New deep furrow drill project to be heard at Wheat Research Review
Washington Ag Today January 31, 2011 An appeal to the full Washington Grain Commission has won backers of research on a new deep furrow drill the right to make a presentation at the Wheat Research Review being held February 23rd in Pullman. In a pre-review the project had been rejected. The research would look at different drill opener designs for a new drill for the low-rainfall summer fallow wheat region of the state, which accounts for about 62 percent of wheat acreage in Washington. Getting into the research review process makes the project potentially eligible for Grain Commission funding though commissioners may decide not to support it. Ritzville grower Ron Jirva, who addressed the commission at its January meeting, says some funding has come from other sources and the commission may not need to put up much money. Jirva: “I mean we are looking at as little as 10-thousand dollar a year or $30,000 over the three years from the commission to help move this project forward.” Some commissioners expressed concern that they would be funding research that would benefit a private company. But Jirva says no major manufacturer is going to make a drill specifically for such a small sales area. Jirva: “We are just going to have to go back to doing things for ourselves and this is one thing that we will just do for ourselves and hopefully it works out and we have some local manufacturer in Washington or eastern Oregon that says, yeah I think I can do this.” Growers in the low rainfall region need a new drill designed to go through heavier stubble to reduce their trips across the field, which would lower fuel use and emissions and reduce wind erosion thereby providing benefits to farmers and non-farmers alike. I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on Northwest Aginfo Net. ? ? ?
