With the 2010 harvest coming to a close, many producers are beginning to think about the 2011 growing season. During a series of early bird meetings, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture specialists will offer their nonbiased advice to help growers wade through the decision-making process and get the most from their pre-pay dollars.

The meetings are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. CST Nov. 9 at the Henderson County Expo Center, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. CST Nov. 11 at the Sedalia Restaurant in Graves County and 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. CST Nov. 11 at the Christian County extension office.

UK specialists will speak on the following topics: refuge in a bag, western corn rootworm, stinkbugs, glyphosate-resistant weeds, narrow corn, kitchen sink soybeans, early soybean planting, disease risks associated with early soybean planting, corn nematodes, seed treatments, fertilizer strategies, 2011 crop profitability outlook, ACRE options and marketing strategies.

Lunch or dinner will be served at each meeting. The meals are sponsored by the Kentucky Corn Growers Association, Kentucky Soybean Board and the Kentucky Small Grain Growers Association.

The program has been accepted for the following continuing education units for pesticide applicators: 1 general and 1 specific in categories 1A, 10 and 12. Meeting organizers have applied for the following continuing education credits for Certified Crop Advisors: 0.5 in crop management, 1.5 in pest management and 0.5 in nutrition management.

For more information, visit the Early Bird Series page on the UK Grain Crops Extension website at http://www.uky.edu/Ag/GrainCrops/Briefs/EarlyBird2010.htm or contact the following UK agriculture and natural resources extension agents: Mike Smith in Henderson County at 270-826-8387, Kenny Perry in Graves County at 270-247-2334 and Jay Stone in Christian County at 270-886-6328.