These one-day field clinics are designed to improve the agronomic management skills of industry personnel, extension and public agents, crop consultants, and producers. Specialists from Penn State and the agricultural community will provide hands-on diagnosis training in crop production, pest management, soil fertility, and soil and water conservation. Participants will be involved in a variety of topics and have ample opportunity to diagnose, solve, and discuss crop management problems and situations, and evaluate new and alternative management strategies. Practical information about interacting factors (nutrients, pests, environmental stress) that effect crop management and are unique to Northeastern agriculture can be discussed. In addition to gaining practical agronomic knowledge, CCA, nutrient management, and pesticide applicator license credits can be obtained. (There will be a total of 5 CCA credits that can be acquired in CM, PM, NM, and SW.)
Presentations
This year’s clinic will be similar to past programs and will focus on various topics relating to crop and soil management. As always, there will be time for discussion and hands-on participation. The program is designed to allow participants to attend all of the sessions and will include:
- Controlling Ammonia Volatilization
Volatilization of ammonia from urea containing fertilizers can result in a very significant loss of N. Traditionally volatilization was controlled by incorporating the urea containing fertilizer as soon as possible following application. The dramatic increase in no-till demands alternatives to incorporation for reducing ammonia volatilization. Serveral products have been introduced to reduce volatilization from surface applied urea. The performance of these products will be discussed and the actual loss of ammonia from these products will be demonstrated compared to urea, non-volatile sources of N, and incorporation.
Certified Crop Adviser CEUs: NW
Instructors: Dr. Curtis Dell (USDA-ARS), Dr. Doug Beegle, and Justin Dillon - Detecting Planter Errors
When it comes to corn, yield is definitely in the details. As input costs escalate, it is ever so important to pay attention to planter performance. Planter performance is one of the few things a producer can control in this business, yet many producers overlook some of the fundamental adjustments that can help capture more of the potential found in today’s varieties. Agronomists can also benefit from a basic knowledge of planters, because many stand issues can be traced back to planter performance. What should you look for? There are also sensor packages available today that can help the producer diagnose planter problems in the field, in real time. Data from these sensors tied to a geographic location can give the porducer or consultant spatial insight for future management decisions.
Certified Crop Adviser CEUs: CM
Instructor: Brian Macafee - Insect Pest Monitoring and Management
Integrated Pest Management is founded on the principle of treating pest populations only when it makes economic sense. The widespread use of transgenics is reducing the apparent need for sound IPM practices, such as scouting. We will review the benefits fo scouting for insect pests and touch upon some tools that can facilitate the timing of scouting (e.g., PA-PIPE). We will also visit some research exploring new tactics for managing insect pests. In addition we will discuss black cutworm, western bean cutworm, and other insect pests.
Certified Crop Adviser PM
Instructors: Dr. John Tooker - Forage Grass Identification and Fit
What is that grass? With over 5,000 grass species in the world, grass identification is daunting. In this session we will learn the basic clues to identification of common forage grass by their seed, vegetation, and flower. Then we will review where in the landscape and farming system some of these grasses fit.
Certified Crop Adviser CEUs: CM
Instructors: Dr. Marvin Hall - Alternative Cover Crops
Cover crops are receiving a lot of attention among others, to improve soil and water quality, to fix nitrogen, to recycle nutrients from the subsoil and provide weed suppression. Most attention has been focused on fall-established cover crops. Sometimes, however, cover crops can be established in the summer. In this section we will demonstrate some relatively unknown cover crops and discuss their properties and management. The cover crops include: different millet species, sudangrass, grain sorghum, forage soybean, cowpea, crimson clover, buckwheat, yellow sweet clover, red clover and possibly others.
Certified Crop Adviser CEUs: SW
Instructors: Dr.Sjoerd Duiker
Registration
The registration fee of $60.00/person covers lunch, refreshments, and support materials. (Late registration fee is $80 for reservations made after July 21)
Please register for the clinic on-line or via mail or FAX (814) 865-7050 by completing the form. Please register by July 21 so that we can determine our material and luncheon needs.
Credit card payments will be accepted!