There was so much interest in the first Southern Agricultural Cover Crops Conference that organizers decided to do it again.

The 2014 Southern Agricultural Cover Crops Conference will be held Oct. 28-29 at the Arkansas State University Convocation Center, Jonesboro, Ark.

The workshop is a forum for farmers to exchange information, discuss opportunities for collaboration and learn about new and successful practices related to cover crops.

The conference, which begins at 9 a.m., Oct. 28, is co-sponsored by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and Arkansas Association of Conservation Districts.

Sessions include soil management, water management, pest management, economics, cover crop management and no-till. Speakers include NRCS and Agricultural Research Service scientists, farmers, crop consultants and university researchers.

According to John Lee, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service state agronomist in Arkansas, cover crops enhance soil quality and keep nutrients in the fields. Although cover crops can be effective under conventional tillage, they also improve soil quality and ease the transition to continuous no‐till.

Certified crop advisors can earn continuing education units for attending the workshop.

For more information, contact Lee, [email protected], 501-301-3173 or 501-722-8354.