Symposium Program


Spanish Version of Symposium Program




Monday, December 17, 2007


9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. – Pre-Symposium Tour
This popular chartered bus excursion will visit vineyards near Soledad, transplanting operations in Salinas, the National Steinbeck Center/Agricultural Museum in Salinas and artichoke harvests in Castroville (weather dependent). Lunch is included. Sign-up early to make sure you don’t miss it.

Tour Chair: Rachael Long, Yolo County UCCE Farm Advisor
Hosts: Richard Smith & John Inman, Monterey County UCCE Farm Advisor & former Farm Advisor


Monday Evening

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Registration and Exhibitor Set-up
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Exhibitor/Organizer Reception - Presidential Suite

Description: The 2007 California Alfalfa Symposium, with the theme ‘Alfalfa – Back-to-the- Basics,’ will contain up-to-date information about alfalfa production and utilization. Several important current topics (prices, industry trends) will be presented, along with a special session ‘Producing Alfalfa A-to-Z’ which walks through the entire process of alfalfa production and utilization, from site selection and stand establishment to feeding and economics. This is based on the 300-page publication “Irrigated Alfalfa Management for Mediterranean and Desert Zones,” a 25 chapter manual which will be published about the time of the symposium. This symposium promises to be an excellent opportunity to learn about alfalfa production methods, and a great refresher course for even experienced growers.


Tuesday, December 18, 2007


6:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Registration

Morning Session

Industry Trends: Economics, Dairy Trends and the Environment

Moderators: Larry Schwankl, Kearney Ag Center, Parlier, CA, and Marsha Campbell-Mathews, UCCE Stanislaus County, Modesto, CA


8:00 a.m. Announcements and Welcome
Dan Putnam, Forage Specialist, University of California, Davis, CA

8:10 a.m. California Hay Price and Supply Situation
Seth Hoyt, Statistician, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Sacramento, CA

8:35 a.m. California Dairy Trends
Mike Marsh, Western United Dairymen, Modesto, CA

9:00 a.m. Alfalfa and Forage Production Strategies for Reduced Water Situations
Blake Sanden, UCCE Kern County Farm Advisor, Bakersfield, CA

9:25 a.m. Water Quality: Preventing Offsite Pesticide Movement in Alfalfa
Terry Pritchard, Irrigation Specialist, UCCE San Joaquin County, Stockton, CA

9:50 a.m. Discussion

10:00 a.m. BREAK
 
10:30 a.m. What is the Potential of Alfalfa as a Biofuel?
Mark McCaslin, President, Forage Genetics, Inc., Minneapolis, MN

10:55 a.m. Trucking Regulations and How They Affect Hay Growers
Emily Robidart, National Affairs & Research Division, CA Farm Bureau Federation, Sacramento, CA

11:20 a.m. Grazing Alfalfa Systems in the Argentinean Pampas
Daniel Basigalup, Alfalfa Breeder, INTA, Cordoba, Argentina

11:45 a.m. Back to the Basics: An Overview of CA alfalfa and the Irrigated Alfalfa Manual
Dan Putnam, Forage Specialist, University of California, Davis, CA

Noon Banquet Lunch

From Acorns to Sardines: A Brief of Monterey

Tim Thomas, Museum Historian, Monterey Maritime & History Museum, Monterey, CA


Afternoon Breakout Sessions

Main Session: Back-to-the-Basics: Producing Alfalfa A to Z

Moderators: Rob Wilson, UCCE Lassen County, Susanville, CA, and Shannon Mueller, UCCE Fresno County, Fresno, CA

I. Back to the Basics: Agronomic Techniques


1:30 p.m. Site Selection and Stand Establishment
Shannon Mueller, UCCE Fresno County Farm Advisor, Fresno, CA

2:00 p.m. Alfalfa Variety Selection for Maximizing Yields, Quality and Pest Management
Dan Putnam, University of California, Davis, CA

2:30 p.m. Applying Manures and Biosolids to Alfalfa
– Rollie Meyer, Cooperative Extension Soils Specialist, University of California, Davis, CA

