Alfalfa the focus of intensive seminar

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Some of the leading alfalfa experts and forage researchers in North America will be in Saskatoon later this month for the Western Canadian Alfalfa Training Seminar.

The two-day seminar, taking place September 20 and 21, will feature experts from here at home, from across Western Canada and from as far away as Wisconsin and Kentucky.

The seminar will be held at the Sandman Hotel in Saskatoon, with a registration cost of $400. It is being hosted in partnership with the Saskatchewan Forage Council and Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food. Funding for this event was provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Greencover Canada Program.

Janice Bruynooghe, the Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Forage Council, says the goal is to provide a very intensive seminar.

“What we are trying to do is bring in those people who are specific experts or researchers in this field,” she said. “That’s why we’ve got three different researchers and agronomists from the United States, out of both the University of Kentucky and the University of Wisconsin, and then we’ve also gone across Western Canada and brought in researchers from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and specialists with Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, as well some private industry people who have made alfalfa research their life’s work.”

The seminar will delve into alfalfa topics from seed to feed, including the history and importance of alfalfa, genetics and variety selection, use of alfalfa in rotations and pest management for alfalfa. Bruynooghe says the seminar is geared to a higher level of learning.

“We’ve been able to bring in presenters who are looking at specific areas of alfalfa research. For example, if we are looking at a topic like alfalfa fertility, we’ve chosen someone who’s doing their research and their primary focus is alfalfa fertility. Rather than just generalize, we’ve brought in the specialist who can speak to and provide participants with a very specific look at the topic,” explained Bruynooghe.

Because it is an intensive training session, Bruynooghe says organizers are targeting it at feed industry representatives, government specialists and those who work in the agriculture supply industry. However, primary producers and farmers will also find a great deal of benefit. In fact, the seminar has been approved for Canadian Agricultural Skills Service (CASS) funding, so those enrolled in the CASS program can qualify for a reimbursement. It has also been approved for professional development hours both for the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists, as well as for the continuing education unit for certified crop advisors.

More information on the seminar can be found at www.saskforage.ca.

For more information, contact:
Janice Bruynooghe, Executive Director
Saskatchewan Forage Council
Phone: (306) 966-2148