Bob Koch, Director of the Institute for Ag Professionals at the University of Minnesota about the 2025 Research Updates - Getting prepared for the upcoming cropping season
Good day, and welcome to the University of Minnesota podcast, Minnesota crop cast. I'm your host, Dave Nicolai. I'm a University of Minnesota Extension Educator in Field Crops, and I'm here with my cohost, doctor Seth Nave, University Minnesota Extension Soybean Specialist. And Seth, it's been a little bit of time since we've gotten together here, had some travel events that I know that you've been gone, had the holidays and so forth, but we're getting ready here for 2025. You wanna bring us up to date a little bit about that and talk about our guest that we have in the studio here today?
Speaker 2:Well, I guess I'd I'll just start by apologizing and just say that, it's I'm sorry that we haven't been around for a few weeks, but, yes, it's been a busy fall, into this winter season, so I'm it's nice to be back. And so Dave and I have a nice schedule lined up for some guests coming up over the next few weeks. So I hope you join us today, and then keep coming back through this new year as we continue on our Minnesota crop cast.
Speaker 1:Our guest today is doctor Bob Cook. Bob is University Minnesota Extension entomologist in soybeans. But recently, this last year or so, Bob has started to take on another position with Institute of Ag Professional Programming. Bob, you wanna bring us up to date a little bit about what's happened with yourself and talk a little bit more about getting into IEP and some of the events.
Speaker 3:Yeah. Well, thanks guys for having me on today. Yeah. So the in 2024, I accepted the role of director for the Institute For Ag Professionals, and this is an entity with an extension where we really focus on getting that research based knowledge and guidance out to the agricultural professionals who are, you know, the folks like consultants, agronomists, salespeople, agency staff around the state who are interacting with and educating the farmers. So kind of the main goal is making sure those folks who are helping the farmers have the the latest information they need to help the farmers make the best decisions they can.
Speaker 1:What are some of the signature events that IEP, is gonna be involved with here in in 20 25?
Speaker 3:Yeah. So throughout the year, we've got 3 big events, kinda key events. The first one is the research updates, which is kind of a road show that happens in January. And I think we can talk about some more of the details with that in a little bit. But then the next big event is in summer in July.
Speaker 3:And for 2025, that'll be July 29th 30th, and that's the field school. So the field school is a, a an event that we have on campus where we really focus on having hands on interactive, learning opportunities for Ag professionals, and, we utilize some really nice field plots that we set up each year along with some laboratory exercises to, you know, provide that hands on training related to the various different agronomic aspects of of crop production. So again, if you wanna mark your calendars, that's July 29th 30th on the Saint Paul campus for 2025. And then in December, we'll have the crop pest management short course, and that event is in Minneapolis, and it's held in conjunction with the Minnesota crop production retailers. And that's a pretty large event.
Speaker 3:This last year, we had around 800 attendees, and we're hoping to increase that attendance for next year. Kinda lecture style education along with a large trade show.
Speaker 1:Well, first things first, let's talk a little bit more about the research updates. That's been a long time signature event here in the University of Minnesota, and it started with folks from the Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology, Soil Science, and Agronomy. That's coming up quite soon here. January 7th, I believe, is the first one, and it goes over for 2 weeks up until Thursday, January 16th. Can you run through the schedule a little bit and talk a little bit about, the audience that we're going to intend to visit with?
Speaker 1:And then also a little bit more about the speakers and and some of the content, and other details that we have.
Speaker 3:Yeah. Thanks, Dave. So so for the research updates, like you said, it's it's it's a 2 week event, kind of a roadshow where we're bringing, university researchers out to various parts of the state to provide updates on, the different work that they're involved with. We're gonna have, January 7th at Waseca, January 9th at Orinoco, and then in the following week, we've got, January 14th, 15th, and 16th at Wilmer, Lamberton, and then Crookston. The typical research updates program has been a half day afternoon of, 4 or 5 different presenters covering those different agronomic aspects that you that you mentioned, Dave.
Speaker 3:Kind of the the agronomy, insect pest management, disease management, weed management, and then soils and nutrient management. The exciting thing this year is that we developed a collaboration with the University research and outreach centers, and we're gonna be doing some combined programming with them at Waseca and at Lamberton. So the folks there have historically done their own winter crops days, and sometimes those were, occurring at a very similar time and with some of the same presenters. So we, started talking about it and realized it might make more sense to try co hosting these events. So at Waseca, again, on January 7th and Lamberton on, January 15th, We're gonna have full day events where the morning will be the, the research and outreach center, updates that are kind of more focused on local research near those research and outreach centers.
