July 3, 2003

 

NDSU Field Day in Minot to Extend Appreciation to the Military on July 16

North Dakota State University’s North Central Research Extension Center near Minot will express the agricultural industry’s appreciation to the members of the Minot Air Force Base during its Field Day Wednesday, July 16. Ag Neighbors Day will focus on the production and uses of commonly grown crops in North Dakota.

Along with the traditional audience of area producers and researchers, military personnel and area business people are invited to attend the morning tour, along with state, local and NDSU dignitaries.

The morning tour begins at 9 a.m. The tour will conclude with a picnic lunch for the participants at noon. A demonstration of GPS/GIS equipment and applications for agriculture will be provided by an NDSU Extension agriculture engineer. The afternoon tour will begin at 1p.m. Exhibits, displays and a weed identification clinic will also be available for viewing. The North Central Research Extension Center is located one mile south of Minot on U.S. Highway 83. For more information, contact the center at (701)857-7679.

"The North Central Research Extension Center and the Minot Area Chamber of Commerce’s Agriculture Committee have two purposes in sponsoring this special tour in conjunction with the traditional field day," said Jay Fisher, center director. "First, we want to express the gratitude of the agricultural community for the sacrifices and dedication given by the members of the military during the recent Middle east conflicts. Secondly, we hope to give them and area business people a better understanding of the major economic generator in this region. Since military families also constitute a large economic stimulus locally, we hope to help them understand some of the agriculture environment which surrounds their military life."

The morning tour will include discussions on barley, durum and spring wheat, flax, lentils and peas, sunflowers and canola, crops that are processed into foodstuffs and industrial products used worldwide. The center conducts research on those crops to assist area producers’ profitability by enhancing productivity, efficiency and environmental stewardship, Fisher says.

"Although we are honoring the military at this event, our work is geared to our producers," said Fisher. "The morning and afternoon tours are geared for their benefit, so we encourage their participation as always, but also to join with us in thanking our military neighbors."

The afternoon tour will focus on the research being conducted at the center. Stops will include split foliar nitrogen applications and micronutrients, small grain disease updates, corn production, weed control and varietal comparisons of spring wheat, durum, white wheat, barley, corn, oats and flax. Stefan Jaronski, an insect pathologist with USDA at Sidney, MT, will discuss grasshopper outbreaks and a grasshopper prevention-intervention-suppression system.

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Source: Jay Fisher, (701)857-7679, jfisher@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231-9629, tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu