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If you would like to be added to the mailing list, or
if you have an address change, please contact us.
Whitman Conservation District
805 Vista Point Drive, Suite 2
Colfax, WA 99111
Phone: (509) 397-4636 ext. 3
Fax: (509) 397-4953
dana-sanchez@wa.nacdnet.org
**Our next newsletter will be published
in July, 2007**
Highlights from the March 2007 Newsletter:
 | Alternative pumping source: A wind-powered system provides
off-site water for livestock |
| Oilseed Farm-to-Market Project: The first year |
   
Alternative pumping source: Windmill
By Kimberly
Morse and Dana Sanchez, WCD
with Tom Kammerzell,
Cooperator
Two studies found that improved water
quality can also translate into economic benefits by
improving weight gains by cattle: www.animalrangeextension.montana.edu/articles/NatResourc/drinking_H2O_beef.htm
and www.waterquality.crc.org.au/hsarch/HS28f.htm.
Conveying stock water away from streams has multiple benefits: it not only improves cattle health, but it also protects both water quality and stream bank vegetation. Last
fall, the District worked with Tom Kammerzell to install a windmill and pipeline to
provide off-site water for his livestock.
Tom’s
innovative project was carefully planned to provide stock with an alternative water source and to protect water quality while also
avoiding tank overflows by incorporating a
demand-triggered valve system. Project
installation required about 70 hours of labor and approximately $2600 in parts and
equipment rental. The wind-driven pumping
source is extremely adaptable to a wide
range of potential designs. Although the
piping and valving on Tom’s 3-way system is fairly complex, the power source can be
adapted to fit different applications from the very simple to very complex. The key is good planning and careful design.
Since completion, the Kammerzell
system has performed very well. In addition
to pumping, tank aeration by the wind-driven system eliminated the need for a stock water
heater and its associated electricity expenses – a significant savings as energy prices
continue to rise. There were only 6
days this winter in which Tom needed to keep watch over the trough in order to keep ice
broken and water available. Thus, besides
providing a tremendous savings in time, labor,
and electricity, the pumping system increased water
consumption by stock during the winter, possibly by as much as 50%.
The most challenging part of the
construction project was the need for detailed planning and
design. Prior to approaching District staff about the project, Tom researched
wind strength and availability at potential sites on his farm over the course of a year to
ensure a year-round, steady power source. He
also carefully considered his needs, valving, and storage capacity. Thorough planning and a test-run prior to line
burial helped make his project a success. Tom
would recommend a similar pumping plant for other stock producers
in our region. With careful site selection,
sufficient wind availability should not be a problem for area producers. Wind-driven systems can be designed as either
sole- or alternative-source watering systems, offering many options to potential users. Once in place, wind-powered systems will provide
economic benefits through savings in labor, equipment, and energy as well as through
improved stock performance.
Tom has many valuable insights to
share on the planning, design, and installation of his system. To give local producers a chance to see and learn
more about the project, the Whitman Conservation District has organized a site visit and
associated shoptalk on the project for Tuesday, May 1, 2007 beginning at 10:00 am. Tom Kammerzell and Lance Horning, District
Engineer, will be available to explain
the design and answer questions. A leaflet describing the windmill plant, its
usefulness as an alternative pumping plant for
livestock water, and a project-planning checklist will be available at the shoptalk. The windmill visit and shoptalk will be held at
Maple K Farms, 110 Kammerzell Road. Please
RSVP (509.397.4636 ext. 101) by Thursday, April 26 to ensure that we will have adequate
seating and handouts for all participants. Directions will be available upon RSVP. We hope
that you will join us!
Follow-up note: Informational
leaflets (including the project planning checklist) are available at the District office.
  
Oilseed Farm-to-Market: The First Year
By Kimberly Morse, WCD Coordinator and
Jack
Ensley, WCD Associate Supervisor
The Whitman Conservation District (WCD)
seeks alternative ways to create sustainable farms through exploration of different
farming systems, alternative crops, crop rotations,
and conservation
practices. In pursuit of these objectives,
the District undertook a series of
activities as part of an Oilseed
Farm-to-Market Demonstration. Goals of the
demonstration project were to increase awareness of the benefits of including an oilseed
crop within a rotation (agronomics) and to provide information on the value-added
opportunities offered by oilseed crops (economics).
