To expand educational opportunities for farmers to learn about research-based crop production information throughout the winter months, University of Minnesota Extension is hosting a five-part webinar series called “Strategic Farming: Optimizing Management for 2020.”

The webinars will feature university specialists covering various management topics. Farmers are the primary target audience but interested agricultural professionals, agency personnel, educators and others are welcome to participate. While the webinars are free, participants need to register for each live webinar individually, so they may join the discussion and participate in the question and answer session at the end of each session. All webinars will be recorded and available for viewing later.

The webinars to be offered are:

1. Dec. 19, 2-3 p.m. Back to basics approach to nutrient management. Presented by Dan Kaiser, U-M nutrient management specialist, and Brad Carlson, Extension educator. Moderated by Ryan Miller, Extension educator.

Fertilizer can separate the most profitable producers from the rest of the pack. While fertilizer is a critical component for high yields, spending too much on fertilizer can really cut into your bottom line. Presenters will discuss getting fertility right for top yields and maximum profit; macronutrient roundup — what you do or don’t need; if high soil fertility means higher yield potential; if micronutrients are the future for high yielding crops; nutrient balance; and if technology has changed how we manage crop nutrients?

2. Jan. 16, noon to 1 p.m. Soybean management for 2020 and beyond. Presented by Seth Naeve, soybean agronomist, and Bob Koch, soybean entomologist. Moderated by Ryan Miller.

Soybean management can be complex, and presenters will help sort out what you need, what you don’t need and what you might want to try. Also, with the advent of insecticide-resistant soybean aphid, should growers be rethinking management strategies?

3. Jan. 29, noon to 1 p.m. Cover crops: Matching your management strategies and goals. Presented by Axel Garcia y Garcia, agronomist-sustainable crop systems, and Paulo Pagliari, nutrient management specialist. Moderated by Liz Stahl, Extension educator.

Learn more about university research that can help match cover crop management strategies with your goals. Research results on potential benefits and limitations will be highlighted, with emphasis on impacts on cash crop yield and nutrient management.

4. Feb. 13, noon to 1 p.m. New pests and pathogens complicate Minnesota soybean and corn production. Presented by Bruce Potter, Extension IPM specialist, and Dean Malvick, Extension plant pathologist. Moderated by Angie Peltier, Extension educator.

Learn more about the soybean gall midge and how it may drive changes in Minnesota soybean production. Learn about new disease challenges such as tar spot in corn and frogeye leaf spot in soybean.

5. Feb. 27, noon to 1 p.m. Hot topics in weed management: Putting the pieces together. Presented by Ryan Miller, Extension educator; Lisa Behnken, Extension educator; and Tom Peters, sugar beet weed specialist. Moderated by Jared Goplen, Extension educator.

With the multitude of crop herbicide resistant trait packages available, chemical weed management has become more complicated, especially as herbicide-resistant weeds continue to cause management challenges. A good understanding of weed biology and trait package options along with results from field trials implementing chemical and non-chemical methods will help you get the most out of your weed management investment. Learn more about pigweed management. Make new herbicide trait technologies work for you.

To register, visit the strategic farming webpage.

Once you register for a webinar, you will receive a confirmation email. You will also receive reminder emails with a link to the webinar prior to the event. There are no apps to download or programs to join. Click on "launch from my browser" in the "join the webinar" window.

Source: University of Minnesota Extension, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.