Summer is field day season at the UW–Madison CALS Agricultural Research Stations. Over the course of the growing season, the stations will host more than a dozen public events to share research updates and educational information with agricultural professionals, home gardeners and others.

And this summer is special, as it marks 175 years since the founding of the University of Wisconsin. UW–Madison has embarked on a year-long anniversary celebration (175.wisc.edu), and, in honor of this important occasion, CALS field days will recognize our past achievements in addition to our current and future innovations.

For instance, in the late 1990s, UW–Madison researchers joined the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association and the World Wildlife Fund on a collaborative project to grow potatoes in an environmentally sensitive way. This partnership resulted in the Healthy Grown brand of potatoes. In this undated photo, Deana Sexson, a field coordinator for the project with the UW–Madison Department of Horticulture, holds a bag of Healthy Grown potatoes.

Below is a list of some of this season’s field day offerings. Events are free unless otherwise noted.

Stations will make a reasonable effort to provide accommodations for field day participants with disabilities when notified in advance. To request a disability accommodation, please contact 
ars_accommodation@cals.wisc.edu or call (608) 846-3750 ext. 3 at least 10 days in advance of the event. Efforts will be made to meet same-day requests to the extent possible.

UW Potato Research Field Day – Hancock
July 13, 2023, 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Hancock Agricultural Research Station, N3909 County Road V, Hancock, WI
This field day features updates for the state’s potato industry on variety trials; disease, insect and weed management field experiments; and crop storage research. Following this year’s field day, a celebration will be held to honor the 75^th anniversary of the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA). The event will bring together WPVGA Hall of Fame members and past presidents, alongside UW–Madison emeritus professors, to recognize their collaborative research efforts to improve potato growing in Wisconsin’s Central Sands region. A free BBQ dinner and refreshments will be provided, sponsored by the WPVGA Associate Division. For more information, contact hancock@cals.wisc.edu.

Focus on Conservation Field Day – Marshfield
July 19, 2023, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Marshfield Agricultural Research Station, 208356 Drake Ave, Stratford, WI 54484
This field day features demonstrations and discussions about interseeding cover crops, manure composting, grazing heifers, establishing and maintaining pollinator habitats and incentive program for farmers implementing conservation practices. Lunch is provided courtesy of the Nature Conservancy. Reservations are required by July 10. Contact sarah.pleet@wisc.edu or call (715) 687-4624.

Wisconsin Turfgrass Association Summer Field Day – Verona
August 1, 2023, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
O.J. Noer Turfgrass Research and Education Facility, 2502 S. Pleasant View Road, Verona, WI
This field day, organized by the Wisconsin Turfgrass Association and the station, features morning sessions on general turfgrass management and lawn care. After a lunch break, the focus shifts to golf turf management. Registration costs $45. For more information, visit https://wisconsinturfgrassassociation.org/wisconsin-turfgrass-summer-field-day/ or contact ojnoer@cals.wisc.edu.

Garden Tour – Hancock
August 10, 2023, 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.Hancock Agricultural Research Station, N3909 County Road V, Hancock, WI
This garden open house is a family-friendly event, offering tours of the station’s babbling brook, vegetable garden and many other new additions. There will be an ice cream truck, live music, activities for kids, and wagon tours of the research farm. For more information, contact hancock@cals.wisc.edu.

Hemp Research Field Day – Arlington
August 17, 2023, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Arlington Agricultural Research Station, N695 Hopkins Road, Arlington, WI
This field day highlights hemp-related research conducted by UW–Madison scientists, including variety trials for grain/fiber yield and cannabinoid levels, companion cropping systems, pest diagnostics and much more. Please register at https://go.wisc.edu/hempfieldday. For more information, contact Phil Alberti at palberti@wisc.edu.

Twilight Garden Tour – Spooner
August 24, 2023, 4:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Spooner Agricultural Research Station, 780 Orchard Lane, Spooner, WI
This popular event, hosted by the UW–Madison Division of Extension and the station, features guest speakers, demonstrations, displays and vegetable tastings. UW specialists and local experts will be on hand to answer gardening questions. For more information, contact spooner@cals.wisc.edu.

Fungi Festival – Woodruff
August 25-26, 2023
Kemp Natural Resources Station, 9161 Kemp Road, Woodruff, WI
This festival is for anyone interested in the fabulous world of fungi. On Friday evening, there will be a cooking demonstration featuring mushrooms, as well as presentations on fungi basics, common Northwoods fungi and the important role these organisms play in the forest. Saturday morning begins with a “foray” to collect wild mushrooms, followed by extensive discussion about the morning’s collections. For more information, visit https://kemp.wisc.edu/outreach/ or contact kemp@cals.wisc.edu.

UW Agronomy and Soils Field Day – Arlington
August 30, 2023, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Arlington Agricultural Research Station, N695 Hopkins Road, Arlington, WI
This field day highlights crops and soils research conducted by UW–Madison scientists, including field plot tours of current research projects. This year’s theme is “integrating new ag technologies,” with presentations centering around new technologies for field crops, pest management and nutrient management, plus alfalfa interseeded into corn silage. Lunch is available for $10, sponsored by the Wisconsin Association of Professional Agricultural Consultants. More information at https://go.wisc.edu/agronomysoilsinfo. Please register at https://go.wisc.edu/agronomysoilsregister.

UW Organic Agriculture Research Field Day – Arlington
August 31, 2023, 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Arlington Agricultural Research Station, N695 Hopkins Road, Arlington, WI
This field day features the latest UW–Madison research related to organic grains and forage. Specific topics will include organic strip-till corn, dry beans, Kernza, roller-crimped soybeans, sunflowers, camelina-soybean relay cropping, and interseeding crops into 30- and 60-inch corn. More information and registration at  https://ograin.cals.wisc.edu/ograin-events/2023-ograin-field-days/.