Field day is all about ag research
SMSU holds annual Agronomy Field Day
Photo by Deb Gau Dr. Adam Alford, agronomy professor at SMSU, talked about sweet corn grown under different conditions at SMSU's field trial site just outside Marshall.
Photo by Deb Gau Presenters with NextGen Ag talked about some of the comparison studies they did of herbicide to control weeds in corn and soybean fields.
Photo by Deb Gau Dean Raphael Onyeaghala and Provost Ross Wastvedt gave special recognition to Dr. Gerald Toland (center), who will be retiring. Toland helped develop SMSU's school of agriculture.
Photo by Deb Gau Dr. Adam Alford, agronomy professor at SMSU, talked about sweet corn grown under different conditions at SMSU's field trial site just outside Marshall.
Photo by Deb Gau Presenters with NextGen Ag talked about some of the comparison studies they did of herbicide to control weeds in corn and soybean fields.
Photo by Deb Gau Dean Raphael Onyeaghala and Provost Ross Wastvedt gave special recognition to Dr. Gerald Toland (center), who will be retiring. Toland helped develop SMSU's school of agriculture.
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MARSHALL -- Agricultural research in southwest Minnesota doesn't only benefit farmers - it helps all of us, speakers at the Southwest Minnesota State University Agronomy Field Day said. On Friday afternoon, presenters gave an update on some of the ag research going on in the region, as well as hands-on learning taking place at SMSU's Field Trials site just outside Marshall.
Dr. Adam Alford, associate professor of agronomy at SMSU, said the field trial site is like an outdoor classroom for some of his students.
"Some of my classes are held entirely out here, at least until it gets too cold," Alford said. "My integrated pest management course, they're out here every Tuesday from eight to 10 in the morning, collecting insects, scouting fields and getting their boots dirty."
The field trials site also offers a chance to get more students and community members interested in agriculture. For example, Alford said small plots of land at the trial site were being used by students in a gardening class that is becoming popular with non-agriculture majors.
"So this is getting non-ag students out to the field plots and seeing what agriculture is," he said.
Alford said one exciting future change for SMSU's field trial site will be about $600,000 worth of new equipment, funded through a grant submitted by the SMSU Foundation.
"With the new grant that we have, we're going to get precision equipment," he said. That would include a larger tractor, and a larger sprayer with precision ag capabilities. Alford said the new sprayer would be more accurate, and save on chemical costs.
"Some of the other equipment we have coming in is larger tillage equipment," he said. "We're going to have strip till and no-till capabilities now. Both areas have interest in the agricultural world because they don't disturb the soil as much, and that reduces soil erosion rates."
Finally, Alford said, SMSU has also been planning on expanding an animal science minor, with a course that would have students learn by raising and harvesting their own chickens.
Speakers at the Agronomy Field Day also highlighted research done by groups like Ralco, NextGen Ag, AURI and the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council (MSRPC).
Dr. Sergio Cabella Leiva, director of research for the MSRPC, said the MSRPC's research is made possible through soy checkoff dollars.
"The checkoff dollars is something really unique in the U.S.," he said. "Here, we have checkoff dollars in different commodity groups, and that helps us turn it into some of the research projects that we are going to be talking about today."
Cabella Leiva said his research program covers areas like soybean breeding, soybean agronomy, and integrated pest management. MSRPC is working with the University of Minnesota to breed new varieties of soybeans, and is working on fighting different kinds of pests and soil-borne pathogens that can affect soybean yields, he said.
In their presentations, representatives of NextGen Ag talked about studies comparing different herbicides for controlling weeds like giant ragweed and water hemp in soy and corn crops. Andy Lanoue of Ralco talked about the importance and methods of preserving hay and silage.
Agricultural research doesn't only apply to farm fields and livestock, however. Ben Swanson, of the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI), said AURI focuses on finding new and different uses for agricultural products, and even waste products.
"Myself, I'm a food scientist, so we're looking at different food uses, helping small businesses and middle-sized businesses find applications and markets for their products," he said.
Toland recognized
Friday's program included a special recognition of Dr. Gerald Toland, professor of economics at SMSU. Toland, who helped develop the university's school of agriculture, will be retiring after more than 30 years with SMSU. SMSU Provost Ross Wastvedt and Raphael Onyeaghala, dean of the College of Business, Education and Professional Studies, said Toland has made a difference in the lives of students and colleagues alike.
"If you know Gerry, you know he loves what he does," Wastvedt said. "He loves the program, and first and foremost, he loves the students. And just think about all of those students that Dr. Toland has affected positively over his career."
"SMSU will be different without Gerry, but I know he will be cheering us on," Onyeaghala said.