WHEREAS, Bill Schillinger earned a bachelor's degree in Communications from Eastern Washington University, and a master's degree in Agronomy from the University of California, Davis, then worked for the United States Agency for International Development in Africa and Asia for 10 years, before returning to the United States to earn a PhD in Agronomy from Oregon State University; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Schillinger began working at the Washington State University dryland research station in Lind, Washington on January 1, 1993; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Schillinger was the principal investigator of three multidisciplinary long-term dryland and irrigated cropping systems experiments; and

WHEREAS, During Dr. Schillinger's long career there, the Washington State University dryland research station did groundbreaking research on combatting wind erosion, including conservation-till and no-till farming methods; alternative crops to winter wheat and other extensive long-term research projects, including a cropping systems study 25 years in the making and a winter pea study that is in its 12th year; and soil and residue management practices to increase water storage and efficient use of precipitation; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Schillinger published many articles about the research he and others did at the Washington State University dryland research station; and

WHEREAS, Bill Schillinger has devoted his professional life to helping farmers flourish on the low amount of precipitation that much of eastern Washington receives each year; and

WHEREAS, Bill Schillinger retired on January 7, 2022, after 29 years as a scientist and director at the Washington State University dryland research station;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate honor Doctor Bill Schillinger on his long career, during which he significantly helped many Washington farmers and our state's agriculture industry.