Iowa State University Research and Demonstration Farms and ISU Extension and Outreach will highlight current research during the early summer field days which begin next week. Research and Demonstration Farm studies at the various research farm locations around Iowa is being conducted on crops and soil health, cover crops, water quality and drainage.

The research farms host these field days to give the public a chance to see research projects in progress and talk with researchers and Extension staff involved with the experiments, says Mark Honeyman, director of the ISU research and demonstration farm system.

Seven field days in June and July will highlight crops and soils research

* June 21 – McNay Memorial Research and Demonstration Farm (45249 170th Avenue, Chariton) from 12:45 to 4 p.m. or 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

* June 21 – Allee Demonstration Farm (2030 640th Street, Newell) - June 21 time TBD

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED: ISU research farm field days give farmers access to information and to the experts and specialists involved in crops and soils research and demonstration projects. “They can provide insight and answers to your questions,” says ISU’s Mark Honeyman.

* June 21 – Muscatine Island Research and Demonstration Farm (111 North Street, Fruitland) at 5:30 p.m.

* June 23 – Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm (3115 Louisa-Washington Road, Crawfordsville) - 1 p.m.

* June 23 – Northern Research and Demonstration Farm (310 S. Main Street, Kanawha) from 9 a.m. to 12 noon

* June 28 – Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm (3321 290th Street, Nashua) from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

* July 13 – Northwest Research and Demonstration Farm (6320 500th Street, Sutherland) starts at 10 a.m.

All field days are open to the public. No registration is required. Field days are held regardless of weather and many of the events serve a meal. A full schedule of 2016 field days is linked to the research farm website at farms.ag.iastate.edu/ .

All attendees should follow Iowa State livestock farm visitor policies

People who are visiting Iowa State farms, the farms that have livestock (McNay and Allee) are asked to take several precautions if they have been at another livestock operation. Those who have recently returned from a trip abroad are asked to wait five days before visiting the Iowa State farms that have animals.

Visitors to farms with livestock are asked to change clothing and footwear after being in any livestock operation, foreign or domestic; and to refrain from bringing any food items to the research farm. Contact the research farm in your area or the ISU Research and Demonstration Farm office 515-294-5045 for specific details on each event.

ISU Field Day at Southeast Iowa Research Farm is June 23

If you’ve never attended one of these field days, here’s an example of the good, timely, useful information you’ve been missing.

“Farmers and those who advise farmers about crops will want to attend the annual early summer field day for the ISU Southeast Iowa Research Farm near Crawfordsville on June 23 beginning at 1 p.m.,” says Meaghan Anderson, ISU Extension field agronomist in southeast Iowa. One of the features on the tour will be Antonio Mallarino’s presentation on “Soil Test Interpretations and Recommendations.” Mallarino is an ISU Extension soil fertility specialist.

Also highlighted on the tour will be “Making Cover Crop Decisions” by Stefan Gailans, research and field crops director for Practical Farmers of Iowa; “Foliar Fungicides for Corn and Soybean” by Daren Mueller, ISU Extension plant pathologist; an update on biomass production and research in Southeast Iowa by Emily Heaton, ISU Extension agronomist; and a review of the growing season by Myron Rees, farm superintendent.

Certified Crop Advisor continuing education credits will be available for the afternoon tour. Those wishing to obtain additional CCA credits can come at 9:00 a.m. for a morning training session with a focus on soil and water management.  The fee for the morning Certified Crop Advisors session is $50.00, which includes lunch.  The afternoon tours are free and open to the public. Register by June 20 for the morning CCA session and the noon lunch at isuext.typeform.com/to/OzkJYK or by calling the Johnson County Extension Office at 319-337-2145.

Mark your calendar to attend a Weeds Week event, July 18-22

Weeds Week, hosted by ISU Extension, will be held July 18-22. These one-day, educational programs are tailored to farmers, crop consultants and ag chemical retailers, and will focus on herbicide resistance and weed management plans. You can read about one Iowa farmer's experience from last year's program here at www.extension.iastate.edu  “Weeds Week 2016 Will Focus on Herbicide Resistance and Weed Management Plans”.

Weeds Week will take place at five locations across Iowa, and will be hosted by ISU area field agronomists. The ISU Extension specialists will present on topics that include: herbicide sites of action, developing long-term weed management plans, cultural and mechanical options in a diverse program, and field-specific management programs. If you are interested in attending this event, please preregister to help with meal planning. For more information click on News Release and then click on the registration link at the end of the release. You can also visit Twitter: #WeedsWeek16.