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| Wilke Farm - Winter Pea Variety Trials |
On 6/29 the Washington Association of Wheat Growers held their annual Wheat College, this year, at WSU's Wilke Farm located east of Davenport, Wa. on SR2. The morning consisted of the farm tour with three locations featured, and the afternoon session was held in the memorial hall in Davenport featuring several speakers. This was an excellent program.
Station 1 & afternoon presentation featured]--Dr. Elaine Ingham talking about soil health using a soil core as a prop. The soil core they pulled showed roots only to the two foot level. Statements she made: --probe pressure of 150psi will stop most plant roots, --probe pressure of 300psi stops all plant roots, --plant roots in an unobstructed profile will go 15-20'. Minimum SOM of 3% is needed before the biological processes can start to work their magic, --there is enough nutrient source available for plant growth, without commercial supplement, as long as we have rocks. Well balanced biology can supply every nutrient necessary for maximum plant production, --Well balanced soil biology can build soil at an amazing rate, much less time than USDA's 100 year time frame for building an inch of soil, --when she was a child only 4 essential elements were known to be necessary for plant development, now it's 42 known elements found to be necessary, --nutrient cycling requires bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes. Micro arthropods are also necessary in a perennial system, -- aerobic process creates alkalinity, -- anaerobic process creates acidity, --acsenio bacteria are long strands of very narrow (1µ) diameter, --all fungi are ≥ 2 µ in diameter, --good fungi are ≥ 3µ in diameter, --seeds subjected to 130-135 degrees for three days die, --low growing perennial understory plants are very moisture efficient, --weeds have a very poor moisture efficiency,
Dr. Ingham uses compost that is tested for the biological organisms she wants for the ground she is restoring, and either spreads a thin 2-3" layer on the ground or uses the compost to make a tea that is applied to the ground. There is a specific process for properly done compost. Good compost tea of Humid Acid has all the microbiological elements needed and is a chocolate brown. There are color charts available to distinguish good humid acid from mediocre humic acid. Natural material used for compost that has had chemistry applied, particularly insecticides will not have organisms survive to propagate.
Dr. Ingham's team restored Native Texas Prairie on 500acres that surround the GW Bush Library in Dallas, Texas. She showed pic's of the project, it's success after a year, and an amazing story of the project done during a drought with no irrigation. The project included restoring the O-A-B & C soil horizons, establishing drainage that supported a lake, planting trees and native prairie grasses. With no rain, no irrigation, one year later the lake had 3 feet of water, grass was established, all the trees and shrubs survived, --and it was all from moisture provided from dew from 10% humidity. She stated, that if you have soil with all the proper microbiology, they will provide moisture from alternate sources, all the nutrition necessary for plant growth, and protection from diseases and predatory attacks without commercially applied nutrition or plant protection chemistry. It was an astonishing story bordering on the unbelievable. She will be a principal presenter at the 2017 PNDSA annual meeting this winter. Her presentation is a "must hear" --again. There are several Utube video presentations. < Soil Food Web >
Dr. Ingham recommends that individuals learn the composting process and purchase a simple lighted microscope to check, identify and count microbes. She has equipment available on her website < Dr. Inghams website >.
Station 2] --Winter peas and winter canola was being promoted as alternate crops to plant in rotation with winter wheat in low rainfall regions. Both have been successful in low rainfall areas. Both, legumes and brassica's are know to improve wheat yields that follow.
Station 3] -- information on number and type of soil and biological tests. Lots of data that has been difficult to make sense of. Most need study for compatibility with our soils to interpret data. Wire worm biological control and traps have not been successful in deterring them. The best test for wire worm activity and density is still to place grain in a fine net, like women's nylon stockings, and bury them a few inches deep in various field locations and leave them 5-10 days.
The afternoon session featured several speakers. Besides Dr. Ingham, a Wheat Commissioner made a few comments. Two item struck my interest, --wheat prices would be relatively flat do to adequate world wheat supplies, and a good "new" crop on the way. White wheat is not oversupplied, and there is a growing market for it; however, don't look for price increases. Western White wheat (club wheat) has a history of very wide price swings, and there is interest by most involved parties to develop a marketing program that will level out those swings.
The afternoon session featured several speakers. Besides Dr. Ingham, a Wheat Commissioner made a few comments. Two item struck my interest, --wheat prices would be relatively flat do to adequate world wheat supplies, and a good "new" crop on the way. White wheat is not oversupplied, and there is a growing market for it; however, don't look for price increases. Western White wheat (club wheat) has a history of very wide price swings, and there is interest by most involved parties to develop a marketing program that will level out those swings.
