Ag research center shows off its work

The Northern Agricultural Research Center hosted its annual Field Day highlighting its facilities and projects Wednesday.

NARC was celebrating its 99th year of operation as staffers carted people around to show and tell the about the various experiments and projects they are working on at the research center.

Darrin Boss, the superintendent of the research center, said that those attending the event had an option of taking one of three tours. One of the tours was a crop tour, he said.

"Producers can come look at what wheat or barley grows best in this area so they can grow that next year," Boss said.

They were also giving a "beef tour," with speakers talking to people on the tour about beef efficiency, range ecology, using supplements to increase hardiness in calves, and other topics.

On the tour, Boss and other speakers talked about what they were doing with the herds of cattle that they raise at the center.

The third tour was a specialty crop tour, where speakers talked about the different experimental crops at the center's fields.

Glenn Duff, the dean and director of the College of Agriculture research centers, said the event is just to give updates on all the research that is happening at the center.

NARC is one of seven research centers that Montana State University oversees across the state.

"They concentrate their efforts on problems that come up with the daily operations of producers in the state," Duff said.

Field Day at NARC is a good opportunity to reach out to the public and let people know what the center is doing, Duff said. The event also lets people network with others in their fields, he added.