Growers can see undercutter project

LIND — Area wheat growers may have the opportunity to see a new piece of equipment in action next week.

Pending grower participation, the Washington Association of Wheat Growers plans to hold an informational field day in Lind.

The association's Northwest Undercutter Project administers the event, taking place April 26 at 10 a.m. 3 miles north of the Lind Dryland Experiment Station on Longmaier Road at the Derek Schafer farm.

Project manager Harry Schafer said the project helps fund the purchase of an undercutter, a tillage implement used in a minimum tillage situation for summer fallow winter wheat rotation growers.

The project is restricted to areas receiving 12 inches of rainfall and under, he added, noting nine counties in Washington and five in Oregon have such areas.

The undercutter's duct lifts and v-blades pass under the ground, lifting the ground and breaking up capillarity continuity, Schafer said.

Undercutting is a method to reduce wind erosion, which is a constant problem.

"These dust storms we see, there have been instances when blowing dust from agricultural lands have obscured vision on the highways and caused wrecks," Schafer said. "On top of that, overall air quality is important."

This type of tillage leaves increased, mostly undisturbed residue on the surface, and leaves the surface rougher than usual summer fallow, Schafer said.

"Increased residue and increased roughness can reduce wind erosion up to 55 percent," he said.

The project is still open for applications and Schafer estimated 33 growers are participating in the program, eligible for cost share on purchasing a new undercutter and have just begun receiving their equipment.

"It's questionable whether they are going to have it here to actually do spring tillage this year," he said. "Those that do have it will follow the guidelines of the program."

For more information, contact Harry Schafer at 509-659-0610 or 509-660-0477. To sign up for the demonstration and lunch, call either of the telephone numbers or e-mail harry@wawg.org by April 22.