September 13, 2004

Field day to include talks on organics, pest control

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University experts will offer producers and interested agriculturalists an opportunity to learn more about organic production and pest control on Saturday (Sept. 18) at the Horticulture and Alternative Agriculture Field Day.

"Since organic production is such a growing niche market, we have started some research plots at Meigs Farm, and we will make those available for viewing at the field day," said Jay Young, superintendent of Throckmorton Purdue Ag Center. "We have research plots on organic and standard apple production as well as grape and rose plots."

The event is sponsored by the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service and will take place at Meigs Farm, located at the Throckmorton-Purdue Agricultural Center in Lafayette, Ind. Directions to the farm are available online.

The field day is free and open to the public. Hours for the event are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The field day will be canceled if it is raining that day.

During the event, agricultural experts will discuss organic apple and vegetable production, weed management techniques and controlling Japanese beetles.

"For participants interested in hearing more about how to keep the Japanese beetles from damaging your roses, Dr. Cliff Sadof will present a number of options for control," said Rick Foster, coordinator of the event and a professor of entomology. "Some of the options will be nontoxic materials ideally suited for homeowners."

There also will be an information booth sponsored by the Plant and Pest Diagnostic Laboratory about exotic pests, such as emerald ash borer and gypsy moths, as well as a walking tour of the farm's wetlands.

In addition, wagon tours of the farm, including stops at organic plots and other sections of the farm, will run every half hour from 10 a.m. to noon. The last tour wagon will leave at 11:30 a.m.

For more information contact Young at (765) 538-3422 or Foster at (765) 494-9572.

Writer: Meggie Issler, (765) 494-8402, missler@purdue.edu

Sources: Jay Young, (765) 538-3422, jayyoung@purdue.edu

Rick Foster, (765) 494-9572, rfoster@purdue.edu

Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722; Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
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