Department of Animal Science Hosts Pasture and Forage Conference

Lauren Husband

Dirk Philipp speaks at the Southern Pasture and Forage Crop Improvement Conference about forage research at the North Farm.

The 72nd Southern Pasture and Forage Crop Improvement Conference took place from May 14-16 at the Chancellor Hotel and North Farm in Fayetteville.

The conference was attended by professionals from Auburn University, Louisiana State University, Mississippi State University, Texas A&M University, The Noble Foundation, University of Arkansas, University of Florida, University of Georgia, University of Kentucky, University of Puerto Rico, University of Tennessee, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), USDA-ARS Grazinglands Research Lab, and USDA-NRCS. The multi-day conference focused on forage production, pasture management, economics of beef production, and assessment of resources via life cycle assessments. Speakers were from the University of Arkansas, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Tyson Foods.

The first and third days of the conference consisted of talks by forage and production experts around the country, with topics such as "Agriculture in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria" by Edil Vidal Torres of the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez and "Economic challenges of Cattle Operations" by Mike Popp, professor of Agricultural Economics at the University of Arkansas. Andrew Sharpley from the Crop, Soil, and Environmental Science Department and Greg Thoma from the Fulbright College Chemical Engineering Department highlighted soil and water quality concerns and life cycle analyses in beef production systems.

The second day of the conference was a field tour, with visits to the University of Arkansas Savoy Unit, Haak Farms, Pasture Dairy, University of Arkansas Discovery Farm, Jim Singleton's bermudagrass hay operation in Maysville, and the University of Arkansas North Farm. The field tour was the highlight of the conference, as attendees learned about the diverse agricultural enterprises in Northwest Arkansas and the challenges that come with a rapidly urbanizing landscape. The tour was concluded with a joint dinner at AES facilities, which was attended by the new Associate Vice President of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Jean-Francois Meullenet.

The event was primarily organized and hosted by Dirk Philipp, associate professor of forages at the University of Arkansas Department of Animal Science, and Cheryl Mackowiak, this year's conference chair and associate professor of nutrition management and water quality at the University of Florida.