DURHAM, N.H. – What is New England’s role in the global battle against wheat stem rust? How have day neutral strawberries extended the state’s strawberry season? And how are unmanned aerial vehicles improving the accuracy of remote mapping of New Hampshire’s forestry resources? Researchers at the University of New Hampshire will present their latest NH Agricultural Experiment Station research on these topics and more at the 2018 New Hampshire Farm and Forest Expo Friday, Feb. 2, at 2 p.m. in the Frost/Hawthorne Rooms of Manchester’s Radisson Hotel.

“Education workshops are offered each year to bring together the state's subject matter experts to share the latest research as well as their expertise with our expo attendees,” said Tori Berube, expo manager. “The research UNH scientists will share during this workshop will undoubtedly help those working in the forestry and agriculture fields in New Hampshire make informed decisions about their own business.”

This year’s farm-oriented presentations include discussions of the favorable impacts on calves of niacin prepartum supplementation; New England’s role in the global battle against wheat stem rust; new findings on soil carbon balance; evaluating performance of greenhouse crops when grown in new wood chip and fiber media; advances in season extension with day neutral strawberries; an overview of specialty crop research; and ongoing experiments to recycle nutrients within paired fish and vegetable production (aquaponics).

For the forest industry, attendees will learn more about the ecological effects and control options for the invasive glossy buckthorn; current research on New England cottontails; the human impacts on bobcats; and how using unmanned aerial vehicles improves the accuracy of remote mapping of NH forestry resources.

Founded in 1887, the NH Agricultural Experiment Station at the UNH College of Life Sciences and Agriculture is UNH’s original research center and an elemental component of New Hampshire's land-grant university heritage and mission.