WERA_OLD1014: Intensive Pasture Management for Sustainable Livestock Production in the Western US

(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)

Status: Inactive/Terminating

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SAES-422 Reports

Annual/Termination Reports:

[12/29/2014] [12/15/2015] [12/22/2016] [02/01/2018]

Date of Annual Report: 12/29/2014

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 10/27/2014 - 10/28/2014
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2013 - 09/30/2014

Participants

- Chad Cheyney, Wilson Gray, Jon Hogge, Greg Blaser, Reed Findlay, and Glenn Shewmaker, - University of Idaho
- Steve Fransen - Washington State University
- Jennifer MacAdam and Earl Creech - Utah State University
- Joe Brummer - Colorado State University
- David Hannaway and Mylen Bohle - Oregon State University
- Don Miller - Alforex Seeds
- Guojie Wang - North Dakota State University
- Emily Glunk - Montana State University
- James Barnhill - Pasture Extension, Utah State University Cooperative Extension
- Anowar Islam - University of Wyoming

Brief Summary of Minutes

Day 1: The meeting was hosted by Jennifer MacAdam and Earl Creech from the Utah State University and was held at University Inn, Utah State University, Logan, Utah. This was the seventh year the meeting was held in conjunction with the Pacific Northwest Forage Workers Group annual meeting. These joint meetings save on travel expenses and lead to better collaboration among those involved in forage research and extension.

At the beginning of the meeting, Jennifer MacAdam gave an introduction and welcome of the two days programs. Anowar Islam opened the meeting at 8:00 am with a discussion of the agenda. Dr. Ken White, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, VP for Cooperative Extension and UAES Director gave a welcome address. He highlighted the importance of forage and indicated that Utah is a state of forage and animal production as well. He finally appreciated highly having this important meeting in Utah.

Glenn Shewmaker (UI) made a verbal presentation. He discussed about Clover Root Curculio. Glenn is trying to get a grant to work on this problem. More yield and disease problems seem to be related to this insect, particularly in drought years. He handed out new PNW663 on clover root curculio. Glenn described the damage and hypotheses about how and why certain fields are affected more than others. He also discussed about yield trials, foliar product trials, seed treatment for corn, and barley fodder saga.

Steve Fransen (WSU) discussed intercropping (popular-switch grass) conducted by a grad student. LRE (Land equivalent ratio) 1.5 to 1.7 anything above 1 indicates synergism. Water application has been increased by the operator. Trees are doing better in intercrop rather than in monoculture. Cooperator is now reevaluating their current practices. Unfortunately, the bio-refinery would not take the product and provide the energy number. Expect to sequester a megagram of carbon, but because of the anaerobic condition, the sequestration is zero. He also discussed Soil studies with UW. Studies between ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) vs ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) to nitrify N is SWG soils. MS student is working on this. The AOA work seems to establish a symbiotic relationship with perennial crops and can pull N out of the air. Dave Stall is the lead on the project. Other discussion included warm season grass (They have now created a low K and low Fe in soil, and now will be getting a grant to evaluate the quality of the product for pyrolysis and gasification to evaluate energy production), Winter Canola Study (Making silage and harvest grain to evaluate N rates, grain production and feed quality), SWG (This has shown the productivity of switch grass, but there are other plants that need to be considered), Timothy (Emerging problem with rhizochtonia where the rotation is only with other grasses), and Amber^® Problem (When this product was legally applied in the fall for weed control, grazing of the treated field reduced productivity 50% compared to the un-grazed).

Chad Cheyney (UI) made a presentation on phosphorus and potassium trial in deficient soils on the Salmon River, and trial to examine N rates and special N materials for pastures at the Nancy M Cummings REEC.

Anowar Islam (University of Wyoming) discussed research projects including Agronomic Traits of Tall Fescue Genotypes, Forage Yield and Seed Yield Potential of Grass Germplasm under Irrigation, Forage and Grain Yield of Small Grains, and Condensed tannin-containing forage legume birds foot trefoil. He also discussed about grass-legume mixture study which included 15 treatments: Alfalfa/Sainfoin/Birsdfoot Trefoil with meadow brome grass at different ratios and 3 levels of N fertilization. It is a 5 year study, 26 acres of plots. The trial has established well. Every plot has a neutron probe installed.

Joe Brummer (CSU) presented report for Colorado. Graduate student working on unfunded project looking as extending the grazing season with brassicas. They have looked at turnips, radish, kale. It appears that these need to get in the first week of August (at their location) to get adequate production to make it worthwhile. Radishes have a deep root that seems to fight soil compaction. They are now looking at the brassica mix in conjunction with annual forages. Grazing trial with the mixture above in combination with winter cereals. They have had a problem where the brassica tend to smoother the small grains when planted at the same time. They have observed about 3500 lbs of production. They were surprised to not get any weight gain on the cattle, and they have not figured out why. They felt that they were getting adequate DM consumption, but because the grain plants were smothered the feed was practically all brassica. This year they planted with oats and it looks like the oats are better competitors. Did a seeding rate study with the mix and oat and triticale. Over-seeding of corn. Flying it on didn’t work in CO. They are trying a system to seed earlier in the season with some ground applied system. They have various mixtures and the corn is drying down now, so these materials are starting to grow more vigorously. Miscanthus - this plant has a very aggressive rhizomatous root system. They are also working on fallowing and limited irrigation in eastern CO to combat possible downstream water calls. They have done some humic acid trials, and observed no effects.

Jon Hogge (UI) reported on the status of his trials to assess persistent and quality data on cool season grasses and legume. Seven grass species with several varieties and five legume species with several varieties. He described his plots at the Nancy M Cummings REEC and at BYU-I. Data is not available yet but the grass legume mixture seem to be the highest.

Don Miller (Alforex Seeds) discussed Alforex is the combination of seed companies Cal/West and Dairyland—this will be Alforex. Breeding program will be focused on pest resistance and adaption. Have been working on salinity. There were lots are area in eastern MT and the Dakotas that had rather sever salinity locations. Measured threshold of about 2 mmho EC to observe a loss of 10% at 3.4 mmho. Finally got to a variety that would germinate in very salty conditions (EC=20). Also tested plants for growth in heavy salinity. Worked with ARS and with the Canadians. They have examined 15 populations in the greenhouse. Canadians came up with a salinity tolerance index. They have been able to move alfalfa from 6.79 to 8.27 near barley. They are also looking at marketing AC Saltlander^® for extreme salt concentrations. Saline seeps work—combination of salt tolerant alfalfa with salt tolerant grasses. HiGest^® Low Lignin Alfalfa-this is a non-transgenic variety. Wider harvest window. Slowed rate of lignin deposit into tissue. Should have better quality on the same date of cutting or more yields at the same quality a week later. About 7-10% reduction in lignin. Dave Combs has developed “Total Track NDF” analysis. The process uses a standardized rumen fluid, as well as determining the amount and the rate of digestibility. They also have a salt management guide for alfalfa. He continues to work on stem nematode, and saw a lot of downy mildew in Idaho this year.

Mylen Bohle (OSU) reported his Oregon forage studies: Organic alfalfa fertility trial “organic yield enhancement materials”, range from digesters to ground basalt, etc.; Potassium source and rate trial; Potassium rate on alfalfa hay; Foliar liquid K material trial; Tiled and non-tilled with various lime rates; Nitrogen rates on mixed grass hay; and N rate on two cut timothy. He is working to raise money to do forage work. A generous producer is offering a challenge to other growers. Central Oregon Hay grows give some of membership fees for forage work.

Wilson Gray (UI) – reported on projects to finish before retirement: Finishing Trefoil project with USU; Update livestock budgets; Finish coordinating of LMIC to update livestock fact sheets.

A field trip was held in the afternoon - Biodiversity in Grazing at the Rural-Urban Interface. We drove to the farm on the southern edge of Logan on the bench, where the owner has been in residence for about a year. He is trying to make improvements in pastures by reseeding and management. A supper was catered at the American West Heritage Center and the first day meeting ended.

Day 2: Earl Creech (USU) reported on his projects. No Till in Logan Valley – Treatments were Tillage/Herbicide Timing/Nitrogen Rates; No statistical difference between the tillage treatments; No difference in profitability; Added N only was the difference between controls and all the treatments. Program survey - Very small group 4 specialists plus the county faculty that work on forages and administration wanted to know the value of their work. They worked their questionnaire down to seven questions for operators, and used clickers to collect the data. Surveys were administered at grower meetings. They did not assess consultants or the “extension effect”. Appeared to have a $6M impact annually. Accidental Grain Production Research -There is a problem with low fertility in dryland wheat production. Stuckenhotz looking at compost effect on dryland wheat situation when he was a graduate student to see if compost was a solution. It was determined to be un-economical,, but when they returned 15 years later, they found that yields were higher. Applied for USDA organic grant and got a $1.5M to work in organic dryland wheat. Soybeans for Hay - Looking at maturities. Getting 6-7 tons of DM in a single cutting. Animals seem to love the hay. Maturity group 7 looks like they may be the best for forage production in the Logan area. Utah Hay Conference - Growers want to know more about how to put up hay under suboptimal conditions. Suggested speakers: Stan Stephens.

Emily Glunk (MSU) - MT has recently hired a forage specialist, beef specialist, ag economist, sheep specialist. Emily is from small town in PA and grew up on a farm. Undergrad at Penn, masters at NC State in Animal Science, PhD at Minn in Animal Science but has all been in forage interaction. Developing a “beef cattle partnership” relationship in beef cattle production with ARS a Kellho. First project is forage finishing project based on frame size, utilizing range and tame pasture. Doing rotation research to incorporate pulse crops and examining how to terminate them at the right time. Winter and spring forage trials in Grafton, triticales, spring pea varieties, terminating cover crops using strategic grazing. Alfalfa variety trials, they are trying to have multiple sites. Examining forage establishment in the spring and fall. Alfalfa grazing project by horses as well as persistence will include beef cattle as well, project is still under development. Nitrate quality and testing program-will be looking at developing quantitative test as well. Student sustainably projects: Foxtail barley termination and re-vegetation—this has picked up in dried up streambeds. Updating nitrate toxicity guide/dryland and irrigated pastures guide. Lots of rained on hay problems –lost 9000 bales. Sprouted grain was also a problem.

David Hannaway (OSU) - He hopes that the meeting leads to greater discussion and creation of new cooperative projects. David has teaching, extension, research and international responsibilities. Interested in mapping zones of suitability for alfalfa types. Will focus on US and China. Proposal preparation a continuous project. Reviewed Extension Activity. Review Teaching Activities. Review of Service Activities, Publications, and Presentations. Projects reported include: 1) Alfalfa modeling and mapping: need variety trial data and recommended areas; 2) International curriculum development to identify modules needed move from educational to performance objectives “What would we like them to be able to do when we get through them”. Employers say they need people that know how to “do stuff”. First will be species selection and relate to the Logic Model; 3) Grass based health initiative.

Guojie Wang, North Dakota State – reported his last five years spent learning about species and how they are adapted in ND. Projects included: 1) Bioenergy switchgrass mixtures project; 2) Species and variety evaluation project. Very large project to grow as many species as possible; 3) Species and variety evaluation of annuals—grasses, legumes, brassicas; 4) Evaluation of perennial C4 grasses; 5) Extending the grazing spring, in the fall, and especially in the spring using timing of planting, species and varieties of cover crops; 6) Mono culture of blue/smooth brome; 7) Alfalfa Trials; and 8) Snake Oil trials.

Jennifer MacAdam (USU) – reported on Economics of Grazing Based vs Drylot Based Organic Dairy Production - work with trefoil to increase production on organic forage based dairies; Methane Production Project - Used Chris Johnson methodology; Canister methodology for N Ireland; Meadow Brome produced about 3 times the methane than from milk vetch and 2 times the methane from trefoil; Use the mix to reduce methane production. Pasture Finished Beef - Did project to look at pasture finished for cost, quality and consumer preference. Trefoil finished animals were slower to finish, but graded low choice and were readily accepted by taste panel.

Jennifer MacAdam also reported for James Barnhill (USU) - James looked at how late BFT was grazed in the fall and its effects on spring growth—the later grazed into the fall it was grazed the greater the significant impact on spring regrowth. This may be related to the difference in seasonal timing that BTF has to restore root reserves.

After all state reports and presentations, discussion continued for forage issues and next year’s meeting. We have been trying to put the PNW Forage workers meeting before or after the WR County Agents Meeting. Next year’s WRIACAA meeting will be in Alaska in late part of October. Mylen Bohle agreed to serve as the Chair for next year meeting. Discussion of various options for late October 18-20 meeting was made. Host will be David Hannaway and Mylen Bohle in Oregon. All members were encouraged to fill out the Appendix E.

Discussion continued on new projects and future directions. We are all doing a lot of work, but most of the projects are unfunded, and many grant applications have not been funded. Glenn suggested splitting the previously submitted alfalfa project and reducing the number of cooperators. We need project(s) that are “shovel ready.” We may need to have a higher degree of interdisciplinary interaction, not just interstate interaction. David suggested that we rework the proposals with the review comments and have them ready for the next round of alfalfa grants, as well as other possible funding sources. The alfalfa grant money will be too short term to do projects such as long term nutrient calibration. IPNI might fund this type of calibration. NIFA might fund a project if co-funded or had a pilot project. Mylen asked about line source tests of alfalfa on dry land and irrigation with newer varieties and different current management. This could be targeted toward climate change money. Steve had an RFP from DOE on landscape design for sustainable bioenergy systems. These grants start at $3M. They want to look at dedicated energy crops. This could include marginal pasture land. The concept paper is due by the 21^st of November. Full application Jan 12^th. DOE appears to have changed their approach to see if they can grow biomass in various areas. What-Crop variety, GIS- where, production – agronomic could use any type of material. Anowar agreed that we should split the alfalfa proposal and go for 3 years. WSARE wants on farm research and producer participation. We discussed the issues with on-farm research and the loss of plots when operators forget or have other economic opportunities.

Finally, Chair Anowar Islam in support with all others thanked Jennifer MacAdam and Earl Creech for organizing such a successful meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 12:00 noon.

Accomplishments

In addition to the accomplishments achieved by different states as found in the above minutes in the state reports and presentations, one of the major accomplishments is a major multi-state multi-million dollars grant in which many of our WERA 1014 members are directly involved. This project has high impact in the region and producers will be directly benefitted upon completion this project. Below are the project descriptions and accomplishments. Project Title: Improved organic milk production through the use of the condensed tannin-containing forage legume birdsfoot trefoil Award number: 2010-51300-21283 Period of funding: Sept 2012 – August 2015 Primary Institution: Utah State University Project Director Name and email: Jennifer MacAdam, <a href="mailto:jennifer.macadam@usu.edu">jennifer.macadam@usu.edu</a> Project Director telephone: 435-770-8019 Co-Project Director Names and emails: Joe Brummer (forage extension) <a href="mailto:joe.brummer@colostate.edu">joe.brummer@colostate.edu</a> Jong-Su Eun (ruminant nutrition) <a href="mailto:jseun@usu.edu">jseun@usu.edu</a> Wilson Gray (extension economist) <a href="mailto:wgray@uidaho.edu">wgray@uidaho.edu</a> Deb Heleba (extension educator) <a href="mailto:Debra.Heleba@uvm.edu">Debra.Heleba@uvm.edu</a> Anowar Islam (forage extension) <a href="mailto:aislam@uwyo.edu">mislam@uwyo.edu</a> Donald McMahon (dairy science) <a href="mailto:donald.mcmahon@usu.edu">donald.mcmahon@usu.edu</a> Jennifer Reeve (organic & sustainable farming systems) <a href="mailto:jennifer.reeve@usu.edu">jennifer.reeve@usu.edu</a> Glenn Shewmaker (forage extension) <a href="mailto:gshew@uidaho.edu">gshew@uidaho.edu</a> Allen Young (dairy extension) <a href="mailto:allen.young@usu.edu">allen.young@usu.edu</a> The purpose of the project: Our goal is to increase the sustainability of organic dairy production, and our focus is on reducing feed costs, which are a major determinant of profitability in livestock agriculture. McBride and Greene (2009) determined that the quartile of organic dairy producers making the greatest use of pasture had feed costs 25% lower than the quartile of organic producers making the least use of pasture. However, these grazing-intensive organic dairies also had milk yields that were 30% lower than grazing-extensive dairies that feed diets high in grain. Our approach was to replace grass pastures with pastures of birdsfoot trefoil (BFT), a deep rooted (i.e., drought-resistant) perennial forage legume that fixes the nitrogen it needs and is more digestible than grasses due to its structure and composition. Compared with grass pastures, the unique tannin produced by BFT reduces enteric (digestive) methane emissions (Woodward et al., 2009) and ammonia emissions from manure (Misslebrook et al., 2005). The nutrients in BFT are digested more effectively, increasing ruminant productivity compared with alfalfa-fed ruminants (Douglas et al., 1995). Completed to date: We have completed on-farm research to compare the milk yield and components of cows grazing grass or BFT pastures. We assessed on-farm BFT establishment as well as seeding rate, planting season and companion crop effects on organic establishment under controlled conditions, and will determine the costs and benefits of BFT pastures for commercial organic dairies. We will evaluate nutrient utilization and methane emissions of cows fed alfalfa- or BFT-hay based total mixed rations (TMR) diets (balanced for carbohydrate and protein content with concentrates) typical of US (including organic winter) dairy production. We have assessed the nitrogen mineralization of manure from dairy cows grazing grass or BFT pastures, and compared the fatty acid composition of cheese made from the milk of cows grazing grass or BFT pastures or fed a conventional TMR diet. Extension and/or education activities completed or upcoming: A webinar titled Birdsfoot Trefoil as a Forage on Organic Dairy Farms was presented 15 May 2014 and was well-received. Fact sheets and bulletins on the economics of BFT establishment, the yield and nutritive value of BFT and the value of tannin-containing legumes have been published and are listed in the next section along with peer-reviewed journal articles. Additional Extension publications on the establishment, management and economics of BFT use are in development as well as journal articles on the results of on-farm research on forage and milk production. Websites, patents, inventions, or other community resources created: Curtis, K., MacAdam, J. and T. Knudsen. 2013. Annual costs to establish and maintain birdsfoot trefoil pastures in northern Utah, 2012. Electronic Bulletin AG/ Agribusiness/2013-01pr. Utah State University Cooperative Extension Service, Logan. Hafla, A.N., J.W. MacAdam and K.J. Soder. 2013. Sustainability of US organic beef and dairy production systems: soil, plant and cattle interactions. Sustainability 5: 3009-3034. Hunt, S.R., J.W. MacAdam and J.R. Reeve. Establishment of birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) pastures on organic dairy farms in the Mountain West USA. Provisionally accepted Organic Agriculture, 16 May 2014. Hunt, S.R., J.W. MacAdam and T.C. Griggs. 2014. Lignification and tannin localization during the development of birdsfoot trefoil stems. Crop Science 54: 1876-1886. MacAdam, J.W. and S.R. Hunt. Using a rising plate meter to determine paddock size for rotational grazing. Provisionally accepted Utah Cooperative Extension Service, Logan on 4 February 2014. MacAdam, J.W. Video: Using a Rising Plate Meter to Manage Rotational Grazing. First version in revision. MacAdam, J.W., J. Brummer, A. Islam, and G. Shewmaker. 2013. The benefits of tannin-containing forages. Electronic Bulletin. AG/Forages/2013‐03pr. Utah State University Cooperative Extension Service, Logan. MacAdam, J.W. and T.C. Griggs. 2013. Irrigated birdsfoot trefoil variety trial: Forage nutritive value. Electronic Bulletin. AG/Forages/2013‐02pr. Utah State University Cooperative Extension Service, Logan. MacAdam, J.W. and T.C. Griggs. 2013. Irrigated birdsfoot trefoil variety trial: Forage yields. Electronic Bulletin AG/Forages/2013‐01pr. Utah State University Cooperative Extension Service, Logan. The significance of your findings to organic agriculture: Our goal was to determine if milk yields could be increased on grazing-intensive dairies to offset the production advantage of grazing-extensive organic dairies that feed higher-concentrate diets. On well-established BFT pastures, organic dairy cows produced 13 to 17% more milk on BFT than on grass pastures. Because BFT is deep-rooted and adapted to growth in mid-summer, it is highly productive when grass pastures slow mid-summer growth due to heat and drought. A perennial legume that fixes nitrogen can increase the productivity of grass-legume mixtures. Although BFT is non-bloating and can be grazed in pure stands, it is also well-adapted for grass-legume mixtures that are rotationally stocked (MacAdam and Griggs, 2006). Consumers will benefit from the higher omega-3 fatty acid content of the cheese produced from BFT-fed cows compared with grass-fed and TMR-fed cows.   Guojie Wang (North Dakota) reported that he has five categories of projects going in 2014 that related to forage and biofuel production and management in North Dakota. <ol> <li>Biofuel/switchgrass trials</li> </ol> This is the ninth year of this ongoing 10-yr long-term, multi-site study that evaluates different biofuel feedstock species including switchgrass, wheatgrasses, and their mixtures. We also study harvest regimes (annual vs. biennial, low vs. high stubble height) effects on yield and stand longevity. This trial will increase our knowledge about biofuel feedstock production in order to develop appropriate bioenergy production systems to match site-specific situation in North Dakota. <ol start="2"> <li>Forage species/varieties screening and evaluation trials</li> </ol> In order to enlarge our forage species selection and diverse our forage production systems, we conduct several groups of forage species/varieties screening and evaluation trials including perennial legumes, perennial cool-season grasses, perennial warm-season grasses, annual legumes, annual cool-season grasses, annual warm-season grasses, and brassicas. <ol start="3"> <li>Cover crops trials</li> </ol> Feeding cost is the major cost in the livestock production sector. A series of cover crops study was conducted to extend grazing season to decrease feeding cost. Annual forage species were seeded in different times to test the potential of these annual species to produce and sustain their quality in the late fall for grazing. Annual forage species were also seeded after spring triticale and winter triticale forage harvest to study their potential as double cropping system to extend grazing in fall. We also use short-lived legume species as winter species seeding in July and harvest next year in June, then we will seed those annual species as cover crops. <ol start="4"> <li>Perennial hayland renovation trials</li> </ol> The perennial hayland in this region is invaded by smooth brome, with some concerns about its production and quality, as well as the ecological risk related to its invasion. We conducted perennial forage species performance in different soils in order to mix them to reseed or interseed the exiting smooth brome dominated hayland. <ol start="5"> <li>Salt-tolerant alfalfa trial</li> </ol> Working with Alfalfex, a salt tolerant alfalfa trial was conducted to develop alfalfa varieties to vegetate saline soils in North Dakota. Base on the area affected by saline soils, this will have great effects on North Dakota agriculture.   In addition, like all other member states, Anowar Islam (Wyoming) reported that a number of forage studies have recently been completed in Wyoming and a few publications came out from these studies. These include: Assessment of fenugreek for adaptation to South East Wyoming; Forage yield and seed yield potential of novel tall fescue under irrigated conditions in the Big Horn Basin of Wyoming; Establishment and persistence of some important forage legumes in the Central West Region; Forage and grain yield potential of small grains in the Great Plains of Wyoming; and Developing winterhardy peas for Wyoming. A number of ongoing and new studies initiated recently include cool-season grass response to irrigation, drought, and planting time; Agronomic traits in tall fescue genotypes; Sustaining legumes in grasslands to reduce nitrogen fertilization: A multi-regional assessment; and performance trials of newly released or about to release cultivars/lines of alfalfa, and Quinoa – a new potential crop for Wyoming and neighboring states. Work continues to release two new pea varieties that have good winterhardiness and high yield potential for Wyoming’s harsh environment. These new varieties will have potentials to grow not only in Wyoming but also neighboring states.

