BROOKINGS — South Dakota State University Extension will welcome the public to its fourth annual Specialty Crop Field Day.

This free, family-friendly event will feature a series of presentations and field tours related to small- to mid-scale commercial vegetable production research trials. Field tours will feature SDSU Extension research plots of cucumbers, tomatoes, melons, onions, peppers and broccolini.

The Specialty Crop Field Day is from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sept. 10 at the SDSU Campus Specialty Crop Research Field-South in Brookings. The field is located directly east of the SDSU Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center. Registration is requested. To register and see a complete event schedule, visit the SDSU Extension Events page and search “specialty.”

Kristine Lang, assistant professor and SDSU Extension consumer horticulture specialist, said specialty crop producers are especially encouraged to attend, along with non-profit organizations, technical service providers, Master Gardeners and home gardeners.

SDSU Extension experts will discuss a variety of soil health and disease management strategies, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service will give a demonstration on soil health with its rainfall simulator. Two newly constructed high tunnels will also be featured.

“I've grown to love this event because it feels like a celebration of a whole season of hard work by the graduate and undergraduate student team. Visitors will get to see a wide variety of cropping trials this year,” Lang said. “We are excited to continue highlighting our new high tunnels and share our plans for research that will begin in 2025.”

Throughout the evening, SDSU faculty, SDSU Extension specialists and local organizations will staff educational booths with specialty crop resources. Following the event, attendees are welcome to visit and tour the SDSU Local Foods Education Center on the northern edge of SDSU’s campus.

“This will be a great networking event with multiple chances to learn from students, SDSU Extension specialists, and each other,” Lang said. “This field day is very family friendly and farmers, gardeners and ag professionals are all welcome to attend, learn and meet someone new.”

Attendees are encouraged to wear appropriate shoes that can get dirty during the walking tours. Pets are not allowed.

For more information, contact Lang at 605-688-5796 or Kristine.Lang@sdstate.edu.