The Flickner Innovation Farm will host a field day on Aug. 10 to highlight current work by local producers, national and state industry members, and Kansas State University researchers to effectively manage weeds through technology and precision ag management strategies.
The event will take place at different venues in the Moundridge area and will feature technology demonstrations and experts speaking on soil health, cover crops, weed suppression, and weed management.
The program begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m. The event is free and lunch will be provided. More information, including registration, is available online from the Kansas Center for Agricultural Resources and the Environment.
“In the last few years, there have been some pretty big advances when it comes to tackling weeds on the farm,” said Ray Flickner, owner and operator of the Flickner Innovation Farm. “We’re looking forward to sharing these technologies so people can see first-hand how these things can perform in the field.”
Participants will be able to observe such systems as a John Deere See and Spray Ultimate and a Redekop Harvest Weed Seed Control. In addition to these technologies, two Kansas-based companies will be on hand to exhibit their products. Greenfield Robotics will demonstrate the use of its Weedbot system, and RowShaver will have its product on site (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Greenfield Robotics operates two of its fleet of Weedbots at the Flickner Innovation Farm in Moundridge, Kansas. Photo by K-State Research and Extension.
Weeds use valuable resources that row crops need to thrive. Climate, chemical resistance, and other factors can lead to problems for farmers who try to manage the problem. According to K-State researchers, there are no “one-and-done” solutions for weeds.
“Weed management is an ongoing challenge that requires a range of tactics to support traditional broadcast herbicide applications. The Flickner field day will give farmers an opportunity to learn about many strategies to diversity their weed management tools,” said Sarah Lancaster, a K-State Research and Extension weed science specialist.
The Flickner Innovation Farm is a partnership between the Flickner family, university agronomists, commodity groups, and industry leaders. Together, they are conducting studies in a large-farm setting to identify the most efficient technologies and techniques for Kansas producers to use on their own farms.
Melissa Harvey, Kansas Center for Agricultural Resources and the Environment
mharvey@ksu.edu