The Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center (SWPAC) is one of the eight Purdue Agricultural Centers located across Indiana. What makes SWPAC unique is its location in the heart of Indiana’s watermelon-growing region—home to one of the state’s most significant specialty crop industries. In addition to watermelon and cantaloupe, southern Indiana is known for its diverse fruit and vegetable production, along with a strong presence of agronomic crops. As farming practices advance and industry needs change, research and Extension priorities at SWPAC continue to evolve to meet those demands.
The SWPAC Field Day offers a valuable opportunity to see these changes firsthand. It’s an event for anyone passionate about agriculture and eager to learn more about how our food is produced and how production practices are adapting.
During the field day, participants will tour the research plots and hear presentations on a variety of topics, including:
- Winter canola production and market potential
- Sorghum as an alternative crop across Indiana
- Enhancing seed quality traits in cowpeas
- Using drones for pesticide application
- Pollinator health and the use of pollenizers in watermelon production
- Resilient agriculture and Purdue’s initiative to implement these practices
- High tunnel tomato production and a cut flower research initiative
- Evaluation of synthetic and biological fungicides for watermelon and tomato production
- Recent updates on field crop diseases
- Changes in food safety regulations and new research projects related to food safety
- The Diverse Corn Belt project
Additionally, Dr. Fred Whitford will deliver a special presentation, “Horsepower on the Farm: From Hay-Powered Horses to Gas-Powered Tractors” sharing the fascinating story of how agriculture has evolved over the years.
The SWPAC Field Day is free to attend, and lunch will be provided, thanks to the support of our generous sponsors!
For more event details, please refer to the flyer. To register, visit https://tinyurl.com/2025SWPACFieldDay or call 812-886-0198
