Fall Dairy Forage Conference
Contact: Rick Kersbergen, 800-287-1426
WATERVILLE, Me. — University of Maine Cooperative Extension will host the 2006 Fall Dairy Forage Conference on Thursday, Nov. 30 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at John Martin’s Manor on College Avenue in Waterville. This seasonal conference is designed for dairy producers and industry personnel to learn and discuss innovative ways to produce high-quality forages for their dairy cows and young stock.
University of Vermont agronomist Sid Bosworth will discuss corn variety selection and how to maximize forage and grain yield. Tim Griffin from the USDA Agricultural Research Service’s New England Plant Soil and Water Lab in Orono will present information from a research project on small grain, recently funded by USDA Northeast Sustainable Research and Education (SARE). That project looked at harvest windows for small grain silages. Also on the agenda will be a farmer panel to discuss winter grains for alternative forage production systems; a discussion of wildlife issues with Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife representatives on topics such as turkeys; and a presentation by crop consultant Mark Fulford on improving forage quality by using foliar applications of nutrients.
Several forms of recertification credits will be available to participants, including two Maine nutrient management credits and 3.5 Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) credits.
The registration fee of $10 per person covers the conference and a buffet lunch. Pre-registration is required. For registration materials, please contact the Waldo County UMaine Extension office at 800-287-1426 in Maine or 207-342-5971 outside of Maine.
Funding and support for this conference comes from the Maine Organic Milk Producers and USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) grant 2005-51106-02390, funded under CFDA 10.303–Integrated Organic Program, “Reducing Off-Farm Grain Inputs on Northeast Organic Dairy Farms.”