Delaware-Maryland Virtual 4R Field Day

August 25th, 2020 from 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

9:00 a.m. – Basics of Nitrogen Modeling: What you need to know – Mike Twining, Willard AgriService

Mike Twining, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Willard AgriService, will discuss the how, what, and why of Nitrogen modeling. Nitrogen is one of the most vital nutrients to plant life and effective N management can lead to economic viability and environmental sustainability of agricultural cropping systems. Twining will educate attendees on the basics of N-modeling; outputs to support informed 4R decision making. Twining will also cover the current use of N-modeling in regulatory nutrient management systems and Willard AgriService’s vision for future use.

9:30 a.m. – Intensification of Soil Sampling – What’s next? Todd Hunsicker, Growmark FS

Todd Hunsicker is the MiField Specialist for Growmark FS. Todd will focus on the options for intensification of soil testing in cropping systems and the output derived from this practice. Hunsicker will discuss the data derived from finer scale soil testing and how that information can be used to inform a higher level of 4R decision making.

10:00 a.m. – The Economic Case for the 4Rs – A Virginia Case Study – Sally Flis, The Fertilizer Institute

Sally Flis is the Senior Director of Agronomy at The Fertilizer Institute. The first question crop consultants and farmers ask about practice changes is how is this going to make the operation more profitable? To help answer this question around advancing 4R Nutrient Stewardship practices The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) has been working with farmers to document the cost of changing practices related to nutrient management. This presentation will have a summary of all the case studies that TFI has conducted and a deep dive into a case study conducted with a Virginia farm. For more information visit https://www.4rfarming.org/

10:30 a.m. – Using Variable Rate Nutrient Management to Your Advantage – Kelly Herick, Corteva AgriScience

Kelly Herbick is the Area Digital Sales Manager for Corteva AgriScience. Kelly will help attendees understand the information needed and tools available to implement variable rate nutrient management in order to get the right source in the right place at the right time with the goal of reducing loss and maximizing farm profitability.

11:00 a.m. – Phosphorus placement – Case studies from Indiana, Texas, and Pennsylvania – Mark Williams, USDA ARS

Mark Williams is an Agricultural Research Engineer with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. The presentation will focus on case studies on phosphorus (P) placement from different regions of the U.S. and highlight the water quality benefits of subsurface P placement. Results from laboratory- to field-scale experiments in Texas, Ohio, and Pennsylvania will be featured showing the influence of P placement on both surface and subsurface P losses using a range of P sources (i.e., fertilizer and manure).

Continuing Education Credits:

• Maryland Nutrient Management – 2.5
• Delaware Nutrient Management – 2.5
• Certified Crop Adviser – Nutrient Management – 2.5

Made possible with funding from:

• Corteva Agriscience
• ETS
• The Fertilizer Institute
• Mosaic
• Nutrient Stewardship Council
• National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund