UW-Madison Agricultural Research Station field days for 2015 season

Each year, UW–Madison’s Agricultural Research Stations host more than a dozen public field days throughout the growing season to share research updates and educational information with agricultural professionals, home gardeners and other interested people. Below is a list of this season’s field days. Events are free unless noted otherwise.

For more information about a particular event, please contact the host station. Station contact information can be found here.

• Potato Research Field Day, Hancock

July 15, 12:30-5:30 p.m., Hancock Agricultural Research Station, N3909 County Road V, Hancock, Wisconsin

This field day features updates of interest to the state’s potato industry on variety trials; disease, insect and weed management field experiments; and crop storage research.

• Vineyard Walk, Verona

July 29, 4-6 p.m., West Madison Agricultural Research Station, 8502 Mineral Point Rd., Verona, Wisconsin

Attendees will take a walk through the station’s vineyards with UW–Madison and UW-Extension experts. Presentations will cover the performance of cold-hardy table and wine grapes; disease resistance evaluations; insect monitoring efforts; and general vineyard management.

• Wisconsin Turfgrass Association Summer Field Day, Verona

July 28, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., O.J. Noer Turfgrass Research and Education Facility, 2502 Highway M, Verona, Wisconsin

This field day, organized by the Wisconsin Turfgrass Association and the station, features morning sessions on general turfgrass management and lawn care. After a lunch break, the focus shifts to golf turf management. Registration costs $25.

• Cow/Calf Field Day, Lancaster

Aug. 3, 4-8:30 p.m., Lancaster Agricultural Research Station, 7396 State Road 35 & 81, Lancaster, Wisconsin

This field day, which includes a station tour and update, will cover topics such as measuring and utilizing cow body condition, weaning time management of beef calves, and animal health. This field day has a registration fee. For details, contact arin.crooks@wisc.edu.

• Wisconsin’s Bats, Woodruff

Aug. 7, 7 p.m., Kemp Natural Resources Station, 9161 Kemp Rd., Woodruff, Wisconsin

This event features a presentation about bats, including an update on white-nose syndrome in Wisconsin, as well as a visit to Kemp’s bat monitoring station. To register, contact kemp@cals.wisc.edu.

• Bat House Workshop, Woodruff

Aug. 8, 10 a.m., Kemp Natural Resources Station, 9161 Kemp Road, Woodruff, Wisconsin

Participants will build a bat house from pre-cut materials. $15 fee per person. To register, contact kemp@cals.wisc.edu.

• Urban Horticulture Day, Verona

Aug. 15, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., West Madison Agricultural Research Station, 8502 Mineral Point Rd., Verona, Wisconsin

At this family-friendly field day, visitors can tour the station’s vineyard, vegetable garden and extensive flowerbeds, and participate in a taste evaluation of organic vegetables. More than 300 cultivars of annual and perennial flowers will be on display, including over 100 varieties of coleus, the National Garden Bureau’s “Plant of the Year.” There will also be pollinator exhibits, an activity booklet for kids, and UW–Madison and UW-Extension experts on hand to answer questions.

• Twilight Garden Tour, Spooner

Aug. 18, 4 p.m.-dusk, Spooner Agricultural Research Station, W6646 Hwy. 70, Spooner, Wisconsin

This popular event, sponsored by the station, UW-Extension and the North Country Master Gardener Volunteers, will showcase geometric shapes in landscape design as part of the All-America Selections Landscape Design Contest. UW specialists and local experts will be on hand to answer gardening questions.

• UW Agronomy and Soils Field Day, Arlington

Aug. 19, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Arlington Agricultural Research Station, N695 Hopkins Rd., Arlington, Wisconsin

This field day will feature station tours and talks on pest management; bioenergy cropping systems; soil fertility and management; grain and forage production systems; and organic cropping systems. Lunch will be available for $5. RSVP to emsilva@wisc.edu.

• Sheep Day, Spooner

Aug. 22, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Spooner Agricultural Research Station, W6646 Hwy. 70, Spooner, Wisconsin

This year’s event features research updates for both dairy sheep and meat sheep producers. The afternoon concludes with an open house at the Sheep Barn.

• UW Organic Field Day, Arlington

Sept. 2, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Arlington Agricultural Research Station, N695 Hopkins Rd., Arlington, Wisconsin

Visitors can tour the station’s 70+ acres of certified organic land. Presentations will cover vegetable variety trials, pastures, cropping systems and cover crops, with a special emphasis on no-till systems. Lunch will be available for $10. RSVP to emsilva@wisc.edu.

• UW Organic Vegetable Field Day, Verona

Sept. 8, 4-7 p.m., West Madison Agricultural Research Station, 8502 Mineral Point Rd., Verona, Wisconsin

At this field day, scientists will share the results of vegetable variety trials for organic systems, including tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, sweet corn, beets, peppers, squash, cabbage and kale. It includes a tour of the station’s 10+ acres of certified organic land and a vegetable flavor evaluation.

• The Taste of The Garden Door, Sturgeon Bay

Sept. 12, 1-4 p.m., Peninsular Agricultural Research Station, 4312 State Hwy. 42, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin

Visitors are invited to stroll through The Garden Door, a demonstration garden maintained by Master Gardener Volunteers in cooperation with the research station. There will also be displays and tastings of vegetables, fruits, grains and dips that feature Door County-grown products.