Cereal Field Day - July 15.

The Cereal Field Day was conducted at the UI Aberdeen R&E Center on July 15.



Olga Walsh, Cropping Systems Agronomist and Extension Specialist, UI Parma R&E Center, discussed the precision sensing project conducted in collaboration with Juliet Marshall, Chad Jackson  and Todd Shelman (Aberdeen R&E Center). The project funded by the Idaho Wheat Commission, involves the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for collection of aerial images from spring wheat extension nursery plots at 4 eastern ID locations (Rupert, Aberdeen, Ashton, and Soda Springs). The industry partners - Kristin Swoboda and Craig Thompson of Take Flight LLC, Nampa/Boise, ID, are providing technical support associated with the UAS flights and data collection.

 Jianli Chen, Wheat Breeder, UI Aberdeen R&E Center, and Xi Liang, Cropping Systems Specialist, UI Aberdeen R&E Center, have discussed the wheat varieties being tested and to be released this year. They also explained how the plant physiological parameters accessed mid-season help to identify higher yielding varieties with best end-use quality.

 Arash Rashed, Ecological Entomology Specialist, UI Aberdeen R&E Center, gave an overview of common cereal pests causing damage and spreading diseases, including several varieties of aphids, wireworms, and cereal leaf beetles.
 

 Frank Curtis, Chief Operating Officer, Limagrain Cereal Seed, had discussed the current varieties evaluated and released by the company.

Juliet Marshall, Cereal Cropping Systems Specialist and Pathologist, gave an overview of wheat and barley varieties currently being tested by the University of Idaho researchers.