Extension Update from Jenny Rees

UPCOMING EVENTS:  
Jan. 11:  York Ag Expo, Holthus Convention Center, York (Private Pesticide Training 9-Noon jrees2@unl.edu, Precision Ag Topics 1-4 p.m.)
Jan. 11:  LBNRD Operator Training, 1:30 p.m., Fairbury 4-H Bldg
Jan. 11:  West Central Cattlemen’s Day, Minden
Jan. 11:  Crop Production Clinic, North Platte, https://agronomy.unl.edu/cpc
Jan. 12:  Successful Farming Series: Soil Fertility, 9-11:30 a.m., Extension Office, Lincoln, tyler.williams@unl.edu 
Jan. 16:  LBNRD Operator Training, 9 a.m., Fairgrounds in Hastings
Jan. 16:  Crop Production Clinic, Norfolk, https://agronomy.unl.edu/cpc
Jan. 15-17:  Nebraska Seed Improvement Conference, Embassy Suites, Lincoln, http://www.necrop.org/tentativeschedule.pdf
Jan. 17:  Chemigation Training, 1:30 p.m., 4-H Building Fairgrounds, Aurora, steve.melvin@unl.edu
Jan. 18:  Grain Sorghum Symposium, 9 a.m. Registration, NCTA Curtis
Jan. 18:  LBNRD Training, 1:30 p.m., Davenport Community Center
Jan. 18:  Three State Beef Conference, Beatrice
Jan. 18:  Crop Production Clinic, Lincoln, https://agronomy.unl.edu/cpc
Jan. 18-19:  Hops Grower, Brewer Conference, Embassy Suites Downtown Omaha, http://www.growbrewnebraska.com/registration/
Jan. 19:  Successful Farmer Series: Farm Economics, 9-11:30 a.m., Extension Office, Lincoln, tyler.williams@unl.edu
Jan. 22:  Chemigation Training, 1:30 p.m., Community Building, Davenport
Jan. 22:  Crop Science Investigation, 5 p.m., York Extension Office, jrees2@unl.edu
Jan. 22:  Solar Energy Workshop, 6:30 p.m., Fairgrounds Hastings, ron.seymour@unl.edu
Jan. 23:  Pesticide Training, 9 a.m., Adams Co. Fairgrounds, Hastings, ron.seymour@unl.edu
Jan. 23:  Pesticide Training, 6:30 p.m., First Lutheran Church, Wilbur, randy.pryor@unl.edu
Jan. 24:  Pesticide Training, 9 a.m., Gage Co. Extension Office, Beatrice, randy.pryor@unl.edu
Jan. 24:  UBBNRD Nitrogen Mgmt Training, 9:30 a.m., Faigrounds in Seward
Jan. 24:  Pesticide Training, 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., Former ARDC near Mead, keith.glewen@unl.edu
Jan. 24-25:  Nebraska Crop Management Conference, Kearney, https://agronomy.unl.edu/NCMC
Jan. 25:  Pesticide Training, 9 a.m., Former ARDC near Mead, keith.glewen@unl.edu
Jan. 26:  Successful Farmer Series: Corn, 9-11:30 a.m., Extension Office, Lincoln, tyler.williams@unl.edu
Jan. 29:  Pesticide Training, 9 a.m., Fairgrounds, Clay Center, jrees2@unl.edu
Jan. 29:  Pesticide Training, 2 p.m., Community Center, Davenport, jrees2@unl.edu
Jan. 30:  Water Conference, 9:30-3 p.m., Fairgrounds Holdrege, todd.whitney@unl.edu
Jan. 30:  “Partners In Progress Beef Seminar” Cow/Calf College at U.S. MARC near Clay Center, NE from 10-3:30 a.m., Registration at 9:30.  RSVP to (402) 759-3712.
Jan. 30:  York/Hamilton Co. Cattleman’s Banquet featuring Peterson Brothers, 6:30 p.m. social, 7 p.m. prime rib supper, Holthus Convention Center, York.  Tickets $25 available at Extension Office.
Jan. 30-31:  No-Till On the Plains Winter Conference, Wichita, KS http://notill.org/
Jan. 31:  Pesticide Training, 2 p.m., Civic Center, Seward, jrees2@unl.edu

My top question the past two weeks has been about dicamba training. I just received the information regarding this training from our pesticide program coordinators.

