North Dakota State University’s Research Extension Centers and the Agronomy Seed Farm once again will hold in-person field days this year.

Field days give producers and others an opportunity to learn about the latest research, techniques and technologies in crop and livestock production, as well as other topics, such as northern-hardy fruits and berries, and weed, pest and disease control.

The dates, locations, topics for this year’s field days and contacts for more information are:

July 13 - Hettinger Research Extension Center, 5-7 p.m. Mountain time, followed by supper

Topics:

• weed issues
• weed control research
• small-grain diseases and spring wheat fungicide trial
• spring wheat, durum and barley varieties
• hemp and other emerging markets

Contact: John Rickertsen, 701-567-4323, john.rickertsen@ndsu.edu

July 14 - Dickinson Research Extension Center, 8 a.m. Mountain time

Topics:

• agronomy and soil projects at the center and soil pH overview
• current and emerging markets
• soil sampling workshop
• weather, soil and disease
• combine cleanout, weeds and factors impacting weed control
• resistance and issues of concern in broadleaf crops
• impacts of season and weather on soil sampling decisions
• biological benchmark testing
• North Dakota soil trends and value of zone testing
• soil sampling for stratified acidity
• a pH probe exercise

Contact: Ryan Buetow, 701-456-1100, ryan.buetow@ndsu.edu

July 14-15 - Williston Research Extension Center

July 14 - dryland tour, 3-7 p.m.

Topics:

• root rot in peas
• weeds, soils, livestock
• demonstration on how drones can be used in variety selection
• soybean research update and soybean varieties
• a concurrent horticulture program
• a ribbon cutting ceremony for the seed cleaning facility at 6 p.m., with dinner at 7

Topics:

• irrigated canola production management
• soybean planting
• irrigated soybean varieties
• determination of optimum irrigation amount and timing for enhanced soybean yield, quality, water productivity and soil health in semiarid western North Dakota
• irrigated cover crop mixes
• foundation seed increase

Contact: Violeta Hobbs, 701-774-4315, violeta.hobbs@ndsu.edu

July 19 - Agronomy Seed Farm Casselton, 5 p.m.

Topics:

• soybean varieties and a soybean research update
• soil loss, new soybean fertility recommendations and salinity
• update on current small-grain disease issues
• updates on current disease issues in broadleaf crops and soybean cyst nematodes
• a project demonstrating the use of unmanned aircraft systems to plant cover crop seeds
• hard red spring wheat and insect pest updates
• soybean gall midge

Contact: Brian Otteson, 701-347-4743, brian.otteson@ndus.edu

July 20 - Carrington Research Extension Center, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Beef production tour, 9:30 a.m.

Topics:

• drought and dry lot
• whether to sell cows in a drought
• early weaning calves
• feeding alternative grains
• Dakota Feeder Calf Show update
• managing manure during drought
• feed regulations in North Dakota
• alternative and less expensive feeds for cattle
• annual forages for grazing or feeding a cow herd
• keys to establishing grass on saline soils

Contact: Karl Hoppe, 701-652-2951, karl.hoppe@ndsu.edu

Agronomy tours 9:30 a.m. to noon and 1:15 to 3:30 p.m.

Topics:

• spring wheat production
• corn status and late-season production recommendations
• updates on soybeans, dry beans, canola and flax
• research on canola plant nutrition, dry bean production and fungicide spray droplet size for white mold suppression
• research on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV); demonstrations of pesticide application with UAV and robotic rock picking
• noxious weed update
• low pH soil management
• dry bean white mold disease and pulse crop disease management

Contact: Greg Endres, 701-652-2951, gregory.endres@ndsu.edu

Organic/sustainable agriculture tour, 9:30 a.m. to noon; topics:

• NDSU pulse breeding and organic research
• nitrogen-fixing corn
• emmer, einkorn and spelt ancient grains
• evaluation of a determinate buckwheat
• weed management in organic production
• wheat/flax intercropping

Contact: Steve Zwinger, 701-652-2951, steve.zwinger@ndsu.edu

Northern hardy fruit review, 9:30 a.m. to noon; topics: orchard tour of aronia, Juneberry, currants, haskaps, honeyberry, grapes, cherries, plums, pears and apples

Contact: Kathy Wiederholt, 701-652-2951, kathy.wiederholt@ndsu.edu 

July 21 - North Central Research Extension Center, Minot, 8:30 a.m.-noon

Topics:

• pest clinic
• weed control
• pulse crops breeding
• acid soil management
• canola/flea beetle
• early season crop demo
• Terra Clean (drone rock picking) demo
• ribbon cutting/dedication ceremony for the center’s new seed conditioning facility, with lunch at noon

Contact: Shana Forster, 701-857-7679, shana.forster@ndsu.edu

July 22 - Langdon Research Extension Center, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

Topics:

• planting suitable covers on saline and sodic areas
• NDSU crop breeding reports on soybeans, hard red spring wheat and peas
• small-grain disease updates
• 2021 canola growing season report
• 2021 insect report on crops in northeastern North Dakota
• soybean and dry bean row spacing and population
• weed update for crops in northeastern North Dakota

Contact: Randy Mehlhoff, 701-256-2582, randall.mehlhoff@ndsu.edu

July 27 - Central Grasslands Research Extension Center, Streeter

Livestock, forages and cover crop tour 10 a.m. to noon

Topics:

• cereal forage, warm-season forage and corn silage varietal trials
• oat variety trial for hay
• cover crop and winter cereal grazing and haying study
• putting weight on cows by winter grazing crop residues for less than 15 cents per day
• enhancing forage production and grazing efficiency using rotational grazing
• fetal programming of beef cattle, with lunch at noon

Pollinator, monarch butterfly and bird research tour 1-3 p.m.; topics:

• impacts of patch burn grazing on pollinator habitat
• impacts of patch burn, rotational and continuous grazing on upland bird habitat
• impacts of patch burn, rotational and continuous grazing on rangeland plant communities invaded with Kentucky bluegrass
• assessing patch burn and rotational grazing on monarch butterfly recruitment and habitat
• impacts of patch burn grazing on forage quality and mineral status
• impacts of Kentucky bluegrass thatch layer on the plant community
• drought management and grazing management strategies to create drought resiliency

Contact: Kevin Sedivec, 701-799-4689, kevin.sedivec@ndsu.edu

NDSU Agriculture Communication - June 28, 2021

Source: Melissa Schwengler, 701-231-7656, melissa.schwengler@ndsu.edu

Editor: Ellen Crawford, 701-231-5391, ellen.crawford@ndsu.edu