FarmSmart Expo at the Elora Research Station

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Comment by OntAG Admin on June 23, 2011 at 2:53pm

June 23, 2011

 

(ELORA) - Plans are gearing up for another exciting FarmSmart Expo, held Thurs. July 14, 2011, and offered as one of a series of three crop diagnostic days held across the province which bring together the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) and the University of Guelph crop agronomy teams.

 

At these diagnostic days the crop unit teams plan the sessions to challenge current thinking, train farmers to identify and solve problems, and raise awareness of new technology available in the agriculture industry. Strategically held across the province, similar events are held in Ridgetown and Winchester.

 

And while it has been a difficult planting season for many Ontario farmers, the type of information the research and agronomy teams can gather from demonstration diagnostics stations on a poor year are every bit as valuable to our farmers as the lessons learned on a year with ideal conditions. FarmSmart Expo will be a good chance for producers to get out into the fields and have a chance to meet and talk with some of the best and the brightest in Ontario’s crop agronomy units.

 

This year FarmSmart Expo diagnostic demonstrations include:

 

* Exploring Spring Canola Management – Dr. Hugh Earl, University of Guelph and Brian Hall, OMAFRA

Hugh and Brian will discuss the successes and failures in the ongoing University of Guelph research into production systems for spring canola. A challenging spring has stressed the abilities to make canola work. Explore the options that hold promise in terms of soil fertility (N, S, B), seeding rates and dates, variety testing, and foliar B applications.

 

* What’s “Bugging” Your Bins? – Helmut Spieser, OMAFRA

Tremendous expense, time and effort go into the production of grain crops. Grain storage insects continue to be an ongoing, if not increasing, problem that can thwart all the efforts put on crop production. Helmut will explore the numerous grain storage pests that like to set up house in your bins. Shipping grain that is infested with bugs will get your load rejected. Learn how to monitor for grain storage pests and identify and control the culprit.

 

* Avoiding Crop Injury with Pesticides – Mike Cowbrough, OMAFRA

A number of scenarios will be presented to illustrate high-risk practices that increase the risk of crop injury with pesticides. New herbicide programs will also be showcased.

 

* Exploring Post Planting Nitrogen Program Options for Corn - Greg Stewart, OMAFRA or John Lauzon, University of Guelph

2011 vividly demonstrated the impacts of backward weather on crop production in Ontario. This session will examine fertility strategies that can be applied after you have the crop in the ground. Scenarios include urea, protected N, UAN, broadcasts, streamer nozzles, application timings etc for efficacy, N losses and practicality.

 

* The Benefits of Starter Fertilizer Programs in Low Fertility Soils - Greg Stewart, OMAFRA or John Lauzon, University of Guelph

A low fertility site has been treated with base broadcast fertilizer applications of N, P and K separately and overlaid with various starter fertilizer programs, Huge differences in corn response have been observed and the options and reasons for response differences will be discussed.

 

* SMART Wheat: Putting it into Perspective – Peter Johnson, OMAFRA

Several years of intensively managed wheat production research has shown yield advantages. Peter will examine and discuss plots set up to demonstrate the effectiveness of management programs that integrate high N rates with growth regulators and fungicides.

 

* Do Starter Fertilizer Strategies in Soybeans Pay – Horst Bohner, OMAFRA

There continues to be strong opinions on the value of

Comment by OntAG Admin on May 20, 2011 at 8:39am

May 18, 2011

SAVE THE DATE! DETAILS OF FARMSMART EXPO ANNOUNCED THURSDAY, JULY 14 & FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2011 - ELORA RESEARCH CENTRE

 

(ELORA) – Farmers and agribusiness personnel will want to circle Thursday, July 14 on their calendar and be sure to attend the FarmSmart Expo to hear the latest in agronomy news from members of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) crop agronomy unit and the University of Guelph’s research departments.

 

FarmSmart Expo provides progressive farm operators and agri-business people with leading-edge, handson diagnostics to help them develop and advance their farm business operations.

 

“Take a drive, bring a colleague and build your knowledge. We encourage you to commute to give yourselves the opportunity to discuss the learnings on the ride home,” says Ian McDonald, OMAFRA’s applied research coordinator and one of the event organizers. “The OMAFRA and University of Guelph teams have put together a number of wide-ranging diagnostics to help you identify common problems, with a look at emerging new technologies and innovations.”

 

As an example, last year FarmSmart Expo participants were the first to see the custom-designed Automated Tire Inflation (ATI) unit in action. The customized Nuhn manure tanker can deflate tires in two minutes, with the goal to cut it down to 30 seconds so that farmers can adjust tire pressure depending on whether they are in the field or travelling on the road. The unit was designed to reduce soil compaction from heavy equipment in the field and made its debut at last year’s FarmSmart Expo.

Comment by OntAG Admin on May 20, 2011 at 8:39am

This year the University of Guelph’s Elora Research Station is also host for the popular Ontario Forage Expo (www.ontarioforagecouncil.com), which will be held on Wednesday, July 13, one day in advance of FarmSmart Expo. Organizers say presenting the two first-class agricultural summer educational events on consecutive days will allow farmers the opportunity to package these informative days as a short get away in scenic and historic Elora.

 

This year’s FarmSmart Expo will be held Thursday, July 14, 2011 at the University of Guelph Elora Research Station, 6182 2nd Line, Elora (south of Elora, one block west of County Road 7). Sign in begins

at 8:45 am. The first session starts at 9:30 am and the last session is scheduled to conclude at 4 pm.

 

Registration fee is $50 for OSCIA members, $65 for non-members and includes lunch and a one-year membership in your local soil and crop improvement association. Walk-in registrations welcome, although lunch not guaranteed.

 

Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) Continuing Education Credits have been applied for.

 

A special program is also planned for rural youth on the following day, Friday, July 15. The day-long youth program features barn tours, hands-on activities and in-field demonstrations of on-farm situations. This is an excellent opportunity for a club meeting, a makeup session or a club/county field trip. Non-4H members welcome. Registration fee: $15, includes lunch. Walk-ins welcome, lunch not guaranteed. Sign in begins at 9 am. First session begins at 9:30 am, last session concludes at 3:30 pm.

 

To register for either day call 1-877-424-1300. Information and program updates are posted online at www.uoguelph.ca/farmsmart. Updates will also be posted on Twitter @soilandc