The Williston Research Extension Center (WREC) kicks off the first of the months field days. This year, organizers have scheduled this annual field day for Thursday, July 12, beginning at 8:45 a.m. CDT with coffee and doughnuts sponsored by Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative. Following coffee, attendees have the opportunity to either participate in the field tours or to attend the horticultural program.

The field tour, demonstrating dryland crop production, begins at 9:30 a.m. and runs until noon. Attendees will hear short discussions on crop varieties, including hard red spring wheat, durum, oats and barley. Those participating in the field tour also will hear discussions on weeds, crop diseases and an update on high value crops.

Those who choose to attend the horticultural program, which runs from 10-11:30 a.m., will hear information pertaining to flowers, lawns and gardens.

The morning tour ends with the traditional barbecue chicken lunch, sponsored by area ag businesses and the Williston Chamber Ag Committee.

The afternoon session at WREC will focus on tractor ballasting and drive wheel slippage, controlling Ascochyta in chickpeas and lentils, and an update on wheat midge and other crop insects.

The second in the series of field tours occurs at Wibaux. The Wibaux Field Day and Farm Tour, scheduled for Monday, July 16, consists of a look at off-station spring wheat and durum plots. This morning tour ends with a lunch at Beach.

That same week, the Eastern Ag Research Center (EARC) in Sidney will host its annual field day. The EARC Field Day, scheduled for Wednesday, July 18, will focus on irrigated and value added crops. The day begins at 8:30 a.m. with coffee and doughnuts, followed by the field tour at 9 a.m. Attendees will hear updates on safflower and its enhancement of meat quality, potatoes, sugarbeets and insect pests, malting barley, durum production, and vegetables under test at the station, including onions and cabbage. Researchers will also discuss identity preserved grains.

Organizers will serve lunch, sponsored by area ag businesses, at noon.

The field tours in the area continue with the Swank Tour in Roosevelt County on Thursday, July 19. This tour begins at 6 p.m. with a steak supper. Researchers will discuss the off-station wheat and durum variety plots, talk about pesticide safety and pesticides in the environment, and pesticide records and accidental spills. Chemical representatives will give updates on new chemicals. Participants at this tour can earn two pesticide points by attending.

The Valley County Tour, scheduled for July 20, will consist of a dryland and irrigated farm tour, with lunch provided following the tours completion.

The Sidney USDA/ARS finishes the months field day demonstrations with a morning tour scheduled for Thursday, July 26 at the dryland farm in Culbertson. The tour begins at 9:30 a.m. Sidney ARS staff will discuss all of their dryland research, including alternative crops, cropping systems and nitrogen availability from green manure. Researchers also will have plot equipment and research equipment on display. Organizers will provide a lunch following the tour.

The research centers and county agents invite all interested people to attend any or all of these field tours. Come out, see what researchers have done and plan to do in efforts to better enhance the bottom line for producers.