|
Grower
Interest in Alternative Crops
FOR
THE INTERMEDIATE AND LOW RAINFALL AREAS OF EASTERN WASHINGTON,
OCTOBER 1997
In
October, 1997, eastern Washington growers attended a workshop
to learn about potential alternative crops to wheat and barley.
The producers were mostly from Lincoln and Adams Counties, WA.
These counties fall in the intermediate (12 to 17 inches annually)
and low (8 to 11 inches annually) precipitation regions of the
state. Agriculture in the area is mostly dryland and the predominant
crops are soft white winter wheat, with spring wheat and barley
in the intermediate rainfall area. Growers traditionally put their
land into summer fallow every second or third year. Many, however,
are actively seeking viable alternative crops to help spread their
risk and provide rotational benefits.
Speakers
were;
Bill
Schillinger, an agronomist with Washington State University who
conducts an alternative cropping systems project in the crop-fallow
region,
Karl
Kupers, a grower experimenting with alternative crops under no-till
systems on his farm, and
Dan
McKay, a grower and owner/operator of a grain seed and marketing
company based in Almira, WA.
Research
into these crops, under direct seeding systems, is in preliminary
stages in eastern Washington. Following the presentations on initial
research results, grower observations, and crop markets, 19 of the
75 attendees completed an evaluation pertaining to their interest
in specific alternative crops (Figure 1).
Figure
1.
Questions
answered were the following:
1.
Which crops have the greatest potential to improve your profitability?
2. Which crops have the greatest potential to meet you environmental
goals for your farm or community?
3. Which crops might bring new business opportunities to your community?
4. Which crops would you most like to try?
The
Ag Horizons team of WSU Cooperative Extension has used these figures
in designing further workshops on alternative crops. At the time
of writing (October 1999), the grower vote for the above crops has
changed somewhat, and it will probably continue to change with time,
season, and market fluctuations.
Bill
Schillinger, WSU; Karl Kupers, producer; and Dan McKay, McKay Seed
Company provided concepts that were the basis for the producer interest
in alternative crops summarized in this report. Information is from
a workshop held in Harrington, WA, on October 24, 1997.
Agricultural
Sustainability. Highlights from a seminar series conducted by Washington
State University's Ag Horizons Team and funded by USDA Western Region
SARE.
Diana
Roberts
222 N. Havana
Spokane, WA 99202-4799
Phone: (509) 477-2048
FAX: (509) 477-2087
 robertsd@wsu.edu
|
