Field Day

June 14, 2019

SIU’s annual field day offers helpful presentations and demonstrations to local farmers

by Hannah Erickson

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Local farmers and agriculture professionals can glean helpful knowledge at Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s annual field day, set for June 26.

Collaborating with the Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Nutrient Research and Education Council (NREC), SIU’s college of agricultural sciences offers the free event to introduce innovative research and practical concepts to area farmers.

Event begins at 9 a.m.

Set at SIU’s University Farms, 2704 Union Hill Rd., events start at 9 a.m. and conclude with a free lunch at noon. Special guest presenters include researchers from SIU and the University of Kentucky, along with a representative from the Illinois Farm Bureau.

“The SIU field day is a great opportunity to tour SIU research farms and for faculty to showcase their current research projects through demonstrations of management practices and equipment,” Jon Schoonover, SIU forestry professor said. “It also provides a platform for farmers to provide input on future research needs in agriculture.”

Media Advisory

Reporters, photographers and news crews are welcome to cover the field day at SIU’s University Farms, 2704 Union Hill Rd., Carbondale. To arrange for interviews or for more information on the event, contact Jon Schoonover, SIU forestry professor, at jschoon@siu.edu or 618/453-7468.

Multiple presentations

Local farmers and agriculture professionals will find a variety of helpful presentations and demonstrations at the event. Topics include:

  • The Influence of Cover Crops, Saturated Buffers, and WASCoBs on Water Quality and Economics in Rowcrop Agriculture (SIU professors, Jon Schoonover, Karl Williard and Dwight Sanders).
  • Do Tillage and Cover Crops Influence Soil Nitrous Oxide Emissions in a Corn-Soybean Cropping System? (Amir Sadeghpour, assistant professor at SIU, and Joshua McGrath, associate professor at University of Kentucky).
  • Holding Back Weeds with Wheat: Suppressing Common Waterhemp in Soybeans (Madison Decker, graduate student at SIU).
  • Recent Developments in Environmental Policy and How it Impacts Illinois Farmers (Lauren Lurkins, director of natural and environmental resources, Illinois Farm Bureau).

Pre-registration required

While both the event and lunch are free, pre-registration is required online at http://bit.ly/SIU_FieldDay.

For more information, contact Jon Schoonover, forestry professor, at jschoon@siu.edu or 618/453-7468.