In 2024, the 43^th annual Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference was held in Bowling Green KY on Feb. 8, 2024 with over 120 people attending.  This conference was a joint effort of the Kentucky Forage and Grassland Council, University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension, the UK Master Grazer program, and the UK Quality Hay for Horses program.  The theme was “Getting Into the Hay Business”.   

 Topics and speakers included: Operating a Major Hay and Straw Farm in Ohio – John Russell; Teaching Hay Buyers What Their Horses Really Need – Dr. Laurie Lawrence; How to Find and Evaluate Used Equipment - Dennis Wright; Establishing Markets for Your Hay and Straw—Ellis Deweese and Jeff Stephens; 50 Years of Alfalfa Production in Kentucky: Observations, Reflections and Opportunities – Dr. Garry Lacefield; Basics of Fertilizing for Successful Hay Production – Dr. Edwin Ritchey; How I Got Started in the Hay Business: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly – Producer Panel. 

The YouTube Videos published since the meeting of the presentation have already been viewed over 3700. Written copies of each presentation were also collated into a Proceedings volume which was distributed to participants and is available for download through the UK Forage Website. 

UK Forage Specialists involved: S. Ray Smith, Chris Teutsch and Jimmy Henning