Mid-America Forage Expo Quickly Approaching

For the week ending October 29, 2017, temperatures averaged near normal across western Nebraska, but two to five degrees below normal in the east, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Precipitation was limited across the State. Dry weather allowed farmers to make good progress on corn and soybean harvests. Some producers experienced cornstalk breakage and ear loss due to high winds.  Alfalfa fourth cutting was 96 percent complete, ahead of 91 last year.

The Mid-America Alfalfa Expo & Conference will be held at the Scotts Bluff County Fairgrounds in Mitchell, Nebraska, November 28 & 29, 2017.  The event is designed especially for forage producers, livestock/dairy producers and others who are involved in forage production, purchasing, hay feeding or processing.

We have two jam-packed days of information, education, and innovation—all designed to help forage and livestock producers improve production, performance and profitability.    A large forage industry trade show and fundraising auction are also included during the two-day event.

We are excited to hold this event in Mitchell this year and feel by working with the University of Nebraska’s Panhandle Research & Extension Center, we are bringing you some great information and education. 

Presentations for this year’s Expo include “FORAGE SORGHUM: Past, Present, Future” by Matt Sowder and Jeff Jackson; “Salinity and Your Soil” by Dr. Ron Miller; Using Annual Forages in a Grazing Situation by Nancy Peterson and Alfalfa Insects and Their Management by Jeff Bradshaw. 

The Mid-America Forage Expo is free of charge to attend.  For a complete schedule of events or for more information, call 1.800.743.1649 or visit www.AlfalfaExpo.com.

Good web traffic following World Dairy Expo

For the week ending October 15, temperatures averaged near normal across eastern Nebraska, but four to eight degrees below normal in the west, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Precipitation of less than an inch was scattered across a majority of the State; however, a few southeastern counties received over an inch of rain. Wet fields continued to slow harvest. Alfalfa fourth cutting was 92 percent complete, ahead of 86 last year.

I checked on the web statistics yesterday for the first 15 days of October. From October 1st through the 15th, there have been 515 individual pages viewed at nebraska-alfalfa.com and IndependentForageGrowers.com. That compares to just 410 visitors for the same time period last year. 62 percent of these visitors were new visitors to the site. This is typical after we’ve been to a show and talked to potential customers like at the World Dairy Expo. That being said, the top five states visitors are coming from is Texas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa.

The 2017 Mid-America Forage Expo is quickly approaching. This year the dates are November 28 & 29th at the Scotts Bluff County Fairgrounds in Mitchell, Nebraska. We will have a full line of forage exhibitors for you to visit with as well as 2 days of forage related speakers and topics to help in your operation. As always, we will feature a Social Hour and Fundraising Auction on Tuesday afternoon.  You can find more information by visiting www.AlfalfaExpo.com or by calling 800-743-1649.