Learn To Improve Forage Production At women In Ag Conference, Nov. 7-8

Sep 30, 2014

By Amie Schleicher ,Valerie Tate

Learn how to increase hay production and reduce disease and waste at the annual Pearls of Production: Women in Agriculture conference Nov. 7-8 at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites, Columbia.

University of Missouri Extension specialists Amie Schleicher and Valerie Tate will give tips on how to improve profits by reducing fescue toxicosis. They’ll also show useful tools to monitor forage production, assess pasture condition and deal with common problems such as thin stands, weeds, insects and diseases. They’ll talk about ways to reduce hay waste and use information from hay tests.

The conference also covers beef, swine, cattle and small ruminant production topics. Classroom discussions, networking opportunities and hands-on breakout sessions provide female farmers an opportunity to update skills. Topics range from self-care to estate planning.

The first day of the conference features a keynote address by journalist Tyne Morgan of AgDay and U.S. Farm Report.

The MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, Lincoln University Cooperative Extension and MU Extension sponsor the annual event.

Source:missouri.edu

Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.