In 2003 the District completed a
survey of 22 producers to determine the economic break-even point for oilseed crops across
our regional rainfall zones (10-26”). The survey resulted in a Washington State
University publication, “Cost of producing
canola and mustard oilseeds in eastern Washington
and north central Idaho” (http://farm-mgmt.wsu.edu/PDF-docs/nonirr/eb1960.pdf). Follow-up work by Herb Hinman (WSU Farm Management
Specialist) updated the survey to reflect 2006
costs (http://farm-mgmt.wsu.edu/nonirr.htm, publication number EB2009E) and 2006
break-even prices (12-15 cents/pound, depending on rainfall zone and farming system). Following the survey, the District successfully competed for a 3-year grant from
the USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture, Research, and Education (SARE) program to allow
further development of economically viable marketing opportunities for oilseed products in
the region. Combined
with additional match funding from the Port of Whitman County, Washington Canola-Rapeseed Commission, Whitman
Conservation District, and the Whitman County
Commissioners and in-kind match support from the Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and participating producers, the grant funds allowed
the District to purchase an oilseed crusher, conduct growth and yield trials, and seek
market opportunities for by-products.
The project involves 5 experienced
oilseed producers growing oilseed
varieties (canola, mustard, rapeseed) in 3
rainfall zones (12-15”, 16-18”, and 19-21”).
Monitoring of the direct-seeded crops during the 3-year long project
includes soil testing and documentation of growing conditions, estimation of soil disturbance levels, documentation of seeding and yield
rates, and documentation of any problems with pests or diseases and the measures needed
for control. 2006 was the first year of the project and for the portable farm-scale oilseed crusher,
which was used to crush canola seed. Depending
on the running speed, the crusher processed about 1 ¼ tons of seed per day.
The experience of producers Del and Steve
Teade provided a good illustration of first year results among project participants. The Teades farm in the 17” rainfall zone on
Athena silt loam. They used an Ag Pro Drill
with a 10” spacing hoe opener in their direct seed operation and included spring
canola (Hyola 37, roundup-ready) in their 6-year rotation (sw/ww/sc/ww/cf/ww). The Teades realized a yield of approximately 1000
lbs/acre due to a two-stage emergence. This
translated into approximately 8 tons of seed producing about 5 ½ tons of meal and more
than 600 gallons of oil from the 17 acres they committed to the project. To process the harvest, the District ran the Komet
oil expeller at a rate of ¾ ton/day. Yields
over a 24-hour period were 30% oil (56.25 gal) and 70% meal (1050 lbs). In 2005, a canola seed contract yielded an average
of 10 cents/lb and in 2006 it improved to 15 cents/lb.
Meal from the 2006 harvest was valued at $150/ton, while the oil was valued
at $2.65/gal. Total sale value of the
by-products was 15 ¾ cents/pound. Minor
obstacles encountered during the trial included typical inconveniences from winter
temperatures and road closures, technical issues
such as photocell adjustments, challenges with
heater rings, and the need to convert electrical sources from three-phase German standard to single-phase American standard.
Overall, the first year of the project was
a success! All 5 producers will be participating in 2007 with either winter or spring
canola. Our first year helped us to develop
an awareness of potential obstacles that can be worked through with participants to obtain
even better outcomes in years 2 and 3. We
will continue to gather data on soil moisture, nutrients, and crop yields and will include
that data in our final report. Data and
conclusions from all aspects of the oilseed farm-to-market project will be available to
the public and interested producers through a variety of information, education, and
outreach materials and programs.
Highlights from our April 2006 Newsletter:
Public Invited to Comment on Agriculture Burning Rule
NEWS RELEASE provided by the Department of Ecology
The state Department of Ecology (Ecology) is inviting comments on a
rule regulating agricultural burning.
Ecology is updating the existing rule (Chapter 173-430 of the
Washington Administrative Code) on agricultural burning. The rulemaking also is the
culmination of efforts that completes Ecology's responsibilities in a settlement agreement
with Save Our Summers (SOS).
The rule was developed collaboratively with an advisory group
consisting of representatives from the Washington Association of Wheat Growers and other
agricultural industry groups, Save Our Summers and the American Lung Association of
Washington, and researchers with expertise in farming and air pollution.
“This is the first opportunity to review the agricultural burning
program as a whole since 1994,” said Melissa McEachron, a specialist in
Ecology’s air quality program. “Several changes have occurred to the program
since that time as a result of new science and technology, litigation and
legislation.”
