
2019 California Alfalfa & Forage Symposium
Optimizing Yield and Quality in Irrigated Forages
Forage Irrigation Workshop
November 19th - November 21th, 2019 | Reno, NV
Sponsors
The organizers of the 2019 California Alfalfa & Grains Conference wish to express their heartfelt thanks to the many sponsors of this year's conference.
2019 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 49th 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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Schedule of Events
DAY ONE - Tuesday, November 19th
8:30am-5:15pm
FORAGE IRRIGATION WORKSHOP
Overview: Water and irrigation management is a key aspect of high yield, high quality alfalfa
production. This one-day workshop is a primer on the skills necessary for managing irrigation on your
farm for high quality forage production.
View Workshop Papers (PDF) & Videos
DAY TWO - Wednesday, November 20th
Forage Cropping Systems, Water and Environment
Moderator: Glenn Shewmaker, University of Idaho, Kimberly, ID
8:00am
Welcome
William Payne, Dean, College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources, University of Nevada, Reno, NV
Video
8:05am
Implications of Climate Change Predictions on Forage Production in Western States
Alan Rotz, USDA-ARS and University of Pennsylvania, College Station, PA
Video
Slides (PDF)
8:30am
Rotation Studies with Alfalfa, Small Grains and Corn
Earl Creech, Utah State University, Logan, UT
Video
Slides (PDF)
8:50am
Benefits of Alfalfa in Crop Rotations
Nicole Tautges, University of California, Davis, CA
Video
Slides (PDF)
9:30am
Experiments with Flooding Tolerance of Alfalfa for Groundwater Recharge
Helen Dahlke, University of California, Davis, CA
Video
Slides (PDF)
Economics and Industry Trends
Moderator: Earl Creech, Utah State University, Logan, UT
10:30am
Western Dairy Industry Trends
Rick Naerbout, Idaho Dairymen’s Association, Twin Falls, ID
Video
Slides (PDF)
10:50am
Hay Industry Trends
Josh Callen, The Hoyt Report, Twin Falls, ID
Video
Slides (PDF)
11:10am
World Trends in Hay Exports
Bill Matthews, University of California, Davis, CA
Video
Slides (PDF)
11:30am
Grazing Systems on 3 Million Hectares (7.4 million acres) in Argentina
Daniel Basigalup, Alfalfa Breeder, INTA, Cordoba, Argentina
Video
Slides (PDF)
1:30pm-5:00pm
SYMPOSIUM BREAKOUT SESSIONS - 2 sessions run concurrently
Breakout 1: Pest Management
Moderator: Rachael Long, Uuniversity of California Cooperative Extension, Woodland, CA and
Sarah Light, University of California Cooperative Extension, Yuba City, CA
1:30pm
Clover Root Curculio Biology and Control
Steven Price, Utah State University, Logan, UT
Video
Paper (PDF)
1:50pm
Insecticide Resistance in Alfalfa Weevil and Related Implications for other Alfalfa
Insect Pests
Michael Rethwisch, University of California Cooperative Extension, Blythe, CA
Video
Slides (PDF)
2:10pm
Approaching IPM Program for Alfalfa Winter Insect Pests of Southwest Desert
Ayman Mostafa, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Video
Slides (PDF)
2:30pm
Sugarcane Aphid and Potential Strategies for Control
Nick Clark, University of California Cooperative Extension, Hanford, CA
Video
Slides (PDF)
DISCUSSION - Breakout 1
Video
3:30pm
Precise Control of Rodents in Alfalfa Fields Using Drones
Yoav Motro, Israel Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; and Tomer Regev, Alta
Innovation
Video
Slides (PDF)
3:50pm
Developing an Effective Management Program for Belding’s Ground Squirrels in
Alfalfa
Roger Baldwin, University of California, Davis, CA
Video
Slides (PDF)
4:10pm
Managing Weeds in Seedling and Established Alfalfa Stands
Earl Creech, Utah State University, Logan, UT
