Annual Western Dakota Crops Day set for Dec. 17

Regional agronomy research results, annual forage options and the Farmers for Soil Health program with be the featured topics at the 41st annual Western Dakota Crops Day on Dec. 17, hosted by the North Dakota State University Hettinger Research Extension Center (HREC) and Dickinson Research Extension Center (DREC). The event will be held at the Hettinger REC classroom.

Doors open at 12:30 p.m. with presentations starting at 1 p.m.

James Rogers, NDSU Extension forage crops specialist at the North Central Research Extension Center, will talk about annual and cover crops for haying and grazing in the western Dakotas.

Clarence Winter, agronomy field specialist, SDSU West River Research and Extension, will give a presentation on a five-year study comparing three treatments of soil test phosphorus in no-till and its effects on yield and soil microbes.

Rutendo Nyamusamba, NDSU Extension conservation agronomist at the DREC, will talk about the Farmers for Soil Health program sponsored by the Soy Checkoff, Pork Checkoff and National Corn Growers Association, with the goal of enhancing soil health with cover crops. The program provides technical and financial support for farmers to incorporate cover crops into their crop rotations.

Results from agronomy research in the western Dakotas will be presented by Caleb Dalley, HREC weed scientist; John Rickertsen, HREC agronomist; and Chris Augustin, DREC director and soil scientist.

"This year's crops day will provide excellent information on annual forage options, phosphorus fertilizer recommendations in no-till, and programs available to help put cover crops on their farms, along with traditional variety performance data and ongoing regional agronomy research," Rickertsen said. The event is free of charge. For more information, visit ndsu.ag/westerncropsday or contact the HREC at 701-567-4323.