Corn issues topics of FN’s show
The challenges of yielding 300 bushels per acre and stover management are two of the five topics set for Farm News’ 2011 Farm Show, set for Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.
This will be Farm News’ 10th annual farm show to be held at the Career Education Building on the Iowa central Community College campus in Fort Dodge.
Speaking on the corn production challenges will be Kendall Lamkey, director of Iowa State University’s agronomy department, starting at 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 1.
Lamkey said the 300 bpa target has been achieved on contest plots and some farmers may have seen small area of fields that have reached that mark.
“Growing one to five acres of 300 bushel corn is a different challenge than achieving it over 80, 160 or 240 acres,”?Lamkey said.
Lamkey, who is also a corn breeder for Pioneer Hi-Bred, will explore the challenges of reaching to 300 bushel goal.
Managing the growing mass of residue in corn fields will be the topic of Adam Wirt, regional biomnass coordinator for POET Biomass.
He’ll speak at 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 30 on “Beyond the kernel: Stover strategies for biofuel production – what we’ve learned.”
Wirt, who’s been with POET since 2003, is working on creating and establishing feedstock supply chains for POET?projects.
He’ll discuss that the company has learned in managing residues after five years of trials.
Other topics set for the two-day show include:
- Dr. Harold Prior, executive director of Iowa Wind Energy, at 12:30 p.m. on Nov. 30. He’ll talk about “The Small?Wind turbine market: Tips for prospective owners.”
- Elwynn Taylor, ISU agricultural meteorologist, at 3 p.m. on Nov. 30. He’ll present on “Will 2012 be more the same?”
- David Kruse, president of CommStock Investments, in Royal, at 9 a.m. on Dec. 1.
He’ll talk on “The agricultural eagle: In the flock of turkeys can be ag sector keep flying high?”