Pennsylvania No-Till Alliance will host a summer field day on Tuesday, July 26 at the Slate Ridge Dairy Farm, 5425 Lincoln Way West (U.S. Highway 30) at St. Thomas, Pa. All are invited to this free event that kicks off at 8:30 a.m. Registration opens at 7:45. No RSVP is required.

The Alliance has planned a full day of activities which include educational presentations, a cover crop plot walk, and a panel discussion with no-till farmers. Speakers include:

A CHESAPEAKE BAY CLEANER-UPPER: Schmidt was one of four U.S. farmers honored in 2015 for outstanding water stewardship by the United Soybean Board.

* Russell Hedrick, an award-winning grain and livestock farmer from North Carolina who will talk about reducing farm inputs. Using a mixed blend of cereal rye, triticale, oats, crimson clover and Daikon radishes in his corn and soybean program improves moisture retention and adds free nitrogen with the clover.He also gets a rotational benefit from planting cool-season grasses and legumes after corn and beans.

* Dr. John Tooker, Extension entomologist at Penn State will address Integrated Pest Management in a treated/traited world.

* Hans Schmidt, assistant secretary for Resource Conservation at Maryland Department of Agriculture, will address farming issues in the Chesapeake Bay. He knows it from every angle.

As president of Maryland's Association of Soil Conservation Districts and Maryland Soybean Board chairman, Schmidt is already meeting EPA's Chesapeake Bay model requirement for his farm.

* Joel Semke, from Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, will give an update on the Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) program funding possibilities for conservation best management practices.

* Bill Rogers, a certified nutrient management consultant with AET Consulting, Inc., will discuss nutrient management as it relates to no-till farming.

Vendors will also be on hand to showcase their latest products.

Tent mind-meeting dinner
Come join the conversation at 6:30 p.m. on the evening before (Monday, July 25) as the tent flaps open for candid conversation at the annual Meeting of the Minds dinner. There’s no agenda, just the opportunity to talk with other dedicated farmers and industry professionals.

All are welcome. RSVP for the Monday event by July 19 to Caleb Wright at (717) 635-2320 or email [email protected]. More event information is available at www.panotill.org

Tickets for this event which includes a BBQ dinner are $20 per person.