2003 Alabama Forage Conference

Auburn, Dec. 4, 2003 --- Alabama farmers have the opportunity to hear from a number of national leaders in forage production at the 2003 Alabama Forage Conference.

Dr. Don Ball, a forage agronomist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, said the workshop will be one of the best one-day forage conferences held in the country this year.

“At this conference, livestock producers will have an excellent chance to hear the latest research and information on forages and forage and grazing management from some of the nation’s top authorities,” said Ball. “For example, Dr Jim Gerrish, who recently retired as a forage researcher at the University of Missouri, is one of our speakers. He is widely recognized as one of the nation’s foremost experts on grazing management.”

The Dec. 18 conference will be held at Wallace State College in Hanceville. Registration will begin at 8 a.m.

In addition to a number of university researchers who are on the program, Ball said one speaker will be Kentucky beef producer, Ken Johnson.

“Johnson is a beef producer from near Thompkinsville, Ky. He holds the record for most pounds of beef produced per acre in that state, illustrating his knowledge and ability in forage and grazing management,” he said. “He is also president-elect of the American Forage and Grassland Council.”

The conference will cover diverse aspects of forages and forage production, Ball added.

Dr. Vivien Allen of Texas Tech University will discuss forage productions systems.

Dr. Mike Collins of the University of Kentucky will review his research on hay and silage production. New promising forage varieties and use of forages to produce biomass will also be addressed.

Interested producers can preregister for the conference by sending their names, addresses and the $15 early registration fee to the Alabama Forage and Grassland Coalition, P.O. Box 2499, Montgomery, AL 36102-2499. Preregistration ends Dec. 1. Registration after that date is $20.

For more information, contact Ball at (334) 844-5491 or at dball@aces.edu.

2003 ALABAMA FORAGE CONFERENCE

“PROFIT-ORIENTED FORAGE MANAGEMENT”

WALLACE STATE COLLEGE, HANCEVILLE, ALABAMA

December 18, 2003

8:00 Registration

9:00 Welcome & Opening Remarks

9:15 Grazing Management Opportunities-Jim Gerrish

10:00 Break

10:30 Forage Systems:Playing with Kaleidoscopes-Dr. Vivian Allen

11:15 How Grazing Management Works for Me-Ken Johnson

12:00 Lunch

Luncheon Address-The Other Face of the Planet-Animal Interface-Dr. Monte Rouquette

1:30 Keys to Successful Hay & Round Bale Silage Production-Dr. Mike Collins

2:15 Opportunities with New Forage Varieties-Dr. John Andrae

2:45 Break

3:00 Production of Biomass for Energy-Dr. David Bransby

3:30 Ask the Experts (Question & Answer Session involving all speakers)

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