered Species Act, and the Food Quality Protection Act designed to improve natural resource quality have significantly affected the production options available to farmers in the Pacific Northwest. Further constraints are anticipated because of recent listings of threatened migratory fish species in the Columbia River and it tributaries. Soil
loss to water erosion continues to be a problem in all states in the region, and restricted land use to manage population growth may disproportionately affect small farm operations. Regardless of the regulations that impact agricultural practices, seed end-product quality must still meet standards specified by the Federal Seed Act and meet consumer demands in the U.S. and exports abroad. Because of natural resource quality concerns and economic pressures, there is a need for production systems that protect water and wildlife habitat quality and provide economic returns to farmers. Since relatively small incremental returns are achieved by increasing production efficiency, value-added opportunities that fit these systems could provide additional ways to increase farm income. Implementation of effective conservation technologies that qualify for Federal conservation program payments offers a potential value-added source of revenue. Our research plan investigated integrated approaches to
increase farm income while addressing environmental concerns. Objective 1 quantified the physical effect impacts of perennial grasses (seed production fields, grassed waterways, and restored native range) and conservation practices (direct seeding, nutrient management planning, and residue management) on water, soil, plant, and animal resources. Objective 2 assessed the potential use of native grass biomass and crop residues for conversion to energy products and how these components fit into conservation management plans that receive income from conservation program payments. Objective 3 integrated research results using world-wide-web and GIS tools to develop farming, conservation planning, and policy decision support products to predict the impacts of alternative production strategies and agricultural policies on the sustainability of PNW agriculture. Overall, this research provides information to assist farmers, land use planners, policy makers, and public interest groups in making
science-based decisions that enhance natural resource quality and sustain farm economic viability. 2. List the milestones (indicators of progress) from your Project Plan. This project replaced CRIS project 5358-21410-001-00D effective 3/13/2004 (Normal Progression) approved through the OSQR process. Objective 1. Quantify the impact of perennial grasses and conservation practices on water, soil, plant, and animal resources. Sub-objective 1. Determine the effectiveness of upland grass seed production systems and conservation practices in reducing winter and irrigation sediment runoff, enhancing soil quality, and reducing off-site nutrient loading to drainages and streams. Research sites established FY 2004 QA & QC plans completed FY 2004 Biological and physical effect data collected FY 2004-2007 Experimental system reevaluated and data analyzed FY 2006-2007 Provide physical and biological data to modeler FY 2007 Sub-objective 2. Compare the health of annual grassland and restored native
perennial grassland ecosystems. Research sites established FY 2004 QA & QC plans completed FY 2004 Biological and physical effect data collected FY 2004-2007 Experimental system reevaluated and data analyzed FY 2006-2007 Biotic and abiotic effects of restored native perennial grasslands into historical non-native annual grasslands will be known FY2008 Sub-objective 3. Determine the relative contributions of grass seed fields and adjacent riparian zones to aquatic wildlife habitat quality. Aquatic and terrestrial vertebrate population and concurrent resident water quality sampling and analyses FY2004-2007 Spatial database established and maintained FY2005-2007 Analyze drainage network and develop watershed model FY2005-2007 Determine impacts of habitat characteristics on aquatic wildlife distributions and health FY2005-2007 Report results and provide site-specific habitat management options to USDA-NRCS and industry to help plan landscape-level management contingencies FY 2007
Objective 2. Develop value-added opportunities for grass seed production systems using residues as bioenergy product feedstocks and participation in Farm Bill Conservation Programs with appropriate use of conservation areas. Sub-objective 1. Determine the potential of native and cultivated grass biomass for conversion to energy products and their role in the profitability of Pacific Northwest agricultural systems. Obtain native grass samples from USDA-NRCS Plant Material Centers FY2004 Conduct controlled dry mass accumulation and phenology development experiments FY2004 Conduct wet chemistry analyses and develop NIR calibration curves FY2004- 2005 Determine optimal feedstock harvest times for each species and recommendations for the different ecoregions and landscapes FY2004-2005 Determine the suitability of grass feedstocks for high-quality synthesis gas production in on-farm scale reactor technology. FY2004-2005 Integrate results with other system components and develop landscape-
level management recommendations FY2006-2007 Sub-objective 2. Determine effective configurations of native grasses suitable for dual use as riparian mitigants in seasonally inundated areas neighboring agricultural fields, and as dry-season energy product feedstocks. Obtain yield monitor data FY2004 Import data to R statistical package and determine spatial yield distributions FY2005 Multivariate analyses, spatial optimizations, GIS visualization, and specific maps developed FY2006 Field-specific decision aid developed for crop and conservation area optimizations FY 2007 Collect field samples for carbon balance FY2006-2007 Integration of model systems with alternative optimized components (e.g., carbon cycle and carbon sequestration) FY2008 Objective 3. Integrate research results to develop farm production, conservation planning, and policy decision support products to predict impacts of production strategies and agricultural policies on sustainability of Northwest agriculture.
