Wisconsin Corn and Soybean Conferences

Profitable corn and soybean production is extremely important to Wisconsin agriculture. In 2009, Wisconsin producers planted nearly 3 million acres of corn worth $1.0 billion. Another 1 million acres worth $0.7 billion was planted for corn silage to support our dairy industry. Soybeans worth $0.6 billion were harvested from 1.6 million acres.

Faced with fluctuating prices and rising production costs, farmers today must be well informed about new technologies to be profitable. The 2012 Corn and Soybean Conference meeting series is sponsored by the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association, the Wisconsin Soybean Association and UWEX.
These Corn and Soybean Conferences are designed to provide technical insight, practical advice and interaction with university and industry experts and fellow growers.

Those attending will learn about:
• The "new" economics of production
• Selling strategies for corn in the new market
• Top 10 Yield Detractors in Soybean
• Producer tips for successful corn production
• Will we ever see $7/$15 corn/soybean again?
• Cash versus futures pricing
• Storage decisions
• Evaluating market outlook and alternatives
• Traffic management to reduce compaction
• Producing 300 bushel corn - Lessons learned
• Fungicides: Are they working yet?
• The latest on Twin-row corn production
• An update on trucking issues in Wisconsin

We encourage you to pre-register early since space is limited. Invite a neighbor to join you. Contact the County Extension Office that will be hosting the meeting you plan to attend.

The meeting dates and locations for the 2012 Wisconsin Corn and Soybean Conferences are:

Tuesday, January 17 – Seymour  – Doxbee’s Banquet Hall
Wednesday, January 18 – Menomonie – Stout Ale House
Thursday, January 19 – Darlington – Bridges Banquet Center


2012 Wisconsin Corn Conference Program

9:30 am
Registration
Coffee, milk, rolls in Exhibit Area

10:00 am
Welcome
Opening remarks by Host Agent

10:10 am
2012 Corn Production and Management Keys to High Yields and Profitability
Dr. Joe Lauer - UWEX Corn Agronomist

11:00 am
What’s Ahead For Wisconsin Corn and Soybean Growers - How Our Associations Helps Producers
Mr. Bob Oleson - WCGA/WCPB Executive Director and WCGA/WCPB Directors
Mr. Bob Karls – WSA/WSMB Executive Director and WSA/WSMB Directors

11:30 am
What's New in Seeds and Ag Products for 2012
Industry Co-sponsor Representatives

12:00 pm   LUNCH
Exhibits open

1:00 pm
Top Ten Soybean Yield Limiting Factors
Dr. Shawn Conley – UWEX Agronomist

1:50 pm
Back-to-Back High Yields and Prices: Now Where?
Mr. David Moll - UWEX Ag Economist

2:40 pm
Tips for Successful Corn Production and Profitability

Seymour: Is less more? Are twins better than singles? – Kevin Jarek, Outagamie County Agent

Menomonie: Timing fungicide applications – Is there a benefit? – Katie Sternweis and Jerry Clark, Dunn and Chippewa County Agents

Darlington: Wisconsin Agricultural Transportation Regulations – Ted Bay, Grant County Agent and TBD, Wisconsin State Patrol-Motor Carrier Enforcement Section

3:30 pm
Conference Adjourns

Support for the 2012 Wisconsin Corn and Soybean Conferences provided by:
Dairyland Seed Company
First Capital Ag
Legacy Seeds
AgriGold
Legacy Seeds
Partners in Production
Mycogen Seed
Pioneer Hi-Bred
Syngenta
Monsanto
Contree Sprayer and Equipment Company
Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board
Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board


Please join us at a meeting in your area.  To download the brochure and registration form, click here.

Wisconsin Agronomy Update Meetings for 2012

The Department of Agronomy will offer Crop Production and Management Meetings at eight locations during 2012. Joe Lauer, Dan Undersander and Shawn Conley will present the latest information on hybrid/variety performance, an analysis and discussion of last year's growing season, and updated recommendations for field crop production. 

The registration fee includes a meal and materials. Please pre-register with the Host Agent. A “walk-in” (Late) fee will be charged to those who have not preregistered. Additional information packets will be available for $18.00 each. Certified Crop Advisor CEU credits have been requested (2.5 hours in Crop Management). Below is a list of topics, meeting sites, dates and times. Please join us at meeting in your area. 

Packet Materials

2011 Wisconsin Hybrid Corn Performance Trials - Grain and Silage (A3653)

2011 Wisconsin Soybean Variety Test Results (A3654)

2011 Perennial Forage Variety Update for Wisconsin (A1525)

Small grain varieties for grain and forage in Wisconsin - 2011 (A3868)

Alfalfa germination and growth

Management of white mold in soybean

Extension publications

Agronomy Advice articles

Wisconsin Crop Improvement Association updates

Discussion Topics

Forages 

• Performance of Roundup Ready alfalfa varieties
• Getting a stand – Alfalfa germination and growth

Corn

• Do we need to do tillage following soybean? The influence of residue management and planting date responses.
• Corn silage hybrids – What’s new and how are they performing?

Soybeans 

• Soybean seed treatments: Quantifying profitability and separating active ingredients

Small Grains 

• Do oats require intensive management?

Locations

Portage:  Tuesday, Jan. 3 at 7:30 am

Fond du Lac:  Tuesday, Jan. 3 at noon

Kimberly:  Wednesday, Jan. 4 at 7:30 am

Wausau:  Wednesday, Jan. 4 at noon

Eau Claire:  Thursday, Jan. 5 at 7:30 am

Sparta:  Thursday, Jan. 5 at noon

Janesville:  Friday, Jan. 6 at 7:30 am

Belmont:  Friday, Jan. 6 at noon

Please join us at a meeting in your area.To download the meeting brochure and registration information, click here.

Testing Organic Corn Hybrids in Wisconsin

In 2011, the UW Corn Hybrid Evaluation program conducted an organic hybrid/variety trial for corn at 7 locations in Wisconsin. The objective is to provide producers information on performance and characteristics of corn in a certified organic production system. Where possible the trials were conducted using approved organic production practices. At other sites where land was not certified organic, the trials were placed alongside conventional trials. Seed used for the trials was either produced organically or was untreated.

South Central Zone: Fond du Lac, Galesville, Hancock                      Table 22
North Central Zone: Chippewa Falls, Marshfield, Seymour, Valders   Table 23

Organic production is defined as “a production system that is managed, in accordance with the Organic Food Production Act and Regulations (October 2002), to respond to site-specific conditions by integrating cultural, biological and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance and conserve biodiversity.” The organic system is “a plan of management of an organic production operation that has been agreed to by the producer and the certifying agent and includes written plans concerning all aspects of agricultural production  or handling described in the act and the regulations.

Since 2004, the UW Corn Agronomy program has evaluated organic hybrids for Wisconsin farmers. For results from previous years, see the UW Corn Hybrid Trials program webpage.