University News
WIU Grazing Conference June 13
June 1, 2006
MACOMB, IL – The sixth annual Western Illinois Grazing Conference “Risk Management in Forage and Grazing Systems,” will be held at the Western Illinois University Livestock Center from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday, June 13. The Livestock Center is located on Tower Road, one mile west of Rt. 67 at the north edge of Macomb.
The day begins at 8 a.m. with registration and a trade show, along with an “Ask the Experts” segment where participants will have the opportunity to discuss specific questions or problems regarding management, species, fertility, weed and insect control, watering systems, fencing, pasture establishment, record-keeping and more.
At 9 a.m. the conference continues with Roger Staff from USDA-NRCS and Ken Nimrick, WIU agriculture professor, presenting “Overview of Rick Factors and Management Options.”
Cliff Little, a beef research specialist from Ohio State University Extension, will present “Experiences with Annual Forage Crops” at 9:15 a.m. and “Palatability of Cool Season Grasses” at 2:15 p.m.
At 10:15 a.m., Tom Kolkmeier from Pennington Seeds will present “Managing Risk with Tall Fescue Systems,” followed by a break at 10:45 a.m., which includes a trade show and another “Ask the Experts” forum.
The day continues with an 11 a.m. session by Steve Wallace of Barenbrug USA on “Allocating Forage Species Based on Farm and Class of Livestock” followed by an 11:30 a.m. session with Dave Robison from AMPAC Seeds who will speak on “Characteristics and Potential of Brassica Species.” There will be a noon luncheon.
At 1:15 p.m. Jim Morrison from the University of Illinois Extension will discuss “Species Diversity” and Dean Oswald, also from the U of I Extension, will present “Animal Plant Risks” at 1:45 p.m.
At 3 p.m. an “Ask the Experts” session will wrap up the daylong conference. Participants are encouraged to bring aerial photos, maps, pictures and diagrams.
Conference registration is $20 by June 10 ($25 at the door), which covers materials, lunch and refreshments. To register or for more information, contact the WIU agriculture department at 309/298-1080 or Nimrick at 309/298-1288. Information is also available at www.wiu.edu/bulltest/. Registrations may also be sent to WIU Agriculture Department, 1 University Circle, Macomb, IL 61455-1390.
The 2006 Grazing Conference is sponsored by the USDA-Risk Management Agency, the Illinois Grassland Conservation Initiative, the WIU agriculture department, the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, University of Illinois Extension and the Illinois Forage and Grassland Council.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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