First, to clarify some mis-understandings:  Dicamba training is required for those applying the following dicamba products:    XtendiMax®, FeXapan™, and Engenia®.  These products are all Restricted Use Pesticides (RUP) this year; thus, you have to be a certified applicator to purchase and use these products.  Dicamba training is not required if you’re applying dicamba corn products (unless it is the above-mentioned products).

Second, pesticide training of any kind is not the same as dicamba training.  Dicamba training is completely separate.  Having your pesticide applicator license does not qualify you to apply RUP dicamba in 2018.

Third, some have asked if everyone in the operation needs this training or not…specifically the person who is purchasing the RUP dicamba with his/her applicator license but is not the one intending on applying the chemical.  NDA says that, “Dicamba-specific training is only required for application of the product, not for purchase of the product.”

• You need to be a certified pesticide applicator to purchase the RUP dicamba products.
• You need to be a certified pesticide applicator and complete dicamba training to apply the RUP dicamba product.  So hopefully that helps clarify who in your operations need this training.

Your options for RUP dicamba training include the following:

1. Nebraska Extension online training course hosted by eXtension. See the link at : https://campus.extension.org/login/index.php (1.25-1.5 hours).
2. Crop Production Clinics or Nebraska Crop Management Conference. Details at https://agronomy.unl.edu/cpc and https://agronomy.unl.edu/ncmc
3. County-hosted training sessions at the option of local educators presenting the video which is the same as the online training (1.25-1.5 hours).
4. RUP dicamba product (XtendiMax®, FeXapan™, and Engenia®) manufacturer sponsored training. Each manufacturer will advertise individually.

I took the online training so I could better answer your questions.  The link to the UNL online dicamba training can be found at the http://pested.unl.edu site or you can go directly to the training at:  https://campus.extension.org/login/index.php.  Once at this site, you will need to create an account.  You will then be sent a confirmation email and upon opening that, you will be logged in.  From the course list choose “pest management”.

Then scroll and click on “Online Training for Dicamba Herbicide”. 

You will then need to register for the training.  It will ask you to add your Nebraska pesticide applicator number in a specific field as well.  Your name and applicator number are required before you begin the training.  You can then click on the first video followed by the first quiz.  It keeps track if you completed the entire video or not before you can advance.

I felt the information was good overall and I appreciated the fact that they mentioned how corn dicamba applications also influenced the problems we saw in 2017.  They also share quite a bit of research regarding volatility, conditions/timing of temperature inversions, dosage amounts and effects on yield.  The quizzes are short and were fairly common sense.  You can click to check each answer once you have selected your choice and will have to submit all your answers before moving on.  When you have completed all the videos and quizzes, you can have a certificate emailed to you.  You will also be officially entered into Nebraska Department of Ag’s database.  NDA said they will only honor those names in their database as those who’ve completed dicamba training.

NDA is asking ag retailers selling these RUP dicamba products to check the NDA database to ensure the person applying the product has received dicamba training.  NDA’s dicamba information including record keeping forms, etc. can be found at:  http://www.nda.nebraska.gov/pesticide/dicamba.html.

The other thing you need to know:  some have asked if a group of people can watch the online training at the same time at your farmstead.  The answer is actually no from the standpoint you all would have to watch the training on separate computers/devices.  The only way your name is recorded in the NDA database is through your registration name and pesticide applicator number on the training site.  It only allows one person to enter his/her information to view the training and complete the quizzes.  If you attend an NDA approved face-to-face training such as at Crop Production Clinics, you can train as a group but will still need to supply your individual names and pesticide applicator numbers at the training.

Hopefully this helps clarify some of the questions you have and during this cold weather, you have the opportunity to get this training completed if you need it for 2018.

Reminder:  York Ag Expo at the Holthus Convention Center in York January 10-11.  Schedule of Events and Exhibitors:  http://yorkchamber.org/yorkagexpo/
Educational Sessions:   https://jenreesources.com/2017/12/26/york-ag-expo-educational-sessions/