Farm Family School Begins Thursday

The 2011 Farm Family School is scheduled to begin on Thursday, January 6th with the Mid State Producers Annual Meeting. Following the business meeting, Courtney Nichols and Bob Melton will discuss plans for the Agricultural Learning Center.

The Agricultural Learning Center is being made possible by a $150,000 grant from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Enhancement Program.  It will be one of approximately 12 located across the state that have been constructed to give the youth, as well as area agricultural groups a place to hold meetings, educational seminars as well as youth livestock shows and events.

Refreshments will consist of barbeque pork prepared by the Tennessee Pork Producers. Ray Weaver and Phyllis Ferguson, TN Pork Producer representatives, will promote pork on the 6th. Since the beginning of the market “many a squeal” has echoed thru the barn. The Market was known throughout the Southeast for its pig and market hog sales.  

January 13th will feature the first Beef Night. Kevin Ferguson, Manage Agent with the University of Tennessee, will update producers on genetic disorders found in many of our breeds of cattle.  

For example, the four recessive defects that can be tested for in the Black Angus breed are: Arthrogryposis Multiplex (AM) referred to as curly calf; Neuropathic Hydrocephalus (NH) sometimes known as water head; Contractural Arachnodactyly (CA) formerly referred to by the name of “Fawn Calf Syndrome;" and dwarfism.

Ferguson will help producers identify these disorders with information on how each breed is dealing with these issues. Being informed will assist you in selecting your next herd sire. Beef Night is sponsored by the Cannon County Cattlemen’s Association.

No Farm Family School is scheduled for January 20th. The Woodbury Lions Club is hosting their bimonthly blood drive at the club house and the Annual Tennessee Cattlemen’s Convention is on-going in Pigeon Forge.

January 27th is the annual Middle Tennessee Grain Conference in Manchester, Tennessee at the Coffee County Fairgrounds. Producers can save money by pre-registering at the Cannon County Extension office before Friday, January 21. Pre- registration cost for the conference is five dollars per person, which includes the program and materials, refreshments, lunch, a copy of the conference proceedings, and a grain conference cap. Conference day registration will begin at 7:30 A.M. at a cost of ten dollars per person.

An excellent slate of speakers will address management strategies for corn, wheat and soybean production for 2011. Following the keynote speaker is Dr. Steve Phillips, Southeast Director for the International Plant Nutrition Institute. Dr. Phillips will address the “The Four “R’s” of Nutrient Stewardship – Guidelines for Efficient and Effective Fertilization”. With fertilizer prices on the rise again, Dr. Phillips will discuss the principles of applying the “right” nutrient, in the “right” amount, at the “right” time, and in the “right” place for the most efficient and effective crop utilization.    

The trade show opens at 8:00 a.m., topic presentations begin at 9:00 a.m. concluding with the keynote speaker after a catered lunch. Immediately following the keynote address, producers will have the opportunity to renew their private pesticide applicator card, which will expire October 21, 2011. The cost of the training is fifteen dollars per person to be paid at the time of the training. This will renew private pesticide applicator certification till October 21, 2011.For more details on topics and pre-registration contact the Cannon County Extension Office at 563-2554. Attached you will find a pre-registration form.

Farmland Legacy is scheduled for February 3rd. The Farmland Legacy workshop is designed to provide farm families, landowners and others a better understanding of estate planning, how to pass management and assets to the next generation, records you will need and concepts for family discussion on estate planning.

The workshops help insure future generations receive assets in a way they can keep them and help those passing the assets minimize taxes and estate related expenses. Without proper estate and succession planning many heirs often sell assets to pay taxes owed.

About 55% of individuals die without a will or other estate planning, this can only increase the stress and potential problems for those left behind. The workshop is designed to give participants tools and a better knowledge of the estate planning process to help insure the things they have worked a lifetime to obtain pass to their heirs as smoothly as possible and the way they desire. Alan Galloway, Manage Agent with The University of Tennessee Extension, will be conducting this session.

Horse Night is scheduled for February 10th. Dr. Trea Wessel is scheduled to speak on chiropractic care for equine. This session is sponsored by the Cannon County Walking Horse Association.

No Farm Family School is scheduled for February 17th due to the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Cannon County Farm Bureau is sponsoring Family Night on February 24th. The topic for this session is Fence Laws. We frequently have questions on the responsibility and liability of landowners. This session will discuss the “do’s and don’ts” according to Tennessee Fence Laws.

In March and early April, we will wrap up Farm Family School with a pesticide certification session and an update on the Agriculture Enhancement Program (TAEP). All meetings except the Tennessee Cattlemen’s, Middle Tennessee Grain Conference and the Ag Enhancement Update will be held at the Woodbury Lions Club Building. All meetings will begin at 7:00 with the exception of the Middle Tennessee Grain Conference which will be held in Manchester and the TCA convention will be in Pigeon Forge.

 In the event of severe weather, listen to WBRY radio, WBRY.com or cannoncourier.com

Help spread the word, bring a friend or neighbor to Farm Family School! For more information please contact the Cannon County Extension Office at 563-2554. All programs conducted by the University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service are conducted on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, Religion, veteran status or other legally protected categories.