By Dave Nicolai, Coordinator-Institute for Ag Professionals
2015 January Research Updates for Ag Professionals
Registration for the 2015 University of Minnesota Research Update for Ag Professionals is available on-line or by mail. The registration fee is $45 prior to December 31st and $50 after December 31st. The Research Updates will be held at Waseca (Jan 6), Kasson (Jan 7), Lamberton (Jan 8), Morris (Jan 13), Willmar (Jan 14), and Crookston (Jan 15). Registration will be available at the door at Noon; start time is at 12:30 pm. The program continues until 4:40 pm.
At the 2015 University of Minnesota Research Update for Ag Professionals, you will find research-based strategies to deal with today's pest, disease, variety, and nutrient recommendations. Presentations and discussions at the update will allow you to visit with experienced university researchers and offer you the opportunity to visit with colleagues to discuss topics of interest to you in your region. You will leave with research-based knowledge and field-tested solutions that will help you in the field for the year 2015. Agendas and descriptions of the research update presentations can be viewed at the Institute for Ag Professionals web site.
CEU Credits for Certified Crop Advisors
Continuing education units for Certified Crop Advisors are given for the Research Updates. CEU credits which have been applied for at each location are; 1 in Nutrient Mgt and 3 in Pest Mgt with the exception of the Crookston location which will offer 1 in Nutrient Mgt, 3 in Pest Mgt and 1 in Crop Mgt. Certified Crop Advisors are encouraged to bring their CCA identification card in order to facilitate CEU sign-up.
Who Should Attend?
Agronomists, Ag Salespeople (seeds, chemicals, fertilizers), Crop Consultants, Crop Production Specialists, Extension Educators, Agriculture Government Agency Personnel, Farm Managers, and anyone else who would benefit from some professional training.
Questions regarding the program content or disability accommodations, can be directed to Larisa Jenrich at 651-480-7732.
Proceedings from the 2014 University of Minnesota & Minnesota Crop Production Retailers Crop Pest Management Short Course and Trade Show held December 9-11 in Minneapolis are available to be viewed at the Institute for Ag Professionals web site. The proceedings web page includes a listing of abstracts authored by the speakers at the short course and copies of their slide presentations in a PDF format for your review.
The 2014 edition of the CPM Short Course and MCPR Trade Show program addressed Big Data Management on both the Tuesday afternoon MCPR Plenary and the Wednesday morning General Session. In this year’s General Session, three speakers addressed important issues affecting ag professionals in 2015: from Dr. Michael Schmitt, University of Minnesota Associate Dean and Professor; decision-making process regarding fertilizer management from a producer perspective, from Aaron Ault, OADA Project Lead, Senior Research Engineer at Purdue University; how OADA is helping the ag industry to move toward better Big Data privacy, security, and a review of neonicotinoid insecticides including their history, current use and potential unintended consequences from Dr. Galen P. Dively, Professor Emeritus University of Maryland.
Wednesday’s and Thursday’s concurrent educational sessions included: using soybean seed treatments for the control of soybean aphids; monitoring crop insects using remote sensing; giant ragweed biology and control; new sprayer technology; successful corn & soybean weed management strategies; update of nitrogen best management practices; corn foliar disease update; maximizing soybean yield via genetics, nutrition, and management; sulfur management for corn; using winter rye as a cover crop within a corn – soybean rotation and why grain prices are at 5 year lows.
Source:umn.edu