The Forage Leader
November 2014
Edition
How to Have an Effective Board and Find
Good Board Candidates
Submitted by: Chad Hale, Byron Seeds
Effective Board Article
For the past several years, I have had the great fortune to be responsible for collecting nominations
for the AFGC board. In this position, I have come in contact with many great people. Most of them are
recognized as leaders in their local council, agency or company. Some of them run well respected forage based
operations. We are fortunate to have such great folks in our organization. Serving in this capacity has made
me think about what makes a good board candidate and what makes a highly functional board. I wanted to
share some thoughts that I hope can help you as you select leaders for your forage council or, for that matter,
any other group you may participate in.
2015 Competition Info
Serving on a volunteer board is not for everyone, but serving the organization is.
Corporate Supporters
While serving on a board may not be everyone’s “cup of tea”, everyone can and should be involved!
So many times board members do everything for an organization, especially volunteer organizations like
ours. A board of directors is supposed to do just that – direct! Who are they supposed to direct? They
should be directing committees, task forces and work groups who actually do a lot of the actual work of an
organization. I have been on several volunteer boards over the years and the common thread in most of them
is an overworked board and disengaged membership who have no passion for their organization.
Choosing the right board candidates is not the first step. The first step is cultivating members who
are engaged and passionate about the organization and who can be counted on to help out. As these members
find their place in the organization they become part of a group of future board candidates. If these active
members are watched closely, attitudes and work ethic can be evaluated to ensure they would be suitable for
board service. This is a long-term process, but it is critical to the long term success of any organization. The
situation described above of an overworked board and disengaged membership is the result of not keeping
a deep enough pool of people who can be called on to do the work of an organization and can later serve as
board members. The next step in a downward spiral occurs when board members are pulled from this group
of people who are technically members, but they are disengaged and apathetic. This type of person creates
a situation where only a segment of the board is even active. People who are board members in name only
without being active are toxic to the organization.
Inside this issue:
President’s Column
2015 Annual Conference Flyer
2015 Annual Conference Agenda
2015 Annual Conference Registration Form
Upcoming Forage Events
We need our councils to make the leap from Good to Great
Be sure to follow AFGC on
Twitter by following
@AmericanForage and
Facebook by searching
American Forage and
Grassland Council.
In my day job, we recently read “Good to Great” by Jim Collins. The book is about how to make a
good enterprise great. Not only companies, but non-profits as well. This book is the result of many years of
research on companies who rose from being just a good company to a great one. As I read this book, I couldn’t
help but think of AFGC and my state council. I encourage anyone interested in leadership to read the book. A
few points that stuck out to me that relate to getting the best board possible are outlined below:
In one of the early chapters, the author makes the point that the best companies are made up of the
best people. He puts it in terms of having the right people on the bus and getting the wrong people off the
bus. Once the right people are on board, you then have to put them all in the right seat. Not everyone on the
AFGC board (including me) is cut out to be the treasurer. It takes a certain skill set and a certain mind set to be
effective in that role. It would be financial disaster to put the wrong person in that seat. As you evaluate your
boards, do you have board members who have passion and a willingness to work but seem to be floundering?
It may be that they are simply in the wrong seat on the bus.
In choosing board candidates, we have to be clear on what makes a good board candidate. Simply a willingness
Continued on Page 5...
President’s Column
It’s hard to believe that my term as AFGC President is coming to a close. It has been a great year of
accomplishments, but there is so much more that we can do to promote the value of forages across the United
States. Before I describe our 2014 accomplishments, let me extend a special thanks to some of the people who
have made this a great year. First and foremost, I want to give a special thanks to Tina Bowling, our Executive
Director, for her commitment to AFGC and the time and energy she spends managing our organization. I
want to thank our entire Board of Directors for their commitment to our organization and most importantly
the current Executive Board who manages the month to month decisions of our organization including Chad
Hale, past President; Gary Wilson, President Elect; Chris Agee, Senior Vice President; Robert Shoemaker, Vice
President; and Tom Keene, Treasurer. I want to thank everyone who was involved in planning and organizing
the 2015 Annual AFGC conference coming up in St. Louis, MO January 11-13; especially Chris Agee as
conference chair and Geoff Brink as program chair. They and their entire committee did a tremendous job
planning what will be a very successful conference.
