Crop and Cow Day Scheduled for Dec. 9 at Carrington REC

The North Dakota State University Carrington Research Extension Center (REC) will conduct its annual Crop and Cow Day on Dec. 9.

Utilizing a combination of NDSU, U.S. Department of Agriculture and industry crop experts, the educational event will provide a review of production research and recommendations for corn, dry beans, soybeans and sunflowers, according to Greg Endres, NDSU Extension Service area agronomist. An addition to the program this year will be an afternoon session for beef cattle producers.

Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. There is no registration fee.

The morning's educational program begins at 9 with corn and soybean discussions. Corn subjects include a review of hybrid performance, plant nutrition and other production research conducted by the Carrington REC. Soybean subjects include updates on variety performance and selection, plant establishment and nutrition, and disease management with a focus on white mold and cyst nematodes. Speakers addressing these subjects include Blaine Schatz, Endres and Hans Kandel, NDSU agronomists; Tom Lilja, North Dakota Corn Council executive director; and Sam Markell and Michael Wunsch, NDSU plant pathologists.

The morning session will close with a crop economics presentation. Jory Hansen, Farm Business Management Program area coordinator, will compare costs and income for four row crops versus wheat and barley.

Refreshments and a noon meal will be sponsored by the National Sunflower Association (NSA), Northarvest Bean Growers Association, North Dakota Corn Council and North Dakota Soybean Council.

At 1 p.m., two concurrent sessions will be conducted. One session features dry bean and sunflower production, while the other offers beef cattle producers an update on current production and market subjects.

Discussion topics on dry beans include variety performance, review of NDSU research on plant establishment and direct harvest, plus an update on white mold and rust management. Sunflower information will include a review of growing season issues and a market update; current and future opportunities with sunflower hybrids; and updates on managing diseases, such as sclerotinia and rust. Speakers include Kandel, Markell, Wunsch; Brent Hulke, USDA sunflower breeder; and Larry Kleingartner, NSA executive director.

Five and a half continuing education credits (categories include crop, nutrient and pest management) will be available for certified crop advisers participating in the event.

For more information, contact the NDSU Carrington REC at (701) 652-2951. Details also can be found on the Web at www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/carringt/.

NDSU Agriculture Communication