By the Cooperative Extension Service
U of A System Division of Agriculture
- Tri-state conference pulls together researchers and growers for one of the region’s largest crops
- Experts to discuss irrigation, pest control and other important topics
The Mississippi State University’s Delta Research and Extension Center will be hosting the Tri-State Soybean Forum on January 8, 2016 in the Capps Entrepreneurial Center on the Stoneville campus.
The annual forum rotates each year between Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas, said Jeremy Ross, extension soybean agronomist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
The Forum works to engage and educate local farmers in the tri-state area and provide networking opportunities with industry leaders.
Presentations will include agricultural information specific to the Mid-south. Topics covered include feed grains, irrigation tools, pest management, maturity groups, new technology, commodity prices and economic cost outlook related to changing land rates and crop stressors such as new diseases.
This is the 60th anniversary of the Forum, which will also include scholarship announcements, door prizes and lunch.
“It’s really kind of looking at common themes and problems across state borders,” Ross said. “Since the three states all grow soybeans in very similar conditions overall, we’ve got a lot of common issues.
“Irrigation is probably the biggest thing,” he said. “That’s been the big push the last couple of years. And as far as other challenges, including insects, diseases and agronomics, we’re all pretty much in the same fight.”
Jerry Slocum, U.S. Soybean Federation vice president, will open the forum with a general update report. MSU scientists in the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station and MSU Experiment Station will present findings on several tri-state projects. Scientists representing Louisiana State University and the University of Arkansas will also deliver presentations on multi-state projects.