Our mission statement states that AFGC exists “to promote the use of forages through education,
communication and professional development of producers, scientists, and educators.” Communication has been one of my primary
goals as AFGC President during the last year. I have listed below some of the ways that communication has been improved over the last
year and other activities/initiatives that we have implemented in 2014 or are pursuing for 2015.
• AFGC’s The Forage Leader was published quarterly during 2014 and past issues are available online. We continue to distribute
these via email or by hard copy upon request. To receive a hard copy call or write Tina at: 1-800-944-2342; AFGC, P.O. Box 867,
Berea, KY 40403; [email protected].
• All AFGC members continue to receive a copy of every issue of Progressive Forage Grower which contains excellent articles on
all aspects of Forage Production.
• The AFGC website has been updated with a new look and with improved accessibility (www.afgc.org). Especially check out the
updated “members only” section. Tina will be glad to help you access this part of the website.
• Proceedings of AFGC conferences are now available on our website.
• Jennifer Johnson has accepted our newly created position of AFGC Social Media Coordinator and will make sure that AFGC
members and the general public stay abreast of new forage developments via Facebook, Twitter, and other social media. I want to
give a special thanks to Terri Hawbaker for maintaining AFGC’s Facebook page over the last 5 years.
• All AFGC members are receiving monthly “Email blasts” on breaking news in forages and links to other relevant websites (if
you are not receiving these please contact Tina). Special thanks to Doug Hanson and Tina for putting these monthly updates
together.
• AFGC and NAFA (National Alfalfa and Forage Alliance) have continued our pilot program of shared board members to
improve communication between our two organizations and make sure forages are represented at all levels. We continue to work
closely with NHA (National Hay Association) and NFTA (National Forage Testing Association) and other national organizations.
• AFGC has partnered with the NIRS Consortium to host a special workshop at the 2015 AFGC meetings.
• AFGC has expanded the videos on our YouTube Channel which you can access via a link on the homepage of our website.
• We have updated the AFGC promotional PowerPoint which can be viewed by going to www.afgc.org then go to “watch the
AFGC Video Channel” and it is the first link in the list.
• You can now join or renew your AFGC affiliate membership online with your credit card. Simply click on the membership tab
of our website and follow the prompts under the “Affiliate Membership” category.
Although I am proud of AFGC and accomplishments over the last year, I most of all want to thank you for being an AFGC
member and for supporting our efforts to promote the value of forages across the United States.
Ray Smith
AFGC President
2
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Continued from Page 1...
...How to Have an Effective Board and Find Good Board Candidates
to serve is not enough. Board seats are not rewards for our friends or for sale to those who contribute funds to our organization. They
are not a reward for a job well done or recognition for past accomplishments. Board seats should be given to achievers with a passion for
the cause that the organization represents. In our case, everyone on our board had better be passionate about the forage industry.
What does a great board member look like?
As Mr. Collins looked at the greatest companies in the world and discovered what made a good leader, I think the same traits are
needed for great board members in our organizations. Here is a list:
1.
The organization must come first
A board member must be so determined to see the organization succeed that they are willing to take a backseat themselves. Their passion must be for the organization, not personal advancement.
2.
Humility is HUGE!
It was interesting that that the CEOs of most of the highly successful companies were not the guys you see on the news. I had never heard of most of them at all. They were humble people who took blame for an organizations mistakes, but gave all the credit for success to others. A flashy CEO can inspire greatness while he is there, but almost without fail, as soon as they leave, the company declines. The best board members inspire changes that last long after their terms expire.
3.
Have Faith but confront brutal facts
People who do not believe in your mission and have faith that it will be accomplished have no place on the board. At the same time, people stuck on past successes who think future success will just come automatically are not going to help our boards solve problems that do not yet exist. We need realistic, optimistic critical thinkers!
4.
A culture of discipline
Disciplined people get more done than people who lack discipline – it’s just that simple. Organizations that have discipline accomplish more than organizations who have no discipline. To bring this back to board members, having a group of undisciplined board members cannot result in a disciplined organization. As you cultivate the group of workers in your organization, you will find those who have the discipline to get tasks done and you will see others jump from project to project and idea to idea. Board candidates should come from the first group.
A highly effective board is key to any volunteer organization being successful. It can be difficult to keep the board full of highly
energized effective people, but with constant cultivation, a group of active members must be maintained so that there is a long-term pool
of people to pull from for future boards. Any effort spent in engaging your membership and creating multiple opportunities to become
active and involved will be well worth it. Cultivate and engage new members like your future depends on it… because it does.
