Purdue News

February 8, 2002 Seminar to focus on benefits of new tillage system WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service, in conjunction with the Miami County Soil and Water Conservation District, is hosting a zone-tillage seminar and private applicator recertification training from 8 a.m. to noon on Feb. 27 at the Miami County 4-H Fairgrounds, north of Peru, Ind. The meeting will focus on the benefits of strip-till or zone-till in comparison to other tillage alternatives for corn. The new system combines the benefits of conventional-till and no-till practices. For example, instead of plowing an entire field – or leaving the whole field unplowed – zone-tilling only disturbs approximately six inches of topsoil around the seed to allow for optimal seed-to-soil contact, while leaving the rest of the area between seeds undisturbed. More benefits and opportunities will be addressed at the seminar. Training on avoiding pesticide drift also will be available, and the training can be applied to maintaining private applicators certification. A fee of $10 will be charged for this session, payable at the door. Other seminar sessions include the benefits of Round-Up ready conservation-till systems, both in yields and net income; Core 4, a common sense approach to improving farming profitability; and a United States Department of Agriculture presentation on cost-share opportunities. Lunch will be provided by Monsanto Inc. Reservations are required by Feb. 20. To register, call the Miami County Soil and Water Conservation District at (765) 743-6753, ext. 3, or the Cooperative Extension Service at (765) 472-1921. CONTACT: Jan Stout, Miami County Soil and Water Conservation District, (765) 473-6753, ext. 3, mswcd@netusa1.net. Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page