The 15th annual Clover Forage Field Day was held April 30th at the Iola Community Center. It was hosted by the Bedias Creek Soil and Water Conservation District with the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Madison County AgriLIFE Extension working together to help us present an exceptional educational outreach program. In attendance were 135 landowners seeking to learn methods and techniques for managing clovers.  This year’s theme was "Just Getting Started." Information on establishing clovers on small acres with short duration grazing grass and clovers, soil testing-resources for enriching your soil, installing and utilizing electric fence in small operations, using multi-species grasses to a landowner's benefit, rest-rotation for developing and maintaining a nutritious variety of grasses were some of the topics presented in the field. The group toured Star Haven Farms, owned and operated by Ray and Karen Hadaway, to see a clover-management project up close. Our great appreciation goes to Mr. Ray and Ms. Karen for all the work in preparation for the Tour. Thank you AGAIN !!

Morning speakers consisted of: Gene Sollock, past Director with Bedias Creek SWCD (who started this as a tail-gate educational day) along with Floyd Nauls, Jr., NRCS-District Conservationist; Dr. David Bade, retired AgriLIFE Extension and a part of this program for the past several years; Billy Zanolini, AgriLIFE Extension-Madison County; Betsy Ross regarding compost teas; Deb Manahan and Tommy Carroll, both ranchers, giving more details to address the topics and answer specific questions.

The attendees had a treat with "Grass-Fed Beef" hamburgers prepared by JR Sandel and Floyd Nauls (NRCS).

The afternoon section was full of information from Karen Hadaway, SWCD Director, on THE KISS Method [Keep It Simple Silly] that has been her outline for the results seen at Star Haven Farms so far; Gene Sollock discussing techniques used on stocker operation, chicken litter utilization; and regulations from TSSWCB Natural Resources Specialist Teresa Reese; and an outstanding overview of all Farm Bill programs emphasizing the benefits of EQIP nationally and throughout the state of Texas was presented by Susan Baggett, State Resource Conservationist. Dr. David Bade closed the meeting with recognition of all speakers and fielded a few more questions, as he had done throughout the day.

 

All photos compliments of NRCS Resource Team Leader, Jon Muncrief. 

This year’s Clover Field Day was sponsored by: Coufal-Prater County Store; First State Bank of Bedias; Tractor Supply of Navasota; Fi-Shock Energized Fencing; Fairlie Seed Company; Navasota Livestock Auction; Bob Hughes Display; and Standley Feed & Seed. And special thanks go to The Bank of Madisonville for the use of there Bar-B-Pit. 

2009 -- mark your calendar for April 29th !!!!