Penn State Extension to Offer Soybean, Pest, Pesticides, Beef Cattle Workshops

Workshop to focus on common soybean diseases and pests

An upcoming Penn State Extension workshop, titled “Soybean Disease and Pest Identification Walk,” will cover identification of common soybean diseases and pests.

The in-person event will occur from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday, Sept. 8, at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs, 9 miles southwest of State College on Route 45.

The workshop is designed for soybean growers, industry representatives and farmers interested in soybean production. Penn State Extension educators and specialists will discuss how to identify late-season soybean diseases and insects present in soybean fields.

Organizers note that space is limited, so preregistration is recommended. Participants can register through 11:45 p.m. Sept. 6. The registration fee of $5 covers light refreshments.

More information is available on the Penn State Extension website at https://extension.psu.edu/soybean-disease-and-pest-identification-walk.

Earn pesticide recertification credits at field crop recertification school

Penn State Extension will offer an opportunity to earn pesticide recertification credits during “Field Crop Recertification School,” a workshop that will occur in both Pennsylvania Furnace and Manheim in September.

The Pennsylvania Furnace event will occur from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, in the Special Events Building at Penn State’s Ag Progress Days site, 2710 W. Pine Grove Road.

In Manheim, the workshop will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22, at Penn State’s Southeast Agricultural Research and Extension Center, 1446 Auction Road.

The workshop is designed for commercial and public pesticide applicators, private pesticide applicators, and certified crop advisors. Sessions will address agronomic pest issues for corn, soybean, small grains and forage crops.

According to organizers, Penn State Extension specialists and educators will provide the latest information on:

• Weed management of agronomic crops.

• Disease management of corn and soybean.

• Agronomic management of soybean and wheat.

• Pesticide safety.

Commercial and private pesticide applicators can earn pesticide recertification credits. In both locations, participants can earn six core credits and six credits in categories 01, 18 and private category. Certified crop advisors can earn continuing education credits.

Organizers note that space is limited, so preregistration is required. Participants can register for the Pennsylvania Furnace event through 11:45 p.m. Sept. 9. The registration deadline for the Manheim workshop is midnight Sept. 16. Each event carries a registration fee of $50.

More information is available on the Penn State Extension website at https://extension.psu.edu/field-crop-recertification-school.

Penn State Extension to host ‘Beef Cattle Short Course’ in October

Beef cattle producers interested in learning about the cattle meat production process may want to attend “Beef Cattle Short Course,” a two-day workshop hosted by Penn State Extension with support from the Pennsylvania Beef Producers Working Group.

The event will occur from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, and from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12, at various locations within Penn State’s University Park campus, including the Snider Agricultural Arena and the Penn State Meat Laboratory.

Tara Felix, extension beef specialist and associate professor of animal science in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, notes that this year’s program will focus on marketing the final product of the production chain — beef. The event will begin with an evaluation of live cattle. Instructors will walk participants through a class of cattle and outline expectations of that class on the rail.

Following the live cattle evaluation, participants can learn about nutrition and management concepts for cattle through workshops and guest speakers, including Robbi Pritchard, owner of Annawan Cattle LLC in South Dakota.

Finally, the cattle that were evaluated live on day one will be evaluated hanging on the rail on day two. Jonathan Campbell, meat extension specialist and associate professor of animal science in the college, will discuss the yield and quality of each animal and demonstrate breaking down the carcass.

Sessions will cover:

• How to feed cattle.

• How to read a forage analysis.

• How to grade beef cattle carcass.

• What cuts of beef come from a beef cattle carcass.

Space is limited to 60 participants, so preregistration is required. Participants must register by Oct. 6. The registration fee of $50 covers dinner on day one and lunch both days.

More information is available on the Penn State Extension website at https://extension.psu.edu/beef-short-course.