NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665

June 24, 1999

[EDITORS: NDSU President Joseph Chapman will attend the NDSU Dickinson Research Extension Center field day and will be available for media interviews. More information at the end of this news release.]

NDSU Dickinson Field Day to Feature Agronomy, Ranch and Horticulture Tours

New technology, research and plant varieties will be highlighted in agronomy, ranch and horticulture tours during a field day Wednesday, July 7, at the North Dakota State University Dickinson Research Extension Center.

A self-guided tour of the plantings and trials on the grounds will open the day at 7 a.m. (All times MDT.) A guided tour will be available at 8 a.m. An agronomy tour featuring small grain varieties will begin at 8:30 a.m. A second agronomy tour featuring cropping systems begins at 1 p.m. A horticulture tour will begin at 3:30 p.m. Most livestock events will be featured at the center's ranch near Manning. Vans leave from the center in Dickinson at 8:30 a.m for a 9 a.m. tour at the ranch. A 5 p.m. supper at the center in Dickinson will close the day.

The center is located on the northwest corner of State Avenue and Empire Road in Dickinson. From Interstate 94, take exit 61 and turn right on 12th St. W. Follow 12th to State Ave. turn left, go two blocks to Empire Road. Turn right on Empire Road and the first left is the Dickinson Research Extension Center. The center's ranch is located 22 miles north of Dickinson on Highway 22. Watch for the sign that indicates the correct turn-off.

Ranch Tour

The ranch tour begins at 9 a.m. and will feature a discussion of grazing management techniques and studies by NDSU range management specialist Lee Manske. Doug Landblom, a research technician at the center, will review research that shows how relatively inexpensive hoop structures can provide cost-effective housing for some swine production systems in North Dakota.

A review of horse management issues will be led by Toby Stroh, an associate professor of agriculture at Dickinson State University. NDSU's new Beef Quality Assurance program will be outlined by Lisa Lee, an NDSU Extension associate who is leading the program. And David Dockter, president of the North Dakota Beef Cattle Improvement Association, will discuss how the Cow Herd Appraisal Performance System (CHAPS 2000) can help beef producers keep better records to make more informed management decisions.

Agronomy Tours

NDSU Extension agricultural engineer Vern Hofman will open the small grain varieties tour at 8:30 a.m. with a review of applications for various spray nozzles and a discussion of how to reduce the potential for spray drift. NDSU crop breeders will discuss their efforts to improve small grains, including trials at the Dickinson center. The tour will feature barley breeders Jerry Franckowiak and Richard Horsley, oat breeder Mike McMullen, durum breeder Elias Elias, hard red spring wheat breeder Richard Frohberg and Extension agronomist Mike Peel presenting on hard red winter wheat.

The afternoon cropping systems tour will open at 1 p.m. with a discussion of how to manage water and nutrients efficiently by increasing cropping intensity by Don Tanaka, a soil scientist with the USDA's Agricultural Research Service in Mandan. NDSU Extension crop protection specialist Jan Knodel will review options for managing insects with and in diverse rotations. NDSU weed scientist Brian Jenks will talk about options for weed control in those rotations. Finally, NDSU Extension livestock specialist Chip Poland will talk about integrating crops and livestock to enhance crop profitability.

Horticulture Tour

NDSU Extension rangeland management specialist Lee Manske will open the horticulture tour at 3:30 p.m. with a review of how ornamental grasses can be used as landscape accent plantings. NDSU Extension horticulturist Ron Smith will discuss gardens and vines. NDSU research specialist Barb Laschkewitsch will show how annual flowers are evaluated. Dickinson city forester Craig Armstrong will discuss xeriscape plant trials and how plants in the trials can be used in landscaping that mimics natural environment and limits needs for water and other inputs. Finally, John Dockter of the North Dakota Game and Fish Department will discuss Project OWLS (Outdoor Wildlife Learning Site), an effort designed to promote hands-on learning about wildlife and habitat. The Dickinson Research Extension Center is an official OWLS location.

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Note to editors: Joseph Chapman took office as NDSU's 13th president on June 2. He also will be attending field days in Carrington, Hettinger, Williston, Minot, Oakes and Sidney, Mont. "I want to get to know the people of this region. I want to learn their aspirations and what their concerns are. It's critically important to meet the people," he says. Prior to becoming president of North Dakota State University, Chapman served as senior vice president and provost at Montana State University, Bozeman. In addition to administrative duties, Chapman served as a professor of biology. Before joining Montana State in 1996, he was dean of the College of Natural Resources at Utah State University. From 1969 to 1983, he worked at the University of Maryland, College Park, rising to head the Appalachian Environmental Laboratory. Joseph and Gale Chapman have two daughters, Valerie, 14 , and Jennifer, 11.

For more information on Chapman's visit to Dickinson or to make advance arrangements for an interview, contact David Wahlberg at (701) 231-8325.

Source: Kris Ringwall (701) 227-2348

Editor: Tom Jirik (701) 231-9629