The University of California Division of Agricultural & Natural Resources will be holding the California Alfalfa & Grains Symposium this year in Long Beach CA on December 10-12, 2014.

• Listen to expert speakers.
• Visit with your colleagues at the evening receptions.
• Stop by the exhibit area to see the latest on alfalfa and forage products and services.
• Receive Symposium Proceedings

California grows over 3 million acres of alfalfa and other forage crops. The Symposium will be a comprehensive meeting to focus on critical issues related to alfalfa and forage crops, particularly global issues, economics, and practical 'how to' talks on crop production techniques.

Who Should Attend? Farmers, Pest Control Advisors and Certified Crop Advisors, industry members, agency representatives and anyone who wishes to be informed about important issues related to alfalfa, grains, and forage.

Program

Wednesday, December 10 through Friday, December 12, 2014
Long Beach, California

Sponsored by:
UC Cooperative Extension, Agriculture and Natural Resources
Department of Plant Sciences, UC Davis

Wednesday, December 10th

11:00-5:30 LONG BEACH EXPORT TOUR:  Tour export facilities for hay and grain destined for ports around the world. Listen to talks presented by exporters on quality demands.  See hay compression, grain handling technology.   (Includes lunch, separate registration required)

8:00-5:00   Exhibitor Setup

3:00-7:00   Registration

5:30-6:45  Symposium Welcome Reception: Meet and greet speakers, exhibitors, sponsors, and attendees at the kickoff reception. Refreshments and no-host bar.

Thursday, December 11th

6:00-8:00 a.m. Registration

Main Session–Economics and Industry Trends

Moderator: TBA

8:00 Introduction and Welcome

8:10 Hay Market Situation in Western States - Seth Hoyt, The Hoyt Report, Ione CA  Sponsored by California Alfalfa & Forage Association

8:35 Dairy Trends, Issues and Impacts of Feed Prices - Michael Marsh, Western United Dairymen, Modesto, CA

9:00 World Supply and Demand for Forages – Daniel Sumner, Director, UC Agricultural Issues Center, University of California, Davis, CA

9:25 Forage Export Dynamics 2014 - John Szczepanski, U.S. Forage Export Council, Portland, OR

9:50 Discussion

10:00 BREAK

Main Session-Genetic Innovations in Grains and Forages

Moderator: Vonny Martin Barlow

10:30 a.m.  Improving California Wheat for Grain and Forage—Jorge Dubcovsky, Wheat Breeder, University of California, Davis, CA

10:55 a.m.  Genetic Advances in Alfalfa and Grasses – Are We Making Progress? –Charlie Brummer, Director, Plant Breeding Center, University of California, Davis, CA

11:20 a.m. New Genetic Possibilities with Alfalfa - Mark McCaslin, Forage Genetics International, Minneapolis, MN

11:45 a.m.  GMOs and the Importance of Coexistence in Alfalfa for the Future – Dan Putnam, Cooperative Extension Specialist, University of California, Davis, CA

12:00 p.m.  Discussion 

12:10  Banquet Luncheon - ticket required

Breakout Session I. Alfalfa Pest Management and Production
Moderator: TBD

1:30 Weed Management in Alfalfa: Where We've Been and Where We're Going – Barry Tickes, University of Arizona, Mesa, AZ and Steve Orloff, UCCE Advisor, Yreka, CA

1:50  New Weed Control Tools for Established and Seedling Alfalfa - Mick Canevari, UCCE Emeritus, Stockton, CA

2:10 Blue Alfalfa Aphid Management Strategies – Vonny Barlow, UCCE Advisor, Blythe, CA, and Eric Natwick, UCCE Advisor, Holtville, CA

2:30 How We've Handled the Blue Alfalfa Aphid Issue – Discussion Panel with PCAs (TBA)

2:50 Discussion

3:00  BREAK

3:30  Alfalfa-Small Grain Rotational Benefits; It's Worth More Than You Think - Eric Lin, University of California, Davis, CA

3:50 Testing Alfalfa for Nutrient Management - Aron Quist, Stanworth Crop Consultants, Blythe, CA