Publications

Journal Articles Islam, M.A., Obour, A.K., Saha, M.C., Nachtman, J.J., Cecil, W.K., and Baumgartner, R.E. 2013. Grain yield, forage yield, and nutritive value of dual-purpose small grains in the Central High Plains of the USA. Crop Management doi: 10.1094/CM-2012-0154-RS. Islam, M.A., Obour, A.K., Krall, J.M., Cecil, J.T., and Nachtman, J.J. 2013. Performance of turfgrass under supplemental irrigation and rain-fed conditions in the Central Great Plains of USA. Grassland Science, 59, 111-119. Islam, M.A., Obour, A.K., Saha, M.C., Nachtman, J.J., and Baumgartner, R.E. 2013. Small grains have forage production potential and nutritive value in Central High Plains of Wyoming. Online. Forage and Grazinglands doi:10.1094/FG-2013-0121-02-RS. Tracy, B., Albrecht, K., Flores, J., Hall, M., Islam, M.A., Jones, G., Lamp, W., MacAdam, J., Skinner, H., and Teutsch, C. 2013. Forage yield, weed suppression and fertilizer nitrogen replacement value (FNRV) of alfalfa-tall fescue mixtures. Grassland Science in Europe. 18:192-194. Wang, G.-J., P, Nyren, Q.-W. Xue, E, Aberle, E, Ericksmoen, T. Tjelde, M. Liebig, K. Nichols, and A. Nyren. 2014. Establishment and yield of perennial grass monocultures and binary mixtures for bioenergy in North Dakota. Agronomy Journal 106:1605-1613. Book Chapter (Refereed) Islam, M.A. and Obour, A.K. 2014. Drought physiology of forage crops. In: Handbook of Plant and Crop Physiology, 3rd Edition (M. Pessarakli, Ed.), pp. 427-440. CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Publishing Company, Florida. Reviewed Proceedings Islam, M.A. 2013. Fenugreek has potential to use as a forage crop. Proceedings of the Western Alfalfa and Forage Symposium, December 11-13, 2013, Reno, NV. UC Cooperative Extension, Plant Sciences Department, University of California, Davis, CA. Islam, M.A., and Saha, M.C. 2013. Agronomic traits in tall fescue populations under irrigated and rain-fed conditions. Proceedings of the 22nd International Grassland Congress, September 15-19, 2013, Sydney, Australia. Eds. D.L. Michalk, G.D. Millar, W.B. Badgery, and K.M. Broadfoot, pp. 126-128. New South Wales Department of Primary Industry, Orange, Australia. Popular Articles (Refereed) Dhakal, D. and Islam, M.A. 2013. Legume grass mixtures reduce nitrogen requirements and production costs. Reflections, pp. 30-33. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/publications/reflections/reflections-2013-web.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/publications/reflections/reflections-2013-web.pdf</a> (verified 1 September, 2013). Islam, M.A. 2014. Quinoa has potential for adding to Wyoming producer profits. Barnyards & Backyards Profitable & Sustainable Agricultural Systems (PSAS) Newspapers Insert (an insert to twenty-four Wyoming newspapers; 144,000 copies of this insert were distributed across the state in March 2014). Islam, M.A., Obour, A., Nachtman, J., and Baumgartner, R. 2013. Scientists study turfgrass performance under supplemental irrigation and rain-fed conditions. Reflections, pp. 19-22. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/publications/reflections/reflections-2013-web.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/publications/reflections/reflections-2013-web.pdf</a> (verified 1 September, 2013). Islam, M.A. 2013. Research gleans best turf grass options for Central Great Plains. Barnyards & Backyards Profitable & Sustainable Agricultural Systems (PSAS) Newspapers Insert (an insert to twenty-four Wyoming newspapers; 144,000 copies of this insert were distributed across the state), March 2013. Islam, M.A. 2013. Cool-season tall fescue has potential for forage and seed yield production. Barnyards & Backyards Profitable & Sustainable Agricultural Systems (PSAS) Newspapers Insert (an insert to twenty-four Wyoming newspapers; 144,000 copies of this insert were distributed across the state), March 2013, p. 9. Islam, M.A. 2012. Select small grains could provide forage, grain combo in Wyoming. Barnyards & Backyards Profitable & Sustainable Agricultural Systems (PSAS) Newspapers Insert (an insert to twenty-four Wyoming newspapers; 144,000 copies of this insert were distributed across the state), November 2012. Abstracts Carter, C., Garcia y Garcia, A., Islam, M.A., and Hansen, K. 2013. Effect of deficit irrigation on water use and water use efficiency of alfalfa. Proceedings of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) Annual Meetings July 21-24 2013. Kansas city, MO. Dhakal, D. and Islam, M.A. 2013. Grass-legume mixtures to mitigate nitrogen need and improve soil properties in the Great Plains of Wyoming. Proceedings of the ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings November 3-6 2013. Tampa, FL (American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of America). Islam, M.A. 2014. Economics of Tall Fescue Production. Proceedings of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science-US Alumni Association 5th Multidisciplinary Science Forum International Annual Meetings 7 November 2014. University of Florida, Gainesville, FL (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science). Islam, M.A. 2014. Forage and seed production economics of tall fescue. Proceedings of the ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings November 2-5 2014. Long Beach, CA (American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of America). Islam, M.A., Saha, M.C., and Wehmeyer, B.A. 2013. Drought stress affects agronomic performance of tall fescue genotypes. Proceedings of the ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings November 3-6 2013. Tampa, FL (American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of America). Islam, M.A., Krall, J.M., Nachtman, J.J., Baumgartner, R.E., Bandara, M., and Acharya, S.N. 2013. Fenugreek may have potential for multipurpose use. Proceedings of the Western Society of Crop Science Annual Meetings June 11-12 2013. Pendleton, OR (Western Society of Crop Science). Islam, M.A. and Wehmeyer, B.A. 2013. Biofuel and forage potential of cool-season grass genotypes. Proceedings of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science-US Alumni Association 3rd Multidisciplinary Science Forum International Annual Meetings 1 February 2013. Chapman University, Orange, CA (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science). Nilahyane, A., Garcia y Garcia, A., and Islam, M.A. 2014. Effect of Irrigation and Nitrogen Rates on Yield of Corn for Silage. Proceedings of the ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings November 2-5 2014. Long Beach, CA (American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of America). Extension Publications Adjesiwor, A.T., Islam, M.A., Jeliazkov, V., Garcia y Garcia, A., and Ritten, J. 2014. Effects of Phosphorus and Potassium Fertilization on Alfalfa Persistence. 2014 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 21-22. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2014-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2014-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified October 22, 2014). Adjesiwor, A.T., Islam, M.A., Jeliazkov, V., Garcia y Garcia, A., and Ritten, J. 2014. Irrigated Grass-Legume Mixtures. 2014 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 121-122. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2014-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2014-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified October 22, 2014). Aryal, P. and Islam, M.A. 2014. Competitive Effect of Forage Kochia and Perennial Grass on Cheatgrass Growth. 2014 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 19-20. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2014-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2014-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified October 22, 2014). Aryal, P. and Islam, M.A. 2014. Establishing Forage Kochia in Diverse Environments in Wyoming. 2014 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 69-70. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2014-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2014-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified October 22, 2014). Bohle, Mylen, David Hannaway, and Brianna Randow. 2013. Alfalfa for Beef Cattle. Oregon State University Beef Cattle Library Pub. No. BEEF102. Bohle, Mylen, David Hannaway, Brianna Randow, Donald Horneck, Daniel Miles, and Yitian Lin. 2014. Alfalfa Soil Fertility and Fertilization Requirements. Oregon State University Beef Cattle Library Pub. No. BEEF119. Carter, C., Islam, M.A., Hansen, K., and Garcia y Garcia, A. 2013. Effects of Limiting Water on the Yield, Water Productivity, and Forage Quality of Alfalfa. 2013 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 49-50. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2013-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2013-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified September 2, 2013). Dhakal, D. and Islam, M.A. 2014. Grass-Legume Mixtures for Improved Forage Yield, Forage Quality, and Soil Properties. 2014 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 73-74. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2014-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2014-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified October 22, 2014). Dhakal, D. and Islam, M.A. 2013. Benefits from Grass–Legume Mixtures in Forage-Production Systems. 2013 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 25-26. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2013-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2013-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified September 2, 2013). Downing, Troy, David B. Hannaway, Brianna Randow, Pete Berry, and Xiumei Yang. 2014. Managing Dairy Grazing for More Milk and Profit. Oregon State University Extension Service EM 8412. 11 p. Garcia y Garcia, A., Carter, C., and Islam, M.A. 2013. Automated Monitoring of Soil Moisture on Irrigated Alfalfa. 2013 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 51-52. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2013-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2013-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified September 2, 2013). Horn, B., Islam, M.A., Garcia y Garcia, A., and Valtcho, J. 2014. Perennial cool-season grasses for hay production and fall grazing under full and limited irrigation. 2014 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, p. 105. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2014-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2014-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified October 22, 2014). Islam, M.A. 2014. Red Clover: A Potential Legume for Improving Pasture Yield and Quality in Wyoming. Wyoming Livestock Roundup, the Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers, and Agribusiness Community, Vol. 25, No. 75, October 11, 2014. Islam, M.A., and Violett, R. 2014. Forage and Seed Yield Potential of Tall Fescue Under Irrigated Conditions. 2014 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 55-56. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2014-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2014-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified October 22, 2014). Islam, M.A., Edwards, J., and Nachtman, J. 2014. Evaluation of Organic and Conventional Soil Fertility Management in High Tunnels. 2014 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 75-76. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2014-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2014-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified October 22, 2014). Islam, M.A. 2014. Phosphorus and Potassium Fertilization for Alfalfa Persistence. Wyoming Livestock Roundup, the Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers, and Agribusiness Community, Vol. 25, No. 59, June 21, 2014. Islam, M.A. 2014. White Clover Has Potential for Improving Pasture Yield and Quality. Wyoming Livestock Roundup, the Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers, and Agribusiness Community, Vol. 25, No. 52, May 3, 2014. Islam, M.A. 2014. Tall Fescue Shows Potential for Forage and Seed Production in Wyoming. Wyoming Livestock Roundup, the Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers, and Agribusiness Community, Vol. 25, No. 45, March 15, 2014. Islam, M.A. 2014. Legume Inoculation - An Important Step for Legume Establishment. Wyoming Livestock Roundup, the Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers, and Agribusiness Community, Vol. 25, No. 38, January 25, 2014. Islam, M.A. 2013. Fenugreek Provides Multi-purpose Potential in Wyoming. Wyoming Livestock Roundup, the Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers, and Agribusiness Community, Vol. 25, No. 31, December 7, 2013. Islam, M.A. 2013. Prussic Acid: A Forage-Related Animal Disorder. Wyoming Livestock Roundup, the Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers, and Agribusiness Community, Vol. 25, No. 25, October 26, 2013. Islam, M.A. 2013. A Guide for Successful Forage Establishment. University of Wyoming Extension Bulletin B-1248, Ed. S.L. Miller, pp.1-8, August 2013. University of Wyoming, Laramie. Available at: <a href="http://www.wyomingextension.org/publications/Search_Details.asp?pubid=1834">http://www.wyomingextension.org/publications/Search_Details.asp?pubid=1834</a> (verified September 10, 2013) Islam, M.A. 2013. Grass-Legume Mixture May Benefit Producers. Wyoming Livestock Roundup, the Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers, and Agribusiness Community, Vol. 25, No. 18, September 7, 2013. Islam, M.A. 2013. Small Grains Have Potential for Dual Purpose Use in Wyoming. Wyoming Livestock Roundup, the Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers, and Agribusiness Community, Vol. 25, No. 11, July 20, 2013. Islam, M.A., Killen, M., and Christman, J.L. 2013. Effect of Phosphorus Fertilization on Sainfoin. 2013 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 55-56. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2013-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2013-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified September 2, 2013). Islam, M.A. 2013. Alfalfa Production and Management. Factsheet, Wyoming Forage Field Day 2013, University of Wyoming SAREC, Lingle, Wyoming, June 27, 2013. Islam, M.A., Jeliazkov, V., Garcia y Garcia, A., Ritten, J., and Horn, B. 2013. Irrigated Grass–Legume Mixtures. 2013 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 123-124. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2013-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2013-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified September 2, 2013). Islam, M.A. 2013. Establishment and Management of Alfalfa. Factsheet, Sheridan Research & Extension Center Field Day, Sheridan, Wyoming, June 15, 2013. Islam, M.A. 2013. Sainfoin Response to Phosphorus. Wyoming Livestock Roundup, the Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers, and Agribusiness Community, Vol. 25, No. 5, June 8, 2013. Islam, M.A. 2013. A Common Problem in Alfalfa Stand Establishment. Wyoming Livestock Roundup, the Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers, and Agribusiness Community, Vol. 24, No. 51, April 27, 2013. Islam, M.A. 2013. Alfalfa: Establishment and Management. Factsheet, Sweetwater County Weed & Pest Workshop, Farson, Wyoming, March 20, 2013. Islam, M.A. 2013. Bloat: A Forage-Related Animal Disorder. Wyoming Livestock Roundup, the Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers, and Agribusiness Community, Vol. 24, No. 45, March 16, 2013. Islam, M.A. 2013. New Forages Show Promise in Wyoming. Factsheet, Fremont County Farm & Ranch Days, Riverton, Wyoming, January 30-31, 2013. Islam, M.A. 2013. Perennial Grass Cultivars Show Promise as Turf. Wyoming Livestock Roundup, the Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers, and Agribusiness Community, Vol. 24, No. 39, February 2, 2013. Jolivet, M.T., Waldron, B.L., Stahl, P.D., and Islam, M.A. 2013. Forage Kochia May Have Potential for Both Forage and Reclamation. 2013 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 23-24. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2013-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2013-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified September 2, 2013). MacAdam, J.W., Brummer, J., Islam, M.A., and Shewmaker, G. 2013. The Benefits of Tannin-Containing Forages. 2013. Factsheet, Utah State University Extension Publications at DigitalCommons@USU, pp. 1-4, September 2013. All Current Publications. Paper 354. Available at: <a href="http://digitalcommons.usu.edu/extension_curall/354">http://digitalcommons.usu.edu/extension_curall/354</a> (verified January 3, 2014) Peterson, B., Norton, U., Krall, J., and Islam, M.A. 2013. Summer Rainfall Effects on Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Dryland and Irrigated Alfalfa/Grass Hay Production. 2013 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 91-92. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2013-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2013-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified September 2, 2013). Wehmeyer, B.A., Saha, M.C., and Islam, M.A. 2013. Forage and Biomass Potential and Their Genetics of Tall Fescue Genotypes. 2013 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 27-28. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2013-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2013-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified September 2, 2013).

Impact Statements

The extension and research initiatives and programs for the western US region have positive impacts locally and regionally. For example, selection of well-adapted high performing accessions/lines/cultivars will result in development of cultivars that will be specifically suitable for local state and neighboring states. This will contribute to the improvement of productivity of local and regional producers and in the long-run, will provide economic benefits to the producers. The locally and regionally developed new technologies and management strategies including forage production, forage management, and grazing management will enhance producers to adopt these in their production systems and practices.

