O.D. Butler Forage Field Day planned for May 21

This year’s O.D. Butler Field Day on Friday, May 21, will be an in-person event.  The field day will be held at the Camp Cooley division of Circle X Ranch.  The GPS location of the ranch is 4297 Camp Cooley Ranch Rd, Franklin, TX 77856. 

The format for the day’s activities will be like past field days.  We will gather at the sale headquarters from 8 to 9 am to register and visit with Ag Industry booths and view farm equipment displayed outside of the sale pavilion.  We are expecting 25 to 30 industry booths, and 5 to 7 farm equipment dealers to be present.  Three CEU’s will be awarded (2 General & 1 Laws & Reg’s) to eligible participants.  

 After some brief introductions and instructions, we will proceed to four outside tour stops.  We will have trailers available to transport participants to the stops.  Each stop is scheduled to last about 30 minutes.  Below is more information for each location.  

• Hay Field Weed ID and Control.  Dr. Barron Rector and Zack Howard will tag team this stop.  Bring weeds you have growing in your hay field and they will attempt to identify the plants & give possible control measures. 

• Hay Field Fertility Alternatives.  Dr. Vanessa Corrifer-Olson will lead a discussion of possible alternatives to very expensive commercial fertilizers.  She will also address effectiveness, and value of alternate fertilizer sources.  

• Hay Field Management.  Dr. Larry Redmond will discuss issues such as gopher problems, repairing feral hog damage, pasture renovation options and available renovation equipment. 

• Pasture Weed Control Products.  Dr. Scott Nolte will discuss products available to fight weeds in pastures and hay fields.  He will also discuss and answer questions concerning the herbicide demonstration trial at his stop.

Late morning, we will return to the A/C at the sale pavilion.  We will have some brief updates from participating farm equipment dealers on new farm equipment and technology available to producers.  

 Following the brief farm machinery presentations, we will have lunch and time to visit with the Ag Industry booths.  We will also have a contest for field day participants.  You will have a chance to win cash if you finish in the top three placings.  

After lunch, Dr. Don Renchie will give a Pesticide Laws & Regulations presentation.  His program will include new and updated laws and regulation information.  If you have not heard Dr. Renchie before, you are in for a real treat.  

At the conclusion of Dr. Renchie’s presentation, we will have the remaining brief updates from participating farm equipment dealers on new farm equipment and technology available to producers.  Our last speaker of the day will be Dr. Scott Nolte.  He will discuss the latest on the constant battle with sandburs (grass burs).  He will present a variety of chemical treatments, treatment methods & timing of treatments.  

After Dr. Nolte we will have door prize drawings (donated by the booth participants), announce the winners of the cash award contest, hand out CEU certificates and fill out a brief evaluation.  

Pre-registration & pre-payment is required. The Cost of the program registration will be $30. You can register online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/152766975135  Please feel free to call the Robertson County (979) 828-4270) or the Brazos County (979) 823-0129) Extension Offices for registration information or information about the program.