Early registration for New Crops Technology Conference runs until Dec. 1

Early registration runs through Dec. 1 for the New Crops Technology Conference scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 4, at Sidney.

The conference, sponsored by Nebraska Extension, will focus on the challenges of bringing new crops to market for western Nebraska. It begins with registration at 8:30 a.m. at Western Nebraska Community College’s Sidney campus.

Conference speakers will share information about marketing and economics and research on production under limited irrigation of proso millet, sunflower, pea, fenugreek and biofuel. The conference will adjourn at 4:30 p.m.

The registration fee is $35 per person for registrations received by Dec. 1, and $45 after that date and at the door. The fee includes refreshments and lunch.

Brochures and registrations forms are available by calling the UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center at (308) 632-1230, or downloading from the Panhandle Center website at panhandle.unl.edu.

Topics and speakers include:

•Water Issues in Nebraska (Gary Hergert, UNL Soil Scientist)

•Sunflower Irrigation Response (Joel Schneekloth, CSU Water Resource Specialist)

•Canola Irrigation Response (Alexander Pavlista, UNL Crop Physiologist)

•Biofuel Crops and Water Use (Gary Hergert, UNL Soil Scientist)

•Fenugreek, Medicinal Crop (Dipak Santra, UNL Alternative Crops Specialist)

•Fenugreek Irrigation Response (Alexander Pavlista, UNL Crop Physiologist)

•Crops for Health (Vicki Schlegel, UNL Food Scientist)

•Proso Millet’s New Markets (Noel Rudie, Harvest Innovations Director)

•Pea Varieties and New Markets (Dipak Santra, UNL Alternative Crops Specialist)

•Bringing New Crops to Market (Jessica Johnson, Extension Educator – Economics)

•Industry Panel on Marketing New Crops

For more information, contact Dipak Santra, alternative crops breeding specialist at the UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center, (308) 632-1244 or email [email protected]; or Alexander Pavlista, crop physiologist, (308) 632-1240 or email [email protected].

Space for commercial booths will be available.