Jan. 7—Several agricultural conferences are planned in January and February for area farmers and ranchers.
Soils and Crops
The 100th annual Lawrence County Soils and Crops Conference will be held from 6 to 9 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 14, at the Southwest Research, Extension and Education Center, 14548 Route H, near Mount Vernon.
“This conference will provide science-based information to help local ranchers build the resiliency of their operation, specifically pertaining to the agronomic side of raising livestock, i.e. drought resilience, weed management and soil health,” Ian McGregor, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist, said in a statement.
—McGregor will be discussing options for drought resilient forage management.
—Tim Schnakenberg, Extension agronomy field specialist, will discuss weed management, and will also touch on novel technologies that will aid in broad-leaf control while conserving pasture clover populations.
—Caleb O’Neal, new Extension agronomy and horticulture field specialist, will be discussing livestock and forage management for improving soil health and drought-resilient characteristics.
Southwest Cattlemen’s Association and local businesses are supporting this program by providing a free ribeye steak sandwich for those who preregister early. Financial support is provided by Ozark Electric Cooperative, Mid-Missouri Bank of Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce and the Lawrence County Farm Bureau.
There is no charge to attend, but attendees must preregister by Friday with the MU Extension Center of Lawrence County to order a meal and reserve a seat. Preregister at https://extension.missouri.edu/events/soils-crops-conference-lawrence-county or call 417-466-3102.
Beef Cattle Conference
MU Extension is partnering with Missouri State University to provide the Southwest Missouri Beef Cattle Conference next month in Springfield.
It will be held Feb. 11 at the Christopher S. Bond Learning Center at the Darr Agricultural Center, which is part of the Darr Agriculture College at Missouri State University. This facility is at 2401 S. Kansas Expressway. The conference begins at 9:30 a.m. and lasts through the day.
“This conference has a mix of industry and university people providing cattle producers strategies to add value to their beef cattle and operation,” Patrick Davis, Extension livestock field specialist, said in a statement.
Topics include:
—Cattle breeding programs to add value to beef cattle operations, by Adam McGee, assistant professor in animal science at Missouri State.
—Using genomics and expected progeny differences to add value to beef cattle operations, by Clint Bailey, animal science graduate student at the University of Missouri.
—Calf management to add value to beef cattle operations, by Cameron Locke, veterinarian with Cedar Creek Veterinary Services.
—Using data to add value to beef cattle operations, by Mike John, Health Track Network.
Agriculture businesses that support the conference will have booths set up.
For more information or to have a booth, contact the Cedar County MU Extension Center at 417-276-3313. Deadline to register for a booth and to pay the fee is Feb. 4.
Lunch will be included with the registration. Conference fee is $20 per person. To attend, registration and fee payment is required by Feb. 5. Register at https://cvent.me/ENGrAy or make checks payable to the Cedar County MU Extension and mail to the Cedar County MU Extension Center, 113 South St., Stockton, MO 65785. No refunds for cancellations will be given after the registration deadline. No walk-in registration will be allowed. For more information on registration, contact the Cedar County MU Extension Center at 417-276-3313 or Davis at davismp@missouri.edu.
Spring Forage Conference
The Southwest Missouri Spring Forage Conference will be held Tuesday, Feb. 25, at the Oasis Hotel and Convention Center, 2546 N. Glenstone Ave. in Springfield.
Gary Bates, head of the department of plant science at University of Tennessee, is the keynote speaker.
Bates previously served as the director of the University of Tennessee Beef and Forage Center for 12 years and a forage extension specialist for almost 30 years. He also will offer a second talk during the conference, titled “Steps to Successful Forage Establishment,” which covers advances in seeding technology.
Breakout sessions include grazing cover crops, annuals for forages, sun hemp, soil fertility, native warm-season grass establishment, fescue toxicosis and counteracting it with forage legumes, matching beef cows to their environment, experience from the front lines of custom grazing, managing mineral nutrition in beef cattle, flexible stocking rates for profitability, and livestock safety tips for warm-season grasses.
The conference also provides educational sessions specific to sheep and goat producers, including forage for sheep and goats, solar grazing, and market outlook. In addition, a panel of speakers will discuss getting paid to graze sheep and goats.
A trade show is held in conjunction with the conference. If interested in becoming an exhibitor or sponsor, contact Jody Wade at the Webster County Soil and Water Conservation District office at 417-468-4176, ext. 3, or by email at jody.wade@swcd.mo.gov.
Conference check-in begins at 8 a.m., with sessions running from 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. A banquet luncheon is included with the registration. The cost is $55 per person. To attend, register by Feb. 13 at www.springforageconference.com. No walk-in registrations will be allowed. For additional questions, contact Wade.