Discussions on new developments of seed traits and treatments for wheat and barley await attendees at the 2008 Virginia Small Grains Field Day. This year’s annual event will be held May 15, 2008 at the Eastern Virginia Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Warsaw, Va., and is hosted by the Virginia Grain Producers Association (VGPA) in cooperation with the Virginia Tech Cooperative Extension.

Last year’s event, held at Westover Plantation drew a large number of growers and agri-business personnel. Updates on wheat and barley production, pest management and fertility practices likely played a role in many growers increasing wheat acreage in the fall of 2007.

The 2008 event will feature on-farm presentations by well-known small grains breeder and Virginia Tech Professor Carl Griffey. In highlighting his small grain breeding, work Griffey will show and discuss field plots on new varieties of soft red winter wheat, durum wheat, bread wheat, hulled and hulless barley.

Virginia Tech Wheat Specialist Wade Thomason will discuss his work on planting dates for different maturity groups of wheat. Thomason has done a great deal of work on the effect of spring freezes on different varieties and will discuss the relationship of planting date and spring freeze damage.

Stromburg, who has worked extensively with take-all disease in wheat, will discuss the results of several seed treatment and foliar fungicide tests. Stromberg, along with other program participants will be available during the meeting to discuss production problems encountered or anticipated by growers.

The field day program will begin directly after field tours featuring representatives from Mennel Milling, Miller Milling, Osage Bio Energy, LLC and United States Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative.

Molly Pugh, executive director of the Virginia Grain Producers Association says, “As the grains industry continues to undergo unprecedented change it is more important than ever to see new technologies, new studies and other key issues coming down the pipeline. We anticipate record attendance at this year’s Small Grains Field Day with discussions, speakers, exhibits and more.”

The Small Grains Field Day will conclude with good food and fellowship. No registration is required and everyone is encouraged to bring along a fellow grower or agribusiness colleague.

For more information on sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities, contact Molly Pugh, VGPA executive director at 757-421-3038 or e-mail Rhondalee Dean Royce at [email protected].

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