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WIU School of Agriculture Research Technician Andy Clayton (seated on the tractor) and attendees of the WIU Allison Farm Field Day in 2013.
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WIU School of Ag's Joel Gruver, assistant professor and the director of Western's organic research program, addresses attendees of the 2013 Allison Farm Field Day.
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WIU Allison Farm Field Day Set for August 14; Speakers to Discuss Crop Health and Quality

August 4, 2014

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MACOMB, IL — Monitoring and Managing Crop Health and Quality is the theme of the 2014 Western Illinois University School of Agriculture's Allison Farm Field Day program. Set from 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 14, the annual event will take place at the Dakin Farm and WIU's Allison Organic Research and Demonstration Farm, located in Warren County about 20 minutes north of Macomb.

"Insights on this year's theme will be shared by a crop consultant, a crop breeder and a grain processor," said WIU School of Ag's Joel Gruver, assistant professor and the director of Western's organic research program.

Gruver will also deliver a presentation and will moderate a farmer panel discussion featuring successful organic grain farmers in the region. They keynote presentation will be delivered by John Kempf of Advancing Eco-Agriculture.

"He will explore relationships between crop nutrition and crop health with an emphasis on field and laboratory methods of monitoring crop nutritional status. Additional speakers will include Dr. Walter Goldstein of the Mandaamin Institute and John Pape of World Food Processing," he added.

Events are set to start at 9:30 a.m. at the Dakin Farm shop, located three-quarters of a mile south of the Allison Farm, and a free lunch featuring local farm products will be served between noon-1 p.m. Those who plan to attend the luncheon are requested to register (for meal-planning purposes) by Monday, Aug. 11 by contacting the School of Agriculture at (309) 298-1080.

At approximately 1:30 p.m., the program will transition to the Allison Farm, where a walking tour of research and production fields, as well as an equipment demonstration, will take place (weather permitting).

For more information, contact WIU School of Agriculture Research Technician Andy Clayton at (309) 298-1172 or (217) 322-2639 or the WIU School of Agriculture's main office at (309) 298-1080.

Learn more about the annual Allison Farm Field Day event at www.wiu.edu/cbt/agriculture/farms/organic/field-day.php.

Directions to the Dakin Farm shop (130 20th St., Roseville, IL)
If arriving from the north, travel on Rt. 67 five miles south of the Rt. 67 and Rt. 116 intersection in Roseville to County Rd. 20th Ave. N, then turn west and travel four miles on 20th Ave. to the southeast corner of the Allison Farm (intersection of 20th Ave. and 20th St.). Turn left and proceed south 0.7 miles on 20th St. to the Dakin Farm shop.

If arriving from the south, travel on Rt. 67 seven miles north of the Rt. 67 and Rt. 9 intersection in Good Hope to County Rd. 20th Ave. N, then turn west and travel four miles on 20th Ave. to the southeast corner of the Allison Farm (intersection of 20th Ave. and 20th St.). Turn left and proceed south 0.7 miles on 20th St. to the Dakin Farm shop.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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