2015 Workshop Sponsors
®
4
National AFGC Conference Offers Many
Opportunities for Friendly Competition
Did you think the national AFGC Conference was just a lot of boring talks? You could not be more wrong! The AFGC
Annual Meeting presents lots of opportunities for friendly competitions among members, and there are valuable cash and
prizes! Details on all competitions can be found at www.afgc.org.
Forage Spokesperson Contest--DEADLINE November 14, 2014
The Forage Spokesperson Contest is typically one of the most popular and informative sessions at the annual AFGC
conference. This is an opportunity for all of us to see and hear how producers from all over North America have been
able to take sound forage and livestock concepts and make them work in their unique situations. Individual producers
are nominated by state affiliate councils to present their story at the national conference. Each producer is asked to
develop a 15 minute presentation which gives an overview of their farming operation. Emphasis is placed on how
forage management contributes to the overall farm objectives. The deadline for nominations for the AFGC 2015 Forage
Spokesperson contest is November 14, 2014.
Forage Bowl
The Forage Bowl is a nationwide contest for undergraduate student teams to show off their forage production knowledge in
a jeopardy-style competition. Four-student teams from universities all over the US select from a variety of topics including
establishment, soils and fertility and grazing management. Wagering points on daily doubles and the final jeopardy
question make this contest exciting and unpredictable. Students from all disciplines are encouraged to participate. Because
the contest is held at the AFGC annual conference, students get the opportunity to attend a professional conference and
interact with scientist and top level producers from across the country. AFGC has been supportive of this contest because
of a strong belief in encouraging the next generation of forage producers, researchers and leaders. For more information,
please contact Krista Lea at [email protected].
National AFGC Photo Contest--DEADLINE December 1, 2014
A good photo may be worth a thousand words so the AFGC national photo contest is quick opportunity to tell the story
of your forage program. Nearly everyone reading this has taken some good photos of various aspects of forages. Every
year someone that views the photo contest display at the national meeting will comment about a good picture they had,
but forgot to enter. AFGC members can enter up to two entries in each of five categories which are: Harvested Forages,
Grazing, Education, Wildlife and Conservation, and Open. Photos are judged on three main criteria: Photo Story: Does
the photo tell a clear story related to forages? Does it have relevance to the category? ; Photo Quality: Sharpness, subject in
focus, color, contrast, exposure; and Photo Layout: Clarity of subject and eye appeal, no objects or distractions interfering
with subject.
National Youth in Grazing Management Essay Contest--DEADLINE December 1, 2014
The National Youth in Grazing Management Essay focuses on essays written about anything pertaining to grazing
management, including but not limited to, personal experiences in grazing management, observation or explanation of
grazing practices, livestock management on pasture, fencing or other equipment related to grazing management, plant
or animal species response to grazing management, or any other subject matter related to grazing management. There
are three age categories for participants—14 and under; 14-18; and 19-22. Essays must be original compositions by the
entrants. There is prize money awarded for the top essays in each age group. In addition, individuals participating in this
competition will receive a one-year student membership to AFGC.
www.afgc.org
5
AFGC CORPORATE SUPPORTERS
6
AFGC Annual Conference
January 11-14, 2015 l St. Louis, Missouri
Come for the very best in education, exhibits, networking. Leave with
newfound knowledge about forage production and utilization
that will make your farm more profitable and sustainable.
Hosted by the Missouri & Illinois Forage & Grassland Councils
Workshops, the Heart of the Conference
Opening Session
Temple Grandin: Tips for Low Stress Cattle Handling
The renowned consultant to the livestock industry on animal
behavior will present her perspectives on handling cattle to reduce
stress. Half of the cattle in the U.S. and Canada are handled in
equipment she has designed.
Cover Crops in Forage-Livestock Systems
Experts will discuss the management and utilization of these crops
and the USDA programs that promote their use.
Forage Improvement: Something for Everyone
Other Sessions
Topics ranging from weed control and hay preservatives to adjusting
haying equipment for optimum performance.
The Alliance for Grassland Renewal
Livestock Products/Dietary Guidelines: How Did We Get Here?
Through education, seed quality control, incentives, and promotion,
the coalition seeks to replace toxic tall fescue grass with tall fescue
that hosts a nontoxic, “novel” endophyte.
Making and Utilizing Baled Silage
Producing high-quality dry hay remains a challenge because of
unpredictable weather. Speakers will discuss the fundamentals of
producing and utilizing the best available alternative – baled silage.
