2024 Western Alfalfa & Forage Symposium

2024 California Alfalfa & Forage Symposium Alfalfa Leaf Image

December 10 - 12, 2024 - Sparks, NV

Proceedings & Video

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DAY ONE - Tuesday, December 10, 2024

Workshop: Advances in Irrigation and Water Management
(Moderator: Giuliano Galdi, UCANR)

10:00am Welcome and Introductions Giuliano Galdi, UCANR Video Slides (pdf)

10:10am The Importance of Alfalfa in a Water-Uncertain Future Daniel Putnam, University of California, Davis Video Slides (pdf)

10:30am Alfalfa Crop Water Requirements Daniele Zaccaria, University of California, Davis Video Slides (pdf)

10:50am Applied Tools to Design Optimal Deficit Irrigation Strategies in Alfalfa Ali Montazar, ANR Video

11:10am Assessment of Satellite-Derived Crop ET Compared to Actual ET for Precision Irrigation in Alfalfa Moneim Mohamed, UC Cooperative Extension Video Slides (pdf)

11:30am Climate Change and SGMA Impact on Alfalfa and other Forages in the San Joaquin Valley Tapan Pathak, UCM Video Slides (pdf)

11:50am Morning Q&A Video

1:00pm The Economics of Deficit Irrigation on Alfalfa Khaled Bali, ANR Video Slides (pdf)

1:20pm Water Allocation and Challenges Facing Alfalfa and Pasture in Scott Valley and other Alfalfa Growing Regions in Northern California Giuliano Galdi, UCANR Video Slides (pdf)

1:40pm Irrigation Prediction and Scheduling System for Alfalfa and Forages Tim Hyde, SWAN Systems

2:00pm Groundwater Recharge on Alfalfa - Scotts Valley Laura Foglia, University of California, Davis Video Slides (pdf)

2:20pm Advances in Using Variable Rate Irrigation and Sensors on Alfalfa Alejandro Andrade-Rodriguez, University of Nevada Video Slides (pdf)

2:40pm Afternoon Q&A Video

3:10pm Breeding Alfalfa for California Rangelands Cree King, University of California, Davis Charlie Brummer, University of California, Davis Video Slides (pdf) Paper (pdf)

3:30pm Advances in Surface Irrigation Management on Alfalfa Peter Moller, Rubicon Water Video Slides (pdf) Paper (pdf)

3:50pm Troubleshooting Irrigation Systems Matt Yost, Utah State University

4:10pm Growers' Perspective on Advances in Water Management in Alfalfa and other Forages Jay Dow, Dow Ranch Video

4:40pm Discussion Video

DAY TWO - Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Session I. Economics, Forage, Dairy, Trade and Water Trends
(Moderator: Sarah Light, UC Cooperative Extension)

9:00am Welcome Michelle Leinfelder-Miles, UCCE Nicholas Clark, UCCE Video

9:10am Status of Western Hay Markets Josh Callen, The Hoyt Report Video Slides (pdf)

9:40am Hay Export Dynamics: A New World Scot Courtright, Courtright Enterprises, Inc. Video Slides (pdf)

10:30am California Dairy Economic Update Paul Sousa, Western United Dairies

11:00am Drought and Groundwater Regulation: Impacts for Irrigated Agriculture in California Ellen Bruno, UC Berkeley Video Slides (pdf) Paper (pdf)

11:30am Understanding the Value of Alfalfa's Water Productivity and Flexibility Dan Putnam, UC Davis Video Slides (pdf)

Session II. Weed and Rodent Management
(Moderator: Giuliano Galdi, UCANR)

1:30pm Management of Voles: Is it Possible? Roger Baldwin, UC Davis/UCANR Video Slides (pdf) Paper (pdf)

1:55pm The Impacts of Palmer Amaranth in CA Alfalfa Production Jorge Angeles, UCANR Video Slides (pdf)

2:20pm Changing Trends in NE California Alfalfa Weed Management Rob Wilson, UCANR Video Slides (pdf) Paper (pdf)

Session III. Grass/Alternative Forage Production
(Moderator: Jackie Atim, UCANR)

1:30pm Optimizing Sorghum as a Versatile Forage Crop: Insights from a Multi-Year California Study Tadeo Kaweesi, UCANR Video Slides (pdf)

1:55pm Grasses and Grass Varieties for California Irrigated Pastures Charlie Brummer, UC Davis Video Slides (pdf)

2:20pm Fertilizer and Irrigation Considerations for Low Desert Sudangrass Biomass Productivity and Nutritional Quality Oli Bachie, UCANR Video Slides (pdf) Paper (pdf)

Session IV. Pest Management
(Moderator: Jorge Angeles, UCANR)

