By Brian Hefty
A few minutes before I sat down to write this article, I was reading through a farm magazine. Page after page after page talked about grain markets, when to sell (and when not to), what will happen (supposedly) with farm exports and ethanol and planted crop acreage going forward. As a farmer, I definitely understand the importance of grain marketing. I also understand that you and I can’t control the grain markets. Because of that, my grandpa and my dad always told me to spend the vast majority of my time focused on raising a better crop.
Think about it for a minute. If you knew a little bit more about soil fertility or microbiology, if you knew a little more about how and when diseases attack your crops, if you knew a few more details about new products and technologies just being released, do you think it’s possible you could increase your yields by a bushel or two? I know you’re busy, and you’ve got lots of other things you can do in the wintertime than attend an Ag PhD workshop, but I can guarantee you that if you spend a day with us, you’ll go home with a few good agronomic tips.
Also, I can assure you that the only sales pitch you will get will be about trying to improve yields and wisely invest your dollars on the farm. The reason we do these workshops is to say thanks for watching Ag PhD TV. We feel truly blessed to have done the show for almost 13 years now, and we really appreciate your support. At our workshops, you get the chance to ask questions, visit with other top farmers from around your region, get a great meal, and go home with a free agronomy book. Darren and I both want to do everything we can to help you raise better and more profitable crops. That really helps rural America, which is where we live.
We’ll have a diverse set of topics at our Ag PhD Winter Workshops, and each meeting will be tailored differently for the area and crops produced there. Oh, one other thing I should mention…we occasionally hear the comment that, “My ground is different than the ground you guys farm, so I don’t know if you can help me.” No one will ever be more of an expert on your land than you, and we certainly don’t have all the answers. However, Goss’s Wilt is the same in Missouri as it is on our farm in South Dakota. Same thing with stripe rust, white mold, soybean aphids, potash fertilizer, and Roundup. Don’t think of us as experts who can tell you every last thing you need to do, because we’re not. The thing we try to do is give you some tips and things to think about so you get your own brain working to solve your problems and issues. Plus, the environment we try to create by bringing hundreds of the best farmers in all at the same time should also allow you to bounce your ideas off of other farmers and find out what they’re doing to combat similar challenges in their operations.
In many professions, people are required to attend a certain number of outside educational sessions during the year. Agriculture is probably changing a lot faster than most other professions, so why wouldn’t you want to invest a little of your time to learn more and get your questions answered? There has never been more at stake on farms than today. There has never been more opportunity, in my opinion, on the farm than today. 2012 could be your best year ever. I invite you to start it off by spending a few hours of your time with us. Go HERE to learn more and to register for an Ag PhD Workshop.
Click Here to Register for an Ag PhD Winter Workshop!
2012 WINTER WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
Click each location below for more information and directions.
*Chamberlain, SD – Friday, January 6 – 9:30 am – 2:00 pm
*Spencer, IA – Monday, January 9 – 9:30 am – 2:00 pm
Lewiston, ID – Wednesday, January 11 – 11:30 am – 4:00 pm (Darren)
Twin Falls, ID – Wednesday, January 11 – 11:30 am – 4:00 pm (Brian)
Richland, WA – Thursday, January 12 – 9:00 am – 1:30 pm (Darren)
Nampa, ID – Thursday, January 12 – 9:00 am – 1:30 pm (Brian)
*Fergus Falls, MN – Monday, January 16 – 10:30 am – 3:00 pm
Cape Girardeau, MO – Wednesday, January 18 – 9:30 am – 2:00 pm
*Aberdeen, SD – Friday, January 20 – 9:30 am – 2:00 pm
*Watertown, SD – Monday, January 23 – 9:30 am – 2:00 pm
Austin, MN – Thursday, January 26 – 9:30 am – 2:00 pm
*Morton, MN – Monday, January 30 – 9:30 am – 2:00 pm
*Baltic, SD – Wednesday, February 1 – 9:30 am – 2:00 pm
Des Moines, IA Agronomy & Tiling Clinic – Tuesday, February 14 – 9:30 am – 3:30 pm
Mesa, AZ – Friday, February 17 – 9:30 am – 2:00 pm
*Bismarck, ND – Tuesday, February 21 – Noon – 4:00 pm
*Minot, ND – Wednesday, February 22 – 9:30 am – 2:00 pm
*Devils Lake, ND – Thursday, February 23 – 9:30 am – 2:00 pm
*Fargo, ND – Friday, February 24 – 9:30 am – 2:00 pm
Sidney, MT – Wednesday, March 7 – Noon – 4:00 pm
Great Falls, MT – Thursday, March 8 – 9:00 am – 1:30 pm
Click Here to Register for an Ag PhD Winter Workshop!
*Immediately following these workshops, Swenson Investments & Commodities will be presenting a short question & answer session on Estate Planning & Commodity Trading. We invite you to attend that if you’re interested in learning more about those topics.
AG PHD TILING CLINICS
Break-out sessions with tile plow and tiling software companies, a presentation and Q & A time with one of the top drainage lawyers in the U.S., in-depth information about lift stations and very flat tiling projects, more details on tile design, your chance to visit with our Soil Improvement Specialist (and former NRCS district conservationist) about wetlands and how to work better with the NRCS, new equipment on display, and a host of manufacturer representatives from the tiling industry. These are just some of the reasons you need to join us for the best Tiling Clinics we’ve ever put together.
Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned pro, we’re confident you’ll not only enjoy the day, but come out of it with some helpful information for your next tiling project. Please register in advance HERE so we have enough food and tiling manuals for everyone, as well as enough room in each of our breakout sessions. Thanks!
All Clinic Times are 9:30 am to 3:30 pm – Click each location below for more information and directions.
Grand Forks, ND Tiling Clinic – Tuesday, January 17
Brookings, SD Tiling Clinic – Tuesday, January 24
Sioux City, IA Tiling Clinic – Thursday, February 2
Des Moines, IA Agronomy & Tiling Clinic – Tuesday, February 14
Click Here to Register for a Tiling Clinic!