Recent Improvements in Cool-Season Grasses
The most recent breeding efforts to improve some cool-season
grasses will be presented by industry scientists.
Nutrition experts will discuss the changing perspectives
surrounding livestock products in the diet.
Native Species for Forage-Livestock Systems
Specialists will present the latest info on the potential of these
unique forages as feedstocks for biofuel production, a means to
protect natural resources, and an emergency source of forage.
NIRS: A Tool to Manage Forages
A wide range of experts will explain how NIRS can improve
forage and pasture management, impact plant improvement
through breeding, and benefit the producer.
Other Activities
View Products & Services in the Exhibit Area l Volunteer and Poster Presentations l NIRS Workshops
l Forage Spokesperson Competition l Forage Bowl l Emerging Scientist Competition l Youth in Grazing
Management Essay Contest l Networking Opportunities l Awards Banquet l Photo Contest
Conference Details
Conference Registration
Register for one day or all three. Call, email, or go to web site for registration information and form.
American Forage & Grassland Council
Phone: 800-944-2342 l Email: [email protected] l Web site: www.afgc.org
Conference Hotel
Hilton St. Louis Frontenac l $95/night + tax l Call 1-314-993-1100 l Reserve room by Jan 2, 2015, ask for AFGC block.
7
2015 AFGC Annual Meeting
January 11-13, 2015--St. Louis, MO
Agenda Outline
January 11, 2015--Sunday
10:30am - 1:30pm
1:00pm-5:00pm
2:30pm-5:00pm
AFGC Board of Directors Meeting
Exhibitor Set Up
Forage Foundation Board of Directors Meeting
January 12, 2015--Monday
7:00am-7:30am Monday Poster Set-Up
7:30am-5:00pm Registration Open
7:30am-8:00am Continental Breakfast, Exhibits, Silent Auction, and Forage ID Contest
7:30am-8:00am Poster Presentations (Author’s Present)
•
Baleage Evaluation of Three Grass Species Across Harvest Regime and Nitrogen Fertility, Jonathan Richwine,
Mississippi State University
•
Monitoring Weekly Growth and Utilization in Dairy Pastures in Oregon, Troy Downing, Oregon State University
•
Comparing Captured Variability of Forages and Weeds in Pastures by Increasing Sample Locations, Joo Won Jun
•
Nitrogen Rate and Source Effect on Fall Stockpiled Tall Fescue, Nathan Todd Shireman, Virginia Tech
•
Preliminary Results of a Survey of Mid-Atlantic Orchardgrass Hay Fields, Gordon B. Jones, Virginia Tech
•
Effect on Inoculants in Annual Ryegrass Baleage, Rocky Lemus, Mississippi State University
•
Bale Diameter and Feeder Design Affects Hay Waste, Dexter Tomczak, University of Missouri
•
Timing Effect of RyzUp Application on Grass Growth in Ohio, Chris Bruynis, Ohio State University
•
Curly Dock Control in Established Clover Stands, Edward Twidwell, Louisiana State University
•
Using a Greenseeker to Estimate Forage Crude Protein of Bromegrass Pasture, Joseph Moyer, Kansas State
University
8:00am-9:15am Opening Session featuring Temple Grandin
9:30am-11:15am--DOW Workshop (Garry Lacefield, Coordinator)
9:30--Welcome
9:45--Grazing Method: TOOL or TOOLBOX?, Garry Lacefield
10:00--Can I afford to Spray for Weeds?, Scott Flynn
10:15--Hay Preservatives & Additives – Do They Work? Are they Economical? Ray Smith
10:30--Adjusting and Maintenance of Haying Equipment: A Farmer’s Perspective, Clayton Geralds
10:45--Keys to Success when Making Baleage: A Farmer’s Perspective, Kendall Guither
11:00--Forage-Livestock Quotes & Concepts, Don Ball
11:15--Adjourn
11:15am-12:00pm--AFGC Business Meeting
12:15pm-1:00pmLuncheon
