Dr. Jim Orf, the University of Minnesota Soybean Breeder, will discuss soybean varieties currently under test at each of the research locations. Information about the trials will appear in the Minnesota Varietal Trials Results booklet to be published early in the winter. Results of soybean varieties from last year can be found at:

http://www.maes.umn.edu/maespubs/vartrial/pdfpubs/2005soy.pdf  

Dr. Orf will also address quality issues related to soybean, breeding outlook for the near future, specialty soybeans, iron chlorosis and soybean diseases.

At the Roseau and Thief River Falls locations Dr. Hans Kandel will share information on a soybean disease survey conducted throughout NW MN and he will show different Niger varieties which are being tested at the same locations. Dr. Phillip Glogoza will provide a soybean aphid update at the Shelly and Kragnes locations. Also, Nathan Johnson, Regional Center Director (at Roseau) and Howard Person, Marshall and Pennington Extension Educator (at Thief River), Ray Bisek Norman and Mahnomen County Extension Educator (Shelly) and Rick Abrahamson Clay County Extension Educator (Kragnes) will provide local crop updates. The event is organized by the University of Minnesota Extension Service.

Tuesday August 30th

Roseau the plot tour will start at 4:30 p.m., on the Richard Magnusson Farm one mile west of Roseau along HWY 11. There is plot sign near the road.

Wednesday August 31st

Thief River Falls tour will start at 9:30 a.m. From Thief River Falls go East on Highway #1 past Northland College 1.25 miles, turn south and go 0.75 miles on Johnson Drive. (Farmed by Lyle Olson.)
St Hilaire The second stop of the tour will be at 11 a.m. at the Croplan Genetics / Harvest States Trial location 1.5 miles North of St. Hilaire along HWY 32. A number of soybean varieties will be discussed by agronomists Paul Gregor and Terry Sonju.

Shelly tour will start 2:00 p.m. on the Swensen Farm. The plots are located 1 mile N of Shelly on Hwy 75, then 1 mile east.

Kragnes tour will start 4:30 p.m. on the Alvin Swanson Farm located I mile N of Kragnes, then 2 miles west on 11th (or Co Rd 99). After the tour refreshments of brats, baked beans, chips and pop will be served by the Clay - Wilken Soybean Grower Association.

For detailed information about each tour see

 http://www.prairieagcomm.com/calendar/calendar.cfm