Date of Annual Report: 12/15/2015

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 10/20/2015 - 10/23/2015
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2014 - 09/30/2015

Participants

Oregon State University
• Nicole Anderson: nicole.anderson@oregonstate.edu
• Sam Angima: sam.angima@oregonstate.edu
• Mylen Bohle: mylen.bohle@oregonstate.edu
• Chris Daly: daly@nacse.org
• Troy Downing: troy.downing@oregonstate.edu
• Scott Duggan: scott.duggan@oregonstate.edu
• Shelby Filley: shelby.filley@oregonstate.edu
• *David Hannaway: david.hannaway@oregonstate.edu
• Mike Halbleib: halbleib@nacse.org
• Claudia Ingham: claudia.ingham@oregonstate.edu
• Gene Pirelli: gene.pirelli@oregonstate.edu
• Scott Reed: scott.reed@oregonstate.edu
• Seth Spenser: seth.spenser@oregonstate.edu
• Clare Sullivan: clare.sullivan@oregonstate.edu
• Dan Sullivan: dan.sullivan@oregonstate.edu
• Guojie Wang: guogie.wang@oregonstate.edu
• Tracy Wilson: tracy.wilson@oregonstate.edu
OSU Students
• Rachel Cihak (Animal & Range Science): cihakr@oregonstate.edu
• Elizabeth Hayes (Crop & Soil Science): hayese@oregonstate.edu
• Kathryn Uetz (Animal & Range Science): uetzk@oregonstate.edu
Seed Company Representatives
Ampac
• Doug Toews: doug@ampacseed.com
Barenbrug
• Peter Ballerstedt: pballerstedt@barusa.com
• Rick Freston: rfreston@barusa.com
• Devesh Singh: dsingh@barusa.com;
DLF
• Jerome Magnuson: jeromem@dlfis.com
• Steve Reid: sreid@dlfna.com

Grassland Oregon
• Jerry Hall: jerry.hall@grasslandoregon.com
Pennington Seed
• Mike Baker: mbaker@penningtonseed.com
Livestock Producer
Bob & Piper Sheep Operation
• Bob Klinger: klingerrg@juno.com
Consultant
Lane Livestock Services
• Woody Lane: woody@woodylane.com
Participating Universities
Colorado State University
• Jennifer Cook: jennifer.cook@colostate.edu
Montana State University
• *Emily Glunk: emily.glunk@montana.edu
North Dakota State University
• *Chanda Engel: chanda.engel@ndsu.edu
University of Nevada – Reno
• *Juan Solomon: jsolomon@cabnr.unr.edu
Utah State University
• *Jennifer MacAdam: jennifer.macadam@usu.edu
Washington State University
• Steve Norberg: s.norberg@wsu.edu
University of Wyoming
• *Anowar Islam: mislam@uwyo.edu;

*Official WERA 1014 representative (or should be)
Those official representatives who were unable to attend (individuals who should be listed):
Colorado State University – Joe Brummer: joe.brummer@colostate.edu
University of Idaho – Glenn Shewmaker: gshew@uidaho.edu
Washington State University – Steve Fransen: fransen@wsu.edu

Brief Summary of Minutes

20 October (Comfort Suites Conference Room)

07:30 Social and Poster viewing featuring Oregon and NW products

21 October (Comfort Suites Conference Room)

07:30-08:15 Coffee & Tea and Registration

8:30 Official OSU Welcome – Scott Reed: Vice Provost, University Outreach and Engagement

8:45 Group Introductions

9:00 Presentation Session 1

Utah - Jennifer MacAdam

Montana - Emily Glunk

Nevada - Juan Solomon

10:00 Break and Informal Discussions

Colorado - Jennifer Cook

North Dakota - Chanda Engel and Guojie Wang

Wyoming - Anowar Islam

Washington - Steve Norberg

12:30 Presentation Session 2

Seed Companies

Grassland Oregon – Jerry Hall (jerryhall@grasslandoregon.com)

Barenbrug – Peter Ballerstedt (pballerstedt@barusa.com)

DLF-Pickseed – Jerome Magnuson (jmagnuson@dlfna.com)

Ampac – Doug Toews (doug@ampacseed.com)

Pennington – Mike Baker (mbaker@penningtonseed.com)

Consultants (10 minutes)

Woody Lane (woody@woodylane.com)

2:00 Transport to Kelly Engineering Building - OSU

2:15 PRISM Group briefing [Chris Daly and Mike Halbleib, PRISM Group (climate modeling and mapping, species suitability, biofuel potential); daly@nacse.org, halbleib@nacse.org]

3:30 Transfer to DLF-Pickseed Research Facility (Philomath)

3:45 Tour of DLF-Pickseed research facility in Philomath (Steve Reid, stever@dlfis.com and Jerome Magnuson, jeromem@dlfis.com)

06:00 Reception DLF-Pickseed Research Farm, Pizza at Hotel

22 October (Barenbrug Headquarters and Research Farm)

7:30 Transport to Barenbrug facilities

8:00 Welcome: James Schneider (CEO and President), Peter Ballerstedt (Forage Products Manager), Devesh Singh (Forage and Turf Breeder)

8:15 Tour of Barenbrug HQ Facilities: Jason Ragan (Warehouse Manager)

9:00 Transport to Research Farm

9:30 Break and Informal Discussions

10:00 Presentation Session 3 (15 minutes each person)

Oregon –

(1) Shelby Filley, Claudia Ingham, Troy Downing, Nicole Anderson

(2) Gene Pirelli, Dan Sullivan, Tracy Wilson, Mylen Bohle

1:15 Presentation Session 4

Rich Roseberg, Scott Duggan, Leticia Varelas

2:00 Break and Informal Discussions:

2:15 Collaborative Projects Discussion Session - (Mylen Bohle and David Hannaway)

Forage Quality Update (Peter Ballerstedt)

Forage Species & Cultivars Maturity Index – AFGC (Roeland Kapsenberg; DLF-Pickseed, Barenbrug, Grasslands Oregon, FFR, OSU, and CAAS participating)

Timothy Hay Production Guide (Steve Fransen)

Grazing Height / Yield Response (Steve Fransen & Joe Brummer)

NIFA Multi-state Alfalfa Research Projects

Alfalfa Management (Cow Calf Management Notebook - Glenn Shewmaker)

NIRS Consortium Update (Steve Fransen)

Species & Cultivars NW Ecozone Production Profiles (David Hannaway)

Online Educational Modules & Shortcourses (Certificates/Badges) (Hannaway)

International Forage & Grasslands Curriculum (Hannaway)

4:00 Break and Informal Discussions

4:15 Oregon Forage & Grassland Council briefing and discussion of “Forage Garden” ideas [Jerry Hall (jerryhall@grasslandoregon.com) to lead discussion]

5:15 Barenbrug Research Farm Tour/Briefing (Devesh Singh; dsingh@barusa.com)

6:00 BBQ and Informal Discussions at Barenbrug Research Farm

7:30 Return to hotel

23 October (Comfort Suites Conference Room)

8:00 Coffee & Tea, Sparkling Water, Beef Sticks, String Cheese Break

8:30 WERA 1014 Reporting and Discussion

10:00 Break and Informal Discussions

10:30 WERA 1014 Continued Discussion (including group projects)

11:30 Wrap-up and 2016 planning (location host and dates)

Accomplishments

Colorado A project was completed that looked at the feasibility of using brassicas for fall forage to extend the grazing season. A 4-way mixture of a turnip, rape, radish, and hybrid has proven successful. Because of the high quality of the brassicas, it is advantageous to mix them with oats to increase the fiber in the diet. When this was done, weaned heifers were able to gain about 2.5 pounds per day without the need for any addition supplementation. The brassica mix was also shown to establish well and to be an economically viable management practice when interseeded into standing corn at the V6 growth stage to provide a protein supplement when grazing the corn stalks in the fall. By extending the grazing season into the fall using brassicas, producers can significantly reduce their need for feeding of preserved forages thereby reducing input costs. Another project was completed that investigated the feasibility of fallowing or partially irrigating grass and alfalfa hayfields on the western slope of Colorado to free up water for municipal/industrial uses or to meet downstream compact obligations. High elevation grass hayfields took one full season to recover following one year of complete fallowing. If producers are to participate in this type of water banking approach, they will need to be compensated for 2 seasons of lost production, not just for the year of fallowing. Alfalfa recovered from partial irrigated for 2 consecutive seasons and was more vigorous compared to the fully irrigated control. Due to its extensive root system and inherent drought tolerance, alfalfa is a better choice for freeing up water for other uses. However, there is not as much alfalfa acreage compared to grass on the western slope of Colorado, so participation by grass hay producers will be required if enough water is to be made available to meet water bank needs. Idaho Research Activities <ul> <li>Alfalfa Variety Trials</li> <li>P nutrition of Alfalfa</li> <li>Increasing Legume Grazing for Higher Beef Gain on Pastures: An Improved High-Tannin Birdsfoot Trefoil Cultivar with Trans-Regional Potential</li> <li>Proposals: Prepared proposals for the USDA NIFA Alfalfa Program, USDA-NIFA Water Challenge Grant.</li> </ul> Extension Activities Technical support: for statewide and regional forage-livestock system farmers and ranchers. Publications: authoring and co-authoring national, regional, and state forage-related publications. <ul> <li>Shewmaker, G.E.   Grazing Investigation: Have we robbed the grass bank?  Progressive Forage Grower 16(1):16-17.</li> <li>Shewmaker, G.E.   Hay tarps versus sheds.  Progressive Cattleman (July):32-33.</li> <li>Shewmaker, G.E., P. Patterson, and C.W. Gray.   Rain-damage on Idaho hay is estimated at $87 million in 2014. Fact sheet sent to news recipients, December 2014.</li> <li>Shewmaker, G.E. 2015. The value of covered hay. 1-10 In: Proceedings Idaho Hay and Forage Conference, 26-27 February 2015, Burley, ID, University of Idaho Extension.</li> <li>Shewmaker, G.E., G. Blaser, R. Roemer, J. Church, and K. Hart. Idaho alfalfa variety trials 2014. p. 79-90 In: Proceedings Idaho Hay and Forage Conference, 26-27 February 2015, Burley, ID, University of Idaho Extension.</li> <li>Shewmaker, G.E. 2015. Preventing hay fires. [Reprint from Idaho Hay and Forage Conference Proceedings in 2014] p. 53-62 In: Proceedings Northwest Hay Expo Conference, 14-15 January 2015, Washington State Hay Growers, Kennewick, WA.</li> <li>Shewmaker, G.E. 2015. Hay storage losses. [Reprint from Idaho Hay and Forage Conference Proceedings in 2014] p. 27-37 In: Proceedings Northwest Hay Expo Conference, 14-15 January 2015, Washington State Hay Growers, Kennewick, WA.</li> </ul> Educational Programs <ul> <li>Pasture Management Professional Development Workshop, 27-29 May 2015, Logan, UT</li> <li>2015 Snake River Pest Management Research Tour, 22 June 2015, Kimberly, ID</li> <li>Hay School Hot Topic: High Nitrate Forages, 15 October 2015, Shoshone, ID</li> </ul> Presentations <ul> <li>Prevention of Nitrate Accumulation in Forages, Hay School Hot Topic: High Nitrate Forages, 15 October 2015, Shoshone, ID</li> <li>Adjusting Forage for Moisture, Hillman Forage Clinic, 3 September 2015, Shelley, ID</li> <li>Rodent Control in Crops, 2015 Snake River Pest Management Research Tour, 22 June 2015, Kimberly, ID</li> <li>Harvest Management for Hay Production, North Central Idaho Hay Day, 14 May 2015, Fraser, ID</li> <li>A Few Flakes Short of a Bale: Working as a Forage Team, U of I Extension Annual Conference, 30 March – 2 April, 2015, Boise, ID</li> <li>GMO Forage Issues, Coexistence with Organic Producers, U of I Extension Annual Conference, 30 March – 2 April, 2015, Boise, ID</li> <li>Effects of Deficient Irrigation on Alfalfa Yield & Stand Life, Irrigating in a Short Water Year: Making Every Drop Count, 9 March 2015, Arco, ID</li> <li>Hay Testing, 2015 Forage School, 5 March 2015, Blackfoot, ID</li> <li>Forage Insects and Diseases, Eastern Idaho Forage School, 4 March 2015, Rexburg, ID</li> <li>Hay Testing: Dealing with Inconsistencies, 2015 Southeastern Idaho Forage School, 3 March 2015, Preston, ID</li> <li>Alfalfa Variety Update, 2015 Southeastern Idaho Forage School, 3 March 2015, Preston, ID</li> <li>The Value of Covered Hay, Idaho Hay and Forage Conference, 26-27 February 2015, Burley, ID</li> <li>Forage Trends Survey, Idaho Hay and Forage Conference, 26-27 February 2015, Burley, ID</li> <li>Managing Wet Meadow Pastures, Cattlemen’s Winter School, 10 February 2015, Salmon, ID; and 11 February 2015, Challis, ID</li> <li>Harvesting for Quality Hay, Standlee Hay Grower Meeting, 5 February 2015, Twin Falls, ID; and 13 February 2015, Idaho Falls, ID</li> <li>Range Monitoring Report to Salmon River Cattlemen's Assoc., 22 January 2015, Twin Falls, ID</li> </ul> Nevada Research Activities <ul> <li>Grazing Preferences, Sward Structural and Morphological Characteristics, Persistence, Nutritional Quality and Animal Intake of Popular Existing, New, and Alternative Forage Crops In Arid Conditions. Hatch project 2015 to 2020.</li> <li>Alternative forages: Evaluation of Sorghum, Pearl Millet, Sorghum-sudangrass, and Teff in Nevada: Forage Yield and Quality.</li> <li>Evaluation of Low Lignin Alfalfa Varieties: Forage Yield and Quality.</li> </ul> North Dakota Research Activities <ul> <li>Industrial sugar beets grown on high saline soil for replacing corn silage in backgrounding and finishing diets.</li> <li>Effects of whole or rolled corn in 20 or 40% grass hay diets for finishing yearling steers.</li> <li>Rye, hairy vetch, and small grains grown in combination for forage production.</li> <li>Alfalfa variety trials: dryland, conventional and roundup ready.</li> <li>Sudan grass double cropping trials.</li> <li>Cool season forage variety trials.</li> <li>Warm season forage variety trials.</li> <li>Winter cereal forage variety trials.</li> </ul> Oregon Research Activities (Hannaway) <ul> <li>Forage species suitability modeling and mapping: with two M.S. students (Brianna Randow at OSU and Yang Xiumei at Sichuan Agricultural University. Involved GIS-based modeling and mapping and estimating forage potential productivity.</li> <li>Alfalfa modeling and mapping: with Chinese visiting scholar HE Feng. Involved modeling and mapping alfalfa fall dormancy and winter survival index cultivars. Developed large database of trial locations and developed initial maps with PRISM Group climate grids.</li> <li>Cool-season grass maturity index: for cool-season grasses. AFGC-initiated project led by DLF-Pickseed and including Barenbrug, Grassland Oregon, and FFR Cooperative. Effort is beginning with orchardgrass, assembling research trial data and USDA Plant Variety Protection office information.</li> <li>Proposals: Prepared proposals for the USDA NIFA Alfalfa Program, the OSU Agricultural Experiment Station, the OSU Open Educational Resources Unit, and the Oregon Clover Commission.</li> </ul> Research Activities (Bohle) <ul> <li>Potassium Source & Rate Effect on 3-Cut Mixed Grass Species Hay – Tumalo (2014-2016) Objectives: Yield, Quality, Nutrient Concentration and Uptake, Soil Fertility, and Economics.         (Also Determine Prediction Usefulness of Greenseeker from N Release of N from Manure with Tracy Wilson)</li> <li>Nitrogen Rate Effect on Mixed Grass Hay – Tumalo (2015-2016 or 2017) Objectives: Yield, Quality, Nutrient Concentration and Uptake, Soil Fertility, and Economics. (Also Determine Prediction Usefulness of Greenseeker with Tracy Wilson)</li> <li>Organic Alfalfa Fertility I – Fort Rock (2012 – 2015) Objectives: Document Yield, Quality, Nutrient Concentration and Uptake, Soil Fertility, and Economics of 18 organic treatments. Focus on manures and organic fertility enhancing products.</li> <li>Organic Alfalfa Fertility II – Fort Rock 2013-2015) Objectives: Document Yield, Quality, Nutrient Concentration and Uptake, Soil Fertility, and Economics of 12 treatments. Focus on manures and organic fertility enhancing products.</li> <li>Timothy Nitrogen Rate – Culver (2015-2017) Objectives: Yield, Quality, Nutrient Concentration and Uptake, Soil Fertility, and Economics. (Also Determine Prediction Usefulness of Greenseeker with Tracy Wilson)</li> <li>Tilled and Non-tilled Lime Rate Effect on Grass – Tumalo (2015-2020?) Objectives: Document Yield, Quality, Nutrient Concentration and Uptake, Soil Fertility, and Economics of different rates of lime tilled in and no-tilled. Document rate of pH change at soil depths 0-2, 2-4, and 4-6 inches in Fall.  (Also Determine Prediction Usefulness of Greenseeker with Tracy Wilson)</li> <li>Tilled and Non-tilled Phosphorus Rate and Timing Effect on Orchardgrass Hay (2015-2020?) Objectives: Document Yield, Quality, Nutrient Concentration and Uptake, Soil Fertility, and Economics of Tilled-in and non-tilled P rates and timing.</li> <li>Berseem Clover (‘Frosty’), Lime, and Potassium Rate Effect on Alfalfa (2015) Objectives: Document Yield, Quality, Nutrient Concentration and Uptake, Soil Fertility, and Economics on the effect of 2 rates of lime, 2 rates of Potassium, with and without Frosty Berseem clover to thicken up alfalfa stand.</li> <li>Traffic Effect on 3rd Cutting Organic Alfalfa (2 years) Objectives: Document Yield, stem count, and Economics effect from of picking-up-2nd-cut-bales late (rain delayed) on Third Cutting.</li> <li>Proposals: Prepared proposals for Oregon Beef council, Oregon Dairy Farmers Association, Oregon Ag Research Foundation (Scott Duggan, Co-PI), and NIFA Food Security (Steve Fransen PI).</li> </ul> Extension Activities (Hannaway) <ul> <li>Technical support: for statewide and regional forage-livestock system farmers and ranchers.</li> <li>Forage Information System: exploring options for replatforming and updating web system.</li> <li>Publications: authoring and co-authoring national, regional, and state forage-related publications.</li> <li>Presentations: </li> </ul> Hannaway, David, Pete Berry, and Feng He. 2015. Improving Alfalfa Cultivar Selection by GIS Mapping of Fall Dormancy and Winter Survival Index Zones and Modeling Seasonal and Annual Yield. Poster at AFGC Annual Conf., St. Louis, MO. 12-13 Jan. He Feng* and David B. Hannaway. 2015. Soil Nutrient Conditions in China’s Major Alfalfa Producing Areas. Oral presentation at AFGC Annual Conf., St. Louis, MO. 12-13 Jan. Extension Activities (Bohle) Presentations  <ul> <li>Annual Central Oregon Forage Seminar in January, Prineville. Presented Potassium Fertilizer Effect on Alfalfa and Grass Research updates.</li> <li>Pasture and Grazing Management Professional Development for Extension, NRCS, and SWCD’s. (WSARE Grant for OR, WA, ID, CO, UT) Training in Logan, Utah. Presented classes on “Economics: Making Pasture Pay”, and “Pasture Pests”</li> <li>Living On A Few Acres (LOAFA) – Taught classes on Pasture and Grazing Management, Irrigation Management, and Hay Production. Redmond</li> <li>Worked with Deschutes County SWCD on C.O. Pasture and Grazing Management Workshop (13 attendees) and early summer pasture tour (25 participants)</li> <li>Presented Potassium Fertilizer Effect on Alfalfa and Grass Research updates at Hermiston Farm Fair</li> <li>Presented Potassium Fertilizer Effect on Alfalfa and Grass Research updates at Northwest Hay Conference in Tri-Cities, WA</li> <li>Co-Coordinator for 2015 Klamath Basin Forage Seminar sponsored by Oregon Hay and Forage Association and hosted by Klamath Basin Hay Growers’ Association. Klamath Falls</li> </ul> Teaching Activities (Hannaway) <ul> <li>F2F forage class: Upper division (CROP 310) undergraduate forage class taught at Oregon State University - on-campus each spring quarter.</li> <li>E-campus class: CROP 310 offered as distance class during fall and winter terms.</li> </ul> Utah Recent Research Summary and Impacts Earl Creech and his graduate student Jason Clark’s research showed that glyphosate-resistant alfalfa can be effectively terminated with herbicides and tillage, alone or in combination. Jason’s research further showed that silage corn can be grown after alfalfa in Utah with or without tillage and that nitrogen fertilizer does not appear to be necessary for first year corn after alfalfa, which would greatly reduce the fertilizer N costs for growers who rotate corn with alfalfa in Utah and across the West. Studies by Jennifer MacAdam and collaborators demonstrated that enteric methane emissions from beef cows grazing cicer milkvetch (Astragalus cicer L.) and birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) pastures was significantly reduced relative to cows grazing meadow bromegrass (Bromus biebersteinii Roem. & Schult.) pasture. In consumer sensory panels, ribeye steaks from steers finished on meadow bromegrass was less tender and juicy than steaks from steers finished in the feedlot or on birdsfoot trefoil. However, the concentration of omega-3 fatty acids was greater in the intramuscular fat of steaks from both birdsfoot trefoil- and grass-finished beef relative to steaks from feedlot-finished beef. Grants Creech, J.E. J. Reeve, D.J. Hole, J. Norton, U. Norton, A. Garcia y Garcia,. 9/9/14 to 8/31/18. Compost carryover and cover crop effects on soil quality, profitability, and cultivar selection in organic dryland wheat. USDA NIFA OREI $1,555,053 MacAdam, J.W. 7/1/14-6/30/15. Nitrogen Cycling on Grass and Legume Pastures. State of Utah Pasture and Forage Initiative. $7,936. Washington Research Activities (Fransen) <ul> <li>Winter canola. This is a new area of cooperative investigations. We have three funded projects focused on canola for forage and grain production.</li> </ul> <ol> <li>We are into the second year of a N:S fertility trial where canola is planted in mid-August and harvested for silage in mid-October. Because of the low DM of canola forage, half of the fertility treatments are mixed with alfalfa cubes and half are controls. This research is supporting a M.S. Animal Science student. We collected soil and whole plant samples at key growth stages and harvested for grain in early July.</li> <li>This study is planted at WSU-Prosser and off-station at Ted Durfey farms and starts by growing inoculated spring peas with harvest in late June compared with spring fallow. July organic amendments of compost, manure, compost + manure are compared with August inorganic fertilizer for a mid-August planting. Half of all plots were harvested for simulated grazing in mid-October. Soil water samples for nitrates were collected via lysimeters in the fall and will continue in the spring until grain harvest. We have experienced great difficulty getting adequate soil water samples. To collect any soil water at all, we must greatly over-irrigate to cause any leaching (much more than any practical crop ET would recommend). This causes us to question how applicable soil water collection samples and methods are to real world applications. Crops will be harvested for grain in the summer of 2016. The trial will be repeated in 2017 on adjacent land. This study is funded by Western Region SARE.</li> <li>Our final study is funded by WOCS to diagnose why winter canola will survive in some regions / management protocols and not in many others. This study is planted at Othello (north Basin) and Prosser.</li> </ol> <ul> <li>Switchgrass. We continue intercropping switchgrass into hybrid poplars at the GreenWood Resources farm at Boardman, OR. This is our final year and we have requested a one-year no cost extension. All that remains is to revise manuscripts and conduct the life cycle analysis that will be done in 2016 when the remaining lab work is completed. We have completed the switchgrass intercropped with alfalfa study and that manuscript has been submitted.</li> <li>Grant proposals. (1) We have submitted a DOE grant for switchgrass conversion from feedstocks grown at Prosser and Paterson. This project has been in development since 2010 and the soils/crops are now in the state where effective treatments can be applied. From collaborative studies with the University of Washington, we have learned there is a new world of microorganisms in our soils, AOA, that I think have a profound effect on switchgrass productivity. In the future, with perennial cellulosic grasses, I think we’ll find even greater positive responses from these compared to bacteria. (2) Cooperator on NIFA Water Challenge grant and (3) Food Security grant.</li> </ul> Research Activities (Norberg) <ul> <li>Alfalfa Variety Trials – Othello (2012-2015) Objectives: Compare commercial varieties for productivity, stand longevity.</li> <li>Alfalfa Variety Trials –Pasco (2012-2015) Objectives: Compare commercial varieties for productivity, stand longevity.</li> <li>Timothy Nitrogen Trial – Othello and Pasco (2014-2015) Objective: Develop calibration for in-season nitrogen assessment using chlorophyll (SPAD) meter.</li> <li>Soybeans for Hay – Othello, WA and Logan, UT (2014-2015) Objectives: Determine the value of soybeans for hay as a one cut system using a legume.</li> <li>“Frosty” Berseem Clover Intercropping with Alfalfa- Othello, (2014-2015) Objectives: Determine value of “Frosty” clover interseeded with alfalfa.</li> </ul> Extension Activities and Presentations (Fransen) <ul> <li>Publications. Planned PNW bulletin on preventing hay fires. See this TV news interview: Spontaneous Combustion in Haystack Fires...What is it? - NBC Right Now/KNDO/KNDU Tri-Cities, Yakima, WA June 15, 2015. WSARE PDP grant has been received to publish the Westside Forage Calendar and present this to livestock producers in every county in western OR and WA.</li> <li>Presentations. Nine presentations given, including four at the WSARE grazing training at Logan, UT in late May.</li> </ul> Wyoming Accomplishments Winterhardy peas were developed to reduce the dryland fallow in the regions. Dryland winter wheat is the most commonly grown crop in eastern Wyoming. Due to limited and highly variable precipitation (~15 inches per year, 66% between April and August), fallow remains a common practice to conserve soil moisture and stabilize succeeding crop yields by providing successful establishment in most dryland areas in Wyoming. However, a fallow combined with tillage limits productivity and sustainability of a farm through increasing soil erosion, depleting soil organic matter, and reducing C-fixation and N assimilation. The objectives of this study were to develop winterhardy pea cultivars for both human and livestock (grain and/or forage) consumption through hybridization among diverse lines/cultivars and selection from advanced pea generations; and to test new winterhardy cultivars of pea in the dryland cropping system. The desirable lines were tested at two locations for two years with an eventual release of superior line(s) as new cultivar(s) well adapted to Central Great Plains. Forages are very important in Wyoming and the mainstay of livestock production. Alfalfa is an important forage crop in the US and produces quality forage and persistent when grown as sole stands.  However, the bloating characteristic and poor tolerance for acidic soils make other legumes such as birdsfoot trefoil and sainfoin viable alternatives. The major objective of this study is to assess the effects of different ratios of grass-legume mixtures on forage yield, quality and persistence. Additional objectives are to determine cost effectiveness of establishing sole grass (fertilized with N), sole legumes, and grass-legume mixtures and how efficient these practices are utilizing irrigation water. Data being collected include plant height, percentage of weed, water use efficiency, nutrient use efficiency, cost and revenue ratio, and forage yield and quality. It is anticipated that the results will help recommend the best grass-legume mixture ratios that will be profitable to Wyoming producers. Demand for new and suitable plant materials is a long-term issue and is increasing continuously especially in the Intermountain West regions.  The objective of this study is to evaluate different advanced lines of C3 grasses with the inclusion of some local checks in relation to their growth, yield, and quality response to irrigation, drought, and planting time. Species used in this study include tall fescue (seven lines), tall wheatgrass (three lines), western wheatgrass (five lines), and wildrye (two lines). Fall planting was made in late August 2008 whereas spring planting was in early May 2009. Data collected on different growth parameters, persistence, and forage quality from 2009 - 2014 for both plantings seems to be different among species and lines. Long-term data collection will help select and develop superior and well-adapted cultivars. Impact Research programs from University of Wyoming have made selection for well-adapted high performing accessions/lines which resulted in development of cultivars that are suitable for Wyoming and neighboring states. This contributed to the improvement of productivity of local and regional producers and in the long-run, will provide economic benefits. Studies on determining cost effectiveness of establishing sole grass (fertilized with N), sole legumes, and grass-legume mixtures and how efficient these practices are utilizing irrigation water have positive impacts. Results will help recommend the best grass-legume mixture ratios that will be profitable to Wyoming producers by significantly reducing production costs. Grants Western SARE Graduate Student Grants. 2014-2016. $24,998; Islam, M.A. and Adjesiwor, A. Economic and Environmental Sustainability of Irrigated Grass-Legume Mixtures. UW Summer Graduate Research/Graduate Student Enhancement. 2014. $5,000; Islam, M.A. Productivity, quality, water-use efficiency, and benefit-cost ratios of irrigated grass-legume mixtures. Agriculture Producer Research Grant Program (APRGP), USDA Wyoming Department of Agriculture and UW AES. 2014-2016. $40,000; Islam, M.A., Groose, R.W., Garcia y Garcia, A., and Nachtman, J.J. Wyoming production of locally-bred winter pea to integrate crop and livestock production in Wyoming. Agriculture Producer Research Grant Program (APRGP), USDA Wyoming Department of Agriculture and UW AES. 2014-2017. $40,000; Islam, M.A. Effect of planting time and fertilizer management on quinoa production in Wyoming.

