When the Farm Progress Show kicks off on Tuesday Aug. 27, a lot of folks will have one big question on their mind.
What should we do on Monday?
While most show attendees are from surrounding states, a good portion are international travelers. Before seeing the best in U.S. farm tech and machinery, international attendees may want to check out the University of Illinois for the latest in agronomic research, at International Agronomy Day.
DAY OF LEARNING: International Agronomy Day will have a format similar to U of I’s annual Agronomy Day. Participants will tour research plots and interact with professors on various agronomic topics.
One of the finest land-grant institutions in the U.S., the U of I campus is spread across two cities in east-central Illinois: Champaign and Urbana. The campus is a little more than two hours south of Chicago, and only 45 minutes east of Decatur, host city for the Farm Progress Show. The day kicks off at 8 a.m. and runs to 1 p.m.
Tour details
According to U of I weed specialist and IAD chairman Aaron Hager, the day will consist of two tours on the campus’ expansive south research farm. Each tour will feature four stops and last approximately two hours.
“We think the best format would be for speakers to put together a short presentation and spend the rest of the time answering questions and allowing the group to tailor the experience to their needs,” Hager explains.
For those who have been to U of I’s annual Agronomy Day, the format will be very similar, albeit with a broader focus. Typical Agronomy Day topics include research on insects, weeds, fungi and general agronomic topics for corn and soybeans.
Though topics and speakers for IAD have yet to be announced, Hager expects the day will focus on corn and soybeans. To register, and for the latest information on the event, visit www.internationalagronomyday.org. Hager recommends calling to register large groups.
Lastly, he notes U of I does not have the resources to provide translators onsite. Trip organizers may want to keep this in mind if a language barrier is anticipated.
The deadline to register is Aug. 17.
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