PIKETON, Ohio – Bioenergy and its potential to further southern Ohio economic development will be the focus of an Ohio State University South Centers at Piketon field night on August 20.
Crop, Soil and Water Field Night will take place from 5:45 p.m. to 9 p.m. at OSU South Centers at Piketon, 1864 Shyville Road, Piketon, Ohio. The event is free and open to the public.
Visitors will be taken on wagon tour field research and presentations on a wide range of bioenergy-related topics. Such topics include:
• Bioenergy crops/future prospects – John Armstrong, Ohio Seed Improvement Association.
• Next generation energy crops – Aaron Schuchart, vice president of research, Mendel Biotechnology, Inc., Calif.
• Algae as a biofuel – Laura Tiu, OSU South Centers at Piketon.
• Cover crops and bioenergy – Dave Brandt, president of Ohio No-Till Farmers Association.
• Forest management and bioenergy – Damon Hartley, OSU South Centers at Piketon.
In addition to the presentations, several statewide organizations will have display information related to bioenergy, degraded and mined lands, carbon credit, and direct marketing. There will also be free sun safety tests for those attending the workshop.
Sponsors of the Crop, Soil and Water Field Night include Ohio State University Extension, Ohio State University's Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Pike Soil and Water Conservation District, and Ohio Seed Improvement Associaton.
Pre-registration is welcomed. To register or for more information, contact Mary Sibole at (740) 947-5353 or Mary Gulas at (740) 289-2071, ext. 132 or e-mail gulas.3@osu.edu.