Tri-State Neighbor: South Dakota Farm Newspaper

SDSU Brookings plant science farm tour set for June 30

BROOKINGS, S.D. ? Producers are invited to an informative tour of the South Dakota State University Brookings plant science farm June 30.

The tour includes a variety of speakers and will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. at the farm, located off U.S. Highway 14 bypass north of Brookings, S.D.

Information tours continue throughout the session, and they include:

? New herbicide products, weed control programs in conventional and herbicide tolerant crops; the impacts of herbicide timing, volunteer corn in corn and soybean, products for wild oat and foxtail control in small grains, and Canada thistle control in grasslands by Mike Moechnig, SDSU Extension weeds specialist, and Darrell Deneke, SDSU Extension integrated pest management coordinator;

? Chemical residues by Graig Reicks, SDSU precision farming research associate;

? Zinc for corn and soybeans by Anthony Bly, SDSU agronomy research associate;

? Fertilizer and seed placement by Ron Gelderman, manager of the SDSU Soils Test Laboratory;

? Small grain diseases and management options by Larry Osborne, SDSU Extension plant pathologist;

? New small grain varieties and superior performing varieties by Bob Hall, SDSU Extension crops specialist;

? Soybean insects by Kelley Tilmon, SDSU entomology assistant professor;

? Phytopthora root and stem rot in soybeans by Tom Chase, SDSU plant pathology professor;

? Soybean yield response to planting rates by Bob Hall;

? Basics of energy production from plant biomass by Kurt Reitsma, SDSU biofuels research coordinator;

? Prairie cordgrass and switchgrass as biomass crops for ethanol production in South Dakota by Jose Gonzalez, seed molecular biology professor;

? Energy efficiency of South Dakota corn and ethanol production, by Gregg Carlson, SDSU soil science professor;

? Potential for harvesting corn stover for ethanol production in South Dakota by David Clay, director of the SDSU Drought Tolerance Center.

The SDSU plant science Extension group will offer a meal after the tours conclude. Call Bob Hall, (605) 688-4760, for more information.

Northeast Research Farm tour set for July 2

BROOKINGS, S.D. ? The July 2 summer tour at the Northeast Research Farm covers topics from herbicides to marketing and the new farm program.

The tour begins at 4 p.m. at the farm, located two miles west of the South Shore exit of Interstate 29.

Lon Hall, the supervisor of the research farm, said the presentations include a look at efficient use of fertilizer in wet conditions and many other timely topics.

?From trees to small-grain breeding, the tour offers a lot of information, especially in these dynamic agricultural times,? said Hall, who also serves as an SDSU oats breeder. ?We will have entomology, pathology, and diagnostic information, along with a look at marketing and the new farm program.?

Topics and speakers during the tour include herbicide studies by Mike Moechnig, SDSU Extension weed specialist, and Darrell Deneke, SDSU Extension integrated pest management coordinator. Mike Catangui, SDSU Extension entomologist, will speak on corn, soybean and alfalfa insect threats, and Larry Osborne, SDSU Extension plant pathologist, will address wheat diseases.

Brad Ruden, interim manager of the SDSU Plant Diagnostic Clinic, will explain how to get a strong diagnosis, and Bob Hall, SDSU Extension crops specialist, will recommend small grain varieties. Chuck Langner, SDSU Extension agronomy educator, will explain field pea production and usage. Ron Gelderman, manager of the SDSU Soils Testing Laboratory, and Anthony Bly, SDSU plant science research associate, will discuss efficient fertilizer use in a wet year.

Al May, SDSU Extension grain marketing specialist, and Steve Minor, Brookings County Farm Security Administration supervisor, will explain marketing grains and the new farm program. John Ball, SDSU Extension forestry specialist, will host a tree management session. In addition, Karl Glover, SDSU spring wheat breeder, and Lon Hall, SDSU oats breeder, will share information on small grain breeding.

Crop Improvement Associations from counties in the area, along with Dow Agrosciences, 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.