The 71st Southern Pasture and Forage Crop Improvement Conference (SPFCIC) was held June 5 to 7 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Hosted by the University of Tennessee’s Institute of Agriculture, this program featured presentations and discussion on drought, climate resilient forage systems as well as soil health. Access the proceedings online here.

The meeting featured a poster sharing session from research and extension specialists in the southern region. UK and UT presented a poster summarizing preliminary results of an Organic Dairy Forage Production study currently underway in both states.

Faculty, students and staff of UT Knoxville arranged an educational tour of establishment, management, and benefits of native warm season grasses. Participants were able to tour a commercial bioprocessing facility as well as research farms that were utilizing and studying native grasses.

The 50 participants included representatives from southern region universities, county extension and industry. The 2018 conference will be in early summer in Fayetteville, Arkansas. ~ Dr. Jimmy Henning