Silage and Hay Production Seminars Set in the Texas Panhandle

Writer: Pam Dillard (806) 359-5401
Contact: Ted McCollum and Brent Bean (806) 359-5401

AMARILLO -- Hay and silage production are an integral part of Texas panhandle agriculture.  Beef cattle have been the primary consumers of these feedstuffs.  But things are changing, say Texas Cooperative Extension crop and livestock specialists -- recent expansions by the dairy industry.  Today, there is one more and growing market for hay and silage in the region.

To update area producers and provide current information on quality hay and silage production --  Extension will host a series of educational meetings this month in three panhandle communities.

On Jan. 21, the first seminar will be held in Bailey County at the Coliseum in Muleshoe.  A second is slated in Hereford on Jan. 22 at the community center.  The final session will be held in Gray County on Jan. 23 at the M.K. Brown Center in Pampa.
 
At each location, registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. with presentations starting by 9 a.m.   Each meeting will end by 3:30 p.m.  A sponsored lunch will be provided.

Continuing education units (CEUs) will be available.  Five can be earned by certified crop advisors and two by pesticide applicators.
 
Dr. Sandy Stokes, Extension dairy specialist from Stephenville will begin each program with an overview of dairy production.  She will address the types and quantities, and quality of forages required by today's dairy producers.

Other presenters will focus on corn silage production.  Extension specialists, Brent Bean, agronomist and Ted McCollum, beef cattle specialist of Amarillo, will discuss sorghum silage and hay production.  They will feature results from recent regional variety demonstration trials.

Also, Keith Bolsen, beef cattle nutrition professor from Kansas State University will address silage and hay production from small grains crops.  Bolsen will review current information on harvesting, processing and storing silage and hay.

Texas' Extension agricultural economist, Steve Amosson of Amarillo, will close the program with a discussion on the economics of silage and hay production.

For more information, contact your local Texas Cooperative Extension County Office: Agricultural agents Curtis Preston in Bailey County (806-272-4584), Dennis Newton in Deaf Smith County (806-364-3573), Danny Nusser in Gray County (806-669-8033), or Bean and McCollum at Extension's district headquarters in Amarillo, (806-359-5401).