Forage Field Day is a premier regional event designed to bring together the latest research, insights, and practical advice for forage producers. This year’s online event will feature a series of presentations, panel discussions, and interactive sessions covering a broad range of forage-related topics. The event will be live on Zoom on Tuesday, Aug. 6 at 12:30 (CDT), but will also be recorded and available after the session. 

Event Agenda: 

Alfalfa Revenue Insurance Program: The event will kick off with a listening session led by AgriLogic Consulting and the National Alfalfa and Forage Alliance. This session provides an opportunity for participants to learn about and provide input on a new alfalfa revenue insurance product.

Sustainable Agriculture and Forage Management: AgSpire, a sustainable agriculture consulting agency, will lead a session on sustainable forage practices. 

Summer Annuals for Forage and Soil Health: Dr. Katja Koehler-Cole will explore the use of summer annuals to improve forage quality and soil health.

Digestible Forages in Dairy Rotations: Wisconsin dairy farmer Daniel Olson will present strategies for growing and using highly digestible forages in dairy operations. 

Optimizing Forage Availability with Cover Crop Grazing: Shelby Gruss, Assistant Professor and Extension Forage Specialist at Iowa State University, will discuss methods to optimize forage availability through cover crop grazing.

Making a *Safe* Harvest Plan: Learn how to develop an effective silage harvest plan in this interactive workshop with industry experts, Ron and Connie Kuber of Connor Agriscience.

Alfalfa Diseases and Pests: Kyle Broderick, manager of the UNL plant diagnostic clinic will discuss identification and management of common diseases and pests in alfalfa. 

Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension educator emphasized the importance of the event in providing valuable knowledge that forage producers and industry professionals can apply in their operations. “Forage producers have to deal with a huge variety of species and scenarios to manage,” Beckman said. “This event helps them stay on top of their game.”

Registration and Additional Information:

To participate in the 2024 Forage Field Day webinar, registration is required. Visit https://go.unl.edu/foragefieldday2024 to register.

For more information, please contact Ben Beckman (bbeckman3@unl.edu), UNL Extension Educator, or Sara Bauder (sara.bauder@sdstate.edu), SDSU Extension Forage Field Specialist.