Farm Science Review to Focus on Technology and Innovation

Information on agricultural technologies and innovation awaits growers and producers who plan to attend this year's Farm Science Review Sept. 16-18 at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center in London, Ohio.

Following the theme "Experience the Difference," the 52nd annual event will not only showcase the latest technological advances in agriculture, but it will also give participants the opportunity to learn the latest educational research on how to improve their farm operations' financial bottom line, said Chuck Gamble, manager of the show, sponsored by Ohio State University's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

Sponsored by CFAES, the Review features educational workshops, presentations and demonstrations delivered by experts from Ohio State University Extension and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, the outreach and research arms, respectively, of the college.

Some Review highlights:

* Daily discussions of on-site demo plots by members of the OSU Extension Agronomic Crops Team on corn, soybeans, soil quality and cover crops in plots established outside the eastern edge of the Review exhibit area.

* On-site unmanned aerial system information and video-demonstration for real-time crop maintenance and precision agriculture.

* Multiple displays and experts to answer questions on a new fertilizer certification program for fertilizer applicators throughout the Agronomic Crops area, Pesticide Rinse Pad and OSU Central.

* A mobile solar unit and its agricultural applications from OSU Extension's Energize Ohio Signature Program.

* The interactive "Stamp out Diseases" program by the Food Animal Health Research Program at OARDC.

* "100 Women in Agriculture: What Agriculture Means to Me," presented by the Ohio Women in Agriculture Team.

* Grain auger safety talks and demonstrations.

* The "Ask a Master Gardener" program in the Utzinger Memorial Garden, which will include fact sheets and a demo on how to use the program.

The Review will also feature other presentations from the Agronomic Crops Team, including on Palmer amaranth, scouting with drones, measuring stress in corn, manure management talks and demonstrations,  nutrient management and new regulations, pests on soybeans, "What's the Right nitrogen rate on corn?" and long-term soil quality plots.

The Small Farm Center will be the site of several presentations for growers, including on organic certification, growing strawberries on plastic, commercial raspberry production, beef herd expansion for profitability, on-farm renewable energy applications, breeding better bees for survival, urban land leasing for small farms and community gardens and season extension techniques for urban and rural locations.

The Gwynne Conservation area will have several presentations, including on plant diagnostics, evaluation the health of your soil, Asian carp in Ohio updates, pond management, invasive species, tick identification and bite prevention, wildlife management and conservation practices.

The Review is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of its partnership with Purdue University Extension.  Educators and researchers from Purdue will also present educational workshops.

Farm Science Review is nationally known as Ohio's premier agricultural event that annually draws more than 130,000 farmers, growers, producers and agricultural enthusiasts, Gamble said. And with growers experiencing strong economic indicators, he said he anticipates Review attendance to be strong this year.

"We are in in the midst of a very positive economic climate for agriculture," Gamble said. "We're still producing crops at a profit, producers are seeing record prices on livestock, and dairy farmers are getting the highest prices for milk ever."

Review pre-show tickets are $7 and are available for at all OSU Extension county offices, many local agribusinesses, and also online at http://fsr.osu.edu/visitors/tickets. Tickets are $10 at the gate. Children 5 and younger are admitted free.

Source: Purdue