2010 Crop Management Input seminar is Dec. 1

By Nathan Winter
Extension Educator – Agricultural Productions Systems
McLeod/Meeker County
Farmers and Ag Professionals are invited to attend the fourth annual 2010 Crop Management Input Seminar from 9:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, at the Hutchinson Event Center, 1005 Hwy S Plaza 15.

The seminar is coordinated by the University of Minnesota Extension. There is a $15 per person registration fee at the door, and includes lunch.

Crop Producers and Ag Professionals who assist them are faced with important decisions in planning for the 2010 crop year. Volatile land sales, rent, commodity prices, and input prices all have made management decisions even more important than in years past.

The seminar agenda includes the following topics:

• Production Cost Tools: Do You Know Your Break Even - Nathan Winter, U of M Extension Educator & Shawn Meyer, Ridgewater Farm Business Management

• Crop residue, Soil Temperature, and Nutrient Uptake - George Rehm, Retired U of M Soil Specialist

• Tools to Manage 3 Difficult Weeds: Giant Ragweed, Common Lambsquarters, and Waterhemp - Dr. Jeff Gunsolus, U of M Extension Weed Specialist

• Checklist to Consider When Planning Your 2010 Soybean Crop - David Nicolai, U of M Extension Educator - Crops

• IPM Panel: Management of Corn Rootworm, Soybean Aphids - Why Volunteer Corn Matters, and Other Topics - Bruce Potter, U of M IPM Specialist, area crop consultant, applicator, and farmer

• Nutrient Management in 2009: Were Nitrogen and Sulfur a Major Problem? - Dr. Dan Kaiser, U of M Extension Soil Specialist

In addition to the seminar topics, seminar attendees will have access to area crop input and financial agri-businesses that will be present at the seminar within the booth area located in the Hutchinson Event Center. Time will be provided before, during lunch and after the seminar for crop producers to visit with these agri-business representatives.

The 2009 McLeod County Corn & Soybean Variety Plot results will also be available. Financial sponsorships for the 2010 Crop Seminar include: Pioneer, Syngenta, Brownton Co-op, C.B. Agronomics, Stewart, Citizens Bank & Trust, Duane Jindra Crop Insurance Agency, McLeod County Corn & Soybean Association, Hutchinson Co-op, Prairie Road Consulting, and DEKALB-Asgrow.