Program Outline

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2-Page Conference Program (PDF Version)

Monday, December 11, 2006

9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Field Tour - Agriculture

Departure Time 9:00 a.m. return 5:00 pm. Visit the Top Gun facility (SS# required for security) special features of Nevada agriculture, water systems, and tourist sites. Jay Davison (NV), Kenda Curtis (NV), Rob Wilson (CA), Tim Hays (CA), Willie Riggs (NV)
Monday Night:
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Registration, Exhibitor Setup
7:00 p.m. Hay Organization Leadership Dinner Meeting

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

6:30 a.m. Registration
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. General Session - DAY 1
Emerging Issues and Market Trends
8:00 a.m. Introduction
Karen L. Hinton, Dean and Director, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension
8:10 a.m. Emerging Forage Issues in the Northwestern States
Glenn Shewmaker, Forage Specialist, University of Idaho, Twin Falls, ID
8:35 a.m. Emerging Forage Issues in the Southwestern States
Dan Putnam, Forage Specialist, University of California, Davis, CA
9:00 a.m. Trends in the Dairy Market
Bob Naerebout, Executive Director, Idaho Dairymen’s Association, Twin Falls, ID
9:25 a.m. Trends in the Horse Market
Laurie Lawrence, Animal Science Professor, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
9:50 a.m. Discussion
10:00 a.m. Break
 
Water Economics, and Profitability
10:30 a.m. Hay Prices and Trends
Seth Hoyt, Statistician, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Sacramento, CA
Tim Woodward, Forage Specialist, University of Washington, Pasco, WA
10:55 a.m. Water Situation and the Future
Scott Matyac, Ag. Water Program Manager, Department of Water Resources, Sacramento, CA
11:20 a.m. Keeping your Head above Water in the Hay Industry
Dick Schader, Red Rock Ranch, Macdoel, CA
Richard Larsen, Larsen Farms, Dubois, ID
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Banquet Lunch
BREAKOUT SESSIONS (suggested)
Session I. Pest Management (Does not repeat)
1:25 p.m. Toxic Weeds and Their Impacts
Birgit Puschner, Veterinary Toxicologist, University of California, Davis, CA
1:50 p.m. Using Roundup-Ready Alfalfa for Stand Establishment and Special Weed Issues
Mick Canevari, University of California Farm Advisor, Stockton, CA
2:15 p.m. Avoiding Weed Resistance and Weed Shifts in Roundup-Ready Alfalfa
Steve Orloff, University of California Farm Advisor, Yreka, CA
2:40 p.m. Controlling Weeds in Grass Hay or Alfalfa-grass Mixtures
Rob Wilson, University of California Farm Advisor, Susanville, CA
3:05 p.m. Break
3:30 p.m. Rodent Control Update
Gary Witmer, Wildlife Biologist, USDA-APHIS, Fort Collins, CO
3:55 p.m. Insect Pest Management in Alfalfa: Weevils, Aphids and Worms
Mike Rethwisch, University of California Farm Advisor, Blythe, CA
4:20 p.m. Managing the Major Alfalfa Diseases
Don Miller, Plant Breeder, Target Seed, Nampa, ID
4:45 p.m. Year-Round IPM in Alfalfa
Pete Goodell, IPM Specialist, University of California Kearney Agriculture Center, Parlier, CA
5:15 p.m. Adjourn to Reception and Auction
 
Session II. Utilizing a Wide Range of Forage Crops (Repeats)
1:25 p.m. Summer Annual Forages (Sudan, Pearl Millet, Sorghum-Sudangrass)
Tom Griggs, Forage Specialist, Utah State University, Logan, UT
1:50 p.m. Cool Season Perennial Grasses for Hay
Kevin Jensen, Forage Geneticist, USDA-ARS, Logan, UT
2:15 p.m. Warm Season Crops for Forage and Biomass
Steve Fransen, Forage Agronomist, Washington State University, Prosser, WA
2:40 p.m. Management Small Grain Forages
George Fohner, Plant Breeder, Resource Seeds, Gilroy, CA
3:05 p.m. Break
3:30 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. (Repeats)
5:15 p.m. Adjourn to Reception and Auction
 
Session III. Irrigation and Soils (Repeats)
1:25 p.m. Potassium Management in Alfalfa
Rich Koenig, Soil Scientist, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
1:50 p.m. Specialty Fertilizers and Micronutrients, Do they Pay?
Denise McWilliams, Forage Specialist, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM
2:15 p.m. Allocation Strategies in Water Short Years
Howard Neibling, Irrigation Specialist, University of Idaho, Twin Falls, ID
2:40 p.m. Management of Center Pivot Irrigation
Guy Fipps, Extension Engineer, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX
3:05 p.m. Break
3:30 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. (Repeats)
5:15 p.m. Adjourn to Reception and Auction
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Exhibitors Reception (Food, Cash Bar)
5:30 p.m. Auction for Hay Growers' groups. Auction will feature many items donated by exhibitors, attendees, and growers. Proceeds will benefit State-based Haygrower Organizations from the Western states. (Gale Harding, University of Idaho Cooperative Extension, Auctioneer)

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

6:15 a.m. Complimentary CAFA Breakfast (See CAFA booth for tickets.)
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. General Session - DAY 2
Future Trends with Alfalfa & Forages
8:00 a.m. Biotech Traits in Alfalfa - What's Next?
Mark McCaslin, President, Forage Genetics Int’l., Minneapolis, MN
8:25 a.m. Energy Crops and Their Implications for Forage Crops
Joe Bouton, Nobel Institute, Ardmore, OK
8:50 a.m. Future Trends in Alfalfa Establishment
John Kugler, Extension Agronomist, Washington State University, Ephrata, WA
9:15 a.m. Future Trends in Forage Quality Analysis
Dan Putnam, Forage Specialist, University of California, Davis, CA
Dan Undersander, Forage Specialist, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
9:45 a.m. Break
 
Harvesting Technology and Quality
10:20 a.m. Rate of Quality Change in Alfalfa
Neal Martin, Director, USDA-ARS Dairy Forage Center, Madison, WI
10:45 a.m. Cutting Schedule Strategies
Steve Orloff, University of California Farm Advisor, Yreka, CA
Dan Putnam, Extension Specialist, University of California, Davis, CA
11:10 a.m. The Impacts of Harvesting Methodologies on Forage Quality
Dan Undersander, Forage Specialist, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
11:35 a.m. Protecting Hay Quality during Storage
Juan Guerrero, University of California Farm Advisor, El Centro, CA
12:00 p.m. Lunch (on your own)
1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Risk Management Session
1:30 p.m. Overview of Risk Management: Production, Labor, Finances
Willie Riggs, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, Eureka, NV
2:00 p.m. Purchasing Equipment and Calculating Custom Rates
Herb Hinman, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
2:30 p.m. One Cut Forage Systems for Drought and Energy Considerations
Steve Fransen, Washington State University, Prosser, WA
Tip Hudson, Washington State University, Prosser, WA
3:00 p.m. Estate Planning, Transfer of Ownership to a New Generation
Kynda Curtis, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, Reno, NV
3:30 p.m. Discussion
4:00 p.m. Adjourn