January 3, 2003

 

To:                   Sussex County Farmers

 

From:               Derby Walker, Extension Agent Agriculture

 

Subject:            January 2003 Ag Notes

 

 

            Please read and mark your calendars for events that interest you. Also read the quick update notes on nutrient management and other subjects.

 

            If your private pesticide applicator’s certificate has run out (Dec 31, 2002), don’t panic. You have until March 31, 2003 to earn your 3 credits.  If it ran out last December or more, then you have to take the test to get your certification back. 

 

January Ag Program Calendar

 

13 – Update on FSA Farm Programs – Georgetown Research and Education Center –     8:00 am

 

16 – Delaware Pesticide Workers Short Course – Modern Maturity Center Dover De        (pesticide credits)

 

16 – Up Date on FSA Farm Programs - Wesley Church Community Center near Atlanta

 

17 – Friends of Ag Breakfast – “Agriculture, Livable Delaware and the Economy” –   Modern Maturity Center, Dover De - 7:15 am – to register call 302 –831-0857 or   e-mail: sbolson@udel,edu - Breakfast is $10.

 

21  – Delaware Agronomic and Equipment Day – 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.  Harrington  Fair Grounds – Lunch  - $5.00  (pesticide credits) – New corn and soybean    weed control programs, discussions on the old and new corn insect control programs, using an aerator to     incorporate poultry litter into no-till fields, understanding hydraulic systems and  hydraulic oil choices, and other talks on equipment.  This  a combined meeting of  our Equipment Day and the Agronomic Crop that we jointly sponsor with the  Delaware Crop Improvement Association.  Look for more details in our press          release and in    the farm papers.

 

21 – Up Date on FSA Farm Programs – 7 pm at the Gumboro Fire Hall.

 

27 & 28 -New Opportunities for Delaware Agriculture Conference – Modern Maturity Center, Dover – 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Program included.

 

29 – Delmarva Health and Safety Conference – Capital Grange Hall, Dover – 8:45 am   to noon

 

February 2003

 

 3 – Women in Agriculture Conference – Challenges and Opportunities

             Registration is due Jan 15 – There are six workshops.

 

21 – Friends of Ag Breakfast and Governor’s Conference on Agriculture – The Modern Maturity Center in Dover 7:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

 

March 2003

 

31 – Pesticide Certification Training – Research and Education Center –(Pesticide credits) registration 1-800-282-8685 DDA Pesticide Section.

 

 

Quick notes –

 

            Delaware Nutrient management Certification - The end is near, if you have not started earning your nutrient management certification.  If you need to be certified, you need to complete the process before January 1, 2004.  That is a whole year, not really because we rarely offer classes from the beginning planting season to close of harvest season. We will have classes now through March and then they will start back up in late fall until mid –December. If you wait until next fall, you may find it difficult to get into all the classes you need especially if you have another bad harvest season.

 

Session I – Jan 21, 6 to 9 pm at REC; Feb 4, 9 to noon at Gumboro Fire Hall; Feb 11, 9 to noon at Greenwood VFW; Feb 18, 6 to 9pm at REC and March 18, 1 to 4 pm at the REC.  Call Mrs. Jeanie Johnson at 856-2585 ext 305 to signup for the class you want.

           

            Delaware Corn and Soybean Variety Test results are on-line and copies are available at our office.

 

            Nematode samples – it is too late to take samples for root-knot nematode for vegetable crops. You still can sample for soybean cyst nematodes to determine the number of eggs present