The Southwind Extension District will host a free information meeting on Old World Bluestem at the Bressner Hall on the Woodson County Fairgrounds in Yates Center at 230 p.m. Feb. 15.
Old World Bluestems are a group of introduced grasses into the United States in the late 1920’s as improved grasses.
While these grasses are called bluestems they are not closely related to Big Bluestem or Little Bluestem.
Old World Bluestem are survivors of centuries of overgrazing. They are drought tolerant, aggressive, and prolific seed producers which sounds great until you add they are unpalatable to livestock in relation to our desired native grasses. They can become invasive anytime our natives species are stressed.
Dr. Walt Fick, Kansas State University Range Specialist, will discuss identification and control of Old World Bluestem. Also on the program will be Jarrod McVey, Woodson County Noxious Weed Director, discussing ways his department can help you with your noxious weed problems.
SOUTHWIND also will host a Beef Cow/Calf Risk Management meetin Feb. 23 at two locations.
The 5:30 p.m. meetings will be at the Southwind Extension Distict office in Iola at 1006 N. State St., and at the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team Office at 104 N. National Ave. in Fort Scott.
This is a hands-on evening workshop that will teach principles of determining cost of production for a cow/calf operation.
Learn strategies for cattle marketing, and insurance products for price risk management. Participants will work with a case farm to apply these topics to a real-world cattle operation. The goal is for participants to acquire risk management skills they can apply directly to their own operations.
Registration fee is $15, payable that night. To guarantee a meal and informational packet call the Southwind Extension in Yates Center 620-625-8620 to register.
Dinner will start at 5:30 with the program starting at 6 and running until 8:30.
