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.

(30 Nov)
Southeast-Purdue Ag. Center VIRTUAL Field Day
You are invited to join us virtually from the comfort of your home as Purdue Extension specialists discuss the following topics as part of the 2020 Virtual SEPAC Field Day! Register to receive link to the Webcast.

(1 - 2 Dec)
Nebraska Panhandle Agricultural Research and Technology Tour
A virtual field day organized by Univ. Nebraska Extension.

(1 - 2 Dec)
Missouri Virtual Crop Management Conference
Organized by Missouri Extension. Pre-registration required.

(8 - 10 Dec)
Minnesota Crop Pest Management Connect
A virtual replacement for the traditional Crop Pest Management Short Course. Organized by Minnesota Extension.

(9 Dec)
Grain Post-Harvest & Recertification Workshop
Agronomy Center for Research & Education, near West Lafayette. Organized by Purdue's Crop Diagnostic Training & Research Center. PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

(15 - 16 Dec)
Indiana CCA Virtual Conference
Organized by Purdue Extension & the Indiana CCA Program. Due to lingering COVID-19 pandemic, this year's conference will be virtual. Program and registrations are pending.

(15 - 16 Dec)
Soil Management (Virtual) Summit
St. Cloud, MN. Organized by Univ Minnesota Extension.

(15 - 17 Dec)
The InfoAg Conference
Union Station, St. Louis, MO. This conference was postponed from it usual July date due to COVID-19 concerns. Pre-register online.

(16 Dec)
Michigan Virtual Integrated Crop & Pest Management Update
Organized by Michigan State Univ. Extension. Register online to receive logon information.

(16 - 17 Dec)
Manitoba Agronomists Conference
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, CANADA. Pre-register by Dec 11.

(6 Jan)
Strategic Farming 2021: Corn Hybrid Selection
Online crop production 30-minute Webinars hosted by the Univ. Minnesota Extension. Pre-register to receive login details.

(6 - 7 Jan)
Ontario Agricultural Conference
A virtual conference organized by a combined effort of The Southwest Agricultural Conference, Guelph and Eastern Ontario Crop Conferences. Registration opens Nov. 2.

(8 Jan)
Purdue Top Farmer Virtual Conference
Registration for the three-hour virtual conference is free. Space is limited to 300 participants. This conference will not be recorded. Organized by Purdue Extension.

(11 - 14 Jan)
Wisconsin Virtual Agribusiness Classic
A collaborative effort between the Wisconsin Agri-Business Association and the University of Wisconsin. The schedule for the 2021 virtual conference is HERE.

(12 - 15 Jan)
National No-Tillage Conference
Indianapolis, IN. Organized by No-Till Farmer Magazine.

(13 Jan)
Strategic Farming 2021: Soybean variety Selection
Online crop production 30-minute Webinars hosted by the Univ. Minnesota Extension. Pre-register to receive login details.

(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.

(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. Attendance limited due to COVID-19 restrictions. Program will be live streamed. HOLD THE DATE. Registration information coming soon.

(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.

(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 - 13 Feb)
National Farm Machinery Show
Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville, KY.

(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.

(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.

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

Timely News Articles

(24 Nov)
Ohio C.O.R.N. Newsletter
The Ohio State Univ.
Non-GMO Soybean Weed Management Fact Sheet 2020 Ohio Soybean Performance Trial: Results from All Locations Available Now is the Time to Adjust your Water Table Level Certified Livestock Manager Webinars in December

(24 Nov)
Minnesota Crop News
Univ. of Minnesota Extension
Performance comparisons of early and late maturity soybeans in SE Minnesota available Join us for Strategic Farming 2021: Let’s Talk Crops!

