Have you heard?
Have you heard? If you’ve been reading Center Points for the past month, or following any NDSU Ag on any social media, you realize that NDSU Research Extension Centers are holding their annual field days this week and next. This week is the southern and western route – starting today with Central Grasslands near Streeter, then dipping south to Hettinger, and bouncing between Dickinson and Williston for two events at each station. Next week begins at the Agronomy Seed Farm west of Casselton, swings by Carrington on July 22, then up to North Central at Minot, then over to Langdon.
Of course, we must admit to a great deal of bias when it comes to our favorite field day to attend – that’s ours! We have one week left to get ready for your visit – we’ve been meeting with our caterer; assigning crews to set up tents, tables, and chairs; designing our agenda brochure; and refining our tour stops and schedules with presenters, hosts, and drivers. We have four concurrent tours in the morning, and two events scheduled for the afternoon. Plus, we still have all of our regular research to continue and additional programs on the horizon.
You can read all of the official details about our Carrington REC Field Day online, but here are a few highlights from each tour. You’ll have to choose one of the four tours for the morning – it’s your most difficult choice of the day. But at least we’ll offer you a donut while you decide.
Our agronomy tour is one of our more popular tours, and that’s why we plan for two concurrent wagons to weave between stops (each speaker will address both wagons; you won’t miss a thing). Canola is increasing in popularity in North Dakota, so we have invited Venkat Chapara and Anitha Chirumamilla from Langdon REC to share their expertise. Wade Webster and Michael Wunsch will share their research findings on soybean disease (and, in case you can’t wait, Michael Wunsch is a guest speaker at Williston REC’s Field Day on July 16). Additional topics cover corn diseases, carbon markets, and hard red spring wheat.
Another popular tour, historically, has been through our orchard. If you choose this tour, you’ll get to ride on our iconic tour wagons with the yellow canopies. Mike Ostlie will guide visitors though our orchard, then discussion topics will turn to home yards and gardening.
The CREC organic program has compiled a robust tour covering organic research; sustainable agriculture practices that improve soil health; incentive programs and risk management topics; new technologies for organic producers, and an introduction to the various support systems available. NDSU’s “Soil Health Express” education trailer will feature hands-on demonstrations to increase awareness of key soil health issues.
This year’s beef production tour will review the recently completed Dakota Feeder Calf Show results, reiterate processes for putting up quality hay, and hear a brief synopsis of a graduate research project winter feeding on crop land and the resulting nutrient load. A demonstration of our mortality compost site is scheduled.
After lunch, two program choices will be offered. (Again, a choice must be made.) A specialty agronomy tour features more demonstrations: spray drones and cover crops, along with a refresher on kochia management and a look at brassica biofumigation. This tour gets the canopied wagons, too!
Meanwhile, the Foundation for Agricultural and Rural Resources Management and Sustainability (FARRMS) and the Northern Plains Sustainable Agriculture Society (NPSAS) are co-hosting “Dig In! The Soil Health Demo Toolbox” from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. This workshop will equip farmers with practical, hands-on methods to demonstrate core soil health principles using readily available household items.
Whew! Sounds like a lot, but you’ll be comfortable on wagons during the tours. Mornings are usually cool, and we’ll have plenty of bottled water available. Our picnic area is nestled under trees or sheltered by a tent. If you need any assistance, our staff will be wearing matching shirts so we can be easily identified.
Please join us Tuesday, July 22 for our annual field day. We’ll be ready and waiting for you!
Linda Schuster
Linda.Schuster@ndsu.edu
Administrative Assistant
