Conservation Tillage Conference returns to in-person sessions

Farmers in the area have always been interested in conservation practices for their farms, long before toxic algae blooms in Lake Erie made headline news. They have faithfully attended the Conservation Tillage Conference for over 25 years. This event is the largest agriculture meeting in northwest Ohio. Historically, over 400 individuals attend each day of the two-day conference. Last year, the meeting was virtual because of the pandemic. This year, the conference will once again be in person on the campus of Ohio Northern University in Ada, with sessions held 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 8 and 9. The meeting and program have been developed by Ohio State University Extension agriculture and natural resources educators in local counties, with assistance from local soil & water conservation districts and the United States Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources and Conservation Services. Farmers, consultants, industry representatives, government officials and the curious will meet each day to hear university specialists, industry representatives and producers discuss new products and ideas for agriculture. The program's focus is conservation including no-till, cover crops and soil health. The latest management practices for each major crop and new developments in precision agriculture are also included in the program. On the first day, Steve Groff, author of "The Future-Proof Farm," will be the opening speaker. Groff is a longtime no-till/cover crop farmer from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He is a consultant for many firms and a popular speaker on regenerative agriculture. The rest of the conference will include over 70 speakers and a trade show featuring product displays and representative from over 40 vendors. Four concurrent program sessions will occur each hour of the day. Agronomic crops sessions will be offered on both days. Thirteen researchers from six states will give presentations on corn and soybean management, including tar spot, chasing the last bushel, nitrogen recommendations, planting date effects, and herbicide options for limited product availability. Participants will have the opportunity to meet and interact with the new corn specialists from Ohio State and Purdue universities. Old time favorites will also be back, such as Laura Lindsey, Mark Loux and Pierce Paul from OSU; Josh McGrath from University of Kentucky; and Emerson Nafziger from University of Illinois. Agronomy sessions will be in room A on the second floor of the McIntosh Center. Sessions on soil health, cover crops and no-till will be offered both days in Room D of the chapel. Twelve speakers from six states will be sharing their research and knowledge on soil health, drainage and water management, and next generation cover crops. Many of the speakers are part of the Midwest Cover Crops Council and include Anna Cates, University of Minnesota; Eileen Kladivko, Purdue University; Peter Tomlinson, Kansas State University; and Gary Leosing, University of Nebraska. The nutrient management session will only be on the first day. Most of the topics are related to manure management, so Certified Livestock Manager Continuing Education Credits will be available. Presentations will include incorporating manure into wheat, putting cover crops to work with manure, and liquid manure stratification. Laura Johnson from Heidelberg University will be presenting the latest water quality research information on the Maumee River. This session will be held in Room B on the lower level of the McIntosh Center. On the second day, Room B will have presentations on water quality and conservation practices, such as Ohio's new drainage laws, managing high phosphorus soils, and research on managing field nutrients. Room C (lower level of the McIntosh Center) is reserved for topics on precision agriculture on the first day. University speakers for this session include Scott Shearer, Santosh Pitla, Bill Lehmkuhl, Charles Ellis, Josh McGrath and John Fulton. The second day, Room C will have sessions on sustainable agriculture. Presentations will include climate change and carbon marketing, future of climate change and agriculture, and sustainable agricultural efforts and farmer advocates. The conference fee is $100 if paid by Feb. 25; after this date, registration is $150. Registration includes lunch and refreshments during the day. Registrants also have unlimited access to presentations online between March 22 and April 22. For Certified Crop Advisers (CCAs), the QR code will be active during this time. CCAs in attendance may obtained at least six hours of continuing education credits during each day of the conference. Hours will be available in the four major categories. Registration is available at https://www.allenswcd.com/cttc/ The Conservation Tillage Conference is a great program to learn about the latest management and conservation practices in crop production and to network within the agricultural community. Please contact the OSU Extension Office-Hancock County for additional information by calling 419-422-3851 or emailing lentz.38@osu.edu Lentz is Extension educator for agriculture and natural resources for Ohio State University Extension-Hancock County.