Research Tours

See American chestnut breeding orchards. Learn about the history and demise of the American chestnut tree, how to plant and maintain chestnut trees. Introducing The American Chestnut Foundation's breeding program and volunteers working to restore the species. Bus leaves daily at 10 am, 1 pm, and 3:30 pm with an additional tour at 5 pm on Wednesday. Note: walking/standing involved

Join us for a tour of a Penn State honey bee research apiary to get an up close and personal look into the mysterious colonial life of the honey bee. Research being conducted by Penn State faculty, staff, and students to address the crisis facing honey bees will also be discussed. Bus leaves daily at 11:30 a.m. Note: walking/standing involved

Get an overview of research conducted at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research and Extension Center by Penn State's College of Agricultural Science Departments, as well as the USDA Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Lab. Bus leaves daily at 12:30, 3 and 4, with additional tour at 5:00 pm on Wednesday.

This tour will focus on food plots and natural habitat management practices used on public or private property as part of a Quality Deer Management System to improve habitat for many wildlife species while producing healthier and larger deer. The tour will look at recently installed habitat demonstration plots in the woodlot and neighboring fields and will cover how to integrate habitat improvements to meet your individual objectives. This tour compliments the QDM seminars. Bus leaves daily at 11 am and 1 pm, with an additional tour at 3 pm on Wednesday. . Note: walking/standing involved

The 2012 demonstration woodlot tour focuses on a timber sale to salvage hemlock dying from wooly adelgid. Wooly adelgid is an exotic invasive insect that attacks hemlock. Seeing the pending loss, plans were set in motion to harvest dying trees. The tour will discuss why some trees were left and others selected for harvest. Tree value as seed sources, wildlife habitat, and aesthetics will be highlighted. The discussion of harvesting options will demonstrate how to achieve appropriate future forest conditions, the highest long-term economic return, and improved wildlife habitat. Bus leaves daily at 10 am, noon, and 2 pm, with an additional tour at 4 pm on Wednesday. Note: walking/standing involved

The High Tunnel Research and Education Facility at Rock Springs will feature the most current production systems and horticultural crops that can be produced in high tunnels. Bus leaves daily at 9:30 am and 1:30 pm. Note: walking/standing involved

Join us as we review some of the tactics necessary to create and sustain high corn and soybean yields on Pennsylvania soils. We will review some of the sustainable practices for US soybean production that will help us meet the growing local and worldwide demand for soybeans. Showcasing current no-till, cover crop, pest and soil management issues for corn and soybean. These plots showcase an initiative sponsored by the United Soybean Board and in collaboration with Ohio State University. Bus leaves daily at 10:30 am and 2 pm. Note: walking/standing involved

This presentation will provide an instructional discussion for producers interested in on-farm composting of any animal species. We will cover the technical aspects of carcass composting and regulatory considerations to help producers get started or improve upon their existing composting skills. A working carcass compost pile will be available on site for participants to see the process and construction first-hand. Meets in the Theater area of the College building at 2 pm Tuesday and Wednesday (presentation followed by bus tour to compost site). Note: walking/standing involved at compost site.

What are short rotation woody crops? How do they contribute to biomass feedstock? Why are they being promoted for marginal planting sites? What type of species should you grow and who will buy it? Tour includes a visit to a demonstration plot with fast growing willow and poplar trees. Learn how to grow, harvest, and produce this crop as an alternative income opportunity which helps provide sustainable energy supplies. Bus leaves at 12:30 p.m. Note: walking/standing involved.

What is a riparian buffer? How will it enhance your property and improve water quality in your community? Find out about the benefits of forested and grassed stream buffers as well as how to install and maintain them. Also - see a prairie grass demonstration and learn how to establish and maintain native grasses with wildflowers for wildlife habitat, bio-fuels, and more. Bus leaves daily at 11:30. Note: walking/standing involved

Interested in incorporating no-till into organic corn and soybean production? Learn how to manage manure in no-till crop production to improve nutrient use and efficiency while reducing environmental impact? Join us as we visit research plots aimed at these unique challenges. Bus leaves daily at 1:00 p.m. Note: walking/standing involved

Join us for a tour of The Arboretum at Penn State an outreach, teaching, and research facility dedicated to preserving the beauty and ecological functions of vegetated landscapes in an urbanizing society. This is one of the most exciting initiatives on the Penn State campus containing over 17,000 individual plants representing over 700 species. Highlights on this walking tour in the H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens will include the ridge and valley watershed map, flowering annual and perennial displays, a sundial sculpture and lotus pool. There will also be information on unique plantings that could be included into your home landscape. Bus leaves daily at 10 am, with an additional tour at 3 pm on Tuesday and Wednesday. Note: walking/standing involved.