Continuing a 50-year tradition, Penn State’s Ag Progress Days, brought to you by their College of Agricultural Sciences, is a one-stop shop this week, August 9-12, 2020, for the latest research, management practices, and regulations in agriculture.
This year, Penn State Extension educators and faculty have come together to provide a FREE virtual learning program filled with the latest in Ag research and best practices. This event is being offered at no charge to participants, but registration is required to receive the link to access a webinar. Even if you missed a day or a session, all registrants will receive access to the webinar recordings.
Online registrants can choose from more than 46 live webinars and get questions answered by the experts. Just check out the the live webinar schedule and register online.
The event typically attracts as many as 45,000 visitors from across Pennsylvania and beyond — an estimated 60 percent of whom are directly or indirectly involved in agricultural production — to get a glimpse into the science and business of agriculture. Organizers hope that this year’s online audience will be even greater!
On-demand Resources and Tours are available anytime, and registrants are reminded to check out the Marketplace, which gives you the opportunity to connect with vendors and sponsors. By clicking on the floor plan exhibitor booth space or exhibitor listing, you can view their contact information, show specials, and product videos – even arrange for a virtual appointment with your preferred vendor!
The interactive sessions will cover issues related to dairy, livestock and poultry production and animal health; business management; field and forage crop production; nutrient management; food demonstrations with healthy recipes; food safety and home food preservation; forestry and wildlife; household and landscape pest management; recommendations for beginning farmers; drinking water quality and pond management; and other topics.
Many other on-demand videos and recorded webinars also will be available from the website, featuring topics typically covered at Ag Progress Days, including home gardening, invasive species such as spotted lanternfly, youth activities, and more.
Virtual tour locations will feature American Chestnut Foundation efforts to restore the American chestnut to Eastern forests; experiments on vegetable and small-fruit production in high tunnels; Penn State’s Deer Research Center; research on stream riparian buffers; best practices for woodlot management; and dairy beef feedlot management.
Organizers hope 2020 Ag Progress Days attendees enjoy the online content, which will be available long after the ‘show dates’ of Aug. 9-12, returning often to fully explore the website to the fullest. They also encourage everyone to mark Aug. 10-12, 2021 when they plan to return to Rock Springs for Ag Progress Days 2021.
