Photo courtesy of Columbia Plateau PM10 Project
PULLMAN – Progress on research to reduce wind erosion and improve air quality in the inland Pacific Northwest will be reported at the Columbia Plateau PM10 Project annual meeting on Dec. 1 at WSU Pullman.“The meeting will provide growers, scientists and the general public with an excellent opportunity to learn about and discuss viable methods to reduce dust and smoke emissions from agricultural fields and other sources,” said William Schillinger, crop and soils scientist at the WSU Dryland Research Station at Lind.
The Columbia Plateau is a 50,000 square mile region in Washington, Oregon and Idaho containing both one of the driest as well as the most productive rainfed wheat regions in the world. Windblown dust is a concern in the drier regions of the Columbia Plateau; dust generated from farming and construction sites poses a hazard to motorists, reduces soil productivity, and pollutes air in downwind communities.
|
Related:
|
The project is a multidisciplinary research effort to address problems associated with airborne particulates that are 10 microns in size or smaller and to develop economically viable best management practices to control blowing dust and smoke from dryland and irrigated farms.
Scientists from WSU, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service, Oregon State University and officials from county and state air authorities will speak on:
- prediction and measurement of dust emissions
- extension and education
- air quality monitoring
- cropping systems to control wind erosion
- assessment of farming practices
Oral presentations will be 9 a.m.-3:45 p.m. in CUB 210. A hosted lunch will be provided.
The meeting is free to the public, but advance registration is required. Contact Cindy Warriner at 509-659-3215 or warriner@wsu.edu or go online at pnw-winderosion.wsu.edu/news.html to register.