The Western Hay Business Conference & Expo, in Loveland, CO, draws near. On Nov. 29-30, commercial hay growers and industry folk will gather to hear speakers tell them how to improve their marketing skills, combat rising costs and expand hay sales. Nearly 50 hay product marketers will also be on hand at the exhibit hall at The Ranch, Larimer County Events Complex.

Program topics and speakers include:

• “Opening An Alfalfa Market In Vietnam,” Pete Moss, dairy extension specialist, Auburn University;
• “Designing Specific Hay Products To Boost Hay Sales To Dairy And Horse Markets,” Ken Vaupel, president, Alfagreen, Toledo, OH;
• “Marketing Bagged Hay Silage To Large Dairies,” Jared Anderson, Colorado hay grower, Haxtun, CO;
• “Demand For Organic Hay Soars, But Is It Worth The Trouble?” Bill Wailes, Colorado State University dairy specialist, and Barney Little, hay buyer for Aurora Organic Dairy;
• “Selling To The Fast-Growing Horse Market,” Tim Stanton, CSU, and Don Kurtz, Colorado hay grower;
• “Designing Alfalfa For Better Performance In Dairy Rations,” Joe Bouton, Noble Foundation, and Mike Velde, Dairyland Seed alfalfa breeder;
• “Getting The Most Alfalfa Out Of The Least Water,” Dan Smith, CSU extension;
• “Computerize Your Hay Business,” Fred Darland, Hay Software Inc, Mendocino, CA;
• “Ready Or Not: Roundup Ready Alfalfa Is Here, But Is It Right For You?” Bob Wilson, Panhandle Experiment Station, Scottsbluff, NE, and Mark McCaslin, president of Forage Genetics;
• “Conservation-Friendly Seedbed Establishment,” Bob Wilson, Panhandle Experiment Station, and Bob Leonard, Colorado hay grower, Brush, CO;
• “RFV Vs RFQ And Ways Around Variable Lab Tests,” Glenn Shewmaker, extension forage specialist, Idaho State University, and Don Meyer, Rock River Laboratory, Watertown, WI.