UPDATE: The potential for unsafe travel this Thursday prompts the change of the Indiana Forage Council’s annual meeting and seminar to March 3. You can still register to attend by Monday, Feb 28.

Anyone who grows forages or grazes animals on pasture should circle Feb. 24 on their calendar. You will have a unique opportunity to tour one of Indiana’s high-quality forage and soil testing labs, plus hear from researchers and graziers on key topics. The Indiana Forage Council will hold its annual meeting and seminar at Sure-Tech Laboratories in Indianapolis.

“It is a real opportunity to see what goes on behind the scenes at a lab that analyzes forage samples,” says Keith Johnson, Purdue Extension forage specialist who advises the Indiana Forage Council.

“You will also hear from two quality speakers on topics of interest to the livestock industry,” he says.

The Indiana Forage Council meeting begins at 4 p.m., with a tour of Sure-Tech Labs scheduled for 5:15 p.m. A meal follows, with awards presented by the Indiana Forage Council. The seminar portion of the meeting begins at 7 p.m. All times are EST.

Shelby Gruss from Purdue University will lead off the seminar. This postdoctoral researcher has played a key role in documenting the performance of animals on a new sorghum-sudangrass hybrid developed at Purdue by Mitch Tuinstra. This new hybrid is dhurrin-free with no potential to produce prussic acid. Johnson notes that several calves in research trials grazed on it when frosts occurred without any health concerns.

Also at the seminar, Devon Churchill, the 2021 Indiana Forage Council spokesperson, will explain why he and his father, Cameron, love inviting people to educational tours and field days at their farm in Harrison County, Ind. They practice rotational grazing on their 485-acre farm.

You do not have to attend the annual meeting to participate in the tour and other activities, Johnson notes. Reservations are requested by Feb. 21. The cost is $20 to cover the meal. Send payment to: Indiana Forage Council, P.O. Box 2710, West Lafayette, IN 47996, or contact Elysia Rodgers at 260-925-2562 or [email protected].

Payment can be made at check in if you made arrangements in advance.