About a few hundred Washington growers and partners took in WSU’s 105th annual Lind Field Day Thursday at the Dryland Research Station.
Lind is home to about 11 inches of annual average precipitation. Growers in this region feed the world in one of the driest but still productive agroecological climates on the planet.
The 1,300-acre research station grows a vast array of varieties, most of them experimental varieties that will never be released, to help identify prospects that are most resistant to drought, cold weather and disease while also producing the strongest yields. Varieties are tested to identify new strategies for avoiding or limiting the use of less desirable pesticides and herbicides. There are currently about 10,000 unique varieties of wheat growing at the station.
The Field Day event is geared for dryland farmers, partners and community members to learn about the latest research and practices for dryland agriculture. The field tours featured a variety of research plots, including updates on research efforts around winter wheat, spring wheat, peas, and weed management. The event was also a chance to meet new station Director Surendra Singh and soil scientist Shikha Singh and to network with other members of the dryland agricultural community.
There is great eagerness for them to dive into researching the challenges associated with dryland farming. Surendra Singh noted “it’s our job to try things and fail and to tell that story” so that growers don’t have to.
Dr. Wendy Powers attended her first Lind Field Day as Dean of the College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences. She delivered good news that new investment is coming to Lind thanks to the Washington State Legislature and Sen. Mark Schoesler, who was also in attendance.
If you missed the 105th annual Lind Field Day, you can still learn about the research that was presented on the WSU Lind Dryland Research Station website.
