Agricultural Research Station field days return for 2021 season
Matt and Beth Mueller, who farms east of Lancaster, discuss cover crops with Gene Schriefer (right), the Iowa County UW Extension agriculture agent, at a field day at Lancaster Research Station in 2017. David Tenenbaum
Hancock Agricultural Research Station celebrated a century and a year in business at its field days on July 20, 2017. HARS/UW-Madison
Horticulture Professor Irwin Goldman talks to attendees about beets at the 2014 Organic Vegetable Field Day. Photo courtesy of UW–Madison CALS
After taking a hiatus in 2020 due to the covid-19 pandemic, UW–Madison’s Agricultural Research Stations will once again be hosting public field days during the 2021 growing season to share research updates and educational information with agricultural professionals, home gardeners and other interested citizens. Below is a list of some of this season’s field days. Events are free unless noted otherwise.
For more information about a particular event, please contact the host station.
Stations will make a reasonable effort to provide accommodations for participants with disabilities when notified in advance. To request a disability accommodation, please contact ars_accommodation@cals.wisc.edu or call (608) 846-3750 ext. 3 at least 10 days in advance of the event. Efforts will be made to meet same-day requests to the extent possible.
Wisconsin Turfgrass Association Summer Field Day – Verona
July 20, 2021, 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
O.J. Noer Turfgrass Research and Education Facility, 2502 Highway M, Verona, WI
This field day, organized by the Wisconsin Turfgrass Association and the station, features morning sessions on general turfgrass management and lawn care. After a lunch break, the focus shifts to golf turf management. Registration costs $45.
Potato Research Field Day – Hancock
July 21, 2021, 1:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Hancock Agricultural Research Station, N3909 County Road V, Hancock, WI
This field day features updates of interest to the state’s potato industry on variety trials; disease, insect and weed management field experiments; and crop storage research.
Garden Tour – Hancock
August 7, 2021, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Hancock Agricultural Research Station, N3909 County Road V, Hancock, WI
This garden open house is a family-friendly event, offering tours of the station’s babbling brook, vegetable garden and many other new additions. There will be activities for kids including an alphabet adventure and bingo.
Diseased, Decayed and Dangerous: When Good Trees Go Bad – Woodruff
August 23, 2021, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Kemp Natural Resources Station, 9161 Kemp Road, Woodruff, WI
Landowners have legal “duty of care” for the trees on their properties, including responsibility to obtain expert assistance when appropriate. During this workshop, attendees will learn how qualified arborists assess tree risk by estimating likelihood of tree failure and impact, and the consequences to property and people. For more information, visit https://kemp.wisc.edu/outreach/ or contact kemp@cals.wisc.edu.
UW Organic Agriculture Research Field Day – Arlington
August 24, 2021, 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Arlington Agricultural Research Station, N695 Hopkins Road, Arlington, WI
This field day will highlight organic research conducted at UW–Madison, as well as information about best practices for organic production. Lunch will be provided. Pre-registration is required. To register, send email to emsilva@wisc.edu.
UW Agronomy and Soils Field Day – Arlington
August 25, 2021, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Arlington Agricultural Research Station, N695 Hopkins Road, Arlington, WI
This field day will feature field plot tours and UW research updates on soil fertility and management; pest management; Kernza® production and other grain production systems; and many other topics. Please register by Aug. 15 at https://go.wisc.edu/a32g16 or call (608) 262-0485. More info at: https://go.wisc.edu/agronomysoilsfd.
Vineyard Walk – Verona
September 2, 2021, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
West Madison Agricultural Research Station, 8502 Mineral Point Road, Verona, WI
Attendees will take a walk through the station’s vineyards with UW–Madison experts and learn about cold-hardy table grape varieties, the Petite Pearl wine grape variety, disease resistance evaluations, insect monitoring efforts, and general vineyard management.
Fungi Festival – Woodruff
September 11, 2021, time TBD
Kemp Natural Resources Station, 9161 Kemp Road, Woodruff, WI
At this festival, attendees can join a morning foray to gather fungi in the forest at Kemp Station. After a break to enjoy self-brought lunches, festivities resume with learning stations staffed by fungi experts who will share information and greater details on identifications, and other fungi-related topics. For more information, visit https://kemp.wisc.edu/outreach/ or contact kemp@cals.wisc.edu.
