Descriptions of all workshops appear below. Some workshops that are part of special symposia may be listed twice. Workshops are listed under the CCA category that they qualify for. Please print the registration form to view the schedule grid of when workshops will be presented. You will be asked to select your workshops during the registration process.
Quick links
- conservation systems symposium
- corn stover symposium
- CenUSA bioenergy symposium
- crop management
- pest management
- nutrient management
- soil and water management
- pesticide applicator training
Conservation Systems Role in Sustaining Productivity and Soil Quality
The focus of this group of workshops is to address the value and benefits of conservation practices in improving crop production, soil quality, and environmental quality. The presentations will address the value of conservation systems including no-till in mitigating climate change challenges such as recent drought and reduce soil erosion under extreme wet conditions.
34. Two-hour session with three presentations and panel discussion. (2 SW credits)
- Tillage System Performance in Southern Minnesota. Jeffrey Vetsch, University of Minnesota, Southern Research and Outreach Center, Waseca. This presentation will summarize 15 years of tillage system research in Southern Minnesota on various soil types/textures (clay loams to silt loams). The emphasis of the presentation will be on corn and soybean production. Tillage systems for corn after corn will be addressed.
- No-till Corn and Soybean Systems for Yield and Soil Benefits in the Short- Term and Long-Term. Tony Vyn, Purdue University. In over 30 years of research on no-till systems in the Eastern CornBelt, I have noticed a steady improvement in no-till corn and soybean yields relative to those after conventional tillage. But the actual improvements in either yields or soil quality depend on management (crop rotation, equipment type/adjustment, timing of field operations, variety choice, nutrient management, etc.). This presentation will highlight some of the long-term and short-term results with “pure” no-till versus “modified” no-till systems, and suggest approaches to improving the success of no-till and related soil-conserving systems. Coping with future climate change will put even more priority on farmer adoption of climate-resilient management systems.
- Conservation Systems: Benefits in managing drought and mitigating yield loss by improving soil quality. Mahdi Al-Kaisi, Iowa State University. Recent drought conditions in Iowa have presented challenges regarding crop productivity and soil quality. Soil conservation practices improve soil organic matter, soil water storage, soil microbial activity and nutrient cycling and uptake by plants to mitigate the impacts of drought on yield losses.
35. Balancing Tillage, Soil Loss and Profitability. Matt Helmers, associate professor, Ag & Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University; Mark Hanna, scientist, Ag & Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University. Soil disturbance can have an impact soil loss. The first half of this presentation will present modeling results on the impacts of tillage and land management practices on soil loss. This will include how land management practices from the past might compare to current practices relative to soil loss. The focus of the second-half of the presentation is: Aggressive tillage is detrimental to soil conservation, but will it enhance profitability? Research farm results of subsoil/rip, chisel plow, no-till and other systems in corn and soybean production will be compared for yields and energy requirements. (1 SW credit)
Corn Stover for Energy Production Symposium
10. Industrial Corn Stover Production. Matt Darr, assistant professor, Ag and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University.This presentation will cover industrial techniques for high capacity and high quality corn stover production. It will emphasize practices to maximize profitability for supplying corn stover to an industrial biorefinery and discuss challenges and opportunities in the corn stover supply market. (1 CM credit)
11. Economics of Corn Stover. William Edwards, professor, Economics, Iowa State University; Chad Hart, associate professor, Economics, Iowa State University. This presentation will examine the cellulosic biofuel market, explore crucial elements in the participation decision for corn stover producers, and outline techniques to value corn stover for multiple uses. Contracting opportunities and challenges, leasing arrangements, and economic decision tools will be discussed. (1 CM credit)
