Summer Tours Of Montana Ag Field Days Return

The public is invited back to the seven MSU Agriculture Research Centers throughout Montana this summer. The 2021 "in-person" Field Days were cancelled last year, due to COVID-19 concerns. However, the research has continued and the centers all have new information to present on this annual event.

The Montana State University College of Agriculture and the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station released the schedule of the field days at Corvallis, Conrad, Creston, Havre, Huntley, Moccasin and Sidney. Each center has studies specific to the region they serve. For instance, the research center in the Bitterroot Valley has been known for its work on fruits, including apples. Old orchards still exist in Ravalli County from the Apple Boom in the last century. The Corvallis center will be the concluding tour on the schedule, July 29 at 4:30 p.m. You can see a recent video from the center here.

Here's the list:

• June 29 - 3 p.m., Northern Agricultural Research Center in Havre.
• June 30 - 3 p.m., Southern Agricultural Research Center in Huntley.
• July 8 - 8 a.m., Arthur H Post Agronomy Farm in Bozeman.
• July 13 - 8:50 a.m. Central Agricultural Research Center in Moccasin.
• July 14 - 10 a.m., Western Triangle Agricultural Research Center in Conrad.
• July 15 - 11 a.m., Northwestern Agricultural Research Center in Creston.
• July 20 - 9 a.m., Eastern Agricultural Research Center in Sidney.
• July 29 - 4:30 p.m., Western Agricultural Research Center in Corvallis.

The events are all outdoors and offer topics and displays of such things as crop variety testing and breeding, livestock production, water and pesticide use and fruit production. the field days are free to the public.

Darrin Boss of the Department of Research Centers said in a news release, "We are so excited to be bringing back our in-person field days this year. These events are always a highlight for all of us because they offer one of our best chances to meet with out stakeholders and community members, share our research activities and hear their thoughts and questions."