indiana Prairie Farmer Logo

This virtual field day could add dollars to your bottom line.

Tom J Bechman 1, Editor, Indiana Prairie Farmer

January 18, 2021

1 Min Read
John Scott, Purdue Digital Agriculture Extension Coordinator, prepares a drone for an aerial flight
READY FOR LIFTOFF: John Scott, Purdue digital agriculture Extension coordinator, prepares a drone for an aerial flight over a field used for a pasture study.Keith Johnson

If you have livestock that graze on pasture, you owe it to yourself to attend Controlling Pasture Weeds. Because it is a virtual field day, you can participate from the comfort of your office or even your easy chair. It’s scheduled for Feb. 1 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. EST.

The field day will present the results from a large study on weed control conducted by Purdue University Extension researchers from several departments, including beef nutritionist Ron Lemenager from Animal Sciences, forage specialist Keith Johnson from Agronomy, weed control specialist Bill Johnson from Botany and John Scott, digital agriculture Extension coordinator. Corteva Agriscience also participated in the study, which was conducted at the Scholer beef farm.

“It’s one of the most extensive studies I’ve ever been involved with,” Johnson says. “Controlling weeds in pastures is extremely important. Many weeds have low nutritional value, and some are toxic to animals.”

The program, which will be moderated by Johnson, will explain the study and underscore techniques you can use to reduce weed populations in your own pastures. A potential new herbicide was evaluated that is much less harmful to white clover in a grass pasture.

Technology even came to pasture management in this study, Johnson notes. Drone flights were used to observe the results of these experiments at controlling weeds, and the strategy will be highlighted during the program. The program will wrap up with ratings for various weed control options in pastures, plus a question-and-answer session with specialists presenting information during the program.

The field day is free, but you need to register, Johnson says. Register at purdueag.tv. If you want more details, email [email protected].

Purdue Ag Communication contributed information to this article.

About the Author(s)

Tom J Bechman 1

Editor, Indiana Prairie Farmer

Subscribe to receive top agriculture news
Be informed daily with these free e-newsletters

You May Also Like