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December 15, 2005 ManDak Zero-till Workshop Planned for Bismarck The Manitoba-North Dakota Zero Tillage Farmers Association will be holding its 28th annual winter workshop at the Ramkota Inn in Bismarck on Feb. 9-10. “Improving Soil – Enhancing Profit” is the theme of the 2006 workshop. The association was created by farmers to facilitate the exchange of ideas, encourage zero-tillage research and disseminate zero-tillage information, according to Greg Endres, North Dakota State University Carrington Research Extension Center area agronomist and adviser to the association. This year’s workshop focuses on the information needs of farmers transitioning to no-till and long-term no-tillers who want to make their farming operations even better, according to Bill Kuehn, Turtle Lake, N.D., farmer and president of the association. This year, several panels focusing on “what we wish someone would have told us before we started no-till” are planned. Farmers will be sharing their experience and what they have learned on no-till fertilizer placement, seed placement and solid seeding of large-seeded crops, managing dry and wet soils, strip tillage and geospatial technology. Experts not normally heard in this region also will be sharing their advice, Endres says. Some of the topics include the history of tillage, soil compaction, whether deep tillage is needed, building and enhancing soil biology and health, glomalin, macronutrient management in the early years of no-till, the future of seed inoculants, soil amendments and post-applied fertilizer strategies, plant physiology, strip tillage and precision farming, geospatial technology and the soil tillage intensity rating system. Livestock have been proven to be sustainable economically and environmentally throughout this region. Presentations planned for cattlemen include integrating livestock into the farm enterprise, rotational grazing for increased profit, annual forages for reduced feed costs, utilizing coproducts for animal feeds, swath grazing of annual forages to reduce costs, managing manure to reduce costs in a zero-tillage system, feeding beef in northern climates and cow utilization of crop residues. Biofuels development also will be a major topic. Topics include developing a biodiesel or ehtanol production plant and developing wind power. A trade show featuring the newest in innovative technology from international and local manufacutreres and retailers will be highlighted at this event, which rotates between Canada and the U.S. More information and a registration form are available at www.mandakzerotill.org.
### Source:
Greg Endres, (701) 652-2951, gregory.endres@ndsu.edu |
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North Dakota State University |
