2009 Alabama Forage and Grassland Conference

Grassroots Opportunities: Taking Science to Livestock Farms
December 10, 2009
Bibb Graves Auditorium
University of West Alabama
Livingston, Alabama

The 2009 Alabama Forage Conference is sponsored by the Alabama Forage and Grassland Coalition, which was organized to promote improved forage and grazing practices. Coalition organizations are The Alabama Cattleman’s Association,  Alabama Farmers Federation, The Alabama Poultry and Egg Association, and the Alabama Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Programs are implemented by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Auburn University.

These documents require Adobe Acrobat.  (Brochure not 508 compliant.  Info in text format below)

Forage Conference Brochure (.pdf, 546 KB)

Agenda

7:30 - 8:30   Registration—Exhibits Open
8:30 - 8:40  Welcome and Opening Comments
8:40 - 9:20   Low, Medium and High Input Beef Pasture Systems for Blackland Soils - Dr. Gerald Evers
9:20 - 10:00  Forage Crop Influence on Meat Quality of Grassfed Beef - Dr. Susan Duckett

10:00 - 10:30  Break

10:30 - 11:10   Hay That Gets The Job Done - Tom Keene
11:10 - 11:50  Opportunities With Improved Forage Varieties - Dr. Joe Bouton
11:50 - 12:00  Discussion/Announcements

12:00 - 1:00   Lunch

1:00 - 1:40   Tall Fescues Of The Future - Jimmy Ray Parish
1:40 - 2:15   New and Neglected Forage Crops - Dr. John Andrae
2:15 - 2:45   Producer Panel; What Works For Me  - Jim Lavender and Eric Smith

2:45 - 3:15  Break

Breakout Sessions

• Clover Session - Moderator - David Wahl
  • 3:15 - 3:25   It’s Time To Get Excited About Clovers - Dr. Garry Lacefield
  • 3:25 - 3:35   A New Pasture Paradigm - Dr. Don Ball
  • 3:35 - 4:00   Recycling Nitrogen in Pasture Systems - Dr. Gerald Evers
  • 4:00 - 4:20  Opportunities With Perennial Clovers - Dr. Garry Lacefield
  • 4:20 - 4:40   Opportunities With Annual Clovers - Dr. Gerald Evers
  • 4:40 - 5:00   Reflections and Summary - Dr. Don Ball
• Equine Session - Moderator - Wade Hill
  • 3:15 - 3:50  Basics Of Horse Pasture Production - Dr. Mary Goodman
  • 3:50 - 4:25  Nutritional Issues Related To Horses - Dr. Betsy Wagner
  • 4:25 - 5:00  What You Need To Know About HayFor Horses - Tom Keene
• Pest Management Session - Moderator - Ray Duncan
  • 3:15 - 3:50  Invasive Plants - Dr. Stephen Enloe
  • 3:50 - 4:25  Pasture Weed Control - Dr. John Byrd
  • 4:25 - 5:00  Control of Fire Ants - Kathy Flanders

Speakers

• Dr. Gerald Evers is Regents Fellow and Professor with Texas A&M University where he has been involved in many types of forage/livestock research projects.

• Dr. Susan Duckett is a meat scientist who formerly was on the faculty at the University of Georgia and who now is Ernest Corley Endowed Chair at Clemson University.

• Tom Keene was agricultural manager on two famous horse farms near Lexington, Kentucky, was a hay broker for years, and is now employed by the University of Kentucky to assist producers with marketing their hay.

• Dr. Joe Bouton developed many important forage varieties while at the University of Georgia.  He is now Senior Vice President of The Noble Foundation in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

• Jimmy Ray Parrish is a researcher in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at Mississippi State University where he has initiated numerous forage studies.

• Dr. John Andrae was on the University of Georgia faculty for several years and currently is Extension Forage Crop Agronomist at Clemson University.

• Jim Lavender has a beef cow-calf operation in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. The Lavender Farm has a reputation for innovation and good management.

• Eric Smith runs a no-nonsense, profit-oriented cattle business in Pickens County, Alabama, and is a leader in the cattle industry.

• Dr. Garry Lacefield is Extension forage Crop Agronomist at the University of Kentucky. He is widely known as an expert agronomist and is in great demand as a speaker.

• Dr. Mary Goodman is in the Agronomy and Soils Department at Auburn University where she teaches several courses and does forage ecology research.

• Dr. Stephen Enloe is in the Agronomy and Soils Department at Auburn University where he is an Extension Specialist whose focus is invasive plant control.

• Dr. John Byrd is a long-time Extension Weed Control Specialist in the Department of Plant and Soils Sciences at Mississippi State University.

• Dr. Don Ball is Extension Forage Crop Agronomist in the Agronomy and Soils Department at Auburn University.

• Dr. Kathy Flanders is an Extension Entomologist in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at Auburn University.

• Dr. Betsy Wagner is in the Auburn University Department of Animal Sciences where she does research and teaching in the area of horse nutrition.

Registration Information (or see brochure)

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