Key Points

• Washington State University (WSU) will host its 108th annual Lind Field Day on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at the Lind Dryland Station in Lind, Washington .
• The event specifically targets dryland grain growers in Washington’s low-rainfall grain country, offering insights into new crop varieties and current research .
• Surendra Singh, the Lind Station director, identified the unofficial theme for 2026 as “minimizing input costs and maximizing profitability” due to rising farm expenses and atypical weather .
• The 2024 crop year was characterized as warm and wet, with April being the wettest in over a century of records, creating unique challenges for dryland growers .
• Agronomist Aaron Esser and grower Derek Schafer will present on precision weed control to conserve sprays and no-till drilling to prevent erosion .
• Singh will present a three-year study testing commercial products and soil amendments against a control, funded by the Washington Grain Commission, to determine if they offset costs .
• Extension agronomist Morgan Menaker will discuss fungicide efficacy in peas to help conserve spray costs, while entomologist David Crowder will share findings on insects affecting winter crops .
• Wheat breeders Arron Carter and Michael Pumphrey will tour attendees through current trials for winter and spring varieties .
• The noon program features key figures including WSU Dean Raj Khosla, Washington Grain Commission Chair Kevin Klein, State Sen. Mark Schoesler, and Washington Association of Wheat Growers President Gil Crosby .
• Dean Raj Khosla emphasized the event’s role in translating research into practical strategies for dryland cropping systems under limited rainfall conditions .
• The station is expanding with two new doctoral students and hiring for master’s positions, while 30-year research technician Steven Schofstoll retires in June .
• A new soils lab with state-of-the-art instruments for measuring microbial activity and soil health has launched at the station .
• The event includes a hosted lunch, a noon program, and concludes with an ice cream social featuring products from the WSU Creamery .

Lind, Washington (Evening Washington News) June 3, 2025 – Lind, Washington stands ready to host the 108th annual Lind Field Day on Thursday, June 11, at the Lind Dryland Station, marking Washington State University’s longest-running field day event designed to assist dryland grain growers in navigating an increasingly difficult agricultural landscape . Scientists will walk dryland grain growers through discoveries that could save fuel, fertilizer, and other input costs at this pivotal gathering, which gives producers in Washington’s low-rainfall grain country a look at new varieties and current research . A special focus for 2026 is on practices that may help farms stay competitive amidst rising economic pressures and unusual weather patterns .

Why is minimizing input costs the unofficial theme for the 2026 Lind Field Day?

“Minimizing input costs and maximizing profitability is the unofficial theme for this year,” said Surendra Singh, Lind Station director, highlighting the urgent economic reality facing the region’s farmers .

A warm, wet crop year and the wettest April in over a century of records, compounded with rising farm input costs, have made this a very atypical year for dryland growers . Field day presentations address some of the challenges posed by these conditions, aiming to provide actionable solutions for producers struggling with the convergence of high expenses and erratic weather .

How will precision weed control and no-till drilling help conserve resources?

Agronomist Aaron Esser and grower stakeholder Derek Schafer will present on precision weed control, which can help conserve sprays, as well as no-till drilling to prevent erosion .

“We have a practical perspective from Derek on the conservation tillage journey: what that was like for him and how he modified approaches to meet unique challenges on his farm,”

Singh said, emphasizing the value of real-world farmer experience alongside scientific research . This combination of expert agronomy and grower testimony offers a comprehensive view of how conservation practices can be adapted to specific farm conditions.

What commercial products and soil amendments are being tested for cost offsets?

Singh will present an ongoing study of commercial products and soil amendments sold to boost crop performance or as alternatives to fertilizer . Products chosen via a grower survey will be tested against a control over the next three years at Lind and Wilke Research Farm, funded by the Washington Grain Commission .

“Do these products offset your cost, time, and fuel? That’s what we want to find out,”

Singh said, underscoring the study’s focus on economic viability rather than just agronomic performance .

Which research updates will help farmers conserve spray costs and manage pests?

With dryland growers diversifying their rotations with nitrogen-fixing legumes, Extension agronomist Morgan Menaker will discuss fungicide efficacy in peas; this work helps farmers conserve spray costs .

Entomologist David Crowder will share understanding on insects that affect winter crops like peas and wheat, providing critical pest management insights .

Wheat breeders Arron Carter and Michael Pumphrey will tour growers through current trials for winter and spring varieties, ensuring attendees have access to the latest genetic advancements .

Who are the key speakers and what legislative and industry updates will be provided?

The field day includes a hosted lunch and noon program featuring Raj Khosla, Cashup Davis Family Endowed Dean of the WSU College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences; Washington Grain Commission Chair Kevin Klein; Washington State Sen. Mark Schoesler; Washington Association of Wheat Growers President Gil Crosby; and Department of Crop and Soil Sciences Chair Lynne Carpenter-Boggs .

