As a leader in production agriculture and plant research, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation's programs impact Oklahoma and the United States.

On Tuesday, Oct. 17, the Noble Foundation's Agricultural Division will host a Research Field Day, offering the public a chance to learn more about the innovative work of the Noble Foundation's specialists and scientists.

This free, day-long event features tours on five research farms and a lunchtime program at the Ardmore Convention Center.

"This is a unique opportunity for people to see some of our work at ground level," said Shan Ingram, Education and Special Projects Manager. "Participants will be able to experience firsthand the research projects happening on our farms and will be able to interact with the professionals who conduct the work."

The Research Field Day will begin at 9 a.m. with farm tours. Participants can choose from three tours:

Tour A: Headquarters Farm. This tour highlights forage variety development and testing.

Tour B: Pasture Demonstration Farm. This tour spotlights alternative feeding methods for stocker cattle and use of enhanced forages for cattle.

Tour C: Dupy Farm. This tour showcases switchgrass breeding and production, as well as the bioenergy program and intensive grazing of paddocks under irrigation.

Morning tours will be repeated once, so participants will be able to attend two of the three tours. There will be 30 minutes of travel time between the morning tour sessions, Ingram said.

The lunch program will begin at 11:30 a.m. with comments from Mike Cawley, President of the Noble Foundation; Wadell Altom, Director of the Agricultural Division; and Joe Bouton, Director of the Forage Improvement Division.

After the meal, Rick Dixon, Director of the Plant Biology Division, will speak on the contributions of basic research in plant biology to projects at the farm or production level. Dixon's talk will be followed by the afternoon tours. Participants can select from two unique tours:

Tour D: The Red River. This tour will feature alternative methods of production for stocker cattle; use of closely related cows to increase uniformity; artificial insemination and estrus synchronization results; and alfalfa breeding and drought tolerance.

Tour E: The Coffey Ranch. This tour will analyze the use of native range for wildlife and beef cow management.

Afternoon tours will be offered twice on a concurrent basis with 30 minutes of travel between the afternoon tour sessions; therefore, participants can attend both tours. Attendees must furnish their own transportation to all locations.

"The measure of our research program's success is the production of relevant information for agricultural producers," said Billy Cook, Consulting Support Research Manager. "These tours allow us to showcase the efforts toward producer-oriented research that we are undertaking at the Noble Foundation."

For additional information about the Research Field Day, contact the Noble Foundation at 580.223.5810.

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News Release Issued: October 9, 2006

The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc. (www.noble.org), headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., is a nonprofit organization conducting agricultural, forage improvement and plant biology research; assisting farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative agricultural programs; and providing grants to nonprofit charitable, educational and health organizations.