Hicks: Tour of Clark County weed research plot set for Saturday

Much of the farm land in Clark County is well suited for the production of forages for feeding livestock.
Those forages can be grazed by the livestock; or they can be mowed, allowed to dry, and stored as hay for winter feed. The quality of that feed, whether it is grazed or fed as hay, is largely dependent on the mixture of plant species growing in the field.
Growing conditions over the past few years seem to have favored undesirable plant species (weeds) over the desirable forage species that can produce high quality feed, and weed management  has become an increasingly important part of livestock production.
Specialists from the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture have been conducting research in Clark County, and elsewhere in the state, to evaluate the effectiveness of various weed management strategies and products. One set of research plots is on the farm of Rick and Suzy Smith at 2110 Waterworks Road.
The Smiths have graciously agreed for the Cooperative Extension Service to hold a field day at their farm Saturday, Oct. 8, to look at weed management strategies. The public is invited to attend. Registration will begin at 3 p.m.
The tour will run from 3:30 to 6 p.m. At the end of the tour, a meal will be provided by the Clark County Cattlemen’s Association.
For those who would like to attend the field day, but not take the whole farm tour, Jennifer Howard, Clark County family and consumer sciences agent, will conduct a workshop on decorating with pumpkins.
Anyone who manages pasture or hay land in Clark County can benefit from participating in the Saturday Field Day. For additional information, please call the Clark County Cooperative Extension Service at 744-4682.