News Releases

AMES, Iowa — Corn management and precision agriculture will be the focus of a field day at the Iowa State University Allee Research and Demonstration Farm near Newell on Aug. 20, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

ISU Extension field agronomists Mark Licht and Paul Kassel are coordinating the event, which will address pertinent issues of the current crop season as well as ongoing interest in emerging agricultural technologies.

“Farmers are adopting precision agriculture fairly quickly right now,” Licht said. “In the adoption process they are asking about the difference in products for the difference in price, especially as guidance systems are coming into play.”

Hultgren Implement of Storm Lake is sponsoring the field day along with ISU Extension and ISU Corn and Soybean Initiative partners Ag Partners, LLC, and FC Cooperative. A free lunch will be provided courtesy of the Buena Vista County Cattlemen.

Morning topics will include a discussion of corn populations and planting dates led by ISU Extension corn specialist Roger Elmore, and corn diseases of the 2010 season led by ISU Extension plant pathologist Alison Robertson. Licht and Kassel will lead a session on soybean management, which will include talks on aphids and use of land rollers.

After lunch, ISU Extension agricultural engineer Matt Darr will discuss guidance systems in precision agriculture technology and Holly Sandhoff, consultant with Hultgren Implement, will talk about benefits of using yield maps.

The field day is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served starting at 9:45 a.m. The Allee Research Farm is located about 1.5 miles southwest of Newell on 640th Street, about one-half mile west of the intersection of 640th Street and 205th Street. For more information, contact Mark Licht, (712) 792-2364 or e-mail lichtma@iastate.edu, or Paul Kassel, (712) 262-2264 or e-mail kassel@iastate.edu.