What has been a considerably mild winter thus far has many producers wondering if and how the warmer temperatures will affect diseases and insect pests in their fields in the upcoming growing season. The University of Kentucky’s Integrated Pest Management School can help producers get a jumpstart on their 2012 management strategies.

The school is March 7 at the UK Research and Education Center in Princeton.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. CST, and presentations by UK College of Agriculture specialists in weed science, soil science, plant pathology and entomology begin at 9 a.m. Topics include nitrogen management for corn, herbicide-resistant weeds, warmer temperatures and changing pest control challenges, a corn fungicide update, plant diseases in corn, soybeans and wheat, and managing insect pests of field crops in 2012.

The program is approved for the following pesticide applicator education hours: two general and one specific in categories 1A, 10, 12 and 14. Five continuing education units are available for Certified Crop Advisors including 2.5 in pest management, 0.5 in professional development and one each in nutrient management and crop management.

The school is free, and lunch is provided. The entire program and directions are available on the UK Integrated Pest Management website, http://www.ca.uky.edu/Ag/IPM. For more information about the meeting, contact Patty Lucas, UK Integrated Pest Management extension specialist, at plucas@uky.edu or 270-365-7541, ext. 218.