One of the key changes to the rule is a description
of Ecology's procedures for determining daily whether burning should be
allowed in Eastern Washington. Specifically, Ecology will use weather forecasting tools
and a smoke metering system to carefully manage the spring and fall burning of wheat
fields. The rule provides new guidelines on how decisions will be made to avoid severe air
pollution events downwind of burned fields.
The Washington Clean Air Act intends that public health be protected
and also allows for agricultural burning that is reasonably necessary. Smoke from
agricultural burning releases fine particles, carbon monoxide, and other toxic pollutants.
Ecology will be holding five hearings on the proposed rule. The
hearings begin at 7 p.m.
· May 23 -Moses Lake: Big Bend Community College, 7662
Chanute St NE, Rm 1870 A&B
· May 24 -Spokane: Spokane County WSU/Cooperative
Extension, 222 N. Havana
· May 24 - Wenatchee: Wenatchee Valley Museum, 127 South
Mission
· May 25 - Walla Walla: Walla Walla Regional Airport,
310 A. Street, Blue Mountain/Mill Creek Rm
· May 30 - Pullman: WSU Campus, Carpenter Building, Rm
102
For a copy of the proposed rule or to submit comments, contact Melissa
McEachron, Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600; e-mail, mmce461@ecy.wa.gov;
fax (360) 407-7534. The proposed rule is also available online at: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/laws-rules/activity/wac173430.html.
The comment period on the rule will run until June 9, 2006. Written,
e-mailed and faxed comments must be received no later than 5 p.m.
After considering all public comments, Ecology expects to issue the
final rule within a few months. A response will be sent to all people who provide
comments.
For more information: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/laws-rules/activity/wac173430.html
Ecology’s Web site: http://www.ecy.wa.gov
Whitman Conservation District’s Fallow
Moisture Comparison Project
By Dennis Roe, NRCS and
Kimberly Morse, WCD
The Whitman
Conservation District boundaries extend west from Colfax to Adams County, south to the
Snake River, the north boundary is just south of Endicott and the east boundary being
almost straight south from Colfax to the headwaters of Almota Creek and then west to the
Almota Elevators. The annual precipitation
zones range from 12 – 21 inches with crop rotations varying in length from 2 -4
years. A question that had surfaced several
times was, “Which is better, Chemical Fallow or Cultivated Fallow when looking at
moisture retention, yield production, and economics?”
Due to the varying degrees of farming practices within our District, the
Board decided to try to answer the question through comparison of soil moisture in two
fallow conditions prepared in two different ways, at yields and input costs.
The Project began in 2002
and was initially going to be monitored for five-years, but due to farming practice
changes, the Project will end in 2006. The
participants are Dan and Steve Moore and Gary Luft, and their farms are located on the
Luft Road near Dusty with an annual precipitation zone of 15”. The soil sites are Walla Walla silt loam with
three sampling sites being replicated on upper, mid, and lower slope positions (18%, 15%,
and 12% respectively) on the hills. The
fields have been in a three-year wheat-barley-fallow rotation with the first year crops
being spring barley.
In addition to the
soil sampling, a small plot of wheat (9’ x 2 row) is cut by hand, then threshed to
determine an average yield from the fields being monitored.
The District also has added a weather station to the area to gather more
accurate weather readings.
Moisture
Sampling
Luft Farm
Moore Brothers Farm
Date
Total in 4 ft depth
Total in 4 ft depth
Field 1:
04/17/02
10.5
10.4
05/21/02
8.5
8.7
07/26/02
7.3
7.9
09/03/02
7.8
7.9
03/20/03
11.5
11.0
04/26/03
8.8
9.0
05/23/03
6.0
6.8
10/23/03
3.6
3.4
09/16/04
3.1
3.9
F/WW
CF/WW
2003 Yields:
100.3 bu/ac
95.0 bu/ac
Field 2:
09/12/03
8.1
9.2
03/16/04
12.9
11.8
04/02/04
11.4
10.2
05/06/04
8.9
6.9
06/30/04
5.6
3.9
09/16/04
3.9
4.2
CF/WW
F/WW
2004 Yields:
78.7 bu/ac
83.5 bu/ac
Field 3:
04/02/04
12.8
8.5
04/19/04
12.2
10.5
05/27/04
10.5
8.4
09/16/04
8.3
6.7
03/24/05
10.3
7.1
06/02/05
6.4
4.2
CF/WW
F/WW
2005 Yields:
86.1 bu/ac
127.3 bu/ac
Field 4:
03/24/05
6.3
6.0
06/02/05
7.3
6.9
07/11/05
6.5
6.2
09/15/05
5.4
4.7
F/WW
CF/WW
2006 Yields:
To be taken
To be taken
Observations
~In comparison of
practices for a moisture line at a 3-inch depth in September, ¼-inch of rain is needed
for the chemical fallow and an inch or more of rain is needed to meet the conventional fallow.
