39th Ag Expo coming Jan. 30 [Messenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, Ky.]

Jan. 23--Ford Baldwin, a private agricultural consultant who spent 28 years as a University of Arkansas extension weed scientist, will deliver the keynote address at the 39th annual Ag Expo on Jan. 30 at The Hines Center in Philpot.

Baldwin, now with Practical Weed Consultants LLC of Austin, Ark., will speak on "Herbicide Resistance 2.0."

Clint Hardy, Daviess County extension agent for agriculture and natural resources, said, "Herbicide resistance is becoming a problem. We have some herbicide-resistant weeds that we're dealing with now."

But Baldwin will be looking into the future as more weeds become resistant, Hardy said.

"He'll put a little bit of fear into people," he said. "We're going to have to be very pro-active over the next few years."

Between 300 and 350 people are expected for the day-long event, which opens at 7:30 a.m. with exhibits from a variety of vendors on display.

At 9 a.m., Cory Walters, assistant extension professor of agricultural economics, and Joe Lenahan, a Wells Fargo broker, will discuss the grain market outlook for 2013.

Aleta Botts, the University of Kentucky's agricultural policy outreach director, will discuss the still-pending federal farm bill and offer an agricultural legislation update at 10:10 a.m.

"She's outstanding," Hardy said. "She spent 20-plus years in Washington."

Edwin Ritchey, an extension soil specialist, will discuss soil fertility and management in the months after the 2012 drought at 11:15 a.m.

And Baldwin will speak at 12:30 p.m.

Hardy said organizers are encouraging those attending the Expo to bring cans of food "to help feed the community." Food items will be donated to the Help Office, he said.

The Expo began in 1975 when then-Daviess County Extension Agent Tom Curtsinger decided to stage a winter seminar for farmers who wanted to boost their grain production.

The event overflowed the Dugan Best Community Center, where it was held that year.

So, what was then called Grain Day moved to the National Guard Armory and then the Sportscenter before making the Executive Inn Rivermont its home for years.

When the Executive Inn closed in June 2008, the Grain Day Committee found a new home at The Hines Center in Philpot.

But this could be its last year there.

"We're extremely interested in returning downtown when the new convention center opens," Hardy said. "But a lot depends on when it opens. We're not sure if it will be ready for next January."

Members of this year's Ag Expo committee are Philip Anderson, Phil Beyke, Tom Curtsinger, Bryan Ebelhar, Anita Fuqua, Scott Kuegel, Wayne Mattingly, Mike Mullican, Jeff Nalley, C.A. (Ottie) Pantle Jr., Terry Rhodes, Jeff Rice, Paul Winkler, Annette Meyer Heisdorffer and Hardy.

Keith Lawrence, 691-7301, klawrence@messenger-inquirer.com

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