Publications

Colorado Extension Presentations Brummer, J.E. 2015. Hay Testing: What the Numbers Mean and Ways to Improve Them. Hay Days, Walden, Colorado. Brummer, J.E. 2015. Keys for Successful Establishment of Perennial Forages. Pasture Management Professional Development Workshop, Logan, Utah. Brummer, J.E. 2015. Small Acreage Pasture Management. Small Acreage Workshop, Loveland, Colorado. Brummer, J.E., and L.A. Villalobos. 2015. Use of Cover Crops as Forage to Extend the Grazing Season into the Fall & Early Winter. Colorado Farm Show, Greeley, Colorado, and NRCS/Soil Conservation District Meeting, Fort Morgan, Colorado. Brummer, J.E., D.B. Hannaway, and T.C. Griggs. 2015. Growth, Development, and Defoliation Responses of Legumes. Pasture Management Professional Development Workshop, Logan, Utah. Brummer, J.E., L.P. Jones, P.E. Cabot, C.H. Pearson, and A.F. Berrada. 2015. Agronomic Responses of Grass and Alfalfa Hayfields to No and Partial Season Irrigation as Part of a Potential Colorado Western Slope Water Bank. AWRA Annual Water Resources Conference, Denver, Colorado. Cabot, P.E., J.E. Brummer, L.P. Jones, C.H. Pearson, and A.F. Berrada. 2015. Agronomic Responses to Partial and Full Season Fallowing of Alfalfa and Grass Hayfields. Water Bank Workgroup Meeting, Vail, Colorado. Villalobos, L.A., and J.E. Brummer. 2015. Interseeding Cool-season Forages into Corn to Increase Yield and Quality of Residue Grazed in the Fall. Western Section Amer. Soc. Anim. Sci. Ann. Mtg., Ruidoso, New Mexico. Teaching Activities AGRI 635 - Integrated Forage Management, Spring 2015, 18 students (Graduate). SOCR 320 - Forage and Pasture Management, Spring 2015, 76 students (Undergraduate). AGRI 635 - Integrated Forage Management (Online course), Fall 2015, 20 students (Graduate). Publications Journals Villalobos, L.A., and J.E. Brummer. 2015. Forage brassicas stockpiled for fall grazing: Yield and nutritive value. Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Mgt. doi: 10.2134/cftm2015.0165. Wang, L., Y. Qian, J.E. Brummer, J. Zheng, S. Wilhelm, and W.J. Parton. 2015. Simulated biomass, environmental impacts and best management practices for long-term switchgrass systems in a semi-arid region. Biomass and Bioenergy 75:254-266. Theses/Dissertations Jones, L.P. 2015. Agronomic Responses of Grass and Alfalfa Hayfields to No and Partial Season Irrigation as Part of a Western Slope Water Bank. M.S. Thesis, Dept. of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO. (Role: Major Advisor) Villalobos, L.A. 2015. Annual Cool-season Forage Systems for Fall Grazing by Cattle. Ph.D. Dissertation, Dept. of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO. (Role: Major Advisor) Proceedings Villalobos, L., and J.E. Brummer. 2015. Interseeding cool-season forages into corn to increase yield and quality of residue grazed in the fall. In: Proceedings, Western Section Amer. Soc. Anim. Sci. 66:268-271. Abstracts Brummer, J.E., L.P. Jones, P.E. Cabot, C.H. Pearson, and A.F. Berrada. 2015. Agronomic responses of grass and alfalfa hayfields to no and partial season irrigation as part of a potential Colorado Western Slope water bank. Abstr. Session 85, AWRA Annual Water Resources Conference, Denver, CO. Shewmaker, G.E., M. Bohle, S. Fransen, J.E. Brummer, and D. Hannaway. 2015. Forage and pasture educational program for professionals in the Northwest. Abstr. #94242, ASA-CSSA-SSSA Ann. Conf., Minneapolis, MN. Idaho Publications Book Chapter Shewmaker, G.E., D.B. Hannaway, and S.C. Fransen.  2015. Forages and Grasslands in the Pacific Northwest. Chapter 2, pp. 37-62 In: Ghosh, P.K., Mahanta, S.K., Singh, J.B., and Pathak, P.S. (Eds). Grassland: A Global Resource Perspective. Range Management Society of India, Jhansi, India. Abstracts Shewmaker, G.E., D.B. Hannaway, and S.C. Fransen.  2016. Forages and Grasslands in the Pacific Northwest. Abstract for American Forage and Grassland Council Annual Meeting 10-13 Jan. 2016, Baton Rouge, LA. Shewmaker, G.E., D.B. Hannaway, and S.C. Fransen.  2015.  Pastures of the Pacific Northwest.  Abstract for The 6th National Conference on Grazing Lands, 13-16 Dec. 2015, Grapevine, TX. National Grazing Lands Coalition. Shewmaker, G.E., M.G. Bohle, S.C. Fransen, J.E. Brummer, and D.B. Hannaway.  2015. Forage and pasture educational program for professionals in the northwest. [Abstract 93980 and Presentation 913] American Society of Agronomy Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, MN, November 15-18, 2015. Nevada Publications Abstract Solomon, Juan K.Q. and Guillermo Scaglia. 2015. Cattle Grazing Preference Among Four Clover Species. ASA, CSSA, SSSA, Annual Meeting. Nov. 15 – 18, Minneapolis, MN. North Dakota Research Report Publications 2015 Trial Results - Alfalfa - Dryland, Conventional - Carrington, ND — Variety Trial Results             https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/varietytrials/carrington-rec/2015-trial-results/2015-trial-results-alfalfa-dryland-conventional-carrington/view, accessed November 30, 2015. 2015 Trial Results - Alfalfa - Dryland, Roundup Ready - Carrington, ND — Variety Trial Results        https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/varietytrials/carrington-rec/2015-trial-results/2015-trial-results-alfalfa-dryland-roundup-ready-carrington/view, accessed November 30, 2015. 2015 Trial Results - Forage - Cool-Season - Carrington, ND — Variety Trial Results https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/varietytrials/carrington-rec/2015-trial-results/2015-trial-results-forage-cool-season-carrington/view, accessed November 30, 2015. 2015 Trial Results - Forage - Warm-Season - Carrington, ND — Variety Trial Results            https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/varietytrials/carrington-rec/2015-trial-results/2015-trial-results-forage-warm-season-carrington/view, accessed November 30, 2015. 2015 Trial Results - Sudangrass - Double Crop - Carrington, ND — Variety Trial Results https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/varietytrials/carrington-rec/2015-trial-results/2015-trial-results-sudangrass-double-crop-carrington/view, accessed November 30, 2015. Engel, C. L., V. L. Anderson, and C. S. Schauer. Effects of Corn Particle Size and Forage Level on Performance and Carcass Traits of Yearling Steers during Finishing. 2014 North Dakota Beef Report: 22. Engel, C. L., A. Taylor, C. S. Schauer, R. Maddock, and K. C. Olson.  Effects of Whole or Rolled Corn and 20 or 40 Percent Forage Levels on Finishing Performance of Yearling Steers. 2015 North Dakota Beef Report: 18. Oregon Publications (Hannaway) Journals Yang, X.M., Y.J. Zhang, D.B. Hannaway, X.Q. Zhang, and C.H. Yang. 2015. Validation and Application of the DairyMod Forage Growth Module. Acta Prataculturae Sinica 23 (5): 1086-1092. Shewmaker, G.E., D.B. Hannaway, and S.C. Fransen.  2015. Forages and Grasslands in the Pacific Northwest. Chapter 2, pp. 37-62 In: Ghosh, P.K., Mahanta, S.K., Singh, J.B., and Pathak, P.S. (Eds). Grassland: A Global Resource Perspective. Range Management Society of India, Jhansi, India. XIE Kaiyun, HE Feng, ZHANG Yingjun, WAN Liqiang, David B. Hannaway, Li Xianglin, WANG Dong, QIN Yan, Gamal Mohamed Ali Fadul. 2015. Effect of Nitrogen Fertilization on Yield, N Content, and Nitrogen Fixation of Alfalfa and Smooth Bromegrass Grown Alone or in Mixture in Greenhouse Pots. Journal of Integrative Agriculture 14(9): 1864–1876. Yang X.M., W.X. Zhang, L.Z. Gao, C.H. Yang, Y.J. Zhang, D.B. Hannaway, and X.Q. Zhang. 2015. Forage Potential Production Adaptation Simulation Model and its Application. Jiangsu J. Agric. Sci. 31(2):322-327. (in Chinese with English Abstract) Theses Randow, Brianna Lyn. 2015. Improving the Forage Species Selection Process through Research and Teaching Projects. M.S. Crop Science. Oregon State University. [Role: Major Advisor] Yang, Xiumei. 2015. Estimating Sichuan’s Key Forage Production Potential Using GIS and Forage Simulation Modeling. [Role: International Committee Member, thesis and manuscript revisions] Abstracts Shewmaker, G.E., D.B. Hannaway, and S.C. Fransen.  2016. Forages and Grasslands in the Pacific Northwest. Abstract for American Forage and Grassland Council Annual Meeting 10-13 Jan. 2016, Baton Rouge, LA. Shewmaker, G.E., D.B. Hannaway, and S.C. Fransen.  2015.  Pastures of the Pacific Northwest.  Abstract for The 6th National Conference on Grazing Lands, 13-16 Dec. 2015, Grapevine, TX. National Grazing Lands Coalition. Shewmaker, G.E., M.G. Bohle, S.C. Fransen, J.E. Brummer, and D.B. Hannaway.  2015. Forage and pasture educational program for professionals in the northwest. [Abstract 93980 and Poster 913] American Society of Agronomy Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, MN, November 15-18, 2015. Publications (Bohle) Editor and Author for C.O. Ag Newsletter (6 editions) and Ag E-Newsletter (bimonthly) Co-Editor and Author for Biannual Oregon Hay and Forage Association Newsletter Reviewer for Oregon Hay and Forage Association Annual Hay Directory   Utah Publications Casler, M.D., D.J.  Undersander, Y.A. Papadopolous, S. Bittman, D. Hunt, R.D. Mathison, D.H. Min, J.G. Robins, J.H. Cherney, S.N. Acharya, D.P. Belesky, S.R. Bowley, B.E. Coulman, R. Drapeau, N.J. Ehlke, M.H. Hall, R.H. Leep, R. Michaud, J. Rowsell, G.E. Shewmaker, C.D. Teutsch, and W.K. Coblentz. 2014. Sparse-flowering orchardgrass represents an improvement in forage quality during reproductive growth. Crop Science 54: 421-429. Escribano, S. and J.G. Robins. 2014. Phenotypic performance of timothy accessions under irrigated and nonirrigated conditions. Crop Science 54: 1079-1086. Grabber, J. H. Riday, K. Cassida, T. Griggs, D.-H. Min and J.W. MacAdam. 2014. Yield, morphological characteristics, and chemical composition of European and Mediterranean-derived birdsfoot trefoil cultivars grown in the colder continental USA. Crop Science 54: 1893-1901. Hunt, S.R., T.C. Griggs and J.W. MacAdam*. 2014. Change in birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) nutritive value with stem elongation, flowering and pod formation. In A. Hopkins et al. (ed) Proceedings of the European Grassland Federation, Aberystwyth, Wales, 7-11 September 2014. Grassland Science in Europe 19: 884-886. Hunt, S.R., J.W. MacAdam* and T.C. Griggs. 2014. Lignification and tannin localization during the development of birdsfoot trefoil stems. Crop Science 54: 1876-1886. Jensen, K.B., P. Harrison, N.J. Chatterton, B.S. Bushman and J.E. Creech. 2014. Seasonal trends in nonstructural carbohydrates in cool- and warm-season grasses. Crop Sci. 54: 2328-2340. Jensen, K.B., J.G. Robins, B.S. Bushman, D.A. Johnson, S.D. Stratton, and K. Heaton, K. 2014. UTDG-101, a late-maturing orchardgrass germplasm with increased winter hardiness and forage quality. Journal of Plant Registrations 8: 318-323. Larson, S.R., K.B. Jensen, J.G. Robins, and B.L. Waldron. 2014. Genes and quantitative trait loci controlling biomass yield and forage quality traits in perennial wildrye. Crop Science 54: 111-126. Nelson, R.L., M.D. Peel, and C.V. Ransom. 2014. Small burnet response to spring and fall postemergence herbicide applications. Weed Technology 28: 168-175. Noviandi, C.T., J.S. Eun, M.D. Peel, B.L. Waldron, B.R. Min, D.R. ZoBell, R.L. Miller. 2014 Effects of energy supplementation in pasture forages on in vitro ruminal fermentation characteristics in continuous cultures. Professional Animal Scientist 30: 13-22. Noviandi, C.T., K. Neal, J.S. Eun, M.D. Peel, B.L. Waldron, D.R. ZoBell, B.R. Min. 2014. Comparison of alfalfa, birdsfoot trefoil, and cicer milkvetch in combination with 25, 50, or 75% tall fescue in a continuous-culture system. Professional Animal Scientist 30: 23-32. Xie, W.G., B.S. Bushman, Y.M Ma, M.S. West, J.G. Robins, L. Michaels, K.B. Jensen, X.Q. Zhang, M.D. Casler, and S.D. Stratton. 2014. Genetic diversity and variation in North American orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) cultivars and breeding lines. Grassland Science 60: 185-193. Xie W.G., J.G. Robins, S. Escribano, B.S. Bushman, and X.Q. Zhang. 2014. Cultivar * binary mixture interaction effect on agronomic traits in orchardgrass. Grassland Science 60: 104-111. Yun, L., S.R. Larson, I.W. Mott, K.B. Jensen, and J.E. Staub. 2014. Genetic control of rhizomes and genomic localization of a major-effect growth habit QTL in perennial wildrye. Molecular Genetics and Genomics 289: 383-397. Washington Publications (Fransen)  Book chapter Shewmaker, G.E., D.B. Hannaway, and S.C. Fransen.  2015. Forages and Grasslands in the Pacific Northwest. Chapter 2, pp. 37-62 In: Ghosh, P.K., Mahanta, S.K., Singh, J.B., and Pathak, P.S. (Eds). Grassland: A Global Resource Perspective. Range Management Society of India, Jhansi, India. Manuscripts Kimura, E., H.P. Collins and S. Fransen. 2015. Biomass production and nutrient removal by switchgrass under irrigation. Agon. J. 107:204-210. Girma, K., R.O. Okwany and S. Fransen. 2015. Soil nitrate following biofuel feedstock grasses and irrigation in the Pacific Northwest. Agon. J. 107: 13-19. Kimura, S.C. Fransen, H.P. Collins, S.O. Guy, and W.J. Johnston. Breaking seed dormancy o switchgrass: A review. Biomass and Bioenergy. 80:94-101. Bertagnolli, A., K.A. Meinhardt, M. Pannuu, S. Brown, S.Strand, S.C. Fransen, and D. A Stahl. 2015. Influence of edaphic and management factors on the diversity and abundance of ammonia-oxidizing thaumarchaeota and bacteria in soils of bioenergy crop cultivars. Env. Micro. Reports. 7(2): 312-320. Llewellyn, D., G. Rohwer, S. Norberg, E. Kimura, S. Neibergs, and S. Fransen. Case Study: Evaluating farm processed canola and camelina meals as protein supplements for beef cattle. N (in Press).  Abstracts Collins, H.P., E. Kimura, S. Fransen and B. Station. 2015. Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Intercropping of Switchgrass and Hybrid Poplar. American Society of Agronomy Annual Meetings, Minneapolis, MN, Abstract. November 15-18, 2015. Shewmaker, G.E., D.B. Hannaway, and S.C. Fransen.  2015.  Pastures of the Pacific Northwest.  Abstract for The 6th National Conference on Grazing Lands, 13-16 Dec. 2015, Grapevine, TX. National Grazing Lands Coalition. Shewmaker, G.E., M.G. Bohle, S.C. Fransen, J.E. Brummer, and D.B. Hannaway.  2015. Forage and pasture educational program for professionals in the northwest. [Abstract 93980 and Presentation 913] American Society of Agronomy Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, MN, November 15-18, 2015. Publications (Norberg) Abstracts Steve Norberg, Earl Creech, Don Llewellyn, Steve Fransen, and Shannon Neibergs. 2015. Cutting Irrigated Hay Costs By Using Soybeans. Western Alfalfa & Forage Symposium, Reno, NV. Steve Norberg, Don Llewellyn, Steve Fransen Shannon Neibergs. 