MU Extension Alfalfa Tour Set For Sept. 24
MT. VERNON, MO.
Alfalfa production, use and marketing will be the focus of an educational program at 1:30 p.m., Sept. 24 at the Whitesell Land and Cattle Company in Lockwood.
“Alfalfa is a valuable crop when you consider net returns per acre, year in and year out,” said Eldon Cole, livestock specialist with University of Missouri Extension. “In fact, as a cash crop, alfalfa rivals corn and soybeans. Yet southwest Missouri has been losing acreages of alfalfa as the dairy industry downsizes.”
On Sept. 24, John and Adam Whitesell will share the production practices they follow with their 240 acres of alfalfa. Attendees will see their line of equipment, some of the alfalfa hay and haylage packages they produce and see an alfalfa field or two.
University of Missouri Extension specialists in attendance will contribute ideas for variety selection, establishing alfalfa, pest control, hay harvesting, storage and feeding it to beef cattle.
Whitesell’s have cooperated with Dow AgroSciences several years on field trials using a product as a seed head suppressor on fescue. A spokesperson from Dow will give a review of the results of those trials.
The directions to Whitesell farm is as follows: follow Missouri 97 south or north to S & H Farm Supply south of Lockwood. From S & H, take Hwy. Z 3 miles east to Dade County Road 1010 then 0.8 mile north to tour site.
The event is sponsored by University of Missouri Extension of Dade County and Dow AgroScience.
For more information or further direction, call either 417-637-2112 or 417-466-3102. ∆