Speaker 3:And then there'll be a lunch provided, and in the afternoon, we'll have the the more typical research updates programming with, mainly comprised of the campus based faculty. And then up in Crookston, on January 16th, we've had a a long standing relationship with the research and outreach center there, where much of the program at that location for the research updates has consisted of, faculty and researchers, up there providing those updates.
Speaker 1:Well, this certainly has been successful in the past in terms of the information. Talk to us a little bit more about the typical presentation. Are they half hour or 45 minutes? Is it production orientated or academically or what will things be people will be talking a little bit more about specifically and at what kinds of levels?
Speaker 3:Yeah. So, Dave, we're looking at, a series of 45 to 50 minute presentations. And again, they're gonna cover those various agronomic kind of subdisciplines. For agronomy, we're gonna have doctor Seth Nave, Jeff Coulter, and then, Joachim Wiersma covering soybeans, corn, and agronomy at different locations. Soybeans will be covered at Orinoco and, Waseca.
Speaker 3:Yep. Sorry, guys. I'm not sure if I'm gonna catch all these details. No problem. If folks really wanna look at all the details of the agenda, I'd suggest they look at, our website, and the URL for that is z.umn.edu backslash research slash updates.
Speaker 3:Otherwise, you should be able to get to it by googling University of Minnesota Extension research updates. So I I mentioned, you know, what who's gonna be talking about some of the agronomy topics. Entomology will be covered by myself, talking about some updates on soybean insects. Doctor Faye Yang will be talking about some, current issues with corn rootworm, European corn borer. And then up in Crookston, Ian McCrae will be talking about some different, aspects of insect management in in Northwest Minnesota.
Speaker 3:Devlin Sarangi will be covering, herbicide resistant weed management at a lot of the locations up in Crookston. Tom Peters will be talking about weed management, specifically focused on common ragweed and sugar beets. Dean Malvick will be at, I think, all the locations talking about, disease management. And who am I missing here, guys?
Speaker 1:I think Dean will be specific on on tar spot, of corn in terms of spread and risk. I know in some areas that it's it's new, probably talking about some other, disease situations in other parts of the state. So Right. I think it'll be customized a little bit to that geographical area.
Speaker 2:Yep. We've got Fabian Fernandez, if you didn't mention him before on on on some of the nitrogen related work he's been doing.
Speaker 3:Yep. And then and then up at Crookston, it's kind of its own separate program up there. Again, we've got Joachim Wiersma with the small grains update. I mentioned Ian McRae with the entomology update. Lindsay Pease will be talking about subsurface drainage and sugar beets, dry beans and small grains.
Speaker 3:Dean Malvick will be talking about tar spot up there, and I mentioned Tom Peters, talking about common ragweed control. Some of those updates from the research and outreach centers that'll be in the mornings at Waseca and Lamberton. We've got Jeff Vetch at Waseca talking about nitrogen management. Kind of excited to have Tom Hoferstead on the program at Waseca, who will be talking about weed management, plus a, kind of a overview of some highlights from his career as he'll be retiring very soon after this event. And then we've got tent Kent Theissi talking about some economic aspects, cash flow and planning in a challenging year.
Speaker 3:Over in Lamberton, we're gonna have Jeff Strach talking about, soil moisture and yield under different cropping systems. We've got Paulo Pagliari talking about, biologicals, which has been a hot topic for some folks. And then, Garen Paulson will be talking about, some other, ag economic related topics. Specifically, I think he's focusing on, you know, can we grow corn for $4 and soybeans for $10 is the is the title of his topic.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So for a review, I mean, we, you know, we glossed over this a little bit briefly, earlier. This is really a marriage of 2 kind of historical events. The the ag updates, ag research updates, or the research updates, excuse me, that really had a heavy focus on ag professionals. So crop consultants and professional agronomists, those type of folks were really the the the audience.
Speaker 2:And then the, the the winter crop stays from each of these ROCs, the Research Outreach Centers. And those that research was focused for farmers, but it was really on focused around the research that occurred on those stations. So the nice part about this particular marriage or merger is that, you know, we still have a focus on kind of newer research led by researchers at the University of Minnesota at a little bit higher level than maybe we would just have at a County Corn Soybean Day or something like this. So this is the idea. It's focused around, these these higher level, agronomic and and pest management related talks, for for, again, professionals in in the field.