2015. Using Chlorophyll Meter and Tissue Testing To Determine In-Season Nitrogen Needs in Timothy Hay Production. Western Alfalfa & Forage Symposium, Reno, NV. Wyoming Publications Book Chapter (Refereed) Islam, M.A. and Obour, A.K. 2014. Drought physiology of forage crops. In: Handbook of Plant and Crop Physiology, 3rd Edition (M. Pessarakli, Ed.), pp. 427-440. CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Publishing Company, Florida. Popular articles (refereed) Islam, M.A. 2014. Quinoa has potential for adding to Wyoming producer profits. Barnyards & Backyards Profitable & Sustainable Agricultural Systems (PSAS) Newspapers Insert (an insert to twenty-four Wyoming newspapers; 144,000 copies of this insert were distributed across the state in March 2014). Abstracts Islam, M.A. 2014. Economics of Tall Fescue Production. Proceedings of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science-US Alumni Association 5th Multidisciplinary Science Forum International Annual Meetings 7 November 2014. University of Florida, Gainesville, FL (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science). Islam, M.A. 2014. Forage and seed production economics of tall fescue. Proceedings of the ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings November 2-5 2014. Long Beach, CA (American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of America). Nilahyane, A., Garcia y Garcia, A., and Islam, M.A. 2014. Effect of Irrigation and Nitrogen Rates on Yield of Corn for Silage. Proceedings of the ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings November 2-5 2014. Long Beach, CA (American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of America). Extension publications Islam, M.A. 2014. Ergot Poisoning: A Forage-Related Animal Disorder. Wyoming Livestock Roundup, the Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers, and Agribusiness Community, Vol. 25, No. 83, December 6, 2014. Islam, M.A. 2014. Red Clover: A Potential Legume for Improving Pasture Yield and Quality in Wyoming. Wyoming Livestock Roundup, the Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers, and Agribusiness Community, Vol. 25, No. 75, October 11, 2014. Aryal, P. and Islam, M.A. 2014. Competitive Effect of Forage Kochia and Perennial Grass on Cheatgrass Growth. 2014 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 19-20. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2014-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2014-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified October 22, 2014). Adjesiwor, A.T., Islam, M.A., Jeliazkov, V., Garcia y Garcia, A., and Ritten, J. 2014. Effects of Phosphorus and Potassium Fertilization on Alfalfa Persistence. 2014 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 21-22. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2014-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2014-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified October 22, 2014). Islam, M.A., and Violett, R. 2014. Forage and Seed Yield Potential of Tall Fescue Under Irrigated Conditions. 2014 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 55-56. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2014-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2014-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified October 22, 2014). Aryal, P. and Islam, M.A. 2014. Establishing Forage Kochia in Diverse Environments in Wyoming. 2014 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 69-70. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2014-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2014-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified October 22, 2014). Dhakal, D. and Islam, M.A. 2014. Grass-Legume Mixtures for Improved Forage Yield, Forage Quality, and Soil Properties. 2014 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 73-74. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2014-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2014-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified October 22, 2014). Islam, M.A., Edwards, J., and Nachtman, J. 2014. Evaluation of Organic and Conventional Soil Fertility Management in High Tunnels. 2014 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 75-76. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2014-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2014-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified October 22, 2014). Horn, B., Islam, M.A., Garcia y Garcia, A., and Valtcho, J. 2014. Perennial cool-season grasses for hay production and fall grazing under full and limited irrigation. 2014 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, p. 105. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2014-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2014-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified October 22, 2014). Adjesiwor, A.T., Islam, M.A., Jeliazkov, V., Garcia y Garcia, A., and Ritten, J. 2014. Irrigated Grass-Legume Mixtures. 2014 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 121-122. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2014-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2014-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified October 22, 2014). Islam, M.A. 2014. Phosphorus and Potassium Fertilization for Alfalfa Persistence. Wyoming Livestock Roundup, the Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers, and Agribusiness Community, Vol. 25, No. 59, June 21, 2014. Islam, M.A. 2014. White Clover Has Potential for Improving Pasture Yield and Quality. Wyoming Livestock Roundup, the Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers, and Agribusiness Community, Vol. 25, No. 52, May 3, 2014. Islam, M.A. 2014. Tall Fescue Shows Potential for Forage and Seed Production in Wyoming. Wyoming Livestock Roundup, the Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers, and Agribusiness Community, Vol. 25, No. 45, March 15, 2014. Islam, M.A. 2014. Legume Inoculation - An Important Step for Legume Establishment. Wyoming Livestock Roundup, the Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers, and Agribusiness Community, Vol. 25, No. 38, January 25, 2014. Presentations Islam, M.A. 2014. Fenugreek and Its Multipurpose Use. An invited presentation at the UW Botany Department December 12 2014. Laramie, WY. Islam, M.A. 2014. Forage Crop Production and Culture in Japan. The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science-US Alumni Association 5th Multidisciplinary Science Forum International Annual Meetings November 7 2014. University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. Islam, M.A. 2014. WERA 1014 Regional Project Report: On-going/Completed Research. University Inn, Utah State University, October 27-28 2014. Logan, UT. Islam, M.A. 2014. Fenugreek: A Specialty Crop with Many Uses. An invited presentation at the Colorado State University October 16 2014. Fort Collins, CO. Islam, M.A. 2014. Grass-Legume Mixtures. Tear Down the Walls Annual Meeting at Western Nebraska Community College, August 13-14 2014. Sidney, NE. Islam, M.A. 2014. Wyoming NCCC-31 Report-Ecophysiological Aspects of Forage Management. Kellogg Biological Station, June 17-19 2014. Hickory Corners, MI. Islam, M.A. 2014. Wyoming Chapter Gamma Sigma Delta. GSD Conclave at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, June 2-4 2014. Lincoln, NE. Islam, M.A. 2014. Grass and Forage Research at the University of Wyoming, USA. An invited presentation at the Miyazaki University March 19 2014. Miyazaki, Japan. Islam, M.A. 2014. Fenugreek has potential for multipurpose use. An invited presentation at the Tokyo University March 10 2014. Tokyo, Japan. Islam, M.A. 2014. Multipurpose use of forage crops: Germplasm search and evaluation for cultivar development. An invited presentation at the Hokkaido University March 7 2014. Hokkaido, Japan. Islam, M.A. 2014. Multipurpose use of forage crops: Germplasm search and evaluation. An invited presentation at the 267th Asia Seminar at the Hiroshima University February 24 2014. Hiroshima, Japan. Islam, M.A. 2014. Annual Forages: Species, Varieties, and Importance. Wyoming Beef Production Convention, November 18, 2014. Torrington, WY. Islam, M.A. and Stump, W. 2014. Quinoa, A potential crop for Wyoming? Specialty Crop Workshop, November 1, 2014. Wheatland, WY. Islam, M.A. 2014. Forage Crop Trials in Wyoming. LREC Field Day, August 28, 2014. Laramie, WY. Islam, M.A. 2014. Quinoa Variety Trials in Wyoming. LREC Field Day, August 28, 2014. Laramie, WY. Islam, M.A. 2014. Roundup Ready Alfalfa and Forage Trials: An Update. SAREC Field Day, August 21, 2014. Lingle, WY. Islam, M.A. 2014. Economics of Tall Fescue Forage and Seed Production. PREC Field Day, July 17, 2014. Powell, WY. Islam, M.A. 2014. Forage Establishment: Factors to Consider. Wyoming Forage Field Day, July 10, 2014. Eden Valley Community Center, Farson, WY. Islam, M.A. 2014. Grass-Legume Mixtures and Grass Hay Production Studies. ShREC Field Day, June 14, 2014. Sheridan, WY. Islam, M.A. 2014. Forage Variety Selection. Master Hay Grower, February 3, 2014. Agriculture Resource and Learning Center, Casper, WY. Islam, M.A. 2014. Forage Crops Under Irrigation in Wyoming. Cattleman’s Update, February 3, 2014. Albany County Fairgrounds, Laramie, WY. Islam, M.A. 2014. Nutrient Management in Forage Crops. 2014 Wyoming Certification Rendezvous, January 22, 2014. Casper, WY.

Impact Statements

The research and extension/training programs for the western US region are continuing to have positive impacts not only locally but regionally and internationally through visiting scholars and international exchange programs and projects. Selection of well-adapted high performing accessions/lines/cultivars will result in development of cultivars that will be specifically suitable for local state and neighboring states. This will contribute to the improvement of productivity of local and regional producers and provide economic benefits. The locally and regionally developed new technologies and management strategies including grazing management will enhance producers’ ability to adopt these in their production systems.

Date of Annual Report: 12/22/2016

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 10/19/2016 - 10/20/2016
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2015 - 09/30/2016

Participants

Jason Ahola - Colorado State University
Sharon Bokan - Colorado State University
Joe Brummer - Colorado State University
Jennifer Cook - Colorado State University
Karen Crumbaker - Colorado State University
Amy Lentz - Colorado State University
Bill Nobles - Colorado State University
Ryan Rhoades - Colorado State University
Troy Ocheltree - Colorado State University
Emily Glunk - Montana State University
Chanda Engel - North Dakota State University
Serkan Ates - Oregon State University
Mylen Bohle - Oregon State University
Leticia Henderson - Oregon State University
Glenn Shewmaker - University of Idaho
Anowar Islam - University of Wyoming
Earl Creech - Utah State University
Jennifer MacAdam - Utah State University
Amber Freouf - Natural Resources Conservation Service
Sylvia Hickenlopper - Natural Resources Conservation Service
Lee Hollingsworth - Natural Resources Conservation Service
Brett Jones - Natural Resources Conservation Service
Brian Weech - Barenbrug Seed
Jerome Magnuson - DLF Seed

Brief Summary of Minutes

Minutes WERA 1014

October 19 and 20, 2016

October 19 – Jefferson County Extension Office, Golden, CO

Bill Nobles, CSU Extension Director for the Peaks and Plains Region, welcomed the group to Colorado and gave a brief introduction of the importance of forages to the state.

Anowar Islam from the University of Wyoming then gave an overview of his research with an emphasis on a study looking at improving yield and quality using grass-legume mixtures. Mixtures that included alfalfa ranked at the top with the highest yielding entry being a mix of 30% alfalfa and 70% meadow brome. Birdsfoot trefoil also looked promising with a mix consisting of 25% alfalfa, 25% birdsfoot trefoil, and 50% meadow brome ranking close to the top in yield. As a generally rule, inclusion of legumes improved the crude protein content of the forage produced.

Glenn Shewmaker from the University of Idaho first reported on a seed coating evaluation. He found that they can be beneficial in marginal soils and gypsum-based coatings have improved establishment in calcareous soils. He commented that these need to be tested across large areas to encompass variability, not in small plots. He has also tested a number of biostimulants but has seen little if any benefit, possibly a trend in one case when micronutrients were applied to alfalfa. He has also looked at effects of length of hay storage on quality and found that crude protein increase slightly due to a loss of sugars which causes a decrease in digestibility and increase in lignin content. One interesting comment was that when looking at prussic acid levels in different forages, he found that pearl millet contained some of the highest levels. As a general rule, pearl millet is considered not to contain prussic acid, so this needs further evaluation. As in many areas of the West, water is one of the main issues facing agriculture. In Idaho, pumping is now regulated with producers needing to reduce water use by 12 to 13%. They need to fix leaks, turn off end gun, and look at more efficient methods of application.

Chanda Engel from North Dakota State University reported on a project looking at winter rye for forage by feeding it to cows in drylot as hay or silage as well as grazing it as pasture. They have looked at several double cropping options with rye in the rotation. A new variety of rye has been released called ND Dylan. In North Dakota, producers can harvest the ditch right of ways for hay, so they have a proposed project to look at the effects of fertility and harvest date on yield and quality of hay produced from these areas.

Jason Ahola from the Animal Science Department at Colorado State University was invited to speak on the concept of producing beef without the use of mature cows: A look at the all heifer, no cow system which is a totally different system of beef production that requires thinking outside of the box.

Jennifer MacAdam from Utah State University reported on work she is doing to quantify the level of tannins and carbohydrates in various legumes and broadleaf forages. The level of lignin is higher in birdsfoot trefoil compared to alfalfa but birdsfoot trefoil, small burnet, and sainfoin have higher levels of carbohydrates.

Mylen Bohle from Oregon State University has a number of projects going and he provided a handout that gave a brief synopsis of each.

Emily Glunk from Montana State University has an alfalfa variety trial looking at conventional versus reduced lignin varieties. She is also involved in a trial looking at animal performance of beef cattle that are fed reduced lignin alfalfa in the ration. She is also involved in a big trial being funded by the state to look at the benefits of cover crops including grazing. Annual forages (13 varieties of barley and 2 of oats) are being evaluated for preference and palatability. She cautioned that you need to be careful with oats because of their propensity to accumulate nitrates. Yield and quality of alfalfa in response to boron and sulfur additions are also being evaluated. At the Dillon site, boron increased yield of second harvest but there was not difference to the total for the season. No difference was measured in quality due to boron application. For sulfur, a yield increase was measured under dryland production conditions.

In the afternoon, we went on a tour that was organized by Jennifer Cook from Colorado State University Extension. We first stopped at a site in Wheat Ridge, CO in which they are successfully using goats to mitigate weeds on city owned open spaces. We then stopped at a site in the same general area in which Jennifer has been conducting a pasture clipping study to look at the effects of intensity and frequency of defoliation on pasture productivity. Our final stop was in the foothills outside of Golden, CO to look at a Paddock Paradise Track System for horse pasture management. This was a very interesting stop to see how this landowner is utilizing this system on a fairly small acreage to protect and improve her pasture forage while still allowing the horses to get their daily exercise. More small acreage horse owners should utilize this type of system to avoid overgrazing of pastures.

We then convened at 240 Union-A Creative Grille in Lakewood, CO for happy hour and dinner.

