International Assignment

Executive Summary

R. Dennis Roe

USDA-NRCS

Section A

The purpose of the trip to China during September 6-20, 2002 was for exchange of scientific information about the deep loess soil in northern China and the loess soil of the Palouse Region of the U.S. in the Pacific Northwest. The tour was mostly in the Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces. We visited six universities and academies, numerous farms, and became acquainted with many wonderful Chinese people.

The people were gracious hosts and hostesses. Our interpreters went out of there way to help us meet university people, county and provincial officials, and farmers, and to arrange hotel and meal accommodations. We traveled approximately 2000 kilometers while there.

We were hosted at China Agricultural University, Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanxi Agricultural University, Yan’an Agricultural Academy, Chinese Academy of Science, and the Northwestern Sci-Tech University. At each university a group of 10 to 30 scientists and students would meet with us. We would each exchange power point presentations about what research projects we are doing.

We then would visit research stations and also the DaZhai Model Farm.

We also visited the Institute of Soil and Water Conservation in the Chinese Academy of Sciences near Xi’an. The Institute has the largest loess soil research facility in the world.

We visited several points of general interest, including some temples. Our interpreters provided us many hours of cultural education about the people of China and their dynasties. We visited HuKou, the great falls on the Yellow River.

We stayed overnight in the longest maintained city in northern China, PingYao.

It is 600 years old, with original buildings, streets, and wall surrounding the city.

We ascended a section of the Great Wall near Beijing.

Section B

Participants were:

Thomas Lumpkin, Chair, Crops and Soil Sciences, Washington State University

William Pan, Soil Fertility Specialist, Crops & Soil Sciences, Washington State Univ

Alan Busacca, Soil Scientist, Crops and Soil Sciences, Washington State University

John Aeschliman, Farmer/Board Member:Pacific NW Direct Seed Association

Dennis Roe, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service/adjunct scientist, WSU

Jack Bell, Land Management Specialist, Nez Perce Tribe, Lapwai, Idaho

Paulette Sandene, Foreign Agricultural Service, Washington, D. C.

page 2

Lin Huifang, Translater, Int. Cooperation, Ministry of Agric., P.R. of China

Song Xuanyi, Translater, Int. Cooperation, Ministry of Agric., P.R. of China

Qi Sheng, program officer, Div. for Foreign Affairs, Agric, Dept of Shaanxi Prov.

We met with an estimated 120 university and Ministry of Agriculture officials, farmers and U.S. Embassy officials. The lead persons we met at each university were:

Dr. Qimei Lin, soil scientist, China Agricultural University, Beijing

Dr. Mao Daru, former President of China Agricultural University. Dr. Mao visited

Washington State University in 1999.

Dr. Zhang Zhi’de, chair, Shanxi Academy of Science, TaiYuan

Ms. Ran Liping, vice director, Shanxi Acad. of Sci., hostess at DaZhai Model Farm,

Taigu

Dr. Yang Wude, Vice Dean, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu

Dr. Li, Research Director, Yan’an Agricultural Academy, Yan’an

Dr. Zhang Junfeng, Director, Chinese Academy of Science, Yan’an

Dr. Li Rui, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Mr. John Wade, Senior Agricultural Attache’, United States Embassy, Beijing

and many, many other gracious people.

Section C

One of the benefits to those of us on the trip was a greater understanding of the people and culture of the people in China. I learned enough Chinese language to converse with Chinese agriculture students and faculty at Washington State

University. We learned that the people we met have generally positive attitudes of hope and patience. The people we met are healthy physically and mentally(discipline, hope, patience). Of benefit to the NRCS was to see vast areas of soil conservation systems. Soil erosion events appear to have been cataclysmic. However, in the past 10 years the country has made great strides with widespread tree and grass planting on slopes and in dunes, new terraces, and crop rotations. Of benefit to our hosts was sharing of conservation tillage methods used in the U. S.

Section D

We have shared some our 2000 photographs and digital images at two Washington State University soils seminars and at an NRCS field office and a conservation district. We are on the agendas of local civic clubs for presentations in the next few weeks. We have offered to host the scientists we met with if they should come to the U. S. Dr. Li at Chinese Agricultural University offered to work with us on introduction of improved millet varieties in the Palouse loess soil area in the U. S. to improve no-till seeding rotations and reduce soil erosion in the U.S.