Sub-objective 1. Quantify the impact of contrasting production practices and evolving technologies on long-term, landscape-scale changes in weed demographics. Boundary map 10% coverage completed FY2004 Boundary map 50% coverage completed FY2005 Boundary map 100% coverage completed FY2006 Update boundary map database annually FY2007-2008 Field inspection database factors correlated with each other for current boundary map FY2005-2008 Fields identified that depart from trends for in-depth follow-up FY2005- 2008 Seed test database correlated with field inspection database for current boundary map FY2006-2008 Monitor levels of herbicide resistance in weed seeds found in seed lab purity tests FY2008 Develop remote sensing procedures able to identify grasses grown for seed by species FY2007 Use remote sensing techniques to add non-certified production to map database FY2008 Sub-objective 2. Quantify the impact of agricultural pollution abatement strategies and policy instruments on
production efficiency and profitability of different sized farms. Data collection for economic and physical effects models FY2004-2005 DEA modeling FY2006-2007 Watershed level hydrologic modeling FY2006-2007 Spatial statistical analyses FY2006-2007 Spatial links between economic & physical effects models FY2006-2008 Policy instrument scenarios, simulations, and analyses FY2007-2008 Sub-objective 3. Deliver web-based decision tools that make integrated economic and natural resource impact assessments and utilize site- specific and landscape-level research findings. Complete web conversion of RUSLE1, WEPP, SCI, MSBG, SISL, and WinPST FY2004 Incorporate Digital Elevation Model function into the map viewer using web tools FY2004-2005 Adapt WEPP functions to irrigated systems including sediment mitigation analyses FY2005-2006 Assess and convert additional stand-alone programs to web-based use FY2005-2006 CREEDA integration of individual application data inputs and data sharing among
applications FY2004-2006 Begin public release of web development tools FY2005 Develop beta web site for Yolo County RCD FY2004-2005 Deliver stable platform program with interface to Yolo County RCD FY2005 Deliver individual application components to USDA-NRCS partners FY2005- 2006 Proposed USDA-NRCS conservation planning tool interface development FY2006-2008 3. Milestones: A. The milestones addressed in FY 2004 are also detailed in the Final Annual Report for the previous project 5358-21410-001-00D which was terminated 3/12/2004 (Normal Progression). Milestones scheduled to be addressed in FY 2004: Objective 1. Quantify the impact of perennial grasses and conservation practices on water, soil, plant, and animal resources. Sub-objective 1. Determine the effectiveness of upland grass seed production systems and conservation practices in reducing winter and irrigation sediment runoff, enhancing soil quality, and reducing off-site nutrient loading to drainages and streams. Research
sites established FY 2004 FULLY MET QA & QC plans completed FY 2004 FULLY MEET Biological and physical effect data collected FY 2004 FULLY MET Sub-objective 2. Compare the health of annual grassland and restored native perennial grassland ecosystems. Research sites established FY 2004 FULLY MET QA & QC plans completed FY 2004 FULLY MET Biological and physical effect data collected FY 2004 FULLY MET Sub-objective 3. Determine the relative contributions of grass seed fields and adjacent riparian zones to aquatic wildlife habitat quality. Aquatic and terrestrial vertebrate population and concurrent resident water quality sampling and analyses. FY2004 FULLY MET Objective 2. Develop value-added opportunities for grass seed production systems using residues as bioenergy product feedstocks and participation in Farm Bill Conservation Programs with appropriate use of conservation areas. Sub-objective 1. Determine the potential of native and cultivated grass biomass for conversion to energy
products and their role in the profitability of Pacific Northwest agricultural systems. Obtain native grass samples from USDA-NRCS Plant Material Centers FY2004 FULLY MET Conduct controlled dry mass accumulation and phenology development experiments FY2004 FULLY MET Conduct wet chemistry analyses FY2004 FULLY MET Develop NIR calibration curves FY2004 FULLY MET Determine optimal feedstock harvest times for each species and recommendations for the different ecoregions and landscapes FY2004 FULLY MET Sub-objective 2. Determine effective configurations of native grasses suitable for dual use as riparian mitigants in seasonally inundated areas neighboring agricultural fields, and as dry-season energy product feedstocks. Obtain yield monitor data FY2004 FULLY MET Objective 3. Integrate research results to develop farm production, conservation planning, and policy decision support products to predict impacts of production strategies and agricultural policies on sustainability of Northwest
