SWCS National Capital Chapter Tour
ARS Research Farm
(The World's Largest Agriculture Research Facility)


Thursday, September 21, there was a special tour of the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) and the
National Plant Materials Center (PMC). The tour was hosted by the National Capital Chapter (NCC) and USDA
Agricultural Research Service (ARS). In sync with the NCC theme this year, the tour focused on Cutting Edge
Research for Conservation Technology.

Lunch was at the historic Log Cabin and Visitors Center. After lunch President Beth Sauerhaft presented the
Norman A. Berg - Conservation Legacy Award 2006 to R. Neil Sampson. Continuing Education Units (CEU)
for certified crop advisors were offered. A total of 5 CEU were offered in: nutrient, pest, soil and water, and crop.

Dr. John Teasdale, Research Leader,
displays a poster of the research on Hairy Vetch
as a cover crop and mulch

More than 30 participants tour the ARS center
and NRCS Plant Materials Center.

Gamma Grass can be very exciting (left to right: Ross Braun, Beth Sauerhaft, Chip Ramsey, Dr. Jerry Ritchie, ARS Ecologist/Soil Scientist, and Mike Hubbs.

At the ARS Dairy Research Farm,
Dr. Walter Mulbry, Microbiologist, describes
the Algae Scrubber, used to feed algae liquid
nutrients form animal manure.

President Beth Sauerhaft presents a plaque to
Mr. R. Neil Sampson to honor him with the
Norman A. Berg Conservation Legacy Award for 2006.

Norm Berg reflects on more than 3 decades
of knowing and working with Neil Sampson.

Mr. John Englert, Horticulturalist and Manager of the NRCS
National Plant Materials Center (gesturing in center of photo)
describes the process of collecting and testing plants to
determine their best use

The ARS Biodiesel bus runs on
80% diesel and 20% Soybean oil..

A large clump of Gamma Grass
growing at the PMC.