More than 140 farmers, educators, consultants, and researchers gathered at the Musgrave Research Farm in Aurora, New York on August 3 to learn about the latest Cornell grain and forage crop research.
The event featured tours of research plots and presentations on a variety of topics, including:
Weed management options for corn and soybeans as farmers face increasing restrictions on the popular herbicide atrazine.
Ways to use data to better manage crops, with a focus on Cornell's Farm of the Future project.
Research on how to use manure more efficiently and protect water resources from nutrient runoff.
Studies on how to plant corn directly into a standing rye cover crop and how timing of cover crop termination affects corn pests and diseases.
Accelerated breeding of climate-resilient crop varieties and increasing soil health and reducing greenhouse gas emissions on dairy farms.
Margaret Smith, director of the Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station (Cornell AES) and CALS associate dean, said that field crops are the largest sector of crop agriculture in New York. She added that having a research facility like Musgrave, which represents soils and growing conditions for a large portion of the state, is essential to the success of Cornell and its stakeholders. She also expressed her delight in having the opportunity to showcase the research being done there.
The Musgrave Research Farm is one of several research farms operated by Cornell AES. The farms provide a place for Cornell researchers to test new crop varieties and management practices under real-world conditions. The research conducted at these farms helps Cornell to develop new technologies and practices that can be used to improve crop yields and profitability, while also protecting the environment.
The field day at Musgrave Research Farm was a great opportunity for farmers and other stakeholders to learn about the latest research being conducted at Cornell. The event also provided a chance for researchers to get feedback from the people who will be using their research.
Photo Credit: Cornell University
Categories: New York, Crops, Corn, Education