UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The latest advances in agricultural technology — including a robotics exhibit, commercial exhibits and live field demonstrations — will take center stage at Penn State’s Ag Progress Days, Aug. 11-13.
A new addition this year is the FIRA Robotics Village — a special exhibit hosted by the College of Agricultural Sciences and organized by the Robotics Factory of Pittsburgh and GOFAR, a global accelerator of agricultural robotics. It will be located along West Fifth Street at the Ag Progress Days site at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs.
“The Robotics Village will highlight startup companies that have developed some of the latest uses for robotic technology in agriculture,” said Gretta Tritch Roman, senior director of research development and initiatives in the college. “Visitors will see some of the unique types of robotics that are being used in agriculture, whether that’s for livestock and crop production, forestry or horticulture.”
The Robotic Village is one of 400-plus commercial exhibits designed to appeal to everyone from commercial crop producers and hobby farmers to those interested in agriculture and the outdoors.
Farm and forestry equipment of various sizes will be on display, with manufacturers and dealers available to answer questions. There also will be an abundance of seed and genetic companies, with agronomists on hand to discuss seed performance.
At select times, visitors also can see equipment in action as part of the annual field demonstrations.
Jesse Darlington, show manager, said this year’s demos will include hay mowing, tedding and raking, and merging and baling of hay and straw. For the first time in several years, combines also will be featured, harvesting small grains.
“Our field demonstrations are so important because they not only bring something that’s visible in the fields, but we get to see how one machine compares with another,” Darlington said. “Our farmers can come out and see each machine in action and discuss its performance with the operator and with other farmers.”
The daily field demonstrations will include:
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10:30 a.m., hay mowing and tedding
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11:45 a.m., cover crop and planting green
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12:30 p.m., combining wheat
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1:15 p.m., baling wheat straw
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2:15 p.m., hay raking, round baling and bale handling
This year’s show will feature a demonstration on growing and caring for pumpkins, along with an opportunity for growers to earn pesticide certification credits and learn how to spray pumpkins with a drone.
“Pumpkins continue to be a popular crop in our state, and many crop farmers have added them to their operations as another source of income,” said Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension horticulture educator based in Clinton County. “There are a number of disease issues that affect pumpkins, and we want to educate growers on some best practices.”
Jeff Stoltzfus, an extension educator based in Lancaster County, said pumpkins continue to intrigue people, from producers to consumers. As a grower himself, he said pumpkins have similarities to conventional crops but also key differences, including disease pressure, spraying needs, and planting and harvesting practices.
“Many people are interested in pumpkins and how they can produce a better crop, and we will be there to explain some of the basics,” Stoltzfus said.
Sponsored by Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, Ag Progress Days is held at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs, 9 miles southwest of State College on Route 45. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 11; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 12; and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 13. Admission and parking are free.
For more information, visit the Ag Progress Days website. X users can find and share information about the event by using the hashtag #agprogressdays, and the event can also be found on Facebook (@AgProgressDays).