Farmers and ranchers in east-central Kansas, especially in Douglas, Franklin, Osage, and Shawnee counties, are encouraged to attend the 2017 Ag Stewardship Conference. This will be the fourth Ag Stewardship Conference, which has been held every other year since 2011. The one-day conference will begin at 9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 17, 2017, at Grace Community Church, 310 E. Eighth St. (Highway 56), Overbrook, Kan. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m.

All producers in the area are invited, but a special invitation would include absentee landowners, new and beginning farmers, and small or specialty crops farmers.

The line-up of speakers for the 2017 event includes: Roger McEowen, Kansas Farm Bureau professor at Washburn University School of Law, will give updates on agricultural law and taxation. Tom Leffler, owner of Leffler Commodities, will talk farm profitability. Forrest Buhler, Kansas State University, will discuss ag mediation. John Welborn, Shawnee County Weed Department, will discuss grassland health and weed control, including serecia lespedeza. The day will wrap up with a presentation from Ray Asebedo, KSU assistant professor, on precision agriculture, focusing on technology and the use of drones in agriculture.

The conference is free to all attendees and lunch will be provided. However, to arrange for conference materials and the meal, registration is required before Feb. 10, by contacting the Osage County Conservation District at 785-828-3458.