AMES, Iowa — A variety of crop-related topics including the use of unmanned aerial vehicles in agriculture, cover crops, troublesome weeds, crop diseases, pasture management, corn stalk use and soil fertility will be covered at late-summer field days scheduled at Iowa State University Research and Demonstration Farms.
The public is welcome at these field days, which take place rain or shine. There is no charge.
The Aug. 26 field day at the Neely-Kinyon Research and Demonstration Farm (2557 Norfolk Ave., Greenfield) will include presentations about the farm’s Long Term Organic Crop Rotation study, corn breeding research, a sorghum biomass trial and organic vegetable production. It will begin at 4 p.m., ending with a light meal and discussion about 6:30 p.m.
On Sept. 3, the Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm (3321 290th St., Nashua) will begin at 1 p.m. with refreshments. The program will include presentations on grain markets, soil fertility, unmanned aerial vehicles and research on crop diseases and fungicide.
Also on Sept. 3, the Dordt College farm near Sioux Center will host a field day sponsored by the college and the Northwest Iowa Experimental Association, owner of the Northwest Research and Demonstration Farm. A field tour featuring an unmanned aerial vehicle demonstration, soil and root pit and manure application information will follow a 6 p.m. meal.
Updates on Palmer amaranth, waterhemp, soybean cyst management and the new weather station at the Northern Research and Demonstration Farm will highlight its field day on Sept. 4. The field day will begin at 9 a.m. with the program at 9:30 a.m. and a meal at noon at the farm’s south location, 1040 James Ave., Kanawha.
The Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm (3115 Louisa-Washington Road, Crawfordsville) field day will start at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 9. The program includes presentations on windbreaks, cover crops, corn stalk use for cattle production and crop scouting with unmanned aerial vehicles.
On Sept. 18, the McNay Memorial Research and Demonstration Farm (45249 170th Ave., Chariton) will host its field day starting at 4:30 p.m. Alfalfa variety plots, a cover crop demonstration and updates on beef research, fescue renovation and a grazing project will be on the program. Dinner will follow.
The McNay farm has a livestock operation and Iowa State asks visitors to take some precautions to avoid introducing a disease:
- There is a five-day waiting period prior to visiting ISU livestock farms after traveling outside the United States.
- If you have visited another livestock farm, you are asked to change clothing and footwear.
- Visitors are not allowed to bring food to the research farms.
If you have any questions, call the Research and Demonstration Farms office at (515) 294-5045.