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OK, so Wisconsin Dells, WI, is probably more east than south for most Minnesotans, but its Chula Vista Resort provides a pleasant winter venue for the 2009 Symposium & Annual Meeting of the Midwest Forage Association (MFA). The MFA, coming out of its 5th and most successful year yet, teams with the Professional Nutrient Applicators Association of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Custom Operators, and University Extension personnel to deliver this high-impact interstate forage program.

The Symposium features a wealth of renowned university, USDA-ARS, industry, agency, and producer speakers from across the north central region. This year’s meeting features more MN speakers than ever previously, including:

• Drs. Michael Russelle (USDA-ARS) and Bill Lazarus (Applied Economics) address ‘Getting the Highest Returns from Manure for Forage Production’
• Dr. Bill Lazarus also addresses ‘Equipment Costs of Custom Chopping’
• Drs. Craig Sheaffer (Agronomy & Plant Genetics) and Mark McCaslin (Forage Genetics International) as part of a Roundup-Ready Alfalfa panel
• Dr. Krishona Martinson (Animal Science-Equine) presents a research update on ‘Effect of Moisture and Bale Wrapping on Horse-Quality Grass Hay’
• Agronomist Russ Mathison (NCROC) addresses ‘Establishment of Winter Feeding Areas, and Fall Grazing of Stockpiled vs. Windrowed Annual Ryegrass’
• Dr. Noah Litherland (Animal Science-Dairy) addresses ‘Forage Options for Dry Cows’.

Some other topics and speakers that will certainly interest Minnesotans include:

• ‘Manure as a Commodity – Manure Value vs. Commercial Fertilizer’ by Matt Hanson and Dave Fischer (UW Extension Agents)
• ‘Innovations in Forage Equipment’ by Dr. Dan Undersander (UW Forage Specialist)
• ‘Grasses: Grazing and Performance’ presented by USDA-ARS Dairy Forage Research Center scientists Drs. Geoff Brink and Michael Casler
• ‘Corn Stover Harvesting & Storage’ by Dr. Kevin Shinners (UW Ag. Engineer)
• ‘Alfalfa Fall Harvesting’ by NDSU’s Dr. Dwain Meyer.

And this is just a sampling of what will be offered in addition to plenty of social time; including a Lucky Doubles Dinner featuring a family-style dinner, blackjack, and prize auction.

The Symposium begins Monday afternoon, Jan. 26, but forage enthusiasts will be most interested in the Jan. 27-28 program. Full program pre-registration for MFA members is only $115, and single-day and multiple-person farm/business registration options are available. Reserve a room by calling the Chula Vista Resort at 800-388-4782; room rates are only $62 per single and $82 per double if booked by Dec. 31.

For a full program brochure and registration details, contact the Midwest Forage Association at 651-484-3888 or mfa@midwestforage.org, or visit www.midwestforage.org/.

Also, stay tuned for details about the upcoming 2009 MN Forage Days co-sponsored by the University of Minnesota Extension Forage Team, MFA, and valued industry partners. The program will be offered at 5 locations during the week of Feb. 9-13. The featured speaker with be Dr. Jerry Cherney, Extension Forage Specialist from Cornell University. Dr. Cherney is a WI native and UMN graduate with extensive experience working with dairy-quality alfalfa-grass and grass-only silage management and feeding. For 2009 Forage Days updates, please visit www.extension.umn.edu/forages or www.midwestforage.org.