MSU Field Day Set For June 30

Dr. Chengci Chen, superintendent at the MSU Eastern Agricultural Research Center in Sidney, is looking forward to his second field day at the location.

One large change is that the annual field day activities will take place on June 30. Traditionally, the field day has been held in the middle of July.

Chen explains the change came about so that the state advisory council for the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station could hold a meeting in Sidney on the same date.

Field day will begin with coffee and doughnuts along with registration at 9 a.m. in the MSU Eastern Agricultural Research Center's parking lot. Tours are scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m.

Lunch will take place in the Extension building's conference room.

Chen explains the first component of field day will cover cereals such as spring wheat, barley and durum wheat.

Dr. Luther Talbert will speak about spring wheat breeding and new varieties.

Liz Elmore of MSU's Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology will discuss barley breeding as well as new varieties.

Duane Peters, agriculture manager at Sidney Sugars, will provide a presentation regarding sugar beet varieties.

Chen and Reza Keshavarz will offer information about sugar beet tillage and cover a crop study.

In addition, Maninder Walia will review information about a sugar beet spent lime study. Another presentation will involve Yesuf Mohammed and Chen covering pulse crop breeding and variety testing.

Dr. Frankie Crutcher and Sherry Turner, both of the MSU-EARC, will give participants information regarding the plant pathology program at MSU-EARC and fungicide trials.

Richland County Extension agent Tim Fine will discuss herbicide resistant Marestail. "It's been found to be resistant to Roundup," Chen explained. "Tim Fine will explain how to control it."

Scientists from the ARS station in Sidney will present information about cropping systems and soil studies.

"We will really have a full day," Chen said.

He reminds farmers that private and commercial pesticide program credits are available by attending field day.