12. DuPont Cellulosic Ethanol: Sustainable Corn Stover Harvest for Biofuel Production. Andy Heggenstaller, agronomy research manager – cellulosic ethanol, DuPont Pioneer.For over a decade, DuPont has been developing technology to produce ethanol from cellulosic biomass. In 2012, DuPont will take the first steps to commercialize this revolutionary technology by commencing construction on a first-of-its-kind cellulosic biorefinery near Nevada, Iowa. This biorefinery, which is expected to begin operation in 2014, will produce 25 million gallons of ethanol annually from approximately 350,000 tons of corn stover. All of the stover required to operate the biorefinery will be collected from within a 30-mile radius of the plant location. To lead the way in meeting the feedstock needs of the next generation of biofuel technology, DuPont, in 2010, established a biomass supply chain research and development program in central Iowa. Over the past three years, this program has been working closely with Iowa State University to develop and scale-up a cost-effective, high-quality and sustainable supply of corn stover biomass for the Nevada biorefinery. In 2012, the DuPont biomass program is working with farmers and custom harvest teams to collect nearly 40,000 tons of stover. Current plans are to scale the collection program to 200,000 tons or more in the year before the biorefinery becomes operational. This presentation will provide an overview of DuPont’s progress in commercializing cellulosic ethanol, with specific attention to the technology, logistics and sustainability of the corn stover feedstock supply chain. (1 CM credit)
30. Nutrient Considerations with Corn Stover Harvest. John E. Sawyer, professor, Agronomy, Iowa State University. Corn stover has been harvested for many years as bedding and feed for livestock. In the near future, harvest may increase considerably with use as cellulosic input for ethanol production. When corn stover is removed from fields, there is not only an increase in nutrient removal compared to grain alone, but also carbon and associated impacts on soil nutrient supply and needed management. In addition, timing of stover harvest can influence nutrient concentrations and associated nutrient replacement costs. This presentation will cover several considerations for nutrient management with harvest of corn stover. (1 NM credit)
Sustainable Bioenergy Symposium
This special topic symposium is sponsored by the CenUSA project. This project is supported by Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grant no. 2011-68005-30411 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
7. Overview of the Sustainable Production and Distribution of Bioenergy for the Central USA (CenUSA) Project. Chad Hart, associate professor, Economics, Iowa State University. In 2010, USDA called for proposals to investigate the development of sustainable bioenergy platforms. Iowa State University and collaborators from several other states have been awarded funds for a project that will: 1) explore the feasibility of producing advanced transportation fuels derived from perennial grasses grown on land that is unsuitable or marginal for row crop production and 2) improve the sustainability of existing corn/soybean systems by reducing agricultural runoff of nutrients and soil and increasing carbon sequestration. This presentation will outline the project and review the research results from the 1st year of the project. (1 CM credit)
8. Understanding the Economics of a System of Perennial Grasses for Bioenergy in the Central United States. Keri Jacobs, assistant professor, Economics, Iowa State University. Iowa State University and collaborators from several other institutions are investigating the feasibility of a system to produce biofuels and co-products from perennial grasses grown on the existing agricultural landscape in the Central United States. Research underway is focused on perennial grass establishment, management, harvest, transportation, storage and conversion to biofuel. This session will present the economics of the system from a producer standpoint and will be used to gauge and establish producer participation criteria. (1 CM credit)
9. Establishing and Managing Perennial Grasses for Bioenergy. Rob Mitchell, research agronomist, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Lincoln, NE. Switchgrass and other perennial grasses are promising for bioenergy production and are well adapted to marginally- productive crop land. Switchgrass has been identified as the model herbaceous perennial feedstock because it is broadly adapted and has high yield potential on marginally productive crop land. This presentation will outline the best management practices for establishing and managing perennial grasses for bioenergy and will address the feasibility of growing these grasses in regions dominated by corn and soybean production. (1 CM credit)
38. The Emerging Biochar Industry. David Laird, professor, Agronomy, Iowa State University. Biochar is emerging as a new industry with applications in horticultural, mined land reclamation, home gardens, and urban storm water retention. The presentation will review soil-biochar interactions, the current state of the biochar industry, and the potential for future biochar applications in production agriculture. (1 SW credit)
Crop management
1. After the Drought: What Next? Elwynn Taylor, professor, Agronomy, Iowa State University. Historical events hint that the Midwest may be on the verge of crop weather reminiscent of the 70s and 80s. Abnormally active weather systems can bring a mix of record high yield crop years interspersed with adverse production conditions. Agriculture will remain the world’s largest and most basic industry, but will become more dependent on technological advances and on effective risk management than was demanded over the past 20 years.
