Check out this feature for events that will help you farm smarter and more profitably and stay in touch with those involved in Mid-South agriculture.

Aug. 18: Soybean grading clinic for elevator inspectors followed by educational seminar on grading process open to the public. Verona, Miss., at the North Mississippi Research and Extension Center, 5421 Hwy., 145 South. Inspector clinics begin at 9 a.m., educational seminar at 1:30 p.m. Lunch provided. For more information call Trey Koger at (662) 207-1604. Participation is free for all sessions.

Aug. 20: Pine Tree Branch Station Field Day, Colt, Ark.

Aug. 27: Mississippi Cool Season Fruit and Vegetable Production, North Mississippi Research and Extension Center, Verona, Miss. 6 p.m. Learn more about cool season production and the extension of their growing seasons through the use of high tunnels. Meeting is funded by the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce and co-sponsored by the Mississippi Farmers Market, Mississippi State University Extension Service, and the Mississippi Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association. Participants will learn planting and scheduling dates for cool season fruit and vegetable crops along with the basics of high tunnel production. There is no charge to attend the workshop. Pre-registration is required. Pre-registration forms can be found on the following websites: http://www.mdac.state.ms.us and http://www.msfruitandveg.com. For additional information or to obtain a registration form, contact Andy Prosser at (601) 359-1158 or [email protected] or John Braswell at (601) 403-8939 or [email protected].

Sept. 3: Mississippi Cool Season Fruit and Vegetable Production, Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum in Jackson, Miss. 6 p.m. Learn more about cool season production and the extension of their growing seasons through the use of high tunnels. Meeting is funded by the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce and co-sponsored by the Mississippi Farmers Market, Mississippi State University Extension Service, and the Mississippi Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association. Participants will learn planting and scheduling dates for cool season fruit and vegetable crops along with the basics of high tunnel production. There is no charge to attend the workshop. Pre-registration is required. Pre-registration forms can be found on the following websites: http://www.mdac.state.ms.us and http://www.msfruitandveg.com. For additional information or to obtain a registration form, contact Andy Prosser at (601) 359-1158 or [email protected] or John Braswell at (601) 403-8939 or [email protected].

Sept. 10: Mississippi Cool Season Fruit and Vegetable Production, Forrest County Extension Office in Hattiesburg, Miss. 6 p.m. Learn more about cool season production and the extension of their growing seasons through the use of high tunnels. Meeting is funded by the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce and co-sponsored by the Mississippi Farmers Market, Mississippi State University Extension Service, and the Mississippi Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association. Participants will learn planting and scheduling dates for cool season fruit and vegetable crops along with the basics of high tunnel production. There is no charge to attend the workshop. Pre-registration is required. Pre-registration forms can be found on the following websites: http://www.mdac.state.ms.us and http://www.msfruitandveg.com. For additional information or to obtain a registration form, contact Andy Prosser at (601) 359-1158 or [email protected] or John Braswell at (601) 403-8939 or [email protected].

Oct. 16-17: Fall Flower & Garden Fest, Truck Crops Experiment Station, Crystal Springs, Miss. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free admission; free parking. For more information: http://msucares.com/fallfest or (601) 892-3731. Rick Snyder, professor and Extension vegetable specialist.

Oct: 27-28: Mississippi Entomological Association Annual Meeting, Bost Building, MSU Campus, Starkville, Miss. Latest in entomological research. Tuesday’s speakers: Glen Rains, agricultural technologist, University of Georgia; Lane Foil, veterinary insects, Louisiana State University; and Steven Duke, Natural Products Utilization Research, USDA-ARS. A student paper competition will be held during the Tuesday afternoon session. Wednesday’s session features two roundtable discussions that will occur concurrently. The Row Crop Insect roundtable discussion addresses current issues and involves growers, crop consultants, research scientists, Extension entomologists, and industry representatives (info: [email protected]). Another roundtable discussion will address insects and ticks of veterinary and medical importance and will feature medical and veterinary entomologists, veterinary parasitologists, research scientists, Extension entomologists, and industry representatives (info: [email protected]). Further details can be found on the association Web site at http://mea.org.msstate.edu or contact Melissa Willrich Siebert ([email protected]).

Nov. 8-10: American Society of Agricultural Consultants 2009 Conference and Annual Meeting, Doubletree Hotel Nashville Downtown, Nashville, Tenn.

Nov. 20-21: West Tennessee Farm Toy Show, Jackson, Tenn. Jim Rogier, (731) 784-5440.

Dec. 4-5: United States Freshwater Prawn Growers Assoc. Annual Convention, Gold Strike Casino Resort, Tunica, Miss. The program will be a mixture of the results of scientific research, producer experiences, new grower information, and marketing techniques. Exhibitors will showcase the latest in aquaculture equipment and supplies. Details of the meeting will be posted at www.freshwaterprawn.org. For further information email [email protected] or phone Dolores Fratesi at (662) 390-3528.

Dec. 9-11: USA Rice Outlook Conference, Marriott New Orleans Hotel, New Orleans, La. This annual event brings together rice producers and others from throughout the U.S. rice industry. The conference features an educational program and a trade show that includes a New Products and Technology Showcase devoted to rice-related farm equipment, technology, products and services. For registration, exhibitor and sponsorship information, call the USA Rice Federation at (800) 888-RICE (7423) or (703) 236-1447.

Jan. 4-7, 2010: Beltwide Cotton Conferences, Marriott New Orleans and Sheraton New Orleans, New Orleans, La.

Jan. 12-14, 2010: Joint meetings of the National Conservation Systems Cotton and Rice Conference, Southern Corn and Soybean Conference, Southern Precision Agriculture Conference (Jan. 12-13), and the conference of the newly-formed Southern Field Crop Alliance, which will immediately follow (Jan. 13-14). All sessions at Harrah's Tunica Convention Center, Tunica, Miss. The SFCA conference will provide a forum for discussion of issues across crops and agricultural disciplines, and provide an avenue for all segments of southern ag industries to come to together for education and shared learning exercises. For more information on SFCA, contact Angus Catchot at [email protected] or B. Rogers Leonard at [email protected]. Details of the four conferences can be viewed at www.mafg.net.

To list your organization’s special event in the Delta Farm Press Calendar of Events, e-mail details, including contact person, phone number, etc., to: Ed Phillips, [email protected].