Nearly a hundred farmers and researches will discuss issues of importance to soybean, rice, cotton, and corn growers at Tunica, Miss., Jan. 31-Feb. 1.

The 15th annual National Conservation Systems Cotton & Rice Conference, the Southern Corn & Soybean Conference, and the Southern Precision Ag Conference will be held at the Harrah’s Convention Center, sponsored by Cotton Incorporated, US Rice Producers Association, United Soybean Board.

John LaRose, chairman of the steering committee for the conferences, produced by MidAmerica Farm Publications, says 48 farmers will discuss their farming operations during individual breakout sessions, and 58 researchers representing seven southern universities will share their latest production research on cotton, rice, corn and soybeans.

“During any given hour, there will be over 20 unique breakout sessions to choose from,” he says. “This conference program is recognized by past attendees as the leading agriculture production conference for growers of these key crops.
“These conferences are must-attend for farmers wishing to hone their production methods. They offer farmers ways to trim inputs while boosting yields. In recent years both farmers and landlords have found that beyond tillage, there are many other farming resources that can be conserved through a properly designed conservation systems program.

‘The importance of conserving soil moisture, as well as reducing fuel, labor, seed, chemical, fertilizer and other input costs are keys to economic success for all farmers and landowners.”

Two nationally recognized growers will be highlighting the corn and soybean sessions.
Kip Cullers, three-time world soybean yield record breaker and winner of 13 National Corn Growers Association awards, will be presenting two soybean breakout sessions, and will also facilitate a roundtable discussion.
Jerry Cox, whose Cox Farms has won more national championships than any other operation in National Corn Growers Association history with 21 national titles, will be presenting two breakouts sessions on corn production, as well as facilitating a corn roundtable discussion.

In October 2010, Cox was presented the Governor’s Award for Agricultural Achievement in corn production by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon.
Farmers from Mississippi, Texas, Alabama, Louisiana and Tennessee will be able to receive their state’s pesticide re-certification credits. Certified crop consultants can select from over 58 hours of qualifying sessions to earn CEU’s during the conference.
The conferences are co-sponsored by the University of Arkansas, Mississippi State University, University of Missouri, University of Tennessee, LSU AgCenter, Auburn University, and Texas A&M.
USDA-NRCS, Washington, and USDA-ARS centers in the southern states are also co-sponsors, as are Bayer CropScience, DuPont Crop Protection, FMC Corporation, Helena Chemical Co., HorizonAg, Monsanto/Deltapine, Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc., RiceCo LLC and RiceTec.
Agricultural media co-sponsors are Delta Farm Press and Southwest Farm Press.
The conference will feature a large trade show.
For full details and registration, visit www.mafg.net.