2. The Impact of the Drought on Grain Quality and Grain Processing. Charles R. Hurburgh, Jr., professor, Iowa Grain Quality Initiative and Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University.The drought conditions sharply cut the quantity of corn at a time when demand was increasing at a rapid pace. Drought typically creates the threat of aflatoxin, low test weight, loss of soybean protein and oil, and other quality issues. Current day shows that some predictions were right and others not. Aflatoxin was present in Iowa corn; how do the new US laws on food/feed safety relate to a naturally occurring problem such as aflatoxin,and what do we need to do on an ogoing basis. Feed quality and test weight are better than expected.
3. Corn Management: Understanding Yield and the Impact of Growth Variability on Yield. Warren Pierson, graduate research assistant, Agronomy; Roger Elmore, professor, Agronomy, Iowa State University. Where does yield come from? How is it attained? What impacts it and when? How does plant to plant variability influence yield?
4. Spring Management of Hay Fields and Pastures. Stephen K. Barnhart, professor, Agronomy, Iowa State University. 2012 was a drought year for most producers in Iowa. Pastures were generally overused and stressed. Hay production was adversely affected. There are several spring forage management practices that should be considered. This session will address a range of management alternatives.
5. 2013 Crop Market Outlook. Chad Hart, associate professor, Economics, Iowa State University. 2013 is shaping up to be an exciting market year for crop agriculture. The drought has pushed prices to record setting levels again. But crop demands are retreating in reaction to those prices. This presentation will examine the factors influencing crop and biofuel markets and provide an outlook for those markets over the coming year.
6. (Note: this workshop has reached capacity and is closed. 11/13/12) Scouting Using Mobile Apps. Michael Koenig and Stuart McCulloh, co-founders, ScoutPro. Accurate, consistent scouting reports to improve you and your scouts knowledge! ScoutPro released new crop scouting apps for Apple and Android systems for the 2012 season. With built in identification, record keeping, and mapping, the ScoutPro apps give you a professional look, while storing quality data online to use year after year in making smart cropping decisions. Learn about mobile technology and how to move forward with your crop scouting program. Scout + Identify + Manage
7. Overview of the Sustainable Production and Distribution of Bioenergy for the Central USA (CenUSA) Project. Chad Hart, associate professor, Economics, Iowa State University. In 2010, USDA called for proposals to investigate the development of sustainable bioenergy platforms. Iowa State University and collaborators from several other states have been awarded funds for a project that will: 1) explore the feasibility of producing advanced transportation fuels derived from perennial grasses grown on land that is unsuitable or marginal for row crop production and 2) improve the sustainability of existing corn/soybean systems by reducing agricultural runoff of nutrients and soil and increasing carbon sequestration. This presentation will outline the project and review the research results from the 1st year of the project.
8. Understanding the Economics of a System of Perennial Grasses for Bioenergy in the Central United States. Keri Jacobs, assistant professor, Economics, Iowa State University. Iowa State University and collaborators from several other institutions are investigating the feasibility of a system to produce biofuels and co-products from perennial grasses grown on the existing agricultural landscape in the Central United States. Research underway is focused on perennial grass establishment, management, harvest, transportation, storage and conversion to biofuel. This session will present the economics of the system from a producer standpoint and will be used to gauge and establish producer participation criteria.
9. Establishing and Managing Perennial Grasses for Bioenergy. Rob Mitchell, research agronomist, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Lincoln, NE. Switchgrass and other perennial grasses are promising for bioenergy production and are well adapted to marginally- productive crop land. Switchgrass has been identified as the model herbaceous perennial feedstock because it is broadly adapted and has high yield potential on marginally productive crop land. This presentation will outline the best management practices for establishing and managing perennial grasses for bioenergy and will address the feasibility of growing these grasses in regions dominated by corn and soybean production.
10. Industrial Corn Stover Production. Matt Darr, assistant professor, Ag and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University.This presentation will cover industrial techniques for high capacity and high quality corn stover production. It will emphasize practices to maximize profitability for supplying corn stover to an industrial biorefinery and discuss challenges and opportunities in the corn stover supply market.
11. Economics of Corn Stover. William Edwards, professor, Economics, Iowa State University; Chad Hart, associate professor, Economics, Iowa State University. This presentation will examine the cellulosic biofuel market, explore crucial elements in the participation decision for corn stover producers, and outline techniques to value corn stover for multiple uses. Contracting opportunities and challenges, leasing arrangements, and economic decision tools will be discussed.