agriculture. Sub-objective 1. Quantify the impact of contrasting production practices and evolving technologies on long-term, landscape-scale changes in weed demographics. Boundary map 10% coverage completed FY2004. FULLY MET Sub-objective 2. Quantify the impact of agricultural pollution abatement strategies and policy instruments on production efficiency and profitability of different sized farms. Data collection for economic and physical effects models FY2004 FULLY MET Sub-objective 3. Deliver web-based decision tools that make integrated economic and natural resource impact assessments and utilize site- specific and landscape-level research findings. Complete web conversion of RUSLE1, WEPP, SCI, MSBG, SISL, and WinPST FY2004 Incorporate Digital Elevation Model function into the map viewer using web tools FY2004 THIS FUNCTION IS NOT NECESSARY FOR THE FINAL WEB PRODUCT, SO WILL NOT BE EXECUTED. CREEDA integration of individual application data inputs and data sharing among
applications FY2004 FULLY MET Develop beta web site for Yolo County RCD FY2004 FULLY MET Test the beta website interface FY2004 FULLY MET B. Milestones to be addressed over the next 3 years (FY 2005, 2006, & 2007): Objective 1. Quantify the impact of perennial grasses and conservation practices on water, soil, plant, and animal resources. Sub-objective 1. Determine the effectiveness of upland grass seed production systems and conservation practices in reducing winter and irrigation sediment runoff, enhancing soil quality, and reducing off-site nutrient loading to drainages and streams. Biological and physical effect data collected FY 2004-2007 Findings will show that direct seeding will improve ground and surface water quality and improve soil health by recycling nutrients and enhancing soil physical and biological properties. Experimental system reevaluated and data analyzed and reported FY 2006- 2007 The experimental data will be analyzed and findings reported in various scientific
publications and trade journals and at end-user workshop and conferences. Provide physical and biological data to modeler FY 2007 Data will be used in a landscape model that will estimate the environmental and economic impact of conservation versus conventional farming practices and this information will aid land managers and policy makers in making wiser land management decisions and policy. Sub-objective 2. Compare the health of annual grassland and restored native perennial grassland ecosystems. Biological and physical effect data collected FY 2004-2007 Findings will show that restored grasslands using native perennial grass species will improve soil health by recycling nutrients and enhancing soil physical and biological properties and this in turn will enhance forage production and allow native grass stands to better compete with noxious weed invasions. Experimental system reevaluated and data analyzed FY 2006-2007 The experimental data will be analyzed and findings reported in
various scientific publications and trade journals and at end-user workshop and conferences. Sub-objective 3. Determine the relative contributions of grass seed fields and adjacent riparian zones to aquatic wildlife habitat quality. Aquatic and terrestrial vertebrate population and concurrent resident water quality sampling and analyses FY2005-2007 The system components found at the sub-watershed level will be determined. Spatial database established and maintained FY2005-2007 Appropriate GIS data layers will be produced for landscape level analyses. Analyze drainage network and develop watershed model FY2005-2007 The integrated economic and physical effects models will be calibrated and populated with the field acquired data. Determine impacts of habitat characteristics on aquatic wildlife distributions and health FY2005-2007 The analysis of contrasting sub-watersheds affected by management and environment will understood using the integrated economic and physical affects model.