Speaker 2:But I think most farmers, would fit pretty well into this category as well. So I think farmers that are really interested in hearing about the newest, latest, and maybe a little bit more of the academic side of the research, would would probably really appreciate these events. Is that all fair? Am I encompassing this correctly?
Speaker 3:I think you captured it pretty well there, Seth. Thanks.
Speaker 1:So a little bit about the registration and and the cost here. I believe you wanna talk a little bit about about that. Again, you mentioned the URL, but it it doesn't hurt to mention it again, Bob.
Speaker 3:Yeah. So, again, the URL to get the detailed program or agenda for each location and then also to be able to link to the registration site. That URL is zdot umn.edu backslashresearchdashupdates. And, again, I think you should be able to get to that just by googling University of Minnesota Extension research updates. When you get there, there will be a link to, a registration page.
Speaker 3:You'll be able to choose which of the locations you want to attend. The registration cost is $60 for each of the locations. Kind of unique thing this year is in our collaboration with the Waseca Research and Outreach Center, Jeff Fetch there, previously secured some support from Minnesota Soybean Growers and Minnesota Corn Growers. And through that support, we're able to offer, free registration for farmers who want to attend that location. So I encourage folks to look into that.
Speaker 3:You can contact, myself or Jeff Vetch to get the, the registration code for that, free registration there.
Speaker 1:I think we should mention that the Waseca and the Lamberton are 9 to 4 programs. The others, the other locations are afternoon programs, starting at 12:30 to, to 5. One of the things that we're offering and we have, done it in the past, especially for attractive to ag professionals is certified CEUs from the certified crop advisors program from the American Society of Agronomy. So, we'll be offering that. And and that obviously will be different, Bob, at at location depending upon the speakers and the and the content,
Speaker 3:Mhmm.
Speaker 1:But maybe customized, to that geographical location. So, that'll be offered, offered as well, with that. And then, we hope to be able to make, some of the information via PDFs and so forth copy for after the fact in terms of of of the content of, things that are going on at the program or things that are talked about. But I I really think one thing that always has struck me about these locations is that this gives you an opportunity as as a participant in the audience to actually ask questions, so to speak, of the expert or of the personnel in situation. It's a small enough atmosphere in a group so that you can ask those questions either, you know, during, before, or after in situations with that.
Speaker 1:So, it's not every day, you know, when we do that in situations with that. Obviously, this is one of these in person activities. We have fewer of these, it seems, so to speak, in the days of of distance education, but still we we we rely upon that as as having a good educational value. So it's having that contact or that opportunity that really, really is well. So just to give one example of the content, we have one of the speakers here, Seth Nave.
Speaker 1:And, Seth, you wanna just briefly mention you're gonna be talking about early planting and getting more out of every soybean acre. So can you summarize a little bit? Give us a little, preview of what that presentation might involve.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So this is, you know, kind of within the theme of this. We're trying to talk about topics that relate to farmers in the contemporary setting, but also utilizing our existing research that we have. And so, you know, this is really about the focus on this is is about optimizing soybean production, minimizing inputs so that we can maximize our economic returns. And part of that is in Minnesota, we just have a short season.
Speaker 2:So how do we best utilize those few days that we have? We have a real challenge in Minnesota in that we have, we have long days when it's still quite cool out. And that's one of our biggest challenges for getting that crop up and going. There's been a lot of talk around very, very early soybean planting and the value of that. So we're gonna talk quite a bit about the value of early planting, but then how to best utilize those early planted acres to maximize yields and returns and and better you better max manage those acres, as well as some other work that we've done here in my lab looking at really intensifying the system through additional crops, whether that's a cover crop, and we consider that an additional crop in the in the system, Or whether we are even looking at double cropping situations where we can plant a wheat or a bar winter wheat or barley in in southern Minnesota, especially, and follow that with soybeans.
Speaker 2:So how do we get the most out of every acre, every year and and be able to return the most to farmers? That's that's the focus of my talk. And I think a lot of a lot of the speakers are gonna couch a lot of their presentations around this theme of of high input costs and low, low commodity prices and and how how farmers can best manage their acres to either minimize losses this coming year or, try to try to break even or maybe make a little profit out there.
