Projects and Experience

Following are links to information on some specific projects, experience, and interest areas.

Current projects are presented in the Agronomy page of this Web site. 

  1. Protein manipulation of Jefferson Hard Red Spring and Hard White.
  2. Feasibility study of on-farm biodiesel production. 
  3. Contract research for a client on Garbanzos. 
  4. Haybuster Undercutters for demonstration, rent or sale. 

Personal Services Contracts

LC&A has completed several contracts. An example was when Umatilla county wheat county agent left in mid crop year. Larry Coppock continued the research the agent had started and took it to maturity. This allowed no loss of continued research.

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Long Term Farming Systems Research Trials

I have conducted research on Long Term Farming Systems Research Trials since 1997. There are seven trial fields. One is in wheat, under utter tillage, one is in flex cropping and the rest in various conservation farming sustems Some successes, problems, trends, etc have emerged from various systems.

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Farm or System Analysis

This analysis is a synthesis from several sources. They are "Profit Farms developed by Gayle Willett at Washington State University, and now part of the Pacific Northwest Risk Management Education Project The Oregon State University Cost of Production data is used. Also combined is data from Texas A&M on Pacific Northwest wheat farms that was part of the 1996 farm bill, and data from the Northwest Wheat Policy Project, funded by grower organizations and conducted by Dr. Clinton Reeder. This analysis is used to evaluate each of the Long term Trials.

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Economic Analysis of Systems and their Inputs

Economic analysis is conducted on the Long Term Trials. If an input works, but the grower cannot afford it, that input is really valueless. The analysis used on these trials could be transferred to actual farm records.

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Economic Analysis of PNW Wheat Farms

This analysis was first conducted as part of a grant application. It demonstrates the health of Pacific Northwest wheat farms. It was also used as "expert testimony" in legal proceedings.

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Crop Rotations

These trials start each year on September 1. The trials are studied and determinations made for each trial. The following considerations are asked of each trial field:

This makes the rotation a response to what mother nature and current reality is presenting us with.

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Conservation Tillage and Herbicide rotations

From experience, some trends emerge. Two are:

  1. If I choose chisel plow for primary tillage, I have also decided to use Round-Up in early spring. If one doesn’t some cheatgrass clumps get through the tillage and set seed.
  2. I use Maverick to control cheatgrass in a non summerfallow rotation, I have just also decided to follow with a wheat crop next year. Are you sure you want to re-crop???

The following two articles will provide additional insight into tillage and herbicide rotations:

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Nutrient Budgets and Nutrient Management Plans

I am registered with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to write Nutrient Management Plans. Nutrient budgets are effect ways of economical and environmental farming

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Expert Witness

I have presented data as "expert testimony or evidence" in three legal proceedings.

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Ground Water studies

I have conducted two ground water grants. They are:

  1. A Template to use when Evaluating a Watershed.
  2. Developing Farming Systems for Groundwater Management in the Lower Umatilla Basin.

These both indicate farming systems or strategies that will contribute little, if any contaminant, to ground water when considered over time.

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Mechanical Design

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Projects Undertaken

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