2010 DIRECT SEED CROPPING SYSTEMS CONFERENCE SPEAKERS
Click on Name for more information or scroll down to read biographies.
| John Aeschliman | Grower, Colfax, WA |
| Steve Carlson | ZEBA |
| Dr. Arron Carter | Winter Wheat Breeding and Genetics Researcher, Washington State University, Pullman, WA |
| Carl Casale | Executive Vice President and CFO, Monsanto, St. Louis, MO |
| Dr. Dale Clark | Commercial Wheat Breeding Lead, WestBred, a Unit of Monsanto, Bozeman, MT |
| Craig Crider | VP Operations-Commercial Lending, NWFC, Pendleton, OR |
| Aaron Esser | Washington State University Lincoln-Adams Area Extension, Ritzville, WA |
| Theodor Friedrich | Senior Office, FAO, Crop Production Systems Intensification, Rome, Italy |
| Vaughn Goodman | Plant Nutrition Specialist, Wilbur-Ellis |
| Dr. Stephen Guy | Scientist, Extension Specialist, Washington State University, Pullman, WA |
| Thomas Hager | Author, Eugene, OR |
| Rod Hamilton | Program Chief, USDA Farm Service Agency, Spokane, WA |
| Dan Harwood | District Manager, Palouse Rock Lake Conservation District |
| Dr. Ann Kennedy | Soil Microbiologist, USDA-ARS, Pullman, WA |
| Dr. Betty Klepper | Retired USDA-ARS Research Scientist, Pendleton, OR |
| Karl Kupers | Shepherd's Grain, Columbia Plateau Producers, Harrington, WA |
| Tim Melville | Grower, Enterprise, OR |
| Ty Meyer | Production Ag Program Manager, Spokane County Conservation District, Spokane, WA |
| John Miedema | Director of Biomass Energy, Thompson Timber Company, Philomath, OR |
| Kirk Moser | Grower, former Grain Merchandiser, Genesee, ID |
| David R. Montgomery | Author, Professor of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA |
| Shawn O'Connell | Assistant Manager, Columbia Grain, Clarkston, WA |
| Dr. Kate Painter | Agriculture Economics Analyst, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID |
| Dr. Sonny Ramaswamy | Dean of College of Agriculture Sciences, Oregon State University, Pendleton, OR |
| Dr. Don Reicosky | Retired Soil Scientist, USDA-ARS, Morris, MN |
| Mark Richter | Grower, Endicott, WA |
| Mark Sheffels | Grower, Wilbur, WA |
| Nate Smith | Grower, Wasco, OR |
| Tim Spratling | Farm Manager, Pendleton, OR |
| Rick Williams | Risk Management Agency, USDA,, Spokane, WA |
| Dick Wittman | Grower/Consultant, Culdesac, ID |
| Dr. Stewart Wuest | Soil Scientist, USDA-ARS, Pendleton, OR |
| Russ Zenner | Grower, Genesee, ID |
Thank you to the 2010 Direct Seed Sponsors
 Registration Package |
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 Keynote Speaker |
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 Two Concurrent Session Rooms |
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 Direct Seed Breakfast Speakers |
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| January 20 Evening Buffet Sponsors | ||
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 A Unit of Monsanto |
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Jan 20 Afternoon Refreshement |
Jan 21 Morning Coffee |
Jan 21 Direct Seed Breakfast HORSCH ANDERSON |
January 21 Lunch  |
Jan 21 Dessert & Coffee |
Research Poster Session |
| Concurrent Session Rooms | |||
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2010 Speaker Profiles are listed alphabetically.