1:00pm-2:30pm Volunteer Oral Presentations—Animal Performance (6-15 minutes presentations)
•
Warm Season Forages for Lamb Grazing, Jeff McCutcheon, Ohio State University
•
Summer Annual Grass Systems for Forage-Finished Beef Cattle Production, Dennis Hancock, University of Geogia
•
Raising vs. Purchasing Replacement Females, Wesley Tucker, University of Missouri
•
Creating an Equitable Livestock Share Arrangement in a Rising Cattle Market, Wesley Tucker, University of
Missouri
•
If You Can Rotate Here, You Can Rotate Anywhere, Madalene Ransom, USDA
•
Extension Hay Schools Provide Valuable Education to Missouri Producers, Wesley Tucker, University of Missouri; Tim Schnakenberg, University of Missouri
Workshop: Alliance for Grassland Improvement
(Craig Roberts, Coordinator)
1:00--The Alliance for Grassland Renewal—What and Why? Craig Roberts
1:30--Education Overview: Justin Sexten
2:00--Real Education—the producer panel: Darrel Franson
2:20--Goals for 2015-17: Craig Roberts
2:30pm-3:00pm Sponsor Spotlight & Highlight
3:00pm-3:30pm Break, Exhibits, Silent Auction, and Forage ID Contest
3:00pm-3:30pm Poster Presentations (Author’s Present)
•
Alphabet Soup of Laboratory Analysis, Kendall Guither
8
2015 AFGC Annual Meeting
January 11-13, 2015--St. Louis, MO
Agenda Outline
•
Practical Ranch Management Workshop: a Hands-on Approach to Extension Education in the TN Valley Region of Alabama, Gerry Thompson, Auburn University
•
Ewe Preference for Giant Ragweed and Lambs Quarter Based on Cafeteria Trail, Jeff McCutcheon, Ohio State University
•
A Survey of Grass-finished Beef Producers in Pennsylvania, Jasmine Dillon, Penn State University
•
Pasture Digestible Energy Intake of Growing European Wild Boar in a Grazing System, Suzanne Marie
Hodgkinson, Universidad Austral de Chile
•
Cool-Season Grass Sward Structure Influences Intake of Grazing Cattle, Geoff Brink, USDA-ARS
•
Sustainability of Grazing-Based Dairy Systems as Affected by Herbage Allowance Restriction, Veronica Merino
•
Stockpiling Novel Endophyte Tall Fescue for Summer Grazing, Brian Campbell, Virginia Tech
3:30pm-5:30pm Volunteer Oral Presentations—Forage Production (8-15 minute presentations)
•
Sustainable Pasture Improvement, Ignacio Lopez, Universidad Austral de Chile
•
Impact of Fertility on Tall Fescue Forage Types, Rocky Lemus, Mississippi State University
•
The Nutrient Situations in the Major Alfalfa Producing Areas of China, He Feng
•
Volatile Organic Compound Emissions From Silage Systems, Alan Rotz, USDA
•
Evaluation of Annual Cool-Season Grass Legume Mixtures in Mississippi, Joshua White, Mississippi State
University
•
Bioenergy Grass Feedstock Production in the Southern Coastal Plain, Bill Anderson, USDA
•
Avoiding Animal “Health Issues” When Grazing Cover Crops, Dean Oswald
3:30pm-6:00pm EMERGING SCIENTIST COMPETITION (limited to 8)
•
Determining Forage Grass Palatability and Preference Among Multiple Species in Dairy Cattle, Eric Douglas Billman, University of Kentucky
•
Phosphorus Content of Cool Season Grasses as Affected by Stage of Maturity and Fiber Fraction, Ashley Fowler, University of Kentucky
•
Residual Impact of Pasture Herbicides on Clover Productivity, Suzanne Laird, Louisiana State University
•
Polymorphisms of the DRDE Gene Affect the Dry Matter Intake and Weight Gain of Beef Heifers Fed Tall Fescue Silage, Brett Jones, University of Missouri
•
Effect of Nitrogen Fertilization and Harvest Interval on Yield, Persistence, and Nutritive Value of Three Cool
