In a sign of changing times in California agriculture, the University of California will dedicate its first full-sized center pivot overhead irrigation system at the UC West Side Research and Extension Center. The dedication will take place during the Twilight Conservation Agriculture field day at 4 p.m. on Sept. 13. The center is at 17353 W. Oakland Ave. in Five Points.

Farmers and other members of the public are invited to the free event to see the system in operation and learn how overhead irrigation can be combined with no-till or minimum-till farming methods to create a more sustainable, profitable and environmentally sound agriculture industry.

USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds producers of the expanded coverage availability for the Forage (Alfalfa) Seed Pilot Multi-Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) program to all qualifying producers in Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

Prior to crop year 2012, the pilot program only allowed for coverage availability to producers in limited areas – e.g., Idaho: Canyon and Owyhee counties; Oregon: Malheur County and Washington: Grant and Walla Walla counties.

Cattle aren’t the only hungry mouths in drought-parched Arkansas.

“Blister beetles and grasshoppers are looking for what little green is left here,” said Phil Sims, Pope County extension staff chair for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “That means row crops under irrigation.”

Where rain has returned in sufficient volume to make pastures green again, so have fall armyworms. This annual scourge is ready to mow those luscious new blades of grass, said Kelly Loftin, extension entomologist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.  Parts of Cleveland County received 3 to 11 inches of rain in mid-July, reviving parched pastures and making them a target for the fall armyworms.

Farmers harvesting corn in the Mississippi Delta region need to beware of aflatoxin contaminated grain. Aflatoxin contaminated corn may develop this year because drought was severe. Damage to corn by drought can enhance the development on corn kernels of the mold that produces aflatoxin. All corn farmers – even those that irrigated their crop – should take some precautions to avoid problems with aflatoxin.

The dry weather of 2012 has left most livestock producers in the Midwest scrambling for more hay. First-cutting hay yields were down 20 to 40 percent in much of Michigan and with the dry weather intensifying, total hay yields for the year could be off by 50 percent or more. In order to feed ruminant animals such as beef cattle, sheep and others through the winter season many are looking for ways to stretch their feed resources.

Farmers across the country are always looking for ways to minimize crop input costs whether they grow corn, soybeans, small grains, alfalfa, clover or specialty crops due to the high costs of fertilizer, seed, fuel and land rental rates.

The entry deadline for the 29th Annual World Forage Analysis Superbowl and last chance to win more than $22,000 in cash prizes is just around the corner. Silage entries for standard and brown midrib corn silage categories must be received by Aug. 16. All other forage samples – including dairy hay, haylage, baleage, commercial hay and grass hay – must be submitted by Sept. 6. Call (715) 758-2178 or click here for rules, the entry form and further details of the contest.