BROOKINGS, S.D. - SDSU Extension will host the 2022 Specialty Crop Field Day on Thursday, September 15, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. CDT in Brookings, South Dakota.
“As local food and cut flower production continues to gain momentum in South Dakota, our SDSU Extension Horticulture Team is excited to support farmers and gardeners with research-based information and networking opportunities such as the specialty crop field day,” said Kristine Lang, assistant professor and SDSU Extension Consumer Horticulture Specialist.
The event will feature presentations and field tours related to fruit, vegetable and cut flower production for commercial growers, non-profit organizations, Master Gardeners and home gardeners. The Specialty Crop Field Day will provide attendees an opportunity to observe field trials of grafted tomatoes, cut flowers and cover crops integrated with pepper and broccoli crops. Participants will also have the opportunity to visit with multiple educational exhibitors at the event.
Presentations, Field Tours and Exhibitors
Presentations
- Insect Management in Vegetable Production – Amanda Bachmann, SDSU Extension Pesticide Education and Urban Entomology Field Specialist
- On-Farm Food Safety for Production and Harvest of Fruits and Vegetables – Rhoda Burrows, professor and SDSU Extension Horticulture Specialist
Field Tours
- Field Trials of Grafted Heirloom Tomatoes – Kristine Lang, assistant professor and SDSU Extension Consumer Horticulture Specialist
- Integrating Clover Cover Crops for Pepper and Broccoli Production – Alexis Barnes, SDSU Graduate Research Assistant
- Field Production of Zinnia and Snapdragon Cut Flowers – Kristine Lang, assistant professor and SDSU Extension Consumer Horticulture Specialist
Exhibitors
- SDSU Extension Food Preservation
- SDSU Plant Diagnostic Clinic
- McCrory Gardens
- South Dakota – North Central Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
“This will be a great opportunity to come meet SDSU researchers working on specialty crops and see this year’s work,” said Rhoda Burrows, professor and SDSU Extension Horticulture Specialist. “Attendees will be able to network with other growers and researchers to share ideas and challenges. There will also be an opportunity to learn about maintaining fresh produce, food safety and what rules or regulations might apply to small-scale growers.”
The field day is a free event open to all ages and members of the public. No registration is required.
Funding for the field day is provided by the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Specialty Crop Block Grant sub-recipient award.
The event will be held at the SDSU Specialty Crop Research Field-South located directly east of the SDSU Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center on the SDSU campus at 1601 University Blvd, Brookings, SD 57007. SDSU Extension Horticulture signs will direct attendees to event parking.
For more information, contact Kristine Lang, assistant professor and SDSU Extension Consumer Horticulture Specialist, at Kristine.lang@sdstate.edu or 605-688-5796.
