Agricultural Research to take center stage during Field Day

Topics from asparagus and barley to pollinators and space crops will be discussed during Greenville Irrigated Farm Field Day, July 13 at the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station’s Greenville Research Farm, 800 E. 1800 N., North Logan.

The event is free beginning at 8:30 a.m. and concludes with lunch at 12:30 p.m. Parking is available at the Agricultural Systems and Technology Education building, 1490 N. 800 E.

The event will start with demonstrations by the staff of USDA’s Western Regional Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (WSARE), which is based at Utah State University. The staff will use remote sensing data to understand and manage soil, organic matter and carbon cycling.

Other topics to be covered by faculty and graduate student researchers in the department of plants, soils and biometeorology include irrigation and harvest effects on asparagus growth, weed control options in pumpkin and alfalfa performance trials.

Updates on new variety developments of spring barley, irrigated winter barley and wheat yields and crops being specially developed for growing aboard spacecraft, will also be covered.

Alfalfa is an important crop in Utah, but it doesn’t grow without the help of pollinating insects. The effects of alfalfa leaf-cutting bees on successful seed set and bee reproduction will be discussed by a research entomologist from the USDA’s Bee Biology and Systematics Laboratory.

Information from Utah State’s ongoing pasture research project, which brings together experts in plants, soils, weeds, irrigation and animal science, will also be discussed.

Greenville Farm Field Day is sponsored by Utah State University Extension, the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station, the department of plants, soils and biometeorology, and WSARE. For more information, contact Tom Griggs at (435) 797-2259.

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