Organic grower Bill Simon believes in diversification -- in crops and in sales. So he markets part of the 7,000 acres of hay his family operation produces to seven organic dairies but also uses a hay dealer. Simon, Fairfield, ID, will tell how he made his start and where his operation is headed during a grower marketing panel on the second day of the National Alfalfa Symposium, to be held Feb. 4-5.
Tom Bailey, Ephraim, UT, and his brother, Ken, produce and market roughly 200,000 tons of alfalfa and other forage products to markets around the world. Tom, too, will speak on the grower panel. The Bailey Brothers started producing double-compressed bales in different sizes in 1998. He'll talk about their journey from local to international marketers and discuss the growth of their operation to include three hay processing plants.
Kirk Shane, Atkinson, NE, will tell of the challenges of producing and marketing alfalfa in the midst of corn and soybean country. Another grower who believes in diversification, Shane also produces corn, soybeans, wheat and livestock with two brothers, Scott and Todd, and his son, Perry.
The symposium will be held at the Ramada Inn and Conference Center in Kearney, NE, in conjunction with the Nebraska Alfalfa Marketing Association's Mid-America Alfalfa Expo, Feb. 5-6.
For details on the symposium schedule or to register, visit alfalfasymposium.com, or call 800-722-5334, ext. 14695. For information on the expo, visit alfalfaexpo.com/.