May 17, 2013

Registrations are now being accepted for a June bus tour of sites featuring no-till crop production, diverse rotations, cover crops, and livestock grazing systems.

The June 24-27 Nebraska No-till Tour will visit several research facilities and farms in North Dakota and South Dakota, each offering a unique look at no-till farming, said Paul Jasa, UNL extension engineer and tour organizer.

The tour will leave from the Buffalo County Fairgrounds in Kearney at 1 p.m. on Monday, June 24. A pre-trip optional tour of Ward Laboratories in Kearney will be from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Stops will include:

• the Dakota Lakes Research Farm near Pierre, S.D.;
• Cronin Farms near Gettysburg, S.D.;
• Richter Farms, the Black Leg Ranch, the Seth Williams farm and the Menoken Farm near Bismarck, ND.; and
• the Rick Bieber Farm near Trail City, S.D.

In addition, seasoned no-till farmers, Jasa, and Ray Ward, owner of Ward Laboratories in Kearney, will be available on the bus for questions and discussion.

“Some of the best learning comes from the networking with other attendees on the bus,” Jasa said.

Registration

Registrations are due June 5 and will be limited to the first 50 who apply, with preference given to Nebraskans. The fee is $200 for Nebraska residents and producers, and $400 for non-Nebraskans and covers bus transportation, lodging, and some meals. There will be an extra charge of $150 for those requesting a single room. Complete details will be mailed to registrants.

To register, mail the registration form and a check made out to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to Paul Jasa, extension engineer, 202 L.W. Chase Hall, Box 830726, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebr., 68583-0726. Email/phone registrations and credit cards will not be accepted. No refund will be given for cancellations made after June 5.

The tour is sponsored by UNL Extension with support from a grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust.

Heather Haskins
IANR News