4:10 Fungicide Use in Alfalfa – Don Miller, Alforex Seeds, Nampa, ID, Rachael Long, UCCE Advisor, Woodland, CA

4:30 Stem Nematode Control Strategies - Becky Westerdahl, UCCE Specialist, University of California, Davis, CA

4:50 Discussion

5:00 Adjourn

Breakout Session II. Pest and Crop Management in Small Grains, Silage and Sorghum
Moderators: Oli Bacchi, Mark Lundy

1:30 Comparing Sorghum and Corn with Regards to Agronomic Practices, Pests and Quality - Ricky Rice, Winfield Solutions, Lubbock, TX

1:50 Seed Treatments for Wireworm Control in Field Corn - Michelle Leinfelder Miles, UCCE Delta Region, Stockton, CA

2:10 Water Use and Variety Selection in Sorghum - Jeff Dahlberg, CE Specialist, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier, CA, and Bob Hutmacher, CE Specialist, West Side Research Extension Center, Five Points, CA

2:30  Precision Irrigation & Conservation Tillage: A Plan for Improving Forage Production Systems - Jeff Mitchell, CE Specialist, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier, CA

2:50 Discussion

3:00 BREAK

3:30  Herbicide Options for Small Grains - Steve Wright, CE Farm Advisor, Tulare, CA

3:50 Requirements for Manure and Nutrient Management on Dairies - Deanne Meyer, UC Specialist, University of California, Davis, CA

4:10 Management of Nitrogen and Manure in Corn and Small Grain Forages - Marsha Campbell Mathews, UCCE Farm Advisor, Modesto, CA

4:30 In-Field Plant Monitoring as a Tool for Management in Small Grains - Mark Lundy, UCCE Farm Advisor, Colusa-Sutter-Yuba, CA

4:50 Discussion

5:00-6:30 Exhibitors' Reception Visit exhibits and learn about new products. Refreshments and no-host bar.

5:15 AUCTION: California Alfalfa & Forage Association auction to benefit California's voluntary grower representative group.

Friday, December 12

Main Session-Water, Drought, Quality and Pesticides

Moderator: TBD

8:00 Chlorpyrifos Use in Alfalfa – Defining and Refining Critical Uses - Peter B. Goodell, UCCE Advisor, IPM, Kearney Research and Extension Center, Parlier, CA

8:25 Coming Realities for Groundwater Management - Thomas Harter, CE Specialist, University of California, Davis, CA

8:50 Deficit Irrigation of Alfalfa and Grasses-What are the Impacts/Options? – Steve Orloff, UCCE Farm Advisor, Yreka, CA

9:15 What is the Ability of Alfalfa to Sustain Saline Conditions? - Sharon Benes, California State University, Fresno, CA

9:40  Discussion

9:50  BREAK

10:20 Forage Quality – What are the Unique Features of Alfalfa in a Ration? – Peter Robinson, UCCE Specialist,  University of California, Davis, CA

10:45 U. S. Future Forage Quality Analysis Systems for California – Dan Putnam, UCCE Specialist, Dept. of Plant Sciences,  University of California, Davis, CA

11:10 Technologies for Automation in Surface Irrigation - Khaled Bali, UCCE Farm Advisor, El Centro, CA

11:30 Detection Techniques for Timely Cutoff in Surface Irrigation - Shrini Upadhyaya, Professor, University of California, Davis, CA

11:50 Advantages and Constraints of Soil Moisture Monitoring for Resource-Efficient Irrigation Management of Alfalfa - Steve Orloff, UCCE Farm Advisor, Yreka, CA and Daniele Zaccaria

12:10 Discussion

12:15 pm Lunch (sponsored by Netafim), ticket required

1:00-3:00 Workshop: Subsurface Drip Irrigation in Alfalfa

• Fundamentals of the technology
• Irrigation design attributes
• Irrigation management and scheduling with drip irrigation
• Economics of Drip
• Gopher/rodent management in alfalfa
• Grower Experience – how has it worked in practice?