LSU AgCenter Beef And Forage Field Day Videos Available To View

ALEXANDRIA, LA.

   Videos are now available for the LSU AgCenter virtual 2021 Beef and Forage Field Day from the Dean Lee Research and Extension Center.

   Mike Salassi, LSU AgCenter program leader for plant and animal sciences, said the virtual format was necessary because of the ongoing pandemic.

   The presentations can be viewed at: https://bit.ly/2Q02WAF.

   Field day presentations include talks from LSU AgCenter experts:

   Ron Strahan, forage and turfgrass specialist, covers volunteer ryegrass control in pastures, discussing how ryegrass is becoming resistant to glyphosate and other chemicals, but Rezilon herbicide is effective.

   Ed Twidwell and Wink Allison, extension forage specialists, discuss the benefits of using clover in pastures. Twidwell covers methods to avoid bloating problems in cattle that feed on clover, and Allison talks about preparing a seedbed for planting in the fall.

   Guillermo Scaglia, beef cattle nutritionist, discusses the topic of calf preconditioning with management practices started at the time of weaning. He explains how preconditioning will reduce problems with bovine respiratory disorder that costs the cattle industry $3 billion annually.

   Ashley Edwards, livestock coordinator in the LSU AgCenter Central, Northeast and Northwest regions, covers considerations for breeding replacement heifers. She says more productivity can be realized with heifers that have their first calves at 2 years of age and recommends starting the breeding season for heifers 30 days before mature cows.

   Vince Deshotel, livestock coordinator for the LSU AgCenter Central Region, discusses soil fertility basics. He says testing should be conducted to determine levels of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous, in addition to pH and soil texture. He also reviews visual cues that can indicate nutrient deficiencies in a plant.

   Videos from the 2021 Acadiana Beef Cattle Producers Field Day remain online at: https://bit.ly/3mF5Oie.

   Topics covered include mineral nutrition, market outlook, herd biosecurity and preparing for disasters.

   Tara Smith, director of the LSU AgCenter Central Region, said she is optimistic that in-person events will be possible later this year. ∆