DEVILS LAKE, N.D. - Organizers of the annual Lake Region Extension Roundup always try to offer information on a wide range of topics. They might have outdone themselves this year.
“There’s more interest now in some of these lesser-known crops that usually don’t get a lot of attention,” says Bill Hodous, Ramsey County (N.D.) Extension Service agent, a Roundup organizer.
“So we’ve added sessions on them.”
The 36th annual Roundup, set for Jan. 5 and 6 at the Memorial Building in downtown Devils Lake, N.D., is expected to once again draw about 700 people. Speakers, primarily from the extension service, commodity groups and private companies, will address crops, weeds, livestock, marketing, crop insurance and many other subjects.
All sessions are free and open to the public. Registration isn’t required. Free breakfast and lunch will be offered both days. Continuing education credits are available for certified crop advisers.
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The event is sponsored by the extension and crop improvement associations in six North Dakota counties. Ag producers in the area raise many crops and types of livestock, and Roundup’s diverse agenda reflects that, Hodous says.
That’s especially true this year. The 2016 event includes presentations on spring wheat, corn and soybeans, the region’s three major crops. But this year there are additional sessions on what Hodous calls “specialty crops,” including durum and flax.
“Because the profit outlook (for 2016) is so tight, there’s more interest than than there has been in these speciality crops,” which potentially could make money for farmers, Hodous says.
Here’s a sampling:
Durum production - 9:30 a.m. Jan. 5, by Shana Forster, extension specialist in Minot.
Flax production - 9 a.m. Jan. 6, by Mike Knutson, Grand Forks County agent, and Lindy Berg, Towner County agent.
In the past, Roundup has featured two keynote speakers, one on each of the two days. This year, there are four keynote speakers, two each day, Hodous says.
1 p.m. Jan. 5 - Katie Dilse, a professional speaker and farm wife from Scranton, N.D. Her talk is titled, “Life is a Highway: Roll On!”
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3 p.m. Jan. 5 - Randy Martinson, with Progressive Ag Marketing in Fargo, N.D., will talk about marketing.
11 a.m. Jan 6 - Jerry Doan, a Menoken, N.D., rancher who will talk about using cover crops to improve soil health and the bottom line.
2:30 pm. Jan 6 - Leon Osborne, professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of North Dakota, will talk about “weather challenges in an unsteady climate.”
Some past Roundups have been held during bad winter weather.
“But we’ve never had to cancel it, though we did end it early one year on the second day,” Hodous says.
For more information, visit ag.ndsu.edu/ramseycountyextension.
