Arkansas Forage and Grassland Council to address variety of topics

Forage recovery, weather outlook, livestock hauling rule changes on Feb. 22 AFGC agenda

By Mary Hightower

U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK – Helping winter-damaged forage recover, getting the latest on the spring weather outlook and understanding changes in livestock hauling rules are on the agenda for the Feb. 22 Arkansas Forage and Grassland Council’s winter meeting in Conway.

The meeting will be held Woodland Heights Education building is located at 4215 Prince Street.

Registration opens at 9 a.m., and the program begins at 9:30 a.m. Registration is $25 per person and $10 for students. Pre-event registration will help ensure there are enough materials and lunch for all. For info, or to register, call Linda McCargo at 501-671-2171.

“Weather conditions over the past six months have certainly been unfavorable for Arkansas pastures,” said John Jennings, professor-forage for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

“Questions coming in regarding what to do for a spring forage crop include, ‘how will this cold winter affect my pastures?’ ‘what about armyworms?’, and ‘what are other producers doing?’” he said. “Producers will hear about new forage research on spring and fall forages. These studies are evaluating options ‘outside the box’ and match up with the unusually dry fall and odd winter weather. Arkansas producers also will tell about how they incorporated some of these different options to boost their forage production.”

The agenda:

·       9:45 a.m. - Riding the weather rollercoaster – outlook for 2018, John Lewis, senior forecaster - National Weather Service – Little Rock,

·       10:15   New research for spring pasture - Kenny Simon, extension program associate-forages, Division of Agriculture.

·       New research for fall pasture – John Jennings, professor-forage, Division of Agriculture.

·       11:15   Department of Transportation farm vehicle regulations status update – Major Jay Thompson, Arkansas Highway Police.

·       Noon    Lunch

·       1 p.m. - When will armyworms strike this year? – Kelly Loftin, extension entomologist

·       1:30 p.m. – Non-conventional forages in a double-crop system – producer experience

·       Luke Alston, Holly Springs Homestead - Polk County

·       Jeff Montgomery, Diamond M Ranch - Yell County

·       2:15 p.m. - Coping with current conditions for forages and livestock

·       John Jennings

·       Paul Beck, interim director, Southwest Research and Extension Center

·       3 p.m. - Adjourn

Learn more about managing forage and livestock by calling your county extension office or visiting www.uaex.edu.

About the Division of Agriculture

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system. 

The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.  

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, please contact the Fruit Research Station as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.