Forage specialist from Iowa State to address current issues during field day
I-29 Moo University, South Dakota State University Extension, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, and the Northern Plains Forage Association will co-host a field day for forage producers on Aug. 6 at the Haskell Ag Lab in Concord, Nebraska.
Forage Field Day is a regional event that brings together experts, producers and industry professionals to provide field tours, panel discussions and presentations on forage-related topics. Registration is required for the event.
Shelby Gruss, forage specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, will talk about optimizing forage availability with cover crop grazing. For cattle owners, Wisconsin dairy farmer Daniel Olson will speak on growing and using digestible forages in dairy rotations.
The event will run from 9:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and begins with a listening session for an alfalfa revenue insurance program with AgriLogic Consulting and the National Alfalfa and Forage Alliance. The session will give producers and industry members an opportunity to learn about the product and provide personal input.
Other sessions will feature AgSpire, a sustainable agriculture consulting agency; alfalfa diseases and pests; a workshop dedicated to making a silage harvest plan; a panel discussion by event speakers and a visit to a cover crop plot with a presentation on summer annuals discussing forage and soil health.
Sara Bauder, South Dakota State University extension forage field specialist, said the event’s goal is to provide hands-on and classroom experience evaluating forages and management practices that producers and industry professionals can use.
“The word forage encompasses so many different things and different crops,” Bauder said. “There’s always something new to look at. We have a lot of high-quality private and commercial forage producers in this region. This is a unique event because it focuses on forages specifically.”
Participation is free for students and Northern Plains Forage Association members, or $30 for non-members. Reduced price registration is being offered through several forage grower and dairy groups in the region. Check-in begins at 8:45 a.m.
For more information on the event and reduced-price registration, contact Fred Hall, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach dairy specialist, at 712-737-4230 or [email protected].
