By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The annual Ellis County wheat variety Demonstration Plot Field Day will be held Wed., May 31, beginning at 6 p.m. followed by a free meal in the Victoria city park.

This year’s demonstration plot has 15 varieties planted side by side north of Victoria at the intersection of Fairground Road and 330th Ave.

K-State Research and Extension specialists will discuss each variety.

“There is always something in the plot to see and learn from whether it is about the individual varieties, insects or diseases that are sometimes spotted in the plot,” said Stacy Campbell, Ellis County Extension Agricultural Agent.

Featured this year is a nitrogen sensor test plot using both sensors hand-held and UAVs  (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) for nitrogen management.

“There’s actually in agriculture now sensors that you can walk, drive or even fly over crops at certain times. It measures the amount of green and the amount of canopy and can tell you if you need more nitrogen or not, based on your yield goals,” Campbell explained.

The technological process, now three years old, can somewhat replace soil testing.

“It’s kind of why the technology was developed. We realize there are a lot of farmers that don’t soil test. This is somewhat of a substitute way to do that,” said Campbell. “It’s used in southern Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, but I think there’s some area for it to fit here and they’ll talk about it.”

Another test plot examines the use of phosphorus. “We know we need phosphorous for wheat and I think we forget sometimes we need it for the other crops, too,” Campbell said.

Several local businesses are sponsoring the free meal immediately following the field day.

In case of inclement weather the field day will be moved indoors to the Victoria VFW Hall, 204 E. Main Street.

All interested people are invited to attend. No RSVP is necessary.

For more information call the Ellis County Extension office at (785) 628-9430.