University of California Alfalfa Symposia
Alfalfa Leaf Image 2015 Western Alfalfa & Forage Symposium Alfalfa Leaf Image
Producing Forages In A Water Challenged World
December 2-4, 2015 | Reno, NV
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Sponsors

The organizers of the 2015 California Alfalfa & Grains Conference wish to express their heartfelt thanks to the many sponsors of this year's conference.

  • American AgCredit
  • America's Alfalfa
  • Anderson Hay & Grain Co., Inc.
  • Bayer CropScience
  • Bowles Farming Company
  • Eureka Seeds
  • Farmers Business Network
  • Kemin
  • Liphatech, Inc.
  • Netafim USA
  • New Holland Agriculture
  • Progressive Forage Grower
  • Reinke
  • San Joaquin Valley Hay Growers
  • Sierra Testing Service
  • Top hay LLC

2015 Western Alfalfa & Forage Symposium, sponsored by the The UC California Alfalfa & Forage Systems Workgroup & Cooperative Extension Services of AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, OR, UT, WA, WY.

Now in its 45th year, the symposium is planned each year by the California Alfalfa & Forage Systems Workgroup, made up of University of California Farm Advisors and Scientists in UC Cooperative Extension, along with grower and industry liaison members. The comprehensive conference covered many aspects of alfalfa, forage & grains management from economics to pest management, irrigation and utilization. Videos, papers, and slidesets related to the presentations have been posted below.

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Wednesday, December 2


8:00am-3:30pm Irrigation Workshop:
Principles of Irrigation Management in Forages
(Click here for Videos & PDF's of the Irrigation Workshop)

Thursday, December 3

Main Sessions

Economics and Markets - Grande Expo C: Lower Level

Moderator Jay Davison, University of Nevada, Reno, NV
8:10 Hay Situation in 2015 and Outlook for 2016 in the Western States Seth Hoyt, The Hoyt Report, Ione, CA Video Paper (PDF) Slides (PDF)
8:40 Dairy Trends as Affecting Hay and Feed Prices Bob Naerebout, Idaho Dairymen’s Association, Boise, ID Video Slides (PDF)
9:10 The Recent Economics of Drought, Milk, Exports, and Western Hay Markets Dan Sumner and Bill Matthews, Ag Issues Center, University of California, Davis, CA Video Paper (PDF) Slides (PDF)

Water and Irrigation

Moderator Dan Putnam, University of California, Davis, CA
10:10 Strategies to Improve Productivity in a Water-Stressed Future Steven R. Evett, USDA-ARS, Bushland, TX Video Paper (PDF) Slides (PDF)
10:50 California’s Agricultural Regions Gear Up to Actively Manage Groundwater Use and Protection Thomas Harter, University of California, Davis, CA Video Paper (PDF) Slides (PDF)
11:20 Impacts of Climate Change on Surface Water Supplies Rick Allen, University of Idaho, Kimberly, ID Video Slides (PDF)

Breakout Session IAlfalfa Pest Management and Production - Grande Expo C: Lower Level

Moderators Rachael Long and Vonny Barlow, UC Cooperative Extension, Woodland, CA and Blythe, CA
1:30 Alfalfa Integrated Pest Management Vonny Barlow, UC Cooperative Extension, Blythe, CA Video Paper (PDF)
1:50 Toxic Plants to Livestock Steven Gallego, California Department of Food & Agriculture, Sacramento, CA Paper (PDF) Slides (PDF)
2:10 Weed Management in Grasses Earl Creech, Utah State University, Logan, UT Video Slides (PDF)
2:30 Recent Developments in Alfalfa Weed Control: Glyphosate-Induced Injury in RR Alfalfa and Sharpen Herbicide Steve Orloff, UC Cooperative Extension, Yreka, CA Video Paper (PDF) Slides (PDF)
3:30 Management Options for Blue Alfalfa Aphids in California Alfalfa Larry Godfrey, University of California, Davis, CA Video Paper (PDF) Slides (PDF)
3:50 Biology and Management of Clover Root Curculio and Stem Nematode In Alfalfa Ricardo Ramirez, Utah State University, Logan, UT Video Paper (PDF) Slides (PDF)
4:10 Developing an IPM Program for Controlling Pocket Gophers and Voles in Alfalfa Roger Baldwin, University of California, Davis, CA Video Paper (PDF) Slides (PDF)
4:30 Managing Foliar and Root Rot Diseases of Alfalfa for Improving Yield and Persistence Deborah Samac, USDA/ARS, St. Paul, MN Video Paper (PDF) Slides (PDF)

