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Alfalfa Leaf Image 2023 Western Alfalfa & Forage Symposium Alfalfa Leaf Image
December 10 - 12, 2023 - Sparks, NV
Proceedings & Video
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Sponsors

The organizers of the 2023 Western Alfalfa & Forage Symposium wish to express their heartfelt thanks to the many sponsors of this year's conference.


DAY ONE - Tuesday, December 12, 2023


Session I. Fertilizer Outlook and Trends
 (Moderator: Matt Yost, Utah State University)

8:00am Importance of Fertilizers and Soil Fertility in Forages Daniel Putnam, University of California, Davis - Davis, CA Video Slides (pdf)
8:20am Role of Fertilizers to Promote Soil Health Christopher W. Rogers, USDA-ARS
8:50am Regenerative Agriculture, Soil Health, and Nutrient Inputs Andrew McGuire, Washington State University - Moses Lake, WA Video Slides (pdf)

Session II. Sampling, Diagnosis, and Decisions (Sampling Breakout Sessions)
 (Moderator: Mark Nelson, Utah State University)

9:20am Soils Sampling Whole Fields and Site-Specific Management Matt Yost, Utah State University - Logan, UT Slides (pdf)
10:15am Alfalfa Fertility Problem Challenge (Med Season) Grant Cardon, Utah State University - Logan, UT
10:45am Alfalfa Fertility Problem Challenge (Long Season) Tim Hays, Buttonwillow Industries - Buttonwillow, CA Dan Putnam, University of California, Davis - Davis, CA Video Slides (pdf)
11:15am Cool Season Grass Problem Challenge Steve Norberg, Washington State University - Pasco, WA Video Slides (pdf)
11:45am Small Grain Forage Problem Challenge Mark Lundy, University of California, Davis - Davis, CA Video Slides (pdf) Paper (pdf)

Session III. Economics
 (Moderator: Jody Gale, Utah State University)

1:15pm Performance of Public and Private Fertilizer Recommendations Matt Yost, Utah State University - Logan, UT Video Slides (pdf)
1:45pm Effects of Soil Fertility on Alfalfa Forage Quality Steve Norberg, Washington State University - Pasco, WA Video Slides (pdf) Paper (pdf)
2:15pm Economics of P and K Applications in Alfalfa Jon Paul Driver, Washington State University - Usk, WA Video Slides (pdf)
2:45pm Optimizing Fertilizer Applications in Forage Crops Tim Hays, Buttonwillow Industries - Buttonwillow, CA Video Slides (pdf)

Session IV. Soil Amendments
 (Moderator: Jared Spackman, University of Idaho)

3:30pm Precipitated Calcium Carbonate as a Lime Amendment Jared Spackman, University of Idaho - Aberdeen, ID Video Slides (pdf)
3:45pm Manure and Organic Amendments Best Practices Abigail Baxter, USDA-ARS - Kimberly, ID
4:15pm Saline and Sodic Soil Management Matt Yost, Utah State University - Logan, UT Video Slides (pdf)
4:45pm Issues/Problems from the Audience, Including Questions from the Audience

DAY TWO - Wednesday, December 13, 2023


Session I. Economics, Dairy, Trade, and Water Trends
 (Moderator: Daniel Putnam, University of California, Davis)

8:00am Welcome Daniel Putnam, University of California, Davis - Davis, CA
8:05am Hay Industry Economic Trends Josh Callen, The Hoyt Report - Twin Falls, ID Video Slides (pdf)
8:30ma Hay Export Dynamics Scot Courtright, Courtright Enterprises, Inc. - Moses Lake, WA Video Slides (pdf)
8:55am The Needs of Western Dairy Farmers and How Alfalfa Can Help Bruce Richards, Utah State University - Logan, UT Video Slides (pdf)
9:20am New Markets for Alfalfa Jo Heuschele, USDA-ARS - St. Paul, MN Video Slides (pdf) Paper (pdf)
9:45am Discussion Video

Session II. Irrigation and Water Storage
 (Moderator: Matt Yost, Utah State University)

10:30am Dynamics of the Western Water Outlook for 2024 Jeff Silvertooth, University of Arizona - Tucson, AZ Video Slides (pdf)
11:00am Intermittent Agricultural Managed Aquifer Recharge (Ag-MAR) on Alfalfa Khaled Bali, UC Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center - Parlier, CA Video Slides (pdf)
11:30am Adjusting Alfalfa to Highly Variable Water Supplies: Deficit Irrigation Strategies Daniel Putnam, University of California, Davis - Davis, CA Video Slides (pdf) Paper (pdf)
11:45am Discussion Video

Session III. Pest Management
 (Moderator: Curtis Rainbolt, BASF)

