Farm Progress

Agronomy Day scheduled for Aug. 16. WIU alums plan to gather at Illinois State Fair. Farm Credit presents award to Rodney Davis. Grassland folks to meet this winter.

July 25, 2018

5 Min Read
TOUR: Gather at the new South Farms on Aug. 16 for the University of Illinois’ annual Agronomy Day, featuring tours, research and information.

Agronomy Day scheduled for Aug. 16

Ever wondered how you could use drones to make life easier on your farm? Need new and effective management strategies for western corn rootworm, soybean diseases or herbicide-resistant weeds? Plan to hear about these and other crop-related topics beginning at 7 a.m. on Aug. 16 at the 61st annual Agronomy Day, hosted by the Department of Crop Sciences and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois.

This year’s theme — Where Science Meets Practice — is well-represented in the lineup of field tour topics and speakers. Here’s a look:

Tour A
• Evaluating cover crop performance with drones, by Cameron Pittelkow and Nicolas Martin

• Concentrating on nutrient loss: A review of tile drainage nutrient concentrations, by Allan Hertzberger and Laura Christianson

• The science behind the official snack food of Illinois: Popcorn, by Tony Studer

Tour B
• Drones: Where we’re at and where we’re going, by Dennis Bowman

• On-The-Implement Intelligent Soil Sensing (OTIISS), by Tony Grift

• Controlling corn and soybean costs, by Gary Schnitkey

Tour C
• Managing the evolution of herbicide resistance, by Adam Davis

• Fact or fiction: Do glyphosate-resistant cropping systems reduce crop health? by Christopher Landau and Marty Williams

• Genetic resistance to stop losses from soybean cyst nematodes, by Brian Diers

Tour D
• Evaluating management strategies for western corn rootworm, by Nick Seiter

• And the survey says ... by Kelly Estes

• Diagnosing seedling and stem diseases in soybean, by Nathan Kleczewski

Tour E
• Is there a best way to fertilize corn with nitrogen? by Fred Below and Brad Bernhard

• Reaching corn’s top yield potential with hybrid-specific management, by Eric Winans and Fred Below

• Continuous corn: Challenge accepted, by Alison Vogel and Fred Below

• Setting yourself up for success in 20-inch corn rows, by Brad Bernhard and Fred Below

Agronomy Day will be held at 4202 S. First St. in Savoy on Aug. 16. For more information on speakers, displays and location, join Agronomy Day 2018 on Facebook or visit the Agronomy Day website.

WIU ag alumni to gather at Illinois State Fair

The Western Illinois University School of Agriculture Aggies organization will host a social event Aug. 10 at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield on the Director’s Lawn.

The event runs from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. and will include a dinner of pulled pork, coleslaw, chips and a drink; a cash bar; a short program featuring School of Agriculture Chair Emeritus Ed Breece, School of Agriculture Director Andy Baker and 1977 School of Agriculture alumnus Rock Katschnig; and then entertainment by Luke and the Drifters.

Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door; the price does not include parking or the gate fee. Children ages 6 and younger will be admitted free.

The event is open to all WIU Aggies from the past, present and future, and friends. Tickets are available at wiu.com/alumni.

Farm Credit honors Rep. Rodney Davis

The AgriBank District Farm Credit Council (ADFCC) has conferred its 2018 Friend of Farm Credit Award to U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis of Illinois, who has served on the House Agriculture Committee since coming to Congress in 2013 and currently serves as chairman of the Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture and Research.

Davis received the award for his important work on behalf of rural communities, agriculture and the Farm Credit System.

“The leadership Congressman Davis provides through his service on the House Agriculture Committee is critical to the well-being of our rural communities and our agricultural producers across the country,” says Karen Neff, a grain and livestock farmer from near Belleville, Ill.; a board member of Farm Credit Illinois; and an ADFCC member. “We especially appreciate Congressman Davis’ efforts to ensure the crop insurance program remains an effective risk management tool to help producers deal with the uncertainties of weather and the markets. In addition to the counter-cyclical programs that are so important to producers, crop insurance is a vital component of ensuring an adequate safety net. Through his leadership on the House Committee on Agriculture, Congressman Davis ensured the crop insurance provisions remained strong in the House version of the farm bill.”

“It’s always an honor to be called a friend of farmers, because they truly are some of the hardest-working people I know,” Davis says. “What our farmers do is crucial to our economy and feeding the world. I’m proud to support their hard work in Congress by fighting to pass another farm bill that protects crop insurance and other policies critical to agriculture. I appreciate the Farm Credit Council and members, like Karen Neff, who continue to be a strong voice for farmers throughout Illinois.”

American Forage and Grassland Council to meet in January

The American Forage and Grassland Council will host its annual meeting Jan. 6-9 at the Hyatt Regency at the Arch in St. Louis. The theme is “Forages Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.” The 2019 AFGC Conference will kick off with Garry Lacefield presenting on the history of the council and forages, and the impact both have had on the world the past 75 years. The conference will feature workshops focused on soil health, grass-based dairies, how to get started with forages and more.

According to AFGC President Mark Kennedy, “We are extremely fortunate to have the guidance of producer and AFGC board member Carl Stafford serving as conference chair along with Mark Green, serving as program co-chair. The entire 2019 planning team has put together an amazing program focused on the many facets of the forage industry,y providing value for everyone. Come join us in St. Louis to discover the exciting possibilities the future holds for forage and grassland agriculture.”

Details and registration will be available at afgc.org. Or, call AFGC at 800-944-2342 for information or questions.

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