The latest agricultural issues facing farmers along with the newest technological advances will be highlighted during the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture Field Day 2000 on July 20 at the Research and Education Center in Princeton.

The biennial field day will include something for farmers, their spouses and youth in 25 tours, displays, demonstrations and activities. More than 2,000 people are expected to attend.

One tour will provide visitors with an overview of the activities at the Research and Education Center. Others will target specific enterprises.

There will be 14 production tours covering swine, beef, managing livestock operations to protect water quality, poultry, forages, tobacco, corn, soybeans, wheat, weed management in grain crops, precision agriculture, agricultural engineering, orchard/vineyard and ornamentals/small fruits.

Topics addressed during the tours include water quality, livestock waste management, nutrient management, precision agriculture, current crop diseases, no-till wheat, weed management issues, biotechnology, high oil corn and new grain crop opportunities.

Biotechnology will play a leading role in many tours with a focus on some of the new genetically modified organism traits that have become available in the past few years. The tours will discuss research in yields and issues farmers face in using this technology, said James Herbek, field day chairman and extension grains specialist.

Tours will also highlight other issues that affect farmers such as water quality.

Livestock management and nutrient management, and how they affect the environment, are big issues today, Herbek said. Management techniques discussed on the tours will address practices to protect water quality.

Family and Consumer Science activities have been expanded this year and include workshops, demonstrations and exhibits on foods, nutrition, health, the home environment, family and more. Youth activities are also bigger than ever. In addition to a youth activities tent, there will be a farm tour for young people.

"The farm tour is new," Herbek said. "We've never had one specifically for youth. They will visit the orchard, animal science and crops. We thought it would be another activity for them aside from the displays and exhibits. They get to see actual hands on farming."

Additional exhibits include insects, plants and products that reduce pest problems on the farm, backyard and garden. There will be displays of exotic and important agricultural insects and a chance to sample edible green soybeans. More than 40 exhibitors from the College of Agriculture, agricultural associations and organizations will be inside the large tent.

The day will celebrate the center's 75th anniversary. Antique tractors and farm equipment used in the 1920s and 1930s will be on display. A demonstration plot comparing corn production technology of 1925 and today can be seen during the field day.

Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. with tours beginning at 8:30 a.m. and continuing through 3 p.m. Lunch is available at the field day from various commodity groups.

The UK Research and Education Center is on Kentucky 91 South, 1½ miles southeast of the Caldwell County Courthouse in Princeton.