Speaker 1:And And at the same token, Bob, you're gonna be on the presentation agenda as well. You want to talk a little bit about some of the things that you're going to be mentioning in terms of management and an update on the biology of some important soybean insects. Give us a little preview of that.
Speaker 3:Yeah. That's right, Dave. So I'll be talking, in during that 1st week at Waseca in Orinoco. And for the soybean pests, be talking about soybean aphid and some of the insecticide resistance challenges there. Over the years, I've been providing some updates on the issues related to pyrethroid resistance where some of those pyrethroid insecticides, are not working well anymore.
Speaker 3:I'm gonna share with folks some updates, related to some of the formulated mixtures of insecticides. So these are products that you buy that have a pyrethroid mixed with another kind of insecticide. And, you know, now not only are we seeing issues with the pyrethroids alone, but now some of these mixtures are no longer working as well. So we'll have updates on that. And then in soybean, we've got 2 additional pests, newer pests that we're dealing with.
Speaker 3:1 is the soybean gall midge, and then the other one is the soybean tentiform leafminer. And these are very new pests, so I'll be sharing some updates that we have on the biology of these insects and, you know, where we're where we're going with our research trying to develop some management recommendations.
Speaker 1:Although he's not here, do you want to talk a little bit about, what Faye will be addressing particularly for Western Minnesota at the Wilmer and the Lamberton locations? And we've talked about management of corn rootworm, I mean, for for years, but it's it's still is a challenging insect, with that. Can can you give us any insight to what Faye might be covering there?
Speaker 3:Yeah. Doctor Faye Yang, he's our new corn extension entomologist. And like you said, he'll be providing some updates related to corn rootworm management. So western corn rootworms, northern corn rootworms, and challenges posed there with, with those insects overcoming the bt traits. Another important line of research that he has going on is related to the European corn borer, and I think that's an insect that a lot of folks have kind of forgotten about.
Speaker 3:And we've got, you know, probably a generation of agronomists who have very little experience with that insect because the widespread use of bt corn, you know, essentially pushed that insect to being a very minor or almost a non pest for a number of years. But it is starting to pop up in some locations now. And, some of Faye's research is showing that European corn borer is actually developing resistance to some of the BT traits as well now.
Speaker 2:So I'm gonna preempt one of the questions that might come to you, Bob, and maybe we can answer it here so you don't have to take one more call. But the question is about, are you going to offer this course online so that I could take this, take this, at, from the leisure of my my couch in my basement?
Speaker 3:Yeah. That that's a real good, question, Seth. And last year, we we experimented with reducing the number of in person sites and adding on some online offerings. I think that went pretty well, but we did get a lot of feedback where where folks, both our stakeholders, the ag professionals, and folks within extension, wanted to increase the number of in person sites. So that's how we came back up to 5 in person locations.
Speaker 3:This year, we are not offering recordings of these online or, you know, separate online components of this. As Dave mentioned, you know, we'll we'll try to make copies of the presentations available to attendees, you know, so they can review those after the fact. But I, you know, I think it's something that that we need to look at a little more closely, Seth, and, you know, maybe do some needs assessment work to see, you know, what the demand is for, you know, in person versus online programming and how to best work that within extension. So we're not competing with ourselves. We have another important program going on, the strategic farming program.
Speaker 3:And, you know, Dave, you can maybe speak to a little bit more of the details on that. But I just want to point out that that a lot of the folks who are presenting in this online strategic farming programming are on the program for the research updates. So if you're not able to make it in person to the research updates, I suggest you take a look at the, lineup coming up and that's starting soon in January as well. And that's a weekly, online webinar. And Dave, maybe you can just give a quick overview of that here.
Speaker 1:Well, that's an opportunity and we run it through January, all the way up through, you know, end of March, early April, depending upon the situation. But, in terms of that, it's a weekly opportunity. It's a webinar. So, you can watch it from home, or at your business place. If that's the case, it's on Wednesdays, in the morning.
Speaker 1:And if you wanna find out more, there is a whole host of, of, events in terms of speakers and, and and topics lined up already. Go to strategic farming at at the University of Minnesota Extension on the website and find out a little bit more about it. It is, sponsored co sponsored by, the Minnesota Corn Growers and the Minnesota, Soybean Growers as well. So it's an opportunity, for people there. It's typically, depending upon the program length, you know, from a half hour, 45 minutes to an hour depending upon the situation with it.
