Sponsored by the Nebraska Alfalfa Marketing Association (N.A.M.A.), the Mid-America Alfalfa Expo & Conference will be held at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds in Kearney, Nebraska, February 7 and 8. The event is designed especially for alfalfa producers, livestock/dairy producers and others who are involved in alfalfa production, purchasing, hay feeding or processing.

“This year’s conference is packed full of information, education and innovation that will help hay and livestock producers improve production, performance and profitability,” said Barb Kinnan, executive director of N.A.M.A. “The trade show features more than 100 exhibitors and allows attendees to see the latest technology and equipment from agribusiness leaders, while meeting many top company representatives in person.”

A significant item on the agenda is the introduction of an online alfalfa evaluation tool, which allows users to calculate a sound value for their alfalfa based on a nutrient comparable basis or a market comparable basis. The tool was developed by N.A.M.A.

Conference speakers include:

• Dr. Al Dutcher, Nebraska climatologist, who will discuss weather patterns and forecasts for the coming crop year;
• Dr. Ron Hansen, ag economics professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, who will provide a session on mulit-generational family farm ownership and will also be the speaker at Tuesday evening’s dinner;
• Dr. Rick Rasby, University of Nebraska-Lincoln cattle feeding expert, who will focus on nutritional information for cow-calf producers; and
• Trent Loos, well-known commentator, columnist and ag advocate.

A panel discussion featuring a Nebraska alfalfa producer, dairy producer, beef/feedlot producer and a hay producer from outside the region is also scheduled.

Registration includes admission to all presentations and programs, a Tuesday afternoon reception, dinner Tuesday evening, admission to the large alfalfa industry trade show and the opportunity to bid in the fundraising auction that takes place Tuesday afternoon. The auction features a wide range of items including seed, harvesting equipment, supplies and other valuable products and services.

Advance registration is $10 per person (tickets must be purchased by noon, February 3), and is available online at www.AlfalfaExpo.com. Registration is $20 per person at the door. Participants under the age of 18 are admitted at no charge.

For more information, call 1.800.743.1649 or visit www.AlfalfaExpo.com.

Dr. Rick Rasby (click for hi-res version)

Dr. Rick Rasby, a University of Nebraska–Lincoln cattle feeding expert, will discuss the opportunities for including forages in cow-calf operations at the Mid-America Alfalfa Expo & Conference, which is scheduled for February 7-8 at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds in Kearney.

“With higher grain prices, the market is saying to use more forages,” Rasby said. “We’ll discuss how can we optimize the use of forages.”

He noted that while grazing is a tremendous opportunity, especially here in Nebraska, there are times of the year when feeding harvested forage will be necessary. “It is important to know the nutrient quality of that forage,” he said, “because you need to make sure you’re meeting the needs of the beef cow.”

Rasby joined the staff at the University of Nebraska in 1986 as extension beef specialist with primary responsibilities in cow/calf management, reproduction and nutrition. He received a B.S. from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and his M.S. and Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University. Since arriving in Nebraska, his extension programs have focused on economical feeding programs incorporating forages for beef cows and evaluation of reproductive performance of the cow herd. He was also instrumental in development of the beef website, beef.unl.edu.

Sponsored by the Nebraska Alfalfa Marketing Association (N.A.M.A.), the Mid-America Alfalfa Expo & Conference is designed especially for alfalfa producers, livestock/dairy producers and others who are involved in alfalfa production, purchasing, hay feeding or processing.

Other speakers include Dr. Ron Hansen, ag economics professor at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, who will provide a session on multi-generational family farm ownership; Dr. Al Dutcher, Nebraska climatologist, who will discuss weather patterns and forecasts for the coming crop year; and Trent Loos, well-known commentator, columnist and ag advocate.

Registration includes admission to all presentations and programs, a Tuesday afternoon reception, dinner Tuesday evening, admission to the large alfalfa industry trade show and the opportunity to bid in the fundraising auction that takes place Tuesday afternoon. The auction features a wide range of items including seed, harvesting equipment, supplies and other valuable products and services.

Registration is $10 per person in advance (tickets must be purchased by noon, February 3, 2012) and $20 at the door. Participants under the age of 18 are admitted at no charge. Registration is available online at www.AlfalfaExpo.com.

For more information, call 1.800.743.1649 or visit www.AlfalfaExpo.com.

Al Dutcher

State climatologist Dr. Al Dutcher, who specializes in climate data analysis, soil moisture analysis, weather forecasting, crop/weather relationships and drought monitoring, will provide insight and analysis on how weather conditions may impact alfalfa production this year at the Mid-America Alfalfa Expo & Conference.

Dutcher will address attendees on the second day of the two-day conference, which is being held at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds in Kearney, Nebraska, February 7 and 8.

