by Tim Crosby
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois University Carbondale this week will host two agriculture events aimed at farmers and opening the world of farming to the public.
The university’s annual Ag Field Days are set for Thursday and Friday, July 13 and 14, in Belleville and Carbondale, respectively. The events are free and open to the public and will continue rain or shine.
Organizers expect around 200 people at each event.
Sponsored by the SIU College of Agricultural, Life, and Physical Sciences, the Belleville event begins at 8:30 a.m. at SIU’s Belleville Research Center, near Scott Air Force Base at 2036 Charles Lane. The day will feature speakers on topics, including aerial drone applications, drought monitoring, soybean herbicide programs, cover-crop planting and management, and information on the latest Farm Bill.
The Belleville event ends after lunch, but attendees are invited stay for additional weed science trial tours. Certified crop adviser credits are available. No registration is required for the Belleville event.
University Farms in Carbondale will play host to its Ag Field Day the next day at the Farms Service Center on Union Hill Road.
Registration is required, use this link to register:
http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07ejrdwrtvcb3afa4d&llr=cifvsjzab
The event is sponsored by Illinois NREC, Illinois Soybean Association, Illinois Farm Bureau and the SIU College of Agricultural, Life, and Physical Sciences.
The Carbondale event begins at 8:30 a.m. Presentation topics that day include cover crops, soil and water quality, agricultural productivity, agronomy Q&A, organization updates and more.
Student poster presentations also will be available for viewing at the event. Certified crop adviser credits are available.
Lunch is provided for all attendees.
For more information, contact Jessica Flamm, at jgrammer@siu.edu or 618-453-7018.