What the Northwest Beef and Forage Field Day Is
The Northwest Beef and Forage Field Day is an annual one-day program for cattle and hay producers at the LSU AgCenter Hill Farm Research Station in Homer. It is a mix of short talks, demonstrations and a trade show, with a lunch in the middle, aimed at beef cattle and forage producers in north Louisiana. The most recent field day was Thursday, April 30, 2026.
Date, Time and Place
- When: Thursday, April 30, 2026, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Where: Hill Farm Research Station, 11959 Highway 9, Homer.
- Cost: Free. Lunch is provided.
- RSVP: Contact the station by April 24 at 318-927-2578. The same number takes questions and special accommodation requests.
2026 Program
- Cattle market update
- Body condition scoring of cattle
- Supplementation
- Weed control options
- Drone sprayer demonstration
- A session on calving problems and herd health with local veterinarian Dr. George Gamble
- A trade show with equipment, products and services for cattle producers
What Past Field Days Looked Like
The 2023 field day shows the style of the program. Speakers covered:
- Cattle markets: Corbitt Wall said prices had risen but high input costs offset much of the gain, and suggested producers consider fall calving so calves are sold when prices are typically higher.
- Pasture weed and tree control: Ron Strahan covered the hack-and-squirt method, which means cutting the bark and injecting herbicide, and a diesel-and-Remedy spray.
- Drone weed control: After lunch, attendees watched a drone spray a pasture.
- Antibiotic rules: Ashley Edwards explained that some antibiotics sold over the counter would require a veterinarian's prescription.
- Parasite control: Lee Faulk advised rotating the active ingredients in internal and external parasite products to slow resistance.
- Forage: Ryegrass does not need crimson clover because they grow in the same season, and native grasses give earlier spring-to-early-summer growth than bermudagrass and bahiagrass but are not a year-round forage.
Despite gloomy weather that year, a large crowd of beef cattle and hay producers attended.
Other LSU AgCenter Field Days in 2026
The AgCenter holds beef and forage field days around the state. The 2026 list included Acadiana (April 16, Iberia Research Station, Jeanerette), Dean Lee in Alexandria (September 10), Northeast at Goldmine Plantation in Mangham (September 17) and a Tri-Parish field day in Raceland (May 7).
Questions
Do I have to pay?
No, the field day is free and lunch is provided.
Do I need to sign up?
Yes, call the station to RSVP, ahead of the deadline set that year.
Who do I call?
Hill Farm Research Station: 318-927-2578.
Official Links
- 2026 Beef and Forage Field Days: LSU AgCenter list of all regional events
- Hill Farm Research Station to host Northwest Beef and Forage Field Day: 2026 announcement
- Beef field day shows glimpse into the future: 2023 report
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- State Fair of Louisiana
The 120th State Fair of Louisiana fills the Louisiana State Fairgrounds in Shreveport for eighteen days, with livestock shows, midway rides and food. The fair has run since 1906.
3701 Hudson Ave., Shreveport, LA 71109 | Organizer: State Fair of Louisiana Official event details - Allen Parish Fair
Four-day parish fair at the Allen Parish Fairgrounds on Tiger Lane in Oberlin, with general and agricultural exhibits. Held each year; the 2025 fair ran Nov. 12-15 and the 2026 fair is set for Nov. 11-14.
Tiger Lane, Oberlin, LA 70655 Official event details - Port Barre Cracklin Festival
Four-day festival in Port Barre built around Louisiana cracklin, the fried pork rind. Held each year; the most recent dates were November 12-15, 2026 at Veterans Memorial Park.
- Christmas Time at the Farm
Holiday farm day in Bossier City on the LSU AgCenter events calendar, set for December 12, 2026.
Bossier City, LA | Organizer: LSU AgCenter Official event details - Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival
Three-day April festival celebrating Louisiana's state fruit in Memorial Park, with local growers selling berries on Farmers Row, strawberry-eating contests and a Saturday parade; the next dates are April 9-11, 2027.
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.