Iowa State Horticulture Station Hosts Specialty Field Days

The Iowa State University Horticulture Station will host turfgrass, aquaculture and demonstration garden field days July 12 through Aug. 10 at the Horticulture Station 1.5 miles east of Gilbert. On July 12, the Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association will conduct its summer field day at the Dick DeMoss Pumpkin Farm, west of Gilbert, and the ISU Horticulture Station. The field day will start at 1:30 p.m. at the DeMoss Farm and will continue at the Horticulture Station. Topics will include a discussion of producing and managing pests on apples, grapes and vegetables. (Contact: Mark Honeyman, ISU Research and Demonstration Farms) The Turfgrass Field Day at 9 a.m. July 22 is open to the public and people with a commercial interest in turfgrass management. The field day will feature a trade show and pesticide applicator recertification. More information for the Turfgrass Field Day can be found at: www.iowaturfgrass.org. (Contact: Jeff Wendel, Iowa Turfgrass Office) The recently completed ISU Aquatic Research Facility will be the focus of the Aquaculture Field Day at 6:30 p.m. July 23. The facility is composed of six ponds and a wetland sediment removal system. Designed for research and demonstration, the Aquatic Research Facility is one of the most northern locations for an aquatic facility of its kind. (Contact: Joe Morris, Natural Resource and Ecology Management) The demonstration home garden field day at 6:30 p.m. July 27 will feature the theme, "A Garden for the Birds," and showcase various plants to attract birds. Several new varieties of sweet corn, potatoes, beets and cucumbers will be available to sample. (Contact: Cynthia Haynes, Horticulture) More information, including specific dates and times can be found at the Research and Demonstrations Farm Web site: https://farms.cals.iastate.edu/research-farms-field-days-and-meetings.