The 50th anniversary of the Northwest Research and Demonstration Farm is the highlight of this season’s Iowa State University field days that begin June 17. Also scheduled are field days devoted to aquaculture, fruit and vegetables, turfgrass, alternative pig production. June field days cover corn and soybean topics including insect and weed management, soil fertility, tillage systems, water quality, planting dates, crop population, manure management and value-added crops. Home garden demonstration field days are set at 10 research farms featuring several varieties of sweet corn, beets, cucumbers and potatoes along with plants that attract birds. Field days take place rain or shine. The public is welcome. The latest information on the field day schedule is available at: https://farms.cals.iastate.edu/research-farms-field-days-and-meetings or by calling (515) 294-5045. Those visiting Iowa State farms with livestock (locations are marked with an asterisk) are asked to take several precautions if they have been at another livestock operation. Those who have recently returned from a trip abroad are asked to wait five days before visiting Iowa State farms with animals. Visitors to farms with livestock are asked to change clothing and footwear after being in any livestock operation, foreign or domestic; and to refrain from bringing any food items to the research farm. If you have any questions, please call the Research and Demonstration Farms office at (515) 294-5045. Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm June 17, 1 p.m. The farm is located 1.75 miles south and 2 miles east of Crawfordsville on the Washington/Louisa county-line road. Northern Research and Demonstration Farm June 23, 9:30 a.m. The farm is just south of Kanawha on County Road R-35. Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm June 24, 1:30 p.m. The farm is located 1 mile west of the intersection of Highway 218 and B60 in Nashua, 1 mile south and a quarter mile east. Northwest Research and Demonstration Farm June 30, 9 a.m. The Sutherland farm is located 11 miles north of Cherokee on U.S. Highway 59 and a quarter mile east on County Road B-62. This 50th anniversary celebration will be at the Sutherland location and includes research plot tours, lunch, 1954 research work and demonstrations of 50-year-old machinery. Scheduled speakers: • Elwynn Taylor discussing current weather patterns • Walter Fehr, reviewing soybean breeding at Iowa State • Antonio Mallarino, summarizing findings of phosphorus and potash placement research • Paul Kassel and Joel DeJong, discussing agronomic issues • Panel discussion of leaders and researchers involved in the farms’ early years LIVESTOCK FIELD DAYS Allee Research Farm* July 30, 11 a.m. The farm is located 1.5 miles west on the gravel road that intersects Highway 7 at the curve southeast of Newell. The field day will cover herd health issues related to alternative farrowing, including pasture and hoop systems. There will be a pork niche program during the noon barbecue. Results of a deep-bedded farrowing study will be reviewed. Western Research and Demonstration Farm* Date and time to be announced. Call: (712) 885-2802. The farm is located 4 miles east of Castana on County Road E-34. McNay Research and Demonstration Farm* Date and time to be announced. Call: (515) 766-6465. The farm is located south of Highway 65, 4 miles from the intersection of highways 65 and 34, then 2.5 miles east on a gravel road and turn north a quarter mile. SPECIALTY FIELD DAYS Horticulture Station July 12, time to be announced. Call: (515) 294-5045. The station is located 1.5 miles east at the intersection of Highway 69 and E23 north of Ames. Fruit and vegetable topics. July 22, 9 a.m. Turfgrass-related topics. July 23, 6 p.m. Aquaculture projects will be covered at six ponds used to grow catfish, hybrid striped bass and other food or bait fish species. Joe Morris, natural resource ecology and management, leads the research. Muscatine Island Research and Demonstration Farm July 20, 5 p.m. A meal will be available at 6:30 p.m. The farm is located at 111 North St. in Fruitland. Horticulture-related topics. Central Iowa Research and Demonstration Farms Sept. 1, time to be announced. Call: (515) 294-5045. The farm is located west of Ames; turn north on R38 from West Lincoln Way, go north one mile, turn west on 220th Street, go west one-half mile, turn north on XL Avenue and go three-quarters of a mile. Natural Resource and Soil Conservation Service staff will discuss the 20 acres at the farm that is enrolled in the farmable wetland program. FALL FIELD DAYS Neely-Kinyon Research and Demonstration Farm* Aug. 5, 4 p.m. The farm is located 2 miles south of Greenfield on Highway 25, 1 mile east and a half mile north. Organic topics will be discussed. Northwest Research and Demonstration Farm Aug. 25, 9 a.m. The Doon farm is located 2.5 miles east and 1 mile north of Doon. The 50th anniversary celebration of the farm continues. Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm Date and time to be announced. Call: (515) 294-5045. Crawfordsville Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm Sept. 9, 1:30 p.m. Nashua Armstrong Research and Demonstration Farm* Sept. 30, 9:30 a.m. The farm is located 11 miles southwest of Atlantic on Highway 6, one-half mile south on M53 and three-quarters of a mile east. Demonstration Garden Field Days Free to the public. Farm locations are listed under the farm. The demonstration home gardens are very popular with Iowans. This year the gardens feature four vegetables: potatoes, sweet corn, cucumber and beets. A focal point will be the use of plants to attract birds. A centerpiece of each bird garden will be an original bird bath. Field days also allow master gardeners to volunteer and obtain continuing education credit. The schedule: McNay*, Chariton—July 15, 6:30 p.m. Muscatine Island, Fruitland—July 23, 6:30 p.m. Armstrong*, Lewis—July 26, 6:30 p.m. Hort Station, Gilbert—July 27, 6:30 p.m. Southeast, Crawfordsville—July 28, 6:30 p.m. Allee*, Newell—Aug. 4, 6:30 p.m. Northwest, Sutherland—Aug. 5, 6:30 p.m. Northern, Kanawha—Aug. 6, 6:30 p.m. Northeast, Nashua—Aug. 7, 4 p.m. Northwest, Doon—Aug. 10, 6:30 p.m.
Iowa State University Research Farm Field Days Begin June 17
May 25, 2004