Increasing the effectiveness of technology transfer for conservation cropping systems through research and field design

Forté-Gardner, O.; Young, Frank L.; Dillman, Don A.; Carroll, Matthew S.

doi:10.1079/rafs200485

Cited by 23 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…The four cropping systems evaluated included (i) reduced-tillage WWF, (ii) SWChF, (3) CHRSW, and (4) HRSWSB. The specific cropping systems, field operations, and technologies used were a compromise between growers' needs and interest and scientists' interests expressed during preliminary planning meetings (Forté-Gardner et al, 2004). Attendees decided mutually to grow only spring cereal grains in this study as alternative systems because both fall and spring broadleaf crops seldom were grown in this region, and very little information was available on the production of spring cereals generally and no-till specifically.…”

Section: Cropping Systems Cultivars and Field Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the spring/summer of 1995, scientists from the USDA-ARS and Washington State University (WSU) met with regional wheat growers to discuss the low-rainfall crop production problems in general and spring crop production problems specifically (Forté-Gardner et al, 2004). The major problem confronting both growers and researchers was the lack of agronomic and economic information for optimum spring crop production practices.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Comparisons of Annual No‐Till Spring Cereal Cropping Systems in the Pacific Northwest

Young¹,

Alldredge

Pan

et al. 2015

Crop Forage & Turfgrass Mgmt

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Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)– summer fallow (WWF) has been the prevalent rotation in the low rainfall zone of the Pacific Northwest (PNW) for more than 130 years; however, this rotation is characterized by poor soil health, high pest incidence, and poor environmental sustainability. A 6‐year study was initiated in 1995 to evaluate the agronomic and economic feasibility of no‐till spring cereal cropping systems to replace or supplement fallow. The systems included: WWF; no‐till spring wheat‐chemical fallow (SWChF); continuous no‐till hard red spring wheat (CHRSW); and no‐till hard red spring wheat– no‐till spring barley (HRSWSB). Overall the WWF (reduced tillage fallow) system produced 25% more grain, almost $30/rotational acre more net return and was less risky compared to the second best (SWChF) system. This research was the first ever to examine a SWChF system. This system yielded higher than both the CHRSW and HRSWSB in all but 1 year. In general, HRSW yielded similarly for both systems. The 2000–2001 crop growing season was extremely dry and crop yields for that year were from 45 to 80% less than their respective 5‐year average, depending on the crop. Although all of the no‐till spring cropping systems provided greater wind erosion protection, the economic returns were negative for the duration of the study. Perhaps if compensation was provided to growers for conservation practices, adoption of these agronomically and environmentally sound systems would be readily adopted.

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Section: Cropping Systems Cultivars and Field Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparisons of Annual No‐Till Spring Cereal Cropping Systems in the Pacific Northwest

Young¹,

Alldredge

Pan

et al. 2015

Crop Forage & Turfgrass Mgmt

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“…The desire for greater scale, relevance and collaboration in research and adoption is not unique to Australian farmers. A survey of growers associated with a large, long-term conservation farming experiment in Washington State, USA, found that they valued the Project's 'whole-system' approach as well as its larger, commercial-scaled plots, and the collaboration that took place between the growers and scientists (Forté-Gardner et al 2004). Ensuring that a range of stakeholders work closely with scientists has also been found to be successful with land use studies, including soil and water studies in the Netherlands, where Bouma et al (2008) found that exploring the needs of land managers led not only to innovative ideas but also to greater commitment of collaborators and better definition of the areas of research to be undertaken.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reflections on the concept, conduct and findings of the producer-led Cicerone Project

Coventry¹,

Sutherland²,

Waters

et al. 2013

Anim. Prod. Sci.

