University of Wisconsin-Extension will be offering a special webinar Friday November 6^th, 2009, 8:00am – 10:00am CST.  Please check with your local county UW Extension office for locations offering the program.  The program will be offered locally at participating county extension offices. Grain crop production specialists from UW Madison and UW-Extension will be speakers on key issues related to the 2009 harvest season. 

Please remember to register for the Pest Management Update meetings coming November 9-18 at various locations around Wisconsin. Read the full article for the day that one will be held near you.

The CCA Pre-Test Training Session, sponsored by UW-Extension, Wisconsin Crop Production Association and the UW IPM Program will be offered at the Madison Crowne Plaza on December 15-16, 2009.

The Department of Soil Science will offer Soil, Water, and Nutrient Management Meetings at
eight locations in 2009. These meetings combine the former Soil & Water Management and
Fertilizer Dealer Meetings into one 4-hour session (10 am to Noon/1 to 3 pm).

We are pleased to announce the schedule and topics for the 2009 Pest Management Update Meetings. See the attachment to this article for the schedule. Please check the dates and locations and reserve a date on your calendar. Registration details are listed at the top of the schedule. Please pre-register with the host agent as they have to make the meal reservations. Most agents have added an additional “walk-in” fee for those who have not pre-registered. 

UWEX Plant pathologist Paul Esker has a new video, White mold in soybeans,   hosted on the UWEX youtube channel.  Here is the link to view this short 11 minute video.  Remember to click on the "HQ" red button under the video for best quality. 

Hello! I am pleased to introduce myself to the readers of The Wisconsin Crop Manager. My name is Amber Weisenberger and I recently started as the Regional Nutrient Management Outreach Specialist for Southwestern Wisconsin. 

Rock County UW-Extension and the UW Nutrient and Pest Management Program will be holding a soil quality field day Wednesday September 16 in Janesville.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Invasive species law (NR40) is now official as of September 1^st. This rule established a classification and regulatory system for invasive species restricting actions such as sales, transportation, planting, or releasing listed species to the wild without a permit. The rule classified species as prohibited or restricted species, they are defined below.

In the April 23 WCM newsletter, I indicated that the Sixth Circuit Court ruled that a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit under the Clean Water Act (CWA) is required for all biological pesticide applications and all chemical pesticide applications that leave a residue in water when such applications are made to, over, or near waters of the United States. In essence, the Court reversed EPA’s Aquatics Pesticides rule which said such permits were not required when applying pesticides registered under FIFRA.

Two workshops designed for current and potential nutrient management plan writers in Wisconsin are being held on August 31 - September 1 in Madison and September 28 - 29 in Wausau. The intent of these two-day workshops is to provide in-depth training on the preparation of quality nutrient management plans. Participants will prepare a functional plan for a real Wisconsin farm. 

UW-Madison researchers and cooperating farmers will present the latest in organic crop and livestock research at the university’s third annual Organic Field Day on August 26 at the Arlington Agricultural Research Station.

As the new UW-Extension Machinery Systems Specialist, I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and my career in agriculture.