October 20 – Arbor House, Golden, CO

Serkan Ates is a new faculty member at Oregon State University working on forages. He reported on a couple of projects he has been involved with before arriving in Oregon. In New Zealand, he worked on a grazing trial with perennial ryegrass that was mixed with different clovers such as white, subterranean, and Caucasian. They measured gains of 300 g/head/day with 40 to 50% subterranean clover in the mix. In a project with ICARDA, they found that Hungarian vetch was not as palatable due to the concentration of phenolics in the plant.

Earl Creech from Utah State University has been involved with a big study in conjunction with the USDA Range and Forage Lab in Logan to evaluate 48 entries of different forages at 10 dryland range sites throughout the West. Depending on individual site characteristics and environmental conditions, there is tremendous variability in the ability of the different entries to establish which makes it difficult to make any specific recommendations. White River Indian ricegrass has done well as has Siberian wheatgrass, but it has low productivity. He has also been involved in a study in which forage kochia has been seeded into halogeton infested areas as a means of suppression of this toxic plant. This approach has been relatively successful. Finally, he has been doing some work looking at row spacing and plant population effects on yield of corn silage. He has documented a 5% increase in yield with 20 versus 30 inch row spacing. He has also measured a continual increase in yield as the plant population goes from 25,000 to 50,000 plants per acre but one has to weigh the added input of the extra seed versus the added yield potential associated with the higher seeding rates.

Joe Brummer from Colorado State University presented information on some dryland cover crop grazing work he has been involved in. Producers that grazed the cover crop mixture early in the season realized animal gains as high as 3.4 pounds per day while those that grazed later in the season when the cover crop plants were more mature only had gains of 1 to 1.5 pounds per day. He also reported on an irrigated pasture study that will begin during the 2017 growing season. This is a farm scale study (212 acres) that will evaluate animal performance and economics related to 4 different mixtures that were planted.

Troy Ocheltree from the Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship at Colorado State University then gave an invited presentation on The Deep Roots of Grasses: Can’t Live With Them, Can’t Live Without Them in which he went over some recent work he has been involved with where they found that even deep rooted grasses get most of their water from the top foot or so of the soil profile. This goes against a lot of conventional thinking. He speculated that although grasses get most of their water for growth from the upper part of the soil profile, the deeper roots are important for sustaining plants during drought.

Brian Weech from Barenbrug Seed gave an overview of some of their high quality forage varieties and experiences working with producers.

Jerome Magnuson from DLF Seed described their forage maturity matrix and work with the Alliance for Grasslands Renewal.

Emily Glunk from Montana State University then gave a very informative presentation on the issue with non-structural carbohydrates in forages and the negative effects they can sometimes have on horses such as causing laminitis and other metabolic disorders.

Glenn Shewmaker from the University of Idaho then led a discussion on seed mixtures covering such topics as the advantages and disadvantages of mixtures, what species should not be included in mixtures, and the possible development of educational materials to help producers make appropriate decisions regarding mixtures.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Emily Glunk from Montana State University agreed to take on the role of Chairperson and Jennifer MacAdam from Utah State University agreed to serve as Secretary for the group. Everyone was in agreement with these choices. Emily also agreed to host the meeting next year in Montana.

Accomplishments

Colorado - Grants Islam, M.A., J.E. Brummer, and  M. Doohong. "The Silent Decline in Soil Potassium Levels and its Effect on Alfalfa Productivity in the Central and Western US", USDA-NIFA Alfalfa and Forage Research Program, $63,928. (start: September 1, 2016, end: August 31, 2019). Brummer, J. E., R.D. Rhoades, J. Ippolito, and J.K. Ahola. "A Long-term Integrated Evaluation of the ARDEC Irrigated Forage System", Colorado State University Agricultural Experiment Station, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. $89,933. (start: October 1, 2016, end: December 31, 2018). Colorado - Extension Presentations November 29, 2016, "Alfalfa and Grass Forage Fertility: Considerations for Improving Your Bottom Line", Eastern Colorado Crop Production Conference, Colorado State University, Brummer, J. E. October 20, 2016, "Colorado Forage Update 2016", Pacific Northwest Forage Workers and WERA 1014 Annual Meeting, Colorado State Univeristy, Brummer, J. E. June 14, 2016, "Forage Fertility:Improving Your Bottom Line", Wyoming Forage Field Day, University of Wyoming, Brummer, J. E. June 14, 2016, "Are the new low-lignin alfalfas for you?", Wyomng Forage Field Day, Univeristy of Wyoming, Brummer, J. E. March 29, 2016, "Agronomic Responses of Grass and Alfalfa Hayfields to No and Partial Season Irrigation as Part of a Potential Colorado Western Slope Water Bank", 2016 Water Bank Webinar Series, Colorado State University, Brummer, J. E., Jones, L. P., Cabot, P. E., Pearson, C. H., Berrada, A. February 25, 2016, "Improved Digestibility and Quality: Are the new low-lignin alfalfas for you?", Alfalfa U, High Plains Journal, Brummer, J. E. Idaho - International Presentations Pasture and Grazing Management Extension Programing in Northwestern USA, 10th International Rangeland Congress, 17-22 July 2016, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada Seminar on tall fescue, light interception, and nonstructural carbohydrate levels; 12 Feb. 2016, Dairy NZ, Hamilton, NZ Montana - Extension Programming 2016- Taught 49.75 credit hours of Extension programming, directly reaching over 1300 producers via face-to-face programming. 2016- Leader and organizer of the 2016 Pasture Management Workshop Series. Locations in Flathead, Yellowstone, and Blaine Counties. 2016- Co-organizer of the 2016 Montana State Ag Extension Conference. Bozeman, MT. October, 2016. 2016- Co-organizer of the 2016 Montana State Ag Agent Update. Bozeman, MT. May 2016. 2016- Co-organizer of the 2016 Crop and Pest Management School. Bozeman, MT. January, 2016. Montana - Grants 2016- Little Shell Enterprises, Inc. “Evaluating hay feeding methods on heifer performance, hay waste, and economics”. Collaborator. $7,865. 2016- Forage Genetics, Inc. “The effects of feeding reduced-lignin alfalfa on growing beef cattle performance”. Principle Investigator. $31,755. Oregon - Grants Oregon Beef Council $10,000 for Organic Alfalfa Fertility Trials (18 and 12 treatments) 2012-2015 Oregon Dairy Farmers Association $11,800 for two Organic Alfalfa  Fertility Trials (18 and 12 treatments) 2012-2015 McGinnis Ranch $8,000 for Nitrogen Rate Effect on Grass Hay and Utilizing Greenseeker to determine N Sufficiency. 2015-2016.  Co-PI with Tracy Wilson. Oregon - Extension Programming Central Oregon Forage Seminar January 27, 2016 (80 in attendance and focus was on irrigation management and even more so on converting to LESA and LEPA pivots). Living On a Few Acres Expo in March 2016 (75 minute classes)      Pasture and Grazing Management Class (12 in attendance)      Hay Production Class (11 in attendance)      Irrigation Management and Principles class  (14 in attendance) Pasture and Grazing Management Class (3 hours) April 2016 working with Deschutes SWCD as kick off session along with Scott Duggan, C.O. Livestock Agent.  (17 in attendance)  Then we held 5 pasture field days in producer pastures from May to October with about 35 total in attendance. Central Oregon Ag Newsletter (1500 circulation and goes out every other month) and C.O. Ag E-news (circulation 1250) goes out once every two weeks to producers in 3 central Oregon counties.  Articles on pasture and grazing, hay production and  management, and about other Ag related events. Utah - Grants  9/17/13-9/16/17. Co-P.I. USDA NIFA AFRI Plant Breeding for Agricultural Production Program. Increasing legume grazing for higher beef gain on pastures: an improved high-tannin birdsfoot trefoil cultivar with trans-regional potential. $402,500. 7/1/16-6/30/20. MacAdam Co-P.I. USDA NIFA AFRI Agroecosystem Management Program. Tannin-containing legumes in pasturelands and their ecological services. $500,000. 1/1/16-12/31/18. MacAdam Co-P.I. USDA NIFA AFRI Climate and Microbial Processes in Agroecosystems program. Microbial carbon-use efficiency in agroecosystems: The effect of drought and N availability on soil microbial production and respiration. $750,000. 1/1/16-12/31/17. MacAdam Co-P.I. USDA NIFA AFRI Food Security Program. Legume-finished beef: Maintaining current production with greater environmental, economic and social sustainability. $150,000. Utah - New Equipment A new spectrophotometer with the capacity to accurately read absorbances as high as 8 was acquired from internal Utah State University funding. This will increase the accuracy of tannin assays and reduce disposables and chemical waste and exposure, because 1. Assays will not need to be diluted, based on very small samples, or processed in high volumes of assay solution, and 2. A sipper attachment will eliminate the use of cuvettes and minimize exposure to volatiles. Wyoming - Grants USDA-NIFA Alfalfa and Forage Research Program. 2016-2019, $250,000 Islam, M.A., Burmmer, J., and Min, D. The silent decline in soil potassium levels and its effect on alfalfa productivity in the central and western US. UW School of Energy Resources. 2016-2019, $242,000 Stahl, P.D., Coupal, R.H., Islam, M.A., McLaughlin, J.F., and Norton, J.B. Use of coal residues as soil amendments. UW AES Global Perspectives Grant. 2016, $4,000 Islam, M.A. Identification and evaluation of germplasm for development of improved forage cultivars. UW CES Internal Grant. 2015-2016, $2,197 Islam, M.A. Request for funds for replacing outdated computer, and portable projector, portable projection screen, and portable mike system. Wyoming - Extension Programming Wyoming Forage Field Day, June 14, 2016. Sheridan Research and Extension Center, University of Wyoming, WY. Attendance: 95.

Publications

Colorado Villalobos, L., and J.E. Brummer. 2016. Cool-Season Annual Forages and Mixtures to Extend the Grazing Season into the Fall. Abstract No. 113-1, ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ, <a href="http://scisoc.confex.com/crops/2016am/webprogram/Paper99402.html">http://scisoc.confex.com/crops/2016am/webprogram/Paper99402.html</a>. Brummer, J. E., J.W. MacAdam, G. Shewmaker, and M.A. Islam. 2016. Establishing Birdsfoot Trefoil in the Mountain West. Utah State Univ. Ext. Fact Sheet AG/Forages/2016-02pr. Logan, UT. 9 pp. Idaho Proceeding: Shewmaker, G.E., M. Bohle, and S. Fransen.  2016.  Pasture and grazing management extension programming in Northwestern USA. p. 544-545 In A. Iwaasa, H.A. Lardner, M. Schellenberg, W. Willms, and K. Larson (eds.) USB drive, Proceedings 10th Int. Rangeland Congress, 17-25 July 2016, Saskatoon, Canada. Abstract: Shewmaker, G.E., D.B. Hannaway, and S.C. Fransen.  2016. Forages and Grasslands in the Pacific Northwest. Abstract for American Forage and Grassland Council Annual Meeting 10-13 Jan. 2016, Baton Rouge, LA. Montana Refereed Publications: Miller, P.R., E.C. Glunk, J.A. Holmes, R.E. Engel. 2016. Barley vs. spring and winter pea forage crop yield and quality, and effect on subsequent wheat in southwestern Montana. Agron. Journ. Submitted. Staudenmeyer, D.M., D. Fuga, E.C. Glunk. 2016. Preference and forage quality of 13 cultivars of forage barley and 2 cultivars of oats when grazed by sheep. Am. J. Exp. Agric. Submitted. Sapkota, A., D.M. Staudenmeyer, R.N. Stougaard, E.C. Glunk, J.A. Torrion. 2016. Optimizing Boron maintenance fertilizer for alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in Montana. MSU College of Agriculture and Extension Research Report. Vol 2. Williams, A.R., D.M. Staudenmeyer, R.L. Endecott, E.C. Glunk. 2016. Evaluating the use of BMR corn as an acceptable forage source for grazing cattle. MSU College of Agriculture and Extension Research Report. Vol 2. Wichman, D., E.C. Glunk. 2016. Nine year dry matter production of 39 grass entries in Central Montana. MSU College of Agriculture and Extension Research Report. Vol 2. Nix, E.E., D.L Ragen, J.G.P. Bowman, R.W. Kott, M.K. Petersen, A.W. Lenssen, P.G. Hatfield, E.C. Glunk. 2016. Forage intake and wastage by ewes in pea/hay barley swath grazing and bale feeding systems. Am. J. Exp. Agric. Volume 12, No. 3:1-6. Abstracts: Sapkota, A. J.A. Torrion. R.N. Stougaard, D.M. Staudenmeyer, E.C. Glunk. Optimizing Boron maintenance fertilization for alfalfa. North American Alfalfa Improvement Conference. Madison, WI. July 2016. Williams, A., R.L. Endecott, E.C. Glunk. 2016. Evaluating the use of BMR corn as an acceptable forage source for grazing cattle. Montana State University Undergraduate Scholars Program Symposium. Extension Publications: Glunk, E.C., M. Van Emon, R. Malisani. “Collecting a Feed or Forage Sample for Analysis”. Montana State University Extension MontGuide. MT201610HR. June 2016. Van Emon, M., E.C. Glunk, C. Buck. “Forage Analysis Interpretation”. MT201609HR. June 2016. Utah Catanese, F., R. Distel, and J. Villalba. 2015. Expression of conditioned preference for low-quality food in sheep is modulated by foraging cost. Animal 9: 1045-1052. Grabber, J.H., W.K. Coblentz, H. Riday, T.C. Griggs, D.H. Min, J.W. MacAdam, and K. A. Cassida. 2015. Protein and dry matter degradability of European- and Mediterranean-derived birdsfoot trefoil cultivars grown in the colder continental USA. Crop Science 55: 1356-1364. Gregorini, P., J. Villalba, F.D. Provenza, P.C. Beukes, and M. Forbes. 2015. Modelling preference and diet selection patterns by grazing ruminants: A development in a mechanistic model of a grazing dairy cow, MINDY. Animal Production Science 55: 360-375. Jensen, K.B., D. Singh, B.S. Bushman, and J.G. Robins. 2015. Registration of Arsenal meadow bromegrass. Journal of Plant Registrations 9: 304-310. Jones, T.A., T.A. Monaco, and C.W. Rigby. 2015. The potential of novel native plant materials for the restoration of novel ecosystems. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene 3: 000047. Leffler, A.J., J.J. James, T.A. Monaco, and R.L. Sheley. 2015. A new perspective on trait differences between native and invasive exotic plants: reply to critique. Ecology. 96:1152-1153. Li, X., B. Alarcon-Zuniga, J. Kang, M. Tahir, Q. Jiang, Y. Wei, R. Reyno, J.G. Robins, and E. Brummer. 2015. Mapping fall dormancy and winter injury in tetraploid alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Crop Science 55: 1-17. MacAdam, J.W., and S.R. Hunt. 2015. Using a rising plate meter to determine paddock size for rotational grazing. AG/Forages/2015/01pr. Utah State University Cooperative Extension Service, Logan. <a href="http://extension.usu.edu/htm/publications/publication=15793&custom=1">http://extension.usu.edu/htm/publications/publication=15793&custom=1</a>. MacAdam, J.W., and J.J. Villalba. 2015. Beneficial effects of temperate forage legumes that contain condensed tannins. Agriculture 5: 475-491. Pearson, C.H., S.R. Larson, C.M. Keske, and K.B. Jensen. 2015. Native grasses for biomass production at high elevations, pp. 101-132 In Cruz, V.M.Z., and D.A. Dierig (ed.) Industrial Crops Breeding for Bioenergy and Bioproducts. New York: Springer. Robins, J.G., B.S. Bushman, S. Escribano, and K.B. Jensen. 2015. Heterosis for protein, digestibility, fiber, and water soluble carbohydrates in nine sources of orchardgrass germplasm. Euphytica 204: 503-511. Russell, J., and D. Feuz. 2015. The optimal cow size for Intermountain cow-calf operations AG/Applied Economics/2015-01pr. Utah State University Cooperative Extension Service, Logan. <a href="http://extension.usu.edu/htm/publications/publication=15766&custom=1">http://extension.usu.edu/htm/publications/publication=15766&custom=1</a> Saunders, C.S., S.Y. Yang, J.S. Eun, D. Feuz, and D. Zobell. 2015. Feeding brown midrib corn silage-based diet to growing beef steers improves growth performance and economic returns. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 95: 625-631. Villalba, J., F.D. Provenza, F. Catanese, and R. Distel. 2015. Understanding and manipulating diet choice in grazing animals. Animal Production Science 55: 261-271. Villalba, J., R. Cabassu, and S. Gunter. 2015. Forage choice in pasturelands: Influence on cattle foraging behavior and production. Journal of Animal Science 93: 1729-1740. Wang, R., S.R. Larson, K.B. Jensen, B.S. Bushman, L.R. Dehaan, S. Wang, and X. Yan. 2015. Genome evolution of intermediate wheatgrass as revealed by EST-SSR markers developed from its three progenitor diploid species. Genome 58: 63-70. Yun, L., S.R. Larson, K.B. Jensen, J.E. Staub, and P.R. Grossl. 2015. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) and candidate genes associated with trace element concentrations in perennial grasses grown on phytotoxic soil contaminated with heavy metals. Plant and Soil 396: 277-296. Zhu, L., D.A. Johnson, W. Wang, L. Ma, and Y. Rong. 2015. Grazing effects on carbon fluxes in a northern China grassland. Journal of Arid Environments 114: 41-48. Wyoming Journal: Adjesiwor, A.T., Islam, M.A., Zheljazkov, V.D., Ritten, J.P., and Garcia y Garcia, A. Grass-legume seed mass ratios and nitrogen rates influence forage yield, nutritive value, and profitability. Crop Science (in press). Islam, M.A., Obour, A.K., Rule, D., Bandara, M., and Acharya, S. Forage and seed production potential, nutritive value, and fatty acid profile of fenugreek. Crop Science (in press). Adjesiwor, A.T. and Islam, M.A. 2016. Rising nitrogen fertilizer prices and projected increase in maize ethanol production: the future of forage production and the potential of legumes in forage production systems. Grassland Science 62:203-212. doi: 10.1111/grs.12130. Tracy, B.F., Albrecht, K., Flores, J., Hall, M., Islam, M.A., Jones G., Lamp, W., MacAdam, J.W., Skinner, H., and Teutsch, C. 2016. Evaluation of alfalfa-tall fescue mixtures across multiple environments. Crop Science 56:2026-2034. doi: 10.2135/cropsci2015.09.0553. Sintim, H.Y., Adjesiwor, A.T., Zheljazkov, V.D., Islam, M.A., and Obour, A.K. 2016. Nitrogen application in sainfoin under rain-fed conditions in Wyoming: Productivity and cost implications. Agronomy Journal 108:294–300. doi: 10.2134/agronj2015.0317. Book Chapter (Refereed): Islam, M.A. and Adjesiwor, A.T. 2016. Forage Crops and Their Photosynthesis. In: Handbook of Photosynthesis, 3rd Edition (M. Pessarakli, Ed.), pp. 523-531. CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Publishing Company, Florida. Reviewed Proceedings: Islam, M.A. 2016. Legume Adoption Practices in the Central Great Plains of USA and Their Benefits in the Face of Climate Change. Proceedings of the International Conference on Envisioning Our Common Future December 22-23, 2016 Dhaka University, Bangladesh. Islam, M.A. 2016. Plant Diversity for Resilient Production and Environmental Benefits in the Changing World. Proceedings of the International Conference on Changing the World through Japan’s Scientific Endeavors “Japan’s Rapidly Aging Society” November 12, 2016 Harvard University, Boston, MA (Japan-US Science Forum in Boston). Islam, M.A. 2016. Managing Plant Diversity for Resilient Forage Systems and Environmental Benefits in the Mountain West. Proceedings of the ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings November 7-9, 2016 Phoenix, AZ (American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of America). Nilahyane, A., Islam, M.A., Garcia y Garcia, A., and Mesbah, A.O. 2016. Corn for silage response to water in a semi-arid environment. Proceedings of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) Annual Meetings July 17-20, 2016. Orlando, FL. Extension Bulletins/Papers (Refereed) and Educational Materials/Factsheets including Newspaper Articles: Islam, M.A. 2016. Silage: Production and Feeding – Part V. Wyoming Livestock Roundup, the Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers, and Agribusiness Community, December 17, 2016. Islam, M.A. 2016. Silage: Production and Feeding – Part IV. Wyoming Livestock Roundup, the Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers, and Agribusiness Community, October 22, 2016. Brummer, J.E., MacAdam, J.W., Shewmaker, G., and Islam, M.A., 2016. Establishing Birdsfoot Trefoil in the Mountain West. 2016. Bulletin 1 AG/Forages/2016-02pr, Utah State University Extension Publications at DigitalCommons@USU, pp. 1-9, September 2016. Paper 1585. Available at: <a href="http://digitalcommons.usu.edu/extension_curall/1585/">http://digitalcommons.usu.edu/extension_curall/1585/</a> (verified January 23, 2017) Sarkar, S. and Islam, M.A. 2016. Response of bird’s-foot trefoil cultivars to producer’s field. 2016 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 169-170. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2016-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2016-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified January 23, 2017). Horn, B.E., Islam, M.A., Smith, D., Jeliazkov, V., and Garcia y Garcia, A. 2016. Perennial cool-season grasses for hay production and fall grazing under full and limited irrigation. 2016 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 149-150. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2016-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2016-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified January 23, 2017). Ashilenje, D.S. and Islam, M.A. 2016. Evaluation of forage productivity and environmental benefits of meadow bromegrass in various mixtures with popular legumes under irrigation. 2016 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 143-144. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2016-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2016-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified January 23, 2017). Sarkar, S. and Islam, M.A. 2016. Bird’s-foot trefoil response to planting method and harvesting frequency. 2016 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 113-114. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2016-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2016-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified January 23, 2017). Baskota, S. and Islam, M.A. 2016. Evaluation of quinoa and fenugreek in Wyoming conditions. 2016 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 97-98. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2016-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2016-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified January 23, 2017). Nilahyane, A., Islam, M.A., and Garcia y Garcia, A. 2016. Quality response of irrigated silage corn under on-surface and sub-surface drip irrigation systems. 2016 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 67-68. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2016-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2016-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified January 23, 2017). Nilahyane, A., Islam, M.A., and Garcia y Garcia, A. 2016. Effect of irrigation on physiological traits of corn for silage grown under on-surface drip-irrigation system. 2016 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 65-66. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2016-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2016-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified January 23, 2017). Ashilenje, D.S., Islam, M.A. 2016. Alfalfa growth forms, light capture, and nitrogen fixation interact to influence durability of legume in meadow bromegrass mixtures. 2016 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 27-28. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2016-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2016-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified January 23, 2017). Islam, M.A. 2016. Silage: Production and Feeding – Part III. Wyoming Livestock Roundup, the Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers, and Agribusiness Community, August 26, 2016. Islam, M.A. 2016. Silage: Production and Feeding – Part II. Wyoming Livestock Roundup, the Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers, and Agribusiness Community, June 24, 2016. Islam, M.A. 2016. Silage: Alsike Clover: A High Quality Forage Legume for High Elevations. Wyoming Livestock Roundup, the Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers, and Agribusiness Community, April 23, 2016. Islam, M.A. 2016. Forage Variety Selection and Stand Establishment. Factsheet, Master Hay Grower, Cokeville, WY, March 3, 2016. Islam, M.A. 2016. The Agronomy in Alfalfa. Factsheet, Alfalfa U – Loveland CO, High Plains Journal, Loveland, CO, February 25, 2016. Islam, M.A. 2016. Silage: Production and Feeding – Part I. Wyoming Livestock Roundup, the Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers, and Agribusiness Community, February 20, 2016.

