January 30, 2013

Successful no-till farmers and University of Nebraska-Lincoln specialists will be the key speakers at this year's Nebraska No-Till Conferences. The conferences are free and will be held at two sites: Hallam in eastern Nebraska Feb. 12 and Holdrege in south central Nebraska Feb. 14. Registration at both sites begins at 9 a.m. with the program beginning at 9:30.

Conference organizers, UNL Extension educators Chuck Burr, Paul Hay, and Tyler Williams and UNL extension engineer Paul Jasa, say producers will learn the benefits of no-till and how it can work for them. The programs will differ slightly at each site, as noted below.

Speakers

"This conference offers an opportunity to learn from successful no-till producers with several decades of practical experience," said Paul Jasa.

• Ryan Speer, a Sedgwick, Kansas, producer, will discuss his experiences using cover crops in no-till crop production, particularly during the 2012 drought (both sites).
   
• Paul Ackley, a no-till farmer from Bedford, Iowa, will discuss the success he's had using cover crops in a corn-soybean, no-till rotation. He experimented for many years to find the right stubble and cover crop rotation for his fields (both sites).
   
• Gail Fuller, an Emporia, Kansas producer, will discuss soil health and nutrient management in no-till, as well as grazing (both sites).
   
• Mark Watson, an Alliance producer, will discuss water management and irrigation (Holdrege only).
   
• Larry Kopsa, a CPA from York, will present information on transitioning your soil to future farmers (Hallam only).
   
• Paul Jasa will discuss fertilizer equipment for no-till production systems (Hallam only).
   
• A no-till panel will share 30 top tips for no-till production (both sites).

Registration

Pre-registration is due by Friday, February 8 to plan for meals and materials. CCA credits will be available. To register for

• the conference at the Hallam Community Center, call 402-223-1384 or email plase2@unl.edu (Paul Hay, extension educator in Gage County, host)
• the conference at the Holdrege Ag Center, call 308-995-4222 or email twilliams2@unl.edu (Tyler Williams, extension educator in Phelps and Gosper counties, host)