Three farming forums coming up

Three conferences for farmers and livestock producers will be offered later this month.
Three conferences for farmers and livestock producers will be offered later this month.

Mid-Missouri farmers can avoid the doldrums of January by attending one or all three upcoming seminars offered by University of Missouri Extension and Natural Resources Conservation Service.

"There will be a lot of great information for livestock and crop producers," said Anita Ellis, livestock specialist for University of Missouri Extension.

Jan. 17: Livestock, Crop and Wildlife Winter Forum 2019

The event will be at Valentine Hall, 197 Route P, Rhineland. For registration, contact Warren County SWCD at 636-456-3434, ext.3. Registration costs $5. The event will include:

Three sessions at 9 a.m., 1 p.m and 7 p.m., with lunch and vendor networking at noon, a trade show 4-5 p.m., then supper at 5:30 p.m.

9 a.m. morning sessions will feature a talk from Mark Kennedy of the Missouri Forage Grasslands Council; Dr. Eric Bailey of MU Extension State Beef Specialist; and a panel discussion on the biggest mistakes in cattle management and nutrition.

1 p.m. afternoon sessions will include Dr. Todd Lorenz, MU Extension field specialist in Agronomy, and Dr. Kaitlynn Bissonnette, MU Extension state plant pathologist.

About 5 p.m. will be a slake test demonstration by David Doctorian, area soil health specialist.

The evening supper will include updates from Maureen Cope and Tammy Teeter.

7 p.m. evening sessions include talks by Jordan Beshears, MDC private land conservationist; Kyle Hedges, MDC wildlife management biologist; Mark and Cory Boehne speaking about patch-burn grazing; and Len Gilmore and Wesley Hanks, from Quail/Pheasants Forever.

Jan. 19: 95th annual Soils, Crops and Livestock Producers Conference

Held at 54 Country hall at 400 Gaylord Drive, Fulton, the event features Callaway Showcase Specialists Rusty Lee, Charlie Ellis, Mary Sobba, Jordon Beshears, Drew Walters, Matt Blansett and many more. RSVP to Callaway County Extension, 573-642-0755. The event schedule is:

4 p.m. registration and showcase.

4:30 p.m. welcome and presentation by Dr. Jordan Thomas, "Fine Tuning and Converting your Beef Cattle Breeding Program" and demo.

6 p.m. supper, 6:30 p.m. Showcase wrap and final remarks.

Jan. 31: Mid-Missouri Grazing Conference

The conference will be at St. Martins Knights of Columbus, 537 Route T, Jefferson City. The event schedule features:

1 p.m. registration followed by three breakout sessions and vendors.

Trade show begins at 1 p.m.

Keynote address 5:30-6:30 p.m.: Greg and Jan Judy, of Clark, discussing holistic grazing management.

6:30 p.m. dinner and door prizes. Topics include: selecting genetics for the environment, multi-species grazing, stocker vs. cow/calf, weed identification and economic impact, mineral supplementation, and soil testing and interpretation.

Advance registration is $30 or $40 at the door. Call 573-897-3797, ext. 3.