The Ohio No-Till Conference will be Wednesday, December 7, at Der Dutchman Restaurant, 445 South Jefferson (US Route 42), Plain City.

You probably know about the successful efforts to improve the water quality in the Chesapeake Bay. Farmers in that watershed use cover crops on about 70 percent of the cropland. And farmers played a main role in setting the “rules.”

Bill Chain, a former dairy farmer, is the Director and Pennsylvania Ag Program Manager of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, will be our opening speaker. He will emphasize the role of farmers in finalizing the standards. Ohio farmers need to have a major role in planning the solutions for Phosphorus in Lake Erie (and Nitrogen flowing down the Ohio River to the Gulf of Mexico).

As Bill Chain states, “In Pennsylvania and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed the importance of farmers at the decision-making table has been critical in developing strategy and identifying solutions that meet the farmers economic viability needs. No-till and cover crops play a large role in managing soil health, a system that keeps nutrients, topsoil, and water on the farm and out of the creek.”

This presentation will be followed by an all-star panel that will answer your questions and concerns.

The rest of the program has a great variety of speakers and topics. Alyssa Essman, a visiting professor at OSU, will list risks associated with herbicide carryover for cover crops. Mike Estadt, OSU Extension, will help answer the question, “Are You Ready for the Carbon Market?” Jim Hoorman, Hoorman Soil Health Services, will describe how fulvic and humic acid enhances micronutrient uptake. Vinayak Shedekar, OSU Ag. Engineer, will describe results of a review of no-till research articles. (Are you guessing that continuous no-till with cover crops is better than one year of no-till without cover crops?) Ann Brandt, Walnut Creek Seeds, will discuss “Pure Live Seed Requirements for NRCS cover crop payment.” Often farmers are surprised that an NRCS payment for 40 pounds of pure live seed (PLS) means they have to buy ~60 to 80 pounds.

The Ohio No-till Council presents awards in three categories. Tim Norris of Knox County will receive the Outstanding No-till Farmer Award. Three organizations, American Farmland Trust, Ohio Soybean Council, and Ohio Corn Marketing Program will be recognized for their support of no-till and soil health.

The program will start at 9:00 a.m. and end about 4:00 p.m. Breaks and the famous Der Dutchman buffet lunch are included.

Advance registration will be $50.00 (by Dec. 2); or $70.00 at the door.

Register online at: OhioNoTillCouncil.com, or send a check (payable to Ohio No-Till Council) to: Bret Margraf, Seneca Cons. District , 3140 South S.R. 100 Suite D, Tiffin, OH 44883.