Season Grass Species in North Central Mississippi, Jonathan Richwine, Mississippi State University
•
Grass Fungal Endophyte Symbiosis: Effects on Nitrogen Fixation and Dynamics in a Kentucky Pasture, Lindsey Slaughter, University of Kentucky
•
TBA, Nathan Todd Shireman, Virginia Tech
6:00pm-7:30pm Mixer
7:30pm-8:30pm Affiliate Council President’s Meeting
7:00pm-8:30pm NATIONAL FORAGE BOWL PLAY OFF
January 13, 2015--Tuesday
6:30am-7:00am Tuesday Poster Set-Up
7:00am-3:00pm Registration Open
6:45am-7:30am Continental Breakfast, Exhibits, Silent Auction, and Forage ID Contest
6:45am-7:30am Poster Presentations (Author’s Present)
•
Improving Alfalfa Cultivar Selection by GIS Mapping of Fall Dormancy and Winter Survival Index Zones and Modeling Seasonal and Annual Yield, Pete Berry
•
Alfalfa Potential as Cover Crop in Central Florida, Yoana Newman, University of Florida
•
Bulb Yield & Quality of Forage Turnips, Kenny Simon, University of Arkansas
•
Yield of Nine Fall-Grown Forage Brassicas Managed in a One-Harvest System, Kenny Simon, University of
Arkansas
•
Legume and Nitrogen Management in Southeastern Wildrye, Jesse Morrison, Mississippi State University
•
Cool Season Annual Grazing Evaluation With and Without the Utilization of Legumes, Robert McKee, Auburn University
•
Forage Yield and Nutritive Quality of Cereal Rye or Wheat for Pasturing Stocker Cattle, Josh Yates, University of Arkansas
•
Southeastern Wildrye: Annual Legume and Nitrogen Management, Jason Brett Rushing, Mississippi State
University
9
2015 AFGC Annual Meeting
January 11-13, 2015--St. Louis, MO
Agenda Outline
•
Yield of Nine Fall-Grown Forage Brassicas Managed in a Two-Harvest System, Kenny Simon, University of
Arkansas
•
Supplemental Nitrogen Fertilization for Binary Mixtures of Alfalfa with Orchardgrass or Tall Fescue, Kim Cassida, Michigan State University
7:30am-8:30am NATIONAL FORAGE BOWL COMPETITION
8:30am-10:00amWorkshops
Cover Crops and Soil Health Workshop (Doug Hanson, Coordinator)
8:30—Using Cover Crops to Expand Your Livestock Operation
9:00—USDA Sponsored Programs for Cover Crops
9:30—SARE Sponsored Research Projects for Cover Crops
Baleage Workshop (Dennis Hancock, Coordinator)
8:30--The Keys to Making Great Baled Silage, Dennis Hancock
9:00--Factors that Influence Baled Silage Fermentation, Wayne Coblentz
9:30--Using Baled Silage for Excellent Forage Quality and Animal Performance, Kun-Jun Han
10:00am-10:30amBreak, Exhibits, Silent Auction, and Forage ID Contest
10:30am-12:00amWorkshops
Cool Season Grasses (Gary Wilson, Coordinator)
Vladimir Cernoch DLF International Seeds Research Station, Czech Republic
Native Species (Brian Baldwin, Coordinator)
10:30--Establishing Native Warm-Season Grasses: Producer Testimonials, J. Brett Rushing and Claude
Jenkins
11:00--Native grass perceptions: Producers and Professionals Surveys in Tennessee, Keyser, P. S. Schexnayder, A. Willcox, G. Bates, and J. Waller
11:30--Economics of native grass forage production: How we got lucky and where to from here?, Boyer, C., J. Lowe, J. Waller, P. Keyser, and G. Bates
12:00pm-1:00pm Competition Awards Luncheon
1:00pm-2:30pm Workshops-2
Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS) Workshop (Patty Laskowski-Morren, Coordinator, NIRS Consortium)
*NIRS as a Tool for Better Forage Management
*NIRS as a Tool for Managing Grazing
Human Nutrition Workshop--Reconsidering Red Meat and Full-Fat Dairy Products in the Human Diet (Peter Ballerstedt, Coordinator)
Dr. Peter Ballerstedt, PhD.
Regina Wilshire
Dr. Gil Wilshire, MD.
