View Latest Crop and Pest Research at South Central Ag Lab Aug. 29 | CropWatch

Each year more than 100 research trials are conducted at the South Central Agriculture Laboratory near Harvard. The Aug. 29 SCAL Field Day invites the public to view and learn about the most recent research from UNL and USDA scientists.

Tour multiple field research trials in six key areas Wednesday, Aug. 29 at the South Central Agricultural Laboratory Field Day. The event will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 842 Road 313, Clay Center.

Each year more than 100 applied field research trials are conducted at SCAL by University of Nebraska-Lincoln faculty and USDA Agricultural Research Service scientists. Trials are focused on irrigation and water management, soil fertility, entomology, weed science, cropping systems, and disease management.

The day will begin with registration at 8:30 a.m., followed by tours of research sites through 4 p.m. Keynote speaker for the lunch is Mike Boehm, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Harlan Vice Chancellor for the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources and University of Nebraska vice president for Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Participants will be able to choose from four of the following six tours during the day. View program brochure for schedule.

Cropping Systems

— From cover crops to corn ear issues
Roger Elmore, Nebraska Extension cropping systems agronomist; Katja Koehler-Cole, UNL agronomy post-doctoral research associate; Justin McMechan, Nebraska Extension crop protection and cropping systems specialist; and Osler OrtezAmador, UNL Ph.D. graduate student

Insect Management

— European corn borer, Corn rootworm, and Western bean cutworm
Robert Wright, Nebraska Extension entomologist

Water Management

— Fundamentals of variable rate irrigation and fertigation in comparison to fixed rate irrigation and conventional fertilizer management (morning)
— Impact of cover crops on soil quality (afternoon)
Suat Irmak, Harold W. Eberhard Distinguished Professor of Biological Systems Engineering

From Inhibitors to Sensors

— Nitrogen fertilizer management in irrigated corn
Leonardo M. Bastos, UNL Ph.D. candidate in soil fertility/precision ag; Brian Krienke, Nebraska Extension soils educator; and Joe Luck, Nebraska Extension precision ag specialist

Tamra Jackson-Ziems presenting on corn fungicide research trials at the South Central Ag Lab field day. — Figure 2. Nebraska Extension Plant Pathologist Tamra Jackson-Ziems discusses yield effects of different timings of fungicide applications in corn at a previous SCAL field day.

Nebraska Extension Water Management Engineer Suat Irmak discusses research to provide more efficiency water use in crop production. — Figure 3. Suat Irmak, Nebraska Extension water resources engineer, discusses research to improve water use efficiencies in crop production.

Disease Management

— Corn and soybean disease updates
Tamra Jackson-Ziems, Nebraska Extension plant pathologist

Weed Management

— Opportunities and challenges for weed control in soybean
     — Herbicide-resistant weeds in Nebraska
     — Herbicide programs for glyphosate-resistant weed control in soybean
     — Multiple herbicide-resistant soybean: Weed control and crop safety
Amit Jhala, Nebraska Extension weed management specialist

Registration and Directions

Continuing Education Units have been applied for and are pending.

The South Central Agricultural Laboratory Research Farm is located at 851 Hwy 6 near Harvard.
Directions: 13 miles east of Hastings on Hwy 6 or 4.5 miles west of the intersection of Hwy 14 and Hwy 6. north of Clay Center

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