Northwest Iowa Research Farm Field Day and Windbreak Workshop Is July 2

By Gentry Sorenson and Leah Ten Napel

The annual field day at Iowa State University’s Northwest Research and Demonstration Farm will be held Tuesday, July 2, beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the farm, 6320 500th St., Sutherland. An optional Windbreak Management Workshop will follow lunch at 1 p.m.

The field day will focus on challenges and opportunities in the crop markets, a recap of navigating nitrogen during the wet spring, soybean cyst nematode management tips and other timely agronomic topics.

“Farmers and agronomists can plan for a full day of learning at the research farm,” said Leah Ten Napel, field agronomist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. “We believe the day will provide a great deal of education and networking time for everyone in attendance.”

Registration opens at 9 a.m., with the program beginning at 9:30 a.m. with “Markets in 2024: Opportunities and Challenges,” led by Chad Hart, crop marketing specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach.

Following Hart, in-field learning will address:

• “Navigating Nitrogen,” led by Richard Roth, nitrogen specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach
• “Soybean Cyst Nematode Management,” led by Greg Tylka, Morrill Professor with Iowa State, and director of the Iowa Soybean Research Center
• “Timely Agronomic Topics for the 2024 Growing Season,” led by Gentry Sorenson and Leah Ten Napel, field agronomists with ISU Extension and Outreach

One NM, one IPM and two CM CCA credits will be available for the morning field day. At the completion of the morning field day, a complimentary noon lunch will be served.

Following lunch at 1 p.m., an optional windbreak management workshop will begin. The workshop will be led by DNR district forester Sarah Bell and O’Brien County district conservationist Andrew Koehlmoos. One and one-half CM CCA credits will be available for the afternoon workshop.

Attendance at the morning and/or afternoon field day is free and open to the public. Registration is not required.

Complimentary morning refreshments are sponsored by Security State Bank, with lunch sponsored by O’Brien County Ag Supply, J&K Insurance, C-S Agrow and 5^th Gen Ag.