The U of I Department of Crop Sciences will host the 2009 Brownstown Agronomy Research Center Field Day on Thursday, July 30, beginning at 9 a.m.

A five-stop field tour on shaded wagons will highlight some of the latest agronomic research being conducted by the department.

Every cropping season presents unique challenges, and 2009 is no exception. Extremely wet conditions throughout the counties surrounding the research center have resulted in delaying planting and in crops that are far behind normal developmental stages. Crop production research conducted at research centers such as Brownstown is locally relevant to the growers farming in those areas, because it represents the unique soil types and growing conditions of the area.

This year's topics:

A free lunch will be provided following the tour. CCA-CEU credit in the following categories has been approved: NM, 1; IPM, 1; CM, 0.5. The last tour will start no later than 9:30 a.m., so be sure to come early. For more information, or if you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, call 618-692-9434.--Robert C. Bellm, extension educator, crop systems.