2017 Western Alfalfa & Forage Symposium
Producing Quality Forages in the West
Quick Summary
- 2017 Western Alfalfa & Forage Symposium, November 28th - November 30th, 2017 | Reno, NV, sponsored by the The UC California Alfalfa & Forage Systems Workgroup & Cooperative Extension Services of AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, OR, UT, WA, WY.
- Now in its 47th year, the symposium is planned each year by the California Alfalfa & Forage Systems Workgroup, made up of University of California Farm Advisors and Scientists in UC Cooperative Extension, along with grower and industry liaison members.
- The comprehensive conference covered many aspects of alfalfa, forage & grains management from economics to pest management, irrigation and utilization. Videos, papers, and slidesets related to the presentations have been posted below.
Schedule of Events
Day One - Tuesday, November 28th
6:30am-7:00pm Symposium and Exhibitor Registration
8:00am-5:00pm ALFALFA HAY QUALITY WORKSHOP (Workshop Chairs Shannon Mueller, University of California Cooperative Extension, Fresno, CA and Glenn Shewmaker, University of Idaho, Kimberly, ID)
View Workshop Papers (PDF) & Videos
5:30pm-7:30pm SYMPOSIUM WELCOME RECEPTION WITH EXHIBITORS Cocktails and Hors D'oevures. Exhibits open.
Day Two - Wednesday, November 29th
8:00am Welcome and Introduction William Payne, Dean, College of Agriculture, University of Nevada, Reno
Economics and Markets
Moderator: Brandon Fawaz, Fawaz Farms, Etna, CA
8:10am Current Trends in the Hay and Forage Markets Seth Hoyt, The Hoyt Report, Ione, CA Video • Slides (PDF) [†] • Paper (PDF) [†]
8:35am Important Market Trends with California and US Dairy Markets Tiffany LaMendola, Blimling Associates, Jamestown, CA Slides (PDF) [†]
9:00am Demographics and Long Term Outlook for Western Beef, Sheep, and Horses and their Importance for the Forage Industry Tim DelCurto, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT Video • Slides (PDF) [†] • Paper (PDF) [†]
9:25am The Emerging Farm Bill and its Implications for Western Dairy and Forage Dan Sumner, Ag. Issues Center, University of California, Davis, CA Video • Slides (PDF) [†] • Paper (PDF) [†]
9:50am DISCUSSION Video
Alfalfa Yield and Quality, Yield Gap, and Genetic Innovations
Moderator: Mark Marsalis, New Mexico State University, Los Lunas, NM
10:30am Genetics for Drought Tolerance in Alfalfa Ian Ray, NM State Univ., Las Cruces, NM Video • Slides (PDF) [†]
10:55am Alfalfa Yield Gap – How big is it and what is its economic significance? Michael Russelle, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN Video • Slides (PDF) [†] • Paper (PDF) [†]
11:20 Alfalfa Yield Gap ‐ What is holding us back? Charlie Brummer, University of California, Davis, CA Video • Slides (PDF) [†]
11:45am DISCUSSION Video
12:10pm SYMPOSIUM LUNCH - Jim Kunh Award
1:30pm-5:00pm SYMPOSIUM MAIN SESSION
Alfalfa Production and Pest Management I
Moderator: Anowar Islam, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY
1:30pm Fertilizing Alfalfa for High Yields Nick Clark, University of California Cooperative Extension, Hanford, CA Video • Slides (PDF) [†]
1:50pm Strategies for Aphid Management in Alfalfa Ayman Mostafa, Univ. of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Phoenix, AZ Video • Paper (PDF) [†]
2:10pm Controlling Alfalfa Weevils—Efficacy, Thresholds and Future Needs Rachael Long, University of California Cooperative Extension, Woodland, CA Video • Slides (PDF) [†] • Paper (PDF) [†]
2:30pm Using Zinc Phosphide‐Coated Cabbage to Manage Belding’s Ground Squirrels in Hay Crops Roger Baldwin, University of California, Davis, CA Video • Slides (PDF) [†] • Paper (PDF) [†]
2:50pm DISCUSSION
