John Deere to Host NAFA Summer Board Meeting - June 25-27

The National Alfalfa & Forage Alliance (NAFA) has scheduled its summer board meeting for June 25-27 in Olathe, KS. The meeting will be hosted by NAFA member John Deere and held at the company's Ag Marketing Center in Olathe, located twenty miles southwest of downtown Kansas City. Make plans now to attend! NAFA board meetings are open to all NAFA members. If you're interested in attending, please email the NAFA office so we have an accurate count for meals & tour transportation at nafa@alfalfa.org.

Five Projects Receive Alfalfa Pollinator Research Initiative Funding

The Alfalfa Pollinator Research Initiative (APRI) awarded $100,000 in funding to five research projects focused on supporting the health of non-Apis alfalfa pollinators. APRI, a coordinated research effort managed by the Pollinating Insects Research Unit in Logan, UT, focuses on: management for crop pollination; population sustainability; environmental safety; epidemiology and disease management; and genetics. The program is managed by Diana Cox-Foster of USDA's Agricultural Research Service (located at the Logan Bee Lab in Logan, UT). Click here for the complete article.

The Cost of a Windrow
Dan Undersander, University of Wisconsin

When harvesting hay or haylage we tend to think in terms of how long it takes to get the hay off the field. However, the first concern for quality hay/haylage should be how long it takes to lose the first 15-20% moisture. Forages have 75-80% moisture when cut; they will continue to respire sugars (break down and give off heat and carbon dioxide) at a high rate until the plant is dried to 60% moisture. Click here for the complete article.

"Sulfoxaflor had a substantial positive effect on plant flowering but a substantial negative effect of adult leafcutter survival within 1-several days after treatment. Studies focused on determining the exact duration of time before it is safe to introduce adult leafcutter bees following application are warranted."

All AFRP/APRI final reports and current project objectives can be found on NAFA's website at http://alfalfa.org/research.php in a convenient searchable database.