Cutting-edge Ag tours - NDSU field day

By Scout Nelson

On July 16, the North Dakota State University Carrington Research Extension Center (CREC) Field Day will feature tours and demonstrations on cutting-edge agricultural research, including beef production, agronomy and specialty crops, northern hardy fruit, and organic and sustainable agriculture.

The 65th annual field day at the center starts at 9 a.m. with registration, coffee, and a welcome address by NDSU leaders. Attendees can choose from four tour options, with lunch served at noon and an afternoon tour on specialty crops from 1:15 to 3 p.m.

“This is the premier summer event to showcase our center’s research in action and share new developments in agriculture,” says Mike Ostlie, director of the CREC. “The best part is that the information is generated locally, which gives people a chance to see and hear real-world solutions that work in our region.”

Morning Tours

Beef Production Tour:

• Explore research results, feedout projects, and precision technology.
• Topics include feedout project updates, Dakota Feeder Calf Show, and Angus University.
• Demonstrations cover cattle condition estimation using camera sensors, virtual fencing, and precision livestock technologies.

Agronomy Tour:

• Dive into crop agronomics, marketing, and pest management.
• Learn about spring wheat and dry bean updates, weed control, soybean marketing, and nitrogen/microbe fate.
• Discover dry bean fungicide application recommendations for 2024.

Organic and Sustainable Agriculture Tour:

• Understand profitable and environmentally sound organic practices.
• Explore equipment, weed control, and harvest techniques.
• Speakers include experienced row crop farmers and staff from the National Center for Appropriate Technology.

Northern Hardy Fruit Tour:

• Visit the Northern Hardy Fruit Evaluation Project orchard.
• Focus on black rot disease in apple trees.
• Presenter: Jim Walla, retired NDSU woody plant pathologist.
• Explore alternative fruits like apples, cherries, currants, grapes, and more.

Afternoon Specialty Crops Tour:

• After lunch, delve into specialty crops such as lupin, kernza, pennycress, sorghum, and cover crops.
• Gain hands-on experience and learn about production, opportunities, and pitfalls.
• Speakers include experts in climate-smart approaches and sustainable agriculture.

The noon meal is free of charge thanks to support from Green Bison Soy Processing and CREC. The CREC is 3.5 miles north of Carrington on U.S. Highway 281.

Photo Credit -north-dakota-state-university