Community invited to a socially distanced CLC Field Day

The community is invited to attend Central Lakes College’s Ag and Energy Center Field Day. The socially distanced event will follow Minnesota Department of Health guidelines for outdoor events. It will be held from 9 am – 1 pm on Friday, August 21 at the Ag and Energy Center, 26505 County Road 2 Staples.

Attendees may pick from any number of events below to attend. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, there will not be the annual luncheon program this year. Instead, there will be water and individually wrapped refreshments.

POD Tours

All Day-capacity is limited to 2 at a time (9am-12pm)

Come and tour through the new Indoor Food Pod. This container is outfitted with the latest technology for growing plants in a hydroponic system throughout the year including the cold winter months when fresh produce is less available. Our first year of production our focus is growing kale.

Presentations from 9 – 10:15 am

Cover Crop Variety Trial

A collaboration with the Soil and Water Conservation District led to a cover crop demonstration trial to be planted July 8. There is 40 different plots showcasing various cover crop varieties that are grown throughout the region as well as a few plots with cover crop mixes. Come learn about what cover crops work in sandy soils and applications of these different varieties.

Industrial Hemp Demonstration

This trial is demonstrating the growth and production of industrial hemp. Come and see what the plant looks like as well as discuss what the limitations and opportunities for the use of this crop is on your farm.

Tackling the White Whale of the North

This study is in collaboration with U of M Extension. White mold continues to be a serious issue affecting soybean yield throughout the region. The goal of this study is to determine the effect of different fungicide sprayer configurations on disease and soybean yield.

Presentations from 10:45 am-12 pm

Water Quality Study—AgXplore

This is a field scale study located under a pivot irrigation. The goal of this study is to analyze NZone Max applications to urea and liquid fertilizers. Data is being collected from lysimeters and wells to monitor nitrogen in soil pore water and ground water.

LCCMR Cropping Systems Study

This study compares three different cropping systems: Best Management Practices of a Corn—Soybean Rotation, Double Cropping of Soybeans and Camelina, and Growing Cash Crops in the perennial cover crop Kura Clover. Come and walk through the plots as well as visit with researchers on observations, yield, impacts to water quality, and profitability.

Specialty Crop Demonstrations

The Ag Center has various horticultural crop demonstrations including a few that will be highlighted during this time including the FFA High Tunnel, the CCY Garden, the Farm-to-School Garden, the Indoor Food Pod, the Living Legacy Gardens, and the apple orchard.

Kid’s Program from 11 am – 12 pm

This program is open to all kids ages 5-15 to come and experience the joys of digging treasures from the ground including potatoes, onions and beets. The AgCentric trailer activities with various technologies related to agriculture will be showcased. There will also be an opportunity to pick a small bouquet of flowers to bring home to enjoy.

Forage Council Presentation 12 – 1 pm

This event will take place in the afternoon. Participants will meet at the Cover Crop Plot and discuss: “Utilizing Cover Crops for Grazing: We will view cover crop varieties and discuss options for grazing and opportunities to integrate livestock and cover crops into a cropping system.”

For more information:

Melody Weber – 218.894.5123 or Tiffany Klaphake – 218.894.5141 www.clcmn.edu/ag-energy-center/