12. DuPont Cellulosic Ethanol: Sustainable Corn Stover Harvest for Biofuel Production. Andy Heggenstaller, agronomy research manager – cellulosic ethanol, DuPont Pioneer.For over a decade, DuPont has been developing technology to produce ethanol from cellulosic biomass. In 2012, DuPont will take the first steps to commercialize this revolutionary technology by commencing construction on a first-of-its-kind cellulosic biorefinery near Nevada, Iowa. This biorefinery, which is expected to begin operation in 2014, will produce 25 million gallons of ethanol annually from approximately 350,000 tons of corn stover. All of the stover required to operate the biorefinery will be collected from within a 30-mile radius of the plant location. To lead the way in meeting the feedstock needs of the next generation of biofuel technology, DuPont, in 2010, established a biomass supply chain research and development program in central Iowa. Over the past three years, this program has been working closely with Iowa State University to develop and scale-up a cost-effective, high-quality and sustainable supply of corn stover biomass for the Nevada biorefinery. In 2012, the DuPont biomass program is working with farmers and custom harvest teams to collect nearly 40,000 tons of stover. Current plans are to scale the collection program to 200,000 tons or more in the year before the biorefinery becomes operational. This presentation will provide an overview of DuPont’s progress in commercializing cellulosic ethanol, with specific attention to the technology, logistics and sustainability of the corn stover feedstock supply chain.
Pest management
13. (Note: this workshop has reached capacity and is closed. 11/15/12) IPM 101. Bob Hartzler, professor, Agronomy; Laura Jesse, extension program specialist, Plant Pathology and Microbiology; Erika Saalau, extension program specialist, Plant Pathology and Microbiology. How well do you know integrated management of diseases, insects, and weeds? Have fun while you learn. Take part in an electronically administered quiz and discussion covering basic principles of IPM in agronomic crops. (Limited enrollment for each session.)
14. Crop Diversification: Impact on Weeds, Soybean Sudden Death Syndrome, and Crop Productivity. Leonor Leandro, associate professor, Plant Pathology and Microbiology; Matt Liebman, professor, Agronomy, Iowa State University. In this presentation, learn how crop diversification has reduced weed pressure and soybean sudden death syndrome, and increased yields, in a field study in Boone, IA. The economics of the cropping systems will also be discussed.
15. Probability of Return on Investment Using Soybean Seed Treatments. Shawn P. Conley, associate professor and soybean/small grain specialist, University of Wisconsin, Madison. Inputs should not be treated as “insurance”. They should stand on their own and be profitable for growers. In this session we will elucidate what is the actual probability that growers make money when they use soybean seed treatments.
16. Managing Rotten Corn: An Overview of Corn Ear Rots. Kiersten Wise, associate professor, Purdue University. Corn ear rots are capable of impacting yield and grain quality every year, and 2012 was no exception with the prevalence of Aspergillus ear rot and aflatoxin. Identification and management strategies will be discussed for the major ear rot disease in the Midwest.
17. Research Update on Seedling Diseases of Corn and Soybean Caused by Oomycete Pathogens. Alison Robertson, associate professor, Pathology and Microbiology, Iowa State University. This presentation will highlight research results on soybean seedling disease caused by Pythium species and Phytophthora sojae in the north central region, and the efficacy and yield benefits of commercial soybean seed treatments in Iowa. Furthermore, data from the 2012 corn seedling disease epidemic in southeastern and south central Iowa will be presented.
18. A 2012 Overview of Plant Diseases in Iowa. Daren Mueller, assistant professor, Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Iowa State University. This presentation will outline the predominant diseases of corn and soybean found in Iowa during the 2012 growing season. The ramifications of these diseases for 2013 and beyond will also be discussed.
19. A Look at Research on Soybean Cyst Nematode at Iowa State University. Gregory L. Tylka, professor, Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Iowa State University. There are numerous research projects at Iowa State University focused on understanding the biology and optimizing management of the soybean cyst nematode (SCN). Most of the work is supported by soybean checkoff funds. This session will consist of brief descriptions and discussions of ongoing research on topics such as the interaction of SCN with the soybean aphid and with the sudden death syndrome (SDS) pathogen, the effects of seed treatments on SCN population densities and yields, and the relationship between yields of resistant soybean varieties and SCN HG types (races).
