2009 Spring Forage Conference

25th Annual Southwest Missouri Spring Forage Conference Tuesday, February 24, 2009 University Plaza Hotel, Springfield, MO Media Release Welcome to the 25th Annual Southwest Missouri Spring Forage Conference This year marks our 25th Annual Southwest Missouri Spring Forage Conference! I have been a member of the Spring Forage Conference Planning Committee for the past seven years and can honestly tell you it is a very rewarding experience. The SW Missouri Spring Forage Conference is one of the most popular educational programs offered in the state specifically targeting forage producers. From its inception in the early 1980s, this conference has grown from about 50 attendees to more recent attendance numbers averaging around 400. Our keynote speaker this year is Professor Fred Provenza of Utah State University. For the past 30 years, Dr. Provenza and his group have produced ground-breaking research in behavior-based management of livestock, wildlife and landscapes. He has received numerous awards for research, teaching and mentoring students. We hope you enjoy Dr. Provenza’s comments during our lunch break. In addition to the keynote address, we have organized four break-out sessions for you to attend covering a wide selection of topics. These topics were decided on largely based on the conference evaluations from recent past years. We hope you will find those you attend educational and that you are able to take information back to benefit your operations. Between each break-out session and before and after lunch, please make sure you take time to visit the Trade Show. We have 30 to 40 vendors available for you to view and discuss their services and/or products. Each year, the Planning Committee strives to improve upon our previous conferences. This year is no exception, especially since this is a milestone year for the conference. We sincerely appreciate your comments and ask that you take a few minutes to complete the conference evaluation before leaving today. A conference of this size requires the help of many individuals and organizations. The Spring Forage Conference planning committee is a partnership of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Soil and Water Conservation Districts of Southwest Missouri, University of Missouri Extension, USDA Farm Service Agency, Missouri State University Agriculture Department, University of Missouri Southwest Research Center, and the Missouri Department of Conservation. Many thanks to the vendors, break sponsors, conference speakers and especially the producers for making this a quality conference. Thanks also to the Conference Planning Committee for their dedication and hard work involved in planning and conducting this year's conference. We hope you have an enjoyable and useful day! Sincerely, Gordon Carriker 2009 Chair, SW Missouri Spring Forage Conference Program and Registration Form - (PDF Version) CEU Credits Sponsors Sponsor and Exhibitor Registration - (PDF Version) Committee Members The Southwest Missouri Spring Forage Conference is brought to you by these university and agency partners: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA Farm Service Agency University Of Missouri Extension Soil and Water Conservation Districts of: Barry, Cedar, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Douglas, Greene, Laclede, Lawrence, Polk, Stone, Taney, Webster, & Wright Counties Missouri State University, Agriculture Department Missouri Department of Conservation University of Missouri Southwest Research Center.