Diversity of science and best practices featured on tours

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Visitors at Penn State’s Ag Progress Days, Aug. 15-17, likely will spend most of their time taking in the wide variety of demonstrations, commercial and educational exhibits, presentations and other activities around the 135-acre expo.

But for those willing to wander farther afield, free bus tours to other parts of the surrounding Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center and to other nearby facilities will offer a glimpse of Penn State research and Extension programs.

Most tours require some walking or standing, and all tours require free tickets that can be obtained at the boarding area, which is located at the corn crib on Main Street, near the headquarters building at the Ag Progress Days site.

This year’s tours include:

–  Adaptive Grazing and Soil Health (1.5 hours)

This tour will focus on adaptive grazing management, in which tall grass or high stock density grazing can improve pastures and extend the grazing season well into winter. Experts will discuss the benefits of frequent animal moves; fencing and watering considerations; forage benefits of tall grass grazing; diverse cover crop mixes for use in cropping or grazing systems; and other topics.

Bus leaves daily at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., with additional tours Tuesday and Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. No restrooms available.

–  American Chestnut Foundation Plantings (1.25 hours)

This tour will take visitors to breeding orchards, where they will learn about the history and demise of the American chestnut tree, see how to plant and maintain chestnut trees, and learn about The American Chestnut Foundation’s programs working to restore the species.

Bus leaves Tuesday at 3:30 p.m., Wednesday at 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., and Thursday at 10 a.m. No restrooms available.

–  Habitat Management for Deer and Other Wildlife (1.5 hours)

This tour will focus on food plots and natural habitat management practices used on public or private property as part of a Quality Deer Management System to improve habitat for many wildlife species while producing healthier and larger deer.

Bus leaves daily at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. No restrooms available.

–  Dairy Beef Feedlot (1 hour)

The tour will focus on the use of implants in beef production. Participants will see calf-fed Holsteins that have been implanted and compare them to their nonimplanted pen mates.

Penn State Extension specialists, industry experts and cattle buyers will be on hand to answer questions.

Bus leaves daily at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. with additional tours Tuesday and Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. Restrooms will be available.

–  High Tunnels (2 hours)

At Penn State’s High Tunnel Research and Extension Facility, visitors will see strawberries and raspberries being grown in containers in 15 tunnels, with five types of plastics to better manage plant growth, temperatures and pests.

The tour also will highlight solar-powered, automated venting options to better manage heat load.

Bus leaves daily at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. No restrooms available.

–  Industrial Hemp (1.5 hours)

This tour will showcase Penn State’s first industrial-hemp project in more than 60 years. Researchers will discuss crop management issues and potential markets for hemp, and visitors will see trials that evaluate several varieties of hemp being grown for seed.

Bus leaves daily at 2 p.m.

–  Short Rotation Woody Crops for Biomass (1 hour)

What are short rotation woody crops? How do they contribute to biomass feedstock? Why are they being promoted for marginal planting sites? What type of species should you grow and who will buy it?

Find the answers by visiting a demonstration plot with fast-growing willow and poplar trees. Learn how to grow, harvest and produce this crop as an alternative income opportunity that helps provide sustainable energy supplies.

Bus leaves daily at 11 a.m. No restrooms available.

–  Multifunctional Stream Buffers and Native Grass Fields (1 hour)

This tour will focus on planting and maintaining trees and shrubs to create a multifunctional stream buffer that will improve water quality, wildlife habitat, livestock health and property value and that will provide edible or medicinal plants.

Visitors will also learn about financial assistance programs.

Bus leaves daily at 11:30 a.m. No restrooms available.

–  Woodlot Management: Decisions and Actions (1.5 hours)

Visitors can explore the 150-acre Penn State Demonstration Woodlot and gain insights into how management decisions affect future values.

Forestry and wildlife professionals will be on hand to answer questions and identify resources to help forest landowners steward Pennsylvania’s woodlands.

Bus leaves daily at 12:30 p.m. with additional tours Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at 3:30 p.m., and Thursday at 9:30 a.m. No restrooms available.

–  Russell Larson Research Center Farms (2 hours)

This tour will visit each of the research farms at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center: horticulture, plant pathology, agronomy and entomology.

Farm managers will answer visitor questions and present a brief overview of the farm history, current research and student involvement.

Bus leaves Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. Minimal walking involved; restrooms will not be available.

–  Penn State Deer Research Center (1.5 hours)

Visitors can view live deer and learn about deer biology, deer management and current research.

The center, near the University Park campus, will open for tours at 5 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday. Guests provide their own transportation and must preregister at the tour registration area at the Ag Progress Days site.