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John Aeschliman Grower, Colfax, WA |
Influencing Soil Health in Direct Seed Systems CCS ONE JANUARY 20, 2010 CCS TWO JANUARY 21, 2010 |
| BIO: John comes from a family of farmers dating back in this region to 1882. His Grandfather came to the Palouse from Switzerland where he has traced his family's farm roots back to the 1400's. John was a founding member of PNDSA, served as its first Secretary, and later as President in 2005 and 2006. He has been Direct Seeding for more than 35 years and he and his son Cory have 100% of their farms in a Direct Seed System. John has actively served on several research advisory boards and is currently serving on the Cook Research Farm advisory committee. He also participates in many on-farm research projects with various researchers. John is currently the State Yield Champion for Washington State in the no-till, non-irrigated class for field corn with a yield of 149+ bu and has been successfully raising corn in a rotation for over 12 years. He has an endless passion for understanding the workings of the soil and for explaining the benefits of Direct Seeding and its relationship to building the soil life. His farm has been designated a WSU, Center For Sustaining Agriculture & Natural Resources (CSANR), Bio Ag Learning Center and does 10-15 tours annually for people from all over the world who come to learn the benefits of a long term Direct Seed System. |
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| Steve Carlson ZEBA |
Soil and Fertility Amendment Products CCS ONE JANUARY 20, 2010 CCS TWO JANUARY 21, 2010 |
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| BIO: Steve is married with 3 grown children. He was born and raised in the Portland area and grew up working on the neighbor’s truck farm. Steve graduated from Oregon State University in 1979 with a Crop Science degree andsSpent 28 years selling fertilizer and ag chemicals in the Willamette Valley before starting with Absorbent Technologies 2 ½ years ago. | ||
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Dr. Arron Carter Winter Wheat Breeding and Genetics Researcher Washington State University Pullman, WA |
Wheat Breeding for Direct Seed Systems CCS ONE JANUARY 20, 2010 CCS TWO JANUARY 21, 2010 |
| BIO: Arron Carter grew up in Southern Idaho and has been on the Palouse for the last 12 years attaining his education. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Idaho under Dr. Bob Zemetra, and received his Ph.D. in May of 2009 from WSU under the direction of Dr. Kim Kidwell. His research has involved many aspects of wheat breeding, including developing Imidazolinone resistant winter wheat, identifying molecular markers associated with stripe rust resistance, Hessian fly resistance, and end-use quality, and deploying and understanding how genes interact in different genetic backgrounds. He started working at WSU as the new winter wheat breeder in July of 2009, where he took over the breeding program from Dr. Steve Jones. | ||
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Dr. Dale Clark Commercial Wheat Breeding Lead WestBred, a Unit of Monsanto Bozeman, MT |
Wheat Breeding for Direct Seed Systems CCS ONE JANUARY 20, 2010 CCS TWO JANUARY 21, 2010 |
| BIO: Dr. Dale Clark is currently the Commercial Wheat Breeding Lead for WestBred, a Unit of Monsanto. Dale was born and raised in Lewistown, MT. He received a BS degree in Crop Science at Montana State University, and an MS and Ph.D. in Agronomy and Plant Genetics from the University of Arizona. Dale has been a plant breeder with WestBred for 31 years and has released over 30 varieties of wheat and barley. Along with overseeing four other WestBred sites, Dale heads the WestBred barley breeding program, the Montana spring wheat program and the Pacific Northwest wheat breeding program. | ||
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Craig Crider VP Operations-Commercial Lending Northwest Farm Credit Services Pendleton, OR |
Risk Management Tools and Strategies CCS ONE JANUARY 20, 2010 CCS TWO JANUARY 21, 2010 |
| BIO: Craig has served Northwest FCS in various capacities and locations throughout the Pacific Northwest since 1984. In his current position as Vice President of Operations, Craig supports customer relationships in the wine, dairy, and small grains markets. He is also the team leader for Northwest FCS’ Wine Knowledge team. Craig is a graduate of Washington State University with a degree in Agricultural Economics. | ||
| Aaron Esser Washington State University Lincoln-Adams Extension, Ritzville, WA |
Practical Tips for Succeeding with No-Till (Chemical) Fallow CCS ONE JANUARY 20, 2010 CCS TWO JANUARY 21, 2010 |
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| BIO: Aaron Esser is a Lincoln-Adams Area Extension Agronomist with Washington State University. His program is focused on using on-farm testing as a tool to development and assist grower adaptation of minimum tillage and no-till systems, and more intensive crop rotations. He grew up on a farm near Genesee, Idaho, and he received his Bachelor’s Degree in agricultural economics and Masters Degree in plant science at the University of Idaho. | ||
| Vaughn Goodman Plant Nutrition Specialist, Wilbur-Ellis |
