2005 Direct Seed Conference

Focus Session 1 - International Systems: (2 hours)

Evolution and Changes in Cropping: Some Differences That Make No-till in South America Successful, Dirceu Gassen, Technical Manager No-till Farmers Cooperative, Brazil

Farming Practices, Direct Seeding and No-till in Semi-arid Steppes of Northern Kazakhstan and West Siberia, Dr. Mekhlis Suleimenov, Assistant Regional Coordinator ICARDA-CAC Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Focus Session 2 - Emerging Issues: (68 minutes)

Impact of Energy Costs on Agriculture, Dr. Duane Griffith, Extension Farm and Ranch Management Specialist, Montana State University, Bozeman

Impact of the Internet on Agriculture and Rural Communities, Dr. Bill Gillis, Director, Center to Bridge the Digital Divide, Washington State University, Pullman

Focus Session 3 - Cropping Systems: (1 hour, 45 minutes)

The Move to No-Till Farming in Alberta, Don Wentz, Agronomist, Reduced Tillage Linkages, Lethbridge, Alberta

Glucosinolate and the Opportunity in Agriculture, Jack Brown, Professor of Plant Breeding University of Idaho, Moscow

Farmer and Researcher Funding Opportunities with Western Region SARE, Dr. Phil Rasmussen, Utah State University, Logan

Concurrent Session A - Managing Your Options: (68 minutes)

Dick Wittman, Wittman Farms, Lewiston, ID
Teaching Activities or Steps for Preparing Producers to Adopt a Managerial Accounting System.

Concurrent Session B - Low Precipitation Cropping: (65 minutes)

Paul Shanno, The Dalles, OR
Direct Seeding Experiences Near Dufur Oregon

Jim Hirst, Hirst Farms, Inc., Harrington, WA
The Past, Present, and Future for a Low Rainfall, Direct Seed Farm in Lincoln County

Bill Schillinger, Dryland Agronomist, Washington State University, Ritzville
Conservation Farming in the Low-Precipitation Zone of the Inland Pacific Northwest

Concurrent Session C - Intermediate Precipitation Cropping: (64 minutes)

Fritz Hill, Hill Ranches Inc., Pendleton, OR
Direct Seeding 101 in Intermediate Rainfall: The Decision to Direct Seed, Re-tooling, Victories, Train Wrecks, The Future

Ron Kile, KLC Inc., Rosalia, WA
Challenge + Change = Opportunities: Making Direct Seed Work

Joe Yenish, Extension Weed Scientist, WSU, Pullman
Intermediate Rainfall Cropping Systems - Opportunities Abound for "The Middle Child"

Concurrent Session D - High Precipitation Cropping: (64 minutes)

Eric Odberg, Odberg Farms, Genesee, ID
Transitions to Direct Seeding

Dave Huggins, Soil Scientist, USDA-ARS, Pullman, WA

Focus Session 4 - Cropping Systems: (1 hour, 35 minutes)

Adaptation of Winter Grain Legumes to US Production Areas, Dr. Kevin McPhee, Research Geneticist, USDA-ARS, Pullman

Making Cropping Decisions in a 12 Inch Precipitation Zone, Bill Jepsen, Grower, Heppner, OR

Direct Seeding Results from Spokane and Whitman Counties or "Statisticians are from Mars, Farmers are from Venus", Dr. Diana Roberts, Agronomist, Washington State University Extension, Spokane

Focus Session 5 - Soil Stewardship: (67 minutes)

Soil Health: Your Family's and Your Farm's Future, Dr. Anne Kennedy, Microbiologist, USDA-ARS, Pullman, WA

Earthworm Populations and Tillage Management: Implications for Plant Growth, Dr. Jodi Johnson Maynard, Soil Scientist, University of Idaho, Moscow

Focus Session 6 - Equipment & Farming Systems Technology: (1 hours, 45 minutes)

Applications of Precision Agriculture for PNW Growers, Dr. Fran Pierce, Precision Agriculture Center, Washington State University, Prosser

Technology- a Toy... Or a Tool for Better Decisions?, Travis Hillman, AG-Teq, The Dalles, OR

The Future of Farm Equipment: Faster, Simpler, Safer Seed Environment, Kevin Anderson, Horsch-Anderson, Andover SD