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QA’s Extension slated to host Combine and Root Dig Day
7.29.2008
By STEPHANIE JORDAN
Associate Editor
QUEENSTOWN, Md. — The Wye Research and Education Center (WREC) and Queen Anne’s County Cooperative Extension will host a Combine and Root Dig Field Day on Aug. 7 beginning at 10 a.m.
Jenny Rhodes, ag agent for Queen Anne’s County, said it was decided to do this field day because last year, they did a lot of corn samples for the National Corn Growers Association. They saw a lot of corn being left in the field because combines were not set properly.
Marion Calmer, of Calmer Combine, will begin the day by showing attendees how to set their combine properly, including what to do with the head.
Attendees will be served lunch at noon, and then at 1 p.m., they will view four plots at the Wye and participate in a corn root dig. Rhodes said the three- to four-feet deep pit already will be dug, and that attendees will be able to view the exposed corn roots.
The purpose of the root dig is so that attendees will see the impact of compaction and no-till ripped on roots.
Rhodes said it will be a valuable experience for everyone. She said there are farmers who have opted not to do no-till rip this year because rising fuel prices make it expensive, and the root dig will help farmers decide if the expense is worth it.
This field day will help farmers learn what their corn roots are doing, and how that could help increase farm profits.
The event will be held at the WREC farm. For more information or to register for the event, contact Rhodes at 410-758-0166 or jrhodes@umd.edu. Rhodes requests that those who are interested in attending register by Monday, Aug. 4.