UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. --Visitors can explore nearly five acres of demonstrations, presentations, tours and exhibits at the Natural Resource Conservation Partnership Area at Penn State's Ag Progress Days, Aug. 14-16. "Afterwards, relax in our 'backyard garden' courtesy of Blackhawk Nursery," says Stacy Mitchell, state public affairs specialist for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Daily tours. The "Forestry Wildlife Tour" will feature an easy walk through the forest. The "Conservation Tour" will take visitors through grassed waterways, stream crossings, diversions and terraces to learn about practices that improve soil and water quality.

The "Grazing Tour" will highlight research on how grazing management can help farmers economically by reducing the pressure to buy feed. "Last year's grazing tour was so successful that we had to commandeer a second bus," Mitchell says.

Also, once each day, a bus will shuttle visitors to the composting area, where farm nutrient and mortality composting will be demonstrated. For times and details, stop by the tent or Ag Progress Days information booth.

Forums and presentations. "Along with our usual grazing forum where farmers can hear from panels of their peers about what is -- and isn't -- working on their farms, we'll have presentations on backyard composting and the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), a state/federal/private partnership program that promotes water quality and wildlife habitat," Mitchell says.

Other presentations will include the Dirt and Gravel Road Program, which aims to reduce sediment in streams and make neighborhoods cleaner. "A daily presentation with live frogs and snakes will round out the programs," Mitchell says.

Exhibits. "The main tent will be larger this year to make room for additional exhibitors," Mitchell says. "Kids can enjoy the fish tank, daily fly-casting exhibitions, invertebrates, worm tubes and touch boxes. They also can get tattoos and make fish print shirts using their own shirt, or one they purchase for $5."

Other exhibits will include farm and backyard conservation, soil types, plant materials and their uses, composting, nutrient management, best management practices, water quality, forestry, fencing and watershed conservation.

Live demonstrations. These will include how to stabilize barnyard surfaces and control runoff to "keep clean water clean," manure spreading standards and spreader calibration, livestock watering equipment, fencing types, no-till planting and grass plots.

Federal and state agencies, organizations and private industries participate in the Natural Resources Conservation Partnership Area, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission; USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service; Pennsylvania's Departments of Environmental Protection, Conservation and Natural Resources, and Agriculture; Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts; Chesapeake Bay Foundation; USDA Pennsylvania Ag Statistics Service; Penn State Cooperative Extension; USDA Grain Inspectors and Packers and Stockyards Agency; State Conservation Commission; and USDA Farm Service Agency.

Because of concerns over the possible transmission of foot-and-mouth disease and other foreign animal diseases, visitors who have been overseas within two weeks of attending Ag Progress Days are asked not to visit the event's live-animal exhibit areas.

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 Tuesday; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday. Admission and parking are free.

For more information, call (800) PSU-1010 toll-free from July 9 to August 16 or visit the Ag Progress Days Web site at http://apd.cas.psu.edu.

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EDITORS: Stacy Mitchell can be reached at (717) 237-2208. For more information on Penn State's Ag Progress Days, contact Chuck Gill at 814-863-2713.

Contacts:

Kim Dionis KDionis@psu.edu 814-863-2703 814-865-1068 fax