Report results and provide site-specific habitat management options to USDA-NRCS and industry to help plan landscape-level management contingencies FY 2007 Farmers, conservation planners, and policy makers will be provided a set of solutions based on multiple objectives to optimize conservation practice selection and placement at the watershed level. Objective 2. Develop value-added opportunities for grass seed production systems using residues as bioenergy product feedstocks and participation in Farm Bill Conservation Programs with appropriate use of conservation areas. Sub-objective 1. Determine the potential of native and cultivated grass biomass for conversion to energy products and their role in the profitability of Pacific Northwest agricultural systems. Conduct wet chemistry analyses and develop NIR calibration curves FY2005 The range of organic and inorganic constituents through phenological stages of development for native grasses and grass seed straw will be known. Determine
optimal feedstock harvest times for each species and recommendations for the different ecoregions and landscapes FY2005 The relationship of plant phenology to feedstock quality and antiquality factors affecting the production of value-added productions will be known. Determine the suitability of grass feedstocks for high-quality synthesis gas production in on-farm scale reactor technology. FY2005 The feasibility of converting straw feedstocks to high quality synthesis gas using farm-scale gasification technology will be known. Integrate results with other system components and develop landscape- level management recommendations FY2006-2007 The impact of utilizing straw residues for energy production on whole- farm income and natural resource quality will be known. Sub-objective 2. Determine effective configurations of native grasses suitable for dual use as riparian mitigants in seasonally inundated areas neighboring agricultural fields, and as dry-season energy product feedstocks.
Import data to R statistical package and determine spatial yield distributions FY2005 Multi-year yield monitor data from across a landscape will provide the foundation to develop the model that will optimize the placement of conservation enhancement in low agricultural production field areas based on economic trade-offs for lost farm income. Multivariate analyses, spatial optimizations, GIS visualization, and specific maps developed FY2006 The integrated economic and physical effects models will be calibrated and populated with the field data. Field-specific decision aid developed for crop and conservation area optimizations FY 2007 A set of solutions for farmers based on multiple objectives to optimize conservation practice selection and placement in low profit areas of farm fields will be available. Collect field samples for carbon balance FY2006-2007 Carbon budgets for conservation and conventionally managed agricultural systems will be available for grass seed production.
Objective 3. Integrate research results to develop farm production, conservation planning, and policy decision support products to predict impacts of production strategies and agricultural policies on sustainability of Northwest agriculture. Sub-objective 1. Quantify the impact of contrasting production practices and evolving technologies on long-term, landscape-scale changes in weed demographics. Boundary map 50% coverage completed FY2005. Achieving this level of completeness will expand the range of inference for weed demographics from the current level of Linn County up to much of Oregon's grass seed industry. An Arc-SDE server was setup as of July 2004 to allow multi-user editing of the database to speed the boundary mapping project. Boundary map 100% coverage completed FY2006. Achieving complete coverage of Oregon's grass seed industry will maximize the scope of inference for interpretations of weed demographics. Update boundary map database annually FY2007. Annual updates will
extend the temporal range of the data and refine the trajectory of weed trends over time. Field inspection database factors correlated with each other for current boundary map FY2005-2007. Relationships among weed species in their distributions and between weeds and agronomic factors contained in the database will be measured with increasing accuracy as more fields are mapped and the length of time for the records is extended. Fields identified that depart from trends for in-depth follow-up FY2005- 2007. This is a critical step in using the database to develop new weed control knowledge from the combined experience of all seed growers. A preliminary version of this process was done using the completed Linn County portion of database in May 2004. Seed test database correlated with field inspection database for current boundary map FY2006-2007. Access procedures have been developed, but only a small set of data from the seed testing laboratory has been merged with data from the
Certification Service field inspection reports. Develop remote sensing procedures able to identify grasses grown for seed by species FY2007. NDVI classifications derived from Landsat images have been trained with known field histories in Linn County to develop single-point-in-time estimates of land under tillage, land in perennial ryegrass, and land in tall fescue at 50 to 80% accuracy. Multivariate procedures will be used to in the future to improve overall classification accuracy. Sub-objective 2. Quantify the impact of agricultural pollution abatement strategies and policy instruments on production efficiency and profitability of different sized farms. Data collection for economic and physical effects models FY2005 All data needed to calibrate the models and analyze the Calapooia River watershed will be acquired. DEA modeling FY2006-2007 The economic model will be defined using data envelopment analysis. Watershed level hydrologic modeling FY2006-2007 The SWAT model will be
