By Shannon C. Mueller
Current research and timely recommendations for producing alfalfa and forages will be covered during the annual Alfalfa and Forage Field Day at the Kearney Agriculture Research and Extension Center on Friday September 12. The program begins promptly at 8:00 AM and includes lunch and an afternoon field tour of Subsurface Drip Irrigation in Alfalfa.
The complete program can be downloaded at: http://alfalfa.ucdavis.edu
A tram will take everyone to the field in the morning to view alfalfa and sorghum variety trials, forage and grain sorghum irrigation research plots, and an alfalfa-wheat rotation trial characterizing nitrogen benefits. As temperatures begin to rise, we will return to the air conditioned comfort of the classroom and listen to presentations covering herbicide options for alfalfa, irrigation management recommendations, aphid management, small grain silage research, salinity management in alfalfa and the importance of non-GE alfalfa for export or organic production.
This year, we've arranged for lunch which will be sponsored by Netafim. Everyone is invited to grab a burrito and a cold drink and head to the TeVelde Dairy in Hanford to view an alfalfa field being irrigated by subsurface drip. The grower and irrigation experts will discuss the performance of subsurface drip in alfalfa production systems.
Come early (7:30 AM) to sign in and register for Continuing Education Credits (PCA and CCA Credits). We requested 4.2 CCA Credits (0.6 Nutrient Management, 0.6 Soil and Water Management, 1.0 Pest Management and 2.0 Crop Management) and 1.5 PCA/PA Credits (all for the Other category)
Contact Shannon Mueller at scmueller@ucanr.edu or 559-241-7527 if you have any questions.
Directions: From 99 South of Fresno, take Manning Avenue east to Riverbend Avenue. Turn right. The Kearney Ag Center is on the left. Park in the lot to the east. The address is 9240 South Riverbend Ave., Parlier, CA
FIELD DAY PROGRAM:
7:30 AM Registration
8:00 AM Tram leaves for Field Tour
- Varieties – What are the Pest Management, Yield and Quality Traits of Most Importance?
Dan Putnam, Alfalfa and Forage Specialist, UC Davis
- Forage and Grain Sorghum Demonstration Plots
Jeff Dahlberg, Director, Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center
- Forage and Grain Sorghum Irrigation Management Research
Bob Hutmacher, Steve Wright, Jeff Dahlberg – UCCE, UCD Plant Science,
and UC Kearney and West Side Research and Extension Centers
- Characterizing the Nitrogen Benefit of Alfalfa-Wheat Rotations
Eric Lin, Graduate Student, Department of Plant Sciences, UC Davis
9:30 AM Tram returns to the classroom for presentations
- Sharpen and Other Herbicide Options for Weed Control in Alfalfa
Kurt Hembree, Farm Advisor, UCCE, Fresno County
- Distribution Uniformity in Surface Irrigation Systems and the Importance of Soil Moisture Monitoring
Dan Munk, Farm Advisor, UCCE, Fresno County
- Aphids: Management vs. Control
Pete Goodell, Cooperative Extension Advisor, UC Statewide IPM Program
- Small Grain Silage Update
Steve Wright, Farm Advisor, UCCE, Tulare and Kings Counties
- Salinity Management in Alfalfa Fields
Michelle Leinfelder-Miles, Farm Advisor, UCCE, San Joaquin, Contra Costa,
Sacramento, Solano, and Yolo Counties
- The Importance of Non-GE Alfalfa for Export or Organic Production
Dan Putnam, Alfalfa and Forage Specialist, UC Davis
12 PM LUNCH (Sponsored by Netafim)
1:15 PM Visit Subsurface Alfalfa Drip Irrigation Field at TeVelde Dairy, three miles from 13866 4th Ave., Hanford, CA. The grower and irrigation experts will discuss the performance of subsurface drip in alfalfa.
Source:ucanr.edu