OSU Caddo Research Station Peanut and Cotton Field Tour Sept. 21

Thursday, September 7, 2017

Cotton and peanut producers looking to employ the latest research-based best management practices and most up-to-date products should plan to attend the Sept. 21 Oklahoma State University Caddo Research Station Peanut and Cotton Field Tour in Ft. Cobb.

“Oklahoma peanut and cotton acreage is way up in 2017 and crop conditions have generally been outstanding,” said John Damicone, OSU Cooperative Extension plant pathologist. “Producers looking at harvest and post-harvest decision-making should take advantage of the field tour where they can gain valuable insights about proven practices and available products. Knowledge is an investment useful to every operation.”

The field tour is free-of-charge. Pre-registration is not required. Dinner will be provided at no charge to participants at about 7 p.m. The tour is being sponsored by the Oklahoma Peanut Commission, National Peanut Board, USDA Agricultural Research Service and OSU’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, of which the research station is a part.

“A peanut-blasting clinic will begin at 3 p.m. and peanut producers are encouraged to bring samples from their fields to assess crop maturity that can assist in determining a timely harvest date,” Damicone said. “Around 5 p.m. we will tour research and demonstration plots with insights being provided by OSU and USDA experts.”

Tour stop topics and expert speakers will include:
● Researchers Kelly Chamberlain and Rebecca Bennett of USDA-ARS will provide the latest information on peanut variety development;
● Todd Baughman, OSU program leader for DASNR’s Institute of Agricultural Biosciences in Ardmore, will lead a discussion about weed control in peanut plots;
● Damicone will provide the latest insights about disease control in peanuts; and
● Randy Boman, director of and cotton program leader for DASNR’s Southwest Research and Extension Center in Altus, will share the latest information about cotton cropping systems and varieties.

“One of the more exciting things for peanut producers is the great yield improvements in available varieties, even over just a decade ago, to go along with increased disease resistance,” said Ron Sholar, OPC executive director. “Improved varieties have the potential to greatly reduce input costs, which are always a concern for an operation’s bottom line.”

Field tour sponsors include ACG Materials, BASF Ag products, DuPont Crop Protection, Golden Peanuts, Helena Chemical Company and Verdesian Life Sciences.

“Participants will have the opportunity to hear from and interact with field tour sponsors during dinner,” Damicone said.

Anyone seeking additional information about the Sept. 21 Caddo Research Station Peanut and Cotton Field Tour should contact Damicone by email at john.damicone@okstate.edu or by phone at 405-743-7968.

The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service and Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station system are state agencies administered by the OSU Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. They represent two-thirds of the university’s state and federally mandated “teaching, research and Extension” land-grant mission.