Southern Agricultural Cover Crops Training Conference Set for Oct. 28-29

The Southern Agricultural Cover Crops Training Conference will educate southern farmers on the best way to manage cover crop mixes.
The Southern Agricultural Cover Crops Training Conference will educate southern farmers on the best way to manage cover crop mixes.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service of Arkansas has announced that farmers are invited to join the Southern Agricultural Cover Crops Training Conference on Oct. 28 through Oct. 29. The event, which will be hosted in Jonesboro, Ark., will focus on adopting cover crop management systems.

The conference is designed to bring farmers together to exchange information and discuss the potential for collaboration. There will also be case study presentations to address the risks and benefits of cover crop management.

“Southern farmers cannot simply rely on the tried and proven management techniques that the Midwest employs to manage cover crop mixes,” said John Lee, USDA NRCS state agronomist in Arkansas. “Conditions in the South are different, and we need to plan to manage crop mixes according to southern agricultural farming practices.”

Scientists, crop consultants and university researchers from the Natural Resources Conservation Service and U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service will also be present at the conference.

Certified crop advisors who are interested in earning continuing education credits will be able to do so by attending this event. The conference is being held at the Arkansas State University Convocation Center.

Cover crops can enhance soil quality and maintain nutrients in the field. They can also ease the transition to continuous no-till for farmers. The “2015 Cover Crop Survey” revealed in August that the number of cover crops per farm has doubled over the past five years.