Beef production along the Mississippi

If you’ve ever been interested in how beef is produced and crops are grown along the Mississippi region of the southern United States, the Foothills Forage Association in Alberta is organizing a 10-day all inclusive tour in late November through Mississippi and Louisiana.

This is a 10-day, nine-night escorted agricultural tour that leaves Calgary November 30 and returns the evening of December 9. Cost is $3,832 per person for double occupancy, (or you can share a room). Space is limited to a maximum of 32 people and you need to book by early June.

It looks like a great tour packed with farm visits and other agricultural highlights. And you also get a chance to visit Baton Rouge and New Orleans; experience a Cajun swamp and plantation tour, and wrap up with an authentic dinner and jazz cruise on a Mississippi river boat.

While the first day of the tour involves travel to Jackson, Mississippi, participants hit the ground running the second day with a visit to a grass feed, steer grazing operation, followed by a tour of a row crop and cattle operation.

The tour also includes stops at Mississippi State University, College of Agriculture, other farm tours near Jackson, Mississippi, Louisiana State University AgCenter and the Central Livestock Research Centre. You’ll also attend a livestock auction in Amite, Louisiana, and visit a 1,000 head Angus operation at Wiggin, Louisianna. The final tour day is a Cajun swamp and plantation tour followed by dinner and cruise on a riverboat.

The price includes airfare from and to Calgary, hotels, bus, nine breakfasts, two dinners and cruise, and tours of Jackson, Baton Route and New Orleans. The only thing that is extra is about $150 in airport taxes.  And the primary requirement for taking the tour – you need a passport.

For more information on the tour or to register contact Laura Gibney with the Foothills Forage Association at 403-652-4900 or Jo Palanuik, who is co-ordinating the tour at 1 (888) 485 6589 or email Joanne@downunder-travel.com

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