Extension Notes: No-Till Field Day set for July 22
July 22 marks the return of what is commonly billed as the nation’s largest field day devoted to no-tillage crop production techniques — the Milan No-Till Field Day.
Conducted by the University of Tennessee on the Milan Experiment Station, planners hope this 23rd no-till field day is as successful as the 22 events that preceded it. More than 4,200 people attended the Milan No-Till Field Day in 2002. Most visitors hailed from Tennessee and surrounding states, but many in attendance came from foreign countries.
Registration begins at 6 a.m. Tours are scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. Parking and admission are free.
Fifteen research tours, including the popular equipment demonstration, will be featured. The final tours are scheduled to begin at 2 p.m., so visitors are encouraged to arrive early if they plan to attend several tours and to see the commercial exhibits and demonstrations.
Most tour stops are approximately 20 minutes long and each tour may be completed in 1 hour and 30 minutes or less, depending on the number of stops and travel time between stops.
Tour topics include production and pest management issues surrounding the traditional commodities of cotton, soybeans, and corn. Also featured will be agri-tourism, value-added and alternative agriculture, livestock and forages, Bermudagrass production, managing irrigation for maximum crop productivity, managing land for waterfowl, and native warm-season grass production. The Milan Experiment Station Overview Tour will present a brief introduction to the UT Agricultural Experiment Station system.
More information is available at www.milan.tennessee.edu/ including a map to the field day site and information about area lodging.
Details are also available about the numerous community events planned in conjunction with the field day – including a golf tournament, antique tractor and engine show, and cotton fashion show. Complete program information should be on the Web site by July.
VACCINATION TIME FOR SPECIAL CALF SALE
The Special Feeder Calf Sale scheduled for Sept. 8 is really coming together. They reportedly have over 950 calves committed to this sale. If you’re interested now’s the time to make a commitment. Folks, this is your chance to take advantage of a local opportunity to sell weaned, vaccinated calves in load lots. Buyers are paying premiums for such calves. Some sales in the state this past year have shown premiums for pre-conditioned calves of $4-8 dollars per hundred over auction prices.
The calves mst be weaned at least 45 days prior to this sale. The first round of shots must be given between June 28 and July 12. This first round of vaccines consists of Cattlemaster or Bovi-Shield Gold and Ultrabac7/Somubac. The calves should be dewormed with Dectomax Pour-On or injectable at this time.
The second round of vaccines should be given four weeks later and will consist of a booster for Cattlemaster or Bovi-Shield Gold and Ultra 7/Somubac. A dose of One Shot should accompany the second round of vaccines. Only weaned calves will be sold at this sale. The second round of vaccines must be given between, June 26 and Aug. 12. You can call David M. Simpson at 273-5253 for more information.
CALL FOR TENNESSEE HAY DIRECTORY LISTINGS
If you’re one of the many folks who plan to have hay for sale this year, don’t overlook the opportunity to list your hay in the Tennessee Hay Directory.
This listing is sponsored by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation. The listing is free to the farmer and is a good way to get a little free advertising.
All you have to do to get in the directory is fill out a short form and send it in. Your listing will describe the kind of hay you have, the type and size of bale, storage conditions, etc along with your name, address and phone numbers. This information is listed in the hay directory which will be printed in late summer or early fall and will also be listed on the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Web site. If you have questions or need more information about the hay directory give me a call here at the extension office (473-8484).
VEGETABLES ROLLING IN AT FARMERS MARKET
The volume and variety of produce is really picking up at the Farmers Market here in McMinnville. I strolled through there Saturday and saw lots of beans and tomatoes and some sweet corn. Several growers tell me that they will have corn this week. There’s a lot of fresh squash and cucumbers and potatoes and some blackberries and blueberries as well. Take some time to get to the market this week.
I think you will be pleasantly surprised at the volume and variety of the produce available. The market is open each Wednesday and Saturday mornings and Friday evenings until late fall.
CATTLEMEN’S FIELD DAY BIG SUCCESS
If you missed the Cattlemen’s Field Day last Saturday at Summitville Stock Barn you missed a good program. Mild weather, a good program and a good crowd all showed up at the same time. Several area businesses showed up to support the association.
Over 130 participants enjoyed an educational program, visited with the many sponsors and enjoyed a hamburger luncheon. Over 15 participants were certified as Beef Quality Assurance producers. The local cattlemen’s association meets monthly and if you produce beef you should belong to this group.
CROP REPORT WILL MOVE MARKET THIS WEEK
Dr. Delton Gerloff, UT Ag Extension Economist is encouraging farmers to keep an eye out for the USDA crop report that is due out June 30. Dr. Gerloff says the report will provide some price direction for the 2004 crop. In the corn market Dr. Gerloff expect corn acreage to increase over the March acreage projections. He says if planted acres is over 81 million we will see prices weaken.
However, as with soybeans this year’s crop yields will tell the tale. Consider pricing some beans now – as much as 25 percent of expected production using cash forward contracting. Prices could increase substantially if yields are disappointing. But a good production year in the U.S. could put prices at least a dollar below the current price offered for cash forward contracts.
For up-to-date market prices call 1-800-342-8206.