The Feb. 16-17 Idaho Alfalfa and Forage Conference will cover the latest in alfalfa technology while the Wisconsin 2010 Grazing Conference, set for Feb. 18-20, will key in on cutting-edge grazing advancements.
To be held at the Best Western Burley Inn, Burley, the Idaho meeting, hosted by the Idaho Hay and Forage Association, will focus on alfalfa tissue-testing, reduced-lignin alfalfa, the status of Roundup Ready alfalfa and pesticide concerns.
But it will also discuss how dairies are surviving and how that will impact forages; transitioning to organic hay production; reducing inputs to improve profits; irrigation management; and forage options that include triticale, pearl millet and turnips. Silage management, additives, corn silage yields and phosphorus uptake and bunker covers are other session topics.
The grazing conference, organized by GrassWorks Inc., will be held at Hotel Mead & Conference Center, Wisconsin Rapids. It will cover mob grazing, fencing and watering options, grazing genetics for beef, government programs that impact graziers, the economics of irrigating and the pros and cons of outwintering animals.
Basic sessions will cover whether grazing is feasible and what may be needed to start grazing. An open forum will allow the audience to share its best and worst grazing mistakes.
Full registration for the grazing meeting is $150 for members and $200 for non-members if pre-registered by Feb. 10. Visit www.grassworks.org, call 715-289-4896 or email grassheather@hotmail.com.
Registration will cost $145, if registered by Feb. 5, for the entire Idaho conference and include association membership. An additional $30 late fee will be required if registering after Feb. 5.
For details, contact Glenn Shewmaker at 208-736-3608 or gshew@uidaho.edu or visit www.idahohay.com.