Pre-Register For Grain Conference By January 21

Farmers planning to attend the sixth annual Middle Tennessee Grain Conference scheduled for Thursday, January 27 at the Coffee County Fairgrounds in Manchester can save money by pre-registering at their local UT Extension office by Friday, January 21.

Pre- registration cost for the conference is five dollars per person, which includes the program and materials, refreshments, lunch, a copy of the conference proceedings, and a grain conference cap. Conference day registration will begin at 7:30 am at a cost of ten dollars per person.

Farmers can certainly attest to rising costs as they have seen their production cost sky rocket over the past five years. The cost of education has also increased substantially and to help address both issues, UT Extension Agents, Specialists, farmers, and agricultural suppliers have put together an educational conference to help farmers with a number of profitability issues for the upcoming crop season.

By pooling resources, The University of Tennessee and its many partners can provide more effective educational program for our farmers. According to the 2010 conference evaluation survey, 145 farmers from nineteen middle Tennessee Counties and two adjoining states rated the Middle Tennessee conference as an excellent source of information addressing pertinent crop production topics.

An excellent slate of speakers will address management strategies for corn, wheat and soybean production for 2011, followed by keynote speaker, Dr. Steve Phillips, Southeast Director for the International Plant Nutrition Institute. Dr. Phillips will address the “The Four “R’s” of Nutrient Stewardship – Guidelines for Efficient and Effective Fertilization”. With fertilizer prices on the rise again, Dr. Phillips will discuss the principles of applying the “right” nutrient, in the “right” amount, at the “right” time, and in the “right” place for the most efficient and effective crop utilization.    

The Middle Tennessee Grain conference begins with registration at 7:30 am.  The trade show opens at 8:00 am, topic presentations begin at 9:00 am concluding with the keynote speaker after a catered lunch. Immediately following the keynote address, producers will have the opportunity to renew their private pesticide applicator card, which will expire October 21, 2011.

The cost of the training is fifteen dollars per person to be paid at the time of the training. This will renew private pesticide applicator certification till October 21, 2014.This program, like all UT Extension programs, is open to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability or veteran status.

For more details on topics and pre-registration contact The Cannon County Extension Office at 563-2554.