About Us

Wilke Extension Team

Wilke Farm Background

Wilke Research and Extension Farm
Washington State University, Davenport, WA

The Wilke Research and Extension Farm is located on the east edge of Davenport, WA. The 320-acre farm was bequeathed to WSU in the 1980's by Beulah Wilson Wilke for use as an agricultural research facility. A local family has operated the farm for approximately 60 years. Funding for the work at the Wilke Farm comes from research and extension grants and through the proceeds of the crops grown. Goals for research at the Wilke Farm are centered around the need to develop cropping systems that are economically and environmentally sustainable. Focus is on systems that reduce soil erosion by wind and water, improve the efficiency and net return of farming operations, enhance soil quality, reduce stubble burning, and reduce agrochemical and fossil fuel use.

The Wilke Farm is located in the intermediate rainfall zone (12-17 inches of annual precipitation) of eastern Washington in what has historically been a conventional tillage, 3-year rotation of winter wheat, spring cereal (wheat or barley), followed by summer fallow. However, this has resulted in high soil erosion in the winter wheat crop following summer fallow. Wind erosion from fallow fields contributes to air quality problems in Spokane, WA. Wheat, on the other hand, is the most profitable crop in the rotation and the wheat-summer fallow rotation has been the most profitable system for a number of years.

The farm is split in half by State Highway 2. The north side has been in continuous winter or spring cereal production for approximately 10 years and being cropped without tillage for the past 4 years. Since 1998, the south side has been dedicated to the Wilke Research Project that is testing a direct seed, intensive cropping system. In combination with field size plots on 5 area producers farms, the south side of the Wilke Farm was divided into 21 separate plots that are 8 to 10 acres in size and farmed using full-scale equipment. There are three replications of a 4-year rotation (winter wheat, spring cereals, a broadleaf crop, and a warm season grass), and three replications of a 3-year rotation (winter wheat, spring cereals, and a broadleaf crop). Crops grown in the rotation have included barley, winter and spring wheat for cereals; canola, peas, safflower, sunflowers, and yellow mustard for broadleaf crops; and proso millet for the warm season grass.

Data on soil quality, weed and insect populations, diseases, crop yield, and economics are being collected. In addition, grower cooperators within a 40-mile radius are replicating either the 3- or 4- year rotations on their own farms. The "Wilke Project" has completed the final year of the 4-year rotation. The Extension Dryland Cropping Systems Specialist and the farm operator direct the work at the Wilke Farm. The project provides research, demonstration, education and extension activities to further the adoption of direct-seeding systems in the area. The Wilke project is a collaborative approach to develop direct seed systems that include local growers, WSU research and extension faculty, NRCS, agribusiness, Lincoln County Conservation District, and EPA. In addition, the Wilke Farm is used increasingly for small plot research by WSU faculty and private company researchers for small plot cropping systems research.

Due to its location and climate, the Wilke Farm compliments other WSU dryland research stations in the Palouse area (high rainfall) and at Lind (dry) and other locations in the region such as north central Oregon. Future plans for the farm include offices, a shop, and learning facilities.