Soil and Fertility Amendment Products CCS ONE JANUARY 20, 2010 CCS TWO JANUARY 21, 2010 |
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| BIO: Vaugh currently works for Wilbur-Ellis Co. as Nutrition Specialist for the Pacific Intermountain Business Unit For Wilbur-Ellis his primary tasks are to look at all new fertilizer technologies that come along and evaluate them and also look at taking new products and finding where they best fit with placement strategies for our growers. He works with crop advisors on a day to day basis answering general agronomy questions on products, crops, and crop needs, dealing with 165 different crops. Vaugh has been in the Fertilizer Industry now for 17 years, starting at the Retail side the first 3 years, moving into Wholesale, and then coming back to retail 4 years ago to work at Wilbur-Ellis Co. | ||
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Dr. Stephen Guy Scientist, Extension Specialist Washington State University Pullman, WA |
Wheat Breeding for Direct Seed Systems CCS ONE JANUARY 20, 2010 CCS TWO JANUARY 21, 2010 |
| BIO: Dr. Stephen Guy is a Professor at Washington State University appointed as an extension agronomist in the department of Crop and Soil Sciences since 2008, formerly at UI for 18 years. He has a Ph.D. in agronomy from University of Wisconsin-Madison, B.S. and M.S. from Colorado State University. Research topics at WSU include: variety evaluations of winter and spring wheat, barley, and camelina; legume seed treatments, legume biological inoculants, direct seed systems, soil fertility, management practices for camelina, and other agronomic practices. | ||
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Rod Hamilton Program Chief USDA Farm Service Agency Spokane, WA |
Maintaining CRP Benefits When Contracts Expire CCS ONE JANUARY 20, 2010 CCS TWO JANUARY 21, 2010 |
| BIO: Rod grew up on a dairy and beef cattle operation in central Montana and is a graduate of Montana State University. He worked for an investment firm in California and as a crop consultant in the Tri-Cities before joining FSA. Rod has worked for the Farm Service Agency for 25 years at the county, district and state level. He is currently the Farm Program Chief in the Washington State FSA Office with overall responsibility for the commodity, price support, conservation and compliance programs. | ||
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Dan Harwood |
Maintaining CRP Benefits When Contracts Expire CCS ONE JANUARY 20, 2010 CCS TWO JANUARY 21, 2010 |
| BIO: Graduated from Eastern Washington University and is currently the District Coordinator for the Palouse Rock Lake Conservation District. During my term as District Coordinator our district has shown a marked increase in the use of Direct Seed Systems through increasing Outreach Education, Mentoring and Cost Share Programs. Dan is very active in riparian restoration in the district. Dan was the S.E. Area Conservation District Manager of the Year in 2008 and the PRLCD was selected as S. E. Area Outstanding District of the Year in 2009. Previous experience includes the agri-chemical industry in sales, custom No Till seed business and farmed in the St. John area. Past president of the PNW No Till Association, PRLCD Conservation Farmer of Year as was his father. Dan has been a supporter of No Till and Direct Seed Systems for 30 years. Dan lives in Malden Washington, is married, and has 4 children, 2.5 grandchildren. |
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Dr. Ann Kennedy |
Influencing Soil Health in Direct Seed Systems CCS ONE JANUARY 20, 2010 CCS TWO JANUARY 21, 2010 |
| BIO: Dr. Ann Kennedy is a soil scientist with the USDA-Agricultural Research Service housed at Washington State University in Pullman, WA. Her research includes soil quality determinations, soil microbial community dynamics of residue management, biological weed control and rhizosphere ecology. Dr. Kennedy is investigating the role of soil microorganisms in sustainable agriculture. | ||
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Tim Melville Concurrent Session ONE |
Maintaining CRP Benefits When Contracts Expire CCS ONE JANUARY 20, 2010 CCS TWO JANUARY 21, 2010 |
| BIO: Tim farm’s near Enterprise, Oregon with his wife of forty years. He lives at an elevation of 4000 feet in the NE corner of the state. His two sons are both in farming and both use direct seed in their operations. Tim was a charter member and past president of the PNDSA, and has served on other Ag related regional committees. He has been a direct seeder since 1976 and is an irrigated farmer, one of the first in the Northwest to go 100% direct seed under irrigation. | ||
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John Miedema |
Soil and Fertility Amendment Products CCS ONE JANUARY 20, 2010 CCS TWO JANUARY 21, 2010 |
| BIO: John Miedema is currently the Director of Biomass Energy for Thompson Timber Company in Philomath, Oregon. This fall, Thompson Timber fired up the gasifier unit which will serve as the thermal drive for pyrolysis retorts. The pilot project is proving the feasibility and scalability of an integrated biochar system for the region’s underutilized biomass. As a biochar enthusiast, John founded the Pacific Northwest Biochar Initiative, an active multi-stakeholder group that now numbers over 130 participants. In addition to long stints as an Alaskan fisherman and as an electrical contractor, John has spent the past 2 decades studying and organizing efforts around the creation of sustainable systems. | ||
