Event Date
Event Date
Location
Nugget Casino Resort Sparks, NV
December 10-12, 2024
53nd Western Alfalfa & Forage Symposium
View Program
Advances in Irrigation and Water Management Workshop - December 10
| Time | Tuesday, December 10 | Workshop | |
| 8:00─9:00am | Coffee and Refreshments (Workshop Participants Only) | |
| 9:00─6:00pm | Registration Opens | |
| 10:00am | Welcome and Introductions | |
| 10:10am | The Importance of Alfalfa in a Water-Uncertain Future | Daniel Putnam | University of California, Davis |
| 10:30am | Alfalfa Crop Water Requirements | Daniele Zaccaria | University of California, Davis |
| 10:50am | Applied Tools to Design Optimal Deficit Irrigation Strategies in Alfalfa | Ali Montazar | ANR |
| 11:10am | Assessment of Satellite-Derived Crop ET Compared to Actual ET for Mid-Summer Deficit Irrigation Practice in Alfalfa | Moneim Zakaria | ANR |
| 11:30am | Climate Change and SGMA and Impact on Alfalfa and other Forages in the San Joaquin Valley | Tapan Pathak | UCM |
| 12:10pm | Lunch | |
| 1:00pm | The Economics of Deficit Irrigation on Alfalfa | Josué Medellín-Azuara | UCM Khaled Bali | ANR |
| 1:20pm | Water Allocation and Challenges Facing Alfalfa and Pasture in Scott Valley and other Alfalfa Growing Regions in Northern California | Laura Foglia | University of California, Davis |
| 1:40pm | Irrigation Prediction and Scheduling System for Alfalfa and Forages | Tim Hyde | SWAN Systems |
| 2:00pm | Groundwater Recharge on Alfalfa – Scotts Valley | Giuliano Galdi | ANR |
| 2:20pm | Advances in Using Variable Rate Irrigation and Sensors on Alfalfa | Alejandro Andrade-Rodriguez | University of Nevada |
| 2:40pm | Q&A | |
| 3:00pm | Break | |
| 3:10pm | Breeding for Dry Land Alfalfa | Charlie Brummer | University of California, Davis |
| 3:30pm | Advances in Surface Irrigation Management on Alfalfa | Peter Moller | Rubicon Water |
| 3:50pm | Troubleshooting Irrigation Systems | Matt Yost | Utah State University |
| 4:10pm | Growers’ Perspective on Advances in Water Management in Alfalfa and other Forages | Ronnie Leimgruber | Grower, Holtville Jay Dow | Dow Ranch |
| 4:40pm | Discussion | |
| 5:00pm | Adjourn | |
| 5:00─7:00pm | Symposium Welcome Reception | Hors D’oeuvres and Cocktails, Exhibits, Posters, and CA Alfalfa & Forage Research Foundation Auction Bid Sheets |
Main Session - December 11
| Time | Wednesday, December 11 | Main Session | |
| 7:30─6:00pm | Registration Open | |
| 7:30─9:00am | Continental Breakfast | |
| 7:30─7:00pm | Exhibits/Posters/CA Alfalfa & Forage Research Foundation Auction Bid Sheets | |
| Session I 9:00─12:00pm | Economics, Forage, Dairy, Trade and Water Trends | |
| 9:00am | Welcome | Michelle Leinfelder-Miles | UCCE Nicholas Clark | UCCE |
| 9:10am | Status of Western Hay Markets | Josh Callen | The Hoyt Report |
| 9:40am | Hay Export Dynamics: A New World | Scot Courtright | Courtright Enterprises, Inc. |
| 10:10am | Break | |
| 10:40am | California Dairy Economic Update | Paul Sousa | Western United Dairies |
| 11:10am | Drought and Groundwater Regulation: Impacts for Irrigated Agriculture in California | Ellen Bruno, UC Berkeley |
| 11:40am | Understanding the Value of Alfalfa’s Water Productivity and Flexibility | Dan Putnam | UC Davis |
| 12:00pm | Lunch | |
Concurrent Sessions | ||
| Session II Pest Management I | Session III Grass/Alternative Forage Production | |
| 1:30pm | Management of Voles: Is it Possible? Roger Baldwin | UC Davis/UCANR | TBD Melinda Yerka | University of Nevada |
| 1:55pm | TBD Jorge Angeles | UCANR | TBD Charlie Brummer | UC Davis |
| 2:20pm | Changing Trends in NE California Alfalfa Weed Management Rob Wilson | UCANR | TBD Oli Bachie | UCANR |
| 2:45pm | Break | Break |
Concurrent Sessions | ||
| Session IV Pest Management II | Session V Forages, Alternative Feedstuffs and Feeding California’s Dairy Herd | |
| 3:00pm | TBD Ian Grettenberger | UC Davis | Evaluating Effects of Deficit Irrigation Strategies on Forage Sorghum Yields and Nutrient Composition Grown in the San Joaquin Valley of California Jackie Atim | UCANR |
| 3:25pm | TBD Michael Rethwisch | UCCE | Characterization and Usage of Forages on Western Sates Dairies Ralph Ward | Cumberland Valley Analytical Services |
| 3:50pm | TBD Tom Getts | UCCE | Improving the Value of Rice Straw Josh Davy | UCCE |
| 4:15pm | Break | Break |
| Session VI 4:30─5:30pm | What’s New in the Industry - Lightning Talks | |
| 5:00─7:00pm | Benefit Auction Reception | Hors D’oeuvres, Cocktails, Exhibits, Posters, CA Alfalfa & Forage Research Foundation Auction |
Main Session - December 12
| Time | Thursday, December 12 | Main Session | |
| 7:00─8:00pm | Continental Breakfast | |
| 7:00─10:30am | Registration Open, Exhibits Open, Posters on Display | |
| Session VII 8:30─10:00pm | Nutrient Management | |
| 8:30am | Implications of Manure Treatment Technologies on Nutrient Composition | Deanne Meyer | UC Davis/UCANR |
| 8:50am | Practical Applications of Nutrient Management in Alfalfa Production | Danyal Kasapligil | Dellavalle Laboratory Inc. |
| 9:10am | Rotating Alfalfa with Corn and its Implications for Mitigating Nitrogen Leaching | Arshdeep Singh | California State University, Chico |
| 9:30am | Discussion | |
| 10:00am | Break | |
| Session VIII 10:30─12:00pm | Soil Health and Climate-Smart Agriculture Practices | |
| 10:30am | Intercropping Alfalfa Into Young Tree Nut Orchards; Belowground Impacts of Alfalfa in Tree Rows and Middles | Lauren Hale | USDA-ARS, Parlier, CA |
| 10:50am | Application of Compost to Alfalfa to Improve Soil Structure and Soil Nutrient Content | Radomir Schmidt | Institute of the Environment, UC Davis |
| 11:10am | Evaluation of Almond Shell Mulch Application to Established Alfalfa Fields | Sarah Light | UCCE |
| 11:30am | Discussion | |
| 12:00pm | Adjourn Symposium |
Stay up to date with the program at calhaysymposium.com