Building on more than 50 years of service to the agriculture industry, Delta Research Center will host its annual Field Day Sept. 2 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The center is one of 20 around the state at which the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources conducts impactful research benefitting Missourians.

This year’s field day will celebrate two milestones. It will be the fiftieth field day held at the center, and will mark the retirement of its long-serving supervisor, Thomas “Jake” Fisher.

During his tenure, Fisher helped the Delta Center mature from one greenhouse to a research complex helping Missouri’s billion-dollar soybean, wheat, cotton and rice industry be more productive. The center’s commitment to community service has made it and its field day a must-stop for governors, senators, industry leaders, farmers and children.

From improving yields with foliar applications to scouting for stink bugs, field day presentations will cover almost any issue a producer could encounter in southern Missouri. Five tours will showcase the latest research in cotton, soybeans, weed control, irrigation, soils and rice. After touring research plots and learning about the latest developments in agriculture, attendees can enjoy a free lunch starting at 11 a.m.

Earl Vories, MU professor of biological engineering, will discuss advanced technologies for variable rate irrigation. The technique can improve yields, efficiency and conserve water and other resources. “It doesn’t really make logical sense to variably apply everything else in the field and not variably apply water,” Vories said.

Attendees can also learn about wireless soil monitoring that provides up-to-the-minute data on soil moisture content, so producers can irrigate at the optimal time. “Missouri is becoming one of the leading states in wireless irrigation sensing,” MU irrigation scientist Joe Henggeler said.

For more information, contact the Delta Center at (573) 379-5431 or [email protected].   

The MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources is at the center of ensuring sustainability for future generations by infusing innovative research, creative collaboration and the most advanced science-based technology with confidence, creative thinking, conscience, and commitment to excellence.