defined. Spatial statistical analyses FY2006-2007 The factors describing the spatial relationships of farmer production practices and environmental variability across a watershed landscape will be known. Spatial links between economic & physical effects models FY2006-2007 By combining physical effects and economic models into an integrated decision tool, we will have the capacity to calculate the profitability and environmental quality optima given different goals specified by farmers and conservation interests. Policy instrument scenarios, simulations, and analyses FY2007 We will have the capacity to solve the multiple objective optimization problems involving farm profitability and natural resource management. Sub-objective 3. Deliver web-based decision tools that make integrated economic and natural resource impact assessments and utilize site- specific and landscape-level research findings. Incorporate Digital Elevation Model function into the map viewer using web tools
FY2004-2005 This function is not necessary for the final Web product, so will not be executed. Adapt WEPP functions to irrigated systems including sediment mitigation analyses FY2005-2006 The function will allow users to assess the impact of placing tail ditches and other conservation remedies at the ends of irrigated fields. Assess and convert additional stand-alone programs to web-based use FY2005-2006 A point-and-click Web-based delivery system will make sophisticated conservation assessment tools easily accessed and used by farmers and conservation planners. CREEDA integration of individual application data inputs and data sharing among applications FY2004-2006 This function will allow the impact of different agricultural and conservation practices be assess for their affect on multiple natural resource concerns. Begin public release of web development tools FY2005 These Web tools are available as free-ware to other agencies and the public. Develop beta web site for Yolo County
RCD FY2004-2005 The test Web site will be used to identify any programming bugs and determine user satisfaction. Deliver stable platform program with interface to Yolo County RCD FY2005 This will be a pioneer conservation planning site intended for non- scientific users. Deliver individual application components to USDA-NRCS partners FY2005- 2006 Individual personal computer supported conservation tools will be available. Implementation is dependent upon sister agency acceptance. Proposed USDA-NRCS conservation planning tool interface development FY2006-2007 Implementation is dependent upon sister agency acceptance and cooperation. 4. What were the most significant accomplishments this past year? A. Single most significant accomplishment during FY 2004: Preserving water quality in our Nation's watersheds is critical and computer models are needed that can assist farmers, conservation planners, and policy makers. Research conducted in the Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit,
Corvallis, OR. combined the Soil and Water Assessment Tool with an economic model and developed a computer model that will provide OMB and Congress with information they have requested regarding whether conservation practices supported by the Conservation Title in the USDA Farm Bill. A prototype optimization model based on a genetic algorithm using the ARS Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and an economic model has been adapted for use on a parallel computer and calibrated to a watershed in western Oregon. Research provided a new method for optimization of watershed-scale models that allows incorporation of multiple natural resource objectives at much higher speeds than previous methods. B. Other significant accomplishment(s): The in-field tillage practices, rather than riparian buffers, have greater impact on downstream loading of sediments and nutrients in western Oregon streams, and an approach to measure management differences among sub-basins is lacking. Scientists in the
Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit, Corvallis, OR. determined the yearly seasonal soil disturbance patterns on sub-basins of the Calapooia River watershed. By using a combination of cropping history records, we confirmed that unique spectral signatures in late-summer Landsat images correlated with differences in field disturbance patterns among sub-basins and between years. This new knowledge will permit us to quantify the impact of tillage practices in contrasting sub-basins in which we are conducting soil and water quality research. Trees along agricultural drainages provide habitat for winter songbirds. Winter songbird abundance and diversity were related to percent tree cover along drainages in the south Willamette River basin. This is important because little baseline information exists regarding the impact of western Oregon agricultural land use on songbird populations. We conducted surveys that demonstrated that seventeen-times more birds were found along forested than
