The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Agronomy Days series officially kicked off in May, providing Illinois farmers with the opportunity to discover the latest agronomic breakthroughs. Events will continue throughout the summer to showcase new research findings, demonstrate updated management practices, and help others learn from experts in the Department of Crop Sciences and Illinois Extension, both part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at Illinois.

“We’re off to a great start this summer,” said Nick Seiter, assistant professor and faculty Extension specialist in crop sciences. “Our small grains day in May was a great success, and we’re looking forward to a full calendar of events all the way into August.”

On June 25, farmers can learn what works best to control weeds in corn and soybean fields, while getting an early look at some new herbicide products not yet released to the public. The Weed Science Field Research Tour will take place at the Clem Farm, located at 1114 County Road 1200 East, in Champaign. The tour, which costs $10, begins at 8 a.m. and concludes around noon with refreshments and a box lunch. Attendees can also earn two hours of CCA credit under the IPM category.

Several other field days will take place around the state in July, starting with the Orr Agricultural Center Agronomy Field Day in Baylis on July 16. The Monmouth Field Day will take place in Monmouth on July 23, and the Hemp Research Open House is set for July 25 in Urbana. Check the Agronomy Days calendar closer to the events for more details.

“A few August events are already planned,” Seiter said. “We encourage folks to keep checking the calendar on a regular basis for details and new events added throughout the season. We cannot wait to connect with more farmers this summer.”