2:30pm-3:00pm Sponsor Spotlight & Highlight
3:00pm-3:30pm Break
3:00pmSilent Auction Closes
3:00pm-3:30pm Poster Presentations (Author’s Present)
•
Switchgrass Yield and Quality with Multiple Fertilizer Applications and Harvest Dates, Tom Keene, University of Kentucky
•
Approaches to Silvopasture Establishment: Time Zero System Ecology, Kelly Marie Mercier, Virginia Tech
•
A Biodiversity Survey of Switchgrass Fields Using Wildlife Cameras, Avian Counts, and Soil Health, Marissa
Zatezalo
•
Analysis of Forage Quality in Switchgrass at Varied Maturities Using NIRS, Adam Benjamin Crisologo
•
Modeling Evapotranspiration and Ecosystem Respiration of an Old World Bluestem Pasture Using Probabilistic Neural Network, Song Cui, Middle Tennessee State University
•
Sorghum-Sudangrass: An Option for Both Forage and Fuel, Christopher Penrose, Ohio State University
•
Impact of Nitrogen and Seeding Rate on the Yield and Nutritive Value of Forage Sorghum Grown in the
Mid-Atlantic Region, Chris Teutsch, Virginia Tech
3:30pm-5:30pm FORAGE SPOKESPERSON COMPETITION (limited to 6)
6:45pmBanquet Seating Begins
7:00pm-8:30pm AFGC Awards Banquet
10
2015 AFGC Annual Meeting
January 11-13, 2015--St. Louis, MO
Agenda Outline
January 14, 2015--Wednesday
7:00am-10:30am
AFGC Board Meeting
7:30am-8:30am NIRS Board Meeting
8:30am-9:30am Plant Breeding and NIRS, Benefiting the Producer
9:30am-10:30amPlant Breeding and NIRS, Benefiting the Producer
10:30am-11:00amBreak
11:00am-12:30pm
Optimizing Forage Quality Using NIRS
12:30pm-1:30pmLunch
1:30pm-3:30pm Forage Quality and Using NIRS Nutrition Results
3:30pm-5:30-pmNIRS Consortium Business Meeting
Be sure to complete the 2015
AFGC Board Ballot. You must
be a member in good standing
and the ballot is located online
at www.afgc.org!
*NIRS Forage and Feed Testing Consortium—www.nirsconsortium.org
®
11
American Forage & Grassland Council
2015 Annual Conference
January 11-14 in St. Louis, MO
Registration Form
You may also register online at www.afgc.org ● Questions? Please call AFGC at 800.944.2342.
Online registration ends January 7, 2015. After January 7, 2015, you must register on-site in St. Louis, MO.
Name (Mr., Ms., Mrs., Dr.) _____________________________________________________________________________________
Companion’s name if attending ________________________________________________________________________________
Company ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Address ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
City _______________________________________ State _______________________ Zip ________________________________
Phone _______________________________ Fax ______________________________ Email ______________________________
THROUGH
DECEMBER 31
MEMBER NON-MBR.
REGISTRATION FEE OPTIONS (CIRCLE CHOICES)
Full Conference Registration (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday)
Full Student Registration (ID Required)
Monday Only Registration
Tuesday Only Registration
Wednesday Only Registration
Spouse/Guest Registration Full Conference
Spouse/Guest Monday Only
Spouse/Guest Tuesday Only
Spouse/Guest Wednesday Only
$350
$150
$125
$125
$125
$150
$ 60
$ 60
$ 60
$380
$170
$155
$155
$155
AFTER
DECEMBER 31
MEMBER NON-MBR.
$400
N/A
$145
$145
$145
$160
$ 80
$ 80
$ 80
$430
N/A
$175
$175
$175
EXTRA REGISTRATION OPTIONS
Certified Forage and Grassland Professional Exam, January 12:
$100
Banquet Tickets (Tuesday, January 13, 2015)
$ 50 (each)
TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED: $ ___________
Please notify us of any special dietary or physical requirements: ________________________________________
The conference proceedings will be available online to all attendees.
METHOD OF PAYMENT
____ Check enclosed made payable to the American Forage and Grassland Council.
____ VISA
____ Master Card
____ American Express
Card Number
Expiration
Card Security Code (last 3 or 4 digits of number located on back of card)
Name as it appears on Credit Card
Send completed form and payment to: AFGC, PO Box 867, Berea, KY 40403; or Fax 859.623.8694. The Registrations
cannot be processed or confirmed without complete payment.
Cancellations received in writing by December 1, 2014, will receive a full refund less $25 processing fee. Cancellations
received after December 1, 2014, will not receive a refund. Any questions, please call AFGC at 800.944.2342.
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Upcoming AFGC National and State
Affiliate Events and Resources
AFGC National Meeting in St. Louis – Jan 11-13, 2015
We invite you to attend The American Forage and Grassland Council’s annual meeting in St. Louis, MO January
11-13, 2015. We are proud to welcome Dr. Temple Grandin as the 2015 AFGC Annual Conference Opening Keynote presenter. Dr. Grandin is an expert in the field of Animal Science and a highly regarded speaker. She is a
designer of livestock handling facilities and a Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University. Facilities
Dr. Grandin designed are located in the United States, Canada, Europe, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and
other countries. In North America, almost half of the cattle are handled in a center track restrainer system that
she designed for meat processing plants. The curved chute and race systems she has designed for cattle are used
worldwide and her writings on the flight zone and other principles of grazing animal behavior have helped many
people to reduce stress on their animals during handling.
