U of I Agronomy Day 2018

A tradition for 61 years, Agronomy Day will be hosted by the University of Illinois Aug. 16. Agronomy Day gives farmers an opportunity to visit with U of I faculty about the newest scientific discoveries and hear the latest on water quality, insect management, crop production, weed control, genetics, plant diseases, farm economics, agricultural engineering and more.

Agronomy Day will be held at the South First Street Facility, 4202 S. First St., Savoy. Based on feedback from previous attendees, a new tour layout will include multiple tents surrounding the main exhibitors’ tent, with a unique sequence of speakers in each tent. Presenters will be grouped by themes for earning certified crop adviser credits.

“One of the tours was set up that way last year, and we got a lot of positive feedback,” says Bob Dunker, agronomist and former superintendent of the Crop Sciences Research and Education Center and chairman for Agronomy Day. “Start times will be staggered for each tent, allowing attendees time to move from one tour to another, if desired. It will mean a lot less walking for everyone, and more time to interact with research scientists and exhibitors.” 

This year’s keynote speaker is Chris Harbourt, an engineer and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in agriculture, technology, business and academia. Harbourt co-founded Agrible and is currently a managing partner with Hatch Ag Group and an adjunct professor in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. He will share his vision of the future of crop production and agronomic services.

The exhibitors’ tent will feature exhibits by sponsors, commercial vendors, researchers, ACES programs and student clubs. Lunch will be provided by Nelson’s Catering for $8.

More information and registration can be found on the Agronomy Day website, or by contacting Sue Overmyer at 217-300-3702 or [email protected].

Weed science field tour

The University of Illinois annual weed science field tour will be held June 27 at the Crop Sciences Research and Education Center (South Farm), south of the Urbana campus on Wright Street extended. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. 

Participants will car pool to the fields and join an informal, guided tour. The tour will provide an opportunity to review research plots and interact with weed science faculty, staff and graduate students. Participants can compare their favorite corn and soybean herbicide programs to other commercial programs and get an early look at a few new products. The tour will conclude around noon with a catered lunch at the Seed House.

Cost for the weed science field tour is $10, which helps defray the expenses of the field tour book, refreshments and lunch. Preregistration is not required except for large groups. If you have any questions about the weed science field research tour, call Charlie Mitsdarfer at 217-621-7717 or Aaron Hager at 217-621-8963.

Wyffels Corn Strategies

Join Wyffels Hybrids Aug. 2 in Lovington, Ill., for Corn Strategies. The site for this event is 20 miles southeast of Decatur, just off State Highway 133.

Speakers include:

• Brent Goy, agricultural economist, Agricultural Economic Insight LLC
• Lowell Catlett, futurist and regents professor, ag economics, New Mexico State University
• Michael Swanson, senior vice president and ag economist, Wells Fargo & Co.

The meeting will include a marketing roundtable hosted by Tyne Morgan, U.S. Farm Report.

To register, visit wyffels.com/cornstrategies.