Part of the fun of working in agriculture is the opportunity for something new and different every day. Part of the challenge of working in agriculture is the same. When new and different is an opportunity – can you take advantage of it? When it’s a challenge – do you have the resources to manage for it? Three upcoming meetings will hopefully help you do both.

Like technology or not, it’s here. Fortunately, you can kind of pick and choose what you want to use with varying “degrees” to choose from. The Meadowlark Extension District and Jackson County Conservation District are offering a look at just a few of these tools for livestock and forage growers at Technology in Agriculture on Wednesday, Nov. 12, at the Evangel Church in Holton.

We’ll pack the morning with conversations covering a handful of tools ranging from the WebSoil Survey and other forage monitoring tools (simple) to more in-depth tech like electronic fence (with K-State Extension Beef Specialist Dr. Jaymelynn Farney). It won’t be an exhaustive list of all the livestock tech on the market, but if taking a deeper dive into managing livestock or forages is on your mind, this event might be for you.

Speaking of forages, how are stands looking following this season’s fall armyworm invasion? While some have improved, others are facing longer term challenges. Recovery – or the lack thereof – will be the focus of three Fall Armyworm Recovery meetings on Wednesday, Nov. 19 (Holton); Thursday, Nov. 20 (Oskaloosa); and Friday, Nov. 21 (Seneca).

We’ll take a look back at what we learned this season then a deeper dive into what may be ahead, including options for weed control, fertility management, and even a change in forages. All meetings will kick off at 10:15 a.m. and wrap up with a light lunch around noon.

If the end of the growing season brings your farm’s lease arrangements to mind, consider attending this year’s Rental Resources Roundtable. These roundtables are a rapid fire look at the resources available to landlords and tenants on K-State’s AgManager and other websites as you renew – or redo – rental agreements. From lease survey data to contracts to Excel tools to help you evaluate agreements, we’ll provide an overview of the many available resources for your farm.

Meetings will start after lunch at 12:45 p.m. following the Fall Armyworm Recovery Meetings in Holton, Oskaloosa and Seneca on Nov. 19, 20, and 21, respectively.

RSVP for the Technology in Agriculture by Nov. 5 to the Jackson County Conservation District (brian.boeckman@ks.nacd.net) or by contacting any District Office. RSVP for the Fall Armyworm Recovery and Rental Resources Roundtables by Tuesday, Nov. 18, to a District Office, or via email to me at dhallaue@ksu.edu or Ross Mosteller at rmostell@ksu.edu. Attend one – or both – and have lunch with us while you’re there.

More information (agendas, RSVP information, etc.) are available on the Events page at https://www.meadowlark.k-state.edu/events/ or by contacting any District Office.