Latest Technologies and Trends to Implement 4R
Breakout Session
August 11, 2020
 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM

 
Hoosier farmers count on your advice to implement the 4Rs.  Dr. Armstrong will equip the community and public with scientific research and work on nitrogen.  Ben Wicker, IANA, and others will help ag retail better understand how to maximize 4R principles on the farm.

1 CCA CEU - Nutrient Management
CCH Points Available:  1.25 CCHs:  1, 14, & RT

Sponsored By:


Facilitator:  Ben Wicker, IANA

Ben Wicker is the executive director of the Indiana Agriculture Nutrient Alliance (IANA), a partnership of agriculture groups, government agencies, conservation organizations and academia working to improve soil health and nutrient management practices on Indiana farms. Before assuming this role, Wicker held positions as an independent crop consultant and agronomist, and has spent time with Indiana Pork Producers as the director of producer outreach and The Nature Conservancy where he worked with agribusinesses to expand services that promote nutrient management and soil health. 

Ben also current serves as chairperson of the Nutrient Stewardship Council for Indiana’s 4R Certification program for agribusinesses. Wicker holds a bachelor’s degree in agronomy and crop science from Purdue University and is an active member of his family’s diversified grain, forage and cattle operation in east central Indiana.  


Speaker: Dr. Shalamar Armstrong, Purdue University

Dr. Shalamar Armstrong is an Associate Professor of Soil Conservation and Management in the Department of Agronomy at Purdue University. He holds a BS degree in Plant and Soil Science from Southern University, an MS in Soil Fertility from Alabama A&M University, and a PhD in Agronomy from Purdue University. His research program investigates the agronomic, environmental, and economic impacts of current and emerging in-field nutrient and soil loss reduction practices within conventional and alternative cropping systems of the Upper Mississippi River Basin. Dr. Armstrong’s research is executed on multiple scales ranging from the soil microbiome to the evaluation of conservation practices on field and watershed scales. Annually, Dr. Armstrong’s applied research program advances the knowledge of the agricultural and farming community on regenerative agriculture cropping systems that facilitate nutrient loss reduction, nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, and competitive crop productivity.


Speaker:  Dave Swain, DTN

Dave grew up on a grain and livestock farm in east central Indiana.  He attended Purdue University and graduated in December 1988 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Economics.  After graduation, Dave worked in the retail fertilizer industry, three years with a famers’ cooperative in southwest Ohio and three years with Terra International in southwest Michigan.  In 1995, sold for AgChem Equipment Company in southern Indiana.  From 1997 to 2003, worked in AgChem’s technology division, SOILTEQ, as a territory manager.  In 2003, after AGCO’s purchase of AgChem in 2001, AGCO created its technology division called Advanced Technology Solutions.  served in various capacities in that group from Manager of the Technology Field Staff, Technology Product Marketing Specialist and Manager of ATS Marketing for North America.  In July 2013, joined Southern States Cooperative as their Manager of Precision Ag Services.  In 2017, Dave joined Spensa Technologies, a startup out of Purdue University, that focused on in-season scouting and automated insect traps in sales.  In 2018, DTN purchased Spensa and Dave has been on the sales team working in the agri business market segment.


Speaker: Jamie Bultemeier, A&L Great Lakes Laboratories

Jamie earned a BS in Soils and Crop Management, and a MS in soil science, both from Purdue University. His began his agronomy career as an applicator and sales agronomist for a regional ag retailer in Central Ohio. He then became an agronomist for John Deere helping producers find profitable, as well as environmentally sound, cropping solutions focusing on technology adoption. In the fall of 2013 he became part of the team of agronomists with A&L Great Lakes Laboratories in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  In addition, he is a Certified Crop Advisor, a Certified Professional Agronomist, and 4R Nutrient Management. He actively farms with his wife, and two young sons in Northeastern, Indiana.

 


 Speaker:  Tim Laatsch, Koch Agronomic Services

Tim serves as the Director of Agronomy for North America with Koch Agronomic Services.  In this role, Tim leads a team of experienced technical agronomists to annually coordinate dozens of third-party research trials with Universities and contract research organizations.  The Agronomy Team has trained thousands of agronomists across the continent in the concepts of the nitrogen cycle, nitrogen loss mechanisms, inhibitor technologies, environmental impact, 4R nutrient management, and nitrogen agronomics. Prior to joining Koch, Tim served 3 years in the roles of Technical Agronomist and Agronomy Services Manager for GROWMARK in Bloomington, IL.  He also has 12 years of experience as a senior operations leader for The Maschhoffs LLC, the largest family-owned pork producer in North America.  Tim earned a B.S. in Plant and Soil Science at Southern Illinois University and M.S. in Crop and Soil Science at Michigan State University.  He is a Certified Professional Agronomist and Certified Crop Advisor, with specializations in 4R Nutrient Management and Sustainability.  Tim is a graduate of the 2010 class of the Illinois Ag Leadership Program.  He has farmed in Illinois for the past 22 years and actively practices various nutrient management conservation practices on his own farm, including cover cropping, strip till, split nitrogen applications, nitrogen stabilizers, variable rate application, and seed-placed and foliar nutrition.  Tim lives in rural Altamont IL with his wife Jane.