News Release Distributed 10/08/09
Managing animal waste and finances in these tight economic times will be two topics featured at the LSU AgCenter dairy field day Nov. 12 at the AgCenter’s Southeast Research Station in Franklinton.
The field day will begin at 9 a.m. with registration, said Dr. Mike McCormick, coordinator of the Southeast Research Station.
“After a welcome that will include Dr. Mike Strain, Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry, we will begin the field tour,” McCormick said.
The tour will include presentations by LSU AgCenter researchers Dr. Vinicius Moreira on dairy wastewater treatment and Dr. Kun Jun Han on ryegrass-clover pasture production and irrigation with dairy waste.
Visitors also will hear about dairy lagoon nutrient content and cost-sharing opportunities for clean-out from Dr. Ronnie Bardwell, LSU AgCenter area dairy agent, and Kevin Stilley with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service.
In addition, McCormick will give an overview of oat-ryegrass grazing projects, and Dr. Stephanie Hill from the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station will discuss dairy nutrition research.
McCormick said other items on the program will include Dr. Charlie Hutchison, LSU AgCenter dairy specialist, who will discuss dairy farm financial programs, and Dr. Jim Beatty with Purina/Land-O-Lakes, who will comment on the USDA National Dairy Advisory Committee and the milk price outlook.
The field day will conclude with a barbecue lunch and informal viewing of hay equipment, forage variety evaluations, dietary phosphorus research and a tour of the Forage Quality Laboratory.
More information on the field day is available from McCormick at 985-839-2322.
Johnny Morgan