NEWS

A Feb. 24 half-day training at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton will offer pasture management information that producers are unlikely to find anywhere else, according to a Texas AgriLife Extension Service forage specialist.

“We’ll have information on identifying weeds specific to East Texas and the most economical way to control them,” said Dr. Vanessa Corriher, AgriLife Extension forage specialist, Overton.

Attendees will receive five continuing education units toward the renewal of their Texas Department of Agriculture private applicator licenses, one hour in laws and regulations, one in integrated pest management and three in the general category.

The 2012 Idaho Hay and Forage Conference will be held Thursday and Friday, March 1-2 in Burley at the Best Western Burley Inn. A number of educational seminars and workshops will be held throughout the two days to provide growers with the latest information in the industry.

Rick Waitley, IHFA Executive Director, highlighted a few of the special presentations. According to Waitley, the conference offers a variety of subjects.

USDA's National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recently announced that the deadline for producer applications for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) has been extended to January 27, 2012.

While CSP is a continuous sign-up program and producers can apply to enroll at any time of the year, NRCS applies a cut-off date for applications to be considered during a particular fiscal year.

A clearer picture of corn's biochemical responses to insect and fungal attacks is emerging, thanks to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) studies in Gainesville, Florida.

On one front, researchers identified defensive compounds, known as zealexins and kauralexins, which rapidly accumulate at fungal infection sites, impeding the microbes' continued spread.

World Ag Expo will celebrate 45 years of excellence February 14-16, 2012, in Tulare, California. The largest annual agricultural exposition of its kind, World Ag Expo touts more than 1,400 exhibitors who display cutting-edge agricultural technology and equipment on 2.6 million square feet of show grounds.

An estimated average of 100,000 individuals from 70 countries attend the Expo each year to learn about the latest advances in agriculture.