I offered a Forage Production program in response to many calls, emails and text I had received from, and general conversations I had with, local forage producers. This was a one evening, one time offering, at least at this point. It also counted as an educational component for the CAIP program

We had a nice turnout to learn more about general forage production practices and various areas involved in forage production. These included, soil fertility, fertilizer application, weed control, seeds and seeding, timing of multiple actions including harvesting, harvesting practices and where each had its place in certain systems, etc.

Multiple publications and handouts were provided to participants as was a PowerPoint presentation. The program lasted about 3 hours, and not 1 person left until it was over, and several stayed afterwards to discuss specific issues I had presented and how it applied to their operation.

An older farmer and his wife attended and told me afterwards “Well, we came because we needed to get credit coming for the CAIP program. But I am glad we did, because I learned some things that I think will help me on the farm. We will have to try to come to some more of these programs you send us information about”

A young farmer also attended to get credit for the CAIP program, and told me afterwards, after we had discussed some of his issues “I didn’t think I would learn much from this and just came so I could get my reimbursement from CAIP. But you mentioned some things I didn’t know. Maybe this will help me fix some things that I have had go wrong”.

There were several other comments of the same general nature from other attendees. I also had one regular program attendee tell me that he came to these program because, just like tonight, he usually picked up a “nugget or two” that he would use on his farm.