Submitted by the San Juan Islands Conservation District.

Interested in reseeding your pastures or hayfields? Planting cover crops or grains? The San Juan Islands Conservation District is implementing a program to rent out their Great Plains 606NT No-Till Seed Drill for use by San Juan County farmers. Join the Conservation District, WSU Extension, and Natural Plant Solutions for an upcoming training to learn the basics of operating and renting the drill.

Training sessions will be offered July 10 on San Juan; July 17 on Orcas; and July 24 on Lopez. All sessions will run from 2 4 p.m. and detailed location information will be emailed upon registration. The training is free, though each session is limited to 15 people. Pre-registration is required at https://extension.wsu.edu/sanjuan/agriculture/upcoming-workshops-and-events/.

The training will provide an in-field lecture and a demonstration of the Great Plains 606NT No-Till Seed Drill. The discussion will also provide information on known successful seed types and planting strategies for no-till pasture renovation.

Attendees will leave the training knowing the operational procedures for using the no-till drill on their farms. This includes transport, setup, calibration, use of the drill, post-planting clean-up of the implement, and its return to the Conservation District. Attendees will also walk away knowing how the rental process works, including fees, required paperwork, reservation process, and necessary on-farm equipment needed, or the alternative option of contracting the seeding out to Natural Plant Solutions if there are on-farm limitations of equipment or time to take on a rental of the Conservation District drill.

Those who wish to rent the drill from the Conservation District will be required to take a test either at the end of the workshop or at any point before setting up a rental of the drill.

COVID protocol will be observed. Please do not attend if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. If you have not been fully vaccinated you must wear a mask and maintain physical distance while at the training. Please see detailed symptoms and requirements on our website https://extension.wsu.edu/sanjuan/agriculture/upcoming-workshops-and-events/. Guidance may change to reflect current requirements from WSU, San Juan County, and Washington State.

Questions? Contact Kate Mikulak, WSU Extension Ag Program Coordinator, at kathryn.mikulak@wsu.eduor 360-370-7664.