By Frasier Norton, Extension Educator
The 2002 Rock County Crops and Livestock Day will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, March 15, at Blue Mound Banquet and Meeting Center in Luverne.
Attendance, which includes snacks and a noon lunch, is free, thanks to the generous sponsorship of AGRI-ENERGY, Eastern Farmers Co-op, Farmers Union Co-op Oil, Hardwick Grain Company, Hills-Beaver Creek Co-op, Luverne Farm Store, Minnwest Bank and Southwest Minnesota Farmers Co-op.
John Monson, appointed a year ago by President Bush to be the State Executive Director for the Farm Service Agency, has accepted an invitation to be this yearÕs featured speaker. Previous keynote speakers have included U.S. Congressman Mark Kennedy, Tracy Beckman of the State FSA office, and Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture Gene Hugoson. We are particularly pleased to have been able to get Monson to come to Luverne at this important time to discuss agricultural policy and, in particular, the status of the new Farm Program, and what he believes it will look like. Plenty of time will be available at the end of his address for local input and questions.
The remainder of this year's program consists of the strongest group of speakers that we have had in the seven years that I have been here. We are particularly pleased to have been able to attract three of the top extension specialists in the state. All of them have extensive local knowledge and experience of the situation in this part of the state.
First, Extension Soil Specialist George Rehm will deal with the latest developments that are taking place with soil fertility. This is a particularly important topic as producers strive to deal with ever-shrinking margins.
Second, Extension Crop Weed Specialist Jeff Gunsolus will discuss the latest research pertaining to the economics of weed control. He will also address the management of specific problem weeds such as waterhemp.
Finally, Extension Entomologist Ken Ostlie will discuss two serious insect issues for the upcoming year, namely extended diapause and soybean aphid. Both of these, if left untreated, have the potential to severely reduce crop production as well as farm income.
In addition, there will be updates by Rock County agency directors, Roger Carlson of the Farm Service Agency, Doug Bos of the Land Management Office and Dave Rose of the Natural Resource Conservation Service.
2002 Crops and Livestock Day schedule
9 a.m. Ð Welcome (10 minutes)
Fraser Norton, Extension Educator, Rock County
9:10 a.m. Ð Natural Resource Conservation Service Update (10 minutes)
Dave Rose, District Conservationist, Rock County
9:20 a.m. Ð Land Management Office Update (10 minutes)
Doug Bos, Interim Director, Rock County Land Management Office
9:30 a.m. Ð Farm Service Agency Update (10 minutes)
Roger Carlson, CED, Rock County Farm Service Agency
9:40 a.m. Ð Break (10 minutes)
Coffee, pop and cookies
9:50 a.m. 2002 Crop Pest Issues (40 minutes)
Ken Ostlie, Extension Entomologist
10:30 a.m. 2002 Crop Weed Issues (40 minutes)
Jeff Gunsolus, Extension Agronomist, Weed Science
11:10 a.m. Break (10 minutes)
Coffee, pop and cookies
11:20 a.m. 2002 Crop Soil Issues (40 minutes)
George Rehm, Extension Soil Scientist, Soil Fertility
12 noon Ð Agricultural Policy and the New Farm Program (40 minutes)
John Monson, State Executive Director, Farm Service Agency
12:40 p.m. Ð Adjournment and Lunch