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Abstract. The Cicerone Project began as a producer-led partnership that sought, over a period of 8 years, to enhance the profitability and sustainability of livestock enterprises by improving the connection between those producers, research and extension. Following a detailed survey, the research and extension needs of livestock producers were identified and several applied investigations were conducted to meet those needs and delivered through a range of extension activities. This final paper of the Cicerone Special Issue reflects on the entire Project from a wide array of perspectives, including livestock producers, researchers, extension specialists and staff employed by the Project, all of whom are authors of this paper.A notable early successful outcome of the Project was the improved precision of footrot diagnosis, which has been of value to the entire sheep industry, and that flowed from a field investigation of benign and virulent footrot combined with detailed genetic investigations, which led to an improved testing regime. This paper also reflects on the findings of an unreplicated agricultural ecosystem research trial, which measured the impact of pasture renovation, increased soil fertility and grazing management on the profitability and sustainability of three different 53-ha farmlets. Valuable findings from this whole-farmlet trial included the need for a high quality feed supply for increasing stocking rate and animal liveweights; the ability and utility of satellite imagery to detect changes in pasture growth, composition and recent grazing pressure; the value of short grazing and long rest periods for controlling Barber's pole worms of sheep; the impact of increased stocking rates on whole-farm profitability and risk; methods of optimising decisions relating to pasture renovation, fertiliser applications and grazing management; and an integrated analysis of all key measured components of the farmlet management systems. Collectively, these findings were powerful as they were demonstrated at a scale credible to livestock producers using the 'compare -measure -learn -adopt' approach, which was the key philosophy adopted by the Cicerone Project.By comparing and measuring different whole-farm systems, and by ensuring that producers had ownership of the trial process, the Project successfully delivered objective findings that producers trusted and which increased our understanding of important drivers of complex grazing enterprises under variable climatic conditions. Some of these drivers included: the influence of soil phosphorus on botanical composition and subsequent livestock production, the role of pasture renovation and soil fertility on herbage supply, herbage quality and stocking rate, and the improved gastrointestinal nematode control delivered by intensive rotational grazing.The beneficiaries of the Project included the 180 farmer members who participated in some 61 field days and workshops; the research and extension collaborators including four postgraduates who completed their research in...

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“…Growers were more inclined to relate with peers or innovators to seek ideas to develop and adopt conservation technology than other communication processes. This suggests the importance to identify opinion leaders among growers and enhance their roles in the adoption process (Carlson and Dillman 1999;Forté-Gardner et al 2004).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several surveys were conducted by STEEP projects that provided perspectives on grower attitudes and behavior regarding aspects of conservation farming (Carlson and Dillman 1999;Forté-Gardner et al 2004). These also served as predictors of relative changes in the use of conservation practices.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

STEEP: Impact of long-term conservation farming research and education in Pacific Northwest wheatlands

Kok¹,

Papendick²,

Saxton³

2009

Journal of Soil and Water Conservation

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Erosion took a serious toll of prime topsoil from wheat fields in the Pacific Northwest United States since farming began in the 1870s. By the mid-1900s, it had become a serious environmental and economic threat to the region that produces world-record rainfed grain yields and almost 13% of the US wheat crop. Of significance is that 80% of the nation's specialty soft white wheat is grown here for food grain, of which 90% is exported. To combat the severe erosion, wheat growers, the experiment stations, and the USDA in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington joined forces in 1975 to develop a multidisciplinary program named Solutions to Environmental and Economic Problems (STEEP). For more than 30 years, it has proved itself a national landmark in effective conservation farming research and education. The basic strategy was a systems approach that addressed all facets of farming from planting to harvesting in multi-year rotations. Its primary goal was to reduce soil erosion from the region's 3.3 × 10 6 ha (8.2 × 10 6 ac), consisting of highly productive but considerably steep cropland. Through the successful development and implementation of improved conservation technology and farming systems by the tri-state STEEP effort, regional soil loss rates averaging 45 Mg ha -1 y -1 (20 tn ac -1 yr -1 ) were reduced over the 30 years to a tolerable 11 Mg ha -1 y -1 (5 tn ac -1 yr -1 ) or less. In addition, financial returns to wheat growers using the conservation systems are equal or have increased, and long-term benefits to soil, water, and air quality have improved. A conservative estimate shows that the investment cost of saving soil and improving water quality was less than $0.50 ha -1 y -1 ($0.20 ac -1 yr -1) over the life of STEEP. Though STEEP can boast success, much more is needed to preserve and protect the Northwest environment, natural resources, and productivity to ensure that agriculture is fully sustainable for the future. Ongoing solutions are needed to resolve emerging issues relating to greenhouse gas emissions, carbon storage, energy costs, and other farm inputs that can affect agricultural health. Its proven success provides strong assurance that STEEP can deal with future challenges relating to changes in farm policy, economics, technology, and sociological issues. This paper documents the extent that program goals were achieved and qualitative estimates of return from money invested.

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Increasing the effectiveness of technology transfer for conservation cropping systems through research and field design

Cited by 23 publications

References 10 publications

Comparisons of Annual No‐Till Spring Cereal Cropping Systems in the Pacific Northwest

Comparisons of Annual No‐Till Spring Cereal Cropping Systems in the Pacific Northwest

Reflections on the concept, conduct and findings of the producer-led Cicerone Project

STEEP: Impact of long-term conservation farming research and education in Pacific Northwest wheatlands

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