The second annual Pierce County "Crops, Cattle, & Coffee Roundtable" will be held Wednesday, March 25th from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Rugby Armory. This year's meeting will offer a roundtable format. Topics slated for this year's "Crops, Cattle & Coffee Roundtable" are:
Keeping Calves Alive Dr. Lagasse, Rugby Veterinary Clinic
Cow/Calf Budgets John Dhuyvetter, NDSU NC-REC Livestock Specialist
Cattle Nutrition Karl Hoppe, NDSU Carrington-REC Livestock Specialist
Crop Budgets Shana Pederson, NDSU NC-REC Cropping Systems Specialist
SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) & Cover Crops, Karl Hoppe, NDSU Carrington-REC Livestock Specialist
NRCS Programs and Funding Opportunities, Brad Jacobs, Pierce County NRCS District Conservationist
Those unfamiliar with the roundtable meeting format can expect a format a bit different than a traditional meeting format. During a roundtable meeting each presenter typically gives a short overview of his/her topic followed by a discussion period where participants are invited to ask questions and share experiences. The other key difference with a roundtable meeting format is that participants and speakers are seated around tables in a circle or square versus the traditional classroom arrangement.
Roundtable meetings offer unique opportunities for learning and professional exchange.
There is no fee to attend the "Crops, Cattle & Coffee Roundtable" but registration is highly encouraged for meal and material preparations. For more information or to register please call the Pierce County NDSU Extension office at 776-6234 ext. 5 or the Pierce County NRCS/SCD office at 776-2207 ext. 3.
Energy Beet Meetings to Be Held at Various Locations
Farmers interested in new production opportunities are invited to attend educational meetings on energy beets being held at five locations across central North Dakota the week of March 16th.
"Low commodity prices are causing farmers to look for options that provide positive net returns. Energy beets may fit the bill," says David Ripplinger, NDSU Extension Bioenergy Specialist.
Lenders and input suppliers are also invited to attend given the key role they play in helping farmers finance and grow the crop.
Energy beets, also called industrial beets, are varieties of beets bred for industrial sugars that can be converted to a wide range of biofuels and chemicals.
The meetings will provide farmers with economic information and tools to help them decide whether to grow industrial beets. Inputs, equipment, production costs and expected returns will be discussed.
Meeting times and locations are as follows:
March 17 Valley City, 9:00-11:00 a.m. at the Eagles Club
March 18 Langdon, 9:00-11:00 a.m. at the Langdon Research Extension Center
March 18 Cando, 1:00-3:00 p.m. at the Towner County Extension Office
March 19 Carrington, 9:00-11:00 a.m. at the Carrington Research Extension Center
For more information contact Ron Haugen, NDSU Farm Management Specialist at 701-231-8103.