non-forested drainages, but only 15% of the total land cover needed to be in trees to maximize songbird richness. Using our bird behavior findings and knowing that 70% of the watershed land area is less than optimal, farmers can now know where to target USDA conservation projects. C. Significant activities that support special target populations: None D. Progress Report: None 5. Describe the major accomplishments over the life of the project, including their predicted or actual impact. This project replaced CRIS project 5358-21410-001-00D effective 3/13/2004 (Normal Progression) approved through the OSQR process. Major accomplishments over the life of the project are included here for continuity. Direct seeding establishment and maximal residue management can replace grass seed field burning. Cropping systems were developed for western Oregon that successfully utilizes direct seeding and maximal residue management to replace conventional tillage systems that relied on open field
burning. Legislated reductions in field burning in the Pacific Northwest has left most grass seed farmers with more than one million tons of straw to dispose of annually. No-till establishment is less expensive than conventional tillage establishment, can be used without loss of seed yields, and has the added benefit of reducing sediment and nutrient losses from fields. Farmers implementing these practices have reduced seasonal labor needs, eliminated soil disturbance operations, and reduced the need to replace large horsepower tractors. Weed control practices must be adjusted for residue management conditions. Weed control practices were developed for western Oregon seed production systems that utilize maximal residue management to replace traditional field burned systems. Adoption of chopping full straw loads onto established grass seed fields without burning was hindered by poor weed control and erratic crop tolerance to herbicides. Herbicide rates must be reduced in the full
chopped straw system to avoid excessive crop damage, application techniques must be modified to incorporate herbicides through the straw layer, and optimal combinations of pre- and post-emergence herbicides varied with residue management system. Growers have reduced the frequency of accidental stand destruction by herbicide treatments and in some cases reduced the amount of chemical needed while controlling problem weeds. Year-to-year weed population shifts identified on a landscape-scale. Maps were developed showing regional year-to-year changes in distribution and abundance of the most important weeds in western Oregon seed fields. There has been an increase in prevalence of some weed species across the landscape over the past decade due to legislated reductions in open field burning. Weed species prevalence and agronomic practices data from over 50,000 Oregon Seed Certification Service field inspection records covering a ten- year period were used to create a geodatabase. These
results will help the grass seed industry focus limited resources on the most serious weed problems and provide regulatory agencies with better information for making decisions about herbicide registrations. Field management and not riparian buffers have the greatest effect on water quality in western Oregon's grass seed production areas. Research was conducted in western Oregon's Willamette Valley to determine the effectiveness of riparian buffers in improving the quality of water flowing from grass seed fields to streams. Research was conducted to determined seasonal changes in surface and ground water quality in agricultural fields and adjacent riparian areas, and how plant and soil processes bring about these changes. Poorly drained riparian areas were shown to be highly effective for minimizing nitrate-nitrogen movement from fertilized grass seed fields to stream water, however since the greatest volume of water from fields flows over riparian vegetation, the best approach to
reduce nutrient losses from poorly drained fields is in- field management. USDA-NRCS and industry are using these findings to develop conservation management plans that maintain water and salmon habitat quality and are compatible with profitable grass seed farming. Winter agricultural drainages provide habitat for native aquatic wildlife. Research determined whether native fish use winter seasonal agricultural drainages near grass seed fields as winter habitat and how they respond to the quality of the water where they were found. Aquatic wildlife protected under Endangered Species Act can be sensitive to high concentrations of sediment and agricultural chemicals that may be found in field runoff. Nutrient and sediment concentrations in agricultural drainage waters were generally less than those reported to adversely affect fish health, and some fish species even used these drainages to reproduce. This study is providing first-of-its-kind information that shows drainages in
agricultural landscapes can provide quality habitat for native fish and amphibian populations. A user-friendly Web application lets the power of GIS help farmers do conservation planning. A Web application was developed to help farmers access information across the Internet through an interactive map interface. The Internet is an information-rich and easy-to-use platform that has not been used extensively by farmers to make economically sound conservation decisions. The WebGD (Web Geographic Information System Data Base) application has been developed to allow farmers to view and enter information about any map area of a farm and use that information to make conservation decisions. The WebGD application will make USDA conservation tools such as the Water Erosion Prediction Program, Pesticide Screening Tool, and Phosphorus Index easy to use by farmers over the Internet. Evidence that incentive programs are more effective than command-and- control methods to improve water quality. The