“We’re keenly watching what will happen here in terms of precipitation, because we’re more concerned with fall and spring recharge in the western portion of the Corn Belt,” he said. “We’re highly dependent on that period to give us good starting moisture in the spring for green-up of wheat and alfalfa.”

Dutcher will provide a risk assessment focusing on the dry conditions in the Southern Plains and the potential expansion of this drought northward. He’ll include information on the La Niña weather pattern and how it may play a role in what growers see this spring and summer.

Dutcher has been with the University of Nebraska since 1989 and is a member of the university’s School of Natural Resource Sciences. He holds a B.S. in Meteorology and an M.S. in Climatology from Iowa State University. He is a past president and current member of the American Association of State Climatologists, serves on the Governor’s Climate Assessment Response Committee and chairs the state’s Water Availability Outlook Committee. He’s also a contributing editor/writer for CropWatch.

Sponsored by the Nebraska Alfalfa Marketing Association (N.A.M.A.), the Mid-America Alfalfa Expo & Conference is designed especially for alfalfa producers, livestock/dairy producers and others who are involved in alfalfa production, purchasing, hay feeding or processing.

Other speakers include Dr. Ron Hansen, ag economics professor at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, who will provide a session on multi-generational family farm ownership; Dr. Rick Rasby, University of Nebraska–Lincoln cattle feeding expert, who will focus on nutritional information for cow-calf producers; and Trent Loos, well-known commentator, columnist and ag advocate.

Registration includes admission to all presentations and programs, a Tuesday afternoon reception, dinner Tuesday evening, admission to the large alfalfa industry trade show and the opportunity to bid in the fundraising auction that takes place Tuesday afternoon. The auction features a wide range of items including seed, harvesting equipment, supplies and other valuable products and services.

Registration is $10 per person in advance (tickets must be purchased by noon, February 3) and $20 at the door. Participants under the age of 18 are admitted at no charge. Registration is available online at www.AlfalfaExpo.com.

For more information, call 1.800.743.1649 or visit www.AlfalfaExpo.com.

“The evaluation tool allows users to calculate a sound value of their alfalfa based on a nutrient comparable basis or a market comparable basis,” said Kyle Lechtenberg of Spencer, Nebraska, a member of the N.A.M.A. board who is helping to develop the tool. “The goal is to have a specific value for buyers and sellers to use as a starting point when marketing alfalfa, instead of simply asking neighbors or coming up with a ballpark guess.”

Lechtenberg explained that the nutrient comparable basis model allows users to input current prices of corn and soybean meal. The formula then provides a value of the alfalfa on a comparable nutrient basis. The market-based model, however, uses U.S. Department of Agriculture hay price reporting for inputs. It then adjusts those values based on the natural tendency of buyers to pay better for higher quality hay and flatten out for lower grade commodity hay.

“It will be possible to have both models weighted to get an average of the two,” he said. “This is useful in years like this when the market basis model shows a higher value than the nutrient basis model because of short hay supplies. It’s really a great tool that will benefit buyers and sellers alike.”

Lechtenberg said the model will be explained in detail at the Mid-America Alfalfa Expo & Conference and he encouraged those interested in learning more to attend. He said the tool, designed for N.A.M.A. members, will be accessible through the N.A.M.A. website, Nebraska-Alfalfa.com.

Sponsored by N.A.M.A., the Mid-America Alfalfa Expo & Conference is designed especially for alfalfa producers, livestock/dairy producers and others who are involved in alfalfa production, purchasing, hay feeding or processing.

Presenters include Dr. Al Dutcher, Nebraska climatologist, who will discuss weather patterns and forecasts for the coming crop year; Dr. Ron Hansen, ag economics professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, who will provide a session on multi-generational family farm ownership; Dr. Rick Rasby, University of Nebraska-Lincoln cattle feeding expert, who will focus on nutritional information for cow-calf producers; and Trent Loos, well-known commentator, columnist and ag advocate.

Registration includes admission to all presentations and programs, a Tuesday afternoon reception, dinner Tuesday evening, admission to the large alfalfa industry trade show and the opportunity to bid in the fundraising auction that takes place Tuesday afternoon. The auction features a wide range of items including seed, harvesting equipment, supplies and other valuable products and services.

Registration is $10 per person in advance (tickets must be purchased by noon, February 3, 2012) and $20 at the door. Participants under the age of 18 are admitted at no charge. Registration is available online at www.AlfalfaExpo.com.

For more information, call 1.800.743.1649 or visit www.AlfalfaExpo.com.

COZAD, NE — Well-known commentator, columnist and ag advocate Trent Loos will address the Mid-America Alfalfa Expo & Conference on Tuesday, February 7.

