University of Minnesota offers expertise, honors farmers at Farmfest
What: University of Minnesota at Farmfest
When: Tuesday-Thursday, Aug. 7-9
Where: Farmfest near Redwood Falls
Contacts:
Catherine Dehdashti, U of M Extension, ced@umn.edu, (612) 625-0237
Becky Beyers, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, bbeyers@umn.edu, (612) 626-5754
Matt Hodson, University News Service, mjhodson@umn.edu, (612) 625-0552
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (07/24/2012) - Visitors to the 30th annual Farmfest next month will have a number of opportunities to celebrate farmers and agriculture as well as learn from University of Minnesota experts about solutions to specific agricultural challenges such as this summer’s drought.
The U of M tent will have educational displays and experts available for all three days to provide solutions to three issues —managing herbicide resistant weeds; controlling invasive species including soybean aphid, brown marmorated stick bug and emerald ash borer; and reducing damage from Goss’s wilt in corn and soybean cyst nematode in soybeans. The U of M tent also will include opportunities for youth to share what they love about Minnesota agriculture; their answers will be displayed in the tent and via social media. Noted climatologist Mark Seeley also will be on hand on Wednesday, Aug. 8.
University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler will lead a panel of experts discussing agricultural innovation at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, August 9 in the Forum tent. The panel will include university experts in economics, plant and animal sciences and public health.
In addition, 76 Farm Families of the Year will be honored Thursday for their contributions to agriculture and their local communities.
Farmfest, the state's largest farm-related gathering, takes place from August 7-9 at the Gilfillan Estate in Redwood County.
For more information about Farmfest, visit the event website.