Northwest Oklahoma Drought Meetings Set for Aug. 4-5
ENID, Okla. – Cattle and forage producers looking to make best use of management practices for fighting the drought should register now to attend one of two Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Northwest Oklahoma Drought Meetings taking place in early August.
“In addition to attending program sessions, participants can bring in forage samples for a quick nitrate test or for sending off to the laboratory,” said Greg Highfill, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension area livestock specialist. “Think of the meetings as one-stop shopping.”
The first meeting will take place from noon to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 4, at the High Plains Area Vo-Tech, located at 3921 34th St. in Woodward. Lunch is free to participants who pre-register. To register, contact the Woodward County Extension Office by email at dana.bay@okstate.edu or by phone at 580-254-3391.
The second meeting will take place from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Friday, Aug. 5, at the Northwest Stockyards, located at 11802 W Owen K Garriott, seven miles west of Enid. Lunch is free to participants who pre-register. To register, contact the Garfield County Extension Office by email at jeff.bedwell@okstate.edu or by phone at 580-237-1228.
“Although the meetings are free-of-charge and open to everyone, we are asking participants who want lunch to pre-register to ensure sufficient meals are on hand,” said Dana Bay, Woodward County Extension agricultural educator. “There is no meal cost for participants thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, but we need to know how many meals need to be prepared.”
The Northwest Cattlemen’s Foundation is sponsoring lunch at the Woodward meeting. Northwest Stockyards is sponsoring lunch at the Enid meeting.
Program sessions will focus on the record drought numbers; agronomic considerations of drought in northwestern Oklahoma; hay feeding value, availability and cost; cow feeding options and cost; nitrate, prussic acid and aflatoxin issues in forages; a comparison of keep and feeding cattle versus selling or buying animals back; and tax implication of a producer selling his or her cow herd.
“Sessions will be led by OSU Cooperative Extension subject matter specialists and educators,” Bay said. “One of the great things about the meetings is that participants are able to interact with experienced experts and ask questions.”
Anyone seeking additional information about the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Northwest Oklahoma Drought Meetings should contact Highfill by phone at 580-237-7677.
Source: Oklahoma State University, U. S. Department of Agriculture