With on-farm stocks of corn and soybeans up significantly following last year’s record yields, organizers of the upcoming Southwest Indiana Crop Seminar decided to focus this year’s program on grain storage and management issues.
The seminar, sponsored by Purdue Extension, will take place Feb. 27 from noon to 4 p.m. EST at the Dubois County 4-H Fairgrounds Clover Pavilion, 4157 S. State route 162, Huntingburg.
“We chose topics specifically to help farmers, private applicators and crop advisers learn how to handle the very large amounts of grain that have gone into storage,” said Kenneth Eck, Extension educator in Dubois County. “In some cases, farmers might be storing crops on their own property for the first time.”
Speakers and topics are:
* Klein Ileleji, associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering: Proactive stored grain management strategies.
* Charles Woloshuk, professor of botany and plant pathology: The basics of stored grain molds, mycotoxins and post-harvest grain-handling issues.
* Mike Manning, agricultural engineer: Grain bin safety.
* Mahsa Fardisi, entomologist: Grain insect management.
Eck will also provide an overview of basic pesticide information.
The seminar counts as one of three meetings required for private applicator recertification. The fee for recertification credit is $10. Participants requesting credit must bring their pesticide cards and attend the entire program.
Organizers have applied for continuing education credits.