Dave Surprenant is gearing up for the 2010 Illinois Forage Expo, which will be held July 21 at Law-Rae Dairy Farm in Kankakee County.

The Expo will start at 9 a.m. and conclude at 3 p.m. The Surprenant dairy farm is a grazing based operation currently milking 150 cows. The operation utilizes forty 4-acre paddocks for intensive grazing of grass/clover pastures under irrigation.

The Forage Expo will include field demonstrations of forage harvesting equipment and commercial displays of forage related products and equipment. In addition, educational sessions will be presented that focus on forage specie selection and animal preference; forage fertility and weed control; hay preservatives and USDA/NRCS programs.

In addition, a Quality Hay & Haylage Contest will be available for producers to enter 2010 harvested bales and haylage. Entries in the Quality Hay & Haylage Contest 2010 Illinois Forage Expo must be delivered on site from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. There is no entry fee and NIRS analysis will be provided free of charge. Bales weighing over 100 pounds will need an official scale weigh ticket. Four hay and one haylage class will be available and class winners will receive a certificate.

For further information concerning the Quality Hay/Haylage Contest, interested producers can contact Greg Clark, University of Illinois Extension, Whiteside County, phone 815-772-4075, [email protected].

The Forage Expo site is located about 4 ½ miles southeast of Manteno, in Kankakee County. The site can be reached by exiting Interstate 57, Manteno exit and go east on Division Street, then north (left) 2 blocks on Main Street, then east (right) on 3rd Street/ 9000 N Road 2 ½ miles, then south (right) 2 miles on 5000 E Road, then east (left) 1 mile on 7000 N Road.  

From Grant Park go west & south 2 miles on Route 1/17, then west (right) 5 miles on 7000 N Road. Watch for signs and lunch will be available at the Expo site. Additional information concerning the Illinois Forage Expo is available at www.illinoisforage.org.

The Forage Expo is sponsored by Illinois Forage and Grassland Council. Additionally, the event is supported by University of Illinois Extension and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.