The Purdue University Crop Diagnostic Training and Research Center has scheduled several training workshops this summer that are open to the public.

The workshops will provide hands-on training experience by allowing participants to identify and diagnose crop problems, said Corey Gerber, Crop Diagnostic Training and Research Center director.

Specialists from Purdue Extension and various institutions will be on-site to interact with participants throughout the workshops. The goal is to increase understanding of potential problems in the field, and workshops will focus on general issues that people deal with on an annual basis, as well as new topics that have generated increased interest, Gerber said.

Some of the hot topics for this year include Asian soybean rust and soybean aphid. General issues consist of forage production techniques and weed identification. Specialists also will discuss management practices for corn, soybean, insects and diseases.

Worshop registration forms are available from the research center Web site at http://www.agry.purdue.edu/DTC. Applicants are encouraged to send in their registration form early since workshop availability is on a first-come basis.

Gerber predicted the workshops will attract more than 1,000 people this year.

"Our program is one of the best in the nation," he said. "People come from all over for the education. We even have individuals coming from Canada."

All workshops will take place at the The Purdue Agronomy Center for Research and Education, located at 4540 U.S. 52 West, five miles west of West Lafayette.


Workshops and registration fees include:

July 12 - Intensive Pest Management Workshop ($100 per person).

July 13 - Intensive Crop Management Workshop ($100 per person).

Aug. 23 - Late Season Training Workshop ($100 per person).

Aug. 24 - Private Applicator Recertification Program ($20 per person).

Sept. 8 - Forage Management Day ($80 per person).

The Crop Diagnostic Training and Research Center provides producers with information to strengthen crop problem-solving skills and evaluation of new management strategies in a real-world environment.