CANTON -- A new Northern New York Crops Management School starting in February will provide farm owners and employees in St. Lawrence County with critical information on the production of corn, soybeans, and forage crops.

Registrations are due by Jan. 20 at Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County, where the classes will be held Feb. 2 to March 8. There will be six sessions from noon to 3 p.m. Call 379-9192.

Registration options include all six weeks for $100 or $30 per week for the two weeks of pest management training (Weeks 5 and 6) that count toward New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Pesticide Credits and Certified Crop Advisor credits (3 credits per week).

Farmers in northern New York grow crops to feed dairy herds and other livestock and to sell as a cash crop.

Sessions will focus on soils and nutrient management, and how to cope with weeds, insects and crop diseases. Participants will learn such skills as how to interpret soil samples, best practices for establishing forage stands, row crop harvest management, tips for scouting crop pests, identifying weeds, and proper equipment calibration.

“As the demands on our land continue to increase with escalating grain and feed prices, large and small farm operators are seeing a need to keep themselves and key farm employees up to date on basic agronomy information and the most recent best practices for crop management,” says Cornell Cooperative Extension Field Crops Educator Joe Lawrence. “Our presenters will address everything from soil compaction to sprayer operation, IPM, and manure management – all with the goal of helping participants improve their cropping operations and their personal crop management skills.”

Each participant who completes the course will receive a 2012 Cornell Guide for Integrated Crops Management.

Students and those interested in agricultural employment are welcome to register for the course.

The Northern NY Dairy Institute is also offering a Transition Cow Management training starting in mid-January. Contact the local Extension office for more details.