The Chat 'n Chew Cafe (Purdue University)

The Chat ’n Chew Cafe was developed in honor of all the small town coffeeshops where farmers and business folk have congregated for years to shoot the breeze and share gossip about corn, soybean, wheat, cows, hogs, bankers, basketball, lawyers, and the like.
In its current iteration, the Cafe offers direct access to timely agronomic newsletters from land-grant universities around the Midwest, an up-to-date calendar of major educational events around the Midwest, direct access to Purdue Extension field crop specialists and field crop Web sites. You can also access the archive of my Corny News Network articles.
... R.L. (Bob) Nielsen, Purdue Agronomy

Educational Events

Private Pesticide Applicator Recertification Programs

Commercial Pesticide Applicator CCH Programs (OISC)

Click month to display events. Click again to close.

(19 Jan)
Michigan Soybean On-Farm Research winter meetings
Updates on 2020 on-farm research projects conducted around Michigan. Morning and evening programs organized by Michigan State Univ. Extension.

(20 Jan)
Strategic Farming 2021: Herbicide technology traits: What to use when, where and how
Online crop production 30-minute Webinars hosted by the Univ. Minnesota Extension. Pre-register to receive login details.

(21 - 22 Jan)
Pennsylvania Agronomic Education Virtual Conference
Organized by Penn. State Univ. Extension.

(26 Jan)
Michigan Virtual Pest & Crop Management Regional Update
SE Michigan focus. Organized by Michigan State Univ Extension. Pre-register online.

(27 Jan)
Strategic Farming 2021: Broadcasting vs. banding P & K
Online crop production 30-minute Webinars hosted by the Univ. Minnesota Extension. Pre-register to receive login details.

(28 Jan)
Purdue IPM Virtual Crop Management Workshops
Beck Ag. Center, near West Lafayette, IN. Organized by Purdue IPM and Purdue Extension. Limited on-site attendance preference given to those with limited Internet access. The event will also be live streamed.

(29 Jan)
Michigan Virtual Pest & Crop Management Regional Update
SW Michigan focus. Organized by Michigan State Univ Extension. Pre-register online.

(All of Feb)
CropFlix: Illinois Virtual Crop Management Conference
CropFlix participants can choose from a series of prerecorded programs and watch on demand for the entire month of February. Register online ($50).

(2 Feb)
Michigan Virtual Pest & Crop Management Regional Update
Michigan "Thumb" B focus. Organized by Michigan State Univ Extension. Pre-register online.

(3 Feb)
Strategic Farming 2021: Third crops ready to work for you
Online crop production 30-minute Webinars hosted by the Univ. Minnesota Extension. Pre-register to receive login details.

(9 Feb)
Minnesota Virtual Nitrogen Conference
Organized by Univ. of Minnesota Extension and the Minnesota Agricultural Water Resource Center.

(10 Feb)
Strategic Farming 2021: The latest on cover crop research and tools
Online crop production 30-minute Webinars hosted by the Univ. Minnesota Extension. Pre-register to receive login details.

(10 - 11 Feb)
Wisconsin Virtual Cover Crops Conference
Organized by Univ. Wisconsin Extension.

(16 Feb)
Minnesota Virtual Nutrient Management Conference
Organized by Univ. of Minnesota Extension and the Minnesota Agricultural Water Resource Center.

(17 Feb)
Strategic Farming 2021: Adjusting soil pH to maximize crop production
Online crop production 30-minute Webinars hosted by the Univ. Minnesota Extension. Pre-register to receive login details.

(24 Feb)
Strategic Farming 2021: The nuts and bolts of on-farm research: Doin' it right
Online crop production 30-minute Webinars hosted by the Univ. Minnesota Extension. Pre-register to receive login details.

(3 Mar)
Strategic Farming 2021: Making every acre pay
Online crop production 30-minute Webinars hosted by the Univ. Minnesota Extension. Pre-register to receive login details.

(4 - 6 Mar 2021)
Commodity Classic - Digital Experience
Originally scheduled to be held in San Antonio, TX, the Classic transitions to a virtual format for 2021 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Presented by national corn, soy, wheat, and sorghum associations plus the Association of Equipment Mfgrs.

(4 - 6 Mar)
Indiana Small Farm Conference
This year's conference will be 100% online. Organized by Purdue Extension.

(9 - 11 Mar)
Fort Wayne Farm Show
Allen Co. War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, IN. Changed from its usual January timeframe in hopes of improved public health and safety relative to COVID-19.

(10 Mar)
Strategic Farming 2021: What insects are bugging your corn?
Online crop production 30-minute Webinars hosted by the Univ. Minnesota Extension. Pre-register to receive login details.

(17 Mar)
Strategic Farming 2021: SCN: So tough a threat, it warrants a coalition
Online crop production 30-minute Webinars hosted by the Univ. Minnesota Extension. Pre-register to receive login details.

(24 Mar)
Strategic Farming 2021: SCN: Stand establishment for corn and soybean
Online crop production 30-minute Webinars hosted by the Univ. Minnesota Extension. Pre-register to receive login details.

(31 Mar - 3 Apr)
National Farm Machinery Show
Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville, KY. Changed from the usual February dates in hopes of improved public health and safety relative to COVID-19.

