Interest is high in developing new deep-furrow drill prototype
Washington Ag Today January 4, 2010 More than 100 people turned out for a meeting in Ritzville recently on the subject of developing a prototype for a new deep-furrow drill that can handle the straw residue from reduced tillage farming practices in the lower rainfall summer fallow wheat region. Bill Schillinger, Washington State University agronomist, says farmers, ag industry people and scientists attended the meeting. Schillinger: “There was a tremendous level of enthusiasm expressed by wheat farmers from this low rainfall region at that meeting about the real need for this type of drill. So that is what we are viewing as the next step for allowing these farmers to successfully pursue conservation tillage and ultimately we would like to see every farm out there maintaining 30% residue cover after their deep-furrow seeding. That would be just wonderful and if the farmers could achieve that, that would be a huge advancement in the abatement of dust.” A second meeting has been scheduled in Ritzville January 14th at the Wheat Foundation Building beginning at 9 a.m. to get into more detail and prioritize the types of prototypes growers want. Proponents are also looking for funding. The Columbia Plateau PM10 Project has provided 20-thousand dollars towards the effort but much more will be needed. At the Ritzville meeting the Washington Conservation Commission was pointed to as one possible funding source. A deep-furrow drill list serve has also been set up and is running at
I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Northwest Ag Information Network. ?
