The 2nd Direct Seed and Precision Farming Research Field Day will be Thursday, June 26, at Washington State University’s Cunningham Agronomy Farm located northeast of Pullman. The 140-acre farm is a new long-term research site, managed since 1999 under continuous direct seeding with field-scale equipment. Research is focused on developing direct-seed cropping systems and precision-agriculture technologies for a “typical” Palouse landscape.
More than 20 scientists are involved in the research, which is guided by a 12-member advisory committee of growers, scientists and representatives from agribusiness and agencies. A 90-acre portion of the farm has been intensively grid-sampled at 370 sites referenced to global positioning satellites for data on soil characteristics, soil nutrients, soil water content and crop use, weed seed bank, and soil-borne pathogens.
A hosted lunch will be provided at noon. Dick Wittman, president of the Pacific Northwest Direct Seed Association, will be speak at the luncheon. Reports also will be made by Jim Zuiches, dean, WSU College of Agriculture and Home Economics; Don McCool, research leader, USDA-ARS Land Management and Water Conservation Research Unit, Pullman; and representatives of the U.S. Dry Pea and Lentil Council; Washington Wheat Commission; Washington Canola/Rape Seed Commission; and representative of the Washington Barley Commission.
Take State Highway 27, then go 4.7 miles east on Whelan Road. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., tours at 8 a.m.
