The recent National Alfalfa & Forage Alliance (NAFA) Washington fly-in kept nearly 50 growers and industry representatives busy visiting congressional members and staffers, hosting a reception and attending nearly 100 meetings while promoting alfalfa and other forages.
“It was a success,” says Beth Nelson, president of NAFA, which organized the Feb. 14-17 fly-in.
The NAFA delegation presented research findings from the Noble Foundation, the U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center, the University of California and from USDA-Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to the House and Senate.
Growers and industry representatives also met with congressional staff members and various governmental offices. Those included the U.S. Trade Representative office, the Environmental Protection Agency, ARS, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Risk Management Agency and National Agricultural Statistics Service.
They discussed research funding, how forage yields are accounted for and seed export issues, among other topics.