PORTAGEVILLE, MO. – A huge crowd took in the festivities during the 54th annual Fisher Delta Research Center Field Day on Wednesday, Sept. 2.

US Sen. Roy Blunt speaks during the 54th annual Fisher Delta Research Center Field Day, which was held Wednesday, Sept. 2.

More than 1,200 guests attended the event, which showcased the numerous research going on at the Center.

“We enjoyed great attendance at the 2015 Field Day breakfast, on our research tours and for our FFA Vo-Ag day,” Director Trent Haggard said. “The research team did a great job of getting the word out, preparing first-class tours and highlighting exciting research that will help feed and clothe the world.”

Presentations on the various crops grown in the delta – rice, cotton, corn and soybeans – were heard by guests. The Field Day theme was “Delta Agriculture on the Move.” The day was spent looking at what makes the delta so unique, especially its soil and available water. That soil is highly productive and extremely prolific. The easily accessible irrigation water makes the future of delta agriculture very bright.

Bob Walters and Moneen Jones speak about the Missouri bee population during the 54th annual Fisher Delta Research Center Field Day.

“Tour goers were treated to cotton and rice variety trials, where they could view all available lines, side-by-side, growing in our environment,” Haggard said. “They heard about new high-productive lines of soybeans being bred at our Center. Many also found the cropping systems research, which highlighted variable rate corn and bean seeding, paired with variable rate nitrogen and irrigation, to be the most interesting topic.”

Producers heard presentations on current and future weed technology available to help them fight weed challenges in their own fields. Many of the tours included ways to maximize water use while also minimizing soil and nutrient run-off.

Research on the Missouri bee population was also heard during the event.

During Wednesday’s breakfast, guests heard from United States Sen. Roy Blunt, along with several others. Former Fisher Delta Superintendent Jake Fisher was also honored during the event.

To view pictures of the event, visit flickr.com/photos/cafnr/albums/72157655842605024.

The Fisher Delta Research Center is located in Portageville, Mo. For more information about the Research Center, call 573-379-5431 or email HaggardT@missouri.edu. You can also visit their website at delta.cafnr.org/.