Washington farmer talks direct seed with USDA Undersecretary

Washington farmer talks direct seed with USDA Undersecretary. I’m Bob Hoff. Washington Ag Today is next.

Washington Ag Today October 26, 2010 Direct seeding was the primary topic of discussion Friday when Spokane County wheat grower Pat McGourin was visited at his farm by USDA Under Secretary for Natural Resources and the Environment Harris Sherman. The McGourin farm is in the Hangman Creek Watershed where use of direct seeding is reducing sedimentation runoff into the waterway. McGourin talked about the reasons he switched to direct seeding.

McGourin: “Number one, we were looking for a way to be more profitable. And number two along with that conserve soil and water. And those three pretty much go hand in hand.”

McGourin started converting from conventional to direct seeding slowly with the goal of achieving the same or better yields. He has done that, which has helped to convince not only his own father, but landlords, that direct seeding is the way to go. And for his bottom line he’s reduced fuel usage by at least half.

Under Secretary Sherman was interested in how conservation programs helped McGourin.

McGourin: “Well EQIP and CSP and even the conservation district‘s loan program. They basically allowed us to adopt this way of farming quicker.”

The Spokane County Conservation District’s loan program helped McGourin get his first no-till drill and although he isn’t involved in it, the district also has a direct seed mentoring program.

As for Under Secretary Sherman, he’ll keep in mind what he heard from McGourin for the next farm bill.

I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on Northwest Aginfo Net.

(Photos courtesy USDA-NRCS Washington State Office)