To all those who buy hay, cut hay, feed hay, or want to learn how to increase yields and all things weed control in your hay fields. Dr. John D. Byrd, Jr. of Mississippi State University will be speaking at the Two Brothers Farms event on December 10th at 2:00 pm. We're located at 212 22nd Ave, Meridian, MS 39301. If you're familiar with Meridian, we're next to Weidmann's, located right above Generations Fine Paper and Gifts on the corner in downtown Meridian. Please set your calendars!! It will be a wealth of free information and an opportunity to network with area producers. The event is free to the public, and a meal and drinks will be served afterward.

Join us on March 25th @2.00pm for a Small Ruminant Meeting where Dr. Leyla Rios de Alvarez, MSc. Ph.D. of Mississippi State, will be making a presentation on all things small ruminants. Her presentation will include.

1. Sustainable parasite control for small ruminants

2. Parasite identification / Taking the Lab to the Farm

3. FAMACHA score training

4. Sheep and Goat farming in Mississippi

5. Minerals for sheep and goats

6. Plants for controlling parasites in small ruminants.

7. Adding small ruminants to a cattle enterprise.

The event is open to the public at no charge to participants, and a meal and drinks will be served afterward. If you're free March 25th and would like to come out and gather some free information and network with other Mississippi producers, we would love to have you!

Join us on June 29th @5:00pm for a USDA presentation on affordable Housing & Home Repair Loans and Grants meeting where Mr. Robert Meadows, a USDA Area Specialist, will be making a presentation on all things USDA housing grants and loans for home repairs and guaranteed homeownership loans. His presentation will include.

1. Farm Labor Housing Direct Loans and Grants

2. Single Family Housing & Guaranteed Loan Program

3. Housing Repair and improvement Loans and Grants

4.Multi-Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Programs

5. Rural housing grants and loan programs for elderly people

6. Community facilities grants and loans.

The event is open to the public at no charge to participants. If you're free June 29th and would like to come out and gather some free information, we would love to have you!

Join us July 6th @5:30pm where Mr. Kelvin Jackson from Natural Resources Conservation Service, will be making a presentation and answering questions on NRCS programs and Initiatives. His presentation will include.

1. The types of grants and cost sharing programs available

2. Programs available to build high tunnels/green houses.

3. Conservation Innovation Grants

4. Programs available to help develop habitat for deer and turkey.

5. Fencing programs.

6. Conservation Stewardship Programs.

7. How to apply for these programs among many other topics.

The event is open to the public at no charge to participants. If you're free July 6th and would like to come out and gather some free information, we would love to have you!

Join us August 12th @2:00pm where Donald and Missy Covington of Magnolia Quail Farm will be making a presentation and answering questions on raising

Coturnix quail. Their presentation will include.

1. Getting started raising Coturnix quail

2. Proper setup and essential equipment needed

3. Quail husbandry

4. Nutrition

5. Hatching eggs

The event is open to the public at no charge to participants. If you’re free next Saturday at 2:00 pm and would like to come out and gather some free information, we would love to have you!

Join us for a hands-on chicken butchering workshop Saturday August 19th at 9:00 am in downtown Meridian at Brakeman Park, 1800 Front St, Meridian, MS 39301, where we will show you how to successfully process your own meat chickens, there is no cost to attend and participate in the workshop, however we will offer $1 raffle tickets for a drawing to take home a chicken at the end of the workshop.

Skills taught:

• Humane slaughter (killing)

• Scalding

• Plucking

• Eviscerating

• Packaging

Who should attend:

• Those who are considering raising meat birds for their family or for sale and want to gain experience in the butchering process.

• Those who are currently raising meat birds on a small-scale and would like more information and practice to increase efficiency.

Materials recommended:

• Notepad and pen or pencil.

• Clothes and shoes you do not mind getting wet and dirty (Rubber boots recommended).

• Please bring a cooler of ice to transport your chicken home.