K-State to host first-ever live virtual wheat field day May 27-28

University taking program online

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State University will host its first-ever live Virtual Wheat Field Day on the evenings of Wed., May 27 and Thurs., May 28.

In a twist on the typical wheat field day that Kansas farmers often attend, K-State Research and Extension will host a two-part wheat field day live on YouTube to update growers and others on the most recent crop advances and challenges while keeping producers safe from COVID-19, said Romulo Lollato, extension wheat specialist.

The May 27-28 Virtual Wheat Field Day 2020, which Lollato said is really two “field evenings,” begins at 7 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m. each evening. Agriculture Today radio host Eric Atkinson will moderate the program. The format will allow for questions from the audience.

Growers are encouraged to attend one or both evenings on YouTube live at separate links:  May 27 session and May 28 session.

The program, with each speaker presenting from their own homes, includes:

May 27

• Welcome and introduction – Eric Atkinson, host of Agriculture Today radio show
• State of the 2020 Kansas wheat crop and variety selection in different parts of Kansas – Romulo Lollato, K-State extension agronomist
• Diseases in the 2020 Kansas wheat crop; selecting varieties with disease resistance in mind – Erick DeWolf, K-State plant pathologist
• Variety performance and selection in western Kansas - Lucas Haag, K-State northwest area agronomist
• Introduction: New K-State extension wheat pathologist – Kelsey Andersen
• Discussion panel with questions from the audience – Eric Atkinson

May 28

• Welcome and introduction – Eric Atkinson
• Current and upcoming K-State varieties for central Kansas – Allan Fritz, K-State wheat breeder;
• Current and upcoming K-State varieties for western Kansas – Guorong Zhang, K-State wheat breeder
• Variety performance and selection in central Kansas – Stu Duncan, K-State northeast area extension agronomist
• Overview of Kansas Wheat Commission-sponsored research - Aaron Harries, KWC
• Discussion panel with questions from the audience – Eric Atkinson

More information is available by contacting Lollato at lollato@ksu.edu or 785-477-4644.

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FOR PRINT PUBLICATIONS: Links used in this story

May 27 K-State Virtual Wheat Field Day:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnD12lADM3E&feature=youtu.be

May 28 K-State Virtual Wheat Field Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrF3F2yqJpc&feature=youtu.be

K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county extension offices, experiment fields, area extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan. For more information, visit www.ksre.ksu.edu

For more information:

Romulo Lollato

lollato@ksu.edu

785-477-4644