Feb 10 in Geneva: quality forage comes from planning not luck

The February 10 New York Certified Organic (NYCO) meeting at the NYS Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, will focus two presentations and an organic dairy farmer panel on how to produce high quality forage. The free meeting starts at 10 am in the Jordan Hall auditorium.Tom Kilcer with Advanced Ag Systems, Kinderhook, NY, will talk about the forage management practices required for all-forage or high-forage diets for dairy cows.Aaron Gabriel with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Washington County will present information on making dry hay, including the use of hay preservatives approved for organic dairy diets.A panel of organic dairy farmers will share the planning and management strategies they use to make high quality forage for their cows.The meeting includes a potluck lunch, and a discussion circle for questions and answers and brainstorming. NYCO has received support funding from the New York Farm Viability Institute (NYFVI) and the NY Ag and Markets Crop Insurance Team.