Farmers, ranchers, crop advisors, horticulturists and others will have the opportunity to see cutting-edge agricultural research come to life through a variety of tours and demonstrations at the North Dakota State University Carrington Research Extension Center Field Day on July 14 near Carrington, North Dakota.

The center's 67th annual field day begins at 9 a.m. CDT with registration, coffee and a welcome. At 9:30, attendees can choose from four concurrent tour options. Lunch will be provided at noon, before the afternoon tour begins around 1:30 p.m.

The field day will also celebrate the 100th anniversary of the release of Ceres, NDSU’s first hard red spring wheat variety.

The center is also celebrating the opening of the Smart Feed Facility by showcasing the building, equipment and the first research project being completed with the new system.

“This year’s event is busier than ever, with a great lineup of experts across all walks of agriculture and celebrating many milestones, as well as the presentation of our Partnership Award,” says Mike Ostlie, director of the Carrington Research Extension Center. “There is something for everyone in ag at our 2026 Field Day.”

Tours include agronomy, beef production, organic and sustainable agriculture, and horticulture.

Agronomy production

NDSU Extension agronomists and specialists will highlight weed control, plant breeding and agriculture technology on the agronomy tour.

Topics and speakers for the agronomy tours are the following:

• Canola and pulse crops weed control – Brian Jenks, weed scientist at NDSU’s North Central Research Extension Center
• Soybean weed control – Jeff Stachler, NDSU Extension cropping systems specialist at the Carrington Research Extension Center
• NDSU dry bean breeding program – Juan Osorno, professor in NDSU’s Department of Plant Sciences
• Lupin commercialization – Kristin Simons, research agronomist at the Carrington Research Extension Center
• Soybean updates – Ana Carcedo, NDSU Extension broadleaf crops agronomist in NDSU’s Department of Plant Sciences
• Current and fall crop marketing – Frayne Olson, crops economist and professor in NDSU’s Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics
• NDSU hard red spring wheat breeding program – Andrew Green, associate professor in NDSU’s Department of Plant Sciences
• Field pea root rot summary after 13 years – Michael Wunsch, research plant pathologist at the Carrington Research Extension Center

Afternoon emerging technologies tour

• Building an ag innovation ecosystem in North Dakota – Andrew Jason, ecosystems director at Grand Farm
• Spray drone demonstration and research – Rupak Karn, NDSU Extension precision agriculture specialist at the Carrington Research Extension Center
• Plasma activated water from a Green Lightning system – Szilvia Yuja, soils research specialist at the Carrington Research Extension Center, and Thomas Miorini, agronomist at NDSU’s Oakes Irrigation Research Site

Beef production

Veterinarians, specialists and researchers will share emerging topics on the beef production tour.

Topics and speakers for the beef production tour are the following:

• Smart Feed Facility inauguration – Mike Ostlie, director of the Carrington Research Extension Center
• New World screwworm (NWS) update – Dr. Ethan Andress, state veterinarian at the North Dakota Department of Agriculture
• Exploring the life cycle of a fly – Patrick Beauzay, research specialist in NDSU’s Department of Plant Pathology, Microbiology and Biotechnology
• Fly control in a cow herd – Dr. Jake Galbreath, NDSU Extension veterinarian
• Research report: Proteins for cattle – Pauliane Pucetti, post-doctoral research fellow in NDSU’s Department of Animal Sciences
• Abortions in North Dakota cow herds – Dr. Quynn Steichen, veterinary anatomic pathologist in NDSU’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
• Drought monitor and the North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network (NDAWN) – Daryl Ritchison, state climatologist and director of NDAWN

Organic/sustainable agriculture

The organic/sustainable agriculture tour will provide growers, agricultural professionals, researchers and industry representatives with practical information on enhancing the sustainability and profitability of organic grain production systems.

Topics and speakers for the organic/sustainable agriculture production program are the following:

• Introduction and program overview – Qasim Khan, organic cropping systems agronomist at the Carrington Research Extension Center
• Organic research at NDSU – Khan
• Cover crops for soil health and pest management – Alexis Correira, conservation agronomist at NDSU’s Dickinson Research Extension Center
• Disease management across cropping systems – Sam Markell, NDSU Extension plant pathologist and professor in NDSU’s Department of Plant Pathology
• Biofumigation with brassica cover crops for management of soil-borne diseases in dry bean production – Sergio Cabello Leiva, director of research at the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council
• Precision agriculture for sustainable and organic crop production – Karn
• Weed management in organic cropping systems – Stachler
• Using Brix levels for grasshopper management – Glen Philbrick, Hiddendale Farm
• Organic production support network – Representatives from NDSU Research and Extension, the Northern Plains Sustainable Agriculture Society, the Foundation for Agricultural and Rural Resource Management and Sustainability, and other agricultural organizations

Horticulture

Participants can learn about natural ways to manage pests and disease and view variety trials and unique cold-hardy fruits. The tour will provide opportunities to interact with researchers, Extension specialists, and other farmers and gardeners.

Topics and speakers for the horticulture tour are the following:

• Introducing two new NDSU grape varieties – Harlene Hatterman-Valenti, professor in NDSU’s Department of Plant Sciences
• Beneficial predatory insects – Janet Knodel, NDSU Extension entomologist and professor in NDSU’s School of Natural Resource Sciences
• Using the NDSU Plant Diagnostic Lab – Suzette Arcibal Baldwin, NDSU Extension specialist and plant diagnostician at NDSU’s Department of Plant Pathology, Microbiology and Biotechnology
• Intercropping tomatoes and alliums research – Sidra Saleem, graduate student in NDSU’s Department of Plant Sciences
• How to be part of real variety trials – Tom Kalb, NDSU Extension horticulturist
• Tour the CREC orchard and fruit tasting – Elizabeth Krause, fruit project manager at the Carrington Research Extension Center

For more information, visit ndsu.ag/CRECfieldday26.

The Carrington Research Extension Center is 3.5 miles north of Carrington on U.S. Highway 281.

NDSU Agriculture Communication – June 25, 2026

Source: Myrna Friedt, 701-652-2951, myrna.friedt@ndsu.edu

Editor: Dominic Erickson, 701-231-5546, dominic.erickson@ndsu.edu