Today has been a very busy day. It was business as usual and then I left the studio and headed to Tremont to film our next episode of Growmark Gleanings (which will begin airing July 1). Then I was ”Eastbound and Down” to Downs, IL for a tour of the Beck’s Hybrids PFR (Practical Farm Research) to 
visit with my friend Jason Webster. Jason heads the research at the farm. Over the past few years I have learned a lot from my talks with him (remember – I am an animal science girl that has recently found her love of agronomy). It seems like there is always something new to learn. Especially when you’re a producer (and me, too!).
The name Practical Farm Research pretty much speaks for itself. It is Practical Farm Research. Its purpose? To serve the growing demand of information that producers want. Part of the goal? Give producers the tools they need to make the best decisions for their farms. With 300 dedicated acres and multiple field trials and studies there is plenty of information for a producer to digest. (You can view the results from the 2009 Practical Farm Research HERE).
With all of this talk I wanted to see for myself. We’ve been there on remote but when we’re there I never have time to tour and to hear what is going on at the PFR. I feel like I don’t get to fully experience it. I’ve been told for months that I should come for a tour… Today’s weather was great – I was already out… I thought why not? Today was a perfect day to be on a farm. Warm and sunny.
When I got to the farm Jason and his interns (whose names I didn’t catch) were working on the sprayer. Oh the days of internships. They finished up and off we went. Jason and I got on the Mule and began our tour of the farm. As we drove back to our first stop Jason pointed out Twin-Row corn and soybeans (we’re going back at one point this summer so we can learn more about those test plots). 
We stopped at a soybean field – Jason pointed out the correlation between the soybean root and the color of the flower (nothing majorly scientific – but definitely something interesting). This spring has already presented challenges – ones that we are starting to get used to after the past few years and he took time to point out some yellowing of the bottom leaves of the soybean plant (the unifoliolate) but other than that the soybeans in that particular plot looked very healthy.
On the opposite side of the soybean plot were rows upon rows of corn. Personally, I think the beauty of a corn field is often taken for granted. I am certain there isn’t a more beautiful sight (but again, that is simply my opinion). Jason pulled apart a stalk of corn to show the stage. (See the picture slide show to see if you can identify the stage of corn). We continued our tour of the grounds and looked at more research. We saw anything from Nitrogen studies for corn on corn to Nitrogen studies on first year corn. The amount of Nitrogen increases as you move west along the plot and you can definitely see the difference in the crops.
One of the fun studies on display is the Hail study. Jason allows his interns to mutilate the corn stands with a weed whacker at differing stages of development to see how it recovers and develops. It really was an incredible day. I learned a lot. I got a lot of great photos and on a side note continued to develop the really awesome tan lines on my feet (not kidding).
Beck’s Illinois PFR Field Show is coming up in August (August 18th to be exact). If you want to find out more information about the Field Show click HERE.
Today was an awesome day. When I left – Jason’s day wasn’t finished… He was off to mark plots and if it was dry enough attempt to spray. I always thought I had long days.. But I think his surpass mine. I am always excited to learn and enjoy learning from people who are passionate about their field.
I appreciate the opportunity to tour the PFR today and it was awesome to be out in the field.. With this weeks (or month at the rate we’re going) view from the cab…
