Local research takes center stage at Field Day Plus in Garden City

building front, southwest research-extension center in Garden City

The Southwest Research-Extension Center in Garden City will host Field Day Plus, an update on current research and discussion on western Kansas water issues, on Aug. 21.

K-State Southwest Research-Extension Center to host producers Aug. 21

At a glance: K-State's Southwest Research-Extension Center will host a field day on Aug. 21 to discuss research updates for western Kansas farmers, including a featured panel discussion on sustainability strategies for the Ogallala Aquifer.

More information: Kelsey Stremel, stremelk@ksu.edu

Related: Field Day Plus (information and registration | Understanding the Perceptions of Producers Regarding the Ogallala Aquifer Use |

Aug. 14, 2025

By Kelsey Stremel, K-State Extension news service

GARDEN CITY, Kan. — In southwest Kansas, where every inch of water and acre of land must work harder than ever, the Southwest Research-Extension Center (SWREC) has long stood as a hub for innovation and discovery.

From managing herbicide-resistant weeds to finding practical solutions for aquifer decline, the center’s research plays a vital role in helping producers adapt to a changing landscape.

That work will be on full display during the 2025 Field Day Plus, hosted at the research center in Garden City on Wednesday, Aug. 21, beginning at 8 a.m. The event includes morning research plot tours, industry booths, a sponsored lunch, and a special groundwater panel discussion in the afternoon focused on Ogallala Aquifer sustainability and farm management strategies.

“This event is an important opportunity for producers to engage with the research being conducted on their behalf,” said Pat Geier, K-State weed science extension specialist. “It’s about seeing the research, talking with the scientists, and having real conversations about what works in our region. We hope producers walk away with something they can use this season and for years to come.”

The event begins with registration and displays, followed by two concurrent 75-minute field tours. The South Field tour will showcase:

  • Weed Management in corn and grain sorghum, led by Geier and focused on tackling herbicide-resistant Palmer amaranth.

  • Long-term reduced and no-till wheat-sorghum-fallow systems, presented by John Holman, K-State cropping systems agronomist sharing yield data and sustainability insights from years of side-by-side comparisons.

  • Warm season hay and silage trial, presented by Holman, highlighting forage options that offer resilience and flexibility in dryland rotations.

The Finnup Field tour will feature:

  • Cotton growth and development under different management strategies, with Logan Simon, K-State southwest area agronomist.

  • Recharging the aquifer with KSU-TAPS, led by Renee Tuttle, K-State TAPS associate director, featuring the 2025 TAPS Farm Management Competition and sustainable irrigation technology.

During lunch, organizers will host a groundwater producer panel that brings together farmers, researchers and local leaders to talk candidly about the future of water in the region. Panelists include Matt Long (Leoti), Tom Lahey (Moscow), Walt Beesley (Hugoton), and Jon Handy (Kismet), each bringing unique perspectives and on-farm experience to the discussion.

The panel will address declining aquifer levels, conservation tools and economic decision-making under limited irrigation.

“This conversation is critical,” Holman said. “We know the Ogallala is declining, but there’s a lot of knowledge, experience and strategy right here in western Kansas. This panel is a chance to learn from each other, share ideas and keep working toward a viable future for agriculture in this region.”

To learn more and to RSVP for the field day, visit https://www.wkrec.org/events.

The K-State Southwest Research-Extension Center is located at 4500 E. Mary Street in Garden City. Lunch is provided thanks to event sponsors American Implement, BASF, LDI Inc., and Dragon-Line.

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K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county extension offices, experiment fields, area extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan. For more information, visit www.ksre.ksu.edu. K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.