The wheat disease outlook for 2016, and what can be done to manage diseases such as leaf rust and root rot will be among the topics at this year's event.
Wheat disease, crop rotation diversity and regional agronomy research results will be featured topics at the 32nd annual Western Dakota Crops Day show at the Hettinger Armory on Dec. 17.
Topics will include updates on new crop varieties, new herbicides, no-till crop production and other ongoing research projects.
Registration opens at 9 a.m. with coffee and doughnuts, and presentations start at 10 a.m. Participants will be able to view exhibits throughout the day.
"This year’s crops day will provide excellent information on managing wheat diseases, the latest research on the positive impact of crop diversity in no-till cropping systems, and the traditional variety performance and ongoing regional agronomy research," says John Rickertsen, North Dakota State University Hettinger Research Extension Center (REC) research agronomist.
Conditions have been favorable for wheat diseases in southwestern North Dakota the last two years, causing yield reductions and issues with marketing grain.
Andrew Friskop, NDSU Extension Service plant pathologist will discuss the wheat disease outlook for 2016 and what can be done to manage diseases such as leaf rust, head scab, tan spot and root rot.
Mark Liebig, research soil scientist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Research Service Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory (NGPRL) will give a presentation on crop diversity and trends and outcomes in the northern Great Plains.
Liebig is continuing the work on long-term no-till crop rotations at the NGPRL and looking at the effects of crop rotation on soil structure, soil water properties, and nutrient retention and availability.
Results from agronomy research in the western Dakotas will be presented by Rickertsen; Caleb Dalley, Hettinger REC weed scientist; Pat Carr, Dickinson REC research agronomist; and Ryan Buetow, Dickinson REC area Extension cropping systems specialist.
The show also will include commercial exhibits by several seed, chemical and agricultural service companies displaying their newest products and innovations.