ROCKPORT, Mo. — The University of Missouri Graves Chapple Extension Center in northwest Missouri will be holding its annual Field Day Aug. 27 with an emphasis on agricultural techniques.
Three tours will be held in the morning followed by lunch, according to a news release from Extension. The tours will focus on pest management, technology and crop management. The free event will feature speakers including MU Extension experts.
“The amount of data that can be collected using drones and autonomous robots is incredible,” Graves Chapple director Jim Crawford said in a statement. “How we can use the data we collect to help growers make the right decisions for how they run their businesses is the next key piece of the puzzle. We are confident that using this data will help growers improve their productivity and profitability.”
The field day begins with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. The first tour begins at 8:15 a.m. and the last tour departs at 11:15 a.m. Lunch is served at noon.
Kevin Bradley – Considering Weed Management Beyond 2025Mandy Bish – Tar Spot, Southern Rust, and Other Diseases of Corn and SoybeanWayne Flanary – Researching Biological ProductsMichelle Maile – USDA Crop Research with EarthSense TerraSentia RobotsTrace Thompson and Jesse Rogers – Herbicides and Drones: Are We There Yet?Kent Shannon – AI in Agriculture – What Does All of This Mean?Zack Leasor – Weather Forecasting and Real-Time Local MonitoringBen Brown – Farm Economics – How Much Worse Is It Going to Get?Leon McIntyre – How to Grow Hybrid CornAndre Froes de Borja Reis – In-Season Management Tools for Soybeans: Yield Estimates and Growth ReportsJuo-Han Tsay – Missouri Farmland Prices and Rental Outlook
“It's important to know what technologies are out there and what can make or save you money,” said Steve Clute, chairman of the Graves Chapple Advisory Board. Clute grows corn and soybeans on 2,000 acres in Atchison County and uses some of the latest technology, including shutoff valves on planters and sprayers and drones to apply herbicides and fungicides.
The University of Missouri's Monarch autonomous electric tractor will be pulling a tourist wagon to demonstrate its capabilities, Crawford said.
The Graves-Chapple Extension and Education Center is located at 201 US Highway 136, Rock Port, MO 64482.
