Demonstrating, Evaluating, and Extending Diversified Direct-Seeded Cropping Systems for Grower Risk-Management in the Inland Northwest

Demonstrating, Evaluating, and Extending Diversified Direct-Seeded Cropping Systems for Grower Risk-Management in the Inland Northwest

Summary

The Wilke Project, the Northwest Crops Project, and the Spokane County Direct Seeding Project are related direct seeding (no-till) projects across eastern Washington that are all grower-driven and include field scale trials on cooperators’ farms. This grant supports research for the Northwest Crops Project and the Spokane County Direct Seeding Project and extension of all three projects.

Collective goals of the three projects:
Enable growers to transition to direct seeding in order to:
Reduce soil erosion by wind and water,
Improve soil, air, and water quality across the region,
Improve farm economics.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Demonstrate the Agronomic Feasibility of Direct Seeded, Annual-Cropping Systems in the Intermediate and a High Precipitation Region of the Inland Northwest by completing the current 3- and 4-year direct seed crop rotations, initiating a second cycle for each rotation for the Wilke and Northwest Crops Projects, and by initiating on-farm testing projects within direct seed crop rotations for the Spokane County group.

Document the Economic and Agronomic Parameters that Farmers Need for Decision-Making in Transition to the New Systems by collecting and collating essential economic and agronomic data from the demonstration sites. The combined projects will continue to identify the risks that growers must take and will focus on parameters that farmers prioritize in deciding whether and how to adopt direct seeding.

Extend the Concepts and Principles of Direct Seeding Systems Through Farmer-to-Farmer Learning by disseminating farm demonstration project results. There will also be back-up and scientific explanations from researchers, Extension, Conservation Districts, and private industry. Tours will be the mainstay, supported with winter meetings and written materials.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Specific Results

Demonstrate the Agronomic Feasibility of Direct Seeded, Annual-Cropping Systems in the Intermediate and a High Precipitation Region of the Inland Northwest by completing the current 3- and 4-year direct seed crop rotations, initiating a second cycle for each rotation for the Wilke and Northwest Crops Projects, and by initiating on-farm testing projects within direct seed crop rotations for the Spokane County group.

The Wilke Project does not receive research funds from USDA-SARE, but it is part of the overall direct seeding effort of the Ag Horizons team of WSU Extension. In 2003 Dennis Tonks has reported on the 6 years of the project and is undertaking an advisory process to determine future directions for the project.

With the Spokane Direct Seeding Project, we established 6 trials to answer direct seeding questions that the cooperators identified. Each trial was a randomized complete blocks design with large plots (at least 30 feet by 350 to 1000 feet long) so the growers used their own equipment for all field operations. The project leader and technician coordinated plot design and layout, collected data, assisted with harvest, and analyzed the data. The Spokane County Wheat Growers, Spokane County Conservation District, and the Spokane County Crop Improvement Association refurbished WSU’s weigh wagon that we used at harvest. The Spokane County Conservation District also paid the cooperating growers a fixed p.i.b. (pain-in-the-butt) payment for their time and costs associated with the trials. For details see the attached report.

Glenn and Bryan Dobbins – Four Lakes – Biocat TM residue digester on grain stubble
Goal – test efficacy of fall application of Biocat residue digester on fall and spring seeded cereals. Biocat is essentially a nutrient solution (contains no microbes) that enhances the activity of naturally occurring microbes that break down crop residue.

2002 data for 4-Trt Site – 377S hard white spring wheat on 1 ton Baronesse spring barley residue treated with Biocat (35 oz/Acre) in the fall. Trial seeded with a Concord air drill with Anderson openers on 4 inch paired row on 10 inch spacing. There were 4 treatments: Biocat with and without disking and no Biocat with and without disking. There were no differences between treatments for stand count, weed count, and yield. The disked plots had less residue in the spring and a lower test weight than those without disking.

