During the WSU Cook Agronomy Farm dedication in June, Dr. Richard Smiley provided an overview of the significant events that transpired to bring the WSU agronomy farm from concept to reality. He emphasized the significant leadership role of Dr. Cook in these events; establishing research priorities, developing the research team and, most important, pulling together a lobby effort from the agriculture community that would secure the funding required to make the project viable.
Since its inception, the Cook Agronomy Farm has delivered outstanding value to the agriculture industry. The dedicated scientists and technicians, who make this happen year-in-year-out are the backbone of the operation. The strength of this backbone can be credited to two things; Dr. Cook’s leadership and the strong lobby effort that ensured funding was available to open the doors to an innovative and creative center for agriculture research.

During his presentation Dr. Smiley identified a disturbing trend in declining federal contributions to agriculture research in the Pacific Northwest. Throughout the past ten years, since the inception of the Cook Agronomy Farm, research funding for the farm has steadily declined. Now, in 2007, as the farm bill is debated, the Cook Agronomy Farm stands at the precipice – will there be enough to continue with a viable research program?

Budget uncertainty is a fact of life in the research community but the impact of continual budget cutting also cuts deep into the ability of a program to attract and keep high quality research scientists. Scientist that can see long term projects, such as are needed in the crop sciences, through to completion and publication.

We reported in the Summer 2007 Direct Seed Link Newsletter (pdf) of the funding situation for the STEEP program. The outcome for this program also remains uncertain and word is that other research programs are also anxiously awaiting confirmation of their future. On June 26, Dr. Smiley issued a renewed call for support from the agriculture community; a renewed lobby effort to establish a sound financial base to support important agriculture research resources.

Call your government representatives today and let them know how important direct seed agriculture research is to your operation. That call could be one of the best investments you can make this year.

For most of us, 2007 was not a great production year, but below average production does not necessarily mean a bad year. When prices hit $8 for wheat things don’t look too bad. At this point it seems likely next year will also offer attractive prices.

Getting to the point, as a rabid proponent of Direct Seeding I would like to share some thoughts on how you might invest some of your good fortune, surprise, surprise. Often I’m told by farmers that they believe Direct Seeding is the future but the capital cost of becoming a Direct Seeder is daunting. Year to year survival is their only consideration. Changing production systems is a big decision, but when an opportunity like this comes along it is a good time to do some long term planning. The conservation benefits of Direct Seeding will make you biologically sustainable in the long run. The lower production cost of Direct Seeding will also better position you to be economically sustainable. If a couple years of strong prices make the initial capital investment possible, maybe now is the time to become a Direct Seeder.

I realize this article is being circulated mostly to producers that are already Direct Seeders, so I’m counting on you to share this thought with producers that have been telling you they think Direct Seeding is the future but they cannot afford to get into it. As veteran Direct Seeders refine and update their equipment needs, a lot of used Direct Seed drills and sprayers will go on the market. Let’s hope producers recognize our current good fortune as an opportunity to prepare for the future rather than breathing room to continue the inefficient process of multiple tillage production.