The Southwest Diagnostic Day is an annual event that highlights current topics of interest and is designed specifically to improve the problem solving skills of seed, fertilizer and chemical industry personnel and agricultural consultants. The goal of the day is to provide quality, state-of-the-art training in all aspects of crop production and management. It was held at University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus on July 5 and 6, 2017 which marked the 23th anniversary of this outstanding technology transfer event. Organized by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and Ministry of Rural Affairs, the day allows agribusiness personnel to hone their problem solving skills through “hands-on" activities as well as evaluate new and alternative management strategies. Certified Crop Advisors who participated were able to obtain 5.5 CEU credits.
408 participants over two days attended this valuable hands-on learning experience. 100% per cent of the participants who responded to our survey indicated they were highly or very satisfied with the event and 97% responded the information will assist them in making decisions in their agribusiness operation. Technology transfer, research and teaching staff from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus as well as extension colleagues from Michigan State University and private industry were involved in presenting the sessions. This event could only be made possible through the successful partnership of OMAFRA, University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus and the Southwest Soil and Crop Improvement Associations along with our sponsors Agris Co-op, BASF, Bayer CropScience, Dupont/Pioneer, Monsanto/Dekalb, Great Lakes Grain, Mosaic and Syngenta Canada.
The topics in 2017 included:
- Weeds to Watch – Control Begins with Identification
- Dicamba Stewardship and Continuous Rinsing
- Planting Green with Envy
- Soil Pores - Where Does Water Go?
- Herbicide Injury in Corn
- Herbicide Injury in Soybeans
- Western Bean Cutworm 2.0
- The Corn Pit Stop
- Fine Tuning Cover Crops
- Fertilizing Soybeans
- Weed and Wildflower Garden
Event Contacts:
Albert Tenuta, OMAFMRA, Ridgetown, albert.tenuta@ontario.ca