Alfalfa Production and Pest Management II
Moderator: Rachael Long, University of California Cooperative Extension, Woodland, CA
3:30pm Poisonous Weeds And Toxic Factors In Hay Crops: Why You Should Worry Birgit Puschner University of California, Davis, CA Video • Slides (PDF) [†] • Paper (PDF) [†]
3:50pm An IPM Approach To Managing Annual Grasses In Grass Hay And Pasture Tim Prather, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID Video • Slides (PDF) [†] • Paper (PDF) [†]
4:10pm New Herbicides for Winter Annual Weed Control in Alfalfa Earl Creech, Utah State University, Logan, UT Video • Slides (PDF) [†]
4:30pm DISCUSSION Moderated by Tim Hays, Moderator, Lancaster, CA/span> Video
5:30pm-7:00pm EXHIBITOR RECEPTION AND AUCTION BENEFITING CA ALFALFA & FORAGE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
DAY 3 - Thursday, November 30th
8:00am-12:30pm SYMPOSIUM MAIN SESSION
Exports, Quality, & Irrigation
Moderator: Steve Norberg, Washington State University, Pasco, WA
8:05am Reduced Lignin Alfalfa: Research Update and Implications to Harvest Management Mark Sulc, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
8:30am Hay Export Dynamics in the West Coast USA Bill Matthews, Ag Issues Center, University of California, Davis, CA Video • Slides (PDF) [†] • Paper (PDF) [†]
8:55am Demographics and Long Term Outlook for Western Beef, Sheep, and Horses and their Importance for the Forage Industry Alan Hallman, USDA ‐ Foreign Agricultural Service, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Video
9:20am Benefits and Impacts of Partial Season Irrigation on Alfalfa Production Perry Cabot, Joe Brummer, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO and Neil Hansen, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT Video • Slides (PDF) [†] • Paper (PDF) [†]
9:45am DISCUSSION Video
10:30am Deficit Irrigation with Alfalfa: What Are the Economics? Mike Ottman, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ & Dan Putnam, University of California, Davis, CA Video • Slides (PDF) [†] • Paper (PDF) [†]
10:55am Principles of Drip Irrigation with Alfalfa Dan Putnam, University of California, Davis, CA Video • Slides (PDF) [†] • Paper (PDF) [†]
11:15am What I’ve Learned from Implementing Drip Irrigation on my Farm Nate Ray, DeJager Farms, Chowchilla, CA Video • Slides (PDF) [†] • Paper (PDF) [†]
11:35am Innovations in Center Pivot Irrigation with Hay Crops Troy Peters, Washington State University, Prosser, WA Video • Slides (PDF) [†] • Paper (PDF) [†]
11:55am Implementing Advances in Pivot Irrigation on my Farm Drex Gauntt, Gauntt Farms, Kennewick, WA Video • Slides (PDF) [†]
12:10pm DISCUSSION Video
CONTINUING EDUCATIONThe following CE credits have been approved. Please sign in/out of each session you attend to be eligible for credits. Sign in sheets will be provided in the meeting rooms of each qualifying session.
Certified Crop Advisor
- 4.5 hours Soil & Water Management
- 3.0 hours Integrated Pest Management
- 8.5 hours Crop Management
- 3.0 hours Professional Development
Pesticide CE Credits
- Arizona: 2.5 hours
- California: 4 hours
- Oregon: 3 hours
- Nevada: 4.5 hours
- Montana: 4 hours
- Idaho: 3 hours
- Utah: 4.5 hours
- Washington: 3.5 hours
The organizers of the 2017 California Alfalfa & Grains Conference wish to express their heartfelt thanks to the many sponsors of this year's conference.
- HarvXtra Alfalfa
- Bowles Farming Company
- San Joaquin Valley Hay Growers
- Western Ag Enterprises Inc.
- America’s Alfalfa
- Anderson Hay & Grain Co., Inc.
- Audubon California
- Farm Credit
- Hay & Forage Grower
- Penergetic Solutions
- Progressive Forage Grower
- Reinke
- Sierra Testing Service
- Toro Ag