3:00 p.m. BREAK

3:30 p.m. Recent Advances in Alfalfa Tissue Testing to Assess Fertilizer Needs
Steve Orloff, UCCE Siskiyou County Farm Advisor, Yreka, CA

4:00 p.m. Irrigation for a Successful Alfalfa Crop
Blaine Hanson, Irrigation & Drainage Specialist, Dept. of LAWR, University of California, Davis, CA

4:30 p.m. Overseeding and Old Stand Management
Rob Wilson, UCCE Lassen County Farm Advisor, Susanville, CA

5:00 p.m. ADJOURN
 

II. Back-to-the Basics: Managing Pests


1:30 p.m. Basics of Controlling Weeds
Mick Canevari, UCCE San Joaquin County Farm Advisor, Stockton, CA

2:00 p.m. Controlling Insects in Alfalfa
Larry Godfrey, Extension Cotton Specialist, Dept. of Entomology, University of California, Davis, CA

2:30 p.m. Diseases and Nematodes of Alfalfa
Carol Frate, UCCE Turlare County Farm Advisor, Tulare, CA

3:00 p.m. BREAK

3:30 p.m. Vertebrate Pests in Alfalfa
Duane Schnabel, Primary State Agricultural Biologist, CA Dept. of Food and Agriculture, Sacramento, CA

4:00 p.m. Producing Organic Alfalfa
Rachael Long, UCCE Yolo County Farm Advisor, Woodland, CA

4:30 p.m. Diagnosing Problems in Alfalfa
Charles Summers, Entomologist, UC Davis and Kearney Ag Center, Parlier, CA

5:00 p.m. ADJOURN

5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Exhibitor’s reception

5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Haygrowers Auction (organized by CAFA)


Wednesday, December 19, 2007


6:15 a.m. CAFA Breakfast

Main Session: Back-to-the-Basics: Producing Alfalfa A to Z

Moderator: Tim Hays, Evergreen Farm Supply, Los Angeles, CA


Back to the Basics: Producing a Quality Alfalfa Product


8:00 a.m. Harvest Management, Scheduling, and Storage
Steve Orloff, UCCE Siskiyou County Farm Advisor, Yreka, CA

8:25 a.m. Economic Costs of Harvesting Systems
Steve Blank, Financial Mgmt. Specialist, Ag & Resource Economics, University of California, Davis, CA

8:50 a.m. Fundamentals of Forage Quality
Ed DePeters, Animal Science Professor, University of California, Davis, CA

9:15 a.m. Visual Assessment of Forage Quality and Requirements for Different Classes of Livestock
M.J. Bakke, P.A.S., Dairy Nutritionist, Custom Dairy Performance, Clovis, CA

9:40 a.m. BREAK

Main Session: Roundup Ready and Genetically Engineered Alfalfa – What is the Future?

Moderator: Alison Van Eenennaam, Animal Science Department, University of California, Davis

 
10:10 a.m. What Have We Learned from Two Years of RR Alfalfa? – Pros & Cons
Mick Canevari, UCCE San Joaquin County Farm Advisor, Stockton, CA

10:30 a.m. Is It Possible for GE and Non-GE Alfalfa Hay to Coexist?
Dan Putnam, Forage Specialist, University of California, Davis, CA


Should Roundup Ready Alfalfa Be De-Regulated


10:50 a.m. Why Environmental Review for Roundup Ready Alfalfa is Necessary
Kevin Zelig Golden, Staff Attorney, Center for Food Safety, San Francisco, CA

11:10 a.m. Why Roundup Ready Alfalfa Should Be De-Regulated
Mark McCaslin, President, Forage Genetics, Inc., Minneapolis, MN

11:30 a.m. Round Table Discussion (including speakers):
Conventional and Organic Grower
Don Cameron, Terranova Ranch, Helm, CA
Marketing Cooperative
Rick Staas, San Joaquin Valley Haygrowers Assn., Tracy, CA
Organic Dairy
Albert Straus, Straus Dairy, Marshall, CA
Hay Exporter
Jeff Plourd, El Toro Export, El Centro, CA

12:30 p.m. ADJOURN