August 3, 2009
AMES, Iowa — The latest on soybean aphid research will be covered at a field day Aug. 27 at the Iowa State University Agricultural Engineering and Agronomy Research and Demonstration Farm west of Ames.
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. with refreshments. The program will run from 9 to 11:30 a.m., with lunch being served at the conclusion of the field day. There is no fee for attending.
The program will include:
* Roger Elmore, ISU Extension corn specialist, will discuss his research on corn planting dates and optimum plant populations, and provide updated corn-planting recommendations.
* Kevin Johnson, Iowa State graduate student in entomology, will discuss the effectiveness of aphid resistant soybean varieties, the initial results from a predatory wasp release and efforts to evaluate the economics of various aphid management systems.
* Matt Liebman, the Wallace Chair for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State and extension sustainable cropping systems specialist, will talk about his research involving the increased productivity of native prairie biomass for better profitability as a bio-energy feedstock.
* Antonio Mallarino, extension soil fertility specialist, will discuss his ongoing work involving potassium management, including needs of new corn hybrids, in addition to his work on corn and soybean response to lime application.
* Extension field agronomists John Holmes and Mark Wuebker will review the current season and comment on issues that farmers have encountered.
* A representative from QUALISOY will discuss planting specialty soybeans. The QUALISOY program is a national effort to help market the development and availability of healthier soybeans and soy oil.
The farm is located one mile south of U.S. Highway 30 on W Avenue, and one-half mile east on 240th Street.