Speaker 1:But, again, strategic farming, we'll we'll be talking about it at a number of events and so forth. I know, we'll be publicizing it at Ag Expo, Seth, which will be in Mankato, which will be the joint meetings of the Minnesota Soybean Growers and the Minnesota Corn Growers. So again, it's an opportunity. So some of the same things will be talked about but in a different version, typically, you know, it's going to be more abbreviated on strategic farming because the webinar were a little bit longer in terms of the time that we have available at the research updates, and so forth and a lot of presentation heavy. So they're they're complementing one another.
Speaker 1:I think the biggest change we made this year, obviously, as you mentioned already, is is the Waseca and the Lamberton programs longer because they're incorporating more subjects and more topics, with that. So we'll see how that goes and then take a look at some of these other things, you know, in in the future. I I just wanted to Steve.
Speaker 3:Yeah. Go ahead. Just to follow-up on that quick. So I guess just to kinda reiterate, you know, if you really like that in person education, that opportunity to, you know, ask questions in person, interact with these presenters, you know, I'd encourage you to look at the program for the research update series that's, you know, running between January 7th January 16th. But if you really prefer, or if it works best for you to to, partake in online education, you know, that's where I think that strategic farming is a real good fit now.
Speaker 3:One offering per week. And, you know, from our perspective with an extension, you know, we're gonna do some work to try to figure out if there's any kind of open niche where research updates or more broadly, you know, the Institute for Ag Professionals, if we can provide if it makes sense for us to provide any other online programming.
Speaker 2:You know, and I guess I just wanna pile on here on this. I think that just to reiterate again and again, I think the idea behind the research update was to really have a premier program that's an in person, in-depth opportunity for folks to get the full breadth of the whole discussion around crop production in one one sitting and a regional basis, have a chance to interact with the speakers directly, face to face, and also interact with their neighbors and and others that they know from the industry. And that, you know, that that part of the the give and take with us this year was was going out to, we wanted to spread this out. And, you know, we we talked about 5, 6, 7 locations. And there's just there's a there's a limited amount of resources that we can get into every single county.
Speaker 2:And so I think there's a really nice balance. We've we were we get all the way from Southeast Minnesota through Southwest into Northwest. So there's a nice circuit here. And so there's there's a location within, you know, 80 miles of everybody out there in in most cases. So I think, it gives us a really nice balance.
Speaker 2:But there is other opportunities to to to, to join online. So I think I would my personal preference would be rather say that these are an option, either or option, that that the the strategic farming probably supplements this kind of a presentation, in some ways, better. We don't we don't have the full breadth of the presentations that are given here. They're not quite as regionalized. They're more broad broad based.
Speaker 2:I think they complement each other very well, but I I definitely hope that folks can can attend, this upcoming research update and then and then supplement those when they're available with some of those, strategic farming presentations.
Speaker 1:Bob, we're gonna let you have the last word here, so to speak. This is a premier program again on soil science, fertility, entomology, agronomy, weed control, etcetera. So, any things to, sum up that you wanna leave the folks with?
Speaker 3:No. I think just, you know, mark your calendars for these events. Come out and see some of this stuff in person. You know, as one of the presenters, I really enjoy interacting with folks, learning what their challenges are in the field. A lot of times, you know, what what I hear, you know, as challenges for you all are what I then take, and try to get funding for to get some research going to hopefully develop some answers that I can bring back to you in later meetings, you know, for how to deal with those challenges.
Speaker 3:So so please join us for the research updates in January. Mark your calendars for the field school again. That'll be on campus July 29th 30th. And then looking way out into next December, we've got the, crop pest management short course that'll be on December 2nd to 4th and that's gonna be in Minneapolis.
Speaker 1:Well, thank you Bob for stopping at the in the studio here, today and talking a little bit about that. We appreciate that. It's doctor Bob Cook. He's director of the Institute of Ag Professional Programming. I should mention, you have a new associate, Matt Farr, who's just joined us this last fall, will be helping a lot with the details.
Speaker 1:He's a regional extension educator in field crops. And then also wanna say thanks to, Seth Nave for stopping by. And after, it seems like a long time, maybe just a couple of weeks, we have an opportunity to do this again and we'll keep you more on our schedule here coming up to this, this winter. So this has been Dave Nicolai with University of Minnesota, field crops in terms of extension, and this has been another edition of Minnesota CropCast.
