Last week was a busy one for us here at the CREC. Those who attended know that we held our Annual Field Day on July 17^th. We also had follow up field events the rest of the week which made time fly past. We always enjoy having visitors (even during our busy seasons) and welcome you to call (701.652.2951) or stop by the office anytime to schedule a tour. Following are a few highlights from our 2018 Annual Field Day.

The agronomy tours had an excellent turnout to go along with a great lineup of speakers and topics. Guests got to hear the latest information about remote sensing, protein premiums, field pea and soybean marketing, cover crops, wheat variety development, legume disease management, corn growth and development, and more! All in attendance had something new to think about for their own operations. - Mike Ostlie

Participants of the 2018 CREC Annual Field Day agronomy tour learn about corn growth and development. 

Attendees of the fruit project tour enjoyed a beautiful day as they received information on growing aronia from Dave Vander Werf. Vander Werf and his wife grow and harvest 15 acres of aronia, which was planted in 2012, near Hawarden, IA.  In the afternoon, guests enjoyed a taste of aronia ice cream and frozen aronia berries while they listened to a discussion on aronia sales and marketing. About 55 people attended each session. – Kathy Wiederholt

Dave Vander Werf and guests standing near aronia shrubs at the 2018 CREC Annual Field Day fruit project tour.

Fifty-nine people attended organic tour this year. Ancient grains, einkorn, emmer, and spelt were featured with presentations covering topics from production research to current marketing trends. We also learned about current development related to organic field pea varieties that will be available to organic farmers in the near future. Current organic oat was also highlighted. Overall, the organic tour had a good representation from both the public and private sector educating the participants on topics related to organic research conducted at the CREC. – Steve Zwinger

Organic emmer was a focus area for the 2018 CREC Annual Field Day organic tour.

The livestock production tour featured a variety of presentations from CREC, Extension and other main campus guests. Presentations covered topics including beef quality assurance, feedlot management, and reproductive management in beef cows. Demonstrations highlighted turning manure compost and ultrasound of beef cows for pregnancy determination. Approximately 40 people joined the livestock tour this year. - Bryan Neville

Folks gathering on the wagon heading to the livestock production tour during the 2018 CREC Annual Field Day.

As always, be sure to send us tour stop suggestions for next year!

Mary Berg
Mary.Berg@ndsu.edu
Extension Specialist/Livestock Environmental Management