June 13, 2013

National corn expert Bob Nieslen will be the featured speaker at two crop clinics to be held at UNL's Agricultural Research and Development Center near Mead this July.

Bob Nielsen, Purdue Corn Specialist

At the UNL midsummer Crop Management Diagnostic Clinics July 17-18 producers and agribusiness professionals will take a close-up look at field conditions, research findings, and recommended practices.

Nielsen, professor of agronomy and extension corn specialist at Purdue University (and a Nebraska native), writes for and publishes King Corn - the Corn Growers' Guidebook and the Chat 'n Chew Cafe, a Purdue University crop production website. 

Keith Glewen, UNL extension educator, said having Nielsen share his experience and knowledge of corn production live in a cornfield will be a once in lifetime educational experience for many producers.

Other speakers will include UNL researchers and extension specialists.

"Benefits of the crop management and diagnostic clinics include one-on-one attention, on-site plot demonstrations, interaction with other participants, discussions about cutting edge research and an opportunity to earn continuing education credits through Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) program."

Each day the clinics will begin with registration at 7:30 a.m. at the ARDC's  August N. Christenson Research and Education Building followed by the program at 8 a.m. Participants can attend one or both of the clinics as subject matter will be different each day.

Program Topics

July 17 clinic topics include:

• Corn Crop Canopy, Light Interception, and Grain Yield
• Corn Silage, An Efficient and Economical Use of Corn Residue
• Update on Nematodes of Corn and Soybean
• Crop Water Use
• Making the Most of a Herbicide Application
• Feeding a Growing Population in a Shrinking World: A Plant Biosecurity-Food Security Challenge

Six Certified Crop Adviser credits have been applied for and are pending approval for this clinic. They are in crop management – 1.5, pest management – 3.0, soil and water management – 1.0, and nutrient management – .5.

July 18 clinic topics include:

• Sex in the Corn Field: What Really Goes On Out There?
• Evaluating Efficacy of Tank Mixing Herbicides for Hard-to-Control Weeds in Corn
• Feedlot Manure and Holding Pond Effluent: N Availability and Environmental Issues
• Understanding the Benefits and Limitations of Current Pesticide Application Field Equipment
• Crop Scene Investigation (CSI)
• Atrazine in Surface Water and Groundwater

Six Certified Crop Adviser credits have been applied for and are pending approval for this clinic. They are in crop management – 1.5, pest management – 3.5, and nutrient management – 1.0.

Reservations

Early registration is recommended to reserve a seat and resource materials. Cost for one clinic is $160 for those registering one week in advance and $210 after that date. Cost for both clinics is $280 one week in advance and $320 after that date.

For more information or to register, view the program website, call 800-529-8030, fax 402-624-8010, or email cdunbar2@unl.edu. Registrations can be mailed to ARDC CMDC Programs, 1071 County Road G, Ithaca, NE 68033.

Directions to the site are available on the ARDC website.

UNL Soils Clinic Aug. 28

A special UNL clinic focusing on physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil and water is scheduled for Aug. 28. It also will be held at the UNL ARDC near Mead.

Soil clinic topics will include:

• Physical, Chemical and Biological Properties of Soil and Water…The Cornerstone of the Human Race
• Cover Crops for Improving the Soil
• Infiltration Test and Organic Matter
• Soil Temperature., Electrical Conductivity, pH, N and P Tests
• Irrigation and Soil Water
• Using Solvita Respiration Tests and N Flush
• Soil Profile and Positioning of Landscape
• Management Considerations to Improve the Physical, Chemical and Biological Properties of Soil

Certified Crop Adviser credits have been applied for in the areas of nutrient management – 2.5 and water management – 5.5.

IANR News