Farmers will have the opportunity to enhance their agricultural practices during the upcoming Field Day at the University of Nebraska’s South Central Agricultural Laboratory (SCAL) on August 7, 2024. The event will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. at the SCAL research farm, located near Harvard, Nebraska. This location is situated on the south side of U.S. Highway 6, approximately 13 miles east of Hastings or 4.5 miles west of the Clay Center corner.
Participants are encouraged to pre-register by July 31 to assist with lunch planning, which will be provided on-site. The day will feature a range of timely topics that are highly relevant to today’s farming operations. Sessions will cover practical strategies for irrigation scheduling and management of corn and soybean diseases, including tar spot and white mold.
Furthermore, attendees will learn about utilizing cover crops for effective weed management in corn and soybeans, as well as insect management practices. The event will also include tours of conservation features in prairie strips, and discussions on sensor-guided fertigation for real-time nitrogen management.
One of the highlights of the day will be the demonstration of the “See-N-Till” robot, an innovative autonomous field robot designed to detect, differentiate, and mechanically manage weeds while simultaneously performing shallow tillage. This Artificial Intelligence-enabled technology aims to provide efficient solutions for target weed management.
During lunch, Dan Snow, Director of Laboratory Services at the University of Nebraska’s Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, will deliver a keynote address focusing on nitrate challenges in groundwater. His talk will present findings from a collaborative study involving the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. This research examined nitrate and agrichemical levels in the vadose zone across 12 water quality management zones.
In addition to the keynote address, the lunch program will feature a panel discussion with local farmers, offering additional insights into their experiences and challenges in the field.
To register for the Field Day, interested individuals can visit go.unl.edu/scalfieldday. For further information, inquiries can be directed to 402-762-3536 or via email at [email protected].
This event promises to be an invaluable opportunity for farmers to gain knowledge that can directly benefit their operations and contribute to sustainable agricultural practices in the region.
