Farming In The Margins Workshop

Certified Crop Advisor Credits - 1.5 SWM, 1 IPM, 2 CM *Approved Feb. 6, 2015

We all know farm profits can be marginal at times. Join CCTA and local sponsors to learn how to increase farm profits by taking a fresh look at the "margins" of farming. Farm economics, equipment and pest management sessions will be covered. Snacks, lunch and materials included! Don't miss this opportunity to increase your profit margins!

Attendees of the Farming In The Margins workshop will be treated to a common sense line-up of speakers. First, we need to eliminate marginal thinking. Michael Casper, NRCS Colorado, will start off our day with ideas that will push you to question everything you are doing on your farm, help you analyze your water use practices and find your comfort zone on the no-till continuum.

With any farm practice equipment is a large capital investment. No-till equipment may already be on your farm or it may be a factor that you need to address. Paul Jasa, UNL Extension Engineer, will build up your confidence in no-till equipment. Knowing how drills, planters and sprayers fit into your no-till systems management and how to utilize them for precision agriculture will make an impact on your bottom line.

There’s always room for improving profits and Kevin Dhuyvetter, who served over 26 years as a KSU Professor and extension specialist and research economist, will discuss factors impacting farm profitability. No-till management factors with an emphasis on economics will put you in a position to widen profit margins.

Weed resistance can be a limiting factor to yields and profits. Taking a new approach to weed management will require looking at the system as a whole. Randy Anderson, research agronomist at the North Central Agriculture Research Laboratory in Brookings, South Dakota has been working on ecologically based pest management in our cropping systems. This approach requires looking at the biological aspects of weed dynamics, diverse crop rotation effects on weed populations and using living plants as a weed suppressant for organic producers.

Doors will open at 7:30 AM for registration and check-in. The workshop will start promptly at 8:45 AM CST and will conclude at 5:00 PM. Lunch, materials and CCTA membership will be included in the $95 registration fee. Pre-registration is highly encouraged online at www.HighPlainsNoTill.com or by mail using the registration form with payment.

Sponsors for the workshop are now being accepted. Vendors will be assigned on a first come, first served basis. A discount will be given for registering at both CCTA events. Contact Becky Ravenkamp at 719-740-0715 or Becky@HighPlainsNoTill.com with questions.

Event Schedule: Central Standard Time

7:00 am - Vendor Set Up

7:30 am - Registration opens

8:45 am - Welcome

9:00 am - Marginal Thinking - Michael Casper, Colorado NRCS

10:30 am - Break - Visit Vendors & Snack

11:00 am - Kevin Dhuyvetter - Room for

Improvement; No-Till Economics

12:15 pm - Lunch at center

1:15 pm - Paul Jasa - Confidence With No-Till Equipment

2:30 pm - Break - Visit Vendors & Snack

3:00 pm - Randy Anderson - No Margin for Error; Weed Dynamics

4:15 pm - Questions and Wrap-up