20. Adjuvants: The Rest of the Story. Rich Zollinger, professor, North Dakota State University. This presentation will debunk many misconceptions about adjuvants, describe the three most important adjuvant classifications and adjuvant modes of action. The science based discussion will also identify antagonistic salts in water, herbicides susceptible to salt antagonism, and simple ways overcome the antagonism.
21. Adjuvant Selection to Optimize Herbicide. Rich Zollinger, professor, North Dakota State University. This presentation will identify several examples of how new adjuvant technology can greatly increase herbicide activity. Some of these topics are: information revealed (or not) on adjuvant labels, are surfactants and water conditioners created equal, what are high surfactant oil concentrates and acidic AMS replacement adjuvants, using the right spray water pH, and applying oil adjuvants by water volume (% v/v) or by area (pt/A).
22. Weed Management Update: 2013. Micheal D.K. Owen, professor, Agronomy, Iowa State University. Changes in weed management options for 2013 will be addressed. Anticipated issues such as the potential for herbicide carryover will be addressed. The current situation with herbicide resistant weeds in Iowa will be described.
23. Effectiveness of Using Multiple Sites of Action to Battle Herbicide Resistance. Bob Hartzler, professor, Agronomy, Iowa State University. Using multiple herbicide sites of action will be the major tool used to manage herbicide resistance for the foreseeable future. Simply adding alternative products to the weed management program is not sufficient to sustain the value of these important production tools. This session will provide participants the opportunity to critically evaluate herbicide programs to determine the selection pressure the program places on weeds.
24. Spider Mite Management for Corn and Soybean. Erin Hodgson, assistant professor, Entomology, Iowa State University. In 2012, spider mites were one of the biggest pest problems in corn and soybean. Hot and dry weather made spider mites difficult to manage. This presentation will review how to sample and make treatment decisions, as well as summarize 2012 efficacy data from around Iowa.
Nutrient management
25. Mining and Manufacturing of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium Fertilizers. Kim Polizotto, Ph.D., KRP Agronomic Consulting, Greenfield, Indiana. This presentation will discuss the processes involved in the commercial production of the major N, P and K fertilizers. It will include the mining and processing of phosphorus and potassium as well as the processing steps to produce the various P and K fertilizers. For nitrogen manufacturing it will discuss the chemical processes involved in manufacturing anhydrous ammonia, urea, and UAN,
26. Assessment of Sulfur Deficiency in Crops: What Tools Can You Use? Daniel Kaiser, assistant professor, Soil, Water and Climate, University of Minnesota. With reports of sulfur deficiency on the rise accurate methods to determine where a response may occur are needed to better treat potential deficiencies. Soil testing has been used for other nutrients but has not been able to accurately predict where responses occur and plant analysis is increasing being used for other elements but questions still remain as to the accuracy of the database used for sufficiency levels. This presentation will outline research work that has focused on determining what situations may increase the likelihood of a response to sulfur and compare different management tools such as soil and plant testing in their ability to predict a response to sulfur.
27. Nutrient Management Options for No-till and Strip-till Corn: The View from Purdue. Tony Vyn, professor, Agronomy, Purdue University. Over the past 10 years we have looked at various nutrient placement options to hopefully improve no-till and strip-till corn performance. This area of research has not been well funded for decades in the CornBelt, and so our progress in making detailed and prescription-type management recommendations is slower than I would like. But recently we have been able to make progress in investigating several nutrient management alternatives. Thus far, we have demonstrated mixed results with deep-banding versus broadcast application of P and K fertilizers in strip-till corn. However, we have shown distinct yield advantages to RTK guided precision placement of both UAN and NH3 sources of N fertilizers that are pre-plant applied in bands to no-till corn. Nitrification inhibitors are another management option that, along with no-till, limit N2O losses to the atmosphere and can also improve nitrogen use efficiency in corn. Nutrient application technologies are changing, and the integration of these in no-till and strip-till corn systems can have large consequences for farmers and the environment.
