Western Ag Research Center Field Day to showcase work supporting MT farmers

The public is welcome to enjoy free food and a farm tour at the Montana State University’s Western Agricultural Research Center as part of their annual Field Day on Thursday, Aug. 14.

Researchers and students at the center just outside Corvallis will share agricultural methods which can be applied to home gardens or farms, like effective weed management to cut the labor costs on organic vegetable farms, according to a statement released by the center.

Chair of the Montana Berry Growers Association Christie Walsh said in a statement the center collaborates with Montana fruit growers to develop new research-based methods for fruit productions.

“The work that WARC does diversifies Montana agriculture,” Walsh said. “The field day offers a unique opportunity to gain knowledge and perspective on these crops in Montana.”

Center research which will be discussed also includes how to improve production practices for onion and garlic growers, the shelf-life for high quality fruit like Honeyberry, optimizing fruit processing for cost-effectiveness, whether cowpeas could serve as pest management, irrigation of apple trees and grape vineyard management practices to increase quality and quantity of grapes.

The event will feature free burgers with beef from Bar MW in Corvallis, salads from Mineshaft Pasty Co. and a special Big Dipper Ice Cream with honeyberries and black currants. It runs from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

MSU-WARC is the main fruit and vegetable research center in Montana. And once a year, MSU-WARC invites the public to dinner and a farm tour where the researchers and collaborators share information about the research projects.

A wide variety of crops are studied every year to address questions and concerns from farmers, producers and homeowners funded largely by USDA Specialty Crop Block grants. From identifying effective weed management practices that cut labor cost on organic vegetable farms to pioneering research on Haskap/ AKA honeyberries, MSU-WARC is focused on answers that address the needs of MT growers.