03/25/05 Still parched; delay primary tillage

03/25/05 Still parched; delay primary tillage

Washington Ag March 25, 2005 Despite the recent cool, wet weather at least 21 tributary streams and rivers in Washington recorded new daily record low flows this week. That's according to the U.S. Geological Survey and the Department of Ecology. Some of those rivers were the Skagit, Spokane, Palouse, Tucannon and Walla Walla. Ecology says it may have to shut off or limit withdrawals by junior water right holders earlier than normal in the Little Spokane, Methow, Okanogan and Wenatchee river basins. Ecology says it's received 34 requests to drill new or reactivate existing emergency wells in the Yakima Basin and the department will hold workshops at the Yakima Convention Center March 29th at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. to explain how it will make its decisions. Washington State University soil scientist Bill Schillinger says he has already witnessed "Dust Bowl" day conditions in the low-rainfall summer fallow wheat areas of the state. For those farmers who haven't already done so, he is recommending they delay their primary tillage and use non-inversion equipment. Schillinger: "Put some glyphosate down in late winter on your wheat stubble. And then just wait. And you can wait until way into April to do your spring tillage. Nothing is happening with the soil moisture in March. We are not losing it through evaporation." Schillinger says the target is to retain 30 percent residue cover which is very effective in controlling wind erosion. I'm Bob Hoff. .
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