The Smith County Extension office in conjunction with the Extension offices in Rains, Wood, Van Zandt, and Upshur Counties have been working on two forage related demonstration projects (one in soil fertility, the other in pasture weed control) this summer.
The fertility trial is evaluating nine (9) different combinations of pasture fertilizer, including: poultry litter, organic products, dry and liquid fertilizer formulations, and nitrogen source.
The herbicide trial is evaluating six (6) different herbicides and their effectiveness at controlling the hard to kill pasture weed Carolina Horsenettle (Solanum carolinense). Carolina Horsenettle is a perennial pasture weed and member of the nightshade family. All parts of this noxious plant are toxic to livestock and the plant is covered with spines that make handling hay infested with the plant less palatable to livestock and more difficult for producers.
A field tour of these two demonstration projects will be held on Tuesday, August 25. We will begin at the Golden Community Center in Wood County. Following registration, we will caravan to the 2 demonstration locations and then return to the community center for lunch and a round table discussion hosted by the agricultural Extension agents from the five cooperating counties. Joining us on the tour and for the roundtable discussion will be Dr. Vanessa Corriher, Extension Forage Specialist from Overton.
Registration will be held from 8:00 AM until 8:30 AM, with the tour beginning at 9:00 AM. The meeting will conclude following lunch and the roundtable discussion around 2:00 PM.
Attendees with Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide applicator licenses will receive 3 hours of Continuing Education credit (1 Integrated Pest Management and 2 General) for attending.
This is a free program but an RSVP is required to the Smith County Extension office at (903) 590-2980 by Friday, August 21, for meal planning purposes. Directions to the community center will be provided (if needed) upon registration for the event.
