Second annual *twilight* conservation tillage field day

The Conservation Tillage and Cropping Systems Institute will hold its second annual twilight field tour and barbecue from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, at the UC West Side Research and Extension Center, 17353 W. Oakland Ave., Five Points.

Participants will learn how San Joaquin Valley farmers are using overhead, mechanized, automated irrigation and conservation tillage to cut production costs. Overhead irrigation and conservation tillage also have the potential to improve soil quality, save water and cut back on agricultural dust emissions.

The late afternoon program will include research updates on trials with wheat, corn, tomatoes, onions, cotton and broccoli. Industry presenters will discuss the basics of water delivery devices and initial design and operation considerations for center pivot irrigation systems. Updates on the profitability and impacts of conservation tillage cotton and tomato production systems on soil properties will also be provided by UC and CSU Fresno researchers.

During the barbeque dinner, recipients of the 2011 Conservation Tillage Farmer Innovator Awards will be announced. This year’s session will also feature a number of awards for private sector innovation in CT and irrigation. A farmer panel composed of Armando Galvan, Darrell Cordova, Scott Schmidt and John Diener will discuss recent farm experiences with overhead irrigation and the evening will wrap up with a farm visit to one of the pivots of Scott Schmidt at Farming ‘D.’

For more information, contact institute chair Jeff Mitchell at mitchell@uckac.edu.

JM TwilightBBQ2011

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