By MATTHEW WEAVER

Capital Press

The Washington Grain Commission holds its annual wheat and barley research review next week.

The review begins at 10 a.m. Feb. 15 at the Holiday Inn Express in Pullman, Wash.

Mary Palmer Sullivan, program director for the commission, said the review provides an opportunity for Washington State University researchers to present research proposals. The projects focus on variety development, cropping systems and plant protection.

"It allows the researcher to go into depth and explain at a farmer level what it means to the wheat and barley producer, the impact it potentially would have on their crop and their farm," Sullivan said. "A lot of this stuff is pretty cutting edge."

Once the proposal is made, the commission prioritizes the projects at a "review of the review" at a later date. Each person who attends and each county gets to vote for the projects considered most necessary, providing feedback to the commission, which funds the project.

The projects proposed this year total more than $2.5 million.

The review typically draws an average of 20 farmers, but Sullivan said she would like to see more.

"It's really important for growers to see where their research dollars are going," she said. "These are grower dollars and if they want to have a say on what's happening, this is the opportunity."

The two-day event includes a reception the evening of Feb. 15 and a tour of Washington State University research facilities Feb. 16.

Information

E-mail Mary Palmer Sullivan at mary@wagrains.org