The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) will hold its annual Plant Science Day 2011 on August 3, 2011. This annual event is held at Lockwood Farm, CAES' 75-acre research farm in Hamden, CT. It features a day of plant science open to the public from 9:30 to 4 p.m.

 

This event is free and open to all. Among the highlights of the day are the Century Farm Award and the Samuel W. Johnson Memorial Lecture. The Farm Award is presented to a farm that has been in family operation for more than 100 years. This year’s recipient will be announced on the day of the event.

 

The Memorial Lecture, named for Professor Johnson, director of the Station from 1877 to 1900, was established as a forum to discuss issues of concern to Connecticut residents and the Station. This year’s lecture, "Impact of the Nursery Industry on Connecticut’s Economy,” will be presented by Mr. Gregory M. Schaan, President & Chief Executive Officer of Imperial Nurseries, Inc. headquartered in Granby, Connecticut.

 

 Additional short presentations by CAES scientists include "The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug: Another Harmful Invasive Insect from Asia,” "Healthy Plants—Healthy Business: Support of the Green Industry by Inspection,” "The Experiment Station’s New Crops Program,” and "To Bite or Not to Bite: Mosquitoes and Transmission of West Nile and Eastern Equine Encephalitis Viruses in Connecticut.” Technical demonstrations include "Beekeeping Basics” and "Introduction to Bed Bugs, Self-Protection and Management.”

 

Plant Science Day offers many opportunities for attendees to discuss plant science topics on an informal basis with CAES scientists at their research plots. Barn Displays will highlight the Station’s current research programs. There will be opportunities to visit over 80 field plots and exhibits, as well as participate in walking and riding tours and activities for children, such as the "Passport for Kids.” Experts will be available to answer questions on plant identification and disease diagnosis, soil testing, and weed and insect identification.

 

Lockwood Farm, operated by The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, is located at 890 Evergreen Avenue Hamden, CT. For more information, call ( toll free statewide) (877) 855-2237, or visit  www.ct.gov/caes