2003 data for 4-trt site — 377S hard white spring wheat. The Biocat and disking treatments were the same as previous years. In addition, other products from the same company were included; Seedlife TM seed treatment, Greenburst TM with the fertilizer at seeding, and Colorburst TM with the herbicide were used on the Biocat treatments. Preliminary results show small yield differences but further analysis is needed to clarify the effect of the treatments

2002 data for 2-trt Site – Stratus feed barley on 50 bu Eltan/Madsen winter wheat residue treated with Biocat (35 oz/Acre) in the fall prior to seeding. Trial seeded with a Concord air drill with Anderson openers on 4 inch paired row on 10 inch spacing. Disking was not a treatment in this trial. There were no differences in residue, yield, stand count, weed count, or test weight between plots with or without Biocat.

2003 data for 2-trt site – Nu Horizon hard white winter wheat. The Biocat treatments were the same as previous years. In addition, other products from the same company were included; SeedlifeÔ seed treatment, GreenburstÔ with the fertilizer at seeding, and ColorburstÔ with the herbicide were used on the Biocat treatments. There were no yield differences, but the cost of the treatments will be huge. The Dobbins were very disappointed with these results – they were hoping for at least 10 bu/A yield advantage from the treatments.

Randy and Jeff Emtman – Rockford – Fertility trial on direct seeding oats into bluegrass
Goal – to determine fall fertilizer regime to get adequate test weight in the oats

2002 Data for Waldern oats. Nitrogen fertilizer applied in the fall as dry 29.5-5-0-3.5. Trial seeded into Goldrush bluegrass sod using a Flexicoil 6000 with the Barton opener. There was no difference between treatments for stand count, yield, or test weight. There was variation in weed count, but the coefficient of variation was very high. It is possible the lack of starter fertilizer is jeopardizing the experiment and we plan to rectify this in 2003.

2003 data for Waldern oats. Treatments were the same as previous years, but they included 100 lb/A 16-20 starter fertilizer at seeding. All test weights were improved over previous years, and the lowest fertilizer rate had the best test weight. But it still was not in the desirable range for marketing. Emtman concluded their current decision-making method for taking out bluegrass is still as good as any (not negatively affecting test weight).

Paul and Jake Gross – Deep Creek – Rotary subsoiler with direct seeding
Goal – to determine whether fall rotary subsoiling improves water infiltration and yield in direct seeded winter wheat.

2002 data for Quantum 7817 hybrid soft white winter wheat on chem fallow using a Conserva-Pak drill. Rotary subsoiler treatment in fall 2001. There was no difference in stand count between the two treatments, but the subsoiler treatment yielded less than the untreated plots. This is mostly inexplicable, though these plots also stayed green longer.

2003 data for Quantum 7817 SWWW. There was no difference in yield or test weight between treatments. Paul Gross concluded rotary subsoiling not worthwhile in direct seeding systems on his farm.

David Ostheller – Fairfield – Fall residue management for spring seeding
Goal – test 4 fall wheat residue treatments for effect on spring stand establishment and crop yield.

2002 data for Zak spring wheat. Trial seeded with a Great Plains 3010 double disk drill (8” spacing) into 88 bu winter wheat (Rod/Madsen) stubble. Stand establishment, weed count, yield, and test weight were the same for all treatments. We will analyze the cost of the treatments to see if they are significantly different.

2003 data for Brewer spring lentils. Yield and adjusted returns showed direct seed treatment performed as well as the disk ripper and better than the mowing. It gave Ostheller some hope for direct seeding.

Larry Tee – Latah – Residue management for wheat
Goal – to determine whether reducing stubble height to less than drill row width improves plant stand
(and yield) of direct seeded wheat.

2002 Data for Zak spring wheat. Seeded with a chisel drill – paired 4 inch rows on 7 inch center spacing – into 86 bu Madsen winter wheat stubble. Short treatment stubble cut with combine after harvest. Plant stand, weed count, and yield were the same for both treatments.

2003 data for Wawawai soft white spring wheat. There was no significant yield difference between treatments, but the adjusted returns showed that the cost of mowing was not worthwhile.

The Northwest Crops Project has goals of reducing erosion from wind and rain and reducing field burning of crop residue, while trying to provide economic stability for growers in direct seed systems. The project began in 1998, so in 2003 we completed the sixth year of comparing 3-year and 4-year crop rotations under direct seeding in the intermediate rainfall zone (15-18 inch annual precipitation) of Garfield and Whitman Counties.

