Purdue News

January 9, 1998

Forage conference focuses on environment, wildlife

"Our main purpose is to increase knowledge and to educate people on the use of forages and developments that have occurred. We want to provide a networking opportunity for people to get to know each other and utilize their strengths," said Keith Johnson, secretary-treasurer for the Indiana Forage Council and professor of agronomy at Purdue University.

According to Johnson, a broad audience is expected to attend the March 8-10 conference. Producers, university and government specialists, agribusiness representatives and anyone interested in forages are welcome to attend and bring family members, he said.

"We think one of the strengths of the organization is that it's not been one that focuses strictly on universities alone, or agribusiness alone. This is open to the public," he said.

Several presentations will be given by Purdue educators, including Jay Akridge, associate director of the Center for Agricultural Business; Ron Turco, director of Purdue's Environmental Sciences and Engineering Institute; Brad Joern, environmental specialist; Jeff Volenec, forage physiologist; and Janet Ayres, assistant director/program leader of community development and leadership for the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service.

Other experts will conduct workshops on the environment, production and utilization, and wildlife issues as they relate to forage crops. It will be the first time workshops have been part of the American Forage and Grassland Conference.

"The workshop attendees will have more opportunities to interact with the speaker, and the speaker has more of an opportunity to interact in a student/teacher relationship instead of a lecture," Johnson said. "The whole point is to bring forth new developments and topics that are a reflection of what people feel are important today."

In addition to workshops, a panel discussion on "Intensive Grazing -- Hope, Hype or Hysteria" is planned, as well as sessions on forage management and utilization, the economics of forage utilization, soil fertility and plant nutrition, the genetic improvement of forages, and more.

The conference also will introduce the participants to the sights and tastes of Indianapolis. Tours of the city, the Children's Museum, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Indianapolis Zoo, Amax Coal Co., Claas Equipment and the Kelsay Dairy will be offered. Visitors also will have the option to sample Indiana cuisine at a "Taste of Indiana" dinner.

Registration prices vary, depending on the activities each participant signs up for, and should be paid before Feb. 7. For more information on the prices and the conference, contact Johnson at (765) 494-4800; e-mail, kjohnson@dept.agry.purdue.edu, or Dana Tucker at (800) 944-2342.

Compiled by Chris Sigurdson, (765) 494-8415; home (765) 497-2433; E-mail, sig@ecn.purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu

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