Current problems in growing field crops are topics for the University of Missouri faculty at the annual Crop Injury Clinic, July 12-13 at Bradford Farm outside Columbia.

“This year there are plenty of problems,” said Bill Wiebold, MU Extension agronomist. He will cover “Corn and soybean response to delayed planting.” That will include how to decide to replant.

Peter Scharf, MU Extension soil specialist, will talk about “Nitrogen loss and rescue nitrogen.” Scharf has developed a model for calculating nitrogen leaching deep into the soil.

A cold spring delayed planting, then plentiful rain threatened to remove nitrogen from the root zone of cornfields. Both can reduce corn yields.

These are just two of 10 topics to be covered in the two-day clinic, says Tim Reinbott, superintendent of the MU Bradford Research and Extension Center, seven miles east of Columbia.

The clinic was started to provide continuing education units (CEUs) for Certified Crop Advisers working for farm service companies. However, farmers with big crop acreages also attend.

The clinic trains people to upgrade their crop management skills, Reinbott said. “They will diagnose actual problems with weeds, insects and diseases.”

Other workshops include “Herbicide injury and symptoms,” “Broadleaf weed identification,” “What to do when grain production profits fade?” and “Toxins in tall fescue hay.”

Two basic courses held every year are “Field crop insects” and “Field crop diseases.” Fundamental classes include “Soil productivity” and “Water quality.”

“We have the state authorities in each of those areas leading the discussions,” Reinbott said. “Farm workers plant special crop plots for the clinic, and then mistreat them to show symptoms of injuries in some cases.”

The fee for the clinic is $150. That includes instruction, extensive handouts, two lunches, one dinner and break-time refreshments.

The farm is located 6.5 miles east of U.S. Highway 63 on state Route WW, then south two miles on Rangeline Road. Signs are posted at the turns. Driving directions from beyond Columbia are on the farm website: http://aes.missouri.edu/bradford/.For details or to enroll, call the farm at (573) 884-7945.