(24 Nov)
View the Latest Variety Testing Data on Corn, Wheat and Soybeans
KyGrains.info, Univ of Kentucky

(23 Nov)
Iowa Integrated Crop Management Newsletter
Iowa State Univ.
SCN-resistant Soybean Varieties for Iowa - By the Numbers

(20 Nov)
Nebraska Crop Watch Newsletter
Univ. of Nebraska.
Managing Diseases Starts NOW with Seed Selection Industrial Hemp Tolerance to Late-POST Herbicides Solar Power and Center Pivots - Part 2: Economic Modeling

(18 Nov)
The Changing Distribution of World Corn Production in the 21st Century
Carl Zulauf, Univ of Illinois farmdocDAILY

(18 Nov)
Purdue Crop Chat: Soil Fertility
Jim Camberato, Shaun Casteel, Bob Nielsen, and Eric Pfeiffer. Purdue Extension & Hoosier Ag Today.

(17 Nov)
Pennsylvania Agronomic Crop News
Pennsylvania State Univ. Extension
2020 Integrated Weed Management Workshop, Dec 8 & 15 Importance of Cover Crops to Reduce Runoff and Soil Erosion Free Fusarium Head Blight Management Sessions

(17 Nov)
Michigan Extension Field Crops News
Michigan State Univ.
Michigan pesticide applicator recertification credits available online before the end of the year Detection of dead spotted lanternflies in Michigan highlights the need for vigilance

(13 Nov)
Nebraska Crop Watch Newsletter
Univ. of Nebraska.
Nebraska Extension and Nebraska Soybean Board Launch Soybean Management Virtual Field Days Soybean Micronutrient Management in Southeast Nebraska: Chloride Dry Conditions Make Irrigation and Nitrogen Decisions Critical in TAPS Competition Solar Power and Center Pivots - Part 1: Challenges, Introduction and Definitions Herbicides for Corn, Dry Bean Rotation in Nebraska Industrial Hemp Tolerance to Early-POST Herbicides Mullen and Cameron Peak Wildfires and Their Potential Effect on Nebraska Ag

(13 Nov)
Kansas Agronomy E-update
Kansas State Univ.
Check terraces now for needed repairs and maintenance Safety first when planning deep tillage or earthwork: Call before you dig! Factors to consider in winter survival of wheat wheat Update on drought conditions in Kansas - November 13, 2020 Special Update - 2020 Crop Pest Management Schools Food-Energy-Water study in central High Plains asks for producers' input

(11 Nov)
Corn Tarspot in 2020
Nathan Kleczewski, Univ of Illinois farmdocDAILY

(11 Nov)
Minnesota Crop News
Univ. of Minnesota Extension
Highlights from Minnesota’s updated corn fertilizer guidelines

(10 Nov)
Ohio C.O.R.N. Newsletter
The Ohio State Univ.
November Brings Better Weather Harvesting and Handling Moldy Corn Engenia, XtendiMax Labels Reapproved Track Cover Crop Species through the Winter

(10 Nov)
USDA’s Long-Run Forecasts of Corn, Soybean, and Wheat Prices
Gary Schnitkey, Carl Zulauf, Nick Paulson, and Krista Swanson, Univ of Illinois farmdocDAILY

(9 Nov)
South Dakota Pest & Crop Newsletter
South Dakota State Univ.
USDA: CFAP 1 Program Payment Benefits to Producers Herbicide Residual Effects on Cover Crops after Wheat Herbicide Residual Effects on Cover Crops after Corn Silage Want a Premium Price? Weed Control In NON-GMO Soybeans AgBusiness

(6 Nov)
Purdue Pest & Crop Newsletter
Purdue Univ.
The 2020 National Fusarium Head Blight Forum – December 7-11, 2020 Matching Forage Resource Owners With Livestock Owners – Midwest Grazing Exchange Pest&Crop 2020 Survey

(6 Nov)
Kansas Agronomy E-update
Kansas State Univ.
Herbicide-resistant grain sorghum hybrids - Are they here yet? UPDATED - EPA approves labels for over-the top dicamba application Ag-Climate Update for October 2020 2020 Crop Pest Management Schools in Russell, Phillipsburg, and Oakley

(2 Nov)
Prevalence of Corn and Soybeans across the Midwest
Gary Schnitkey, Krista Swanson, Nick Paulson, Carl Zulauf and Jonathan Coppess, 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

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)