Impact Statements

As a means of desemminating forage and pasture information, over 57 publications were produced by the group in 2016 which ranged included abstacts, proceedings papers, Extension fact sheets, and referred journal articles.

Date of Annual Report: 02/01/2018

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 11/30/2017 - 12/01/2017
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2016 - 09/30/2017

Participants

Joe Brummer, Colorado State University
Glenn Shewmaker, University of Idaho
Emily Glunk-Meccage, University of Montana
Juan Solomon, Host; University of Nevada-Reno
Steve Foster, University of Nevada
Mozart Fonseca, University of Nevada
Mylen Bohle, Oregon State University
David Hannaway, Oregon State University
Gordon Jones, Oregon State University
Bryan Weech, Barenbrug USA
Earl Creech, Utah State University
Jennifer MacAdam, Utah State University
Matt Yost, Utah State University
Steve Norberg, Washington State University
Anowar Islam, University of Wyoming

Brief Summary of Minutes

Day 1: Participants were welcomed by the meeting host, Juan Solomon, who introduced Dr. William Payne, Dean of the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources and Director of the Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station. Dr. Payne described the commodities of the greatest importance to the State of Nevada, which are dairy, beef and alfalfa-production (seed, fed hay and compressed alfalfa) and timothy hay for export. He noted the historical importance of alfalfa to the state, and a current need for water-efficient approaches to forage production. Since joining the CABNR at the University of Nevada four years ago, 30 faculty have been hired and 28 positions are currently being filled, including two in irrigation.

David Hannaway recounted the history of the Pacific Northwest Forage Workers. Changes that have affected the group include the fact that Canadian colleagues are no longer funded to attend, colleagues in northern California are no longer active in the group, and no technical training workshops have been organized recently, although WERA-1014 members have successfully competed for WSARE funding to support independent training workshops.

State Reports:

Colorado: Joe Brummer reported on a study of soil health under a 200-acre pivot on a clay-loam soil near Ft. Collins, CO. In the fall of 2016, each quarter of the pivot was planted to a different complex mixture of introduced grasses (3-way and 6-way) or introduced grass-legume mixtures (6- and 10-way). Each quarter pivot was divided into 8 management units with a stock water source, and management-intensive grazing supported a 150 cow-calf pair (1350#) herd for the grazing season (late April to October). Paddock size was adjusted to remove 50% of available forage in each daily move. Initial soil assessment was carried out using the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF). Precipitation resulted in soil pugging, so the study now has a grazing damage component. Other data include pre-grazing dry mass, botanical composition, ground cover, body condition score and calf gain.

Idaho: Glenn Shewmaker reported on a study of foliar-applied products on alfalfa which are being marketed to producers. Reputable products were tested in 2014 on a stand of Roundup-Ready alfalfa established in 2012. Each product was applied at each of four cuttings to 5- x 20-foot plots. Products tested included NutriSyncB (boron), Accomplish (fertilizer catalyst), CPBio, Re-NForce, and LI700 (penetrant acidifier). The study had low CV and there were no significant differences in yield or quality. The study also had vole issues. Glenn concluded that producers should be reminded of the relevance of fertilizer guides that are likely to be of more relevance than more heavily marketed products that do not alter yield or quality.

In a second study, supported by the McGreggor company, a gypsum-based seed coating had a positive effect, but only on the 4^th cutting. The untreated check actually had the best digestibility.

Montana: Emily Glunk-Meccage has carried out studies on cover crops, large round bale outdoor storage, alfalfa weevil, annual forages (e.g., winter wheat and triticale), and an alfalfa variety trial. In alfalfa sulfur research, a 100% increase in yield was seen with the application of 10# of sulfur.

A trial of low-lignin alfalfa was planted in May with a second harvest taken in October of the first year. No improvements were found in the average daily gain of newly-weaned calves fed low-lignin alfalfa hay. Hay was assessed using a 240-h in situ digestion analyzed for total tract neutral detergent fiber digestion (TTNDFD). While dairy cow digestion has demonstrated benefits of low-lignin alfalfa, this was the first beef cow study using TTNDFD. Emily suggested that differences in the growth environment may have influenced beef study results.

Wyoming: Anowar Islam reported on a birdsfoot trefoil study harvested 1, 2 or 3 times (early October, late August or early October, or early June, late August and early October). Other factors were a wheat or wheat stubble companion crop. Weeds in initial stands were reduced by planting into wheat stubble.

Nevada: Steve Foster is located in Lovelock, NV, a 9” precipitation area, and advises beef producers grazing pasture and rangeland; cropland is 100% irrigated. There is a local reservoir fed by the Humbolt River, and Steve described land purchases in the Battle Mountain area related to the control of irrigation water. Irrigation is now metered to document water use.

Steve advocated for the inclusion of Extension agents in applied research led by state Extension specialists. Steve described studies on corn rootworm in corn-soybean rotations with Bt and potassium fertilization treatments; on outcome-based grazing including a cheatgrass grazing study carried out with the BLM; a Russian knapweed control study; and suggested the use of alfalfa producer “walks” similar to pasture walks where a team of experts meet in the field with a group of producers to discuss a range of issues. Steve advocated remembering that the citizens of the state are our employers.

Alfalfa Variety Trial Discussion: There was a general discussion of the cost of carrying out a multiple-site, multiple-year variety trial, with $1500 suggested as the actual per-cultivar cost. Private companies are reluctant to pay the cost of the trials, but producers need these data, along with information on fall dormancy, disease resistances, and the other characteristics that are provided by NAFA. Glenn is the Crop Science Society of America board rep., and will introduce this issue at the next CSSA board meeting.

Panel Discussion (Teaching): David Hannaway led a discussion of a common forage curriculum that includes core competencies; he has solicited curricula from forage course instructors as a first step. Juan suggested focusing on pedagogical approaches that would increase student interest in grasslands. Steve noted that students process new information in the context of what they know coming into the class.

Potential Grant Proposal: Anowar shared information on coordinated agricultural projects (CAP) requests for proposals related to grasslands expected in 2018, suggesting collaborative proposals among WERA-1014 members. A number of relevant topics and current collaborations were discussed, including projects to reduce nitrogen losses and increase water use efficiency.

Additional Discussion: Juan requested advice for rookie forage scientists which led to a discussion of dossier development, program focus vs. a diverse research portfolio, documentation of program impacts, and the development of a narrative that demonstrates the establishment of a solid career trajectory.

Day 2:

Nevada (continued): Juan introduced his colleague Mozart Fonseca, a ruminant nutritionist studying the mathematical modeling of the rumen. Mozart is a 5^th-generation beef producer who came to the US from Brazil for graduate study. His rumen feed degradation model sums rates of feed degradation and passage, supported by measured data for pools of volatile fatty acids and amino acids, with the goal of synchronizing energy and protein availability. Mozart also studies the tradeoffs related to water intake on rangeland. Outflow from the rumen is described via particle and liquid flow. He described his in vitro rumen fermentation and continuous culture studies, and the improvements in instrumentation he has made in his lab.

Juan Solomon discussed his program at UNR on irrigated improved pastures. While he does not have an Extension appointment, his research is applied and supportive of livestock producers. He is studying alfalfa cultivar differences, tall fescue responses to forms of nitrogen fertilizer, orchardgrass cultivar morphological and nutritive value responses to grazing frequencies, greenhouse gas emissions of two-way grass-legume mixtures as well as the same forages in monoculture, and average daily gain on grass-legume mixtures. Juan is also studying mixtures and monocultures of legumes, the dry matter production and botanical composition of mixtures of a soft-leafed tall fescue with different legumes, different cultivars of teff, and he is evaluating deficit irrigation of sorghum.

Oregon: David Hannaway reported on his efforts to model seasonal and annual yield of forages, particularly with respect to dormancy. Dave will be visiting Lincoln University in New Zealand to work with a data set containing 8 years of plant shoot and root dry matter for the development of a crop simulation model. The goal is to predict adaptation for specific sites.

Mylen Bohle described work on liming rates in the range of 0 to 8,000 lbs. per acre. The land was limed in 2014, either tilled or not tilled, and planted to a number of different introduced temperate grasses. In 2015 and 2016, the second harvest was evaluated for soil pH, dry matter, yield and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) via GreenSeeker. Soil pH increased from 0-2 inches in untilled and 2-4 inches in tilled plots.

Utah: Earl Creech reported on a study of four grasses in mixtures with birdsfoot trefoil that were grazed by Jersey heifers. The cattle grazed birdsfoot trefoil in preference to tall fescue, but eventually did graze the tall fescue. Earl also carried out a Roundup Ready alfalfa trial included both Hi-Gest (non RR and non GMO) and HarvXtra.

Jennifer MacAdam reported on the results of an in vitro hay fermentation study that demonstrated differences among temperate legumes in rate and final gas volume of digestion.

Washington: Steve Norberg is collaborating with Earl on a study of soybeans for hay and silage. Dry bean producers are concerned that soybeans will be a source of diseases and pests. In soybeans, the seed corn maggot can be a problem; Cruiser (labeled for forages) is effective. Forage quality was higher in Logan than in Washington; the study demonstrated a yield of 8 tons/acre by September. Cows preferred the soybean hay to timothy hay.

Steve also reported on a NIFA alfalfa grant to determine genetic factors that influence forage quality in alfalfa hay, employing Dave Combs’ TTNDFD method, and a NAFA grant to study Struvite, a slow-release phosphorus fertilizer, in alfalfa. Tissue-testing will be used to determine the phosphorus and potassium in alfalfa hay.

Barenbrug: Bryan Weech is the West Coast forage manager at Barenbrug, and discussed an ongoing demonstration of Barenbrug tall fescue on 1500 acres at the Winecup Gamble Ranch in northeast Nevada. Barenbrug is currently developing portfolios for dryland systems (8-12 inch and 12-20-inch precipitation zones) with the USDA ARS in Logan, and is looking for legumes to add to the mix. The goal is to develop a cost-effective 300-day beef grazing system that retains quality in the fall.