Kirk Moser |
Risk Management Tools and Strategies CCS ONE JANUARY 20, 2010 CCS TWO JANUARY 21, 2010 |
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| BIO: Kirk farms in the Genesee area and prior to going back to farming worked as a grain merchandiser with Columbia Grain. | ||
Shawn O'Connell |
Risk Management Tools and Strategies CCS ONE JANUARY 20, 2010 CCS TWO JANUARY 21, 2010 |
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| BIO: Shawn grew up on a cereal grain farm in Kalispell, Montana and ttended college at Montana State University where he received a B.S. degree in Ag Business. He started working in the grain business with Stegner Grain & Seed in 1992 and then for Columbia Grain in 1995 Stegner Grain & Seed was purchased by Columbia Grain. Currently Shawn works at the Columbia Grain Regional Office in Clarkston, WA and has been merchandising commodities for the last 13 years. | ||
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Mark Richter Concurrent Session TWO |
Maintaining CRP Benefits When Contracts Expire CCS ONE JANUARY 20, 2010 CCS TWO JANUARY 21, 2010 |
| BIO: Mark is a 4th generation farmer from the Endicott area. Crops grown are HRW, DNS, SW, Club, Barley and Garbanzos. Mark is serving this year as the President of the PNDSA, is a Shepherd's Grain Producer and currently mentoring in the Direct Seed Mentor Program. Mark has returned approximately 2000 acres of CRP into crop production. He has had great success in going thru a Chemfallow rotation and into winter wheat. Leaving the soil intact and undisturbed is the best way to have the grass and root mass slowly decay. Not required is the intensive amount of tillage to manually breakdown the residue. He and his crew designed and built the first Eagle 5015 in 2005 and a second Eagle 5015 in 2008. | ||
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Mark Sheffels Grower, Wilbur, WA |
Creating Change - 10 Years of PNDSA Lunch 1:15 pm Grand Ballroom |
BIO: Mark is a grower from Wilbur, Washington and is the Former Co-chair of National Legislation for the Washington Association of Wheat Growers. He is a current advisor to the College of Agriculture, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences at WSU, and current Past President of the Pacific Northwest Direct Seed Association. |
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| Nate Smith Grower, Wasco, OR |
Practical Tips for Succeeding with No-Till (Chemical) Fallow CCS ONE JANUARY 20, 2010 CCS TWO JANUARY 21, 2010 |
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| BIO: Nate is the 5th generation to live on his family farm outside of Wasco, Oregon. He has incorporated chemical no-till fallow in his direct seed system since 1997. | ||
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Tim Spratling Farm Manager, Pendleton, OR |
Practical Tips for Succeeding with No-Till (Chemical) Fallow CCS ONE JANUARY 20, 2010 CCS TWO JANUARY 21, 2010 |
| BIO: Tim was raised in Eastern Oregon, on a dry land wheat farm in Pendleton area of Umatilla Co. He received a bachelor degree in Ag Business Management and minor in Crop and Soil Science in 1996. Tim has always worked in production agriculture in both irrigation and dry land applications. He is employed as the Farm Manager for Cunningham Sheep Co. since 2000, where he oversees the farm operations of the business and involved in the management of the cattle, sheep, and timber portions of the business as well. Tim also serves as a director for the PNDSA. | ||
Rick Williams |
Risk Management Tools and Strategies CCS ONE JANUARY 20, 2010 CCS TWO JANUARY 21, 2010 |
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| BIO:Rick Williams has worked for RMA since 2001. He was raised on a wheat farm in Reardan Washington and received an Ag Econ degree from WSU. Prior to joining RMA he worked for Jacklin Seed Co for 13 years. Currently for RMA, Rick works with policy and procedures dealing with small grains and dry beans, as well as other facets like rates, T-yields, and claims. | ||
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Dr. Stewart Wuest Soil Scientist USDA-ARS Pendleton, OR |
Influencing Soil Health in Direct Seed Systems CCS ONE JANUARY 20, 2010 CCS TWO JANUARY 21, 2010 |
| BIO: As a soil scientist for the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Pendleton, OR, Stewart studies the effects of tillage and surface residue on the performance of soil in dryland cropping systems of the Pacific Northwest. His research is aimed at helping producers maximize water storage and minimize erosion. Current research focus is on summerfallow practices for more reliable winter wheat establishment with minimal cost, minimal erosion, and maximum soil quality. Before moving to the Pacific Northwest, Stewart studied nitrogen dynamics under irrigated wheat at the University of California, Davis, where he earned a master’s degree in agronomy and a doctorate in soil science. | ||
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