FORT LORAMIE — The 2017 West Ohio Agronomy Day will be held on Monday, Jan. 9, at St. Michael’s Hall in Fort Loramie. Preble County farmers are encouraged to attend.

A light breakfast will be available starting at 8 a.m. with a marketing update from Sunrise Cooperative at 8:30 a.m. At 9 a.m. the Private Pesticide Applicator Recertification (Core and Categories 1, 2, and 6) and the two-hour Fertilizer Applicator Certification Training for those who already hold a Pesticide Applicator’s License (commercial or private) will begin. In addition, Certified Crop Advisor CEUs have been approved and Commercial Pesticide Applicator Credits are available in 2A and 2C.

Purdue’s Dr. Fred Whitford will be on hand, this time to talk about “Safety is in Your Hands.” Attendees will also participate in a “Corn and Soybean Insect Update” by Dr. Kelley Tilmon, OSU Entomologist; “Finding Value in your Data” by Elizabeth Hawkins, OSU Agronomy Specialist; and a “Weed Management Update” and “Weed Management 201” by Dr. Jeff Stachler, OSU Extension, Auglaize County. In addition, Dennis Riethman (OSUE Mercer County) will be presenting on “Forages and Livestock,” Amanda Bennett, (OSUE Miami County) will be providing the update on “Fumigation, and Sam Custer (OSUE Darke County) will be offering “Budgeting for your 2017 Corn and Soybean Crops.”

The evening portion of the 2017 West Ohio Agronomy Day will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 17, at the Days Inn (Ohio 47 & I-75) in Sidney. This program will begin at 5 p.m. with a light supper and a marketing update from Sunrise Cooperative personnel. Only Private Pesticide Applicator Recertification credits (Core and Categories 1, 2, and 6) and the two-hour Fertilizer Applicator Certification Training for those who already hold a Pesticide Applicator’s License will be provided. These trainings will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. and will be conducted by OSU Extension personnel.

Farmers who want to recertify their private pesticide applicator’s license can visit http://pested.osu.edu to register online with a credit card or to download the form to pay by check. These forms can also be picked up at OSU Extension offices.

Others who want to attend can register by contacting the Shelby County Extension office at 937-498-7239 or by emailing Debbie Brown at [email protected] by Dec. 30.