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Progress being made in preparation for the 2nd cutting show demonstrations starting Wednesday.

March 4, 2015

3 Min Read

The Hay & Forage Expo is just days away and exhibit setup is under way. With the recent rains in the past week, the hay crop looks great. Just over an inch of rain came with the last wave of storms.

Sunday, the crew mowed everything down for dry hay in preparation for the show demonstrations this Wednesday and Thursday. The alfalfa acres are owned by Farm Progress Show host farmer Eric Ziel.

"The hay did get rained on, but the crew are out today with the Vemeer tedder letting it dry out by the time we need to bale it on Wednesday," said Dena Morgan, Penton Farm Progress Special Projects.

"Today we will be tuning up the mowers and the balers off site."

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Ziel took the first cutting on the 80-acre north parking lot on May 24. "Typically the first cutting is around the middle of May but the season is later this year by a couple weeks. The crop was a little short and not in full bloom," he notes. "It probably needed about another week of growth. But we wanted to do our best to have full growth for the second cutting. The field demos will take place on this field.

On the other side of the show site, exhibitors are slowly getting moved in. Many exhibitors dropped off equipment over the weekend and will be setting up on Tuesday.

A 10-acre exhibit field will highlight displays from the major and shortline specialty manufacturers, seed, building and storage facility suppliers, and a range of related product suppliers. Exhibitors plan to showcase a host of new products aimed at boosting the efficiency and profitability of hay and forage production.

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"The exhibit field is the place to discuss seed, hay marketing, crop production, conservation and more. There will be educational exhibits, hay and forage grounds and others," notes Matt Jungmann, National Shows Manager.

Educational exhibits
In addition to the field demonstrations, you will want to visit the exhibitors on the exhibit field where you can learn more about the equipment that is operated in the field as well as other manufactures who are not demonstrating.

Don't forget the Haying Industries Tent. Here you will find the latest in livestock feeding and handling equipment as well as information on seed, forage crop protection products and much more.

There is a huge educational component to the Hay & Forage Expo as well. For example, Iowa State University and other agencies and organizations will have specialists on hand to answer your questions about growing forages.

Each show day will feature an informative seminar. "Weather Outlook for 2014 and Beyond" will be presented Wednesday, May 25 by Elwynn Taylor, Iowa State Univ. Ext. Climatologist. "Corn Stover — Managing and Selling Biomass to a Cellulosic Biorefinery" will be presented Thursday, May 26 by Matt Darr, assoc. professor, Iowa State Univ., Dept. of Agricultural and Biosystems.

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