Grain crop producers can get a jump on planning for next year’s growing season by attending one of the early bird meetings organized by specialists in the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.

Specialists will review challenges and issues of the 2015 growing season and offer suggestions for better management in 2016.

Meetings are scheduled for Nov. 23 at the Sedalia Restaurant in Graves County, Nov. 24 at the Feed Mill Restaurant in Union County and Dec. 7 at the Hardin County Extension office in Elizabethtown. All meetings begin at 8:00 a.m. local time.

Topics this year include maximizing wheat and soybean yields in double-crop systems, chemicals and biologicals for corn and soybean foliage, seed and soil, a possible “game changer” for controlling problem pigweeds and a crop outlook and risk management for 2016. The meeting concludes at noon with lunch provided by the Kentucky Corn Growers Association, Kentucky Soybean Board and the Kentucky Small Grain Growers Association.

Certified Crop Advisers can receive three continuing education units in the following categories: 0.5 in integrated pest management, 2.5 in crop management, and one in professional development. Pesticide applicators can receive one specific hour credit in category 1a.

For more information contact the following UK Cooperative Extension agents for agriculture and natural resources: Rankin Powell in Union County, 270-952-2092; Trent Murdock in Graves County, 270-247-2334 or Matt Adams in Hardin County, 270-765-4121.