A new year of Crop Hour has started, led by SDSU Extension.
Starting Jan. 24, crop producers are hopping online from 10 to 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday through Thursday to hear the latest information in crop management and agronomic research from SDSU Extension. Sara Bauder, SDSU Extension Forage Field Specialist, said the six-week webinar series will feature presentations by industry experts on a variety of topics and is open to anyone who would like to attend.
“Participants can take in as many as 18 different sessions to hear about current crop production topics and issues, and learn from last year’s research while making plans for next year,” Bauder said. “There’s a little bit of everything.”
This is the third year SDSU Extension has hosted Crop Hour, which includes a presentation by one to two experts and a question-and-answer session.
Crop Hour will begin with presentations about managing corn (pest management, hybrid information, soil fertility and more). The following weeks will cover a different area of agronomic production, from soybeans and small grains to cover crops and climate, with a mix of new research and applicable information. The webinar series will conclude March 2.
“SDSU Extension is looking out for your farm’s profitability through an unbiased agronomic approach,” said Anthony Bly, SDSU Extension Soils Field Specialist, referencing webinar topics like regenerative soil management that can help farmers reduce crop input costs.
Bauder said webinar organizers pick the most common crops and build the programming from there, also taking previous programs and participant feedback into consideration. They keep a close eye on current events – price hikes are a hot topic now, for example – to help farmers and agricultural professionals navigate industry changes.
Crop Hour dates and topic areas:
Jan. 24-26: Corn
Jan. 31-Feb. 2: Soybean
Feb. 7-9: Wheat/Small Grain
Feb. 14-16: Sunflower/Pulse Crops
Feb. 21-23: Soil Health/Regenerative Ag
Feb. 28- Mar. 2: Climate, Market, and Management Considerations
Crop Hour is free to attend, but participants will need to register to receive the Zoom link. Register online at the SDSU Extension events page and search for “crop hour”. Continuing education credits (CEUs) will be available for Certified Crop Advisers for each live session.
For more information, contact Sara Bauder, Extension Forage Field Specialist or visit the Crop Hour page at https://extension.sdstate.edu/crop-hour.
Categories: South Dakota, Crops, Corn, Soybeans, Wheat