Video
Slides (PDF)
4:30pm
Glyphosate Injury in Roundup Ready Alfalfa
Tom Getts, University of California Cooperative Extension, Lassen County, CA
Video
Slides (PDF)
DISCUSSION - Breakout 2
Video
Breakout 2: Grazing & Forages Beyond Alfalfa
Moderator: Steve Norberg, Washington State University, Pasco, WA and Mylen Bohle, Oregon State
University, Prineville, OR
1:30pm
Optimizing Management of Small Grain Forages
Michael Ottman, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Video
Slides (PDF)
1:50pm
Simulated Grazing Timing and Regrowth of Annual Cereal Forage Cover Crops
Carmen Willmore, University of Idaho, Shoshone, ID
Slides (PDF)
2:10pm
In-Season Management of N in Timothy
Steve Norberg, Washington State University, Pasco, WA
Video
Slides (PDF)
2:30pm
Teff as a Forage Crop
Natalie Shaw, Washington State University, Prosser, WA
Video
Slides (PDF)
3:00pm
BREAK
3:30pm
Rhodes Grass: A Potential Alternative Forage for the Low Desert
Oli Bachie, University of California Cooperative Extension, Holtville, CA
Video
Slides (PDF)
3:50pm
Corn and Sorghum as Forages: Water and N Implications
Nick Clark, University of California Cooperative Extension, Hanford, CA
Video
Slides (PDF)
4:10pm
Utilization of Sugarbeet as a Forage Crop
Steve Kaffka, University of California, Davis, CA
Video
Slides (PDF)
DISCUSSION - Breakout 2
Video
DAY THREE - Thursday, November 21th
FORAGE QUALITY MINI-SYMPOSIUM MAIN SESSION
Co-Sponsored by NIRS Consortium & National Forage Testing Association
Session I: Why Forage Testing?
Moderator: Mike Trammel, Noble Research Institute, Ardmore, OK
8:00am
Importance of Forage Testing: Linkage of Forage Quality to Markets and Profitability
Dan Putnam, University of California, Davis, CA
Video
Slides (PDF)
8:20am
Horse Nutrition Requirements and What to Test?
Natalie Shaw, University of Washington, Prosser, WA
Video
Slides (PDF)
8:45am
Importance of Fiber and Digestibility Analysis to Predict Animal Performance
Dave Mertens, Dairy Nutritionist, Mertens Innovation and Research, Belleville, WI
Video
Slides (PDF)
9:15am
Representing the Value of Energy, Protein and Fiber in Feedstuffs
Bill Weiss, The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH
Video
Slides (PDF)
DISCUSSION - Session 1
Video
Session II: Lab Testing and Sampling
Moderator: Juan Solomon, University of Nevada, Reno, NV
10:30am
Key Hay and Silage Sampling Protocols
Jody Gale, Utah State University, Richfield, UT
Video
Slides (PDF)
10:50am
How to Choose a High Quality Laboratory & Common Abuses of Forage Quality Testing
Glenn Shewmaker, University of Idaho, Kimberly, ID
Video
11:10am
Standardization of Forage Testing and NFTA Certification
Ralph Ward, Cumberland Valley Analytical Services, Waynesboro, PA
Video
11:30am
Misconceptions of NIRS Analysis
Bobbi jo Anderson, NIRS Consortium, Hillsboro, WI
Video
Session III: Interpretation of Lab Tests
Moderator: Dave Mickelson, S&W Seed, Arlington, WI
1:00pm
Quantifying the Potential Increase in Alfalfa Value and Identifying Molecular Markets that
Influence It
Steve Norberg, Washington State University, Pasco, WA
Video
1:20pm
Importance of Dry Matter to Researchers and Producers
David McIntosh, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Video
1:40pm
Future of Forage Testing: What will the Future Bring?
Panel Discussion Moderated by Patty Laskowski Morren
Bill Weiss, Ohio State University, Wooster, OH
Ralph Ward, Cumberland Valley Analytical Services, Waynesboro, PA
Dave Mertens, Mertens Innovation and Research, Belleville, WI
Bobbi jo Anderson, NIRS Consortium, Hillsboro, WI
David Weakley, Forage Genetics International, Gray Summit, MO
Video