The latest information on dairy production, crop management, weed control, genetically engineered varieties, and crop insurance will be presented at the 2016 North Country Crop Congress set for Wednesday, February 3 at the Ramada Inn, 6300 Arsenal Street, Watertown, NY; and the 2016 Corn Congress set for Thursday, February 4 at W.H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute, 586 Ridge Road, Chazy, NY. The events are organized by Cornell Cooperative Extension and Miner Institute.
 
Speakers include Cornell University and Miner Institute agricultural researchers, agribusiness crop development specialists, a weed specialist from Canada, and farm business management specialists with Cornell Cooperative Extension. The Watertown edition of the annual program also includes a presentation by WWNY TV 7 Chief Weathercaster John Kubis.
 
The February 3 North Country Crop Congress agenda includes presentations from 10:30am to 3pm on:
.  Field Crop Weed Control Management Strategies: Agronomy Professor Bob Hartzler via live videoconference from Iowa State University                
 
. Low Lignin Alfalfa and Other Alfalfa Research Updates: Cornell University Soil and Crop Sciences Professor and researcher Dr. Jerome H. Cherney
 
. Genetically Engineered Varieties: Fact and Myths: Cornell University Plant Breeding and Genetics Professor and corn breeding specialist Dr. Margaret E. Smith    
        
. Weather Forecasting: How It’s Done: WWNY TV 7 Chief Weathercaster John Kubis

. Crop Insurance Update: Cornell Cooperative Extension Farm Business Management Educator Peggy Murray.
 
The cost to attend is $20 per person in advance, $25 at the door and includes lunch. Registration is requested by January 29 by phone to 315.788.8450, email to CCE Jefferson County Field Crops Specialist Mike Hunter at meh27@cornell.edu, or online at https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/2016cropcongress_222. Registration opens at 9:15 am on February 3. This North Country Crop Congress is sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties.
 
The agenda for the February 4 Corn Congress at the Joseph C. Burke Education and Research Center at Miner Institute, 586 Ridge Road, Chazy, is:
 
. Evaluating Yield and Quality of Brown Midrib and Non-BMR Corn Hybrids: Miner Institute Research Agronomist Eric Young 
                        
. What are GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) Crops and How Do We Talk about Them: Cornell University Plant Breeding and Genetics Professor and corn breeding specialist Dr. Margaret E. Smith
 
. Crop Insurance: Newest Options: Cornell Cooperative Extension Farm Business Management Educator and CCE Essex County Executive Director Anita Deming
 
. Breeding for Corn Silage Yield and Economics: Glenn Seed, Ltd. President Dr. Francis Glenn
                       
. Making Milk with Corn Silage: Miner Institute President Dr. Rick Grant.
 
This event is free, hot lunch will be available for $5. Pre-registration is encouraged: contact Wanda Emerich at Miner Institute, 518.846.7121 x117, emerich@whminer.com. Miner Institute organized this Corn Congress in collaboration with Cornell Cooperative Extension. Miner Institute is one hour south of Montreal, 20 minutes north of Plattsburgh, NY, 3 hours north of Albany, and a 1.5-hour drive from Burlington, VT.
 
NYSDEC Pesticide Recertification and Certified Crop Advisor credits are available for the Watertown program on February 3 for those attending the entire program. NYSDEC Pesticide applicator credits are available at the February 4 program in Chazy. 
 
Accommodations for persons with special needs may be requested when registering. Cornell Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.