FORT LORAMIE — More than 225 area farmers gathered Monday, Jan. 11, at St. Michael’s hall here for the 2016 Agronomy Day, presented by the Shelby County Ohio State University Extension.
The annual event comprises lectures and demonstrations through which attendees can become recertified as private or commercial pesticide applicators and as fertilizer applicators. Certifications are good for three years.
Coordinated by Debbie Brown, Shelby County extension agriculture and natural resources educator, Agronomy Day attracted people from Auglaize, Mercer, Champaign, Darke and Miami counties, as well as from Shelby County.
Sessions are usually led by “university-based speakers presenting research-based information,” Brown said. This year, Jerry Meyer, of Cargill, and John Leighty, of Trupointe, gave a marketing update. Jeff Stachler, an Auglaize County extension agent, and Harold Waters, an Ohio State extension agronomy specialist, presented an introduction to and background information about fertilizer application certification. Stachler also gave a weed control update.
John Fulton’s talk was, “Fertilizer Placement Precisely!” He is with OSU’s FABulous Engineering. Bob Nielsen, of Purdue University, presented “N for Corn: Right Amount, Right Time, Right $$.” Following a lunch which was provided by commercial sponsors, attendees heard Fred Whitford, of Purdue University, discuss sprayer cleanout.
The identification and management of corn and wheat diseases was a topic covered by Pierce Paul, of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center at OSU, while Dennis Riethman, an extension agent from Mercer County, addressed forages and livestock.
Other sessions were Manure Management, by Amanda Douridas, of the Champaign County extension office; Ecological Farming and Microbial Nutrient Recycling and Cover Crop Economics, both by Jim Hoorman, of the Putnam County extension office; Unmanned Aerial Systems: Overview and Application Opportunities, by Aurea L. Rivera, a professional engineer; Senate Bill 1: Western Lake Erie Basin Winter Nutrient Application Rules, by Jason Bruns, of the Soil and Water Conservation District; and Fumigation, by Sam Custer, of the Darke County extension office.
Sponsors were invited to erect displays and distribute information about their products and services. Agronomy Day provided an opportunity for consumers to meet with representatives of sponsoring businesses and organizations. They included Precision Agri-Services Inc., New Ag Horizons, Lena Ag Center LLC, Bambauer Fertilizer & Seed Inc., Cargill, Farm Credit Mid-America, VanTilburg Farms Inc., Fertilizer Dealer Supply, Precision Agri Services Inc., Seed Consultants Inc., Personal Crop Insurance, Shelby County Farm Bureau, Otte AG LLC, Shelby County Soil and Water Conservation District & Loramie Valley Alliance, Paradise Energy Solutions, Dallas Ag LLC and Trupointe Cooperative.
