Extension and Ag Research News

Accessibility


NDSU Extension Educational Programs, Displays and Demonstrations Set for Big Iron

The field demonstrations will highlight one-pass air seeder demonstrations.

The North Dakota State University Extension Service, University of Minnesota Extension and the NDSU Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department will have educational programs at the Big Iron Farm Show in West Fargo on Sept. 14-16.

NDSU will have displays on current energy development in North Dakota; energy efficiency programs; the Environmental Protection Agency’s Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) program related to farmers and grain dryer energy efficiency. There also will be air seeder field demonstrations the afternoons of Sept. 14 and 15.

The field demonstrations will highlight one-pass air seeder demonstrations. One-pass air seeders are capable of placing seeds and some fertilizer together in the soil while placing most of the nitrogen fertilizer in a separate zone. The demonstrations are scheduled from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Seven companies are planning to demonstrate air seeders.

“Increasingly, farmers in the central Plains and Midwest are reducing their field operations in growing crops,” says John Nowatzki, agricultural machine systems specialist with the NDSU Extension Service. “One-pass air seeders allow farmers to eliminate tillage for seedbed preparation. This saves time, fuel and wear on equipment. Reduced tillage tends to minimize both soil erosion potential and carbon loss.”

The field demonstrations will be conducted in wheat stubble in the field directly south of the Red River Valley Fairgrounds racetrack. The demonstration will begin with a 20-minute introductory session on the importance of seed and fertilizer placement for plant growth and development. Prior to each air seeder demonstration, company representatives will describe the features of their machine. More information about the air seeder demonstration is available at http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/agmachinery/conservationtillage.

The Farm and Ranch Guide newspaper is co-sponsoring the air seeder demonstration and will provide additional information in its Aug. 28 edition. The newspaper also will archive video recordings of the educational presentations and field demonstrations on its website.

The NDSU Extension Service display of current energy development in North Dakota will feature a 5- by 8-foot map of North Dakota showing wind, oil, coal and biofuel energy sites using aerial imagery.

Carl Pedersen, NDSU Extension energy educator, will have an energy bike available for show attendees to use. The energy bike is a way to show how much energy different types of light bulbs and appliances actually use. People can use the energy bike to compare the energy required to light a series of different types of light bulbs such as LED, CFL and incandescent bulbs. The light bulbs are connected to a generator on the bicycle.

Roxanne Johnson, NDSU Extension water quality associate, will display information and answer questions related to the EPA’s SPCC program. This program may require farmers who store more than 1,320 gallons of oil products above ground or 42,000 gallons in buried tanks to comply with SPCC regulations. Johnson will answer questions about who will be subject to SPCC regulations and how to comply with the regulations.

Ken Hellevang, NDSU Extension agricultural engineer, will present information on the energy efficiency of various types of grain dryers, how to reduce drying costs and recommended grain storage practices.

Other NDSU and University of Minnesota specialists and educators also will be available at the Extension Service display to answer questions.


NDSU Agriculture Communication

Source:John Nowatzki, (701) 231-8213, john.nowtzki@ndsu.edu
Editor:Rich Mattern, (701) 231-6136, richard.mattern@ndsu.edu
Creative Commons License
Feel free to use and share this content, but please do so under the conditions of our Creative Commons license and our Rules for Use. Thanks.