Winter meetings are coming to an end around the corner, but there are several opportunities being held near the county that may be of interest to the farming community.

The Beaver County Conservation District will be hosting a manure management workshop from 9 to 3 p.m. March 8 at the district office located off State Route 151 south of Aliquippa. Pesticide credits are available for the event.

The district will also be hosting a farm road maintenance workshop from 10 to 11:30 a.m. March 10 at the Big Knob Grange.

This event will cover how to easily and cheaply fix common farm lane problems and discuss funding opportunities available to offset the cost.

There is a $5 registration fee for the day and registrations for either event can be made to Jeff Leindecker at 724-378-1701.

Grazing conference

There is still time to register for the Northwest Grazing Conference on March 18 in Clarion. This conference will feature Kathy Voth speaking on grazing weeds.

At face value, the idea of grazing weeds doesn’t seem like something to get excited about. However, there are great strides being made in research and adoption of mob and high stock density grazing to control problem weeds in pastures as an alternative to herbicides and mowing.

I recently read an article by Jim Gerrish on using high density grazing to control spotted knapweed. The idea of severely reducing the amount of pasture cattle at any given time increases pasture production by significantly reducing the time cattle are stressing the plant, allowing for longer regrowth time.

It also forces livestock to eat what is directly in front of them versus the ability to pick and choose what they eat in a typical rotational or continuous grazing system.

This method of grazing significantly increases weight gain by providing cattle with better quality forage continuously even when they are grazing less desirable species and weeds. This type of grazing is a great solution to not only control undesirables in your pasture but increase pasture production.

There is a $40 registration fee for the conference. For more information or to register, contact Headwaters RC&D at 814-503-8653.

Soil health crops day

Those interested in no-till and soil health should check out the No-till and Soil Health Crops Day on March 8 at the Park Inn in West Middlesex.

The event will include speaker Dr. James Hoorman on soil ecology and nutrient recycling. Hoorman can relate soil health and its importance to our region by documenting how science is finally coming around to the importance of soil biology and its impact on no-till systems and crop production in general.

I think in the past, soil biology was often dismissed for the importance of soil chemistry in the sense that simply balancing a chemical formula would provide the same results.

For example, applying lime to a soil test would balance field pH. However, research is now documenting that biological activity is more important affecting not only crop production and fertilizer interactions with soil and plants but the overall impact a healthy soil can have on the farm’s operation.

Registration for the event is due March 1 and can be made by calling 814-333-7460. The registration fee is $15 or $20 at the door.

Tax-credit program

Finally, there is still time to apply for REAP, the state tax-credit program where farmers can sell or use tax credits at the state level to offset costs associated with no-till planting equipment and best management practices to address soil and water quality issues on the farm.

REAP offers up to 50 percent off the purchase of new and used no-till equipment and 50 percent or 75 percent off for the installation of conservation practices on the farm.

Credits can be used for completed or proposed projects, and with $1.5 million remaining in available credits, time is running out for those interested.

To apply or for more information visit: http://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Protect/StateConservationCommission/REAP/Pages/default.aspx#.VsS3btdOmUk.

Andy Gaver is a conservationist with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Butler County.