WILMINGTON, Ohio — There is no degree to obtain, nor is there a final exam. But anyone attending the Southwest Ohio Corn College in Wilmington next week will learn how to get the most out of their corn production.

“The course is designed for both the large and small corn producer, and the one-day course is for anyone involved in corn production,” said Ohio State University extension educator Tony Nye.

Nye and his staff in Clinton County will host this event on Jan. 16. The event, which will run from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., will include six experts in corn production to address everything from profitability and loss to nitrogen control.

Barry Ward, assistant extension professor at OSU, will discuss output costs for the upcoming production year.

“Cash profitability prospects for 2013 are positive for the three major row crops in Ohio,” he said. “OSU extension budgets show projected variable cash costs for corn, soybean and wheat production to be 4, 6 and 2.5 percent higher, respectively, in 2013 versus 2012.

“Higher commodity prices and higher costs point to another risky production year, as the cash investments in an acre of corn will top $400, and in some production scenarios be closer to $450 per acre. Input costs have increased from last year but high crop future prices for 2013 crops will allow producers to plan for positive margins next year. The cash investment in the acre of soybeans or wheat will be in the $200 to $260 range.”

Ward said those projections exclude land, machinery and labor costs. He said predictions for 2013 for these three crops are broken down into five inputs whose prices will most directly influence the outcome of crop profitability: fuel, fertilizer, nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Ward will address such output costs at the Corn College.

Dr. James Camberato, associate professor of agronomy from Purdue University, will discuss nitrogen reactions in the soil and how they relate to nitrogen. Camberato will examine nitrogen additives and their attempt at reducing losses.

He will look at nitrogen sources and examine the optimum nitrogen rate, measuring what effects soil type, plant population and hybrid have on nitrogen applications.

Dr. Peter Thomison, professor of horticulture and crop science at OSU, will address the farmer’s attempt at closing the yield gap and what it will take to achieve 300-bushel corn yields in 2013.

Dr. Pierce Paul, associate professor of plant pathology at OSU, will detail the cost benefits of fungicidal use in corn production.

Alan Sundermeier, OSU extension educator from Wood County, will explain how cover crops can enhance profitability.

CCA credits have been approved for this gathering. The Southwest Ohio Corn College will take place at the Clinton County extension office community room at 111. S. Nelson Ave. in Wilmington.

To register, send a check for $50 payable to OSU Extension to: OSU Extension Clinton County, Corn College, 111 St. Nelson Ave., Suite 2, Wilmington, OH 45177. For more information about the Corn College, contact Nye at 937-382-0901 or nye.1@osu.edu