Dryland Corn Production in Columbia and Walla Walla Counties (WA)

Dryland Corn Production in Columbia and Walla Walla Counties (WA)

Summary

This producer hopes to evaluate the feasibiilty of dryland production of grain corn in Columbia and Walla Walla counties, Washington. Farm test plots in the representative growing areas will be expanded to use field-scale equipment to identify the range of conditions where dryland corn will succeed. Although corn has not previously been grown as a dryland crop in this area, it appears that modern hybrid corn varieties, coupled with improved water use efficiency under a no-till/low-till conservation tillage system, will make this economically feasible. This approach may provide an alternate crop to present dependence on cool-season grain, use of different classes of pesticides, broader seeding and harvest seasons and potential for using a continuous no-till/low-till system.