Purdue News
Purdue News
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February 4, 2004 How 'lo-till' can you go? Workshop provides answersWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Many farmers left it all on the field while bringing in the fall harvest. Come spring, they'll have to decide whether to leave it there, turn it over or spread it around - it being crop residue. A Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service program will provide information for those corn and soybean growers who prefer to plant in mostly undisturbed soil. The Crop Production and Residue Management Workshop takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday (2/10) at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds, 1401 Teal Road, Lafayette, Ind. Purdue Extension is offering the workshop in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and local Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD). While no-till practices will be mentioned, the workshop's focus is on "lo-till" cropping systems, said Jeff Phillips, an educator with Purdue Extension Tippecanoe County. "It might be the first time we've used that term," Phillips said. "We came up with it because we didn't want to give the impression this workshop is all about no-till practices. We want farmers to know that there are alternatives to both no-till and conventional tillage." Jim Kinsella, a central Illinois farmer celebrated in agricultural circles for his cutting-edge corn and soybean operation, heads the list of workshop speakers. Kinsella will address the topic of "Making Lo-till Farming Work." Other speakers include: • Barry Fisher, a conservation tillage coordinator with the NRCS, will outline "A Prescription for Success" through minimal tillage. • Jeff Nagel, an agronomist with Westland Co-op Inc., will discuss managing weeds in a lo-till system. • Stephen Hawkins, assistant director of Purdue Agricultural Centers, will speak on "Uniform Soybean Stands With a No-till Drill?" Also planned are sessions on optimizing corn planting, bulk storage of pesticides and lo-till issues, strategies for residue management and equipment attachments, and residue management at harvest and deep tillage. "There are a lot of questions to consider with residue management," Phillips said. "What do you do with the residue from one harvest to the next? Do you work the residue in or spread it out? Do you disturb it or leave it alone at planting? Those are a few questions a farmer must answer before entering the field in the spring." In addition to the workshops, planter, tillage and fertilizer equipment fitted for lo-till farming will be on display. Registration for the Crop Production and Residue Management Workshop is $5 and includes lunch. Enrollment is limited. Preregistration is recommended by Friday (2/6) and can be made by contacting any of the following SWCD county offices: Benton, (765) 884-0660; Carroll, (765) 564-2849; Clinton, (765) 659-1223; Howard, (765) 457-2114; and Tippecanoe, (765) 474-9992. Pesticide applicator recertification is available for an additional $10 fee, and workshop attendees are eligible for continuing education credits. Writer: Steve Leer, (765) 494-8415, sleer@purdue.edu Source: Jeff Phillips, (765) 474-0793, jphillips@purdue.edu Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722; Beth Forbes, bforbes@aes.purdue.edu Related Web sites:
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