1:20pm Alfalfa Weevils Across the Western United States are Resistant to Multiple Type II Pyrethroid Insecticides Erika Rodbell, Corteva Agriscience Video Slides (pdf) Paper (pdf)
1:40pm Update on Low Desert Alfalfa Insects and Their Control Michael Rethwisch, University of California Cooperative Extension - Blythe, CA Video Slides (pdf) Paper (pdf)
2:00pm Comparison of Methods of Controlling Pocket Gophers Mark Nelson, Utah State University - Beaver, UT Video Slides (pdf)
2:20pm Panel: Emerging Threats (And How to Beat Them) in 2024 Earl Creech, Utah State University Giuliano C. Galdi, UCCE Michael Rethwisch, UCCE Rulon Fowers, Circle F Farms Video
2:40pm Use of Drones for Weed Management Earl Creech, Utah State University - Logan, UT Video Slides (pdf)
2:50pm Discussion Video

Session IV. Forage Quality
 (Moderator: Jody Gale, Utah State University)

3:30pm Key Measurements for Forage Quality Dave Taysom, Dairyland Labs Inc. - Arcadia, WI Video Slides (pdf)
3:50pm Influence of Fall Dormancy on Alfalfa Quality Steve Norberg, Washington State University - Pasco, WA Video Slides (pdf) Paper (pdf)
4:10pm Combination of Alfalfa & Almond Hulls for Improved Forage Quality Katie Swanson, University of California - Davis, CA Video Slides (pdf)
4:30pm Steaming Impacts on Alfalfa Yield Loss and Forage Quality Earl Creech, Utah State University - Logan, UT Video Slides (pdf)
4:50pm Discussion Video

DAY THREE - Thursday, December 14, 2023


Session V. Soil Health and Fertility, Forage Systems, and Environment
 (Moderator: Hayes Goosey, Montana State University)

8:00am Impacts of Soil Wetting Agents and Biologicals on Forage Production Matt Yost, Utah State University - Logan, UT Video Slides (pdf) Paper (pdf)
8:25am Interseeding Cover Crop into Silage Corn Grown on Wide Row Spacings Steven Hines, University of Idaho - Jerome, ID Slides (pdf) Paper (pdf)
8:50am Determining Temporal Changes in Soil Salinity in Forage Fields under Long Term Irrigation with Saline Drainage Water Sharon Benes, California State University, Fresno - Fresno, CA Video Slides (pdf) Paper (pdf)
9:15am Yield, Water Productivity & Nutritional Values Response of Alfalfa to Irrigation frequency & Cutting Schedules in California's Central Valley Sultan Begna, USDA-ARS - Parlier, CA Video Slides (pdf) Paper (pdf)
9:40am Discussion Video

Session VI. Agronomic Practices
 (Moderator: Juan Solomon, University of Nevada, Reno)

10:30am Planting Configurations and Irrigation Regimes Affect Yield, Quality, and Economic Returns of Alfalfa-grass Mixtures Anowar Islam, New Mexico State University - Las Cruces, NM Video Slides (pdf) Paper (pdf)
11:00am Alternative Forage Options Mark Marsalis, New Mexico State University - Los Lunas, NM Video Slides (pdf) Paper (pdf)
11:50am Discussion Video

Poster Abstracts


SALINITY AND CULTIVAR EFFECTS ON ALFALFA FORAGE YIELD AND NUTRITIVE VALUE IN A MEDITTERANEAN CLIMATE Aaron W. Anderson Paper (pdf)
EVALUATING ZINC REQUIREMENTS OF CORN, SMALL GRAINS, AND ALFALFA Megan Baker Paper (pdf)
EFFECTS OF SOIL ACTIVE HERBICIDES ON THE CRITICAL TIMING OF WEED REMOVAL IN ESTABLISHMENT ALFALFA Clint W Beiermann Paper (pdf)
EVALUATION OF ROCK PHOSPHATE WITH ELEMENTAL SULFUR AND AMORPHOUS SILICA IN DRYLAND ALFALFA Jackie Pondolfino Paper (pdf)
ASSESSING SULFUR FERTILIZATION TO IMPROVE STATEWIDEMONTANA FORAGE QUALITY AND VALUE BY REDUCING NITRATE ACCUMULATIONS IN FORAGE BARLEY Amanda R. Grube Paper (pdf)
DEVELOPMENT OF A MOBILE APP FOR SMART IRRIGATION SCHEDULING OF ALFALFA Manuel A. Andrade Paper (pdf)
OPTIMIZING ALFALFA FORAGE PRODUCTION: ASSESSING THE EFFECTS OF CUTTING INTERVAL AND CUTTING HEIGHT ON FORAGE YIELD AND NUTRITIVE VALUE IN AGING ALFALFA STAND Sulav Dhakal Paper (pdf)

Award Presentation


Daniel Putnam Award Presentation This award ceremony is to commemorate Daniel H. Putnam's career as an alfalfa specialist. Slides (pdf)

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