There are seven farms involved in this project, each with Athena silt loam soil. All cooperators have 3-year and 4- year rotations for side-by-side comparisons. The plots are 500 to 700 feet long and 30 to 60 feet wide to accommodate the growers’ existing farm equipment for spraying, seeding, and harvesting.

The 4-year rotation includes spring wheat, winter wheat, warm season grass (corn), broadleaf crop (cooperator’s choice). The 3-year rotation includes winter wheat, spring barley, broadleaf crop or chemical fallow (cooperator’s choice). Year 1, however, was a year of preparation. Because growers established the plots in the spring, they substituted spring wheat for winter wheat that season.

At the beginning of the project, soil scientists from WSU took soil quality data to determine the following levels; pH, OM, nutrients, earthworms, crop residue, and bulk density. These tests were performed again in 2003 to determine overall changes in soil health and quality over the five years of testing.

The first cycle has shown us that we can rotate different crops with winter wheat in our rotations in the Palouse Region. Most of the cooperators are successfully growing corn, and their friends and neighbors are also trying it, in 2002 producing 315 acres of corn in the area. After six years of corn in rotation, the six-year average corn yield is 2693 lb/A, compared with a six year average barley yield of 2473 lb/A. At some sites, we are seeing an increase in winter wheat yield in the 4-year rotation of 10-12 bushels per acre where corn is being grown. In 2002, frost damage in June and August was the limiting yield factor for corn, and in 2003, heat and drought stress limited the corn yields. We are still learning how to raise corn, and are having some failures along with the successful attempts. Weed and fertility management are the primary issues for which we need to develop answers. We are also trying a variety of broadleaf crops, including peas, mustard, and garbanzo beans (chickpeas), each with its own set of challenges for first-time growers. In the next cycle of the rotations, we intend to learn how to deal with more of these problems and improve our success with rotational crops.

This project has shown that we can seed crops into heavy residue (greater than 10,000 lbs/A) with proper equipment and crop rotation. However, we still have much to learn. We found, especially in the 2001 drought, and again in 2002, that ground with residue cover held soil moisture much better than conventionally worked fields. There has been no burning on any of the plots, we have seen very little to no soil erosion, and water infiltration is starting to improve.

We took soil tests in the plots in the spring to document water levels and nutrient needs of the crops. We took plant stand counts about one month after seeding as stand establishment is a measure of successful seeding technique and would highlight any potential problems with the farmer’s drill. We also took weed counts on the plots to study any changes in weed species that might happen with the change to direct seeding. We collected yield data and test weight on the plots during harvest.

Document the Economic and Agronomic Parameters that Farmers Need for Decision-Making in Transition to the New Systems by collecting and collating essential economic and agronomic data from the demonstration sites.

The combined projects will continue to identify the risks that growers must take, and will focus on parameters that farmers prioritize in deciding whether and how to adopt direct seeding.

In the Spokane County project, the cooperators identified the primary questions they wanted answered to facilitate their transition to direct seeding. The majority of their trials focus on residue management, which is a real issue in the high rainfall areas where crop yields are often 80 to 100 bu/acre. Water conservation increases in importance in the drier regions west of Spokane, and rotary subsoiling is a low disturbance treatment that has potential to increase water infiltration into the soil in some years.

We took soil tests in the plots in the spring to document water levels and nutrient needs of the crops. We took plant stand counts about one month after seeding as stand establishment is a measure of successful seeding technique and would highlight any potential problems with the farmer’s drill. We collected yield data and test weight on the plots during harvest. We collected residue data on the Biocat trial only. In 2002 and 2003 we also collected weed data on the management trials to document any association between weeds and soil disturbance. We will report economic data as part of our conclusions about the management systems we are studying.

We are including agronomic and economic data in our analyses to provide farmers with valid tools for decision-making

Dissemination of Findings

Extend the Concepts and Principles of Direct Seeding Systems Through Farmer to Farmer Learning by disseminating farm demonstration project results.

There will also be back-up and scientific explanations from researchers, Extension, Conservation Districts, and private industry. Tours will be the mainstay, supported with winter meetings and written materials.

