The University of Minnesota Southwest Research and Outreach Center (SWROC), Lamberton will hold an insect and disease research plot tour the afternoon of Friday, September 9th from 1-4 pm.

Rather than trying to decipher pages of boring numbers you will have an opportunity to view the end of season plant status in several of the research trials here. Treatments will be signed and this tour is intended to allow producers and ag professionals to visually compare insect and disease control treatments. If you are interested in seeing first-hand the results of soybean disease control (fungicide) in the absence of rust, want a chance to discuss a post mortem analysis of this years aphid situation or just want to see what we've been up to with corn and soybean research at the SWROC, this is your opportunity.

Tour stops highlight a portion of the research projects funded by the MN Soybean Research and Promotion Council, MN Corn Growers, MN Rapid Ag Response and Ag industry and include:

1. A comparison of most of the fungicides labeled for soybean rust at several timings. Although rust is not likely to be present we may or may not see some growth differences.
2. A comparison of fungicide applications for soybean foliar disease control and plant health at several timings and on three widely ranging maturities.
3. High input soybeans. Seed and foliar applied insect and disease control. Can prophylactic treatments pay?
4. Soybean seed applied insecticide and fungicide trials and foliar insecticide trials. Can plant differences be observed as a result?
5. Do fungicides increase soybean aphid populations? Fungicide and insecticides were applied to sub-economic aphid populations. Were aphid populations increased as a result of reducing entomopathogenic fungi with fungicide applications?
6. Corn and soybean planting date studies. Where does yield come from?
7. High yield corn and soybean research. Can managing crops under high fertility and intensive management improve profitability?

The University of Minnesota Extension Service, with support from the University of Minnesota Rapid Response Fund and the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, has chartered two coach buses that will travel Southern Minnesota on two different routes, making several stops to board participants.

One route will start at 9 am in Waseca at the Southern Research and Outreach Center and travel along U.S. Hwy 14 making stops in North Mankato at Arnold’s Implements (10 am) and in New Ulm at Runnings Farm & Fleet (10:55 am). The second bus will start in Hutchinson at 9:30 am at the McLeod County Fairgrounds and travel highways 212 and 71 stopping in Brownton at the Brownton Co-op Ag Center (9:55 am), in Buffalo Lake at Farmers Coop Elevator Company (10:20 am), Hector at the Cenex Gas Station (10:35 am), Olivia at the Renville Co. Courthouse (11:00 am), in Redwood Falls at Tersteeg’s Holiday Super Market (11:35 am).

Following the field tour, buses will load to return home at approximately 3:30 pm. Time of bus stops is approximate and, buses will stop for about 5-10 minutes (make sure to arrive a little early to allow the buses to stay on schedule).

Included with the free bus tour will be refreshments, and the opportunity to purchase a noon lunch for $5. Seating is limited, so reserve your seat now!

For Waseca bus seats call: Cindy Weber 1-888-241-0718
And for Hutchinson seats call: Janel Zimmerman 1-888-241-3207

Contact Molly Werner at werne022@tc.umn.edu or 507-752-5062 for information on the Insect and Disease Research Tour.