*This workshop has been cancelled out of caution for the spread of COVID-19.  It will be rescheduled at a later date.

The University of Kentucky will host a workshop to give producers the latest information on planters and drones, so they can make informed management decisions as the 2020 growing season begins.

The Kentucky Agricultural Training School workshop is March 26 at the UK Research and Education Center in Princeton.

During the daylong event, specialists with the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment will discuss how improper planter setters can cause growth and development issues with the corn crop as the growing season progresses. Participants will learn how to identify and fix improper planter settings in the field. Producers will take this knowledge directly to the field in a hands-on exercise. They will have the opportunity to learn the field’s corn yield at the end of the season.

Drones have many practical applications in agriculture. During this portion of the workshop, specialists will discuss how to use drones to monitor a crop’s progress. In addition, they will discuss trade-offs that come with drone usage, including speed, altitude, photo overlap and resolution. UK specialists will share the results of drone flights they conducted in alfalfa and late-harvested corn.

Most of this event will occur outdoors, and the training will happen regardless of the weather. Participants should dress accordingly.

Program organizers have applied for continuing education credits for pesticide applicators and certified crop advisers.

Class size is limited to 30 people, and preregistration is required to attend the UK Grain and Forage Center of Excellence workshop. The cost to attend is $105 per person. Interested individuals can register at https://bit.ly/3cLQsTN.