Weed control, new cotton technology and forage management updates headlined the 51st Stiles Farm Field Day held recently at the Stiles Farm Foundation near Thrall, Texas.

“Get a soil test,” a long-time basic, remains one of the most important tasks a producer can perform, said Larry Redmon, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service forage specialist, College Station. He advised attendees to test soil test before applying fertilizer on hay meadows.

 “If you are cutting hay, apply the soil test recommendations,” he said. “A dipstick tells me if I have enough oil in my car, and if I do not have enough, I need to add some. A soil test is the same simple concept and tells me if I don’t have enough certain nutrients, then I need to add some. Fertilizer is so expensive and we want to make sure we apply the correct amounts.”

Other presentations included weed specialist Paul Bauman and state Cotton Specialist Gaylon Morgan.