NMSU forage, cover crop experts plan field day April 11 near Clovis

NMSU forage, cover crop experts plan field day April 11 near Clovis DATE: 04/03/2018 WRITER: Darrell J. Pehr, 575-646-3223, pehr@nmsu.edu CONTACT: Rajan Ghimire, 575-985-2292, rghimire@nmsu.edu CLOVIS, N.M. – Agricultural experts will provide an update on crops and dairy farming at a special field day Wednesday, April 11, at the Heritage Dairy Farm, south of Clovis. “This field day will provide an opportunity for eastern New Mexico and West Texas agricultural stakeholders to discuss and learn about regional challenges related to row crop production, quality management and cover cropping, soil and water conservation and soil health monitoring for sustainable crop and dairy farming,” said Abdel Mesbah, superintendent of New Mexico State University’s Agricultural Science Center at Clovis. Registration for the event starts at 8:30 a.m. with coffee and donuts. Mesbah will welcome attendees and provide introductions at 9 a.m. followed by field presentations and demonstrations: – Sultan Begna, agricultural research scientist at the Science Center, will give a presentation on forage corn production systems modification (cutting height, row spacing, quality and cover cropping considerations) and soil/water conservation. – Robert Hagevoort, NMSU Extension dairy specialist, will speak about nutrition and milk production. – Rajan Ghimire, cropping systems agronomist at the Science Center, will discuss cover crops and stubble management for soil health. – Zachary Cordel and Nick Pipkin, dairy producers, Heritage Dairy Farm in Clovis, will give a producers’ perspective on the topics. – Kevin Branum, state agronomist, and D’Llaynn Bruce, district conservationist, of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, will conduct a soil health score card demonstration. The field day will adjourn at 11:30 a.m. The event is free to attend and the public is invited. To reach the field, from the intersection of U.S. 70 and C.R. 5, drive east .75 miles and the field is on the south side of the road. For more information, contact Sultan Begna or Rajan Ghimire at 575-985-2292.