UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Climate-smart agriculture, the importance of biodiversity and the latest news about the spotted lanternfly will be among the displays and presentations at the College of Agricultural Sciences Exhibits Building and Theater during Penn State's Ag Progress Days, Aug. 8-10.
College of Agricultural Sciences faculty members and Penn State Extension educators will address these and other topics in a series of exhibits:
Climate-smart agriculture and biodiversity: Biodiversity refers to the incredible variety of life on Earth, from the tiniest microorganisms to the vast ecosystems that support them. It is this rich tapestry of life that sustains our planet and provides numerous benefits, including its crucial role in agriculture and food systems and the preservation of our natural resources. Learn about the role research plays in helping to ensure our future access to food, making our producers’ efforts more efficient and sustainable, and discovering how to make vulnerable species more resilient to climate volatility and increased disease and pest pressures.
Protecting animal health: Penn State experts will share information on animal diseases such as highly pathogenic avian influenza, and scientists will explain the latest research on animal health and discuss best practices. Visitors also can talk with Penn State faculty, extension educators and graduate students about the wide variety of career opportunities available in veterinary medicine and animal agriculture.
Spotted lanternfly updates: Visitors can speak with Penn State spotted lanternfly experts and find out where the invasive pest is now, how to identify the various life stages of the insect, and how they can help contain and manage lanternfly infestations. More information about the spotted lanternfly also is available on the Penn State Extension website.
Presentations related to these topics will be held in the College Exhibits Building Theater:
Aug. 8
- 10:30 a.m. — Understanding the Diversity, Distribution, and Abundance of Wild Bee Pollinators
- 11:30 a.m. — Avian Flu Updates
- 1:30 p.m. — Exploring Learning Performance and Reproductive Success in Farmland Songbirds
- 2 p.m. — Spotted Lanternfly Research Updates
- 2:30 p.m. — Soil Health & Soil Microbes, Panel Discussion with Ag Scientists
Aug. 9
- 10:30 a.m. — Understanding the Diversity, Distribution, and Abundance of Wild Bee Pollinators
- 11:30 a.m. — Bacteria Township: An Exploration of the Microbial Communities Living in PA Soils
- Noon — Spotted Lanternfly Updates
- 12:30 p.m. — Crossbreeding Sheep or Goats for Improved Performance
- 2 p.m. — Updates from U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson (Pa.-15), Chair of the House Agriculture Committee
Aug. 10
- 10 a.m. — Current Projects and Facts About Bee Nutrition, Grozinger Lab Research Updates
- 10:30 a.m. — Understanding the Diversity, Distribution, and Abundance of Wild Bee Pollinators
- 11 a.m. — Avoiding Death and Disease in Pet Poultry and Backyard Flocks
- 12:30 p.m. — Spotted Lanternfly Predators
In addition, representatives from the College of Agricultural Sciences’ Office of Undergraduate Education will be on hand at the College Exhibits Building to provide prospective students and their families with information about careers and the college's programs in animal, biomedical, environmental, plant and social sciences.
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. 8; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 9; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 10. Admission and parking are free.
For more information, visit the Ag Progress Days website. Twitter users can find and share information about the event by using the hashtag #agprogressdays, and the event also can be found on Facebook.