UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Touring The Hundreds Of Research Plots At Penn State's 1,500-acre Larson Agricultural Research Center Could Easily Take Days. But Visitors At Ag Progress Days, Aug. 16-18, Can Get A Snapshot Of The Latest Scientific Studies By Taking One Of Several Free Bus Tours Offered During The Event.

"Our tours showcase the diverse research efforts of hundreds of Penn State faculty at this sprawling facility," says Ag Progress Days manager Robert Oberheim. "Visitors get an overview of the important developments, organized by areas of interest. When they see something, they can ask questions right then or get more information later. And, they can ride instead of walk."

The General Research Tour is a half-hour introduction to Penn State's research activities in plant pathology, horticulture, entomology and crop and soil science, as well as the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Laboratory research farm. The tour highlights promising research into new crop varieties, cultural practices, disease and pest control measures and other topics, with the goal of better and more efficient crop production. Tours run on the hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, with hours extended until 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

The High Tunnels Tour, at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. each day, presents an overview of the low-cost, high-yield plastic-and-metal technology that can greatly extend Pennsylvania growing seasons for vegetables, flowers, small fruits and tree fruits by manipulating soil and air temperatures. The tour demonstrates how tunnels can help growing situations ranging from small homeowners to commercial producers.

The Potato Research Tour, on Tuesday, Aug. 16 at 1 p.m., will update commercial potato growers and small-scale vegetable producers on new potato varieties and fungicides. The tour will look at 175 new clones and several recently released varieties -- including round whites, russet-skin clones, red- or purple-skinned clones and several yellow flesh clones -- being evaluated for chip processing, French fry processing and home consumption. Tour participants can learn about fungicide resistance and new fungicides for control of early and late blight. Other potato research focuses on breeding for disease resistance to early and late blight and to common and powdery scab.

Back by popular demand is the Beekeeping Basics Tour, running daily at 11:30 a.m. The public's fascination with bees and their desire to experience beekeeping up close made this tour a surprise hit during last year's inaugural run, says Maryann Frazier, senior extension associate and science education specialist in Penn State's entomology department.

"Honey bees are fascinating creatures, and if you're not a beekeeper, you don't often get to see inside a hive," she says. "We let visitors put on a beekeeper's attire, open a hive and see how a honey bee colony is organized. They'll learn about honey bee biology and management, the importance of pollination to agriculture, and how to keep bears out of hives."

Penn State's Ag Progress Days is held at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs, nine miles southwest of State College on Route 45. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 16; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Aug. 17; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 18. Admission and parking are free. For more information, call (800) PSU-1010 toll-free until August 18 or visit the Ag Progress Days Web site at http://apd.cas.psu.edu.

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Editor: Gary AbdullahOffice 814-863-2708 FAX 814-863-9877