As 2024 is now officially underway, the Cottonwood District is hitting the ground running with some programs in the area for producers. We have a little bit of everything gong on in Ag to start off the year right. If you would like to register for anything, or have questions about the programs, please contact us at either office. Great Bend: 620-793-1910 or Hays 785-628-9430.
Cow-calf Clinic, Jan. 10
Kansas State University beef extension specialists and agents will host a cow-calf production clinic Jan. 10 at the Ellis County Extension office located at 601 Main St. in Hays.
The clinic is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and will focus on “Navigating Opportunities and Risks: Production and Forage Considerations,” with discussion on local conditions encountered by cow-calf producers.
The clinics will also include interactive polls, forage sampling in a drought year, implications of -forage sampling and presentation by K-State agricultural economist Jenny Ifft, who will discuss making dollars and cents of risk management tools.
There will be a $10 cost payable at the door and a meal will be provided. RSVP by Jan. 8th for a meal count by calling 785-628-9430 or emailing Theresa Meis at tam3@ksu.edu.
Cover Your Acres Winter Conference, Jan. 16-17, Oberlin
K-State Research and Extension will host the 21st-annual Cover Your Acres Winter Conference for crop producers and consultants on Jan. 16 and 17.
Cover Your Acres is a producer-driven meeting focused on new ideas and research-based updates in crop production in northwest Kansas and the Central High Plains region.
The same programs will be offered on both days of the conference. Participants attending both days will find catching most or all of the programs easier. The sessions are followed by a social on Tuesday evening, where attendees can visit with industry representatives and conference speakers while enjoying appetizers.
Online registration is open. To view the conference details, registration, and lodging accommodations, visit www.northwest.ksu.edu/coveryouracres. For questions, call 785-462-6281.
Agricultural producers meeting
Extension agents Clint Laflin and Alicia Boor will host a joint extension program in Ellsworth on Thursday Jan. 18. Topics covered include financial budgeting, understanding interest rate trends, risk management insurance options, and farm family transitions.
Experts from local banks, the Kansas Farm Management Association, and Kansas State Research and Extension will serve as speakers, and be on hand to answer attendee questions.
Registration cost is $10 payable at the door by cash or check. The event will take place at the Ellsworth Health and Recreation Center: 221 West Douglas Ave, Ellsworth, KS 67439. Registration begins at 9 a.m. with coffee and doughnuts provided, followed by our first speaker. The event will conclude by 3 p.m.
An RSVP is requested by Friday, Jan. 12th to give organizers an accurate count for our catered lunch provided to attendees. To register please email or call Midway District Livestock Agent, Clint Laflin, at cllaflin@ksu.edu, or 785-483-3157.
Alicia Boor is the agriculture and natural resources agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. Contact her by email at aboor@ksu.edu or call 620-793-1910.