Serving all of your "corny" needs since 1995, the Chat 'n Chew Cafe offers a comprehensive "menu" of timely agronomic information from Purdue and other land-grant universities around the U.S. The Cafe is owned and operated by R.L. (Bob) Nielsen, State Extension Corn Specialist at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Follow @PurdueCornGuy

UPDATED Tri-State (IN/MI/OH) Fertilizer Recommendations for Corn, Soybean, Wheat, and Alfalfa now available in hard copy or as a free PDF download.

Timely News Articles

(18 Jan)
Kansas Agronomy E-update
Kansas State Univ.
Kansas Mesonet has wind chill analysis at your fingertips World of Weeds - Eastern redcedar 2021 Chemical Weed Control Guide now available online 2021 Corn Management publication and Corn Schools

(14 Jan)
South Dakota Pest & Crop Newsletter
South Dakota State Univ.
SDSU Extension’s Soybean Week Dives Into Pest Management, Soil Health and 2021 Outlook SDSU Southeast Farm Virtual Annual Meeting New Training Options Available for Pesticide Applicators in 2021 South Dakota Pest Management Guides

(14 Jan)
the Bulletin: Pest mgmt & crop developmt information for Illinois
Univ. of Illinois
Make Sure You Know ALL The Changes For 2021 Dicamba Applications In Soybean

(13 Jan)
Minnesota Crop News
Univ. of Minnesota Extension
Over-application of potash containing chloride can hurt soybean yields Reducing Bt-trait acres in 2021 Minnesota corn production? Implications for European corn borer

(13 Jan)
Covered Cropland vs. Cover Crops: Broadening the Perspective
Carl Zulauf, Gary Schnitkey, Krista Swanson, Nick Paulson, and Joe Janzen, Univ of Illinois farmdocDAILY

(11 Jan)
Iowa Integrated Crop Management Newsletter
Iowa State Univ.
SCN-resistant Soybean Variety Trial Program results for 2020 Summary of 2020 Insecticide Evaluations for Soybean Pests

(6 Jan)

High Yield Corn: Philosophies & Strategies

RL (Bob) Nielsen, Purdue Univ.

Full YouTube video (1:04:03)
Shorter viewing options: Part 1 (24:10), Part 2 (27:30), Part 3 (26:28)

(6 Jan)
On-farm Research: Why and How?
RL (Bob) Nielsen, Purdue Univ.: YouTube video (56:13)

(5 Jan)
Ohio C.O.R.N. Newsletter
The Ohio State Univ.
Agricultural Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage for the 2021 Crop Year Let the 2020 eFields Report Help You Reach Your Farm’s New Year’s Resolutions Register Now for Upcoming Virtual Agronomy Team Programs Water Quality Wednesday Farm Office Live Winter Edition Organic Production Winter Webinar Series

(5 Jan)
Minnesota Crop News
Univ. of Minnesota Extension
How to take a good manure sample Reducing weed seed and foreign material in soybeans for export

(5 Jan)
Average Corn and Soybean Yields Across the Midwest
Gary Schnitkey, Carl Zulauf, Nick Paulson, and Krista Swanson, Univ of Illinois farmdocDAILY

Handy Resources

To Bt or not to Bt: Is That Your Question? (WI): Useful information for folks considering a switch back to non-Bt corn hybrids.

Applied Research in Field Crop Pathology Indiana - 2019

Converting between Mehlich-3, Bray P, and Ammonium Acetate Soil Test Values

Corn & Soybean Diagnostics - Mobile apps (Purdue): IOS or Android smartphones; iPad

Corn GDD Estimation Tool: Estimate GDD from planting to various corn growth stages for different regions of the Midwest.

Corn Nitrogen Management for Indiana

Corn Nitrogen Rate Calculator: Calculate economic optimum N rates for several Corn Belt states.

Corn Plant Population Guidelines for Indiana

Corn Yield Response to Sulfur in Indiana

Crop Cost & Return Guide (Purdue)

Crop Protection Network - Resources: A collaborative land-grant university effort.

Differentiating 2,4-D and Dicamba Injury on Soybeans (Purdue)

Farm Analysis Solutions Tools (IL)

Forecast and Assessment of Cropping Systems: A project developed by Iowa St. Univ. to forecast and evaluate soil-crop dynamics in real-time.

Herbicide Classification Chart

Herbicide Resistant Weeds Chart

Hybrid Bt Trait Reference Guide

iNaturalist: A crowd-sourced species identification system for plants and pests.

Integrated Pest Information Platform: Info on the development of soybean rust, southern rust, etc. in the U.S.

Int'l Survey of Herbicide Resistant Weeds

Midwest Cover Crop Council

Seed Treatment Reference Guide (WI)

Soybean Cyst Nematode Field Guide (IA)

Soybean Cyst Nematode Info (IA)

Soybean Research & Information Network

Take Action Against Resistant Pests

Tri-State Fertilizer Recommendations for Corn, Soybean, Wheat, and Alfalfa: Order hard copy; Download PDF copy (free)

Weed Control Guide for Ohio, Indiana, & Illinois - 2020: Purchase PDF version or printed hard copy

Weed Identification Field Guide (IA)

Yield Data Processing & Cleaning (NE)

Yield Monitor Operation & Calibration (NE)