UI Extension offering primer for nonfarmers online
Area residents who know little or nothing about farming can get a crash course in agriculture through an online class being produced by the University of Illinois Extension.
The class, called "Agronomy 101 for Landowners," targets landowners who do not have a farming background, according to instructor Dennis Bowman, a UI Extension crops system educator.
Bowman said learning the basics of agronomy becomes more important as Midwest farmland is passed to new owners over time, many of whom have little or no farming experience.
"Understanding how to protect and manage this tremendous asset can be challenging," Bowman said. "The agriculture industry has a unique vocabulary, with phrases such as, 'Is your Cisne silt loam receiving enough potash to maintain yields above its productivity rating?'"
According to Bowman, participants in Agronomy 101 will learn about row crop production and increasing their management skills.
Since the class is online, participants can learn at their own pace and interact with Bowman by way of e-mail.
The class even includes an online discussion board.
After the students learn about soil types and productivity the first week, Bowman said the course will cover soil fertility and testing, the use of nitrogen in farming, crop rotations, corn and soybeans.
Bowman said the registration fee for Agronomy 101 is $45. Interested people can sign up between now and Dec. 11.
To register online, go to http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/champaigncenter.
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