Oilseed & Direct Seed Cropping Systems conference, Kennewick

12/17/2013

Oilseed, direct seed cropping systems conference Jan. 20-22

Media Contacts:
Karen Sowers, WSU Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, 509-396-5936, ksowers@wsu.edu
Kay Meyer, Pacific Northwest Direct Seed Association, 509-995-6335, pndsa@directseed.org

KENNEWICK, Wash. – Early registration ends Dec. 31 for the only regional conference offering an extensive program on oilseed and direct seed production systems. It will be Jan. 20-22 at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick.

Registration costs $160-$200. Register and get more information at http://css.wsu.edu/biofuels/2014conference or http://www.directseed.org/events/annual-conference/.

The conference is intended for farmers, livestock producers, crop input suppliers, advisors, bankers, researchers and supporting agency personnel.

Speakers from Australia, Canada and the U.S. will be part of the 2014 cropping systems conference, “Covering New Ground,” co-hosted by Washington State University and the Pacific Northwest Direct Seed Association. General sessions will cover topics of broad interest while breakout sessions will offer in-depth looks at specific topics.

Conference speakers will include:

• Dwayne Beck, Dakota Lakes Research Farm

• Jack Brown, University of Idaho

• Steve Groff, Cover Crop Solutions

• Raj Kholsa, Colorado State University

• John Kirkegaard, CSIRO Australia

• Tai McClellan Maaz, WSU graduate student

• Peter Moulton, Washington Department of Commerce

• Dave Paul, USDA-RMA

• Heath Sanders, Great Plains Canola Assoc.

• Phil Thomas, BrassicaCorp Ltd and Agri-Trend, Alberta

• Dale Thorenson, U.S. Canola Association/Gordley Association

• Brian Voth, Agri-Trend Marketing, Winnepeg

• Dick Wittman, Culdesac, Idaho, founder of PNDSA

• Pacific Northwest growers and university researchers

Session topics will include:

• Australian and North American perspectives of canola production in a direct seed system

• Soil biology and health related to crop rotation

• Plant signaling systems

• Risk management

• History and progress of oilseed research in the Pacific Northwest

• International and national policies driving oilseed production and direct seeding

• Precision agriculture trends

• International market outlook

• Cover crops

The first day of the conference will consist of breakout sessions, live demonstrations and diagnostic sessions by vendors, a networking social and a reception for keynote speakers.

The second day will include a poster session featuring Pacific Northwest oilseed and direct seed research and WSU Extension and outreach projects. Poster authors will be available to answer questions.

The conference is supported by local and national agribusinesses, conservation districts, WSU, U.S. Department of Agriculture-ARS, Pacific Northwest Direct Seed Association, Washington State Department of Agriculture and Washington State Department of Commerce.

Sponsor opportunities and exhibit space are available by contacting Karen Sowers or Kay Meyer.

Find this news release at WSU News online at http://bit.ly/19QLbC9

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