Open House at the Western Ag Research Center is Thursday
Each year, the Montana Agricultural Research Centers have "Field Days," where the public can view the operations and see the results of ongoing agricultural research. The Western Ag. Research Center northeast of Corvallis on Quast Lane will have its Field Day Thursday, July 26 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. The faculty will be introduced and make brief comments about the center, starting at 4 p.m. At 5 p.m. a free dinner will be available and there will be Field Tours of the center's projects. A wine and cider tasting will be from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
According to the Western Ag website, the Corvallis station is researching "a number of vegetable trials, related not only to varieties, but growing methods, and soil fertility strategies. Analysis of cold hardy berries is underway, as well as wine grapes, table grapes, and cider apples." The center has also researched various weeds in the Bitterroot. There are seven agricultural research centers throughout Montana, most them east of the Continental Divide. Montana State University's College of Agriculture and the Montana Agricultural Research Station work together on the various operations. They are located to allow research of different soils, elevations, climate zones and landscapes.
To get to the Western Ag Research Station, head north on the East side Highway from Corvallis. At the intersection with Quast Lane, if you turn left you go the Teller Wildlife Refuge. Instead, if you turn right, go across the railroad tracks and up a hill, you'll come to the Research Station on the left.