Will coming regulations impact the way you plan field fertilizer applications? Are marestail and other herbicide resistant weeds creating headaches for you and, or your neighbors? Have your crop yields been depressed by diseases; some quantified, some suspected? 

The Jan. 9, 2012 West Ohio Agronomy Day agenda addresses these and other concerns. Conducted in the recently remodeled and spacious St. Michael’s Hall in Ft. Loramie, Ohio, the program offers multiple speakers and subjects targeting the information needs of farmers and Certified Crop Advisers. The daytime session begins at 8:30 a.m. with the evening program kicking off at 5:30 p.m.

Ohio State University Extension’s Jon Rausch will comment on the fast approaching regulatory oversight that both dealers and farmers are going to endure in the new future. His insight on the 4 R’s of fertilization and storage guidelines for manure can boost economic return while exceeding environmental expectations.

Extension Agronomist Harold Watters’ presentation provides effective recommendations in dealing with the toughest weed populations, straight from the 2012 Weed Control Guide for Ohio and Indiana. That publication is one participants can choose from that is included with the registration fee. Watters will also address agricultural fumigation issues.

Those field crop diseases that you see, and those you do not readily identify are the subjects of Justin Petrosino, M.S. CCA. He plans to offer disease control solutions from seed selection and protection to in-season management. Much of what he will address can be found in the Corn, Soybean, Wheat and Alfalfa Field Guide, another Extension publication to select as part of the registration fee.

Add the expertise of Purdue’s Dr. Fred Whitford, “The Impact of Water Quality on Pesticide Performance;” OSU Entomologist Dr. Andy Michel for insect control guidelines; Ag Engineer Dr. Scott Shearer on precision ag for guidance and auto shutoffs and the USDA-NRCS’s George Derringer digging into soil health. Also, expect to learn from Agriflite pilot Ray Cunningham and from Brother Nick Renner updating the audience on Grand Lake as well as grain marketers from Cargill and Trupointe Cooperative at the beginning of both the daytime and evening programs.

Strong commercial support is once again evident for the 2012 West Ohio Agronomy Day. Included are Precision Agri-Services; Cargill, Bambauer Fertilizer & Seed, Inc.; Brodbeck Seeds; Lena Ag Center, LLC; Trupointe Cooperative, Fertilizer Dealer Supply; Farm Credit Services; Bird Agronomics, LLC; Pioneer Hi-Bred International; VanTilburg Farms, LLC; Fennig Equipment; Fennig-Homan Agribusiness; Menke Consulting, LLC; Shelby County Farm Bureau; Sloan Ag Consulting, LLC; Seed Consultants, LLC; Indiana/Ohio Agri-Services and the Shelby SWCD & Loramie Valley Alliance.

If you just want to come for the information, farmers and others can preregister by Jan. 5 for $5; Jan. 6 and after for $10, all to paid at the door on Jan. 9. E-mail watters.35@osu.edu or call 937.484.1526 to register and to obtain a copy of the tentative agenda.

Registration for private pesticide recertification credits can be obtained by going online at http://pested.osu.edu to either register with a credit card, or download the registration form to pay by check. Those registration forms can also be picked up at all Ohio Extension offices. Forms must be completed and mailed to the address on the form by Dec. 31. The total cost for recertifying is $35, which includes program registration. CCA credits cost $20, payable at the door.

West Ohio Agronomy Day annually draws participants from more than 50 miles away. Will this be your first year to attend, or are you one of the over 50 percent of the participants that gather information, share in the discussions and take home free publications every year?

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Roger Bender may write to him in care of this publication.