Following is a list of tours and workshops at which we discussed the overall project. (Numbers in parentheses indicate attendance.)

Workshops 2003

January 14, 2003. Spokane Ag Expo and Farm Forum. Spokane County direct seeding project review. (5 growers)
January 21, 2003. Spokane County grower discussion group, Spangle. Spokane County direct seeding project review. (14 growers)
February 5, 2003. Lincoln County grower discussion group, Davenport. Direct seed drill DVD (118)
February 11, 2003. Lincoln County grower discussion group, Davenport. Wilke Project results (Dennis Tonks). (5)
February 13, 2003, Oilseed Research Review Forum, Moscow, ID. Poster and educational display for multi-state audience of (65) growers, ag-industry and Extension people.
February 19, 2003, Oilseed Processing Tour @University of Idaho Biofuel Lab, Moscow, ID. Discussion of projects and of oilseed crops being grown in rotations and tour of working biodiesel plant with an audience of (21) growers, ag-industry and Extension people.
February 20, 2003. Lincoln County agronomy workshop. Wilke Project results (Dennis Tonks). (9)
February 13, 2003. Spokane County grower discussion group, Spangle. Direct seed drill DVD (35)
February 20, 2003, Whitman Conservation District Annual Meeting, Dusty, WA. PowerPoint presentation on the NW Crops Project and display on oilseed crops to an audience of (53) growers and ag-industry people.
March 3, 2003. Whitman County grower meeting, Colfax. NW Crops Project update and economics (14)
March 4, 2003, 2003 Corn Meeting, Colfax, WA. Pioneer representatives held presentation/discussion on corn varieties, fertilizer, and marketing for (15) growers.
March 12, 2003. Deer Park grower workshop. Spokane County direct seeding project review. (64)
March 19, 2003, Oilseed Processing Tour @University of Idaho Biofuel Lab, Moscow, ID. Discussion of projects and of oilseed crops being grown in rotations and tour of working biodiesel plant with an audience of (21) growers, ag-industry and Extension people.
April 24-27, 2003, St.John Fair, St. John, WA. Educational display along with direct seed material for handouts for the 4-day annual event with an audience of approximately (300) people.
September 9, 2003, Palouse Conservation District Board Meeting, Pullman, WA. Presentation on NW Crops Project, update for 2003 and beyond for an audience of (16) people.
October 28, 2003, Oilseed Processing Tour @University of Idaho Biofuel Lab, Moscow, ID. Discussion of projects and of oilseed crops being grown in rotations and tour of working biodiesel plant with an audience of (21) growers, ag-industry and Extension people.

November 25, 2003. Spokane County Crop Improvement Association meeting, Worley ID. Spokane County direct seeding project review. (29)
December 5, 2003, NW Crops Project, Colfax, WA. Presentations and discussion on 2003 results and findings of the project with (9) people present.
December 10, 2003, Spokane DS Project, Spokane, WA. Presentations and discussion on 2003 results and findings of the project with (9) people present.

Tours 2003
June 11, 2003, NW Crops Project Tour, toured 4 project sites on an all day tour with (183) people.
June 24, 2003, Spokane DS Project Tour, an all day tour of the 5 project sites with (23) people.
July 18, 2003, NW Crops Project corn tour of 3 different sites, comparing stand, varieties, seeding depth and rates, and weed control of corn in direct seeded rotations, (7).