28. Nitrogen and Tillage Management for Corn Following Alfalfa. Jeff Coulter, assistant professor, Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota. Nitrogen guidelines for first- and second-year corn following alfalfa vary among Corn Belt states and growers have questioned the reliability of alfalfa N credits in high-yield environments. In this presentation, results from nearly 50 on-farm trials in Minnesota and Wisconsin that evaluated various N rates and N application timings in first- and second-year corn following alfalfa will be shared, along with information on the performance of different tillage systems for first-year corn. The predictability of N response in corn following alfalfa based on various soil and crop tests will also be discussed.
29. (Note: this workshop has reached capacity and is closed. 11/12/12) Enhancing Continuous Corn Production in High Residue Conditions with N, P and S Starter Fertilizer Combinations and Placements. Jeffrey Vetsch, Southern Research and Outreach Center, University of Minnesota. Continuous corn production using conservation tillage often results in reduced and less uniform early season growth, which may reduce yields and profitability. This is especially true on fine-textured and poorly drained soils. Research results will be presented on the benefits, enhanced and more uniform early growth and greater yields, of various combinations and placements of N, P and S containing starter fertilizers in high residue continuous corn.
30. Nutrient Considerations with Corn Stover Harvest. John E. Sawyer, professor, Agronomy, Iowa State University. Corn stover has been harvested for many years as bedding and feed for livestock. In the near future, harvest may increase considerably with use as cellulosic input for ethanol production. When corn stover is removed from fields, there is not only an increase in nutrient removal compared to grain alone, but also carbon and associated impacts on soil nutrient supply and needed management. In addition, timing of stover harvest can influence nutrient concentrations and associated nutrient replacement costs. This presentation will cover several considerations for nutrient management with harvest of corn stover.
31. Testing Field-Moist Soil Samples Improves the Assessment of Potassium Needs by Crops. Antonio P. Mallarino, professor, Agronomy, Iowa State University. Research at many Iowa farmers’ fields and research farms has re-evaluated a soil test procedure based on field-moist samples that ISU supported from the middle 1970’s to 1980’s. The test was abandoned due to complicated lab sample handling, but new technologies make lab procedures easier. The presentation will show that the moist test for potassium is better than the common test on dry samples and that is similar for other nutrients.
32. Nitrogen, Carbon, and Phosphorus Balances in Iowa Cropping Systems: Sustaining the Soil Resource. Michael Castellano, assistant professor, Agronomy, Iowa State University. Farmers and scientists are concerned that soil nitrogen, carbon and phosphorus stocks are experiencing a long-term decline that could negatively impact future yields. There is significant risk that corn-soybean rotations maintain a negative nitrogen balance, regardless of nitrogen fertilizer inputs. We will discuss the complex relationships among fertilizer inputs, yield, and stewardship of soil carbon and nutrient stocks in continuous corn and corn-soybean cropping systems.
33. CAFOs, NPDES Permits and the 590 Standard: What Does it All Mean for Manure Management. Angela Rieck- Hinz, extension program specialist, Agronomy, Iowa State University; Eric Hurley, USDA-NRCS. Increased regulatory pressure, policy-driven programs designed to protect water quality, and a concern to make the most profitable use of manure resources are driving manure management issues. This session will look at some of the current events and practices, changes to the 590 Nutrient Management Standard, and some crystal-ball gazing related to manure nutrient management in Iowa.
Soil and water management
Conservation Systems Role in Sustaining Productivity and Soil Quality (workshops 34 and 35)
The focus of this group of workshops is to address the value and benefits of conservation practices in improving crop production, soil quality, and environmental quality. The presentations will address the value of conservation systems including no-till in mitigating climate change challenges such as recent drought and reduce soil erosion under extreme wet conditions.
34. Two-hour session with three presentations and panel discussion. (2 SW credits)
- Tillage System Performance in Southern Minnesota. Jeffrey Vetsch, University of Minnesota, Southern Research and Outreach Center, Waseca. This presentation will summarize 15 years of tillage system research in Southern Minnesota on various soil types/textures (clay loams to silt loams). The emphasis of the presentation will be on corn and soybean production. Tillage systems for corn after corn will be addressed.
