Cooperative Extension Service To Host In-Person Livestock And Forage Winter Production Meetings

REBEKAH HALL

LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS

   The Cooperative Extension Service’s livestock and forage production meetings will take place in-person in winter and spring 2022. Kevin Lawson, director of extension’s Ozark District, said county agents and producers are excited to gather face to face again.

   “[These meetings] will be open to all producers who want to come and learn about what happened this past year and what we’ve got coming up new,” Lawson said. “We have some hot topics right now. One of them, of course, is fertilizer prices. A lot of these meetings are going to cover fertility issues with forages, like alternatives to putting out fertilizer, including chicken litter.”

   Lawson said the meetings will encourage producers to be aware of “things that don’t work” and avoid salespeople who take advantage of high fertilizer prices to sell misleading products. He added that “a lot of our beef producers are looking at ways to get more bang for their buck,” so the meetings will also cover how producers can add value to their livestock.

   “The meetings are mainly on the western side of the state, and our agents set this up every year to help producers learn more and get more value for their product,” Lawson said. “That’s what we’re here for.”

   Lawson said producers are excited to hear about the “economics side” of the industry from Dr. James Mitchell, extension livestock economist and assistant professor for the University of Arkansas System Division Of Agriculture. He said producers are also interested in learning more about small ruminates, which includes sheep, goats and specialty animals such as llamas.

   All meeting venues will have space for social distancing, and attendees will be asked to wear masks. Winter production meetings begin in January. Dates and locations for individual meetings may be subject to change due to weather, COVID or other factors. For specific production meeting details, contact your county extension office.

   JANUARY

Jan. 26 – Forage Fertility Meeting – Ozark County

Jan. 27 – 300 Days of Grazing Meeting – Sevier County

Jan. 31 – Clark and Hot Spring County Forage Clinic – Clark County Fairgrounds

FEBRUARY

Feb. TBD – Van Buren, White, Cleburne, Stone & Searcy County Forage Production Meeting – Heber Springs

Feb. 8, 10, 15 & 17 – Forage Short Course – Polk County Extension Education Building

Feb. 12 – Tri-County Forage Conference (Conway, Perry, Faulkner) - TBD

Feb. 15 – Pulaski, Lonoke and Prairie Forage Meeting – Lonoke County Extension Office

Feb. 15 – River Valley Beef Conference – Morrilton Fairgrounds

Feb. – Carroll County Livestock and Forage Production Meeting – Carroll County Cattleman’s Building

Feb. 22 – Yell County Ag Producers Meeting – TBD

Feb. 24 – Boone County Livestock and Forage Production Meeting – Boone County Farm Bureau

MARCH

March 1 – Tri-County Forage Meeting (Franklin, Logan, Johnson) – Paris

March 2 – Twin Lakes Beef and Forage Conference (Marion and Baxter County) – Cotter High School

March 4 – Crawford County Beef and Forage Meeting – Crawford County Extension Office

March 8 – Grant County Beef and Forage Workshop – TBD

March 10 – Faulkner County Beef and Forage College – TBD

March 15 – Sebastian County Beef and Forage Meeting – TBD

March 17 – Madison and Benton County Forage Meeting – Huntsville

March 18 – Beef Meeting – Ozark

APRIL

April 7 – Cleburne, Faulkner and White Small Ruminant Workshop - TBD ∆

REBEKAH HALL: University of Arkansas