ISU Research Farms, in consultation with ISU Extension and the Agronomy Department, has organized tours of research at the Ag Engineering/Agronomy Research Farm on Hwy 30 west of Ames before and after the 2008 Farm Progress Show.
 
The tours are identical and will be held Monday, August 25 from 1-4 p.m. and Friday, August 29 from 9 a.m to noon.  The overall topic is biomass production and harvest.  Below is a more detailed tour plan. 

Note: to cover costs of chartered buses, there is a $5 fee per person payable on the day of the tour.

If you have groups that want to reserve spaMedford, 515-294-5045 for reservations.  

Pre- and Post-Farm Progress Plot Tours
 
Where:   ISU Ag Engineering/Agronomy (AEA) Research Farm
 
When:    Monday, August 25, 2008 – 1 to 4 p.m.
              Friday, August 29, 2008 – 9 a.m. to 12 noon
 
Meet at AEA Farm Headquarters
1308 U Avenue
Boone, IA 50036
 
Planned Topics:
         1. Bioenergy crops – Andy Heggenstaller and Ben Goff, Agronomy
         2. Biochar as a soil amendment – Randy Killorn, Agronomy
         3. Woody crops for biomass – Rick Hall and Lisa Schulte, NREM
         4. Instrumenting the land to measure soil/water effects 
               – Matt Helmers, ABE and Antonio Mallarino, Agronomy
         5. Bioenergy crop residue harvesting equipment – Stuart Birrell, ABE
         6. ISU’s New Century Farm: Plans for an integrated research facility 
               – Joe Colletti, College of Ag and Life Sciences
*Topics 1, 2, and 3 at Sorenson Farm and topics 4, 5, and 6 at AEA Farm.
 
Cost:  $5/person

Contacts:       Mike Fiscus, 515-290-3809
                        Dave Starrett, 515-290-6203
                        Richard VanDePol, 515-291-1959 
                        Mark Honeyman, 515-294-4621