ALABAMA A&M and AUBURN UNIVERSITIES

NEW FORAGE BOOK AVAILABLE

AUBURN, AUG. 12---Dr. Don Ball, an agronomist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, has been writing a monthly column on forage crops and their management for more than 20 years. Cattle producers across the state look forward to his column in the Alabama Cattleman’s Magazine.

Recently, Ball selected 45 from his more than 250 columns for inclusion in a new book titled Practical Forage Concepts. The 161-page book is divided into nine sections featuring photographs and key thoughts highlighted in focus boxes.

"It’s not a reference book," says Ball, who is a full professor in Auburn University’s Department of Agronomy. "It focuses on the concepts of sound forage grass management.

"I hope it will help producers increase their overall understanding of forages and develop insights on ways to improve their own forage grass and legume production."

The book targets several areas including seeding and establishment; forage legumes; grazing insights and pasture ecology. In addition, articles were chosen based on their relevance to the current forage-livestock situation in Alabama and were edited to ensure timeliness.

"Because of the brevity of chapters, the book doesn’t require extensive time to read," says Ball. "It’s well-suited to be read a chapter or two at a time when you have only a few minutes of reading time."

The book can be purchased for $10 plus $2 shipping from the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, who underwrote the book’s publication. Contact the Cattlemen’s Association at (334) 265-1867 or mail your order and payment to:

Alabama Cattlemen’s Association,

P.O. Box 2499,

Montgomery, AL 36102-2499