Released: January 14, 2003

Bi-State Meetings Focus on Pasture Land Decisions

TROY, Kan. – For cattle producers in Kansas and much of the Great Plains, it soon will be decision time.

Despite recent storms which have helped drought conditions in parts of the region, producers face a crossroads decision of how to bring pasture land back from another season of below-normal precipitation.

"We are still looking at a drought situation for many parts of northern Kansas and Missouri," said Joel DeRouchey, the northeast area livestock specialist for Kansas State University Research and Extension. In many cases, "[producers’] decision is based on helping pastures from last year and preparing for the coming year so that they don’t damage pasture conditions for years to come."

Extension agents from Kansas and Missouri will provide information to help in that decision during meetings being held the same day – in both states.

The meetings, titled ‘Forage Production and Utilization for Livestock’, are scheduled March 3 at 10 a.m. in Hiawatha, Kan, and at 4 p.m. in Cameron, Mo. The program is the same for both meetings, and producers are welcome to attend either session.

The meetings are co-sponsored by K-State Research and Extension and the University of Missouri Outreach and Extension.

The program’s speakers include:

* Gary Kilgore, K-State Research and Extension crops and soils specialist, who will speak on revitalizing cool season grasses;

* Dale Blasi, K-State Research and Extension forage and beef stocker specialist, who will talk about complimenting grazing forages with by-products;

* Rob Kallenbach, University of Missouri’s state forage specialist, who will discuss ways to get the most of a rotational grazing system;

* Gary Cross, K-State Extension agricultural agent in Doniphan and Brown counties, who will give an update on new forages.

DeRouchey noted the timeliness of the meetings, saying the speakers plan to provide updated information that will help producers with their late April and early May grazing decisions.

Persons interested in attending either meeting are asked to pre-register by Feb. 24. The pre-registration cost is $10, and includes a meal. Same-day registration will cost $15.

For more information, interested persons may call their local Extension office, or contact the host county. For the Hiawatha meeting, call Cross at 785-985-3623. For the Cameron meeting, call Jim Humphrey at 816-324-3147.

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K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.

Story by:
Pat Melgares, News Coordinator
pmelgare@oznet.ksu.edu
K-State Research& Extension News