By CINDY LADAGE
Illinois Correspondent SHELBY COUNTY, Ill. — Raising forage for livestock can be tricky business. The past few weeks, northern Illinois has been deluged with rain while central Illinois has remained relatively dry to the point of corn drying down ahead of schedule.
The sponsors of the 2007 Illinois Forage Expo plan to help untangle some of the issues related to forage production and offer educational classes and equipment field demonstrations.
“The Forage Expo is an annual event that has been going on for over 20 years,” explained Dale L. Baird, Extension Educator, Crop Systems.
Working out of the Rockford, Ill. office, Baird said the event moves to different locations of Illinois each year.
“We try to move the Expo from the north to the south, to the central part of the state to expose it to forage producers in different areas,” Baird added.
Last year’s event was located in northern Illinois in Boone County. This year’s Forage Expo will be on Sept. 6 at the Prescott Frost Farm, located about 14 miles north of Shelbyville, Ill. on Route 128 in Shelby County.
“The Expo is influenced by (the hosts’) operation,” Baird said. “Last year’s host had a dairy operation, so the focus was on dairy. This year’s host has a cow/calf operation with unique acres of both pasture and alfalfa that is certified organic.”
The Prescott Frost operation consists of about 150 head beef cow/calf operation, grass-fed beef finishing system and 120 acres of hay and also includes a pasture-based poultry flock.
The focus for this year’s Expo will be on the organic hay acres and pastures and how to market these organic products.
Field demonstrations will showcase forage harvesting equipment. Commer- cial vendors will be on hand with displays of forage-related products. The field demonstrations begin at 10 a.m. with mowing, raking and tedding at 11 a.m.
Field demonstrations will end at 2 p.m. with a baling demonstration.
Educational sessions begin at 9:30 a.m. The first presentation will cover Forage Production APH & GRP Insurance. At 10 a.m. there will be a Convention versus Natural Beef Production Systems session followed by Developing a Marketing Plan for Organic Commodities at 10:30 a.m. After lunch, educational sessions resume with The Role of Forages in an Organic Crop and Livestock System at 1 p.m. The last session begins at 1:30 p.m. and addresses The Secrets of Forage Establishment.
Hay producers may want to enter the Quality Hay Contest. There are four hay classes, alfalfa, grass, alfalfa/grass mix and other. Each producer may enter one 2007 harvested bale per class.
Entries in the Quality Hay Contest will be evaluated for bale density, visual assessment, crude protein, acid detergent fiber and relative feed value.
There is no entry fee and NIRS analysis will be conducted free of charge. Bales for the contest will only be accepted between 9-11 a.m.
“Compressed or rebaled bales are not eligible,” Baird said. “Bales weighing over 100 pounds need an official scale weigh ticket.”
The Expo will start at 9 a.m. and conclude at 4 p.m.
Baird added, “Watch for signs and lunch will be available at the Expo site.”
For further information about the Illinois Forage Expo, contact Ellen Trainor, University of Illinois Extension Shelby County, at 217-774-9546, etrainor@uiuc.edu
This farm news was published in the Aug. 29, 2007 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee. |
