Researchers will talk about the latest progress in breeding drought-tolerant corn for food, feed and silage at a corn field day on Aug. 7 at the Texas AgriLife Research North Plains Research Field at Etter.

The field day, sponsored by Texas AgriLife Research and the Texas Corn Producers Board, will begin with registration at 9:30 a.m., said Thomas Marek, research field superintendent and AgriLife Research irrigation engineer.

This field day is to show the progress of the AgriLife Research corn breeding program and the Southeast Regional Aflatoxin Testing program, said Dr. Wenwei Xu, AgriLife Research corn breeder in Lubbock.

The program begins with a walking field tour, where researchers from the Amarillo and Lubbock centers will speak on mite, insect and disease management; as well as aflatoxin and silage corn performance.

Seed company representatives also will be present to talk about the new commercial corn hybrids.

Lunch will be sponsored by the North Plains Water District in Dumas. It will be followed by keynote presentations by Dr. David Warner, science fellow and team leader for Monsanto Company. He will discuss development and commercialization of transgenic drought-tolerant corn hybrids.

Other lunchtime speakers will address updates on the new farm bill, local water district conservation policy and the Ogallala Aquifer Initiative.

Additionally, participants interested in research details will have the opportunity to tour other corn, bioenergy crops and forage grass plots from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Marek said.

Continuing education units for pesticide applicators and certified crop advisors have been applied for and will be given at the field day, he said.

For more information, contact Marek at 806-677-5600 or by e-mail at [email protected], or Xu at 806-746-6101 or [email protected].