UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Many visitors to Penn State's Ag Progress Days rely on its research tours to get a convenient overview of the university's latest scientific innovations -- and riding always beats walking at the 1,500-acre Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center. So planners are making it easier than ever to take the free bus tours during this year's event, set for Aug. 15-17 at Rock Springs.

The Penn State-sponsored research tours and conservation-related tours sponsored by the Natural Resources Conservation Service will leave from the same location, simplifying ticket distribution and providing a centralized departure point for all tours during the event.

"This year, all of our tours will take off from the Corn Crib on Main Street near 11th Street," says Bob Oberheim, Ag Progress Days manager. "Visitors can get tickets for any tour from that location, and having one departure point is more convenient for them to get to any tours that match their areas of interest. And, of course, they get to ride instead of walk."

The General Research Tour is a 40-minute presentation of Penn State research endeavors in horticulture, entomology, plant pathology and crop and soil science. Also featured is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Laboratory research farm. The tour introduces ongoing research into new crop varieties, cultivation techniques, pest- and disease-control systems and other topics, devoted to more efficient and environmentally sound 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 Tunnel Vegetable Production Tour (1.5 hours) presents an overview of the low-cost, high-yield plastic-and-metal technology that can greatly extend Pennsylvania growing seasons to almost 12 months 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. Buses leave daily at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

On the 1 1/2-hour Beekeeping Tour, participants don beekeeping attire and get close to the creatures in a hive, seeing how honey is stored and how beekeepers avoid getting stung. Buses leave at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday and at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday.

The Beekeeping VERY Short Course is a three-hour primer for anyone considering becoming a side-line or hobby beekeeper. The course will cover the basics of getting started as a new beekeeper, including getting bees and equipment, setting up an apiary, providing year-round care for bees and managing diseases and pests. The course is offered at 1 p.m. on Wednesday only, and spaces are limited.

The two-hour Potato Research Tour (1 p.m. on Tuesday only) will update commercial potato growers and small-scale vegetable producers on new potato varieties and fungicides. The tour will look at new clones and several recently released varieties being evaluated for chip processing, French fry processing and home consumption.

The one-hour Forest Stewardship Tour (10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. daily with no 4 p.m. tour on Thursday) is a walking tour that discusses invasive plants in the woodlot and presents techniques for effectively managing trees on private land.

The one-hour Stream Corridor Management and Riparian Buffers Tour (11 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily with no 3 p.m. tour on Thursday) explains the nature and benefits of forested and grassed riparian buffers, how they are installed and maintained, and how they improve a community's water quality.

The 75-minute Switchgrass for Renewable Energy Tour (1:30 p.m. daily) presents research on the production and management of this native warm-season grass as a source of renewable energy, and its role in carbon sequestration and energy production.

The one-hour Soil Quality and Agronomic Management Tour (10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. daily) introduces such intensive soil-conservation practices as cover crops and no-till production and highlights their potential for improving a farm's overall soil health and water quality, reducing nutrient loss and enhancing farm profitability.

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 more information, visit the Ag Progress Days Web site at http://apd.cas.psu.edu/.

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EDITORS: Contact Bob Oberheim at 814-865-2081 or via e-mail at agprogressdays@psu.edu.

Gary Abdullah Writer/Editor Phone: 814-863-2708 E-mail: gxa2@psu.edu