Written articles

2001
Aaron Esser: On-farm testing – A do-it-yourself guide. Ag Horizons newsletter, March 2001. (1200)
Dennis Roe: Potential benefits of corn in rotation. Ag Horizons newsletter, March 2001. (1200)
Diana Roberts: USDA-SARE grant to fund Spokane and Whitman County direct seeding projects. Ag Horizons newsletter, May 2001. (1200)
2002
Dennis Pittmann: Direct Seed Cropping Systems, February Workshops. The Steward newsletter, January 2002. (900)
Aaron Esser & Dennis Tonks: Direct seeding issues in Lethbridge, AB, Canada. Ag Horizons newsletter, February 2002. (150)
Dennis Pittmann: Northwest Crops, Spokane County Direct Seed Projects Spring Update. The Steward newsletter, April 2002. (900)
Tanya Wojtowych: The Pacific Northwest Direct Seeding Association. Ag Horizons newsletter, May 2002. (150)
Diana Roberts: First year results from the Spokane County Direct Seeding Project. Ag Horizons newsletter, May 2002. (150)
Diana Roberts: Direct seeding tips from an Aussie farmer. Ag Horizons newsletter, July 2002. (150)
Diana Roberts: Direct seeding tips from an Aussie farmer. October Wheat Life (publication of Washington Association of Wheat Growers. (14,000).
Aaron Esser: Triallate application in direct seeded spring barley for wild oat control in northern Lincoln County. Ag Horizons newsletter, July 2002. (150)
Dennis Pittmann: June Twilight Tours, Northwest Crops Project Update. The Steward newsletter, July 2002. (900)
Dennis Tonks, Darla Rugel, & Diana Roberts: The Wilke Direct Seeding Project. Ag Horizons newsletter, October 2002. (150)
Dennis Pittmann: Northwest Crops and Spokane County Direct Seed Projects Fall Update. The Steward newsletter, 2002. (900)

2003
Dennis Pittmann: Northwest Crops Project June Tour. The Steward newsletter, July 2003. (900)
Herb Hinman, Dennis Pittmann, Dennis Roe, co-authors: Education Bulletin 1960E, Cost of Producing Canola and Mustard Oilseeds in Eastern Washington and North Central Idaho. Published in September 2003, and listed on WSU Farm Management Website. (Unknown)
Dennis Pittmann: Cost of Producing Canola and Mustard Oilseeds in Eastern Washington and North Central Idaho. The Steward newsletter, October 2003. (900)

Work left to do:

We have completed all the field trials and entered the data. We sent some soil samples to Australia for soil pathogen DNA profiling to compare rotation effects, and we are awaiting those results. We have completed preliminary analysis of the Spokane Project data and need to do some more in-depth analysis. A WSU statistician is working on the analysis of the NW Crops Project. A WSU economist has compiled this data to reflect adjusted returns for the rotations, which are being used in the analysis.

We need to conduct exit surveys of the farmer cooperators and tour participants. We need to complete data analysis and write reports, bulletins, and articles for the popular press. We plan to publish the results/bulletins on WSU website so farmers can access them easily.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

The overall project has tremendous potential in assisting farmers across the intermediate and high rainfall areas of eastern Washington make effective transitions to direct seeding. Scientific literature shows that direct seeding reduces soil erosion by wind and water, leading to improved air and water quality. The greatest challenge for the Project is to demonstrate that transitioning to direct seeding is cost effective for the producers. Otherwise they will not adopt the practice.

Farmer Adoption and Direct Impact

We will report on this in the final report.

Reactions from Farmers and Ranchers

Spokane Project Cooperators brainstorming on benefits of the project:
We’re reducing the risk of new practices.
The on-farm tests are smaller than a field and bigger than a traditional plot.
We get an objective view (of the results).
Statistics have “proven” results – more accurate.
The financial aspect is important (as farmers are taught to be maximum producers)
The discussion on cooperation is good.
We’re learning the scientific method by being involved in it.
Some practices we’re not trying Because we have it in our minds it won’t work.
If what we do works in a bad year, what is the potential for a good year?
The yield monitor (on a combine) doesn’t correlate with the eye’s perspective.

Producer Involvement (see list of cooperators)

Wilke Project – 5 farmers involved as cooperators, others as advisors.
Spokane Project – 5 farms (8 individuals) involved as cooperators
Northwest Crops Project –7 farms (12 individuals) involved as cooperators.
All the cooperating farmers were involved in developing the goals and design of each project. NW Crop Project cooperators opted for a 3- and a 4-year rotation at each site. They choose their specific crops (within the designated crop type) each season. Spokane Project cooperators identified a direct seeding question they wanted answered and worked with the project leader to design trials to answer those questions. Wilke Project cooperators opted for a 3- or a 4-year crop rotation and choose their specific crops (within the designated crop type) each season.

Producer attendance January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2003.
Workshops – 708 participants
Field tours – 48 participants

Collaborators: