WORKSHOP SCHEDULED – With increased interest in the benefits of precision nutrient management, the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University is offering a day-long workshop that focuses on precision agriculture.

The Northwest Ohio Precision Ag Technology Day is Aug. 4 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Fulton County Fairgrounds, 8591 State Route 108, in Wauseon, Ohio. The event will offer farmers and crop consultants a chance to focus on nutrient management, said Eric Richer, an Ohio State University Extension educator. OSU Extension is the outreach arm of the college.

Topics include:

· Soil Phosphorus Recommendations

· Soil Nitrogen Rate and Source Considerations

· Nitrogen Timing and Placement Strategies

· Tools for Nitrogen Management

In the afternoon, participants will be able to attend field demonstrations from industry professionals that will focus on nutrient placement and timing.

Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) continuing education credits are available, with an emphasis on soil and water and on nutrient management. Richer said the program also qualifies as three hours of Ohio Certified Livestock Manager credits and three hours of Agricultural Fertilization Certification training to comply with Ohio’s new agricultural fertilization law, which requires farmers who apply fertilizer to more than 50 acres to become certified with the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

SYMPOSIUM SET – A multistate research team aimed at developing America’s biobased industry — biobased products, bioenergy and the like — will meet in northeast Ohio next month. Its purpose: to see what might be blocking the road and ways to move ahead.

The group, whose members come from nearly three dozen U.S. land-grant universities, including The Ohio State University, will hold a symposium called Stakeholder Perspectives on the Bioeconomy at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center Aug. 11.

The center, located in Wooster, is the research arm of Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

For details on the event, contact Mary Wicks, coordinator of Ohio State’s Program for Bioproducts and Energy, at [email protected] or 330-202-3533.

TURFGRASS RESEARCH FIELD DAY PLANNED – Golf course superintendents, athletic field managers and lawn care professionals are encouraged to attend Turfgrass Research Field Day on Aug. 11 at the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation’s Research and Education Facility, 2710 North Star Road, Columbus.

Turf professionals can learn about new research and technologies in turfgrass management, brush up on diagnostic skills, and get updates on environmental issues, said Pam Sherratt, a turfgrass specialist with the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University and one of the event’s organizers.

Registration is $40 for Ohio Turfgrass Association members and $60 for nonmembers.

Morning sessions — starting at 8 a.m. — include:

· Gray Leaf Spot Forecasting, by Francesca Peduto Hand, associate professor in Ornamental and Turf Pathology with the college’s Department of Plant Pathology.

Fungicide Updates for Golf, by Joe Rimelspach, program specialist, and Todd Hicks, program coordinator, both with plant pathology.

Granular Fungicide Evaluation, by Rimelspach and Hicks.

Herbicide Efficacy During Spring and Summer Seeding, by Amanda Folck, student assistant in Sustainable Plant Systems, David Gardner, associate professor, and Sherratt, all with the college’s Department of Horticulture and Crop Science.

Poa Cure Updates, by Eva Fang, graduate student in plant pathology.

Trials and Tribulations of Bermudagrass in Northern Climates, by Matt Williams, turfgrass program coordinator and Siobhan Cusack, intern in turfgrass science, both with horticulture and crop science

Plant Responses to Acidovorax, by Arly Drake, graduate research assistant in Putting Green Playability with horticulture and crop science.

Putting Green Management, Karl Danneberger, professor in Turfgrass Physiology and Ecology, and Gail Gu, student assistant, both with horticulture and crop science.

How to Kill Weeds!, by Gardner.

Turf Insect Management for Golf Courses, by Jennifer Andon, research assistant with the college’s Department of Entomology.

Turf Insect Management for Lawns and Sports Fields, by David Shetlar, professor of entomology.

Updates in Ground Penetrating Radar for Putting Greens, by Barry Allred, adjunct assistant professor with the Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, and Ed McCoy, associate professor in soil science with the college’s School of Environment and Natural Resources.

The field day will conclude with two afternoon sessions:

Herbicides and Environmental Fate, by Gardner.

Pesticides and Environmental Fate, by Shetlar.

“There will also be an opportunity to earn Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) pesticide recertification credits at this event, which includes presentations and demonstrations on turfgrass research and development from industry specialists,” Pam Sherratt said.

The field day is the result of a partnership between Ohio State and the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation.

More information, including an online registration form, is available at www.ohioturfgrass.org/ or by contacting Brian Laurent at [email protected] or 614-285-4683.

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Staff report