Northern Illinois Agronomy Day, July 9th
The Northern Illinois Agronomy Research Center will be hosting its summer Agronomy Day on Thursday, July 9th in Shabbona. Join University of Illinois Extension specialists and researchers as they address issues pertinent to the 2015 crop growing season.
The program begins at 9:00 a.m. and will finish with a noon meal provided at no cost. It is open to all who wish to attend and there is no registration fee. Certified crop adviser continuing educational units will be available.
More than 40 individual research projects encompassing corn, soybean, wheat, oats and cover crops are under way. Current studies include evaluating crop rotations, date of planting, row spacing, plant populations, crop diseases, variety comparisons and crop nutrient management.
Weather permitting; presentations will take place outside, next to research plots. Guests will be transported by tour wagons. Field topics include:
• Water, Corn, and Nitrogen – Can the 2015 Crop Survive and Thrive? – Dr. Emerson Nafziger, Professor and Extension Specialist, Crop Production
• Field Crop Insect Surveys and Management Update – Dr. Mike Gray, Professor and Extension Specialist, Agronomy Research Center Entomology, and Assistant Dean for ANR Extension Programs
• Herbicide Identification: Crop Injury Symptoms and Weed Control – Dr. Greg Steckel, Research Agronomist, NIARC
• Introduction/Update of the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy – Dr. Mark David, Professor Water Quality and Biogeochemistry, Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences
• 2015 Weed Control Challenges – Doug Maxwell Principal Research Specialist, University of Illinois Department of Crop Sciences
The 160-acre Northern Illinois Agronomy Research Center is located north of Shabbona and has been used for crop research since 1948. It is the northernmost research center within the University of Illinois Crop Sciences department that is dedicated primarily to row crop research. Visitors are always welcome.
The research center is located at 14509 University Road, about a half mile east of Shabbona on U.S. Route 30 then then 5 miles north on University Road. Perry Road, which runs from the Steward exit (#93) on I-39 to south of DeKalb, is a quarter mile north of the Center. For more information, contact Russ Higgins at 815-274-1343 or email rahiggin@illinois.edu.