Western Kansas Agricultural Research Center-Hays – KSU research staff will again be holding their Cover Crop Field Day at K-State’s HB Ranch on Friday, May 19, 2017. The registration and welcome will begin at 9:30 AM with the program following.

Kansas State University researchers will discuss ongoing research efforts at HB Ranch evaluating cover crop management options in dryland wheat-based production system.

K-State HB Ranch Cover Crop Flyer

Please RSVP by May 12 to Milissa at 785-625-3425 or email to milissa@ksu.edu

Cover crop adoption is not widely popular in water-limited environments because cover crops utilize water that otherwise would be available to the subsequent cash crop. KSU’s efforts here are focused on cropping system diversification utilizing cover crops and measuring if the benefits they provide (including improved soil quality, nutrient cycling, weed and pest suppression, and reduced wind erosion), coupled with their use as a forage will offset any losses in revenue associated with decreases in wheat yield.

Field Day Location & Directions: Take exit 135/Ogallah on I-70 and go south on Hwy 147, HB is located about 4 miles south of Cedar Bluff on HWY 147. From Brownell, KS drive 5 miles north on HWY 147 (Smoky Valley Scenic Byway).

Agenda

9:30 AM Welcome

10:00 AM K-State cover crop research update John Holman

10:25 AM Tour cover crop plots at HB Ranch Augustine Obour

11:10 AM Cover crops and beneficial insects J. P. Michaud

11:35 AM On-farm cover crop research update Meagan Schipanski

12:00 Lunch

1:00 PM Cover crops & Soil Health Candy Thomas, NRCS

1:30 PM Grazing cover crops Keith Harmoney