3:00pm Alfalfa Weevil Insecticide Resistance: A Challenge and Case Study for Insecticide Resistance in Field Crops Ian Grettenberger, UC Davis Video Slides (pdf)

3:25pm Update on Aphids in California Alfalfa Michael Rethwisch, UCCE Video Slides (pdf) Paper (pdf)

3:50pm Grasshopper: Ecology and Economics Jordan Juzdowski, USDA Video Slides (pdf)

Session V. Forages, Alternative Feedstuffs and Feeding California's Dairy Herd.
(Moderator: Jennifer Heguy, UC Cooperative Extension)

3:00pm Evaluating Effects of Deficit Irrigation Strategies on Forage Sorghum Yields and Nutrient Composition Grown in the San Joaquin Valley of California Jackie Atim, UCANR Video Slides (pdf)

3:25pm Characterization and Usage of Forages on Western States Dairies Ralph Ward, Cumberland Valley Analytical Services Video

3:50pm Improving the Value of Rice Straw Josh Davy, UCCE Video Slides (pdf)

Session VI. What’s New in the Industry - Lightning Talks
(Moderator: Tom Getts, UC Cooperative Extension)

Video Slides (pdf)

DAY THREE - Thursday, December 12, 2024

Session VII. Nutrient Management
(Moderator: Nick Clark, UCCE)

8:30am Implications of Manure Treatment Technologies on Nutrient Composition Deanne Meyer, UC Davis/UCANR Video Slides (pdf)

8:50am Practical Applications of Nutrient Management in Alfalfa Production Danyal Kasapligil, Dellavalle Laboratory Inc. Video

9:10am Rotating Alfalfa with Corn and its Implications for Mitigating Nitrogen Leaching Arshdeep Singh, California State University, Chico Video Slides (pdf)

9:30am Discussion

Session VIII. Soil Health and Climate-Smart Agriculture Practices
(Moderator: Michelle Leinfelder-Miles, UCCE)

10:30am Intercropping Alfalfa Into Young Tree Nut Orchards; Belowground Impacts of Alfalfa in Tree Rows and Middles Lauren Hale, USDA-ARS Video Slides (pdf) Paper (pdf)

10:50am Application of Compost to Alfalfa to Improve Soil Structure and Soil Nutrient Content Radomir Schmidt, Institute of the Environment, UC Davis Video Slides (pdf) Paper (pdf)

11:10am Evaluation of Almond Shell Mulch Application to Established Alfalfa Fields Sarah Light, UCCE Video Slides (pdf)

11:30am Discussion Video

Poster Abstracts

Intercropping Alfalfa with Almond in Young Orchards for Profitability and Sustainability Sultan Begna Paper (pdf)

Towards Understanding the Genetic Basis of Yield by Characterizing Segregation Distortion in Diverse Diploid Alfalfa Populations Cree King Paper (pdf)

Sustaining Alfalfa Production with Limited Water Supply Charles Janssen Paper (pdf)

Alfalfa Hay Windrow Volume and Yield Mapping Through Drone Ahmed Kayad Paper (pdf)

Evaluation of Constant and Regulated Deficit Irrigation in Alfalfa: A Two-Year Field Study in Nevada Khushi Khushi Paper (pdf)

Efficacy of Various Insecticides Against Alfalfa Weevil in Arizona's Low Desert Avik Mukherjee Paper (pdf)

Comparison of Methods of Controlling Pocket Gophers Mark Nelson Paper (pdf)

Evaluating Different Irrigation Scheduling Methods for Variable Rate Irrigation Systems in Alfalfa Mahipal Reddy Ramireddy Paper (pdf)

Non-Invasive Evaluation of Alfalfa Root Traits Under Water Stress Using Ground Penetrating Radar Uriel Cholula Paper (pdf)

DAY ONE - Tuesday, December 10, 2024

Workshop: Advances in Irrigation and Water Management (Moderator: Giuliano Galdi, UCANR)

DAY TWO - Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Session I. Economics, Forage, Dairy, Trade and Water Trends (Moderator: Sarah Light, UC Cooperative Extension)

Session II. Weed and Rodent Management (Moderator: Giuliano Galdi, UCANR)

Session III. Grass/Alternative Forage Production (Moderator: Jackie Atim, UCANR)

Session IV. Pest Management (Moderator: Jorge Angeles, UCANR)

Session V. Forages, Alternative Feedstuffs and Feeding California's Dairy Herd. (Moderator: Jennifer Heguy, UC Cooperative Extension)

Session VI. What’s New in the Industry - Lightning Talks (Moderator: Tom Getts, UC Cooperative Extension)