Breakout Session IIAlternative Forage CropsModerator Anowar Islam, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY

1:30 Cutting Irrigated Hay Costs by Using Soybeans Steve Norberg, Washington State University, Pasco, WA Paper (PDF) Slides (PDF)
1:50 Adopting Cover Crops for Soil Improvement and Grazing Steven Hines, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID Paper (PDF)Slides (PDF) Slides (PDF)
2:10 Cereal Forages: A Tool in Managing Limited Water Resources David Wichman, CARC-Montana State University, Moccasin, MT Paper (PDF) Slides (PDF)
2:30 Grass, Legumes, and Grass-Legume Mixtures: Yield, Nutritive Value, and Soil Water Use Anowar Islam, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY Paper (PDF) Slides (PDF)
3:30 Sorghum: An Alternative Feed, Hay, and Forage Jeff Dahlberg, University of California, Parlier, CA
Paper (PDF) Slides (PDF)
3:50 Teff Hay: Recent Observations in the Southwest Mark Marsalis, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM Paper (PDF) Slides (PDF)
4:10 Using Chlorophyll Meter and Tissue Testing to Determine In-Season Nitrogen Needs in Timothy Hay Production Steve Norberg, Washington State University, Pasco, WA Paper (PDF) Slides (PDF)
4:30 Alfalfa Contributes More Nitrogen to Following Crop than Previously Thought Eric Lin, University of California, Davis, CA Paper (PDF) Slides (PDF)

Friday, December 4

Main Sessions

Forage Quality and Utilization

Moderator: Juan Solomon, University of Nevada, Reno, NV
8:00 Producing High Quality Hay for Horses Emily Glunk, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT Video Paper (PDF) Slides (PDF)
8:25 Forage Quality and Utilization: Total Track NDF Digestibility David Combs, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI Video Paper (PDF) Slides (PDF)
8:50 Forage Quality and Dairy Production: What Quality Attributes do we look for and why? Jed Asmus, January Innovations Inc., Lodi, CA Video Paper (PDF) Slides (PDF)
9:15 Uniform Sampling Protocols for Single– and Double-Compressed Hay and Detection of a GMO Trait Dan Putnam, University of California, Davis, CA Video Paper (PDF) Slides (PDF)

Hay Harvesting/Hay Management

Moderator: Mylen Bohle, Oregon State University, Prineville, OR
10:30 Costs of Owning/Operating Harvest Equipment Ben Eborn, University of Idaho, Soda Springs, ID Video Slides (PDF)
10:55 Influence of Harvesting Technologies on Quality and Yield Dan Undersander, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI Video Paper (PDF) Slides (PDF)
11:20 Humidity, Hay Moisture, and Harvest Management Paul Brown, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ Video Paper (PDF) Slides (PDF)
11:45 Hay Preservation and Storage Losses Glenn Schewmaker, University of Idaho, Kimberly, ID Video Paper (PDF) Slides (PDF)

CONTINUING EDUCATION The following CE credits have been approved. Please sign in/out of each session you attend to be eligible for credits. Sign in sheets will be provided in the meeting rooms of each qualifying session.

Certified Crop Advisor Approved CEUs:
Dec. 2 Irrigation Management Workshop: 8 hours Soil & Water Management
Dec. 3 Morning Session: 1.5 hrs. Soil & Water Management; 1.5 hrs. Professional Development
Dec. 3 Breakout: Alternative Forage Crops: 1 hr. Nutrient Management.; 1.5 hrs. Soil & Water Management; 1.5 hrs. Crop Management
Dec. 3 Breakout: Pest Management: 3.5 hrs. Integrated Pest Management
Dec. 4 Morning Session: 2 hrs. Nutrient Management; 2 hrs. Crop Management
Manure Management: 0
Field Tour: 4 hours professional Development (Educational Tour)

CALIFORNIA Pest Control Advisors
Dec 3. Breakout: Pest Management: 2.5 hrs. “Other”; 0.5 hrs. “Pest Laws/Regulations”

OREGON Pesticide Applicators
Dec. 3 Breakout: Pest Management: 2 hrs.

NEVADA Pesticide Applicators
Dec. 3 Breakout: Pest Management: 3 hrs. “General”; 0.5 hrs. “Law”

Soil & Water Management Care
8 hours CCA continuing education credits for workshop