By Scout Nelson
North Dakota State University (NDSU) continues its summer research outreach with several crop plot tours and field days scheduled across the state. After completing the 67th Annual Carrington Research Extension Center (REC) Field Day and an on-farm pathology plot tour near Makoti, researchers are preparing for four more educational events during July and August.
These field events allow producers to meet directly with NDSU researchers and Extension specialists while learning about current crop conditions, research trials, and management practices in local growing environments. The tours are organized with the support of local Extension agents, county crop improvement associations, and producer cooperators who help make the events successful.
The first event is the Dazey Plot Tour on Thursday, July 23, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. CDT, located 2.5 miles east of Dazey on Highway 26. Hosted by Alicia Harstad of NDSU Barnes County Extension, the tour includes updates on small grain varieties, soybean breeding, waterhemp control, and a spray drone demonstration, weather permitting. Participants can also compare modern wheat varieties with Ceres, NDSU's first wheat release from 1926, and learn about new on-farm research opportunities.
The Tri-County Plot Tour serving Logan, Emmons, and McIntosh counties takes place on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, west of Wishek. Topics include waterhemp management, canola and soybean production, forage cover crops, spotted water hemlock, and performance tests for wheat, barley, soybean, sunflower, dry bean, and canola. New demonstrations include LibertyLink canola, sunflower, flax, and chickpea intercropping.
The Oakes Irrigation Research Site Field Day follows on Thursday, August 6, 2026, featuring presentations on corn diseases, nitrogen management, soybean diseases, canola production, flea beetles, irrigation, and weed control. Industry experts and NDSU specialists will discuss best management practices for improving crop production.
The final event is the Fingal Plot Tour on Thursday, August 13, 2026, focusing on corn research. Topics include corn performance tests, cover crops, nitrogen fractionation, and insect management.
NDSU encourages producers to attend these free events, visit research plots throughout the season, and use QR codes posted at the sites. For more information, contact Kristin Simons, Ph. D. Research Agronomist at Kristin.Simons@ndsu.edu. Accommodation requests should be made through county Extension offices at least two weeks before each event.
Photo Credit: minnesota-corn-growers-association
Categories: North Dakota, Crops