The 23rdannual Kentucky Alfalfa Conference on Feb. 20 in Cave City will offer an expanded educational program this year.

The program again will have a general morning session, but thanks to additional space at the Cave City Convention Center two breakout sessions in the afternoon will allow participants to choose between three educational programs, said Garry Lacefield, a forage specialist with the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service.

Speakers in the morning session will include Warren Thompson of Lexington, a national forage specialist, who will speak on reflections of 60 years of experience with alfalfa. Also on the program is Jim Moutray, director of plant breeding for ABI Alfalfa in Ames, Iowa. Jason Sandefur, the national forage spokesman and a Paris, Ky. farmer, will discuss his experience with summer grazing.

Additionally, Lacefield will discuss alfalfa quality and Jimmy Henning, UK Extension forage specialist, will discuss alfalfa hay and also Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome.

Afternoon sessions will include weed and disease management, alfalfa haylage and silage, and making-testing-marketing alfalfa hay. A number of exhibits and displays also will be on hand for participants to visit throughout the day.

Conference sponsors are the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, UKCooperative Extension Service and the Kentucky Forage and Grassland Council.

There is a $15 registration fee that includes materials, break refreshments and lunch. Registration begins at 8 a.m. The program starts at 8:45 a.m. and concludes at 3 p.m. The convention center is on Kentucky 70, a half mile east of the Interstate 65 exit.

There are 2.5 CCA credits in crop management approved for the conference. For more information contact Lacefield at 270-365-7541 ext. 202, glacefie@uky.edu, or Christi Forsythe at 270-365-7541 ext. 221, cforsyth@uky.edu.