Forage and Grassland Council to meet

Expert speakers, presentations, panel discussions and a trade show will be featured during the annual meeting of the Oregon Forage and Grassland Council.

The two-day event is April 7-8 at the Benton County Fairgrounds in Corvallis, Ore. On-site registration is $50 for members and $85 for non-members.

The meeting begins at 1 p.m. April 7 with Sonny Ramaswamy, dean of the Oregon State University College of Agricultural Sciences, welcoming visitors and giving an update on the OSU College of Agriculture.

Four guest speakers will follow: Dr. Morrie Craig of the OSU Veterinary School on "Endophyte Testing;" Dr. Pete Ballerstedt on "Grass Based Health: Turning the Food Pyramid Upside Down:" Gene Pirelli of the OSU Extension Service on "Selenium Fertilization of Pastures;" and Michael Murphy, a grazing consultant from Ireland on "Making a Profit on Forages." Murphy is an owner and investor in farms in Ireland, New Zealand, Chile, Argentina and Missouri.

Four guest speakers will follow: Dr. Morrie Craig of the OSU Veterinary School on "Endophyte Testing;" Dr. Pete Ballerstedt on "Grass Based Health: Turning the Food Pyramid Upside Down:" Gene Pirelli of the OSU Extension Service on "Selenium Fertilization of Pastures;" and Michael Murphy, a grazing consultant from Ireland on "Making a Profit on Forages." Murphy is an owner and investor in farms in Ireland, New Zealand, Chile, Argentina and Missouri.

An evening presentation will be "Forage and Pasture Management" by Woody Lane, a livestock and forage consultant from Roseburg, Ore.

The OFGC business meeting is 7:30 a.m. April 8. More presentations will follow beginning at 9 a.m.: Murphy on "Grass Dairying in Western Oregon;" Bill Tucker, a Virginia cattleman and immediate past president of the American Forage and Grassland Council, on "Selecting Cattle for Your Management and Goals;" Shabtai Bittman, an ag researcher, on "Ammonia Emission -- Why it Matters;" and a panel discussion on "Politics, Money and the Future of Forage Agriculture." There'll be representatives of the crops, soils, animal science, cattle, sheep, dairy, hay, seed and forage industries on that panel.

Afternoon presentations will be given by Dan Sullivan of OSU on "Plant Available Nitrogen from Manures;" Andy Hulting of the OSU Extension Service on "Poisonous Weeds in Pastures;" Bittman on "Advanced Ideas for Manure Application;" Bill and Sharon Hoyt, Oregon ranchers, on "Targeted Grazing for Weed Abatement;" and Tucker on "Developing Policy and the Realities of Making it Work."

Information and registration: extension.oregon state.edu/douglas/lf/workshops.