The 2015 Agronomy/Soils Field Day highlights University of Wisconsin-Madison/Extension research on emerging technologies and relevant crop production issues. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 19 at Arlington Agricultural Research Station.

Using cover crops will be among the topics addressed during five tours hosted by UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences researchers and UW-Extension specialists. Topic-specific tours will depart the Public Events Facility at 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

- A pest management tour examines herbicide resistance management in corn and soybean; a Wisconsin perspective on corn rootworm resistance to Bt hybrids: detection, avoidance and management; can weeds be managed without roundup ready crops when corn and alfalfa are planted; and soybean disease and insect management research results and recommendations.

- A bioenergy cropping systems tour includes a discussion of what we’ve learned growing eight bioenergy cropping systems over eight years; exploiting available genetic variability for biomass-based biofuel production: the example of corn; developing sustainable perennial bioenergy crops; and integrating information from breeding tools for biofuel crop development.

- A soil fertility and management tour covers the response of no-till corn and soybean to P & K; management impacts on soil organic matter and productivity of continuous corn; untangling the rotation effect on soil resilience; cover crops as a trap crop for soil nitrate; and introduction of Robert Florence, the new Soil and Forage Analysis Lab Director in Marshfield.

- A grain and forage production systems tour examines when yield is “determined” for corn grain production; revamping outdated soybean nutrient uptake models: results from a high input systems model; other CoolBean stuff; and forage harvest logistics image based kernel processing score and applied UAV research.

- An organic cropping systems tour includes managing organic cropping systems for carbon stabilization and accrual; pasture and soil quality surveys from organic dairy farms across Wisconsin; cover crop-based no-till systems: options for organic farmers; and breeding for organic sweet corn: the case study of “Who Gets Kissed.”

Lunch will available on the site for a $5 donation to the Badger Crops Club. Additional exhibits to visit between tours or during lunch include: Apps for Ag, Nutrient and Pest Management Program, Integrated Pest Management and SnapPlus, and others.

The Arlington Agriculture Research Station is located on Hwy. 51, about 5 miles south of Arlington and 15 miles north of Madison. Watch for field day signs. GPS coordinates are: 43.300467, -89.345534. For more information contact the UW-Madison Department of Agronomy at (608)262-1390 or the Department of Soil Science (608)262-0485.

In the event of rain, presentations will be held inside. Sponsored by the UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and UW-Extension. [Certified Crop Advisors: 7.5 CEU credits requested].