Released August 8, 2008
PINE BLUFF, Ark. - The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Lonoke Farm Field Day will be Thursday, September 4, at the UAPB Pearlie S. Reed/Robert L. Cole Small Farm Outreach Wetlands and Water Management Center (SFO-WWMC) on the UAPB farm near Lonoke, Ark. The Field Day begins with registration at 7:30 a.m. with welcoming remarks at 8:30 a.m. Tours and demonstrations will follow.
The SFO-WWMC was created on the 871-acre UAPB farm to address critical groundwater issues facing Arkansans and to provide research-based information to clients on alternative cropping schemes. Currently, 28 traditional and alternative crop demonstrations are being conducted at the UAPB SFO-WWMC involving 13 federal agencies, nine state agencies, three local governments and five non-governmental groups.
Of particular interest in this age of critical groundwater management are surface water management programs, satellite crop irrigation monitoring technology programs and native grass restoration projects. New this year are presentations on honeybees - getting started in beekeeping for honey production and to insure pollination of your vegetables - and a session on Federal pesticide recordkeeping requirements.
Tractor-pulled trailers will transport participants continuously (hop off, hop on) to three main tour stops - crop production systems, water management activities and agriculture-related activities - where learning stations will feature scientists/researchers reporting on specific projects.
Crop production stops include:
- Establishment of native tall grass prairie seed production plots
- Alternative cropping systems
- Weed science studies
Water management activities stops include:
- On-farm reservoir stabilization/constructed wetland wildlife enhancement area
- Level basin irrigation technology for soybean and rice production
- In-line satellite water monitoring system
- USGS groundwater data collection platform
At the Ag-related activities stop, attendees will learn about the SCAN soil moisture/soil temperature project, the Arkansas Forestry Commission progeny test, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission demonstration, and visit the UAPB Farmstead Museum, a renovated 1930s farm house furnished to depict farm life in the early ‘30s on the Arkansas prairie. They will also get a sampling of Arkansas Ag Awareness activities, an educational program designed to acquaint school-age children with Arkansas agriculture, past and present. Honeybees and Recordkeeping presentations round out ag-related activities.
The UAPB farm is located on O'Cain Road off Hwy 31. O'Cain Road is 3.5 miles from I-40, Lonoke Exit 175.
For more information about Field Day, contact Leslie Glover at (870) 575-8822 or Charlie Cummings at (501) 674-4470.
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http://www.uaex.edu/news/august2008/0808uapb_farmfieldday.htm
Contact: Carol Sanders, (870) 575-7238, sanders_c@uapb.edu
