SDSU Northeast Research Farm tour set for July 2
The July 2 summer tour at South Dakota State University's Northeast Research Farm covers topics from soybean aphids to cereal fungicides.
The tour begins at 4 p.m. at the farm, located 2 miles west of the South Shore exit of Interstate 29. Lon Hall, the supervisor of the research farm, said the tour includes many timely topics.
"We'll have small-grain breeding, new field pea and wheat varieties, the tour offers a lot of information," said Hall, who is also is an SDSU oats breeder. "We will have entomology, pathology, and diagnostic information."
Topics and speakers during the tour include weed control updates by Mike Moechnig, South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service weed specialist.
Mike Catangui, South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service entomologist, will speak on increasing soybean yield through spraying for aphids.
SDSU wheat breeders Bill Berzonsky and Karl Glover will address the current status of winter and spring wheat varieties. SDSU entomologist Kelly Tilmon will present an update on soybean insects.
Ron Gelderman, SDSU plant scientist, will explain soil fertility issues, and Bob Hall, South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service crops specialist, will recommend small grain varieties including several new spring wheat varieties.
Chuck Langner, South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service agronomy educator, will demonstrate field pea varieties. Connie Tande, a diagnostician with the SDSU Plant Diagnostic Clinic, will operate an information booth for the clinic at the tour.
Al May, South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service grain marketing specialist, will discuss updates in marketing grains for 2009. Kay Ruden, SDSU research associate, will share information on cereal fungicides, and Northeast Research Farm supervisor and SDSU oat breeder Lon Hall will update attendees on oat breeding and production.
Crop Improvement Associations from counties in the area, along with Farm Credit Services, and the South Dakota Wheat Commission are sponsoring a meal after the tour.
The SDSU plant science department, the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences, the SDSU Agricultural Experiment Station, and the South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service are sponsoring the tour. Call Lon Hall, (605) 688-4758, for more information.