STOCKTON, Ill. — Producers wanting to make the most of their forage production and pastures will want to attend the combined 2019 Illinois Forage Institute and Northwest Illinois Grazing Conference on March 8th in Stockton, IL. Forage management techniques will be discussed throughout the day and include the following topics: Putting more Alfalfa into the Pasture Mix, Aggressive and Dangerous Weeds and Look-alikes, Drying and Harvesting High Quality Alfalfa Hay, Opportunities & Challenges of Making Baleage and Forage Quality: What does Livestock Really Need. Presenters will include Wisconsin Extension Agricultural Agent Gene Schriefer, Illinois Extension Commercial Ag Educator Philip Alberti, Illinois Extension Educator Travis Meteer and Dr. Dan Undersander, Forage Professor Emeritus from University of Wisconsin.
“As pasture management techniques have improved, livestock managers have become more aware of the poisonous plants which can be harmful to their animals: poison hemlock, white snakeroot, and wild parsnip just to name a few. However, there are many harmless plant species which look awfully similar to their toxic counterpart. Misidentification of these harmless species can lead to unnecessary, and costly, remediation techniques,” Commercial Agriculture Educator Phillip Alberti said. For this reason, Alberti will be presenting “Aggressive and Dangerous Weeds and Look-alikes” to help producers properly scout and distinguish these plant species to help ensure pasture and animal health.
The Illinois Forage and Grassland Council and University of Illinois Extension collaborated on the 2019 Illinois Forage Institute and Northwest Illinois Grazing Conference which will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Friday, March 8th at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 223 E Front Ave, Stockton, IL. The registration fee is $20 before February 27, $25 after this date, reduced registration rate is available for members of the IFGC and for students. To register, call the University of Illinois Extension at (815) 858-2273 or register on-line at go.illinois.edu/jsw.
— The Illinois Forage and Grassland Council and University of Illinois Extension
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