GRAND ISLAND, NEB. (09-08-2009) - The 32nd annual Husker Harvest Days (HHD) offers show visitors a full schedule of field demonstrations that will be conducted at year's show to be held Sept. 15, 16 and 17 and is located just west of Grand Island, Neb.

Corn combining demonstrations run each day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Fields 1, 2 and 3. This year, the corn that will be harvested during two days of the show's field demos was planted in twin rows with a Great Plains twin-row planter on April 16. These acres will be harvested during the demos on Tues., Sept. 15, and Thurs., Sept. 17. On the second show day, Wed. Sept. 16, regular 30-inch-row corn will be harvested. Roger Luebbe, HHD farm manager, cited increasing interest from farmers in twin-row corn as one reason for the planting switch this year.

All corn is under center-pivot irrigation, at the show site located west of Grand Island. This year the irrigation engines were fueled with 100% ethanol, another new trial at the show.

Field preparation equipment (spraying, shredding, and tillage) will follow the corn combines in the same fields. These demos run from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. each show day.

Strip tillage is a hot topic in the Western Corn Belt and this demo will allow customers to see machines working side by side in corn stubble, which is a good test for them, notes Matt Jungmann, Farm Progress national shows manager. “Several companies will have reps on hand to visit with you about their equipment as well as show how it works in the field,” said Jungmann. Strip tillage demos run each show day from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Regardless if you are in the market for auto-steer equipment or a GPS receiver, companies will be allotted areas to showcase their brand of precision equipment. Many companies offer farmers the opportunity to climb in the cab with a knowledgeable operator to experience the tools in action. The Ride N’ Drive area is east of the seed plots and is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day except Thursday when it shuts down at 4 p.m.

Haying demonstrations will again be a highlight at HHD. Mowing, raking, baling and hay handling demos are planned. These demonstrations run each afternoon from 2:30 to 4:00.

Every farm, large or small, needs at least one lawn mower. HHD visitors will have a chance to check out various makes and models while at Husker Harvest Days. Mowing demonstrations run from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. each day of the show. Look for them between First Street and South Street on Lot S18.

Husker Harvest Days, the world's largest, totally irrigated working farm show, is located west of Grand Island, 1-1/2 miles north and 2 miles west of Alda in central Nebraska on Husker Highway. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for ages 13-17, and ages 12 and under are free. The public is welcome. For additional information, visit www.HuskerHarvestDays.com.