Alternatives to peas
Workshop on forage crops offered by WSU
With Twin City Foods’ recent announcement that it will not be processing green peas in western Washington in the 2010 growing season, area farmers are scrambling to fill 6,000 acres of land with crops that fit in their rotation.
Western Washington’s green pea industry has been decreasing production over the past several decades, from 32,289 acres in 1968 to 6,000 acres in 2008 and Twin City is the last remaining green pea processor in northwest Washington.
Meanwhile, the dairy industry is searching for alternatives to high priced feeds that are being imported into the area.
So Washington State University extension service has coordinated a daylong event with a variety of experts to discuss options.
“Cropping Connections — an Alternative to Green Pea Production,” will be presented at the WSU Northwest Region Extension office, 16650 S.R. Hwy 536, Mount Vernon, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Jan. 8, 2010.
• Forage specialist Dr. Steven Fransen will speak about forage crops such as corn silage, grain corn, sorghum, alfalfa silage, grass silage and grass hay as a potential alternative to hay.
• Dr. Stephen Jones will speak about his work using grains that can be grown in western Washington as feed and also straw that can be used as bedding.
• Drs Carol Miles and Clair Coyne will speak about growing fava beans and winter peas in western Washington and their use as a feed.
• Chris Benedict will talk about the potential for beets and mangles in areas outside of commercial seed production areas.
Most importantly, the workshop will allow for area producers to explore ways that the crop and dairy industries can work together.
This includes tillage, manure handling and distribution, irrigation infrastructure and practices that can be shared.
Washington State University Extension helps people use research-based knowledge to improve their economic status and quality of life.
Along with WSU, cooperating agencies include U.S. Department of Agriculture and Skagit County.
For information call 360-
428-4270 ext. 221 or see the
Web site at skagit.wsu.edu/.
