Some of the top forage producers and allied industry in Idaho gathered February 22-23 in Burley, Idaho for the 2011 Idaho Hay and Forage Conference.

Throughout the day on Tuesday, attendees were able to hear presentations on a variety of subjects including:

- Corn phosphorus and variety trials

- Alfalfa as a sustainable crop for biomass energy production

- Determining corn silage value based on grain

- Forage market trends

- Export demand, new markets and long-term outlooks

- Vole control in alfalfa and pasture

- Glyphosate versus other herbicides on Roundup-Ready alfalfa

- Mob grazing to control weeds in pastures

- Alfalfa autotoxicity

- Nitrogen fixation versus nitrogen uptake in alfalfa

- Alfalfa variety trials report

- Roundup-Ready alfalfa update

Article summaries for many of these presentations (as well as proceedings from previous years) can be downloaded at the Idaho Hay and Forage Association website: www.idahohay.com

Wednesday was a small-group, workshop setting with some demonstrations on forage sampling, preparing samples for testing, NIRS scanning, interpreting forage quality tests, determining nutrient application rates, plant deficiency symptoms, integrated pest management and soil test interpretation.

Vendor booths were also available for learning more about the products and services available in the forage industry.

A new award in memory of the late Don Hale, the "Idaho Hay and Forage Association Hall of Fame Award", was presented to Dr. Glenn Shewmaker (click here for the related story).  FG

PHOTOS
TOP RIGHT: University of Idaho Extension specialists instructed small groups on various forage topics through the day.

MIDDLE LEFT: Dennis Strom, president of the Idaho Hay and Forage Association, welcomed conference attendees to the 2011 conference. 

BOTTOM LEFT: During the breaks, vendors were able to discuss their forage-related products and services.