UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- A field demonstration on rolling vertical tillage and an antique hay-making exhibit will be just a few of the new attractions at the 2006 edition of Penn State's Ag Progress Days, Aug. 15-17.

Sponsored by the College of Agricultural Sciences, Ag Progress Days will feature more than 380 commercial and educational exhibits displaying the latest goods and services, state-of-the-art field machinery demonstrations and cutting-edge Penn State research.

"Our exhibitor numbers are looking very good right now and we should be close to last year's record number of 392," says Bob Oberheim, Ag Progress Days manager. "In addition, there will be at least one company this year that will have a separate demonstration area to showcase several different tractor-guidance systems," he adds. A featured field demonstration this year will showcase "rolling vertical tillage." "Vertical tillage is a term used to describe soil-tillage operations that loosen soil as deep as 24 inches while the field surface is minimally disturbed, resulting in most crop residue being kept on or near the surface," says Ron Hoover, Penn State coordinator of on-farm research. "Rolling vertical tillage tools have been developed that accomplish vertical tillage through the use of rolling coulters or tine bars," Hoover explains. "Unlike the fixed-shank subsoilers that are designed to loosen deeply compacted soil, most rolling implements loosen the top 6 to 8 inches of the field. The working parts of many rolling tools are more closely spaced than the 24- to 30-inch spacing of shanks on most subsoilers."

Five machines are expected to be featured in the demonstrations that will begin at 11:30 each day, giving spectators a chance to see and compare various makes and models.

Field demonstrations will also include mowing, raking, baling and handling of alfalfa hay, says Oberheim. "Another main attraction will be the Pasto Agricultural Museum's '300 Years of Hay Making,'" says Oberheim. "The exhibits will feature antique equipment in operation and descriptions of how hay crops were seeded, harvested and stored over the past 300 years."

Other activities planned for the event include research, conservation and forestry tours; family-living programs and demonstrations; horse demonstrations; and presentations on dairy, livestock crop and equine production. There will also be special activities for children such as a corn maze, wildlife displays and a tree-climbing adventure.

"We are looking forward to another diverse and exciting Ag Progress Days show this year," Oberheim says.

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. 15; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Aug. 16; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 17. Admission and parking are free.

For information on other events visit the Ag Progress Days Website at http://apd.cas.psu.edu.

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EDITORS: Contact Bob Oberheim at (814) 692-5262 or by e-mail at rlo1@psu.edu.

Writer: Ryan Szivos Editor: Jeff Mulhollem Penn State Ag Sciences News (814) 863-2719