NEWS

Dr. Keith Bolsen’s message to send everyone home safe from livestock operations will continue following his sudden passing on May 29, 2020. The nonprofit organization named for him, Keith Bolsen Silage Safety Foundation, has reorganized with new officers and board members, but the mission to promote safe silage management practices for bunker silos and silage piles has not changed.

The U.S. Alfalfa Farmer Research Initiative (USAFRI), better known as the alfalfa checkoff, recently awarded its seventh round of funding to projects submitted by researchers from across the country. Researchers in six states were awarded funding.

Forage growers across the country are submitting samples now for the 2020 World Forage Analysis Superbowl. The final entry deadline for the contest, awarding $26,000 in cash prizes, is Monday, Aug. 31.

The Southeast Hay Contest (SEHC) is still happening! Given the cancellation of the Sunbelt Ag Expo, we had to change our venue and postpone our award ceremony, but we will still honor our producers and sponsors.

Production of alfalfa and alfalfa-mixture dry hay for 2020 was forecast at 51.7 million tons, down 6% from 2019 (Table 1).