COTTON MEETING

KENNETT -- A total of 10 speakers will appear at a "Missouri Cotton Production" Conference, to be held at the American Legion Building here March 7.

"Growing cotton in Missouri is challenging," said Mike Milam, agronomy specialist (cotton) in Dunklin County. "We're at the northern edge of the Cotton Belt, and our growing season is shorter. We have to develop strategies to overcome this limitation."

Milam said the area-wide cotton conference was a joint effort between University Extension and the Cotton Producers of Missouri.

"The daylong meeting is designed to help cotton producers gain an understanding of management practices which will help in the production of high quality cotton," he said.

The meeting will start at 8:30 a.m.

Five research and extension specialists Al Wrather, plant pathologist; Ray Nabors, entomologist; Paul Tracy, soil fertility specialists; Barry Sims, weed scientist; and Van Ayers, irrigation specialist from the Delta Center at Portageville will be on the program.

Other speakers include Milam; Aaron Ivie, of the Dunklin County ASCS office; Jim Burris, Missouri Department of Natural Resources; Kater Hake, National Cotton Councils, Memphis; Dave Albers, cotton agronomist, Mississippi State; and Bill Mayfield, USDA extension engineer.

There is no cost for attending this meeting. Additional information is available by calling (314)-888-4722.