Local research updates to be provided at SDSU Northeast Research Farm Field Day

Northeast South Dakota has a cooler climate than other parts of the state, so farming may look a little different than other regions. Research conducted at the South Dakota State University Northeast Research Farm near South Shore is directly applicable to local farmers’ fields and operations, making its upcoming field day a must-attend for local producers.

“This field day provides producers and agriculture professionals with practical knowledge on various agronomy topics as they relate to the unique environment in northeast South Dakota,” said David Karki, manager of the Northeast Research Farm. “Topics covered will include variety selection, weed, disease and pest management and soil nutrient management.”

Everyone is invited to hear about the latest research at the farm on Thursday, July 9, from 4 p.m. to dusk at 15710 455th Ave., South Shore.

The Northeast Research Farm has a broad focus on small grains, although a wide variety of crops and agronomic practices are being tested on its 105 acres. Many multiyear projects take place at the farm, allowing researchers the opportunity to observe how crops respond to various management techniques over time.

During the field day, attendees will be taken on tours around the farm to see the research trials. Specific session topics include weed management and herbicide trial updates from SDSU Extension Weed Management Specialist Eric Jones, small grains varieties and economically important diseases and pests presented by Karki, SDSU oat breeder Melanie Caffe, SDSU Extension Plant Pathologist Madalyn Shires and SDSU Extension Entomologist Adam Varenhorst and agronomy and soils research updates from SDSU Extension Soils Field Specialist Anthony Bly and Peter Kovacs, an associate professor in the Department of Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science.

“The speakers will talk about specific research projects but also lead discussions about broader lessons learned,” Karki said. “We will get into strategies that are working in northeastern South Dakota and share information based on what is being seen by farmers in their fields this year.”

Continuing education credits will be available for certified crop advisers. The field day will commence with a meal and SDSU ice cream. All attendees will receive an Agricultural Experiment Station giveaway item and can enter to win a cooler backpack. While there is no cost to attend the field days, registration is highly recommended to get accurate counts for food and resource materials. Registration is available online.

The Northeast Research Farm is a South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station research station. This field day is one of seven hosted by the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences taking place across the state of South Dakota this summer. More information about future field days is available on the SDSU website.