ASA-CSSA-SSSA | Certified Crop Adviser

2011 Annual Meetings

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 14:38:49 CST

The 2011 ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meetings, "Fundamental for Life: Soil, Crop, & Environmental Sciences," will be held Oct. 16-19, 2011 in San Antonio, TX.

Discussion Forum: Continue discussions and initiate topics all year long
Wondering what was presented in 2010? Abstracts, Recordings Online

Cover Crop Use for Managing Broiler Litter

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 09:32:26 CST

The use of broiler litter as a source of plant nutrients for row crops is becoming more common. While spring application of manure provided the best agronomic response in most instances, manures are often applied to the soils in the fall. However, cover crops, such as rye grass, have been promoted as a means of maximizing the efficient use of available N to subsequent crops in agricultural systems, potentially enhancing profitability through reduced inorganic fertilizer N requirement.

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Soil Organic Carbon Trends Over 100 Years

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 10:57:57 CST

Accumulated soil organic carbon is an important factor in quality and productivity of soil, and maintaining or increasing soil organic carbon is an important goal of current crop and soil management. The current interest in removing crop residue to serve as a fuel source and the ongoing concern about the use of fertilizer, especially nitrogen, has increased the interest in research that addresses the effects of cropping system, residue removal, and nitrogen fertilizer rates on soil organic carbon.

The purpose of this study, conducted by researchers from the Univ. of Illinois, was to reexamine existing soil organic carbon (SOC) data from the Morrow Plots, including the use of regression to assess changes in SOC with rotation, management, and nitrogen (N) fertilizer use over time.

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Fundamentals Course

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 09:21:41 CST

Have a new hire or know someone who would like to increase their basic agronomy skills? Need a refresher on the fundamentals? ASA is offering a 12-week online course, January-March 2011, that is based on the Certified Crop Adviser exam performance objectives. Register by Jan. 3. More Info>>

Iron Deficiency in Soybeans

Mon, 22 Nov 2010 07:28:57 CST

An expansion of soybean production into areas where soybean has seldom, if ever, been grown presents a steep learning curve
for growers. This is especially true if the area of expansion includes soils having high pH values and large amounts of calcium and/or magnesium carbonate—soil conditions that promote iron deficiency.

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CCA Exam

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 15:44:11 CST

Registration is open through Dec. 10 for the next Certified Crop Adviser Exam on Feb. 4, 2011. Learn more about the exam at these links:

Local Performance Objectives - List of potential subject matter areas on local boards exams
ICCA Performance Objectives - List of potential subject matter areas on International Exam

Crops & Soils Magazine

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 14:16:15 CST

A new issue, November-December 2010, of Crops & Soils magazine is now posted online. Articles include:

Feature: Controlling nitrogen runoff with on-farm bioreactors
Industry Perspective: Natural resource conservation: hidden agronomic practice
CEUs: Earn up to 2.5 CEUs in Nutrient Management

Soils Mitigate Manure Microbes

Fri, 17 Sep 2010 16:14:48 CDT

That swine manure sprayed on to fields adds valuable nutrients to the soil is well known. But what is not known is whether all that manure is bringing harmful bacteria with it. A new study looks at the levels of nutrients and bacteria in soils of fields that have been sprayed with manure for fifteen years or more. The research team tested soils inside and outside fields of five farms on twenty different soils types. Their results are reported in the September-October 2010 Journal of Environmental Quality.

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Soybean Sudden Death Syndrome

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 10:37:02 CDT

Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) in soybeans has been appearing this year in the Corn Belt and reports indicate that it appears it is widespread. Heavy rains and late-summer flooding is thought to be at least somewhat to blame for the widespread SDS pressures.

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Switchgrass Yield Data Evaluated

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 09:52:36 CDT

While scientists have conducted numerous studies on production of biomass from biofuel crops, such as switchgrass, no one has yet compiled this information to evaluate the response of biomass yield to soils, climate, and crop management across the United States.

A team of researchers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Dartmouth College published just such a study in the July-August 2010 Agronomy Journal. The researchers used peer-reviewed publications to evaluate switchgrass yield as it relates to site location, plot size, stand age, harvest frequency, fertilizer application, climate, and land quality. Switchgrass is one type of crop under consideration for use as a feedstock for advanced biofuels.

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