03/28/05 Soil scientist on tillage and drought

Farm and Ranch March 28, 2005 Out in the low rainfall dryland summer fallow wheat growing areas of eastern Washington and northeastern Oregon drought has created dusty conditions. Schillinger: "I saw a field just take off. It looked like a picture of the Dust Bowl from the 1930`s off of about a half section of ground." That's Bill Schillinger, Washington State University soil scientist describing an event that occurred last week. If they haven't done their spring tillage yet, Schillinger recommends farmers hold off on primary tillage until well into April. He's done research that shows you are not losing any soil moisture by that delay. And when you do till, Schillinger says use some non-inversion equipment like a wide-blade V-sweep undercutter type implement and maybe leave off those attachments like harrows.and packers. Schillinger: "And do what they can to keep a rough surface with stubble standing up with as many clods as you can have, and go that route." Because the goal says Schillinger, is to maintain a 30 percent residue cover on summer fallow. Schillinger: "That's what's really key for controlling wind erosion, having 30% of your soil surface covered with straw by end of your fallow season. And if farmers can achieve that, especially if most of that straw is standing up, that is really great." Schillinger is part of a team of scientists that have been developing cropping systems and farming practices to help growers reduce wind erosion. Tomorrow, some other ideas dryland growers are contemplating. That's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report. "Brought to you by new DuPont Affinity TankMix with TotalSol soluble granules for wheat." I'm Bob Hoff on the Northwest Ag Information Network.