method developed showed that incentives targeted at farms on specific soils were a better strategy than imposing nitrogen fertilizer use reductions to improve water quality in the Columbia River basin. Elevated nutrients concentrations in surface and ground water have been measured that have the potential to harm both endangered species and human populations. This research showed that by understanding how weather, soils, and farmers work together to produce a crop, decision makers can choose the best conservation policies to achieve the levels of natural resource quality required to meet legislated standards. This study provided policy makers comparisons of alterative policies to achieve environmental quality goals. Restoration of California grasslands with native perennial grasses improve soil health and forage production. Research was conducted to determine the grassland community and soil quality benefits of California native perennial grass restoration over the existing exotic
annual grassland condition. During the past few hundred years California grassland health has been degraded through the invasion of exotic annual grasses, but grassland conditions can be improved with reintroduction of native perennial grass species. Restored native perennial grasslands produced twice the forage biomass, reduced soil compaction, and improved water infiltration compared to the exotic annual grasslands. This research provides scientific documentation of the benefits of native perennial grass restoration, and will be used by land managers to direct the restoration of more annual rangelands to native perennial grasses. 6. What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the science and/or technology likely to become available to the end- user (industry, farmer, other scientists)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption and durability of the technology products? This project replaced CRIS project 5358-21410-001-00D effective
3/13/2004 (Normal Progression) approved through the OSQR process. Technology transfer activities are documented in the Annual Report for expired CRIS project 5358-21410-001-00D. 7. List your most important publications in the popular press and presentations to organizations and articles written about your work. Elstein, D. February 2004. Putting out the (Grass) fire, ARS scientists use other methods to curb weeds, diseases on grass fields. Agricultural Research Magazine. Elstein, D. May 2004. Restoring California's native grasses. Agricultural Research Magazine. Griffith, S.M on Feb. 18, 2004 attended and spoke at a OSU Extension/Oregon Department of Agriculture sponsored public forum about water quality in the Willamette Basin as it might relate to the Santiam Canal in Albany, OR and potential pollutant inputs by grass seed farms in the local area. Griffith, S.M. presented an invited oral paper at the Ecology and Management of California Grasslands conference at Berkeley, CA on April
1, 2004 about his native grass restoration work in Yolo County, CA. Griffith, S.M. presented an invited oral paper about his research findings concerning grass buffer strips and their water quality function at the California Native Grass Association conference in Modesto, CA on April 23, 2004 Griffith, S.M. drafted a report showing the results of a two-month study of the water quality of the canal and disseminated it to local growers, the Albany Water Treatment Plant, and the Oregon Department of Agriculture, May 2004. Griffith, S.M. was an invited speaker at the American Water Resources Association (AWRA) Summer Specialty Conference entitled 'Riparian Ecosystems and Buffers: Multi-scale structure, function, and management' and presented an oral paper on riparian zone function in the Willamette Basin, Oregon. Tahoe City, CA Mueller-Warrant, G.W. Western Oregon weed control field day tour in March 2004 was given to interested growers and field reps. Mueller-Warrant, G.W. Hyslop Field
Day tour in May 2004 was given to interested growers and field reps, with a talk on bentgrass control and another talk on GIS weed mapping results. Steiner, J.J. Invited symposium presentation. Strategies to increase on- farm income using native grasses in Pacific Northwest Landscapes. Crop Science Society of America Annual Meetings. Oct. 2003. Steiner, J.J. Conservation practices and fish habitat for grass seed farms. Willamette Valley Agricultural Exposition. November 2003. Albany, OR. Steiner, J.J. On-farm straw to energy production. Lincoln and Spokane County Grower Discussion Group Meetings. January 2004. Spokane, WA. Steiner, J.J. Invited speaker presented talk at the Canadian Forage and Turf Seed Conference, On-farm conversion of grass straw to energy products. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. January 2004. Steiner, J. and Banowetz, G. A new look at on-farm production of energy products from grass seed straw. Forage Seed News, 2004. Winter. p. 15-17. Steiner, J.J. Invited
presentation. Social webs to food webs: Paths needed to determine the impacts of agricultural practices on wildlife habitat quality. Oregon State University, Department of Fisheries & Wildlife. Seminar Series. April 2004. Steiner, J.J. Direct seeding conservation options for grass seed growers. Linn Soil and Water Conservation District meeting. April 2004. Tangent, OR. Steiner, J.J. Invited contributor. Estimated impacts of management practices on carbon sequestration in agricultural and rangeland ecosystems. Cathcart, J., editor. Oregon Department of Forestry Report to the Governor's Advisory Group on Global Warming. Salem, OR. June 2004.
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