Accomplishments

The membership of WERA-1014 comprises Cooperative Extension and applied research professionals engaged in studies and extension of sustainable approaches to forage-livestock management. Objective 1: Proposal development, coordination, and publication of innovative research in economically and environmentally sustainable forage-livestock management for the western U.S. Accomplishments from the past year relevant to Obj. 1 of WERA-1014 include joint research on soybean hay carried out by members from Washington and Utah, and a study of the value of low-lignin alfalfa hay for beef cattle carried out by the member from Montana. In an orchardgrass clipping study in Oregon, first-year results indicate lower clipping heights result in higher yield; this is contrary to current recommendations. Second year data will give initial indication of persistence impact. International collaboration by the member from Oregon led to new ideas related to sheep grazing of alfalfa: the potential to start grazing earlier to improve forage quality while maintaining stand persistence through end-of-season management. In Oregon, clipping height impact on orchardgrass and tall fescue (simulated MiG) was observed. In an evaluation of three clipping heights (1-, 2-, and 4-inch) for yield, monthly clippings (7 harvests annually) were carried out. Funding source: ARF grant ($12,500).  Cooperators: Scott Duggan, Mylen Bohle, and Clare Sullivan. In a study of selenium fertilization of orchardgrass hay, the interaction of S and Se fertilization was evaluated. Funding source: ARF grant ($12,500).  Cooperators: Guojie Wang, Jean Hall, Gene Pirelli, Shelby Filley, Serkan Ates, Mylen Bohle, Tracy Wilson, Scott Duggan, Clare Sullivan. A tilled and non-tilled lime application on mixed grass species hay will demonstrate long-term (5 year) effects of several lime rates and application methods on soil pH and hay yield. Funding source: Oregon Hay & Forage Association ($3,000). Cooperators; Mylen Bohle and Tracy Wilson. A study of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization of orchardgrass will be used to evaluate several rates of N and P fertilization on orchardgrass yield, quality, and nutrient concentration. Funding source: Oregon Hay & Forage Association ($3,000). Cooperators: Mylen Bohle, Tracy Wilson, Scott Duggan, and Clare Sullivan. In a forage species and cultivar evaluation in Oregon, research has been initiated to evaluate water-use efficiency, seasonal production profiles, and quality of 20 annual and 20 perennial species for use in grazing and hay systems. Funding source: New faculty start-up funds and Collaborative Project AES Hatch project ($36,000 over 3 years). Cooperators: Guojie Wang, David Hannaway. An Oregon study of crop simulation modeling will be carried out in collaboration with international colleagues, strengthened for developing an alfalfa model using the APSIM-X modeling framework. Multiple experiment datasets over the past 8 years will be used to develop and validate the model. Funding source: Lincoln University, New Zealand (PhD student teaching assistantship). Cooperators: Derrick Moot, Xiumei Yang, David Hannaway. In Wyoming, forages are very important crop commodities and the mainstay of livestock production. Alfalfa is an important forage crop in the US and produces quality forage and is persistent when grown as sole stands. However, the bloating characteristic and poor tolerance to acidic soils make other legumes such as birdsfoot trefoil and sainfoin viable alternatives. The major objective of a current study is to assess the effects of different ratios of grass-legume mixtures on forage yield, quality, and persistence. Additional objectives are to determine the cost effectiveness of establishing sole grass (fertilized with N), sole legumes, and grass-legume mixtures and how efficient these practices are at utilizing irrigation water. Data being collected include plant height, percentage of weed, water use efficiency, nutrient use efficiency, cost and revenue ratio, and forage yield and quality. It is anticipated that the results will help provide the best grass-legume mixture ratio recommendation for the profitability of Wyoming producers. Demand for new and suitable plant materials is a long-term issue, and is of increasing importance in the Intermountain West. The objective of a Wyoming study is to evaluate different advanced lines of C3 grasses with the inclusion of some local checks in relation to their growth, yield, and quality response to irrigation, drought, and planting time. Species used in this study include tall fescue (seven lines), tall wheatgrass (three lines), western wheatgrass (five lines), and wildrye (two lines). Data collected on different growth parameters, persistence, and forage quality from 2009-2017 differ among species and lines. Long-term data collection will help in the selection and development of superior and well-adapted cultivars. A guest speaker from Nevada described the mathematical modeling of rumen function. The member from Wyoming described an upcoming USDA NIFA AFRI Coordinated Agricultural Project (CAP) grant opportunity; further discussion will depend upon the wording of the published request for proposals. Wyoming determined that the weather in 2017 was comparatively dry compared to 2016, allowing a comparison of growth and yield performance of accessions/lines of two consecutive different years. Grants: Agricultural Research Foundation, Oregon State University. PI: Serkan Ates; Cooperators: David Hannaway, Mary Smallman, Claudia Ingham, Shelby Filley, Gene Pirelli, and Jerry Hall. Evaluation of seasonal yield, forage quality, and persistence of cool-season grass and legume species for sheep production systems in non-irrigated western Oregon pastures. $12,500 BAIR Ranch Foundation, 2017. Do different methods of outdoor round bale hay storage impact dry matter and forage quality losses in Montana? Glunk Principle Investigator. $31,240. Brummer, J.E. (PI), Rhoades, R.D., Ippolito, J., Ahola, J.K. 2016. A Long-term Integrated Evaluation of the ARDEC Irrigated Forage System. Colorado State University Agricultural Experiment Station, Colorado State University, $89,933. Brummer, J. E. (PI). 2016. The Silent Decline in Soil Potassium Levels and its Effect on Alfalfa Productivity in the Central and Western US. Subcontract with University of Wyoming (USDA-NIFA Grant), $63,928. Cabot, P.E. (PI), Brummer, J.E. 2017. Measuring Consumptive Use for Alfalfa and Grass Hayfields Using Reflectance-Based Methods at Ground Surface. Colorado River Water Conservation District, $29514. Little Shell Enterprises, Inc., 2017. Van Emon, M. (Principal), Endecott, R. (Co-Principal), Glunk, E. (Co-Principal), Evaluating hay feeding methods on heifer performance, hay waste, and economics. $7,865.00 Schipanski, M.E. (PI), Brummer, J.E., Ward, S.M., Fonte, S.J., Seshadri, A., Dalsted, N.L. 2015. Demonstrating the Potential of Cover Crop and Forage Mixtures to Improve Soil Quality, Productivity, and Profitability in Water-Limited Regions. USDA-NRCS, $995,451. Specialty Crop Block Grant Program – Farm Bill (SCBGP-FB), USDA Wyoming Department of Agriculture. 2017-2019. Islam, M.A. Evaluation of chickpeas in Wyoming Environments. $24,500. USDA NIFA. Integrating little hammers: Using crop variety, crop diversification, cover crops, and targeted grazing to chip away at multiple herbicide resistant weeds. Grant# MONW-2017-04712, $199,997, 01/09/2017 to 31/08/2020. T. Seipel, PI; A.N. Bekkerman, P.A. Carr, T.H. Murphy, E.R. Burns, F.A. Menalled, Co-PIs. USDA NIFA AFRI Plant Breeding for Agricultural Production Program. Increasing legume grazing for higher beef gain on pastures: An improved high-tannin birdsfoot trefoil cultivar with trans-regional potential. Grant# 2013-67013-21408. $402,500. 9/17/13-9/16/18. van Santen, PI; MacAdam, Cassida, Shewmaker, Kallenbach, Griggs, Goff & Johnson, Co-PIs. USDA-NIFA Alfalfa and Forage Research Program. 2016-2019. Islam, M.A., Burmmer, J., and Min, D. The silent decline in soil potassium levels and its effect on alfalfa productivity in the central and western US. $250,000. UW School of Energy Resources. 2016-2019. Stahl, P.D., Coupal, R.H., Islam, M.A., McLaughlin, J.F., and Norton, J.B. Use of coal residues as soil amendments. $242,000. WSARE, 2017. The impact of integrating livestock into cropping systems on soil health and crop production. Glunk Collaborator. $72,571. WSARE, 2017. D. Ragen (PI). The impacts of integrating livestock into cropping systems on soil health and crop production. Glunk Collaborator. $249,882.08. New Equipment and Facilities Colorado - Completed infrastructure installation (seeding, fencing, and water) on a 200 acre irrigated pivot that will be used to study changes in soil health, species composition, forage yield, and nutrient content over time in relationship to four forage mixtures managed under intensive rotational grazing. Total animal unit days of grazing will also be measured as a means of quantifying the most productive mixture. Initial growth was taken as a hay crop while grazing of the regrowth commenced in mid-August and ran through mid-October in 2017. Utah - Picarro 2201-I for Picarro CO2 analyzer to measure concentrations of 13C in both CO2 and CH4. Shimadzu 2700 UV/VIS spectrophotometer to measure optically dense samples Wyoming - Installed Moisture Neutron Probe for determining moisture levels in different experimental plots. Objective 2: Coordination and publication of Extension media to support the adoption of improved forage-livestock management practices, including workshops for producers, lenders and outreach personnel. Accomplishments from the past year relevant to Obj. 2 of WERA-1014 include a study of the efficacy of foliar-applied nutrients on Roundup Ready alfalfa carried out by the member from Idaho, a study of beef production using management-intensive grazing of complex forage mixtures under a pivot, evaluated using the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) carried out by the member from Colorado, and a study of the value of sulfur fertilization for alfalfa carried out by the member from Montana. Outreach in Oregon is largely collaborative in nature, within and among campus-based units, field-based extension and research professionals, agribusiness, and stakeholder organizations. The Forage-Livestock Systems Working Group, comprising Oregon and NW region extension and research faculty, met to report progress and plan future collaboration. The Forage Management Course (Animal & Range Science; ARS599) was developed and presented to farmers and ranchers, livestock unit managers, and graduate students by A&RS and Crop & Soil Science Department faculty. A Core Competencies discussion was begun with project collaborators to develop grassland sciences core competencies, with the goal of creating instructional modules and assessment tools to increase expertise in effective management of lands and to develop appropriate policies. Living on a Few Acres Expo included classes taught to small acreage land owners. The seminars Irrigation Principles and Management, Pasture and Grazing Management, Sensory Evaluation of Hay, Irrigation Principles and Management were presented to forage producers with focus on LEPA, LESA, and PMDI systems in Harney County, Oregon (with Dustin Johnson, local field faculty), Lake County (with Pete Schreder, local field faculty), Central Oregon Forage Seminar. (With Central Oregon Hay Growers’ Association), OHFA Fall Forage Seminar (with Oregon Hay and Forage Association), at the Oregon Hay King Contest (with the Oregon Hay and Forage Association), at the Pasture and Grazing Management Workshop (with Scott Duggan, local field faculty and Deschutes County Oregon SWCD), at Pasture and Grazing Management Tours/Field Days (3; with Scott Duggan, local field faculty and Deschutes County Oregon SWCD), and at the On-Farm Forage and Irrigation Field Day (with Central Oregon Hay Growers’ Association). In Nevada in 2017, there were approximately 30 direct discussions with farmers on forage production, and one farmer put in 100 acres of alfalfa using a cultivar based on alfalfa varietal trial evaluation data. In Wyoming, forage production, management, quality, and economic returns have been presented at Wyoming Forage Field Day, Agriculture Experimentation Field Days, and local and regional workshops/meetings. At the WERA-1014 meeting in Reno, a guest speaker from Nevada proposed the idea of alfalfa walks patterned after pasture walks to the membership. The membership discussed the benefits and costs of alfalfa variety trials; the member from Idaho is a Crop Science Society of America (CSSA) board member and will carry this discussion forward to the CSSA. Extension Programming and Other Presentations: Allen, L. 2016. Irrigation of pasture. Rich County Crop School, USU Extension, Woodruff, Utah. Allen, L., and A. Torres-Rua. 2016. Verification of reduced consumptive use from deficit irrigated pastures in the Upper Colorado River Basin using Landsat data. Improving Irrigation Water Management - Latest Methods in Evapotranspiration and Supporting Technologies. US Committee on Irrigation and Drainage, October 11-13, 2016, Fort Collins, Colorado. Ashilenje, D.S. and Islam, M.A. 2017. Profiling canopy light interception and growth forms to predict forage yield and nutritive value for meadow bromegrass-alfalfa mixtures. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Meetings. October 23, Tampa, FL. (Oral PhD Student Competition) Attendance: 53. Hannaway, David B. 2017. A Proposal Presented to Guizhou Governor SUN: “Restoring Desertified Rocky Karst Landscapes and Strengthening Guizhou’s Forage-Livestock Sector.” Guiyang, Guizhou Province, PRC. March 21. Hannaway, David B. 2017. Using GIS and Spatial Analysis Techniques for Species Suitability Modeling & Mapping. Lincoln University, Christchurch, NZ. March 8. Hannaway, David. 2017. MatchClover – Web Based Tools for Matching Clovers to Climates, Soils and Intended Uses. Oregon Clover Growers’ Annual Meeting. February 8. Wilsonville, Oregon. Hannaway, David and Shirley Lindsey. 2017. What Oregon State University Can Offer the Alliance. China-US Agricultural Alliance Inaugural Meeting. Zhejiang University, China.  March 23-24. Islam, M.A. 2017. Plant Diversity and Physiology for Efficient and Sustainable Agricultural Production: USA, Japan, and Global Perspectives. The 2nd Japan-US Science Forum International Conference November 18, 2017. Harvard University, Boston, MA. (Invited presentation) Attendance: 75. Islam, M.A. 2017. Evaluation of birdsfoot trefoil: Planting method, harvesting frequency, and cultivar. W2012 - Enhancing management, production, and sustainability of grazing ruminants in extensive landscapes Meetings, August 7-10, 2017. Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, Oregon State University, Burns, OR. Attendance: 22. Islam, M.A. 2017. Forage Research at UW, USA: Germplasm Search, Evaluation, and Cultivar Development. Department Seminar, The University of Sydney, Sydney Institute of Agriculture, Australia. July 28, 2017 Australian Technology Park, Sydney, Australia. (Invited presentation) Attendance: 35. Islam, M.A. 2017. Legume adoption practices in the central great plains of USA for sustainable agricultural production in the face of climate change. The 2nd International Conference on Plant Science and Physiology June 27, 2017 Bangkok, Thailand (Conference Series Limited, UK). (Invited presentation) Attendance: 45. Islam, M.A. 2017. Understanding Plant Diversity and Physiology for Resilient Production Systems and Environmental Benefits. The 2nd International Conference on Plant Science and Physiology June 26, 2017 Bangkok, Thailand (Conference Series Limited, UK). (Invited Keynote Speaker) Attendance: 45. Islam, M.A. 2017. Wyoming NCCC-31 Report-Ecophysiological Aspects of Forage Management. University of Lincoln, Nebraska, June 20-22 2017. Lincoln, NE. Attendance: 27. Islam, MA. 2017. Alternative Forage Crop Options (forage sorghums, sainfoin, nitrate (prussic acid) poising of hybrid forage sorghum). High Plains Crop Convention, November 21, 2017. UWE Goshen County, Torrington, WY. Attendance: 21 Islam, M.A. 2017. Organic Forage Production: Can Alfalfa be Grazed Without Fear of Bloat? The 3rd Annual High Plains Organic Farming Conference, February 22, 2017. Laramie County Community College, Cheyenne, WY. Attendance: 45. Reeve, J. 2016. Use of cover crops in orchards, vinyeards and vegetables. Western Colorado Horticultural Society Annual Conference, January 20-21, 2016. Grand Junction, CO. Solomon, J. Nevada Small Farm Conference, Non-Academic, Conference, "Pasture Stand Establishment and Management", Invited, Nevada Department of Agriculture. (February 4, 2017).

Publications

Refereed Journal Articles Adjesiwor, A.T., Islam, M.A., Zheljazkov, V.D., Ritten, J.P., and Garcia y Garcia, A. 2017. Grass-legume seed mass ratios and nitrogen rates affect forage accumulation, nutritive value, and profitability. Crop Science. 57:1-13. doi: 10.2135/cropsci2016.09.0776. Chail, A., J.F. Legako, L.R. Pitcher, T.C. Griggs, R.E. Ward, S. Martini, and J.W. MacAdam. 2016. Legume finishing provides beef with positive human dietary fatty acid ratios and consumer preference comparable with grain-finished beef. Journal of Animal Science 94:2184-2197. Daly, C., Halbleib, M., Hannaway, D.B., Eaton, L.M. 201X. In Press. Environmental Limitation Mapping of Potential Biomass Resources across the Conterminous United States.  Global Change Biology: Bioenergy DOI: 10.1111/gcbb.12496. He, Feng, Kun Wang, Xianglin Li, and David B. Hannaway. 2017. Effects of precipitation and clipping intensity on net primary productivity and composition of Leymus chinensis in temperate grasslands. PLoSONE PONE-D-17-14028R3. Hunt, S.R., J.W. MacAdam and T.C. Griggs. 2016. Seeding rate, oat companion crop and planting season effects on irrigated organic birdsfoot trefoil stands in the Mountain West USA. Crop Science 56: 463-473. Islam, M.A., Obour, A.K., Rule, D., Bandara, M., and Acharya, S. 2017. Forage and seed production potential, nutritive value, and fatty acid profile of fenugreek. Crop Science. 57:1764–1772. doi: 10.2135/cropsci2016.08.0685. Lui, Bo, David B. Hannaway, and Shuhao Tan. 201X. In Final Review. Can Social Capital Help Younger Herders Rent Grassland Areas? Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics. Mikha, M.M., Widiastuti, D.P., Hurisso, T.T., Brummer, J.E., Davis, J.G. 2017. Influence of Composted Dairy Manure and Perennial Forage on Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Fractions during Transition into Organic Management. Agriculture-Basel, 7(5). Payne, C., Wolfrum, E.J., Nagle, N., Brummer, J.E., Hansen, N.C. 2017. Evaluation of Fifteen Cultivars of Cool-Season Perennial Grasses as Biofuel Feedstocks Using Near-Infrared. Agronomy Journal, 109(5), 1923-1934. Solomon, J., Macoon, B., Lang, D. J., Vann, R. C., Ward, S. (2017). Animal and forage responses on Maximus, a tetraploid cultivar vs Marshall, a diploid cultivar of annual ryegrass. Grass and Forage Science. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/gfs.12331">http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/gfs.12331</a> Solomon, J., Macoon, B., Lang, D. J. (2017). Harvest management based on leaf stage of a tetraploid vs. a diploid cultivar of annual ryegrass. Grass and Forage Science, 72(4), 743-756. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/gfs.12313">http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/gfs.12313</a> Solomon, J., Davison, J. C., Western Society of Crop Science Annual Meeting, Academic, Conference, "Deficit Irrigation Influence on Forage Sorghum Biomass Production and Silage Quality", Accepted, Crop Science Society of America. (June 7, 2017). Staudenmeyer, D.M., D. Fuga, E.C. Glunk. 2016. Preference and forage quality of 13 cultivars of forage barley and 2 cultivars of oats when grazed by sheep. Am. J. Exp. Agric.15:2. Staudenmeyer, D. M., Bowman, J., Endecott, R., Mack, A. L., Glunk, E. (2017). The effects of feeding reduced-lignin alfalfa on growing beef cattle performance. Translational Animal Science, 1(1), 62-65. https://dl.sciencesocieties.org/publications/tas/articles/1/supplement1/62 Tracy, B.F., K. Albrecht, J. Flores, M. Hall, A. Islam, G. Jones, W. Lamp, J.W. MacAdam, H. Skinner, and C. Teutsch. 2016. Evaluation of alfalfa–tall fescue mixtures across multiple environments. Crop Science 56: 2026-2034. Villalba, J.J., C. Spackman, B.M. Goff, J.L. Klotz, T. Griggs, and J.W. MacAdam. 2016. Interaction between a tannin-containing legume and endophyte-infected tall fescue seed on lambs’ feeding behavior and physiology. Journal of Animal Science 94: 845-857. Villalobos, L., Brummer, J.E. 2017. Yield and Nutritive Value of Cool-Season Annual Forages and Mixtures Seeded into Pearl Millet Stubble. Agronomy Journal, 109(2), 432–441. Wang, Musen, Zhu Yu, and David Hannaway. 2017. Effect of Lactobacillus plantarum KR107070 and a propionic acid based preservative on the fermentation characteristics, nutritive value and aerobic stability of alfalfa-corn mixture silage ensiled with four ratios. Japanese Society of Grassland Science. doi: 10.1111/grs.12178.  Wang M., L. Hou, Q. Zhang, X. Yu, L. Zhao, J. Lu, P. Mao, D. B. Hannaway. 2017. Influence of row spacing and P and N applications on seed yield components and seed yield of Siberian wildrye (Elymus sibiricus L.). Crop Science 57(4): 2205-2212. doi:10.2135/cropsci2016.08.0713 Books and Chapters in Books Hannaway, David B., Linda Brewer, Steve Fransen, Glenn Shewmaker, Shannon Williams, and Sarah Baker. 2017. Planning and Sowing Grasslands. Chapter 10 In: Improving Grassland and Pasture Management in Agriculture. Athole Marshall and Rosemary Collins, Eds. Islam, M.A. and Adjesiwor, A.T. 2017. Nitrogen fixation and transfer in agricultural production systems. In: Nitrogen in Agriculture - Updates, (Khan A. and Fahad S. Eds). InTech Open Publishing, London, UK (in press). Proceedings Ates, S.*, H. Cicek, W.B Lindsay, C.N. Hayley, D.E. Mayberry, S. Kassam, D.B. Hannaway, and M. Louhaichi. 2017. Sustainable Development of Smallholder Crop-Livestock Farming in Developing Countries. pp. XXX, In: Proc. 4th International Conference on Sustainable Agriculture and Environment. 10-12 August 2017, Solo, Indonesia. Extension Bulletins Ashilenje, D. and Islam, M.A. 2017. Changes in plant community structure influence forage yield and quality of irrigated meadow bromegrass-legume mixtures in Wyoming. 2017 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 126-127. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2017-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2017-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified October 26, 2017). Ashilenje, D. and Islam, M.A. 2017. Meadow bromegrass in mixture with alfalfa affects light and nitrogen acquisition, forage yield, and nutritive value. 2017 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 20-21. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2017-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2017-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified October 26, 2017). Baskota, S. and Islam, M.A. 2017. Evaluation of forage nutritive value of different fenugreek entries in Wyoming. 2017 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 102-103. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2017-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2017-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified October 26, 2017). Baskota, S. and Islam, M.A. 2017. Evaluation of forage nutritive value of quinoa cultivars. 2017 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 18-19. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2017-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2017-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified October 26, 2017). Baskota, S. and Islam, M.A. 2017. Effect of planting time on dry matter and seed yield of fenugreek. 2017 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 16-17. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2017-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2017-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a>Brummer, J., J.W. MacAdam, G. Shewmaker, and A. Islam. 2016. Establishing birdsfoot trefoil in the Mountain West. Electronic Bulletin. AG/Forages/2016‐02pr. Utah State University Cooperative Extension Service, Logan. Dhekney, S., Jabbour, R., and Islam, M.A. 2017. Engineering alfalfa cultivars for alfalfa weevil resistance. 2017 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 121. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2017-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2017-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified October 26, 2017). Dhakal, D. and Islam, M.A. 2017. Grass-legume mixtures improve forage yield, quality, stand persistence. University of Wyoming Extension Bulletin B-1309.1, Ed. S.L. Miller, pp.1-4, August 2017. University of Wyoming, Laramie. Available at: <a href="http://www.wyoextension.org/publications/Search_Details.php?pubid=1937&pub=B-1309.1">http://www.wyoextension.org/publications/Search_Details.php?pubid=1937&pub=B-1309.1</a> (verified October 27, 2017). Horn, B.E., Islam, M.A., Smith, D., Jeliazkov, V., and Garcia y Garcia, A. 2017. Perennial cool-season grasses for hay production and fall grazing under full and limited irrigation. 2016 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 124-125. Available at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2017-field-days-bulletin.pdf">http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2017-field-days-bulletin.pdf</a> (verified October 26, 2017). Islam, M.A. 2017. Varieties of birdsfoot trefoil – a non-bloating forage legume. Wyoming Livestock Roundup, the Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers, and Agribusiness Community, November 18, 2017. Islam, M.A. 2017. Grass-legume Mixtures Have Benefits Over Monoculture Systems. Wyoming Livestock Roundup, the Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers, and Agribusiness Community, August 26, 2017. Islam, M.A. 2017. Establishment of birdsfoot trefoil – a non-bloating forage legume. Wyoming Livestock Roundup, the Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers, and Agribusiness Community, June 24, 2017. Islam, M.A. 2017. Inoculation of Legumes. Wyoming Livestock Roundup, the Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers, and Agribusiness Community, April 8, 2017. Islam, M.A. 2017. Silage: Production and Feeding – Part VI. Wyoming Livestock Roundup, the Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers, and Agribusiness Community, February 11, 2017. Nilahyane, A. and Islam, M.A. 2017. Evaluation of irrigation water and nitrogen management for silage corn production in Wyoming. 2017 Field Days Bulletin, University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 58-59. 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Impact Statements

Wyoming - The University of Wyoming’s research has carried out selection for well-adapted high performing accessions/lines which resulted in development of cultivars that are suitable for Wyoming and neighboring states. As a result, this contributed to the improvement of productivity of local and regional producers and would provide economic benefits in the long-run. Studies on determining cost effectiveness of establishing sole grass (fertilized with N), sole legumes, and grass-legume mixtures and how efficient these practices are utilizing irrigation water have positive impacts. Results will help recommend the best grass-legume mixture ratios that will be profitable to Wyoming producers by reducing production cost significantly.