In addition to Dr. Grandin, the 2015 AFGC Annual Conference will offer several workshops including the popular Dow Symposium; Alliance for Grassland Improvement; Cover Crops and Soil Health; Native Species; Cool
Season Grasses; Human Nutrition; and many other individual presentations and activities. AFGC has also partnered with Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS) Consortium which will offer a workshop on Tuesday
and conference sessions all Wednesday, January 14th. There are several conference registration options including
full conference and one day registrations. For complete agenda and registration go to www.afgc.org.
The Virginia Forage and Grassland Council will once again host their winter meeting series. The program will
be repeated in Weyers Cave, Wytheville, Chatham and Gordonsville, VA from January 20th through the 23rd.
This year’s keynote speaker is Dr. Peter Ballerstedt, forage product manager at Barenbrug USA. He has written
numerous publications and articles and currently writes a blog focused on diet, health and human nutrition
called “Grass Based Health.” His areas of expertise include forage production, utilization and forage-based livestock production systems and their role in human nutrition. For more information, visit the Virginia Forage and
Grassland Council website at www.vaforages.org.
The Kentucky Forage and Grassland Council will be a sponsor for the 35th Kentucky Alfalfa Conference on
February 26th in Cave City, KY. Dr. Garry Lacefield has organized this outstanding winter meeting series every year for the last 35 years. Highlights of this year’s conference include “What’s Required to Break the ‘1400
lbs of beef per acre’ Kentucky Record” by Ken Johnson, “Grazing Alfalfa: Real Cost of ‘Fear’ of Bloat” by Ray
Smith, and a hay quality panel featuring some of the top alfalfa hay producers in the state. Peter Ballersted will
also speak at the Kentucky conference on “Red Meat, Our Health and Alfalfa”. For more information go to the
Kentucky Forage and Grassland Council website at www.kfgc.org or check the events section of the UK Forages
website, www.uky.edu/ag/forage/. No pre-registration is required for the Kentucky Alfalfa conference.
The Illinois Forage and Grassland Council helped to sponsor the Illinois Grazing Manual. It is now available
online. For more information on grazing visit http://www.il.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/grazing/GrzMan.html The
in depth document details technical information on: grazing management, inventories, establishment/renovation, species, noxious/invasive species, animal health, fertility, watering infrastructure and livestock handling &
nutrition. View the information via the link above or contact your local NRCS office for more information.
The North Carolina Forage and Grassland Council is hosting winter meetings in Kenansville, Statesville, and
Canton, North Carolina on January 28-30. Topics include “Opportunities and Challenges with Multi-species
Grazing” presented by Dr. Greg Brann and a speaker panel question and answer session to wrap up the day. For
more details or to register for this event, go to http://www.afgc.org/affiliate/northcarolina.php.
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Upcoming AFGC National and State
Affiliate Events and Resources
The Ohio Forage and Grassland Council is hosting the annual Heart of America Conference in Willington,
Ohio. Dinner and a guest speaker will begin on January 28th with a full program on the 29th. This event will be
held at the Roberts Center. Additionally, OFGC will be a sponsor for North Central Ohio Dairy Grazing Conference January 23 and 24, 2014. For more details on these events go to www.afgc.org/affiliate/ohio.php.
The Oregon Forage and Grassland Council is partnering with the Oregon Sheep Growers Association to host
a Fall Forage Tour December 4, 2014. This tour will make stops in Salem, Monmouth and Junction City before
finishing in Eugene for the Oregon Sheep Growers Association Conference. Stops will include forage variety
plots, a grass-based organic dairy and a grass-based Angus operation. Registration is free for the tour, as you will
be responsible for driving to each location. For more information including a schedule and directions, visit the
Oregon Forage and Grassland Council website at www.oregonforage.org.
The Michigan Forage Council partners with Michigan State University Extension and the Michigan Grazing
Lands Conservation Initiative to host the Great Lakes Forage and Grazing Conference every spring. In 2015, the
event will be held on the MSU campus in East Lansing on March 12. The program is still under development,
but should include something for everyone. Keep an eye on the MFC website at http://michiganforagecouncil.
org for details as they become available.
Stay up-to-date with all events, contests and information and find an affiliate council by visiting the American
Forage and Grassland website at www.afgc.org.
2015 AFGC National Photo Contest Entries
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