“Lind Field Day is a great opportunity for growers and the public to learn about agricultural research and see the land-grant mission in action,”

Khosla said .

“It’s also unique in providing updates from university, industry, and legislative partners at a single field-day location,”

he added .

How is WSU translating research into practical strategies for limited rainfall conditions?

“Importantly, participants will hear how we are advancing solutions for dryland cropping systems under increasingly limited rainfall conditions — translating research into practical strategies that growers can apply,”

the dean added .

“I encourage all dryland producers to join us. See you all there,”

Khosla said, reiterating the call to action for the local farming community . Khosla said this year’s event will highlight research aimed at helping dryland growers adapt to increasingly limited rainfall conditions while translating scientific findings into practical strategies farmers can use in the field .

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What developments are occurring at Lind Station regarding staffing and facilities?

Lind Station’s team is growing, with two doctoral students joining the station this spring, and Surendra Singh and assistant professor Shikha Singh hiring one master’s student apiece to support ongoing research . Steven Schofstoll, who has served the station as a research technician for 30 years, will retire in June, marking the end of a long tenure .

The station has also launched a new soils lab featuring state-of-the-art instruments that measure microbial activity, chemistry, and other soil health indicators . This new money- and time-saving lab will also help train the next generation of scientists .

“That’s exactly what a research station is supposed to do,”

Singh said .

“Our focus is on research, training, and supporting the local farming community,”

he emphasized .

When and where can attendees find the event and what social activities are included?

The event concludes with an ice cream social with products from the WSU Creamery, offering a relaxed environment for networking and discussion . Lind Dryland Station is located at 781 Experiment Station Rd 781 E, Lind, Washington, providing a central location for the region’s growers .

Background of the Development

The Lind Field Day represents the 108th iteration of Washington State University’s longest-running field day, establishing it as a historic and continuous institution for agricultural education in the region . The Lind Dryland Station serves as a critical research hub for Washington’s low-rainfall grain country, focusing specifically on the unique challenges faced by dryland growers who rely on natural precipitation rather than irrigation .

The development of the 2026 event is directly contextualized by the atypical weather patterns of the recent crop year, which included the wettest April in over a century of records, creating a stark contrast to the typical low-rainfall expectations of the region .

This weather anomaly, combined with a warm crop year and rising input costs, has forced a shift in the station’s research priorities toward cost minimization and profitability . The station’s recent expansion, including the hiring of doctoral and master’s students and the retirement of a 30-year veteran technician, reflects a generational shift in the research team .

Furthermore, the launch of the new soils lab with state-of-the-art instruments marks a significant technological advancement for the station, enabling more precise measurements of microbial activity and soil health indicators .

The event is funded and supported by a coalition of partners including the Washington Grain Commission, the WSU College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences, and legislative bodies, demonstrating a multi-sector commitment to the sustainability of dryland agriculture .

Prediction: How This Development Will Affect Dryland Growers and the Local Agricultural Community

This development is predicted to have a direct and measurable impact on the economic viability of dryland growers in Washington’s low-rainfall grain country by providing them with validated strategies to reduce input costs . By presenting research on precision weed control and no-till drilling, the event will likely accelerate the adoption of conservation tillage practices among attendees, leading to reduced fuel consumption, lower fertilizer expenses, and decreased soil erosion on local farms .

The three-year study on commercial products and soil amendments, if it confirms that certain products offset costs, time, and fuel, will give growers a data-driven basis for purchasing decisions, potentially saving the local farming community significant capital over the coming years .

For growers diversifying into nitrogen-fixing legumes like peas, the findings on fungicide efficacy and insect management shared by Morgan Menaker and David Crowder will likely reduce spray costs and improve crop yields, enhancing the profitability of rotated crops . The access to new winter and spring wheat varieties through the tours by Arron Carter and Michael Pumphrey will allow farmers to select genetics better suited to the increasingly limited rainfall conditions, potentially increasing resilience against future droughts . The presence of legislative and industry leaders like Sen.

Mark Schoesler and Kevin Klein at the noon program suggests that policy and funding support for dryland agriculture may be reinforced, potentially leading to further grants or programs that benefit the local community . The expansion of the station’s research team and the new soils lab will ensure a continuous pipeline of localized, relevant research, meaning that the support system for dryland growers will become more robust and responsive to emerging challenges in the long term .

Ultimately, the translation of scientific findings into practical strategies, as emphasized by Dean Raj Khosla, will empower dryland producers to maintain competitiveness and profitability despite the dual pressures of climate variability and rising economic costs .