Delaware Agriculture Week returns for another year of award presentations, educational sessions and panel discussions from Jan. 14-17 at the Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington.

The weeklong event covers everything agriculture in the First State, including agronomy, beef, poultry, fruits and vegetables, and hay and pasture.

A highlight of the poultry industry is the Nutrient Management Environmental Stewardship Award presentation on Jan. 14 at 4:45 p.m. The award is a partnership between the Delaware Department of Agriculture, University of Delaware Extension and poultry integrators to recognize growers for their environmental stewardship. Last year’s winner was Randy and Jordan McCloskey of Houston who raise birds for Allen Harim.

The evening beef session, also Jan. 14, will feature Sudeep Mathew of Syngenta talking about managing disease in high-quality forage.

The Delmarva Hay and Pasture Conference will be held Jan. 15. Jessica Williamson, Extension forage specialist at Penn State, will present "Feeding Lower Quality Hay" from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

An on-farm research session will also be held Jan. 15 with presenters from the University of Kentucky speaking about on-farm research trials and precision agriculture. At 3 p.m., Anthony Martin of the Iowa Soybean Association’s On-Farm Network will present "Walking Through the Steps of a Successful On-Farm Research Trial."

The Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association of Delaware awards luncheon will be held Jan. 16 with presentations of the Distinguished Service Award and the 2019 FVGAD Family Award.

Corn and soybeans highlight the Jan. 17 schedule with talks on crop insurance, pest and nutrient management, and the farm bill and trade.

The Delaware Soybean Yield Contest winners will be announced at 11:45 a.m.

Go online for more information. 

Day-by-day schedule
Monday, Jan. 14
• Afternoon session: Poultry and woodland management
• Evening session: Poultry, fruit and vegetables, beef

Tuesday, Jan. 15
• Morning session: Fruits and vegetables, produce food safety, Delmarva Hay and Pasture Conference
• Afternoon session: Fresh market produce, Delmarva Hay and Pasture Conference, on-farm research
• Evening session: Agronomy special session, small ruminants

Wednesday, Jan. 16
• Morning session: Processing vegetables
• Afternoon session: Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association of Delaware awards luncheon and business meeting
Agriculture and EPA roundtable, precision agriculture and irrigation, controlled environment vegetable production, risk management
• Evening session: Soil health

Thursday, Jan. 17
• Morning and afternoon sessions: Agronomy and soybean production
• Evening session: Delaware Urban Farm and Food Coalition

Source: Delaware Department of Agriculture