~The results on chemical fallow can vary by condition of the soil. The soil condition improves with successive years
of not tilling the soil.
~Initial determination would be that the earlier emergence of the conventional fallow (F)
wheat in the fall of 2002 contributed to the
carryover of moisture on the Moore site and the higher yield on the Luft site.
~Statistics on both fields were very similar with both growers having used deep furrow and
semi-deep furrow drills to seed. The yield
difference seems to be based on when emergence takes place; both practices retain the same
root zone moisture levels.
~As the Project progresses, the participants switched the type
of fallow used, therefore there was a field change to address the topography
for Field 4.
~Predicted erosion on the chemical fallow wheat has been 2-tons per acre compared
to 18-tons per acre on the cultivated fallow wheat.
~One benefit of chemical fallow/direct seed is that it leaves small holes and root
channels intact for water from rainfall and snowfall to soak
into the soil. The District perform the test
according the standards set by Dr. Paul Rasmussen, Pendleton Research Station on Field 1with the outcome being that
it took 3 minutes and 23 seconds for complete
infiltration on the direct seeded field and 21 minutes for complete infiltration on the cultivated field. What does this relate to? It relates to water
soaking into standing stubble nearly 4 times faster than a layer of bare soil on top of a
stubble layer.
Economically, Herb Hinman,
Agricultural Economist at WSU recently updated his cost information for the 2006 year on
chemical fallow and cultivated fallow wheat. Although
his information is based on Garfield County farms in the 13”-15” precipitation
zone and is also Walla Walla silt loam, matching our Project’s scenario. Using 2006 costs, the following is a summary:**
Summer Fallow / Winter Wheat
Summer Fallow / Winter Wheat
Chemical Fallow / Direct Seed
Cultivated Fallow / Conventional
Variable costs (seed,
spray, fertilizer, etc)
$166.74
$159.73
Fixed costs (land, machinery, etc)
$ 88.42
$104.32
Total Cost
$255.16/ac
$264.05/ac
** A draft copy of the
2006 Summer Fallow – Wheat Enterprise Budgets for Garfield County is available upon
request by calling the District office at 509.397.4636, ext. 3.
The economics favor the
use of chemical fallow. Agronomics favor
chemical fallow due to the predicted erosion being 10% of a cultivated fallow; fewer
tractor hours; less fuel used; less tillage operations; faster water intake, and the soil
condition is improving through the building of organic matter and carbon sequestration.
This
project is being funded through the Washington State Conservation Commission
Implementation Grant program.
Mustard Trials, Dusty
By Jim Davis, U of I and
Kimberly Morse, WCD
Whitman Conservation
District is working with Jerry and Mike Stubbs, and the University of Idaho to determine
two objectives in growing mustard under the direct seed system in the Dusty area: the
yield potential of oriental mustard compared to canola and yellow mustard; and determine
the rotational effect of oriental mustard compared to spring wheat, canola and yellow
mustard on subsequent spring wheat yield. A
single large-plot is being used (with multiple individual plots within) for this study
during the three-year period.
On April 5, 2005 the
first rotation of the study began with the spring crops being planted in a four replicate
trial with an individual plot size of 20 x 56 feet. The
spring crops were: ‘Blanca Grande’ spring wheat, ‘Hyola 401’ spring
canola, ‘IdaGold’ yellow mustard and ‘Pacific Gold’ oriental mustard. Whitman Conservation District in conjunction with
Dennis Roe, NRCS conducted soil sampling which showed 11-inches of moisture in the top
five feet of the soil profile along with 66.7 lbs of available nitrate nitrogen. In the top foot of soil there was 28.8 lbs of
ammonia nitrogen available.
