WSU Conducts PNW Cereal Crop Testing Program Tours

Washington State University researchers have been conducting cereal variety testing program tours throughout the Palouse region. June 21, 2011, approximately 25 producers attended the Fairfield tour sponsored by Crop Improvement.

Ken Fuchs, Customer Relations/Fieldman, Cooperative Agricultural Producers, Inc., (CO-AG) said,

"These tours are primarily looking at variety plots. There are some herbicide efficacy trials included as well depending upon who is conducting them.

"Variety plots are planted to evaluate and compare different varieties of wheat, barley, peas and lentils, and in some locations garbanzo beans, under similar soil condition and weather.

"The tours allow a producer, or anyone else for that matter, to compare how the different varieties will yield, or survive in the case of winter trial, when planted in that environment.

"This year, like last year we are evaluating how each variety is affected by the Wheat Stripe Rust epidemic which is hitting our area."

The PWN tours, scheduled from June 1 - July 13, 2011, take place in a variety of farming regions in Washington and elsewhere. Two upcoming tours are scheduled locally on July 13th; Farmington and St. John.

Call (509) 397-6290  to check with Steve Van Vleet prior to the tour to verify the time, location, and assure a place at the table if food is served.

Location maps and PNW crop-tour schedules for the WSU Cereal Variety trials are available online at http://variety.wsu.edu/, and at CO-AG offices.

The North Palouse Washington e-Newscast, http://www.palousenewscast.com/