September 3, 2008
- Registration: 8:30 am, class 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
- Class size limit: 40
- CCA credits: 4.0 crop, 2.0 pest, 0.5 nutrient
- Registration fee: $145
- Registration is now open
- Instructor: Stephen Barnhart, extension forage specialist
Profitable forage production depends on high yields. Land, machinery,
and most other operating costs stay the same whether harvesting 3 tons per acre or 6 tons per acre. Top yields in the northern United States have approached 10 tons per acre while average yields are around 3 tons per acre. This clinic will examine what it takes to reach top levels of forage production in Iowa.
Alfalfa Growth and Development
- Identification of plant structures
- Growth patterns and problems
- Growth staging
Insect Pests
- Biology, identification, and management of the prominent alfalfa insect pests
Nutrient Management
- Nutrient deficiency symptoms
- Fertilizer timing
- Nutrient removal
Alfalfa Management
- Establishment practices
- Cutting management practices
- Impact of weeds on forage quality
and yields
- Role of herbicides in forage establishment
Alfalfa Diseases
- Identifying root, crown, and foliar diseases of alfalfa
- Effects of diseases on yield, quality, and stand longevity
- Control and management of diseases
