K-State Agricultural Research Center
Whether it’s breeding new drought-tolerant crops, innovating systemic weed control strategies, or exploring better ways to integrate forages and livestock, the research at Kansas State University’s Agricultural Research Center–Hays is grounded in the needs of farmers and ranchers in western Kansas.
That boots-on-the-ground focus will be front and center at the 2025 Fall Field Day on Tuesday, Aug. 26, beginning at 9 a.m. The event will feature a morning sessions of field plot tours and technology demonstrations, followed by lunch and a series of short indoor presentations.
“This is one of the best opportunities for producers to engage and see our work in action,” said Dr. Augustine Obour, soil scientist at the Hays center. “They can walk the plots, ask questions, provide feedback and really see how our research applies to their farms. That kind of engagement helps to improve the research—and make our work more relevant.”
Morning tour stops will include demonstrations of See-and-Spray precision technology for targeted herbicide application, as well as a harvest weed seed destructor, a newer tool in integrated weed management being evaluated for Palmer amaranth control in western Kansas.
Other stops will highlight nitrogen fertility management in sorghum, annual forage rotations, and integrated livestock and crop systems, with practical insights for producers managing wheat-sorghum-fallow rotations or seeking to improve grazing resources.
The tour will also feature K-State’s expanding pearl millet breeding program, which includes more than 200 experimental hybrids under evaluation. Researchers at Hays are working to position this climate-resilient, drought-tolerant cereal as a promising grain and forage option for dryland production in the central Great Plains.
“Pearl millet has been underutilized, but it holds great potential—especially in water-limited environments,” Ramasamy Perumal, K-State pearl millet breeder said. “This year’s plots include some of the most advanced hybrids we’ve developed so far, and we’re eager to showcase them.”
Following the morning tours, guests are invited to a complimentary lunch and an indoor poster session featuring current research from graduate students and faculty. Afternoon presentations will cover topics such as cover crop adoption, herbicide efficacy, tillage effects on soil health, and drought-tolerant crop development.
Throughout the day, attendees will hear from K-State researchers based at the Hays station as well as university collaborators and industry partners.
“Everything we do here is aimed at building more resilient and profitable ag systems in western Kansas,” Obour said. “This event is a great chance for producers to connect with our team, see the results for themselves, and help shape future research at the experiment station.”
No RSVP is required, and lunch is provided. The Agricultural Research Center is located at 1232 240th Ave., Hays.
For more information, contact [email protected] or visit www.wkrec.org.