Groups focus on supporting, educating members

By MATTHEW WEAVER

Capital Press

With winter seeding complete, many direct seeders across the Northwest will find themselves gathered around a breakfast table.

For the 11th year, members of the ClearWater Direct Seeders will gather on Tuesday mornings at the Red Lion hotel in Lewiston, Idaho, beginning Oct. 20.

A similar group, the Colfax-Palouse Direct Seeders, began last year in Colfax, Wash., and starts meeting again Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 7 a.m. The location has yet to be determined.

For several years, direct seeders have for several years been meeting with the North Palouse Direct Seed Group and Lincoln County Conservation Farming Workshop. Dates are not yet determined.

The groups offer a free exchange of information between experienced no-till farmers and those just starting, said Hans Kok, one of the organizers and an extension specialist for conservation tillage at Washington State University and the University of Idaho.

"People are not belittled because they're doing things that are very different than the majority of farmers," Kok said. "Even things that are sort of taboo among direct seeders, like burning of crop residue. This is basically a support group."

The ultimate goal is to see more acreage go into direct seeding, Kok said. If conventional tillage continues in the region, eventually the Palouse will no longer be farmed, he said.

"We have a lot of examples in history where farm areas have lost their farming altogether because of erosion," he said. "The rates of erosion in the Palouse are still way higher than they should be. We don't form soil fast enough."

A university or government speaker will also speak during the meetings about topics such as risk management, soil fertility, weed management and the Direct Seed Mentoring program, in which experienced direct seeders coach newer farmers in the system.

Farmers who attend the Lewiston group tend to be younger, as some of the more experienced farmers have retired, Kok said.

"We basically have the next generation," he said.

The group typically draws about 40 people.

The Colfax group began last year as a central hub for producers around the area, even though surrounding Whitman County has the lowest adoption of direct seeding in the Pacific Northwest, Kok said. The county is at about 10 percent, while neighboring counties range from 40 percent to 80 percent.

"That group has actually gotten bigger than Lewiston," he said.

The atmosphere of the meetings is one of hope, discussion and respect, Kok said.

"I learn as much from those meetings as I contribute, and I think that holds true for most farmers too," he said.

Matthew Weaver is based in Spokane. E-mail: mweaver@capitalpress.com.

Meeting times

The ClearWater Direct Seeders meet Tuesdays at 7 a.m. at the Lewiston Red Lion hotel, 621 21st Ave., on Oct. 20, Nov. 17, Dec. 8, Jan. 12, Feb. 9 and March 2.

The Colfax-Palouse Direct Seeders meet at 7 a.m. on Oct. 28, Nov. 18, Dec. 17, Jan. 14, Feb. 18 and March 11.

For more on the North Palouse Direct Seed Group and Lincoln County Conservation Farming Workshop, contact Diana Roberts with WSU Extension at 509-477-2167.