July 31, 2009

Research into dryland, no-till sugarbeets, sunflowers, proso millet and sorghum will be discussed at the Summer Crops Field Day on Aug. 11 at the UNL High Plains Ag Lab near Sidney.

Also on the agenda are discussions of plans for grazing research at the ag lab, as well as the economics of crop rotations. Registration begins at 12:15 p.m. at the High Plains Ag Lab shop.

Before touring the plots, field day attendees will have a chance to compare the effects of rainfall on different soil surfaces (for example, high-residue vs. bare soil). Kathy Buttle of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service at Scottsbluff will demonstrate a rainfall simulator. Dr. Linda Boeckner, director of the Panhandle Research and Extension Center, also will provide an update.

Tour Stops and Speakers

• Dryland, No-till Roundup Ready Sugarbeets — Will they work? with John Smith, Machinery Systems Engineer, UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center
• Sunflower Variety Trials (Dipak Santra with Alternative Crops Breeding Specialist, Panhandle REC
• Future Research Grazing Plans for the High Plains Ag Lab with Karla Jenkins, Cow/Calf and Range Management Specialist, Panhandle REC
• Rotation Economics with Paul Burgener, Economics Coordinator, Panhandle REC
• Proso Breeding with Santra
• Sorghum Research with Drew Lyon, Dryland Cropping Systems Specialist, Panhandle REC

The field day will end by 3:40 p.m. and be followed by a meeting of the High Plains Ag Lab Advisory Board.

Location

To get to the High Plains Ag Lab office, take U.S. 385 to the Huntsman Elevator (6 miles north of Sidney or 7 miles south of Gurley), then drive about 2 miles west, then ½ mile north. The shop is about 1 mile east of the office.