NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665

January 6, 2000

Annual Zero Tillage Workshop Set for Jan. 31 to Feb. 2 in Minot

The 22^nd annual workshop and trade show organized by the Manitoba-North Dakota Zero Tillage Farmers Association will begin with registration at 10 a.m. and open at 1 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 31. It will conclude with the grand prize drawing for a trip to Australia at noon on Wednesday, Feb. 2. The event will be held at the All Seasons Arena located on the North Dakota State Fairgrounds in Minot, N.D.

"This year's program will include many special features, such as strategies to reduce input costs and talks by one of Chile's leading no-till farmers," says Duane Berglund, extension agronomist at North Dakota State University and one of the association's advisors.

In total, nine specialists representing the NDSU Extension Service will be involved in the three-day event. As part of the Monday evening educational sessions, Berglund will present "Pros and Cons of Transgenic Crop Production."

Other highlights of this year's workshop and trade show include the following:

• A panel presentation by producers on buying, leasing, modifying and doing custom work with zero-tillage equipment.
• Discussions of weed, insect and disease concerns in zero-tillage systems.
• An opportunity to take part in a chat room discussion via the Internet.
• Several discussions focusing on management of wet soils.
• A presentation looking at developments in hard white and red winter wheat.
• A producer panel on successful strategies for dormant seeding canola.
• A report on producing quality compost from livestock manure.
• As one of the featured speakers, rural psychologist Val Farmer will discuss stress as it relates to the current economic situation facing agricultural producers.
• Several presentations dealing with commodity markets and marketing.

Costs for onsite registration are $50 (U.S.) and $75 (Canadian).The registration fee includes admission to the three-day workshop and trade show, a one-year membership in the Manitoba-North Dakota Zero Tillage Farmers Association, one copy of the proceedings, and lunch on Tuesday. The cost for the Tuesday banquet at Minot's Holiday Inn Riverside is an additional $17 (U.S.) or $25 (Canadian), and the cost for each additional copy of the proceedings, if desired, is $7 (U.S.) or $10 (Canadian).

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Source: Duane Berglund (701) 231-8135
Editor: Dean Hulse (701) 231-6136