Trent Loos {click image for a hi-res version}

“I’m going to talk about the sustainability of alfalfa production but not from a yield per acre point of view,” Loos said. “Instead, I’ll talk about how we can continue to do what farmers in the United States do better than anyone else in the world: convert natural resources into human consumable products that ultimately improve human lives.”

Loos said the challenges surrounding this effort have never been greater.

“We have two choices,” he said. “We can sit back and let the forces that be continue to create hurdles, or we can step up to the plate and be heard. The answer to the challenges lies in the person you look at in the mirror.”

Loos travels the country motivating and educating audiences on issues related to animal agriculture and food production. He also records and produces radio reports that air on more than 100 stations across the country and reach a listening audience of 4 million people. These radio programs includes daily Loos Tales and Rural Route programming, as well as Dakota Trails & Tales, Colorado Trails & Tales, Loos Trails & Tales and Illinois Truth be Told.

Raised on a diversified farm near Quincy, Ill., Loos entered the hog business at a young age and has been involved in livestock production ever since. He and his wife Kelli operate a purebred Limousin and Angus herd while raising their three daughters on their ranch in central Nebraska.

Sponsored by the Nebraska Alfalfa Marketing Association (N.A.M.A.), the Mid-America Alfalfa Expo & Conference will be held at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds in Kearney, Nebraska, February 7 and 8, 2012. The event is designed especially for alfalfa producers, livestock/dairy producers and others who are involved in alfalfa production, purchasing, hay feeding or processing.

Other speakers include Dr. Al Dutcher, Nebraska climatologist, Dr. Ron Hansen, ag economics professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Dr. Rick Rasby, University of Nebraska-Lincoln cattle feeding expert.

One of the most significant items on the agenda is the introduction of the Alfalfa Valuation Analysis, a powerful new approach to the standardization of alfalfa quality and value that has been developed by N.A.M.A.

Registration includes admission to all presentations and programs, a Tuesday afternoon reception, dinner Tuesday evening, admission to the large alfalfa industry trade show and the opportunity to bid in the fundraising auction that takes place Tuesday afternoon. The auction features a wide range of items including seed, harvesting equipment, supplies and other valuable products and services.

Registration is $10 per person in advance (tickets must be purchased by noon, February 3, 2012) and $20 at the door. Participants under the age of 18 are admitted at no charge. Registration is available online at www.AlfalfaExpo.com.

For more information, call 1.800.743.1649 or visit www.AlfalfaExpo.com.

Debut of Alfalfa Valuation Analysis Expected to Draw Significant Interest

COZAD, NE — The Mid-America Alfalfa Expo & Conference has announced its program for the 2012 event, which features an impressive line-up of alfalfa and agriculture experts as well as an industry trade show and auction.

Sponsored by the Nebraska Alfalfa Marketing Association (N.A.M.A.), the Mid-America Alfalfa Expo & Conference will be held at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds in Kearney, Nebraska, February 7 and 8, 2012. The event is designed especially for alfalfa producers, livestock/dairy producers and others who are involved in alfalfa production, purchasing, hay feeding or processing.

“With the 2012 Expo & Conference, we have focused on quality from beginning to end,” said Barb Kinnan, executive director of N.A.M.A. “We have two jam-packed days of information, education, and innovation—all designed to help hay and livestock producers improve production, performance and profitability.”

A large alfalfa industry trade show and fundraising auction are also included during the two-day event.

One of the most significant items on the agenda is the introduction of the Alfalfa Valuation Analysis, a powerful new approach to the standardization of alfalfa quality and value that has been developed by N.A.M.A. “This is game-changing stuff that alfalfa producers and purchasers will not want to miss,” Kinnan said.

Presenters for 2012 include:

• Dr. Al Dutcher, Nebraska climatologist, who will discuss weather patterns and forecasts for the coming crop year;
• Dr. Ron Hansen, ag economics professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, who will provide a session on mulit-generational family farm ownership and will also be the speaker at Tuesday evening’s dinner;
• Dr. Rick Rasby, University of Nebraska-Lincoln cattle feeding expert, who will focus on nutritional information for cow-calf producers; and
• Trent Loos, well-known commentator, columnist and ag advocate.

A panel discussion featuring a Nebraska alfalfa producer, dairy producer, beef/feedlot producer and a hay producer from outside the region is also scheduled.

Registration includes admission to all presentations and programs, a Tuesday afternoon reception, dinner Tuesday evening, admission to the large alfalfa industry trade show and the opportunity to bid in the fundraising auction that takes place Tuesday afternoon. The auction features a wide range of items including seed, harvesting equipment, supplies and other valuable products and services.

Registration is $10 per person in advance (tickets must be purchased by noon, February 3, 2012) and $20 at the door. Participants under the age of 18 are admitted at no charge. Registration is available online at www.AlfalfaExpo.com.

For more information, call 1.800.743.1649 or visit www.AlfalfaExpo.com.