Friends and Neighbors day

The annual event, sponsored by the Area 4 SCD Cooperative Research Farm, allows the public an opportunity to visit the beautiful USDA campus and learn about world-class Ag and environmental research ongoing in North Dakota. Throughout the afternoon, USDA employees will offer presentations on their work, tours, and a free afternoon-long barbecue.
 
USDA staff will have presentations on drought stress research, digital crop growth monitoring systems, water quality, cover crops, soil quality, the national USDA Climate Data Hubs, tips for healthier grilled beef, and the equipment used in research.
 
The North Dakota Department of Agriculture will host presentations on raising urban chickens,
Honeybees 101, and organic foods. They will also exhibit Ag commodities and foodstuffs, and provide a fun learning area for children of all ages..
 
The USDA tours will focus on remote environmental monitoring systems that you can follow in real-time over the Internet.
 
Other USDA agencies (FSA, APHIS, NRCS, Rural Development, etc.) will host exhibits on their efforts.
 
The public is invited to bring in water for the USDA scientists to evaluate.
 
The research campus located at 1701 10^th Avenue SW in Mandan. For more information, call 701.667.3001 or go to www.area4farm.org or www.ars.usda.gov/pa/ngprl .