- No-till Corn and Soybean Systems for Yield and Soil Benefits in the Short- Term and Long-Term. Tony Vyn, Purdue University. In over 30 years of research on no-till systems in the Eastern CornBelt, I have noticed a steady improvement in no-till corn and soybean yields relative to those after conventional tillage. But the actual improvements in either yields or soil quality depend on management (crop rotation, equipment type/adjustment, timing of field operations, variety choice, nutrient management, etc.). This presentation will highlight some of the long-term and short-term results with “pure” no-till versus “modified” no-till systems, and suggest approaches to improving the success of no-till and related soil-conserving systems. Coping with future climate change will put even more priority on farmer adoption of climate-resilient management systems.
- Conservation Systems: Benefits in managing drought and mitigating yield loss by improving soil quality. Mahdi Al-Kaisi, Iowa State University. Recent drought conditions in Iowa have presented challenges regarding crop productivity and soil quality. Soil conservation practices improve soil organic matter, soil water storage, soil microbial activity and nutrient cycling and uptake by plants to mitigate the impacts of drought on yield losses.
35. Balancing Tillage, Soil Loss and Profitability. Matt Helmers, associate professor, Ag & Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University; Mark Hanna, scientist, Ag & Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University. Soil disturbance can have an impact soil loss. The first half of this presentation will present modeling results on the impacts of tillage and land management practices on soil loss. This will include how land management practices from the past might compare to current practices relative to soil loss. The focus of the second-half of the presentation is: Aggressive tillage is detrimental to soil conservation, but will it enhance profitability? Research farm results of subsoil/rip, chisel plow, no-till and other systems in corn and soybean production will be compared for yields and energy requirements.
36. CSR2: Iowa’s New Corn Suitability Rating. Lee Burras, professor, Agronomy, Iowa State University. The Corn Suitability Rating (CSR) has been a valuable tool for objectively evaluating land productivity in Iowa. This presentation will look at how the CSR2 is calculated, the objectives of the rating, and highlight how the new version differs from the previous.
37. Iowa Statewide Nutrient Reduction Strategy: Science Assessment. Matt Helmers, associate professor, Ag & Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University. As the demand for agricultural products increases so to does the demand for clean water. At present, the Hypoxia Action Plan has a goal of reducing nitrogen and phosphorus loading down the Mississippi River by 45%. This presentation will review performance of nutrient management, land use, and edge of field practices for reducing nutrient export.
38. The Emerging Biochar Industry. David Laird, professor, Agronomy, Iowa State University. Biochar is emerging as a new industry with applications in horticultural, mined land reclamation, home gardens, and urban storm water retention. The presentation will review soil-biochar interactions, the current state of the biochar industry, and the potential for future biochar applications in production agriculture.
Commercial pesticide applicator recertification
39. Seed treatment (Category 4) continuing instructional course for 2012. Alan Gaul, Seed Science Center, Iowa State University; Betsy Buffington, Pest Management and the Environment, Iowa State University. The Seed Treatment CIC will provide continuing instructional credit for commercial pesticide applicators certified in categories 4 and 10 for calendar year 2012. Topics to be covered include equipment calibration and safe application techniques as well as pesticide labels.
To receive recertification, applicators must attend this session and one of the following pest management workshops in addition to this session: 13, 15, 17, 19.
40. Categories 1A (Weeds), 1B (Insects), 1C (Crop Diseases) and 10 (Research and demonstration). Kristine Schaefer, Pest Management and the Environment, Iowa State University; Mark Hanna, scientist, Ag & Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University. The Commercial Ag Weed, Insect and Disease Management CIC will provide continuing instructional credit for commercial pesticide applicators certified in categories 1A, 1B, 1C and 10 for calendar year 2012. Topics to be covered include a review of the new EPA Container/Containment Rule, adapting spray nozzle technology to avoid drift, and exploring pesticide labels.
To receive recertification, applicators must also attend one pest management workshop in each of the subcategories they are certified (1A, 1B and/or 1C) in addition to this session.
• Catetory 1A - Weeds – Workshops 13, 14, 20-23
• Category 1B - Insects – Workshops 13, 24
• Category 1C - Crop Diseases – Workshops 13 - 19
