AGRICULTURE PROGRAMS, CONFERENCE SET IN AREA

New Trends in Crop Production, Ag Expo '97 and a Master Trees Program are among agricultural programs scheduled in the Southeast Missouri area during January and February.

Gene Stevens, a state nutrient management specialist, will be guest speaker at the New Trends in Crop Production program, to be held at the Knights of Columbus Hall at Jackson Thursday.

Stevens, who works out of the University of Missouri Delta Center at Portageville will discuss starter fertilizer management and the timing and rate of nitrogen fertilization in corn.

New Trends is one of the area's largest crop production seminars and ag exhibitor conferences.

The program will feature topics on weed management in herbicide tolerant crops, weed control, crop marketing outlook and strategy.

Registration will start at 8 a.m.

Other speakers and topics include: Andy Kendig, weed control specialist, Delta Center, will discuss weed management and control; Tim Schankenberg of Charleston, extension agronomist, will discuss BT Corn; Bob Light, Novartis sales adviser of Cape Girardeau will discuss atrazine management practices; and David Reinbott, extension farm management specialist of Benton will discuss crop marketing outlook and strategy.

Additional information is available by calling Gerald Bryan, agronomy specialist at the University Extension office in Jackson 243-3581.

As many as 5,000 to 6,000 people are expected to attend the 12th annual Ag Expo '97 Jan. 30-31 in the Bess Activity Center of Three Rivers Community College.

More than 80 booths will display items relating to all aspects of agriculture and natural resources in Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas. Exhibitors will display their products and services and answer questions about horticulture and gardening, livestock and crop production, forestry and forestry products, machinery, equipment, automobiles and trucks, farm supplies and more.

Other events will include gospel and contemporary music, agriculture seminars, beauty pageants, toy tractor pedal pull contests for youths and adults, tractor driving contests, an auction, and old-time canning contest.

The event will be held from 1-8 p.m. Jan. 30 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 31.

The expo is sponsored by the Butler County University Extension Council and the Ag Club of Three Rivers College. For more information, contact the Extension center at (573) 686-8064.

The Master Tree Farmers program will be held at the University Extension Office in Jackson, starting Feb. 9.

Classes focus on forest resources, tree identification, tree uses, lumber volume and marketing among other subjects.

"We'll have a number of three-hour sessions," said Gerald Bryan, agronomy specialist and coordinator of the program. "The first class will be held at Jackson, but future classes will be scheduled in other areas."

Classes run through April 20.

The Master Tree program was first introduced in the state in February of last year at Jackson.

Additional information and registration is available at area extension offices.

Also on the February schedule is the annual Rural Restoration Conference, to be held in Sikeston, Feb. 15-17, featuring a number of speakers headlined by Rep. Jo Ann Emerson.

The conference will start Sunday, Feb. 15, and continue through Tuesday.

Paul and Susie Luchsinger, a husband-and-wife evangelist team, will highlight the Sunday program, with a 7:45 p.m. program.

Rep. Emerson will speak during the lunch buffet Monday at noon.

Other speakers during the conference include Richard Wheeler, owner of Christian Radio station WJLY; Bryan Sanders, associate professor at Evangel College; Elizabeth Wilson, Sikeston School Board Directors, and Ed Bell, a paraplegic farmer and roadside market operator.