At harvest, the
stand counts were not significantly different between crop species and were within the
expected range:
Crop
Stand
Yield
Plants/ft of row
lbs/ac
Blanca Grande wheat
7.0
2271
Pacific Gold oriental mustard
5.3
1737
IdaGold yellow mustard
5.8
1433
Hyola 401 canola
4.1
1036
Weed populations
were quite low with the canola and mustard crops competing very well with any weeds
present. No disease and little insect damage
were observed on the canola and mustard plots; however, the wheat plots were damaged by a
Hessian fly infestation. More soil moisture
remained in the top 5 feet of the wheat plots (7.7-inches) than in the top 5 feet of the
oriental mustard plots (5.6-inches).
On March 28, 2006
the complete trial area was planted to ‘Tara 2002’ spring wheat. The areas allocated to previous crop treatment in
spring 2005 will be used to divide the area into experimental plots in the wheat crop.
On March 29, 2006
the second year of the rotation was planted the same as in the first rotation but in a
different location. Once the three-year trial
is completed, the results will determine the potential of growing oriental mustard in the
western part of Whitman Conservation District.
A 3-page report is
available upon request. Please either stop by or call the District Office at 509.397.4636,
ext. 3 to request a copy of the 3-page report summary from the first year of the trial.
Funding
for the Mustard Trials at Dusty is provided through the Implementation Grant awarded from
the Washington State Conservation Commission.
The Tradition Continues
By Kimberly Morse, WCD Coordinator
The conservation tradition continues for the 5th graders of
both Colfax and Lacrosse as this past spring the Whitman Conservation District finished
our 9th year of planting. The students received some instructions on-site as to
how to properly plant the plants, and some methods to control weeds and predation used in
our area and the reason for using them.
As in years past, the class from Lacrosse Elementary participated in an
in-class presentation on conservation awareness for the area prior to planting at the
south end of Pampa Pond. The students were able to plant 80 stems this year, enhancing the
local wildlife habitat. The plants included Eastern Red Cedar, Russian Olive, and Woods
Rose.
Both classes from Jennings Elementary planted at the north end of
McDonald Park in Mr. Ron Taylor’s pasture. The windbreak/wildlife habitat planting
included Eastern Red Cedar, Lilacs, Honeysuckle, Russian Olive, and Woods Rose with a
total of 240 plants planted for enhancement.
THANK YOU to all who participated! It would not of taken place without
you!
Lacrosse Elementary: Mrs. Leanne Bafus, teacher; Mrs. Dodge, bus
driver/assistant; the Schweigers, landowners; the Lacrosse Lions Club, land managers; and
Dave Weber, NRCS.
Jennings Elementary: Mrs. Moore and Mrs. Vorderbrueggen, teachers; Ms
Doering, substitute teacher; Ms Wegener, practicum teacher; Mr. Ron Taylor, landowner; all
the on-site parents; and Dave Weber, NRCS.
Funding for this activity was provided by a grant received from the Washington State
Conservation Commission.
Whitman Conservation District’s
Cost-Share Program
What have we implemented?
By Kimberly Morse, WCD
Coordinator
The District’s
Cost-Share Program was created in January 2003 and since then has been updated to meet new
State requirements and expand to include additional practices.
From 2003 –
2006, the District Awarded $46,316 in cost-share dollars for the following practices to be
implemented:
tree/shrub
establishment: 8,660 stems
fencing: 16,150 ft
roof runoff management: 565 ft
troughs: 17
grass seeding: 60.25 ac (pasture/filters)
pipeline: 8,210 ft
wildlife watering facility: 17 units
direct seed: 445 ac
spring developments: 3
no till: 285 ac
pumping plant-alternative wind: 1
crop
rotation-canola: 169 ac
The Whitman
Conservation District is dedicated to continuing to locate and secure additional
cost-share dollars, and to continue to provide technical assistance to our local
Stakeholders to implement activities that ultimately will sustain our natural resources.
The
District Cost-Share Program is on a first-come, first-serve, as long as there is funding
basis. If you are interested in what is
available, please either stop-by, or call our office at 509.397.4636, ext. 3, and request
a brochure.
If you would like to be added to the mailing list, or
if you have an address change, please contact us.
Whitman Conservation District
805 Vista Point Drive, Suite 2
Colfax, WA 99111
Phone: (509) 397-4636 ext. 3
Fax: (509) 397-4953
dana-sanchez@wa.nacdnet.org
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