Chris Hadfield to Speak at GFO March Classic 2014

Jul 09, 2013

Chris Hadfield to Speak at GFO March Classic 2014

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

The 2014 March Classic Conference is expected to be ‘out of this world’. Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) announced that Astronaut Chris Hadfield will be the keynote speaker for its annual conference.

Hadfield was the commander of the International Space Station and is best known for live tweeting and sharing his experiences through Skype and video from space. Hadfield was born and raised on a grain farm near Sarnia, Ontario.

“Grain Farmers of Ontario looks forward to hearing about Chris Hadfield’s farming roots and unique career path,” said Barry Senft, CEO of GFO. Senft says GFO is proud to have Hadfield deliver the keynote address at March Classic.

The March Classic Conference will be held Monday, March 17 at the London Convention Centre. It attracts over 600 attendees annually from across Ontario. GFO is a commodity organisation which advocates on behalf of the province’s corn, soybean and wheat farmers.

Video: Dr. Emerson Nafziger: Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Corn

The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Emerson Nafziger from the University of Illinois breaks down decades of nitrogen research. From the evolution of N rate guidelines to how soil health and hybrid genetics influence nitrogen use efficiency, this conversation unpacks the science behind smarter fertilization. Improving how we set nitrogen fertilizer rates for rainfed corn is a key focus. Discover why the MRTN model matters more than ever, and how shifting mindsets and better data can boost yields and environmental outcomes. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"The nitrogen that comes from soil mineralization is the first nitrogen the plant sees, and its role is underestimated."

Meet the guest:

Dr. Emerson Nafziger is Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with degrees in agronomy from Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. His research has focused on nitrogen rate strategies and crop productivity. He co-developed the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) model, which is widely used across the Midwest. His research spans N response trials, hybrid interactions, crop rotation effects, and yield stability.