ATLANTA, Ind. — Yield-limiting factors. The perfect planters. Cutting-edge hybrids. Cover crop benefits. Drone applications.

 So much to see, so much to do, and it can be found at Becknology Days, to be held Aug. 27-29.

 “We talk about Becknology as an event like no other,” said Scott Beck, President of Beck’s Hybrids. ”Part of what makes it unique is that we highlight new innovations and practices through our Practical Farm Research, or PFR. For example, we’re testing new machinery such as the perfect planter, one with different row units, meters, attachments and things. Farmers can learn about the benefits from using these gadgets. We have so much to offer and visitors are going to love it.”

 For starters, there’s much to tour on the facility. Guests can tour Beck’s Husk and Sort Facility to learn more about how they utilize a sensor-based sorting solution to ensure the highest quality seed.

 An In-Season Management session will focus on some of the tools that farmers and agronomists have available to identify issues that allow for timely decision-making and adjustments to in-season plans.

 Guests can view a live demonstration on crimping winter rye followed by planting soybeans into the crimped rye with multiple row-unit setups, or learn more about transitioning acres to certified organic production and the opportunities with the high premiums in the organic grain market. Guests can see first-hand the planning process that goes into UAV applications, as well as the drone used.

 “We have opportunities for farmers looking at different farming practices, such as cover crops, transitioning, moving acres to organic, different types of fertility applications like banding or broadcasting,” Beck said.

 Attendees can tour the Biotech Building and Greenhouses to discover how Beck’s develops cutting edge corn hybrids, or get a 360-degree view of the latest planter row units, meters and attachments to learn how to build the perfect planter for one’s operation.

 “PFR has been going on for decades, since the mid-60s,” Beck said. “Multiple years of information gathering and learning has resulted in products and practices that we call PFR-proven. This means farmers can come and get a first-hand look at produces or practices that have been delivering a positive return on investment for at least three years. They can leave this show with confidence and ideas of how to improve their farming operation based on the PFR tests we have done.”

 Guests can opt for any of the six PFR Tours each day.

 PFR Tour 1 will take a look at possible 400-bushel corn yields and 125-bushel soybean yields. Field agronomists Travis Burnett, Ben Weigmann and Shane Carver will share their experiences and results of their research.

 PFR Tour 2 will offer a detailed look at delayed planting and hybrid response, planting depths, furrow moistures, row width and populations, and tillage studies in dealing with corn. Tillage studies involving crop rotations and strip fresheners pertaining to corn and soybeans will be discussed. Agronomist Jonathan Perkins and herbicide specialist Joe Bolte will lead the discussion.

PFR Tour 3 will highlight nitrogen rate and fungicide response in corn will be discussed, as will planting dates, replant studies and foliar expectations in soybeans. Field agronomists Aaron Brooker and Mike Hannewald will lead the discussion.

Three more PRF Tours pertaining to corn and soybeans will take place. With corn, topics include fungicide timing, water conditioning, tillage, replant thresholds, thin stand management practices, planting speed, closing wheel studies and microbial studies. With soybeans, topics include row cleaners, fungicide studies, sulfur rate, row width and population and seed treatment studies.

 “We have activities for the entire family,” Beck said. “This is the inaugural year for a corn maze and we’ll have a special kids area. They’ll have a backpack with coloring books and once again we’ll have our puppet show featuring Granpa Cratchet. He’s been popular with fairs throughout the country the last 40 years.”

 Becknology Days got its start as a Field Day event in the mid-1960s. A few hundred attended that first gathering. By the 1970s and 1980s, the Beck family began to showcase their many studies.

 This year’s event will be held at 6767 E. 276st Street, Atlanta, Indiana. The show runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Visitors are urged to check the firm’s website prior to attending to ensure they understand the latest safety measures concerning COVID 19. Visit https://www.beckshybrids.com/About-Us/Becks-Field-Shows