Dairy Forage Meeting Focuses on Cash Crop Potential

Writer: Tim W. McAlavy, (806) 746-6101, email: t-mcalavy@tamu.edu
Contact: Calvin Trostle, (806) 746-6101, email: c-trostle@tamu.edu

LUBBOCK – As more dairies move into West Texas and Eastern New Mexico, many South Plains and Panhandle crop producers are considering switching some of their ground from traditional crops to forage, silage, or hay production.

An April 2 meeting in Plainview at the Ollie Liner Center should help in that regard. On that date, Texas Cooperative Extension and Texas A&M’s Agricultural Research and Extension Center at Lubbock will host a six-hour seminar focusing on dairy forage requirements; alfalfa and silage; and what it takes to produce quality silage and hay as cash crops.

“We were able to put this meeting together thanks to the Extension office in Hale County and several regional agribusiness sponsors,” said Calvin Trostle, Extension agronomist based at Lubbock. “We have several speakers lined up to discuss a large variety of forage, silage, and hay production techniques and crop management.”
 
The seminar is free and will begin with registration at 8:30 a.m. The program will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participants can qualify to earn several continuing education units (CEU’s).

The slate of expert speakers and topics includes:

• An Overview of Dairy Nutritional and Forage Needs, by Extension beef cattle specialist Ted McCollum. He will discuss rations, quality specifications for forages, economic values and pesticide restrictions.

• Corn Silage Production, by David Peterson, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Lubbock. Peterson will cover varieties, production techniques that affect quality, irrigation needs, and differences in silage and grain production.

• Optimizing Alfalfa Production, by New Mexico State University forage agronomist Leonard Lauriault. This presentation will cover production requirements such as water, labor, land suitability, fertility, varietal selection, crop management, harvesting and markets.

• Key Alfalfa Insects and Their Management will be discussed by Greg Cronholm, Hale County Extension agent in Integrated Pest Management.

• Alfalfa Herbicide and Weed Control, by Extension agronomist Brent Bean. He will cover rotational herbicide restrictions, herbicide availability and common weed problems.

• Sorghum Silage and Hay Production, by Bean and McCollum. These Extension specialists from Amarillo will discuss varieties, tonnage, water requirements, production practices, and quality and nutritional considerations.

• Growing, Harvesting, Storing, Processing and Feeding Silage is Trostle’s topic. He will review current Kansas State University silage research; and discuss harvesting and storage practices, ensiling procedures and safety considerations.

The Ollie Liner Center is located southeast of Plainview. From Lubbock, drive north on I-27 to Plainview, take Exit 45 and remain on the service road. From Amarillo, take I-27 south to Plainview, exit onto Hwy. 70 and turn south on Columbia Street. The center is near the Hale County Sheriff’s Office and the Hale County Airport.

For more information on this event, contact your local county Extension office or call Trostle at the Lubbock Center,
at (806) 746-6101.