Stripper Header and Direct Seeding: Ron and Andy Juris

This Pacific Northwest Extension publication profiles Ron and Andy Juris, dryland wheat farmers near Bickleton, Washington, in one of the driest wheat-producing areas in the world. The case study explains how the Jurises moved from wheat-fallow to annual cropping and direct seeding, then added a cross slot drill and stripper header to conserve standing residue, reduce soil disturbance, retain soil moisture, and manage erosion risk. It describes their residue and moisture management system, weed management adaptations, use of precision agriculture, experimentation with non-wheat crops, and strategies for managing production and economic risk. The publication also discusses benefits of the stripper header, including improved moisture capture, snow trapping, reduced wind speed near the soil surface, faster harvest, and less wear on the combine. Sidebars cover precision agriculture, research on stripper headers and residue, canola establishment in stripper-header stubble, herbicide resistance, SWOT analysis, profit maximization, and advice for other growers.