The Extension Service has a couple of events on the agenda this week for crop and livestock farmers as well as home gardeners.

For the farmers, or for really anyone who enjoys spending part of a day learning about the latest farm technology, we are holding our 2008 Field Day at Mississippi State University’s Brown Loam Branch Experiment Station near Raymond Thursday. The station is a short drive from Vicksburg. Registration is on-site and begins at 8:30 a.m. There will be both informational sessions presented by our state Extension crop and livestock specialists along with several field tours throughout the morning. The field day concludes with a sponsored lunch at noon.

I feel certain a couple of speakers will capture the attention of livestock producers near the Warren County area. Dr. Jane Parish, Extension beef cattle specialist, will talk on Ethanol Co-Products for Beef Cattle Diets. Also, Debra Buckelew with Bunge-Ergon Vicksburg LLC, will make a presentation on distillers grain. This has really been a hot topic among cattle farmers since the ethanol plant began operations earlier this summer. The grain portion remaining after the ethanol has been produced can make an excellent dietary supplement for beef or dairy cattle.

Of course there will be sessions by our corn, soybean and cotton experts